Baseballl, definitely the Yankees. Reggie Jackson was Barry before Barry. You have to pretty much OD on your own Kool-Aid to say you’re the straw that stirs the drink. If you think the Cowboys are controversial now, they don’t hold a candle to the Yankees in the ’70s. Let the Yankees blow a 3-0 lead to Boston in the playoffs back then. George Steinbrenner would’ve had Derek Jeter in the fetal position sucking his thumb. He would’ve suggested that A-Rod wear a dress to work. He would’ve b-slapped Joe Torre during an interview.

Basketball, the Lakers. The poor high school girls had to sit in class every day and listen to a bunch of knuckleheads argue who was better every day, the Lakers or the Sixers. And practically NOBODY liked the Celtics back then. Don’t get it twisted – just because cats are feeling the C’s now doesn’t mean that was always the case. You practically had to put a gun to someone’s head to give Larry Bird his props out loud (even though we knew in our hearts that white boy was bad).

My parents bought me a little black and white TV for my room for my birthday, and from there on out I watched every Yankee game I could — even faked sleeping to see them. (Also got hooked on The Honeymooners and Star Trek afterwards on WPIX) A few years later it was on to Michael Ray Richardson and the Knicks. And don’t get me started on Bernard…

Started with the Dodgers in early and mid 70′s. When I was 11, I used to go to the Boys supermarket and help people with their bags in order to make lunch money and spending cash. Called it “Hustlin.” Used that money for Sunday afternoons at Ddger Stadium. Used to catch 3 busses by myself to Chavez Revine, buy a cheap ticket and sit way up in the nosebleeds by myself.

My favorite players were Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn and Don Sutton. The stadium was so beautiful, a far cry from “the Jungle” that section of South-central LA roughly bordered by LaBrea, Crenshaw, King Blvd and Baldwin Hills, where I lived.

Fell in love with the peace and quiet, VIn Scully’s voice caressing we fans and winning.

Remember dude on a bicycle driving down Gelber Avenue, shouting “Ali, Ali, Ali……” No one thought he could but Ali knocked out Foreman.

Then Magic came to town in 1979. It was over. Became a basketball fanatic. Lived, breathed and died with The Lakers.

1984 the Olympics came to town, best 2 weeks in the history of Los Angeles. I still get chills from that time.