First, I’d like to thank the guys at HHR for giving this little girl a chance. It’s an honor to be here, but it’s also an honor I feel I’ve earned. I am hoping this turns into a regular feature where I can voice my opinion on a myriad of different sports topics.

Now that all the dust as settled, I’d like to discuss the hiring of Joe Girardi as manager of the New York Yankees. I first met Joe in 1995 when he was traded to the New York Yankees from the Colorado Rockies for a bag of baseballs labeled ‘Mike DeJean’ with a black Sharpie. Joe was so nice to me the first time we met he….he…(hold yourself together Suze. This is a new audience, they don’t know you yet.)

He was so nice that he told me…..BAWWWWW HAAAAAAA…..(sobbbbbb)….he told me anytime I needed an interview he would oblige. What a great, great guy.

(Sniff. Sniff.)

I remember when he left the Yankees to return to his original team the Cubbies in 2000. It was so hard on his family. They came with him to pack his locker after the season and…..(it hurts. Eyes hurt. Holding it in.) They did fine that day and so did I.

As a Cub, Girardi announced to the fans at Wrigley Field that the game on June 22, 2002 versus the Cardinals had been canceled, though he did not announce that the cancellation was prompted by Darryl Kile's passing. (Good job Suze, Kile wasn’t a Yankee, he doesn’t deserve your tears.)

This past season, I had the chance to work with Girardi on a professional level while he was with the YES Network. We would get together after I finally cornered him by the buffet table and we would discuss the team and all of the stats and information I screwed up on the radio on a daily basis.

Joe was there the game Roger Clemens showed up in George Steinbrenner’s booth and he……well it was a……and….(come on Suze…..COME ON….think happy thoughts. Yankee baseball. Broadway show tunes. Sitting around as a kid watching the games on WPIX with dad. Laughing at the playful banter between Bill White and Phil Rizz…Phil Ri…zzu…to OH GOD SCOOTER YOU WENT TOO SOON!!!!!!!)

Well, I wish Joe the best of luck. Next week, I will discuss Joe Torre’s hiring in LA and taking Bowa and Donnie Baseball with him…and….

(Oh god….)

Till next time,

Suzyn Waldman