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| Posted By | Discussion Topic: Fan Favorite O'Neill says goodbye | ||||
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| Psycho Bitch | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 3:36 AM |    | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jul. 01  | Well, we all knew it was coming..now it's official. I'm very sad to see him go but he's had a wonderful career and it's only right that he goes out this way, on top..now I just hope they can wrap up this series and give Paulie just one more thing he can be proud of. -------------------------------------------- Fan Favorite O'Neill Plays Final Game at Yankee Stadium By RONALD BLUM .c Associated Press NEW YORK (Nov. 1) -- The backbone of the Yankees said goodbye to his fans Thursday night. For nine years, Paul O'Neill showed his teammates how to win, how not to give up. Also, how to throw helmets and bats, kick benches and punch walls. Paul O'Neill acknowledges the crowd during one of several ovations for the veteran in Game 5. And finally, after the Yankees' 3-2, 12-inning victory over Arizona in Game 5 of the World Series on Thursday night, O'Neill finally admitted what everybody knew: He will retire after this weekend. "I can't think of a better way to go out in my last game at Yankee Stadium," O'Neill said. Given his choice, he would rather watch attention directed elsewhere. Go out, do your job. Succeed and credit your teammates or lose and blame it on your own failure to come through. He got a standing ovation on the very first play of the game, when he gloved Tony Womack's fly ball to right. In the bottom half, fans cheered loudly when he walked up to the plate and drew a four-pitch walk. When he batted in the eighth, with the Yankees trailing 2-0, fans were on their feet and flashbulbs popped with every pitch. He got another ovation when he went to right field to start the ninth. "Paul-O'Neill! Paul-O'Neill!" the entire stadium chanted through the entire top of the ninth. "Thanks No. 21, Warrior," read one sign in the seats. On the way back to the dugout, he finally acknowledged the cheers with a tip of his cap. "It was strange. There was nothing on my mind but winning the game," O'Neill said. "I got goose bumps out there. I won't lie. My next at-bat, I had to step out. I would have tried to do too much." He was 0-for-3 with two walks, two groundouts and a double-play grounder. For a change, it didn't seem to eat at him. "I'd have loved nothing better than to hit a home run and win the game and wave to the crowd," he said. He is much more than his stats. A five-time All-Star, he was acquired by the Yankees from Cincinnati after the 1992 season for Roberto Kelly. O'Neill hit .300 or higher in his first six seasons in New York, drove in 100 or more runs four times. And he brought electricity to the ballpark with intensity that matched New York. "It's pretty emotional," Yankees manager Joe Torre said before the game. "I think what they are saying to him is 'thank you.' I think they are thanking him for what he has brought to this ballclub. It's really been a lot of humanity, and you've got so many people sitting in the stands, and if they are fans, they bang their pencil if somebody strikes out. And Paul O'Neill, he wears it on his sleeve. "He's going to kick a water cooler or do something -- never aims it at anybody but himself. There's a lot of passion there, and I think that the fans really appreciated the blue-collar nature of Paul O'Neill." Before the game, O'Neill tried not to think about playing in baseball's most famous ballpark for the final time. "If you're out 20 games in September, you might," he said. Not now, not in the World Series. "You've prepared your whole lifetime to play in games like these," he said. When he walks up to the plate to The Who's 'Baba O'Reilly' in the late innings, the joint jumps, the way it did when his opposite-field single started New York's ninth-inning rally Wednesday night. "He's a special guy, he really is," Torre said. "He's really only interested in winning. I had a meeting, I think it was in '98 and we were down 2-1 to Cleveland, and I talk to him, and I said, 'You are not having any fun' and everybody sat there and listened to my spiel. "And he got me in the corner and said, 'Skip, it's not fun unless you win.' That's what drives him all the time." After Thursday's win, he finally dropped his guard a little bit and, in a rarity, talked about his feelings. "I'm blown away by what's happened here in New York," he said. "The fans are great. It's a great feeling to be out there."  If I seem a little scattered There's an empty space where something used to beat I'm definitely shattered Like some stupid piece of china How pathetic of me [ÃAIMÃ ] [ÃE-MailÃ] | ||||
| King f-tard | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 7:54 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Feb. 01 | It was a great moment in the 9th when the entire stadium was chanting his name, and you saw how he almost lost it. He truly was great to have on our team, and he will be missed. IM me Or E-Mail Me | ||||
| X-Filed Rich Vos is the emobdiemnt of all that is teh funney | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 7:59 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jun. 01 | I got chills hearing that chant. He deserved it. He's been great to watch since he's gotten here in 92. I know he won't be going to the hall of fame or anything like that, but I think he will be remember as an all time yankee great... VOS IS ABOUT AS FUNNY AS OPENING A LETTER CONTAINING ANTHRAX AND GIVING IT YOUR BABY!!! | ||||
| Drunken GW I Pissed on a Church to get this Status. | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 9:01 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Dec. 00 | When they talk of Yankee Pride you don't have to look any further then Paulie. If your parents never had children, chances are you won't either. | ||||
| Snoteater | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 9:20 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Apr. 01 | I totally agree. There was nothing more specail last night than what the fans did. That alone shows that the Yankee fan is the classest fan in all of sports. | ||||
| Tequila Fez claims this land in the name of Portugal! Why worry about the train if it never makes it around the tracks?? IrishAlkey wuz here!!! | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 9:58 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Veteran Registered: Jan. 01 | I was not surprised at what the crowd did for O'neill. I was suprised at his reaction it looked like he was about to cry.  AOL/AIM - oanda1027fm | ||||
| CriticsLoveSnatch i know better than to ask for a status from you mean ol' mods I shall call him mini-FTL | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 1:03 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | The top of the 9th inning was one of the greatest things ive ever seen happen at yankee stadium in this whole amazing run. I got chills during that chant. Always have said that in this era where nobody gives a shit, O'neill really cares, and i don't care who you're a fan of you have to respect that. Its only fitting that the yanks come back to win it, in the second of what probably will go down as the greatest series games ever.  I want to show you all my pain... I want to scream, let the blood flow that keeps me alive I want to make you feel the same... | ||||
| TeenWeek what's a status? | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 1:30 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | How fitting would it be now, for O'Neill to hit the game winning hit or Homerun in hopefully the 6th or deciding 7th game. Hey th rest of the team has been heroes why not O"Neill. Game 4 it was Jeter and BamTino and yesterday it was Knoblauch with a big hit, Soriano winning the game with his bat and before that saving the game with his glove and Brosious tying it. There are no superstars on this team. O'Neill I think has the biggest heart and he will be greatly missed.  | ||||
| Rone | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 1:58 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | if the Yanks win tomorrow night, last night's game could quite possibly be the last time we ever see O'Neill play. he probably won't be in the lineup against the lefty Johnson. i'm sad to see O'Neill go. he has been the heart and soul of this team for their whole amazing run.  | ||||
| Psycho Bitch | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 2:52 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jul. 01 | quote: I really wasn't suprised by this...O'Neill has always been an emotional player. He's usually able to keep in in check otherwise but since it was his last game, I figured he'd have some sort of emotional reponse. Even the strongest, most reserved sports players are like little boys when it comes to retirement. Look at Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemeiuex (all 3 times, lol) O'Neill has always been a classy player and he was paid pack for that by the crowd. Damn, I really wish I could've went. My friends that were there said there were a lot of tears in the stands last night. If I seem a little scattered There's an empty space where something used to beat I'm definitely shattered Like some stupid piece of china How pathetic of me [ÃAIMÃ ] [ÃE-MailÃ] | ||||
| FeelMyFunBags | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 3:27 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | :( I am certainly going to miss the "O NEIL" chants at the Stadium. I'm happy that his last game at the Stadium will be a memorable one in history and that the fans sent him off the way he did. I'm glad that New York was so good to him.... i can't believe my dream is over i woke up this morning with nothing but light in my eyes now i'm one with the fools of love Psst...I am beginning to become almost positive I am going to get what I want...start shaving your legs, you're getting in a skirt whether you like it or not! :) USA | ||||
| OAAWITE | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 4:26 PM | | |||
| Hanger-On Registered: Jan. 70 | I was surprised that O'Neill didn't find some reason to throw his helmet down, complain about something, piss and moan, break his bat, and throw the Gatorade bucket out of the dugout. Biggest crybaby in sports!  | ||||
| Psycho Bitch | posted on 11-02-2001 @ 5:33 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jul. 01 | quote: No, I already said it and I'll say it again..that title belongs to Erica Lindwuss ;) Now be quiet biggest crybaby on the message board :) lol If I seem a little scattered There's an empty space where something used to beat I'm definitely shattered Like some stupid piece of china How pathetic of me [ÃAIMÃ ] [ÃE-MailÃ] | ||||
Displaying 1-13 of 13 messages in this thread. |