Signifying Nothing

A portrait of Macbeth, King of Scotland, 1040-1057.

If you only know him from Shakespeare's play,

you might think he reigned only a few weeks.

What a rotten week for the Yankees. Times like these, we are reminded that the team's glorious past doesn't make a glorious future any more likely.

And while Brian Cashman is still the general manager, I am reminded of the words of William Shakespeare, where he stages Macbeth finding out that Lady Macbeth has died, while the enemy troops were advancing on him near the end of "The Scottish Play." (In theater circles, speaking the name of the play is considered to be bad luck, but the character's name can safely be spoken aloud.)

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time.
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle.
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing. 

"Out, out brief candle" has become a common phrase. William Faulkner took this passage, and titled one of his novels The Sound and the Fury. And the writers of the original Star Trek series titled a time-travel episode "All Our Yesterdays."

In the Yankees' case, the idiot who is telling the tale is Cashman. These last 12 years, everything he's done has been a tale told by an idiot, full of sound (the sound of strikeouts, popups and double plays) and fury (the fans'), signifying nothing (no Pennants).

*

The following numbers are dependent on no new COVID restrictions -- and, in some cases, on good weather:

Days until the next game of the U.S. National Soccer Team: 2, this Wednesday night at 7:00 PM Eastern Time, in an international friendly against Costa Rica, at Rio Tinto Stadium in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy, Utah. The following Sunday night, they host Jamaica at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Last night, they beat Mexico in extra time in Denver, to win the CONCACAF Nations League. Which isn't as important as the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Which isn't as important as the World Cup.

On Thursday, the U.S. women's team host Portugal at BBVA Compass Stadium. The following Wednesday, they host Nigeria at the new Q2 Stadium in Austin.

Days until the COVID-delayed Euro 2020 opens: 4, this Friday. Games will be played all over Europe, with the Semifinals and the Final at the new Wembley Stadium in London.

Days until the next New York Red Bulls game: 11, on Friday night, June 18, their 1st game against expansion team Nashville SC, at Red Bull Arena.

Days until the Red Bulls again play a local rival: 15, on Wednesday night, June 23, against the New England Revolution, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Days until the next Yankees series against the Boston Red Sox begins: 18, on Friday, June 25, at 7:00 PM, at Fenway Park. Under 3 weeks.

Days until the next Arsenal game: 36, away to Hibernian, at Easter Road, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The opposition is known for its rivalry with neighbors Heart of Midlothian, with the Edinburgh Derby also known as "Hearts vs. Hibs." The following Saturday, still in Scotland, Arsenal will visit Glasgow to play Rangers.

It's been announced that, with the lifting of restrictions, Arsenal are coming to America, to compete in a tournament at the Citrus Bowl (a.k.a. Camping World Stadium) in Orlando, called the Florida Cup. On Sunday, July 25, they will play Internazionale Milano, a.k.a. Inter, in a doubleheader whose other game features Everton of Liverpool against Millonarios of Bogota, Colombia. On the following Wednesday, they will play one of the teams in the other Sunday game.

Days until the COVID-delayed 2020 Olympics open in Tokyo, Japan: 46, on Friday, July 23. Under 7 weeks.

Days until the 2021-22 Premier League season starts: 68, on Saturday, August 14. The fixture list (schedule) has not yet been released, so we don't yet have an opponent, a location, or a kickoff time.

Days until the next North London Derby: Unknown. The new Premier League season usually starts on the 2nd Saturday in August. This year, it would be August 14. That would be in 68 days. But Tottenham Hotspur, a.k.a. Spurs, are rarely an early-season opponent for Arsenal, so the game will more likely be in October or November.

Days until the next Rutgers University football game: 87, on Thursday, September 2, at 6:30 PM, home to Temple University. Under 3 months.

Days until the next East Brunswick High School football game: 88, on Friday, September 3, at 7:00 PM, home to arch-rival Old Bridge. 

Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge football game: See the previous answer.

Days until the New Jersey Devils again play a local rival: Unknown. The regular season is over, and they didn't make the Playoffs. Under normal circumstances, the next regular season would open on the 1st Thursday or the 1st Friday in October, and the Devils 1st game might be against either the New York Rangers, the New York Islanders or the Philadelphia Flyers. But with COVID still being in play, the 2021-22 season could start on time, but cannot yet be presumed to do so. If it does start on the 1st Thursday in October, that's October 7, and that's 122 days. Exactly 4 months.

Days until the next election for Governor of New Jersey and Mayor of New York City: 148, on Tuesday, November 2. Under 4 months.

Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State football game: 166, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November 20, at 12:00 noon, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Under 6 months.

Days until the 1st Baseball Hall of Fame election for which Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz will be eligible, and we will know for sure whether steroid use keeps a player out, or if it's only perception that does: 232 on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Under 8 months.

Days until the next Winter Olympics open in Beijing, China: 242, on Friday, February 4, 2022. Under 8 months.

Days until the next elections for Congress and for Governor of most States, including New York and Pennsylvania: 519, on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Under a year and a half, or just 17 months.

Days until the next World Cup opens: 532, on Friday, November 21, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. Under a year and a half, or under 18 months.

Days until the next Women's World Cup opens: 763, on Friday, July 10, 2023, jointly held in the neighboring nations of Australia and New Zealand. A little over 2 years, or just over 24 months.

Days until the next Presidential election: 1,247, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Under 3 1/2 years, or under 41 months.