Every time I turn around, the first something-or-another of the millenium is happening. We live in a society that has become almost obsessed with the time period that we live in. Just because the last three digits of this year are zeroes does not mean that every facet of culture will do a 180. In fact, there certainly seems to be a fair amount that is staying almost exactly the same.
I could launch into a tirade on politics and just how different Al Gore and George W. Bush are from Bill Clinton. Or I could perhaps dabble with the idea that growing technology really has not changed the basic beliefs, morals or routines of America or the world.
But since it is October, baseball merits the most concern of all. The teams of the '90s were the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees. The Bombers have captured three of the last four World Championships and it seems as though it is a law that as the leaves change, you must be able to see Ted Turner's mug on your television.
Nonetheless, prognosticators and experts galore are quick to point out the rising young pitching staff of the Chicago White Sox and the blazing bats of the San Francisco Giants. How quickly we forget the '90s.
I know -- all streaks end sometime. But I, for one, refuse to dismiss the glory of the two best teams of the last 10 years so easily, and see many reasons why I am about to go on record that the Yankees and Braves will once again be the last two teams standing.
New York looks more like a AAA squad than the defending champs. Since Sept. 13, the Yankees are a dismal 3-15 and have been plagued by awful starting pitching, a shaky bullpen and silent bats. Let me remind you, however, that the Yankees had a different lineup almost every single day as manager Joe Torre rested player after player.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves surrendered home-field advantage in the National League playoffs by a meltdown on the final weekend of the season. They went just 1-4 in their last five games, and all of a sudden, some even consider them underdogs to the St. Louis Cardinals in the Divisional Series.
Guess what? The Yankees' Roger Clemens, Orlando Hernandez and Andy Pettitte are arguably the best starting trio of pitchers of any team in the playoffs. Together they have allowed about an earned run per inning in their past six starts. I'll take my chances with a future Hall of Famer, the pitcher with the most deceiving stuff in baseball and a proven post-season winner.
If they are not the best, they are directly behind the playoff rotation of the Atlanta Braves that will likely be made up of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Bobby Cox's choice of Kevin Millwood or Andy Ashby. Think home-field advantage will matter to Atlanta? They are 7-1 in their previous five divisional series on the road, so I doubt it.
I won't even bore you with the Yankees' record over the last four years. Yes, their performance the last three weeks has been heinous, but can you think of a more professional team in any sport over the last two decades? You can't believe that New York will not be ready to play regardless of whether the game is played in the Bronx, the Bay Area or on the moon.
How quickly we get caught up in the moment! How swiftly do we forget the past!
You can have your six upstart, unproven teams. Give me Atlanta and the Yankees and I'll take my chances no matter what decade, century, millennium or epoch this is.
Yes, it's the year 2000. Yes, we move on toward the 21st century, but I am beginning to realize that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
