The End Of An Era, Goodbye To America's Roman Coliseum

This year's all-star break has been a memorable one so far. WIth Josh Hamilton giving the fans a show at the Home Run Derby, the Jonathan Paplebon-Mariano Rivera issue, and the game coming up tonight, it's hard to say that this all-star experience isn't going to be satisfying. But what gets me the most about this all-star event is that it is going to be played in Yankee Stadium, and it can perhaps be the last meaningful game played there (Don't get mad Yankee fans). Now I despise the Yankees and everything they stand for, but there is nothing like walking into Yankee Stadium and experiencing a game there. For years I have been going to the stadium and saw such momentous occasions as Derek Jeter's catch going into the first row. I've seen U.S. President George W. Bush throw a laser for a strike to open up game 3 of the 2001 World Series after the attacks on 9/11. These are things someone can never erase from their memory, no matter what team they root for. Many reporters have said this line all week, that we are going to tear down Yankee Stadium because in America, we destroy our "Roman Coliseum's." This is one of the many unfortunate qualities that defines our country. I would love for them to keep Yankee Stadium around and offer it as a museum for people who have never seen it before. For people who can bring their children, and their grandchildren to see where Babe Ruth stood in the batter's box. To sit in the seat where Roger Maris's 61st home run landed. But baseball isn't where this sort of experience should be limited. Three different popes have come and conducted mass at Yankee Stadium. Where Alan Ameche scored the game winning touchdown in what is called "The Greatest Game Ever Played," as the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants. Boxing history has also occurred within the confines of this great park. Joe Louis defeated Max Schmeling with a first round knockout, sending waves throughout Europe all the way to German Nazi leader Adolph Hitler. In addition, Muhammed Ali defended his heavyweight championship against Ken Norton, giving the fans a performance they would never forget. There are too many great moments for me to name here, which shows you how amazing life with Yankee Stadium has been since it started hosting Yankee games in 1923. How can they tear this place down? It is like putting a big hole in the middle of American history. Without it standing there to take your kids to it, how do you show them what Yankee Stadium meant to you when you were their age. Pictures and movies are one thing, but the actual atmosphere that the stadium projects upon a person is like no other. All I can do is say that I am truly going to miss the stadium and hope that the new ballpark can create memories similar to that of "The House That Ruth Built."