As Phillies and Yankee fans hammer each other with insults in preparation for the World Series battle that begins tonight, two players from either side of the Jersey Turnpike are showing us all that it is possible to have a friendly rivalry—not a bitter one.
Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee faces off against Yankee starter CC Sabathia in the championship series tonight. But there will be no trash-talking, there will be no false bravado. The Game 1 opponents are the best of friends.
Unlike the New York fans (and newspapers) who’ve lobbed lame and degrading insults on the appearance, intelligence and culture of the city of Philadelphia itself, or the Phillies fans who are spitting out the unoriginal we-hate-the-Yankees-just-because-it’s-the-Yankees, which comes from every fan base to come up against the Bronx Bombers, the players of each team have shown class and gamesmanship. Sabathia and Lee are prime examples.
The two south paws met seven years ago on the Cleveland Indians and have been fast friends ever since. Their families are friendly, their wives cook dinner for each other and they text each other often. Their outlook on tonight’s game?
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Sabathia said.
You hear that, people? Fun. Not bloody war.
Sabathia won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with the Indians, then Lee took home the trophy last year. They've both been dominant throughout this postseason, leading their new teams onto baseball's biggest stage. And they’ve helped each other get to where they are today.
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"I think we made each other better," Sabathia said. "We helped each other out as far as how we thought we should approach certain teams and just what's the best frame of mind to have on the mound and stuff."
And the best frame of mind that the two are teaching us is good old-fashioned sportsmanship. Not foaming-at-the-mouth hatred for the opposing team.
Lee and Sabathia are not the only class acts in this Turnpike series.
One by one the Yankee players have given respect to the Phillies for their performance in the past two years, not hinting for a moment that this will be easy for the Yanks.
“Yeah, they are going to be tough, they're swinging the bats well," Andy Pettitte said. "They are a great team, they are the world champions, so hopefully, we have a great series against them."
“Their bullpen has thrown very well in the playoffs and they were there last year,” Yankee Manager Joe Girardi said. “They're a team with a lot of experience."
The Phillies have been no different, with the exception of Jimmy Rollins saying that he’ll “let” the Yankees go to six games before beating them. But if Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira can understand Rollins’ good-hearted ribbing, New York fans should follow suit.
"Jimmy loves that," Teixeira said. "He's just having fun with it. It doesn't mean he's disrespecting the game."
But perhaps Shane Victorino is one of the best examples of enjoying the rivalry, instead of getting bent out of shape over pettiness. After the NY Post ran a front page Photoshopped image of the Flyin’ Hawaiian in a cheerleader’s skirt, Shane laughed.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Victorino. “My legs look good.”
“The Yankees are a good team and I think we want to play the good team," said Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel.
“I’m going out there and just having fun,” Phillies slugger Ryan Howard said.
Phillie or Yankee fan, we should follow his lead. Have fun. After all, it is a game.
