The World According to Shawn
Thursday, May 05, 2011
A co-worker of mine who has never watched soccer asked me the other day if Manchester United is "kind of like the Yankees". I've heard that comparison over the years and while I personally don't like it, I decided to write a post comparing the two stories franchises in there respective sports.
New York Yankees: This Major League Baseball team began playing in 1901 in the American League and in the beginning they were near the bottom of the league every season, until there luck changed in the early 1920's. They turned into the sports powerhouse, they have won 27 Championships to date and produced a legendary player every decade. The Yankees have also formed bitter rivalries with other baseball teams over the years, and typically out play them when championships are on the line. Since the turn of the century they have been the biggest spenders in the league every season, and the money spent on big name players has only won them one championship in 2009.
Manchester United: This team was founded in 1878 in the English soccer league and similarly to the Yankees they had humble beginnings. It took them much longer to become the powerhouse they are today. The first 50 years of existence saw them bounce back and forth between the First and Second division. Then during the 1940's they rose to prominence as the best English team and dominated the sport for 20 years winning several cups and championships. Then they gave way to there biggest rivals Liverpool who won everything under the sun in the 70's and 80's. In 1993 English soccer became known as the Premier League and Manchester United started its current period of dominance. Over the course of 19 years in the Premier League they have never finished lower than 3rd place, and have a 18 championships overall 11 FA Cup wins and 3 Champions League victories.
Legendary Players: The Yankees list is endless Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Joe Dimaggio, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez.
Manchester United doesn't look so bad in comparison; Denis Law, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, and Christiano Ronaldo.
Main Rivals: Yankees: Boston Redsox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and recently Tampa Bay Rays
Manchester United: Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, and more recently Chelsea
The comparisons are close and get even closer when you look at the fanbases of each team. The teams are supported by fans nationally and internationally more than any other teams in there leagues.
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