Yankees Take Scorn for (Gasp!) Spending Money

Given the reaction to the Yankees' deep-pocketed acquisition of three big-name players, it's easy to assume the team is nothing less than evil personified, writes Sean Collins in Spiked. But set aside for the moment that the moves are actually a wise investment for a team that's building a new stadium and needs to field a good team. The real reason for the over-the-top scorn is that the Yanks have the nerve not to act glum amid our recession.

"Many seem to believe that we all have a moral duty to cut back and not enjoy life too much," writes Collins. "And if we are fortunate enough still to have money, we shouldn’t flash it." But the Yankees don’t "owe it to New York to spend responsibly,” he writes. In 2009, we'll need little luxuries like ballgames. "We should lighten up and stop trying to endow professional sports with more than what they are—a form of entertainment." (More baseball stories.)