Sports of The Times; Confessions Of a Lifelong Yankee-Hater
Published: August 20, 1993  DOCTOR, doctor, thanks for seeing me
so quickly. Right there on the couch, huh? All right, I'll tell
you the symptoms. The other day, my son and I were watching the
tube. An outfielder for the Texas Rangers was chasing a fly
ball, and I found myself jerking my head in body English,
unconsciously rooting for the ball to slice into the corner.  My
deepest fear is coming true, doctor. I like the Yankees. I
actually think they can stay in the pennant race. I see them
becoming more than the sum of their parts. I am intrigued by
their versatility, their characters. I can't wait to see who's
playing shortstop at the moment. I am having fun watching
baseball.  My conflict, doctor, is not that I'm a journalist who
is supposed to be totally neutral. Columnists are supposed to
have feelings. I know I'm a front-runner, doctor. I have faced
that part of myself. I can persuade myself that I root for the
story and not for the team. The