God, the Yankees Suck...

You know, it takes real balls to ask for a loan and then spend the money on something frivolous. The New York Yankees, who had already been given about a billion dollars in tax-exempt bonds from New York, yesterday asked for an additional $260 million from the city. OK, times are tough and construction costs are probably soaring. The Yankees bring a lot of revenue to the area, I can see why the city was willing to give them the initial tax break, even if it is like the richest family in town asking for money from their community cause their house just has to have a 6 car garage. It doesn't need it, they just want it. The Yankees didn't need a new stadium, they just wanted one. Luxury boxes are the standard by which all stadiums are judged today and Yankee Stadium didn't have enough.
But to ask for an additional $260 million and then the next day offer the richest contract for a pitcher in the history of baseball is beyond ballsy. To offer CC Sabathia a 7-year, $160 million deal was dumb to begin with (he's got weight issues and a ton of miles on that arm... good luck around year 3 of this deal) - but to cry poverty right before you do it? And then to announce to the world that you're not done shopping? And you wonder why everyone hates the Steinbrenners.
To put this in a real world context, this would be like asking your friends for a loan because you can't afford to fix your roof this year and the next time they come over to your house you've got a massive new flatscreen on your wall. Oh, and the surround sound system is being installed next week. But, don't worry, your friends can come over anytime to watch TV... they just need to pay you at the door and if they want a beer, that'll be $15.
Meanwhile, even the Red Sox had the common sense to keep ticket prices the same as last year. While that's not exactly a break for most people, considering what the Sox charge, it beats raising them. Baseball needs a salary cap and soon.

-By the way, it's December 10th and I as I type this, my window is open and there's a lovely breeze blowing in. So much for frosty holiday cheer.