WOULD YOU GIVE THIS RING BACK?

     Many of you who know me, personally, and even if you read this blog, you'll know that I'm a die-heard Yankees fan since the beginning of time. If you're a baseball lover, you'll also know about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry that's been going the Yankees got Babe Ruth in a trade from the Red Sox. Well, recently, a Yankee fan found a 2013 Red Sox World Series ring in the bathroom of a New York City eatery and he actually gave it back. I have to be honest, I might've given it back too. No matter how much I disliked the team. I would probably look like the bigger A-Hole for keeping the ring or at least, hocking it. 

     Restaurant owner Luigi Militello couldn't believe his eyes when he found the shiny 2013 championship ring on a restaurant sink at Luke's Bar and Grill on Thursday night. He says that it was the real thing too, with diamonds, sapphires and rubies, set in 14-carat white gold, with the Red Sox emblem, a Boston Strong logo and an image of the team's bearded ballplayers. Militello told the Associated Press, "I was like, geez, it's big. Who would leave this here? I'm a big Yankee fan. What are the chances of this happening?"

     It turns out; the ring belonged to Drew Weber, a New York businessman who also owns the Lowell Spinners-a thriving Red Sox Class-A minor league team in Massachusetts. Weber dined at the restaurant earlier in the evening. Big league teams often reward executives throughout their organization with World Series rings. My friend Betsy has one from when the Yankees beat the Phillies back in 2009. The Red Sox have not put a value on these pieces of jewelry, bit the rings presented for winning the 2004 World Series was worth about $30,000. 

     Weber said that this was the first time he'd worn the ring outside. He says, "I went looking around my apartment and started having palpitations. Sweat was pouring off my forehead. I'm looking at my finger and it's not there." Yeah, I think I might have an anxiety attack too if I lost a ring like that somewhere. Hoping against hope, Weber called Luke's after midnight and Militello answered the phone and relieved Weber telling him he had the ring. Militello said, "But this being Yankees-Red Sox, I started razzing him. I told him he wasn't getting it so easily. I was playing with him a lot." Weber answered, "Who am I dealing with?"

     Weber and Militello quickly put their rooting interests aside, met the next day at the restaurant, the ring was returned to its rightful owner, and the two spent 25 minutes talking baseball. Militello insistently would not accept any cash reward for finding the ring. He did, however, try to persuade Weber to call into a local sports radio show and disparage the Red Sox, but Weber was having none of that. Instead, Weber and the Red Sox have invited Militello to make his first trip to Fenway Park for the regular season finale on September 28, which is also scheduled to be the final game for retiring Yankees superstar Derek Jeter. Now, that it better than any reward and Militello would agree. When he asked Weber if he could wear any of his Yankees paraphernalia, Weber said that he couldn't answer that question. Weber is also making a contribution to a charity of Militello's choice and he chose a charity that helps relief efforts for Superstorm Sandy's damage on Fire Island. 

     I have to admit, even as a Yankee fan, who might not have given back the ring, this was a pretty great story. I might be the A-Hole, but I'd be the A-Hole with a World Series ring on my finger. It would have been Weber's loss for leaving it on the sink. Why would you take off an expensive piece of jewelry like that and leave it on the sink of a NYC restaurant of all places. You might as well leave your wallet there too. He's lucky an honest man picked it up and was honest enough to give it back. If I found it, he might not have been so lucky. Then again, Derek Jeter's last game does seem appetizing. 

WHAT DOES DEREK JETER AND TEMPUR-PEDIC BANANA HAMMOCKS HAVE IN COMMON?

     Move over Victoria! It looks like Captain Clutch has an even bigger "secret" and it's not women's lingerie. It turns out, future Yankees legend, Derek Jeter has his retirement plan in place and it includes becoming an underwear mogul, according to Page Six in the New York Post. "D.J.", as us Yankees fans like to call him, is apparently a secret co-owner of Frigo RevolutionWear, a customized men's underwear that has been branded as the "Tempur-Pedic banana hammock." These high-tech undies go for about $100 a pair and include a "soft lock adjustment system" plus a "patented pouch" which is being dubbed as the "Frigo Zone." Do I really need to tell you where this Frigo Zone is located? Let's just say it's where your bat and balls are stored. 

Photo by William Perlman

     D.J. has endorsed these expensive undies in the past, but his reps have been trying to keep it under wraps that he's even an investor in the top-shelf drawers. Apparently, the Yankees are concerned that Jete will become the next Jim Palmer. For those of you who are too young to even remember, Jim Palmer was a Hall of Fame  pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, who was the spokesperson for Jockey underwear, where he became the face of the company appearing in print and TV ads and a even a billboard in Times Square wearing tight bikini briefs of every stripe back in the 1970s. In other words, he kind of became the laughing stock of the league, which I'm sure the Yankees are looking to avoid since this is Jeter's final season. Then again, I'm sure Jim Palmer got a lot of tail after that ad. Not that D.J. ever had a problem in that area. 

     Jeter is unlikely to appear in any ads as he told Page Six himself last year at a bash for a Frigo pop-up store, "It'd be too embarrassing." Jete allegedly attended the event because he's pals with Frigo CEO Mathis Ingvarsson, who Page Six recently found out has the same stake in the company as the Yankee captain. Ingvarsson explains the product as "It separates your genitals from the rest of your body. It lifts a little bit so guys feel the comfort." I don't know about you, bit I don't really want to separate my genitals from the rest of my body. The products marketing materials further explain the expensive undergarments: "Unlike other garments that keep things in place by compressing your package inward, Frigo provides support from behind so you won't feel constricted." 

     Jete has apparently been spotted wearing Frigo-branded outerwear, and has offered his endorsement without ever letting people know that he has ownership stake in the company. Jete's not alone when it comes to celebs having stakes in this company. Newly re-signed New York Knick Carmelo Anthony has some stake and so does entrepreneurial rapper 50 Cent, who doesn't know how to throw a baseball. Anyway, so what Jete is part owner in this company? Who's to say that he can't have a life outside of baseball. As far as a retirement plan after baseball this year, this might not be a horrible move for him. I have to admit; now, even I'm a little curious to try these undies on for size. Come on! Tell me you're not thinking it......

THE NEW BASEBALL CARDS?

     Okay, first of all, what the hell? Second of all, what happened to the day when you used to buy Topps baseball cards that came with a piece of bubble gum? I'm sure that was a long time ago, as I don't believe Topps releases their baseball cards with gum anymore, which brings me back to my first thought of "what the hell?" 

     So, it looks like the ever popular World Series beards grown by the World Series champion Boston Red Sox (I know, I know; this is the second day in a row that I'm writing about these crappy Red Sox) did not go into a wastebasket. It turns out; they're now inside your baseball card. Take a look at the photo. Gross, right? It actually looks like his pubic hair. 

     Anyway, Topps' Allen and Ginter "Oddity" line is currently carrying 25 Daniel Nava cards (he's their outfielder for those of you who don't know the name.), which include actual strands (or pubic hair) of Nava's playoff beard. Apparently, his was a little bit more clean cut compared to teammates Dustin Pedroia, Jonny Gomes and Mike Napoli. One of these beard filled cards is already on eBay and the latest of 20 bids so far is at $163 and rising. I've been to many card shows and have never seen anything like this. "Oddities" might be the best adjective for this. I mean who would want this? Even if they posted Derek Jeter's used condom, I can't see myself trying to bid on that. People are nuts! Then again, he is retiring this year, so the value of that may go up. I might need to rethink that last statement. 

     The card company's Oddity Relics include some pretty bizarre inserts that don't only come from the world of sports. For instance, some past collections included pieces of the menu from the ill-fated wedding of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries and a piece of the fence from the grassy knoll where President Kennedy was shot. That is crazy! Where the hell do they get this stuff and why would anyone want it? These inserts seem to be quite the shift from the early days when collectors would get a stick of stale gum (I miss that stale gum!), or more recently, a piece of a jersey or bat. Now, you're getting a piece of the player's DNA. 

     I'm not sure if any other "beard cards" were made for players other than Nava, but I did hear a rumor that Topps will be releasing a line some time this month for a car featuring pieces of scrubs worn by famed sports surgeon, Dr. James Andrews. You name a ballplayer, he fixed them! Either way you want to look at it, the beard in the card is pretty gross. I understand wanting to be close to your idols, but this is a little extreme. So, how about that Derek Jeter used condom baseball card?

WHAM-BAM-THANK YOU-DEREK JETER?

I saw this story, and just could not stop laughing. On the baseball field, Yankees legendary shortstop, Derek Jeter is as classy as they come. He's an amazing baseball player, and he is known for giving back to his community with all of the charities he works with. Well, it seems those charities also include those who benefit in his bedroom.

Jeter, who might be one of New York's most eligible bachelors since splitting up with actress and long-time girlfriend, Minka Kelly, has been bedding a bevy of beauties in his Trump World Tower bachelor pad. That doesn't sound so bad, right? Well, here's the funny part; once Jeter is done getting his groove on, he coldly, sends these women home alone with gift baskets of autographed memorabilia. How did Jete's classy move come to light? It turns out, he mistakenly pulled the same stunt twice on the same woman. A woman who had actually been an earlier conquest.

According to one friend, Jeter usually has the girls stay with him in his New York City apartment, and then he would get them a car to take home the next day. Waiting in the car would be a gift basket containing signed memorabilia from Jeter, which was usually a signed baseball.

Derek Jeter is the type of ball player who likes to keep his private life private. He doesn't go out much, and in fact, keeps his partying to a minimum, by having small parties at his apartment for a small circle of friends. He rarely goes out with girls. He chooses to have them come to his house instead for quiet dinners. When Jeter does take his female companions out, he'll take them to some hole in the wall bars that his friends own, and then he and the girl would head back to his apartment for some heavy hitting! The girls who visit Jeter usually come through the back-door entrance of Trump World Tour to avoid paparazzi.

Though, Jete's parting gifts might seem like a cold gesture, I guarantee those autographed baseballs are selling like hot cakes on eBay right now! In fact, if you look, they're probably going for a few thousand dollars. Does that make these women hookers since they're technically getting sort of a payment for sleeping with the shortstop? I'll tell you what; at least Christian Lopez didn't have to sleep with Jeter to get his Jeter memorabilia. He just had to catch his historic 3000th hit. How can you not love this story?

DAMN YANKEES DISAPPOINT AGAIN THIS YEAR!!!

Once again, I really wanted to blog about my rip-off trip to Cancun, Mexico today, but last night's Yankees Game 5 loss to the Tigers really pissed me off! For the past week, I was living it up in Cancun missing the majority of the baseball post season because of the lack of Internet accessibility. Well, we made it home to see a 'do-or-die' Game 5, which I was pretty excited about. I thought that the Yankees had this one in the bag. Their rookie pitching sensation Ivan Nova pitching against the Tiger's Doug Fister, and the Yankees coming off of a 10-1 Game 4 onslaught in Detroit? The stage was set for a huge Yankee win. It was a familiar feeling as I sat down in front of the TV to watch the game. Unfortunately, that familiar feeling that I had was of the same old Yankees in the playoffs; from getting runners on base and not driving them in to not delivering the big hit in an elimination game atmosphere. The last time we actually saw that was Aaron Boone's walk-off home run in Game 7 against the Red Sox in 2003.

The Yankees got into trouble early in the first inning when Ivan Nova gave up back to back home runs to Don Kelly and Delmon Young, but as most Yankee fans know, a two-run lead is not nearly enough to hold this potent Yankee offense down, but when Tigers pitcher Doug Fister decided that he wanted to pitch like Tiger ace Justin Verlander on this night, two runs WAS more than enough. Yankee manager Joe Girardi pulled Ivan Nova in the second inning due to a muscle tightening, forcing Girardi to go to the bullpen early, but did he really have to treat it like a little league team where he tried to put in every pitcher that he had in the bullpen? I guess at the end of the day, Girardi's bullpen was not the problem, as they were lights out. It was the Yankees offense that killed them! I mean, the Yankees had bases loaded twice in this game with one out, and they could not drive in the big runs. How can their high paid slugger, Alex Rodriguez, strike out with bases loaded? I'll tell you how! Besides A-Rod's history in the post season going 0 for baseball every year, the guy missed half of the season due to injuries. How about keeping him off of the post season roster this year and go with what got you there? Maybe using Eduardo Nunez or Eric Chavez at third? I bet they would've helped out offensively better than a gimpy A-Rod!

Then there was Nick Swisher, who also struck out with the bases loaded, and hit only .211 in this post season. That's probably the best he's hit in the playoffs since becoming a Yankee. The Yankees offense was absolutely horrendous, and I knew after three innings that this Yankees team was not winning this game. When I was on facebook last night, many of my fellow Yankees fans were trying to stay optimistic saying things like, "don't worry, they'll rally back!" or "the umps were making some bad balls and strikes calls." The bottom line is that the Yankees as a team were not getting good swings against this Tigers pitching staff. You can tell right away, there would be no rally in the future, and there might have been some blown balls and strikes calls, but there were also a lot of pitches right down the middle that weren't even swung at. You have to swing the bat to get the hits! The almost 'sigh of relief' came when Captain Clutch, Derek Jeter came up in the eighth inning and almost hit a two-run homer to put the Yankees ahead by a run, but that ball came up short of the wall to end the inning! Oh, where were you Jeffrey Maier when we needed you? Once again, our Yankees have let us down!

Big changes are coming, but what are they? Is Brian Cashman stepping down? Did Yankee lifer, Jorge Posada play his last game in pinstripes? Will CC Sabathia opt out of his contract and play elsewhere? What will this team look like next year? I really thought we would see a Yankees and Phillies rematch, the way the two teams had been playing all year. All I have to say is, "Let's Go Cardinals!"