You know what I love about the New York Yankees? They're way over the top — and darn proud of it.

Not only do they walk the walk, but they also talk the talk. Low-key and modesty is OK in the hinterlands but bad form in New York. So the Yankees sign the best players money can buy, then turn them loose to cruise nightclubs, drive fast cars, date super-thin models and generally act like they're kings of the hill, top of the heap.

To borrow a phrase from one of the most bodacious Yankees of all, New York is the straw that stirs the drink.

The Yankees don't play for divisional championships or even pennants. They play for world championships, period.

You gotta problem wi' dat?

Last week, the most revered and reviled team in baseball took another step toward world domination by acquiring the game's best player, Alex Rodriguez. That gives the Yankees four of baseball's eight $100 million men. It also pretty much hands them the World Series.

Don't count on another surprise winner this October. Nothing goes further toward acquiring championships than money, not even character.

There are a lot of high-character guys who can't hit the slider.

To that end, the Yankees have upped their payroll to approximately the same as the GNP of Estonia. Is that an unfair advantage?

Absolutely. Maddening? For sure. Interesting? It's always interesting to see if they win another title or go down in flames.

It's interesting, as well, to see if so many egos can fit in one small clubhouse.

Some fans are reviling baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who approved the deal that brought the total number of All-Stars on the team to 17.

But in a sport that has been diluted by expansion, it's nice to see at least one team with names you know. That isn't the case everywhere. Quick, name three players on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I can't either.

Baseball thrives on attendance, media coverage and broadcast rights. The Yankees draw more interest, earn more money and are more recognizable than several other teams combined. Why shouldn't they have the best player(s) in the game?