Another Empire On Which the Sun Does Not Set

British Empire in the 1800's

It has been said that Spanish kings of the 1500’s strode about claiming they ruled an empire on which the sun never set. Yet as the sun did set on Spanish positions, the British Crown of the 1800’s could clearly boast even more time zones under its realm.  Eventually, the sun’s glow on the Union Jack slowly diminished as well. 

There is, however, a 21^st century realm that now has undisputed universal dominion across all lands on which the sun shines….the New York Yankees! 

Alright, we confess “universal dominion” may be a stretch, but we have seen repeatedly the outward presence of the Pin-Striped Empire on the streets of Stockholm.  At first little notice was made of the occasional Swede striding down the street with a Yankees cap, but then world news drew our attention to global Yankees dominance.

Mohammed el-Bibi not fooled by
Gaddafi Spit Ball

We witnessed in the darkening October days here how the once wily Muammar Gaddafi was just no match for a Yankees cap clad freedom fighter named Mohammed el-Bibi.  Details of Gaddafi’s capture are confusing, but there is no doubt that Gaddafi’s long string of success based on spit balls and inside curves failed when Yankees prowess was employed.  Mohammed got the gold-plated gun and Muammar…well, he retired from the field.

Little North Korean Yankees Fan

Then in December, we saw a Yankees presence planted where none should be present. In video footage of the funeral of the supreme North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, a small knit-capped Yankees fan was spied. Clearly the world penetration plan of the Bronx Bombers is modeled on a subtle substitution of hometown favoritism by some type of absorption program. An absorption plan akin to Kevin McCarthy’s frantic admonition in the 1956 sci-fi thriller, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, “They’re here already!  You’re next!” 

No doubt whispers were shared among the obligatory North Korean mourners repeating the famous phrase of the supreme catcher Yogi Berra. “It's déjà vu all over again." Oh how true.

Yankees Fan with English Lesson
in Library

Most of our Yankees sightings in Stockholm have gone unrecorded. Lately we have been more adept at capturing their fleeting presence. At the library at the Kulturehuset (Cultural Center), a Yankees fan sat in plain view as he carefully scribed his English language lesson over and over again in his spiral notebook: “Roger Maris is the only authentic single season home run title holder.”

They're already here!  You're Next!

Then just the other day in a snowy blizzard, we caught a glimpse of a Yankees fan darting, collar upturned to the cold, but cap clearly visible from our apartment window.  Unmistakably, they are in Stockholm already.