In Defense Of Billy Crystal

Leitch — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:15:48 EDT

We know we're supposed to make fun of Billy Crystal's at-bat for the Yankees yesterday. We know that you expect us to. And certainly Crystal's hardly what passes for cutting edge entertainment anymore; God, was the last time he was funny in a movie really the first City Slickers? (Though he gets some leeway for being so great in Deconstructing Harry. But we digress.) We have seen how almost every columnist writes how Crystal was "embarrassing himself," and how it was some sort of pox on the sanctity of spring training baseball. We think they're just envious. We think it's awesome.

If you were a rich, beloved celebrity, and had the opportunity to take one at-bat against a Major League pitcher — well, Paul Maholm, anyway — goddammit, wouldn't you have to do it? Why else would someone want to be rich and famous? Crystal looked like the happiest guy on earth yesterday, like he knew he was the luckiest sumbitch on the planet and never wanted the day to end. (And realize that he had to deal with Robin Williams chattering at him in the dugout the whole time; yes, Robin, we know: Gay men are flamboyant, and accents are funny. Got it.) And he fouled a ball off! That counts for something too, in that tiny bit of the male brain in which this matters paramount.

Yeah: We're envious; who wouldn't be after watching the guy having the time of his life? But even though it's Billy Crystal, we couldn't be happier for him. That looked like so much fun. Doesn't it always? Isn't that why we watch?

Billy Crystal Has A Ball [Red Sox Monster]

Billy Crystal Signs With Yankees; Red Sox Counter With Wilford Brimley

rickchand — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:00:05 EDT

If I were a Yankees' fan, I'd be really worried right now. Their season is beginning to shape up like a failing TV sitcom; the kind in which they try to bolster sagging ratings by bringing in celebrities for guest appearances. With that in mind, please welcome Billy Crystal, who will play in a spring training game for New York on Thursday. Even though he's, like, 60, and would probably die of exposure if left in the infield for more than 20 minutes.

The actor will sign a one-day, minor league contract with the New York Yankees and play in Thursday's exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Crystal, an avid Yankees fan, will work out with the team on Wednesday and will wear uniform No. 60 for the game — to be played one day before his 60th birthday. The Yankees said Monday they have the approval of baseball commissioner Bud Selig.

Yankees' manager Joe Girardi, of course, doesn't believe that violent collisions at the plate have any place in a spring training game. But Buddy Young Jr.? Sure! Grab a bat!

And you thought that Selig was brain dead. Ha! Shows how much you know. Turns out it was only mostly dead.

Billy Crystal To Play Exhibition Game With New York Yankees [USA Today]

Deadspin: billy crystal

In Defense Of Billy Crystal

Billy Crystal Signs With Yankees; Red Sox Counter With Wilford Brimley