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Yankees snubbed by Cincinnati's Driehaus
By Peter Urban • purban@gannett.com • November 12, 2009
When Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., and 66 co-sponsors offered the resolution last Friday, it easily passed, but 28 members - mostly from districts near Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul - voted either "no" or "present."
Since 1973, no resolution honoring a past World Series champion has drawn a negative vote.
Randy Roberts, a history professor at Purdue University who writes about modern sports, chalked up the vote, in part, to the nature of politics today.
''There is such a lack of civility," he said.
The Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels in the playoffs before taking on the Phillies.
The vote Friday stands in stark contrast to 1975, when the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., sponsored a resolution congratulating the Reds for winning the World Series against his beloved Red Sox. The Senate approved that resolution unanimously.
The Reds defeated the Yankees the following year, but no resolution of congratulations was offered in either the Senate or House. It's only been since 2002, when the Angels took the title, that such resolutions have become annual events.
The resolutions typically draw a 20- or 30-minute floor debate - almost exclusively in praise of the winners - and then a voice vote approving the measure. A roll call was ordered in 2006 for the St. Louis Cardinals, which passed 395-0.
This year, Serrano said he was proud to have Yankee Stadium in his district and proud that the ''Bronx Bombers" had come together this year to win. None of those who voted ''no" or ''present" spoke while the resolution was being considered for nearly an hour, although there was a moment of grumbling.
Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., who voted for the resolution, asked for ''the record to reflect the fact that I am a Mets fan, and I do not associate myself with the previous comments" favoring the Yankees.
Roberts said opponents could have argued that lawmakers should be focused on the economic crisis or the war in Afghanistan rather than a frivolous resolution. He also didn't buy the idea that a World Series can be purchased - although filling your roster with stars can't hurt.
"If you could buy a World Series, the Yankees should have had 10 in a row," Roberts said. "Statistically, they didn't spend any more this year than five years ago or seven years ago." (Ed: Oh yes, they did!)
Driehaus said he voted "present" as a way to voice displeasure at the "major market" teams that make it difficult for small-market teams like the Reds to remain competitive.
"It's not a knock against the Yankees, but it was a statement on baseball and payrolls," he said. "I've been a fan of the Reds all my life. I grew up on the Big Red Machine, and I think a lot of people believe that the Yankees dominate because of the amount of money they spend. I was representing the voice of the underdog."
Driehaus, who played outfield and first base in the congressional baseball game this year, has a long family history in baseball. His great-uncle, George ''Shorty" Normile, had the idea of starting a Little League club in Cincinnati back in 1931, and the Knothole Club is still going strong.
Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, said she opposed the resolution as a die-hard fan of ''The Boys of Summer" and the underdog.
"The Brooklyn Dodgers," she said. "That's when baseball was a sport and not a business."
Voted NO on resolution congratulating the New York Yankees for winning the World Series:
Rep. John Adler, D-N.J. (born in Philadelphia).
Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa.
Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark.
Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa (famously asked Yankee Roger Clemens if he was a vegan during last year's steroid hearing).
Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif.
Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass.
Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo
Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif.
Rep. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Rep. George Radanovich, R-Calif.
Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.,
Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla. (born in Philadelphia)
Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa.
Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.(a passionate Milwaukee Brewer fan)
Voted PRESENT:
Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. (born Needham, MA)
Rep. Steve Driehaus, D-West Price Hill
Rep. Paul Hodes, D-N.H.
Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Wis. (held a campaign fundraiser in June when the Washington Nationals played the Boston Red Sox).
Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I.
Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga. (attended Boston University Law School)
Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn.
Rep. John Olver, D-Mass.
Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind.
Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Mass.
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. (born in Springfield, Mass.)
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