Strike-Out

QUENTIN

Age 35

Resides New Jersey

Occupation Sales Rep

How do you feel about the Yankee-Cablevision flap?
I’m a huge Yankees fan, and I do have the YES channel. Towns near mine like Asbury Park and Neptune don’t get YES. I sympathize with Cablevision subscribers because when you pay for the service, you look forward to being able to see the games.

Do you follow baseball? Yes, closely. I think the Yankees are doing well. It’s only the beginning of the season and they’re dealing with a change in climate. I think the pitchers are doing well—hitting’s off, but that’s to be expected. Giambi’s coming off his nervousness. He’s handling the fame, although he did have to shave his goatee.

What show would you miss most if you couldn’t watch it? I’d miss BET.

IRIS BAROM

Age 24

Resides Manhattan

Occupation Teacher

How do you feel about the Yankee-Cablevision flap? I have cable, and once in a while I watch sports. I know it’s a profit-driven business, but people still get hooked on the excitement of sports. They like the entertainment aspects of it, and the fact that it gives you a chance to connect and drink beer.

Do you follow baseball? Not so much.

What show would you miss most if you couldn’t watch it? I know that it’s corny, but I’d miss Felicity and Ally McBeal if I couldn’t watch them.

PATRICK MARTINEZ

Age 32

Resides Manhattan

Occupation Artist

How do you feel about the Yankee-Cablevision flap? I don’t care. I can’t afford cable, and I find it very frustrating that there’s very little information you can get without it.

Do you follow baseball? No. I don’t really understand the rules. I also find it boring because there are so many ads. There’s five minutes of play, then a break for commercials.

What show would you miss most if you couldn’t watch it? Nothing, really. I read the paper and listen to some news on the radio. NPR is pretty good, and they broadcast foreign news.

PATRICK MARTINEZ

Age 31

Resides Manhattan

Occupation Manager

How do you feel about the Yankee-Cablevision flap? I don’t have cable, so I’m not paying to see the Yankees play.

Do you follow baseball? Yes. When I first moved to New York from Los Angeles, the person I stayed with was a Yankees fan, so I was infected. I go to Yankee Stadium when I can.

What show would you miss most if you couldn’t watch it? There’s really only one channel I’d care about not being able to see, and that’s the Food Channel. I grew up in Milan, and I’ve been cooking since I was 13.

STEPHANIE STEPHENS

Age 33

Resides Brooklyn

Occupation Stage Manager

How do you feel about the Yankee-Cablevision flap? I’ve heard about the debate, but because we have DirecTV, we get Yankee games, which are now on 24-7. I think we paid extra to get the Yankees. My fiancé watches all the games. I’m a baseball widow.

Do you follow baseball? Yes, but I get no pleasure from watching the games on TV. I like going to the stadium and drinking a lot of beer, eating a lot of hot dogs, and feeling sick when you leave.

What show would you miss most if you couldn’t watch it? Home and Garden. I don’t have a garden, but I’m storing up ideas for when I do.

JOEY COHEN

Age 21

Resides Manhattan

Occupation Student

How do you feel about the Yankee-Cablevision flap? I’ve been following it a little. I know it’s annoying to Yankee fans not to be able to see the team play, and I myself care that I can’t see games, but I’m really a fan of the Mets.

Do you follow baseball? Yes, I do. I follow all of baseball, but particularly the Mets. I was at the stadium last night.

What show would you miss most if you couldn’t watch it? I’d be upset if I couldn’t watch the Knicks play basketball. On commercial TV, I’d miss Everybody Loves Raymond and Friends.

DAVID KASSEL

Age 45

Resides Manhattan

Occupation Businessman

How do you feel about the Yankee-Cablevision flap? I don’t care. It matters not a whit, not a shit, to me.

Do you follow baseball? Only when it’s time for the World Series. Everyone gets so excited, you just have to join in. The richest teams always win, just like the richest corporations always win. It’s all about corporate branding. The Yankees are a brand, just like Starbucks.

What show would you miss most if you couldn’t watch it? Six Feet Under.