This is an excerpt from the July 12, 2005 edition of the NYP:
DETROIT - The Yankees and Red Sox are teammates for one day in tonight's All-Star Game at Comerica Park. Come Thursday in Boston that will all change.
The Yankees will not stand for any more attacks on Alex Rodriguez from the Red Sox like last July when Jason Varitek shoved his glove in the superstar's face, the Shove seen 'round the world.
The days of the Red Sox challenging Rodriguez physically or verbally, like they did throughout spring training when they repeatedly chirped that Rodriguez was not a "true Yankee" are done.
The Yankees finally have A-Rod's back at Fenway and everywhere else.
"We're going to bring our gold, our jewel in there, which is A-Rod," Gary Sheffield told me yesterday during the American League All-Star interview session.
"We're going to see how the chips fall this time. That's our man and we know he's our man.
"We're going to look out for him when he's in a situation like that."
I asked Sheffield exactly what he meant by that statement.
"When he's in a hostile environment, we've got to make sure he's comfortable because it helps our team," Sheffield answered.
And if something like the Varitek incident happens again?
"That's why I say it's going to be different," Sheffield said, looking me straight in the eye.
"We're going to make sure that Alex is taken care of."
If all that sounds like fighting words, so be it. The Yankees have come together as a team this crazy first half of a season in many ways. |
Dude, who was that guy that actually hit 40 homers, the most ever in a home run derby. I ran to DQ to get ice cream and missed it. The TV was just showing him celebrating with the other players and the commentators were talking about it when I got back.