freakmaligncroon
Member
Superfan,
I would love to see this at the games sometime in the near future. Keep up the wonderful entertaining!
From the nydailynews,
Yankee fan fears sign may be thing of past
BY OREN YANIV
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, September 23rd 2008, 8:14 PM
Joe Morante is hoping to keep one Yankee Stadium tradition alive.
For the past eight seasons, Morante, 56, has been rotating hand-painted signs to transform a patch of the old Stadium's upper-deck facade into a miniJumboTron.
But with a brand-new stadium set to open next year, Morante fears that his front-row tier seats will be gone - and with them, the beloved banners.
"I'm just looking for a little consideration," said Morante, a high school teacher from Cold Spring Harbor, L.I. "I need to keep my rail location or else I'll block people."
Unlike the average fan, who shows up at games with nothing more than a bag of peanuts or a baseball glove, Morante and his crew haul about 15 signs with the biggest one weighing more than 30 pounds.
Atop a massive "GO YANKEES" banner, Morante alternates a roster of 18-foot-long signs. There is "MO TOWN" for a Mariano Rivera inning or "CAPTAIN CLUTCH" for Derek Jeter at-bats.
Known in the Stadium as Banner Boy, Morante's creations have been featured in countless publications and highlight reels.
During the 2001 playoffs, his "GET BIN LADEN" sign was a big hit.
"I feel I have some effect, like I'm the 10th man," Morante said.
Along with most other season-ticket holders, Morante has filled a preference questionnaire as part of the Yankees relocation program.
He realizes he may have to pay more or move to a less central location. He has not been informed of any decision.
"We are not going to talk about any individual cases," a Yankees spokeswoman said.
The team's guide to transferring ticket plans states that licensees of half-season plans, like Morante, "will not receive reasonably comparable seat location assignments."
Morante said he even called a few Yankee officials to see if his application can get a second look.
"I said, 'Just put me on the rail,'" he recalled. "I hate to feel like I step in front of the line."
Other fans said Morante has earned his (pin)stripes and should be allowed a front-row view.
"Of course, why not? They should give him consideration," said Frank Pasqualino, 52, a 25-year season-ticket holder known as Frankie the Yankee among the faithful.
Fans enjoy Morante's banners, the ushers know him and he said some players look up at his spot over the third base line and take in the slogans.
Morante's technique has evolved over the years to produce almost commercial-looking buntings. He has been spending games not watching the action as much as unfurling banners, holding them tight against the blue veneer and waving big flags whenever the Bronx Bombers score.
He mentioned Jeter's speech at the end of Sunday's final game in the Stadium, when the shortstop lauded the Yankees' tradition and their great fans - two principals he believes the banners embody.
Morante said the new ballpark's upscale suites and pricey seats could mean, "the heart will be ripped out of the Stadium."
Then, with an air of resignation: "If I'm not on the rail, I'm not on the rail. But that will be the end of the banners."
[email protected]
I would love to see this at the games sometime in the near future. Keep up the wonderful entertaining!
From the nydailynews,
Yankee fan fears sign may be thing of past
BY OREN YANIV
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, September 23rd 2008, 8:14 PM
Joe Morante is hoping to keep one Yankee Stadium tradition alive.
For the past eight seasons, Morante, 56, has been rotating hand-painted signs to transform a patch of the old Stadium's upper-deck facade into a miniJumboTron.
But with a brand-new stadium set to open next year, Morante fears that his front-row tier seats will be gone - and with them, the beloved banners.
"I'm just looking for a little consideration," said Morante, a high school teacher from Cold Spring Harbor, L.I. "I need to keep my rail location or else I'll block people."
Unlike the average fan, who shows up at games with nothing more than a bag of peanuts or a baseball glove, Morante and his crew haul about 15 signs with the biggest one weighing more than 30 pounds.
Atop a massive "GO YANKEES" banner, Morante alternates a roster of 18-foot-long signs. There is "MO TOWN" for a Mariano Rivera inning or "CAPTAIN CLUTCH" for Derek Jeter at-bats.
Known in the Stadium as Banner Boy, Morante's creations have been featured in countless publications and highlight reels.
During the 2001 playoffs, his "GET BIN LADEN" sign was a big hit.
"I feel I have some effect, like I'm the 10th man," Morante said.
Along with most other season-ticket holders, Morante has filled a preference questionnaire as part of the Yankees relocation program.
He realizes he may have to pay more or move to a less central location. He has not been informed of any decision.
"We are not going to talk about any individual cases," a Yankees spokeswoman said.
The team's guide to transferring ticket plans states that licensees of half-season plans, like Morante, "will not receive reasonably comparable seat location assignments."
Morante said he even called a few Yankee officials to see if his application can get a second look.
"I said, 'Just put me on the rail,'" he recalled. "I hate to feel like I step in front of the line."
Other fans said Morante has earned his (pin)stripes and should be allowed a front-row view.
"Of course, why not? They should give him consideration," said Frank Pasqualino, 52, a 25-year season-ticket holder known as Frankie the Yankee among the faithful.
Fans enjoy Morante's banners, the ushers know him and he said some players look up at his spot over the third base line and take in the slogans.
Morante's technique has evolved over the years to produce almost commercial-looking buntings. He has been spending games not watching the action as much as unfurling banners, holding them tight against the blue veneer and waving big flags whenever the Bronx Bombers score.
He mentioned Jeter's speech at the end of Sunday's final game in the Stadium, when the shortstop lauded the Yankees' tradition and their great fans - two principals he believes the banners embody.
Morante said the new ballpark's upscale suites and pricey seats could mean, "the heart will be ripped out of the Stadium."
Then, with an air of resignation: "If I'm not on the rail, I'm not on the rail. But that will be the end of the banners."
[email protected]