Lights go out at Yankee Stadium

Is ESPN pulling out all the stops for the Yankee Stadium farewell, or what?

Top of the first inning, and I've lost count of the number of times I've been hit with goosebumps. True story.

On a side note, Babe Ruth's daughter threw out the first pitch. It looked just like a Johnny Damon toss from the outfield.

I made some barbs earlier in the week about the constant attention the farewell was receiving. But on the day of, I think it's totally appropriate. Not to get all Tony Kornheiser here, but this is unequivocally the most significant and historic sports venue America has ever known. Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Nelson Mandela, Joe D., Mickey Mantle, the greatest NFL game every played (1958 title tilt), Derek Jeter, President Bush, the pope ... and that's just scratching the surface.

The best part about Yankee Stadium, though, at least in my opinion, is that it's so simple. A big ballpark with a lot of seats, where baseball is the featured attraction. Not wireless Internet, not goofy mascots, not water parks, but baseball. Fans, passionate fans, go and watch. Not because it's the chic thing to do, but because they want to watch the Yankees.

Say what you will about the Evil Empire, and the out-of-control spending that invades the game. But you simply can't ignore the importance of Yankee Stadium, and all the legendary figures that passed through its doors.

Next year, of course, the Yankees, moving into their billion-dollar playground, will price every-day fans out of tickets (via personal seat licenses, where fans will pay as much as $25,000, and more, just for the RIGHT to purchase a season ticket).

But that's another story for another day.