Memoirs of a sports traveler

If I've learned nothing over the last month and a half, and some would argue just that, it's that Europe loves their soccer and the Yankees suck.

While traveling throughout Europe, it didn't matter what country be it Spain, France, Greece or any others, they love their futbol. Like you didn't know that. But when Thierry Henry was traded from the London-based EPL Arsenal team to FC Barcelona last June, he was the talk of the continent.

Plastered all over the news in between reports in Iraq was Thierry Henry this, Thierry Henry that. Not that I'm complaining, as I've enjoyed watching Henry for a long time. But this was their equivalent to Dwayne Wade or Kobe Bryant being traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Much like the New York Yankees are to baseball, FC Barcelona is to soccer. They won the Champions League this season, ousting Liverpool in the finals to become the best team in Europe. Now they acquired arguably the best striker in the world in the 29-year-old Henry.

Back stateside, where I've been in New York City for the past week attending a series of concerts of Boston-based band Dispatch, I felt the eeriness while sitting on the floor of Madison Square Garden. Our tickets the first night were literally on the very floor that Michael Jordan dominated the Patrick Ewing-led Knicks. This is where Mark Messier came through with his Game Seven guarantee in the '94 Stanley Cup finals. This is where Reggie Miller taunted Spike Lee. Just name names and the memories come back. Willis Reed. The John Starks dunk. Ray Allan's Georgetown game. Wow, I was right there.

But what caught me by surprise were the "Let's go Red Sox!" and "Yankees Suck!" chants that echoed each of the three nights throughout MSG. How could New Yorkers let Boston fans chant these vile things at their beloved Yanks? I was stunned.

Then I was reminded that the Yanks were 10 games out when I overheard a conversation at a coffee shop today.

"The Yanks are going 50-27 in the second half," said one patron.

"What are you worrying about baseball?" a second person said. "We've got AC."

Maybe it's fitting that ESPN is featuring the famed '77 Yankee team by titling the documentary "The Bronx is Burning."

I don't think 30 years later much has changed.