Smell Like a Yankee

One fear I had was that once I started this blog, my subway experiences would suddenly become mundane. That I would see nothing whatsoever to interest me or that was worth blogging about. I think that's probably a groundless fear, though. Yesterday while riding the 4 train from Harlem 125th Street to 59th Street/Lexington Ave, I saw the following advertisement:

Please excuse the poor quality of the photo - the train was a bit bumpy. But yes, friends - here it is. The thing you've all been waiting for - the chance to smell like the New York Yankees. I see how this advertisement is drawing on the long-standing tradition of the Yankees, but I'm not sure exactly what that's supposed to smell like. They're invoking history - but things that are really, really old tend not to smell very good. And with what scents does one associate baseball in general? The first thing that comes to mind for me is sweat.

But that makes sense! For what else does the subway smell like on Yankee game days? A week or so ago, I was riding the D train to the Bronx in the middle of the day. I got on at 34th Street, and the train was inexplicably packed! The B is often crowded at this stop, but the D, at that time of day, usually isn't. Not too many people go to the Bronx at that time, I guess. But now, the train was standing-room-only. "No matter," I thought. "I'll get a seat at 59th Street." Lots of people tend to get off at 59th Street, since that's where the train expresses to Harlem. And I had noticed something about this particular crowd. The majority of them were white. They were definitely getting off at 59th. I'd get a seat. But then, I noticed something else - something worrisome - a lot of them were dressed as though for a picnic. Shorts, t-shirts, sneakers and sandals. And a lot of the t-shirts and hats had Yankees logos on them. I sighed in resignation. I would get to sit down at 161st Street. Not before. It was game day. Even so, at least going to Yankee Stadium, people tend to be mostly well-behaved. It's when I run into them going back that they behave deplorably. I have been in so many trains with drunk, sweaty, loud fans, either elated because the Yankees proved victorious, or angry because they lost. Either way, they made for a less than wonderful train experience (and if you're reading this as one of these people - it's not personal and if there were one Yankees fan on the train, it would be fine - it's just the whole phenomena that I find irksome). Lest you think I'm picking on the Yankees - I find any large crowd of drunken sports fans obnoxious. I'll never forget studying in Rome in college, when Rome played Scotland in Rugby. For several days, the streets and bars were packed with drunk Scotsmen in kilts. I referred to it as the Scottish invasion of Rome (and I love Scotland - and kilts - I just don't love drunken sports fans).

But - this blog is about the subway, so I'm getting off-topic. I suppose it's appropriate that the advertisement appeared on one of the two trains that stops at Yankee Stadium. And really, that this product exists is pretty funny, when you think about it. It's just that I don't need New York Yankees cologne. I experience eau de Yankees on the subway, whenever I happen to ride on game day.

Just in case you are interested, though - after doing a little Googling, I discovered that it's possible to order the cologne for in a 1.7 oz. bottle for $49.00 at Macy's, or a 3.4 oz. bottle for 29.00 on Amazon.