Less then five minutes ago, the New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins to go on to the American League Championship Series against our arch enemies from Boston once again. In my opinion, when they play the first game on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium – we’ll knock their Sox off.

When I first turned on the game in the top of the second inning, the Yankees were already down by a score of 1-0 thanks to a sacrifice fly by Torii Hunter – and it only got worse from there. In the 4th inning, the Twins scored another run when ironically, Torii Hunter scored on a sacrifice fly by Corey Koskie. If things weren’t bad enough, Lew Ford doubled on a fly ball to left fielder Hideki Matsui in the bottom of the 5th inning to continue the rally – and the irony – because the two runs that scored on that double were Justin Morneau – and Torii Hunter – and the runner sent to third was Corey Koskie.

At this point, I was ready to turn the game off. And then, just as they always do – the Yankees reminded myself and the world why they are the most successful franchise in sports history. At the top of the 8th inning on a 1:1 pitch, Bernie Williams singled on a line drive to right fielder Jack Jones, sending Gary Sheffield home and Hideki Matsui to 3rd. Then, after pitcher Juan Rincon struck-out Jorge Posada, Reuben Sierra hit a three-run homer sending himself, Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui home to tie the game at five a piece – extending the Yankees shot at going to the ALCS against the Red Sox.

When the game went into extra innings, my blood pressure and heart rate went into extra digits. This year’s World Series is by far the most important one to me. In 2001, the Yankees were in the World Series and had a chance to not only win – but take the trophy back to a mortally wounded New York – who desperately needed that victory more than any other city at that time. Holding a World Series parade down the Canyon of Heroes would have brought hope and positive emotions back to city in despair. After September the 11th, New York City was a city of sadness. With our brothers and sisters murdered and our national security eradicated, having the Yankees prove to the world that New York is still in business would have been the perfect expression of solidarity – because what better to use as a message of freedom and Democracy to terrorists then the American pastime.

Unfortunately, the Yankees did not win that World Series – or any World Series after that. Sure they have at least made it to the first round of the playoffs, and even to the World Series just last year – but in the last four years – the ultimate prize in the sport has been away from its rightful home…

…it’s time to take it back.

This upcoming seven-game series against the Boston Red Sox will not be an easy one – in fact – it will be a war. Our rivalry dates back decades and will continue as long as home runs are hit. But no matter the might of the boys from Fenway – the New York Yankees are still the Team of the Century. And this Tuesday, when both teams collide in the home of the Green Monster – my Bronx Bombers will make the Red Sox green with envy – and head to the World Series once again to face either the Atlanta Braves, the Houston Astros, the Los Angeles Dodgers, or the St. Louis Cardinals.

In my all-too-obvious opinion, we will win – because if a Yankee fan from Brooklyn can get Boston’s most famous bar to shut off their own team’s game to put on their most lethal enemy’s – then the most talented, successful and record-breaking team in Major League Baseball history can once again prove that they are better then the Red Sox – and that the curse still lives.

Bring it on.