"WITH THE YANKEES' EMPIRE IN DECLINE..." --NY TIMES

"With the Yankees’ empire in decline, the implications for Boston are significant and perhaps terrifying. The Red Sox could sign Alex Rodriguez, and he and pitcher Josh Beckett could be anchors of a Boston dynasty.

• The possibility is there for the spending: No more just missing the brass ring, but rather grabbing that ring season after season. But does Red Sox Nation really want to do this?

Vince Lombardi’s exhortation that winning is the only thing, in retrospect, has caused unimaginable heartache and blues. It sounds good, but is probably antithetic to inner peace.

• Look around. The pursuit of winning has tempted some of us to break rules, bend moral fiber, take performance-enhancing drugs, and jettison a manager who failed to lead his team past the first playoff round for three consecutive years.

The question I’d ask Boston fans is whether they really want to see their team do this. Do they want to see a franchise whose ethos is that winning titles is the only thing?"

• From NY Times article by William C. Rhoden, "Yankees' Expectations are Felt in Boston," 10/21/07

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