My fault I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want.
Sorry my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here
-- Stephen Sondheim, A Little Night Music, 1973
They're here, all right. If this past weekend's new version of the Boston Massacre proved anything, it's that the Yankees are a bunch of clowns.
And, as I said earlier in the year, they are gutless wonders.
But who put them together?
Sondheim, 1990: "I wanted to use theatrical imagery in the song, because she's an actress, but it's not supposed to be a circus... It's a theater reference, meaning, "If the show isn't going well, let's send in the clowns." ..."Don't bother, they're here," which means that, we are the fools."
Sondheim, 2008: "As I think of it now, the song could have been called 'Send in the Fools.' I knew I was writing a song in which Desirée is saying, 'Aren't we foolish?' or 'Aren't we fools?' Well, a synonym for fools is clowns, but 'Send in the Fools' doesn't have the same ring to it."
Were we fools to believe that, this time, Brian Cashman had gotten it right, and assembled a team capable of winning the World Series? This year?
Or did he play us for fools?
Or is he the fool?
Don't blame manager Aaron Boone. He is not the problem. Casey Stengel could return to Earth, with his mind at the height of its powers, and he would not win the Pennant with a team assembled by Brian Cashman.
Firing the clowns (the players), or even the ringmaster (the field manager), isn't going to make any sense as long as the guy actually running the circus (the general manager) isn't doing what it takes to bring in the customers.
If we had swept the series, we'd be only a game and a half out of 1st place, and the race for the American League Eastern Division would be fully on, and Title 28 would be within sight.
Instead, we got swept, and are 9 1/2 games out, and now have to worry about Oakland and Seattle sneaking up on us and taking even the Wild Card away.
The Yankees are putting together the most embarrassing end of season since 2004, despite all their riches, all their resources.
Why does Brian Cashman still have a job?
Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer?
Losing my timing this late in my career?
But where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.
Well, maybe next year.
*
Days until the New York Red Bulls play again: 5, this Saturday night, away to the Chicago Fire. They beat expansion team Los Angeles FC 2-1 at home last night.
Days until the Red Bulls next play a "derby": 16, on Wednesday, August 22, against New York City FC, at Yankee Stadium II.
Days until Rutgers University plays football again: 26, on Saturday, September 1, home to Texas State University. A little under 4 weeks.
Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again: 32, on Friday, September 7, away to Piscataway. Just over 1 month.
Days until the U.S. national soccer team plays again: 32, on Friday, September 7, a "friendly" against Brazil, at MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands.
Days until the next Yankees-Red Sox series begins: 43, on Tuesday night, September 18, at Yankee Stadium II. A little over 6 weeks. Not that it matters.
Days until the New Jersey Devils play another competitive game: 61, on Saturday, October 6, against the Edmonton Oilers, at... Scandinavium, an arena in Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden. Yes, that will be a regular-season game, part of the NHL Global Series. Exactly 2 months. The Mulberry Street Marauders will warm up for it on October 1, with an exhibition game in Switzerland against SC Bern; while the Oilers will visit Kölner Haie in Cologne, Germany on October 3.
Days until the New Jersey Devils next play a local rival: 75, on Saturday afternoon, October 20, against the Philadelphia Flyers, a.k.a. The Philth, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The 1st game against the New York Islanders, a.k.a. the Fish Sticks, will be on Saturday night, November 3, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 1st game against the New York Rangers, a.k.a. The Scum, will be on Thursday night, January 31, 2019, at the Prudential Center.
Days until the next Rutgers-Penn State game: 103, on Saturday, November 17, at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge Thanksgiving high school football game: 108, on Thursday, November 22. Under 4 months.
Days until the next North London Derby: 118, on Sunday, December 2, at the Emirates Stadium. It had been set for December 1, but was moved due to Arsenal once again being stuck playing Europa League games on Thursday nights. No more "Thursday is Spursday" jokes for us Gooners.
Days until a Democratic Congress can convene, and the impeachment process can begin: 150, on Thursday, January 3, 2019. A little under 5 months.
Days until the Baseball Hall of Fame vote is announced, electing Mariano Rivera: 170, on January 23, 2019. Under 6 months.
Days until the next Women's World Cup kicks off: 305, on June 7, 2019, in France. Just 10 months. The U.S. team, as 3-time and defending Champions, has, as usual, a better chance than the men's team would have had in 2018 anyway.
Days until the Yankees and Red Sox play each other in London: 327, on June 29, 2019. A little under 11 months.
Days until my 50th Birthday, at which point I can join AARP and get discounts for travel and game tickets: 499, on December 18, 2019. A little under a year and a half, or under 17 months.
Days until the Baseball Hall of Fame vote is announced, electing Derek Jeter: 534, on January 22, 2020. A little under a year and a half, or under 18 months.
Days until the next Summer Olympics begins in Tokyo, Japan: 718, on July 24, 2020. Under 2 years, or under 24 months.
Days until the next Presidential election, when we can dump the Trump-Pence regime and elect a real Administration: 818, on November 3, 2020. Under 2 1/2 years, or a little under 27 months.
Days until Liberation Day: 898, at noon on January 20, 2021. Under 2 1/2 years, or under 30 monnths. Note that this is liberation from the Republican Party, not just from Donald Trump. Having Mike Pence as President wouldn't be better, just differently bad, mixing theocracy with plutocracy, rather than mixing kleptocracy with plutocracy.
Days until the next Winter Olympics begins in Beijing, China: 1,278, on February 4, 2022. A little over 3 1/2 years, or a little under 42 months.
Days until the next World Cup for which the American team will be eligible is scheduled to kick off: 1,568, on November 21, 2022, in Qatar. Under 4 1/2 years, or under 52 months. The charges of corruption against Qatar may yet mean that they will lose the tournament, in which case it will be moved to a nation where it would not be too hot to play it in June and July.
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