Ariy-El Boynton

Q: Are you as excited about the Yankees missing the playoffs as I am?

A: Well, in a word: No! I am not thrilled that the Yankees have missed the playoffs for the first time in more than 10 years. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a New York fan, but I am also not an anti-Yankee fan.

I don’t understand being an anti-fan of any sporting team. I have met many anti-Yankee fans in my time in the Great Plains. Maybe, it’s because the proud people here think they live superior lives to the city slickers. I have never been to New York, so I don’t know which is better.

Now, back to the question. I don’t miss the players in the pinstripes, but I do miss the venue that has seen a lot of playoff games in the past.

I want to see a stadium in which Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Derek Jeter, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berea and Lou Gehrig played so many playoff games in years before. I want to see the magical lights hit the grass and showcase the beautiful New York night. I really couldn’t care less if the Yankees played a single-A ball club. I guess I just want to see one more game at the “house that Ruth built.”

It’s cool that the Tampa Bay Rays made it to the playoffs, although some people would call this team “fake.”

“Fake” is the best way to describe Tropicana Field. I mean, a dome in freaking St. Petersburg, Fla.! Why? And, there are special rules if the ball lands in two different sectors of the baseball field; just ridiculous. I felt like I was watching a game in Japan when I saw girls dancing on the dugout last week.

I am crushed that Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923, will no longer host events in the historic stadium.

The stadium saw 26 Yankees World Series and three perfect games, one of which was Don Larsen’s. This was the only perfect game in a World Series.

Also, the “Win One for the Gipper” speech was supposedly given at Yankee Stadium. Gehrig and Ruth gave memorable speeches days before their deaths.

In the Bronx, an African-American, Joe Louis, knocked out a German before World War II in the most listened-to radio event in American history.

The “game of the century” took place in Yankee Stadium, putting the NFL “on the map.” Notre Dame, Army and Navy played memorable college football games there, as well.

Three Popes held Mass at the stadium, and a tribute for 9-11 was offered there.

Because there is no Yankee Stadium, I miss the Yankees in the MLB playoffs.