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The Best NY Times Story Ever
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/nyregion/16caps.html
A small taste:
"Gym-locker heists, bank robberies, daylight holdups ??? these New York City crimes have only one thing in common, and it is not the culprits.
It is the Yankees caps they wore.
A curious phenomenon has emerged at the intersection of fashion, sports and crime: dozens of men and women who have robbed, beaten, stabbed and shot at their fellow New Yorkers have done so while wearing Yankees caps or clothing.
One of the three suspects in the gym break-ins wore a blue Yankees cap. A security camera photographed the man who tried to rob the Bronx bank, and though his face was largely obscured, his Yankees hat was clearly visible. The Queens robbery suspect was last seen with a Yankees cap on his head.
In some ways, it is not surprising that Yankees attire is worn by both those who abide by the law and those who break it. The Yankees are one of the most famous franchises in sports, and their merchandise is widely available and hugely popular.
But Yankees caps and clothing have dominated the crime blotter for so long, in so many parts of the city and in so many types of offenses, that it defies an easy explanation. Criminologists, sports marketing analysts, consumer psychologists and Yankees fans have developed their own theories, with some attributing the trend to the popularity of the caps among gangsta rappers and others wondering whether criminals are identifying with the team???s aura of money, power and success.
Since 2000, more than 100 people who have been suspects or persons of interest in connection with serious crimes in New York City wore Yankees apparel at the time of the crimes or at the time of their arrest or arraignment. The tally is based on a review of New York Police Department news releases, surveillance video and images of robberies and other crimes, as well as police sketches and newspaper articles that described suspects??? clothing. No other sports team comes close. "
A small taste:
"Gym-locker heists, bank robberies, daylight holdups ??? these New York City crimes have only one thing in common, and it is not the culprits.
It is the Yankees caps they wore.
A curious phenomenon has emerged at the intersection of fashion, sports and crime: dozens of men and women who have robbed, beaten, stabbed and shot at their fellow New Yorkers have done so while wearing Yankees caps or clothing.
One of the three suspects in the gym break-ins wore a blue Yankees cap. A security camera photographed the man who tried to rob the Bronx bank, and though his face was largely obscured, his Yankees hat was clearly visible. The Queens robbery suspect was last seen with a Yankees cap on his head.
In some ways, it is not surprising that Yankees attire is worn by both those who abide by the law and those who break it. The Yankees are one of the most famous franchises in sports, and their merchandise is widely available and hugely popular.
But Yankees caps and clothing have dominated the crime blotter for so long, in so many parts of the city and in so many types of offenses, that it defies an easy explanation. Criminologists, sports marketing analysts, consumer psychologists and Yankees fans have developed their own theories, with some attributing the trend to the popularity of the caps among gangsta rappers and others wondering whether criminals are identifying with the team???s aura of money, power and success.
Since 2000, more than 100 people who have been suspects or persons of interest in connection with serious crimes in New York City wore Yankees apparel at the time of the crimes or at the time of their arrest or arraignment. The tally is based on a review of New York Police Department news releases, surveillance video and images of robberies and other crimes, as well as police sketches and newspaper articles that described suspects??? clothing. No other sports team comes close. "
Comments
LA had susch a problem with crooks and gang dudes wearing Raiders merch that they had to move the team back to Oakland!
Yeah, the methodology is shit. But as a Red Sox fan, I love this story.
Considering the tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of crimes that have been committed in that time it seems like a microscopic quantity at best - an anti-trend, if anything.
EDIT: According to this -
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:gnJKHyyUKpQJ:www.disastercenter.com/crime/nycrime.htm+how+many+crimes+are+committed+in+NYC+every+year?&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a
- 4 1/2 million crimes were committed during this time and according to the article 100 of them were committed by people wearing Yankee hats.
DUMBEST NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE EVER.
But it's the paper of record!
Give New York criminals some credit. Apparently not enough of them are wearing Knicks gear to even bother counting them. This shows a potential for growth.
True. Reading the Sunday sports section used to be a must for me but I haven't bothered for years. All the best talent has migrated to the web. What's left is a weird melange of cranky senior citizens and kids just out of college who don't know anything.
The Journal's numbers are okay, for the moment, but they also charge $2/per and have employed Murdoch's finest. Still, their quality is far below their extant best. Time was when the WSJ had arguably the best features in its class.