Jim Caple

A few reasons I love Jim Caple:

"The WBC does present a terrible dilemma for fans, however. Do we root wholeheartedly for the country of our birth...or do we root against the Yankees on the team?"

"Sure the answer seems simple enough. You root against Jeter and A-Rod. After all, putting God and country first is a noble ideal - but these are Yankees we're talking about!"

"And now we're supposed to root for these guys, just because they're wearing stars and stripes on their sleeves instead of pinstripes? I'm sorry. If Clay Aiken sings the national anthem before a World Series game, that doesn't mean we have to buy his album."

"That said, even the most passionate Yankee haters must have relented in the bottom of the ninth inning of Sunday's Japan-U.S. game -- with two out, the score tied 3-3, the bases loaded, our country desperate for a hit, and the reigning AL MVP stepping to the plate. In such moments, love of country finally wins out and overcomes generations of anti-Yankee animosity to bring us all together in a show of patriotic support. 'C'mon you [expletive], pinstriped turncoat' Americans shouted at their TV screens, 'for once - just once - in your soulless, emtpy life get a hit in the clutch you greedy, insincere, overpaid fraud!' And sure enough, aided by this great outpouring of national love A-Rod hit a dribbler up the middle..."

"I tell you, seeing the U.S. team celebrating and congratulating A-Rod made you want to tie yellow ribbons around old oak trees, kiss nurses in Times Square and phone in your vote to 'American Idol.'"

Jim Caple -- I pledge allegiance, to the Yanks