Yankees, Dodgers will meet in Series

Say what you will, but most of the free world is rooting for a Yankees-Dodgers World Series.

No offense to the defending champion Phillies and the always tough Angels -- one third of whom have passed through Cedar Rapids, according to our Kernels beat man Jeff Johnson. But the team once located in Brooklyn and the team still located in the Bronx -- albeit at a new Yankee Stadium -- have a postseason rivalry that includes some of the most memorable games and moments in the Fall Classic's annals, having met 11 times previously.

Who can forget Don Larsen's perfect game against the Dodgers in 1956?

Can you recall Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale pitching the Los Angeles Dodgers to a sweep of the Yanks in 1963?

Who does not remember Reggie Jackson's three home runs on three  swings against the Dodgers in the deciding game of the 1977 Series?

Who doesn't smile when they think of a young Fernando Valenzuela helping pitch the Dodgers past the Yankees in the 1981 Series?

A renewal of that rivalry would be huge. Forget the super television ratings and the smiles on Madison Avenue advertising execs that a Dodgers-Yankees Series would create. There would be several great story lines to keep the Blogosphere humming: Joe Torre managing against his former team; the last hurrah for Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada, who helped Torre win four World Series rings; waiting to see if George Steinbrenner speaks or at least throws up his hands in disgust; and listening to all those baseball fans who love to root against the Yankees.

Not me. I've been a Yankees fan since my dad took me to the old Yankee Stadium in 1965. He has been a Yankees fan since the days of Joe DiMaggio. Together, we have lived and died with the Bronx Bombers, him more than me as my passion lessened once I started covering pro sports.

Still, I'll be watching the ALCS over the next week and seeing if the Yankees can beat the Angels and move one step closer to their 27th world championship. And, before you accuse me of being a fan only because of the Yankees dynasty and incredible success through the years, I need to point out that from that first game in person in 1965 until the mid-70s, the Yankees were one of the worst teams in the Major Leagues. My growing up years saw a once proud franchise sink to the bottom of the American League.

Instead of making headlines with their play on the field, those Yankees made news with their playing around off  the field when two of their pitchers swapped wives.

Then again, I guess that was just another way of stealing home.