I slept in my pinstripes last night.

We have been camping out at our friend Scliff's house all week, because he has a giant new High Definition Television. That and we are much less likely to be persecuted there, than in the sports bars of Boston. (Plus, the food's better. Scliff is a gourmet cook.) We were there for the 19-8 blow out and we have been there every night since, eating him out of house and home. He doesn't seem to mind, but perhaps the fact that he is rooting for the Red Sox makes it seem all worth it.

When we got back to our own house late last night (yawn! even the game that started at 5pm kept us up past midnight!) I told corwin I was going to sleep in my pinstripes.

"Will that help?" he asked.

"What, the Yankees winning?"

"Yeah."

"It's not for THEM. It's for ME. To make me feel better." Well, that's what I said at the time. But if I had a superstition or a good luck ritual, you better believe I would have done it.

Do I believe in curses or in "Yankee Magic?" Well, no, not exactly. But do I believe that you get the most out of being a fan if you go 100% all out in your emotional involvement with your team? You bet. This is my philosphy of life. The secret to happiness is to go all the way; be 100% committed to your relationships, your job, your family, your political causes. If you feel wishy-washy about it, find something else, change, go elsewhere. Stick with what you LOVE. I love the Yankees. So why wouldn't I invest tremendous emotional energy there? Having superstitions and good luck rituals is all a part of being involved with the team.

And somewhere in the back of my mind, I keep wondering... what if they work? Just in case they do, Yankees fans, here is my advice for what you ought to do today.

Do you usually go out to lunch at 12:30? Skip out a few minutes early, say, 12:27. Because 27 is Kevin Brown's number.

Are you wearing any item of Yankee paraphernalia? Go put something on. Now. Put a 2000 Subway Series shirt on under your work clothes. Throw on a hat. No one will notice that Yankee hair scrunchie. Got earrings? Wear 'em. Can't wear that kind of thing to work? At least put your cap in your desk drawer.

When you walk around, do you look for pennies on the ground? I don't care what your mother told you about it being dirty--pick them up. It doesn't matter if they are heads or tails. But look at the year on them. If it is a championship year, keep it in your pocket and rub it for luck. (If you're still worried about your mother, wash it.)

What did you eat last Friday, the night of the 19-8 blowout? Don't you think it's time to have that again?

Where did you go to watch the game? Which chair did you sit in? Who was with you? Think, man, think. You've got to do your part.

And for those of you who feel that all of this is going too far, I have one final directive. You don't have to follow one of my crazy superstitions, but whatever you do, don't just sit there being afraid to lose like some RED SOX FAN.

GO YANKEES!