An open Letter about the "Person" who bought my Actual seats out from under me.

[garyfdny]

Hi My friends ( except for Mr. Tom Dixon) ( who i thought was a "friend" )

So here it goes. For 17 years i sat in Sec 605 , Seats 5 & 6. My son grew up in those seats. I met my second family in that section and grew to love them as dear friends. I watched so many memorable times at The Stadium and i never felt more proud when i hobbled into those seats the first sunday game after Sept 11th and the entire section got up and applauded when they say me and cheered that fact that i was alive and had survived
The last game of the season Mr. Dixon came over to "meet the person who sat in "his" weekday seats . We spoke about the possibility of the purchase of these seats and came to an aggrement. Since he owned a monday to friday plan in another section as well as my seats on fridays he "promised" he would leave the purchase of my sunday seats to me. Being a blue collared FDNY member i was happy as i could not enter into a bidding war with him. He had originally spoke of buying all his seats ( as he is obviously not a blue collared worker who risks his life everyday) but my son and i asked him very kindly to please allow us the ability to purchase the sunday seats and how much they meant to us.
Well today i get a call from the Yankee/Steiner rep who apologized so many times as he informed me that my seats were bought by this man. ( The steiner rep has many family in the fire dept amd i will keep his name private)
I asked if this man had bought his regular half season seats as well and i was told no. So why did he go out of his way to buy the seats i so much wanted and had thought had a gentlemans aggreement on?
That question i have no answer too. Its bad enough that i was re-located to the nosebleed seats in Sec 413 because so many of his kind pushed the little man out of any good seats unless i wanted to second mortage my home and not send my son to college to afford where i used to sit
If Mr. Dixon even reads this forum, i am sure he does not as this is a place for the common fan and not the "rich and famous"
But..if indeed you do come across this post maybe you would consider doing the right thing and buying the seats you sat in 4/5's of the time and leave me and my son the seats we were able to afford all these years and that "gentlemen" agreed on their respective purchase on the last day in the Old Stadium, the House that Ruth Built.

[Ram Man]

Obviously, I don't know any more about this situation than you have described. Have you spoken with him? If not, could it be possible that Mr. Dixon has a plan to present you with those seats when he receives them? Maybe he wants to surprise you with them. After all, if he took the time to come over to meet you and made the agreement with you, why necessarily jump to the conclusion that he is pulling one over on you?

[HeartoftheHide]

[bigjf]

Obviously, I don't know any more about this situation than you have described. Have you spoken with him? If not, could it be possible that Mr. Dixon has a plan to present you with those seats when he receives them? Maybe he wants to surprise you with them. After all, if he took the time to come over to meet you and made the agreement with you, why necessarily jump to the conclusion that he is pulling one over on you?

That's what I thought too when reading this. Other than that, I don't really know what to tell ya. It just sounds like a bunch of moaning and crying from a guy who still has season tix yet thinks he's been priced out. How about those of us who can't afford season tix whatsoever, let alone spend a couple of thousand dollars on stadium seats?

[okposo21]

Should have moved quicker. The early bird gets the worm.

[garyfdny]

I will address the following

First , the steiner rep even asked this guy if he knew my desire to buy the seats, and to that he answered by purchasing them

Second, moaning and groaning when others cannot afford season tickets
Sir, i have and have had a sunday ticket plan for many years , the result of my Dad being on the waitlist for over 10 years. The year my father was Murdered on the streets of manhatten i was called for these tickets. It has always been in my heart that my dad gave these to me and my son to spend sundays together in a place he so much wanted us to be
In addition i can barely afford the sunday plan but do so by working overtime and saving prudently ( perhaps you are aware of the salery of a member of the nyc fire dept?)

Third, i should have acted faster, well Sir if you have been reading the other threads the Full and Partial season plan holders got first pick of whatever seats they wanted, including their own so i had no way of " acting faster" as you say

That is the story, those seats mean more to be than anyone can possibly know, so i am left with the decision of buying another pair of seats numbered 5 & 6 and telling a lie to my son or not getting them at all. Either way the little guy loses. I hope Mr. Dixon knows how cruel his purchase actually was..

[HeartoftheHide]

I'm sorry Gary, but cry me a river. I read this and I wanted to vomit. What does the fact that you're a NYC fire-fighter have to do with any of this? I appreciate you laying it on the line for the public more than you know - my brother is a fire-fighter as well and he makes me extremely proud, but you seem to think that you should be entitled to things others shouldn't because you're a fire-fighter. You said that Mr. Dixon sat in those same seats on Friday night. Did you ever consider that maybe he's got a sentimentality for the seats as well?

You whine about the "white-collar" people who "pushed out the little guy," and pretty much characterize them as evil people. But when someone else who can't afford to buy any kind of season ticket package calls you out, it's okay because your father, who was murdered, gave them to you. So if someone's got front row season-tickets that were passed down from their father who passed away, are they okay in your book? Or are they just filthy, greedy, "white-collar" pigs who pushed the "little guy" out? If that's not the height of hypocrisy, I don't know what is. We all make choices in life. You chose to be a fire-fighter. Other people chose careers that would be more financially rewarding, and had to work hard to achieve that. That doesn't make them evil, just wealthier.

And lastly, it's a completely different stadium, with completely different seats. What's the big deal what the number on seats are?

[yankeebot]

Color me skeptical. A 10 year wait list for tickets at a time when the Yankees were averaging less than 30K per game while I was able to get a similar Sunday plan without waiting at the peak of popularity? I have my doubts.

[bigjf]

I'm sorry about your father, but I never had any tix passed down to me. I'm sure you have to work very hard to afford that plan. I mean no disrespect there. But don't act like you are entitled to the physical seats please. Maybe I'm just not all that sentimental about a seat, but it definitely sounds like a bunch of whining just because some guy, who is just as entitled to those seats, allegedly lied to you and paid his $2 grand or so for them. I'm sorry but life goes on, and posting here isn't likely to get anything done about it either. If you're struggling that badly you can always sell them off and watch on TV for a lot less money. Again, I sympathize, but they are just seats and just tickets that you pay for.

[bigjf]

Color me skeptical. A 10 year wait list for tickets at a time when the Yankees were averaging less than 30K per game while I was able to get a similar Sunday plan without waiting at the peak of popularity? I have my doubts.

Yeah, this too. I had a Friday plan just a few years ago for one season before I gave them up because I couldn't afford it. No wait period there either.

[Cap080279]

I went to my first Yankee game in October of 1980. I never miss a game on TV and try to get to about 3-5 games a season at the Stadium.
I am now unemployed and underwater on my home loan to the point where my credit is awful and I probably won't see the inside of the Stadium this year...

..you can't have your specific seats throughout the season? I feel terrible.

[kirbivore]

Color me skeptical. A 10 year wait list for tickets at a time when the Yankees were averaging less than 30K per game while I was able to get a similar Sunday plan without waiting at the peak of popularity? I have my doubts.

I got a Sunday plan and I signed up in 2007 w/o spending any time on a waiting list.

[ScottLI]

Be happy you didn't get suckered into paying 2 grand for seats that cost $50 to make.

Spend the $2K on something memorable for someone who needs it. That will make more of a memory than having those seats around ever would.

[Retire21]

I'm sorry Gary, but cry me a river. I read this and I wanted to vomit. What does the fact that you're a NYC fire-fighter have to do with any of this? I appreciate you laying it on the line for the public more than you know - my brother is a fire-fighter as well and he makes me extremely proud, but you seem to think that you should be entitled to things others shouldn't because you're a fire-fighter. You said that Mr. Dixon sat in those same seats on Friday night. Did you ever consider that maybe he's got a sentimentality for the seats as well?

You whine about the "white-collar" people who "pushed out the little guy," and pretty much characterize them as evil people. But when someone else who can't afford to buy any kind of season ticket package calls you out, it's okay because your father, who was murdered, gave them to you. So if someone's got front row season-tickets that were passed down from their father who passed away, are they okay in your book? Or are they just filthy, greedy, "white-collar" pigs who pushed the "little guy" out? If that's not the height of hypocrisy, I don't know what is. We all make choices in life. You chose to be a fire-fighter. Other people chose careers that would be more financially rewarding, and had to work hard to achieve that. That doesn't make them evil, just wealthier.

And lastly, it's a completely different stadium, with completely different seats. What's the big deal what the number on seats are?

Can't disagree with anything written here- well said. Lose the entitlement attitude.

[CalYankeeFan]

Should've had it in writing if it meant that much. But that's hindsight....but maybe, just maybe, not getting the seats will help you with the "letting go". Then keep the memories at heart and share them with your son - because that's what truly brings happiness...not the seats.

And I say that with all due respect from a military person who lost a family member and several "brothers" - some close, some not so close - in recent years.

[35Knucklecurve]

Should've had it in writing if it meant that much. But that's hindsight....but maybe, just maybe, not getting the seats will help you with the "letting go". Then keep the memories at heart and share them with your son - because that's what truly brings happiness...not the seats.

And I say that with all due respect from a military person who lost a family member and several "brothers" - some close, some not so close - in recent years.

Excellent post - it's almost symbolic in a way....let the seats go and hold on to what's really important. All those people who're selling seats and other memorabilia from OYS to the highest bidders on eBay will still remember what it was like to sit there. I still treasure every single game I sat with my Dad at Connie Mack Stadium and those memories wouldn't be any more special if I had the actual seats we sat in, on display in my living room right now.

[roblyo33]

I don't believe a word of it.

[Billy Ball 2008]

I'm sorry Gary, but cry me a river. I read this and I wanted to vomit. What does the fact that you're a NYC fire-fighter have to do with any of this? I appreciate you laying it on the line for the public more than you know - my brother is a fire-fighter as well and he makes me extremely proud, but you seem to think that you should be entitled to things others shouldn't because you're a fire-fighter. You said that Mr. Dixon sat in those same seats on Friday night. Did you ever consider that maybe he's got a sentimentality for the seats as well?

You whine about the "white-collar" people who "pushed out the little guy," and pretty much characterize them as evil people. But when someone else who can't afford to buy any kind of season ticket package calls you out, it's okay because your father, who was murdered, gave them to you. So if someone's got front row season-tickets that were passed down from their father who passed away, are they okay in your book? Or are they just filthy, greedy, "white-collar" pigs who pushed the "little guy" out? If that's not the height of hypocrisy, I don't know what is. We all make choices in life. You chose to be a fire-fighter. Other people chose careers that would be more financially rewarding, and had to work hard to achieve that. That doesn't make them evil, just wealthier.

And lastly, it's a completely different stadium, with completely different seats. What's the big deal what the number on seats are?

Great post. I agree completely.

Not sure why your chosen occupation has any role in this. Fire fighter, teacher, construction worker, ditch digger....does it really matter?

[okposo21]

I will address the following

First , the steiner rep even asked this guy if he knew my desire to buy the seats, and to that he answered by purchasing them

Second, moaning and groaning when others cannot afford season tickets
Sir, i have and have had a sunday ticket plan for many years , the result of my Dad being on the waitlist for over 10 years. The year my father was Murdered on the streets of manhatten i was called for these tickets. It has always been in my heart that my dad gave these to me and my son to spend sundays together in a place he so much wanted us to be
In addition i can barely afford the sunday plan but do so by working overtime and saving prudently ( perhaps you are aware of the salery of a member of the nyc fire dept?)

Third, i should have acted faster, well Sir if you have been reading the other threads the Full and Partial season plan holders got first pick of whatever seats they wanted, including their own so i had no way of " acting faster" as you say

That is the story, those seats mean more to be than anyone can possibly know, so i am left with the decision of buying another pair of seats numbered 5 & 6 and telling a lie to my son or not getting them at all. Either way the little guy loses. I hope Mr. Dixon knows how cruel his purchase actually was..

So you had a Sunday plan and he had a Friday plan. Steiner is only selling your original seats to someone Full and 46 game plan holders only. Anyways, even if they did sell them to partial holders, you should have called right when they went on sale. But you waited, and you missed out. Sucks to be you. But what I don't understand, what makes you think you deserve the seats anymore than he does? Because you have some sort of sentimental value to them? Guess what, he does too. If you cared about it that much, you should have written a contract up. But even then, it's the Yankees property and they sold it to him. Get over it.

And once again with your rich and famous line. What, wealthy people can't be baseball fans too? George Steinbrenner wasn't a baseball fan before he bought the team? He just wanted to drop 10 million on a good investment? He was the biggest fan of them all. Just because someone has money doesn't make them any less of a fan than the people sitting in the bleachers. How about they didn't bother showing up to the game and subsidizing your upper deck ticket? Then how would you like it? You chose to be a firefighter. If you were so concerned about not being able to afford things, perhaps you would have stayed in school and pursued a white collar job. I'm sick of people saying white collar workers aren't fans at all. I'd like to introduce you to a bunch of the partners at my firm. Worth more money than you have probably ever seen, and I'm willing to bet they're bigger fans than you'd ever dream of being.

[garyfdny]

What i will remember most are the people who used to occupy this forum, not those who stated their less than admirable opinions

case closed - thank goodness ill be out of your city in a couple years when i retire

[wall-e]

What i will remember most are the people who used to occupy this forum, not those who stated their less than admirable opinions

case closed - thank goodness ill be out of your city in a couple years when i retire

So because people disagree with your story which was poorly written and fairly unbelievable you think we're not worth being recognized/noticed?

How about this- enjoy the city in your final years here, and understand that people are going to have different opinions than yours and that "admirable opinions" don't go hand in hand with the respectability of a person. Just because Ram Man is not on his knees giving you a handie, and using Cleenex tissues to help wipe away your tears doesn't mean he's giving a bad opinion on the subject.

[Panamaniac42]

What i will remember most are the people who used to occupy this forum, not those who stated their less than admirable opinions

case closed - thank goodness ill be out of your city in a couple years when i retire

[teknetic]

What i will remember most are the people who used to occupy this forum, not those who stated their less than admirable opinions

case closed - thank goodness ill be out of your city in a couple years when i retire

I hope you don't plan on coming to Jersey.

[shadyridr]

Boo hoo cry me a frickin river. seriously

Why are they your seats?

[Pinstripedbass]

If you were so concerned about not being able to afford things, perhaps you would have stayed in school and pursued a white collar job.

How do you know he didn't stay in school? I have my degree and work a blue collar job. The same job I had while I was going to school. The same job for 27 years.

Be careful with that kind of talk. It's condescending.

[Meecham4ever]

How do you know he didn't stay in school? I have my degree and work a blue collar job. The same job I had while I was going to school. The same job for 27 years.

Be careful with that kind of talk. It's condescending.

Same here....we're loaded with college grads in this country, white-collar workers. while our manufacturing base has left altogether....college grads are a dime a dozen....now, if you can figure out what these "processors" do all day, you'd be a wealthy man.

[okposo21]

How do you know he didn't stay in school? I have my degree and work a blue collar job. The same job I had while I was going to school. The same job for 27 years.

Be careful with that kind of talk. It's condescending.

I meant postgraduate schools, but I'll edit it to reflect that.

[rpbri2886]

Gary, I saw your original post yesterday before there were any replies, but refrained from giving my own.

I come from a family of firefighters, and have no greater appreciation for anything than for what FDNY members did not only on 9/11 but everyday. However, your sense of entitlement is sickening. This is the second or third time you've come on the forums, whining about how you deserve something special for being FDNY. First it was ticket prices and how your seats were moved in the new stadium, now it's not being able to buy your old seats. What's next, the fact that the Yankees don't have special FDNY reduced prices on hot dogs and Cracker Jack?

My father, grandfather, and great-grandfather have over 100 years of firefighting experience between the three of them, and never did they expect or receive anything special for their service. In fact, I'd say that any of them would be disgusted to read these posts.

Gary, you might be the nicest guy in the world...I have no way to know, and I really do appreciate everything that you do. However, you need to stop coming on here touting that you should be given something that I'm not just because you're FDNY. I'm sorry to hear you didn't get your seats, but that's just the way things are sometime. Do you know what I would do? Put that $2000 in the bank and use it to pay for some playoff tickets should the Yankees get there. What would mean more for your soon, some plastic seats, or being in the stadium for a World Series game? I vote World Series.

[dino26]

I feel for you Gary but now you are starting a new chapter with your son yeah you had memories from your old seat but now you will have some new ones too .

[gotnoname19]

How do you know he didn't stay in school? I have my degree and work a blue collar job. The same job I had while I was going to school. The same job for 27 years.

Be careful with that kind of talk. It's condescending.

Agreed, I'm a fire fighter with a BA in Disaster Reduction and Emergency Planning.

That said, the post that started this thread was so poorly written that I dont even know what is going on.

[BBombers85]

Yikes. After reading some of the posts I'd like to think we're better than this. He was simply looking for a vent and a little consideration. Maybe it's just me but I'd like to give him the benefit of doubt. On the flip side these seats are not worth $2k. It's no loss, trust me.

[ScottLI]

Do you know what I would do? Put that $2000 in the bank and use it to pay for some playoff tickets should the Yankees get there. What would mean more for your soon, some plastic seats, or being in the stadium for a World Series game? I vote World Series.

I'd take that a step further. What would mean more to you? Going to another Yankee game, having some plastic in your basement, or actually making a difference in someones life who may never have the chance to buy Yankees tickets.

[bigjf]

What i will remember most are the people who used to occupy this forum, not those who stated their less than admirable opinions

case closed - thank goodness ill be out of your city in a couple years when i retire

Spoken like NY's bravest right there. I hope the rest of the FDNY isn't like you.

And when you leave, you won't be missed. Of course, you could just keep living in NY and stop logging on to this forum...

By the way, not all the people who occupy this forum or disagree with your opinions live in this state.

[JDPNYY]

This is among the strangest threads ever.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

I'm sorry Gary, but cry me a river. I read this and I wanted to vomit. What does the fact that you're a NYC fire-fighter have to do with any of this? I appreciate you laying it on the line for the public more than you know - my brother is a fire-fighter as well and he makes me extremely proud, but you seem to think that you should be entitled to things others shouldn't because you're a fire-fighter. You said that Mr. Dixon sat in those same seats on Friday night. Did you ever consider that maybe he's got a sentimentality for the seats as well?

You whine about the "white-collar" people who "pushed out the little guy," and pretty much characterize them as evil people. But when someone else who can't afford to buy any kind of season ticket package calls you out, it's okay because your father, who was murdered, gave them to you. So if someone's got front row season-tickets that were passed down from their father who passed away, are they okay in your book? Or are they just filthy, greedy, "white-collar" pigs who pushed the "little guy" out? If that's not the height of hypocrisy, I don't know what is. We all make choices in life. You chose to be a fire-fighter. Other people chose careers that would be more financially rewarding, and had to work hard to achieve that. That doesn't make them evil, just wealthier.

And lastly, it's a completely different stadium, with completely different seats. What's the big deal what the number on seats are?

I have to agree.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

So you had a Sunday plan and he had a Friday plan. Steiner is only selling your original seats to someone Full and 46 game plan holders only. Anyways, even if they did sell them to partial holders, you should have called right when they went on sale. But you waited, and you missed out. Sucks to be you. But what I don't understand, what makes you think you deserve the seats anymore than he does? Because you have some sort of sentimental value to them? Guess what, he does too. If you cared about it that much, you should have written a contract up. But even then, it's the Yankees property and they sold it to him. Get over it.

And once again with your rich and famous line. What, wealthy people can't be baseball fans too? George Steinbrenner wasn't a baseball fan before he bought the team? He just wanted to drop 10 million on a good investment? He was the biggest fan of them all. Just because someone has money doesn't make them any less of a fan than the people sitting in the bleachers. How about they didn't bother showing up to the game and subsidizing your upper deck ticket? Then how would you like it? You chose to be a firefighter. If you were so concerned about not being able to afford things, perhaps you would have stayed in school and pursued a white collar job. I'm sick of people saying white collar workers aren't fans at all. I'd like to introduce you to a bunch of the partners at my firm. Worth more money than you have probably ever seen, and I'm willing to bet they're bigger fans than you'd ever dream of being.

Good post, I hate the character assassinations of people with ambition because they are successful. People with money can be fans too. If you won mega millions would you be any less of a fan?

[schwarzstein]

This is among the strangest threads ever.

It really is.

[Yankeeah]

So wait, let's recape.

- Original Poster had seats for a ton of years.

- Tom Dixon shared seats on other games that OP did not have tickets to.

- TD said he wouldn't buy the seats from old stadium

- TD bought seats from old stadium

- OP is pissed because he is FDNY and feels disrespected.

- OP is also pissed because other people make more money than he does. This, despite the fact he had the money for season tickets for 17 years+ and can afford to buy his seats.

I think I got it. It was damn hard to read your post. Remember, paragraphs are our friends.

It's hard to take someone seriously when they complain about money if they have had season tickets for 17 years. Some people can't afford to go to 17 games in their life.

[35Knucklecurve]

This is among the strangest threads ever.

I have to agree with you there - I just re-read everything and it's even more bizarre the second time. Yet, I responded to it.

[Murcer1]

It's hard to take someone seriously when they complain about money if they have had season tickets for 17 years. Some people can't afford to go to 17 games in their life.

It just goes to show that everything in life is relative. The original poster is complaining about white collar workers who make more than him, had a bigger ticket plan and forked over the money to buy his seats.

Meanwhile, I'm sure there are people out there who can't afford a plan of any kind that would view the original poster with equal envy.

The lesson is: enjoy your life for what it is and be thankful for what you've got. There are plenty of people in the world who have more than you and there are plenty who have a lot less!

[DEADSOX]

I can't even afford a blue plastic seat from the Wal Mart garden section.

[JDPNYY]

I have to agree with you there - I just re-read everything and it's even more bizarre the second time. Yet, I responded to it.

In fact, it may be the strangest thread EVER without a post by Brad.

[Ram Man]

The lesson is: enjoy your life for what it is and be thankful for what you've got. There are plenty of people in the world who have more than you and there are plenty who have a lot less!

Very well put.

[CT-Yankee]

Aside from all the entitlement talk, I do wonder why the guy bought the seats if there was a gentleman's agreement. Maybe he just changed his mind and not necessarily a plot to keep them from you. Not much you can do if that's the case.

[pergo36]

Hi My friends ( except for Mr. Tom Dixon) ( who i thought was a "friend" )

So here it goes. For 17 years i sat in Sec 605 , Seats 5 & 6. My son grew up in those seats. I met my second family in that section and grew to love them as dear friends. I watched so many memorable times at The Stadium and i never felt more proud when i hobbled into those seats the first sunday game after Sept 11th and the entire section got up and applauded when they say me and cheered that fact that i was alive and had survived
The last game of the season Mr. Dixon came over to "meet the person who sat in "his" weekday seats . We spoke about the possibility of the purchase of these seats and came to an aggrement. Since he owned a monday to friday plan in another section as well as my seats on fridays he "promised" he would leave the purchase of my sunday seats to me. Being a blue collared FDNY member i was happy as i could not enter into a bidding war with him. He had originally spoke of buying all his seats ( as he is obviously not a blue collared worker who risks his life everyday) but my son and i asked him very kindly to please allow us the ability to purchase the sunday seats and how much they meant to us.
Well today i get a call from the Yankee/Steiner rep who apologized so many times as he informed me that my seats were bought by this man. ( The steiner rep has many family in the fire dept amd i will keep his name private)
I asked if this man had bought his regular half season seats as well and i was told no. So why did he go out of his way to buy the seats i so much wanted and had thought had a gentlemans aggreement on?
That question i have no answer too. Its bad enough that i was re-located to the nosebleed seats in Sec 413 because so many of his kind pushed the little man out of any good seats unless i wanted to second mortage my home and not send my son to college to afford where i used to sit
If Mr. Dixon even reads this forum, i am sure he does not as this is a place for the common fan and not the "rich and famous"
But..if indeed you do come across this post maybe you would consider doing the right thing and buying the seats you sat in 4/5's of the time and leave me and my son the seats we were able to afford all these years and that "gentlemen" agreed on their respective purchase on the last day in the Old Stadium, the House that Ruth Built.

listen man i'm sorry you didn't get the seats you wanted but being a fireman doesn't entitle you to jack squat. and the fact that you go out of your way to say that you "risk your life every day" is pathetic. and if it so terrible then do something else. this guy works hard for his money just like you do and is allowed to do what he wants with it. get over it bro.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

[BxBomber44]

Wow at the post.

And

Wow at some of the responses.

[StingrayJG]

I specifically called Steiner Sports as soon as the seats went on sale and asked them on the phone if I could get my particular seats (Having had only the Sunday plan I had already read that I probably wouldn't but figured I'd take a shot.) They validated that only full, A&B were being allowed to get particular seats.

So, unless Steiner has done a complete about-face on that restriction some time in the past week, I have to call BS on the entire story here.

[Murcer1]

I would love to get my old seats that I had for many years. But I only had a Saturday plan, so if the person who had a weekday plan decides to take them, then that's that. No use crying over it. It means it just wasn't meant to be.

[NJ Fan]

An open letter to GaryFDNY:

Dear Gary-

I have "known" you since just after 9/11, when I inadvertently captured you on my video camera, being honored on the field at Yankee Stadium for your heroism. If I recall, there were many articles written about you at the time... referencing how you carried a woman out of a building during the WTC attacks, and about how you were lucky to be alive after being thrown under your rescue vehicle, as it was being buried in ash and debris. Your legs were badly injured, but you made it out. You witnessed your friends and co-workers suffer a worse fate. I remember how difficult it seemed for you to walk out onto the field and stand as 55,000 fans wildly applauded you, and your fellow heroes.

I have seen your name in numerous articles through the years since, as you contunue to receive many awards and accolades for saving so many people. If I'm not mistaken, you're the guy with "Operation Santa" delivering holiday gifts to many needy children.

I don't believe you were "entitled" to those physical seats from the old stadium, but I would like to have seen you be able to own them. My son and I visited with you and your son a few times at those very seats, and I do consider them to be yours. The regular fans around those seats all know who you are... a great guy and a true hero.

Please don't take the character assassination in this thread too seriously. Some of these folks are brand-new members who know nothing about you. Others feel it's fair-game to attack someone for their thoughts or feelings.

I apologize for your treatment here.

Julie