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It will be the Indians vs. the Yankees in a best-of-five Division Series, with the first two games to be played at Jacobs Field Thursday and Friday.
Games 3 and 4 (if necessary) will be played Sunday and Oct. 8 in New York, and Game 5 (if necessary) would be played Oct. 10 at Jacobs Field.
That's right, the Yankees vs. the Indians.
The House That Ruth Built vs. The House That Angst Wallpapered.
The Yankees vs. the Indians. U.S. Steel vs. the Wright Brothers' Bicycle Shop.
Honk if the Yankees honk you off.
They are, as they so proudly proclaim, the most famous team in professional sports. They are also the most successful team in professional sports. They play in the biggest city in professional sports. They spend the most money on their players of any team in professional sports.
They have the most famous uniforms in professional sports. Their players are the most famous in professional sports. They hold the most records in professional sports. Yada, yada, yada, and, of course, for much of the rest of the country, they are the most annoying franchise in professional sports.
Pinstripes? Painstripes!
Love 'em or hate 'em -- and everyone does -- the Yankees are ''THE YANKEES.''
And you're not.
So there.
There is, and never has been, any middle ground with the Yankees. Regardless of where you live, you either passionately love them or passionately hate them.
I mean, come on. Have you ever seen an entire ballpark waving ''I hate the Devil Rays'' hankees? No.
Has there ever been a Broadway musical called ''Damn Brewers!'' No.
Has there ever been a time when the country has been awash with the catch phrase ''Break up the Royals?'' No.
Only the Yankees stir the emotions to such a degree, good and bad, among the nation's sports fans. Why is that? Because the Yankees win. A lot. More than most teams. More than all teams, actually.
Faced with such a sporting colossus, it's human nature to either climb on board as a card-carrying, front-running blindly loyal, 24/7 Yankateer, or to reflexively rebel at such over-the-top affluence and obscene success by siding just as fervently with the other side.
The underdog. The proverbial Washington Generals. The team, whoever it is, that the mighty Yankees are playing on a given day or in a given series.
The Indians, for example.
The Indians vs. the Yankees is classic David vs. Goliath. A $61 million payroll vs. a $190 million payroll. The neighborhood Billy vs. the neighborhood bully.
The contrast between the two teams, the two cities, the two auras, is best reflected by two positions: shortstop and third base.
The Yankees' shortstop, Derek Jeter, is one of the most glamorous and acclaimed athletes in the country.
The Indians' shortstop, Jhonny Peralta, is one of the most anonymous athletes in the country, radar blipless other than for the rogue ''h'' holding his first name hostage.
The Yankees' third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, has a $252 million contract, Ruthian statistics, and a cutting edge nickname, ''A-Rod.''
The Indians' third baseman, Casey Blake, is from Indianola, Iowa.
''C-Bla?'' I don't think so.
These are the kinds of dynamics that make the Yankees so easy to love and easy to hate. The Yankees are America itself: big, brassy, bold, bodacious.
If that's your cup of ''whee!'' then you're a Yankee lover through and through.
But there's also a certain obnoxiousness that comes from being so big, so good, so rich. Those who recognize that tend to instinctively rebel from it.
Pay no attention to Sinatra. If you can make it in Cleveland, you can make it anywhere, too.
Three words: C.C. Sabathia.
And so, as we welcome another season of October baseball, we also welcome the return of another season of sports fans defining themselves as either Yankee doodle dandies or damn these Yankees' doodles.
You're either on one side or the other. The group that lives vicariously through the most successful and famous professional sports team in America. Or the group that finds something more wholesome and fulfilling in rooting for Casey Blake.
It's the city that never sleeps vs. the city that always weeps.
Put another way, World Series championships since 1949: Yankees 16, Indians 0.
Go ahead, take your pick.
You are who you root for.
JIngraham@news-herald.com
