The suspicion that my presence in New York is a prerequisite for the Yankees doing well in the post-season was strengthened by their untimely exit this year.

The evidence is circumstancial but copious: I have lived in New York for two 6-season periods: from 1976 to 1982, and from 1996 to 2002. In the last 40 years, it’s only during these times the Yankees have won the World Series. What’s more, they only ever win if I’m paying particular attention. In 1977, for example, I was glued to the television as Reggie Jackson hit three homers in Game 6 against the LA Dodgers. But last year, September 11 was still too close for me to focus properly on the Yankees, and they lost the series to the Diamondbacks.

When I’m not in New York at all, such as from 1982 until 1996, and again now late in 2002, the Yankee game simply collapses.

My parents, on the other hand, have a different effect on the place they live. Wherever they happen to be, it’s the political situation that collapses. Moscow in 1991, Pakistan in the late 90s, Israel in 2001… And then today I noticed this news item.