The New York Yankees...Deja Vu 1965?

If you are a baby boomer Yankee fan, chances are your favorite color is royal blue. You remember the saying "rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for U.S. steel."

You grew up thinking the post season was a right of passage. Forget the success of the 50s, lets look at the early '60s. World Series appearances in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964. You were young, so there was no reason to think this ride would ever end.

As we grew older and wiser we learned in life there is a beginning and unfortunately there is also an end.

Enter the dreaded 1965.

Our Idol, the player we strive to emulate even today, "the Commerce Comet" was done. To the Yankees, he was only a drawing card. Roger, who got a bad rap from the fans (lazy) was done.

Moose was long gone, Clete, Tony and Bobby lost their flash and Pepitone was too busy with his hair dryer. Whitey had circulation problems and Mel (could have been the best of them all) was just starting out.

This was the official beginning of the Horace Clarke era. For the next 12 years our heroes were mired in mediocrity.

Enter the dreaded 2011. It appears history is repeating itself.

The Boss is gone and the core four is no more. Andy retired, Jete and Jorge are at the end and Mariano is not far behind.

ARod and Mark look a beat slow at the plate and marriage may have taken the spark from Nick. Jaba thinks he's a rock star the rest of our pitching staff looks pedestrian at best.

The general manager seems to have lost interest and Monahan will be gone at season's end.

If you were born in the mid '80s, chances are you are feeling the way we Boomers who bleed royal blue felt in '65. You are witnessing the end of an era.

Our advice: Do not jump ship. Fairweather fans are many and shallow. Leave now and that feeling you had in '96 will never be duplicated. Be proud, you are a member of Yankee universe, the greatest  team in sports history.