The Donk gives an amusing report about the state of free speech at Safeco Field, where the ban on wearing “Yankees Suck” T-shirts by rabid Mariners fans has been lifted. This reminds me of New York Rangers fans, who would (and for all I know, still do) at random points during games chant “Potvin Sucks” in honor of hated NY Islanders’ defenseman Denis Potvin. Didn’t matter who the opponent was, all of a sudden you’d hear “Potvin Sucks!” ring out from the cheap seats. The fans felt strongly about this and so by God they were going to let you know about it. I always liked that about them.
I’m a lifelong Yankees’ fan, so I can’t exactly endorse the sentiment, but I am glad to see that this sort of New York initiative has reached the formerly-mellow West Coast. I feel that my parents, who moved from New York to Portland in 1999, are somehow partly responsible for this, even though they’re crazier about the Yankees than I am. Good work, Mom and Dad! Too bad the same sentiment hasn’t spread to bagel making out West yet. Give it time.