Pine Tar and good will

Believe it or not, the infamous Pine Tar Game was 25 years ago today. George Brett and Rich Gossage shared their recollections on a conference call.

I remember the game like it was yesterday. Frank Messer and Bobby Murcer called it on WPIX. Knowing Brett's history against the Yankees, it was like how Reggie Miller would make me feel years later during the Knicks-Pacers wars. Like Miller to the Knicks, Brett was an assassin in big moments against the Yankees. In a twisted way, I loved how Billy Martin once again played any angle — by any means necessary — in an attempt to win a game. No stone was ever left unturned by Billy the Kid, until Lee MacPhail found it correct to overturn the umpires' final decision because it didn't violate "the spirit of the rules." Yeah, it was a stupid rule, but the NFL didn't ask the Raiders and Patriots to replay that playoff game because of the tuck rule. It was obeyed to the black-and-white letter of the law and the league amended it during the offseason.

Whatever, that was so 25 years ago. Right now, Yankees senior advisor Ray Negron has a new book out called "The Babe and Jackie: The Greatest Story Never Told." Think The Babe and Robinson were different? Think again. On so many levels, this is an inspiring tale that teaches the value of acceptance no matter how "different" you may be.