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Neither the conservative right's verbal storm over Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court nor continuing woes in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina nor a 20-inch snow storm in Colorado resonates with this son of a Brooklyn Dodger fan like the Yankees losing 5-3 in the deciding game of their post-season playoff series.

Sorry Yankee fans but I can't help it. It's in my genes. It was the way I was raised: No word about the men in New York pinstripes in the Morris household. Unless it was a derisive word.

Miers might make a good Supreme Court justice but someone should ask her if she's a Yankee fan, first. And no good southerner, especially in the Deep South of New Orleans would root for a Yankee. And in Colorado, especially at this time of year, heavy snow is cause for celebration therefore Mother Nature can't be a Yankee fan.

Just to set the record straight, I won't be rooting for any American League team. I'd like to see St. Louis get a shot at the so-called World Championship with Tony LaRussa at the helm — good coach. But it wouldn't break my heart to see the Astros get to the World Series. They're a scrappy team with a lot of great players — the latest version of the Killer B's of Biggio, Bagwell and Berkman. Alas, even the Astros have been infiltrated by those D ___ Yankees — Roger Clemens and Andy Petite. Somehow I think of Clemens as a Red Sox and a Texas Longhorn first.

Of course I can't gloat too much: My Rockies can't win a pickup game on the road and they don't do all that well at home in Coors Field. I do miss the Blake Street Bombers who did get them to the first round of the playoffs once upon a time. Oh well, it gives me something to wish and hope for. Something to root for. It also develops patience. I know what that's like having been a serious Met fan in the beginning.

It just feels good to know that George Steinbrenner can't buy his way into the World Series even though the Bronx Bombers have been there more often than not in recent years.

My condolences to Mr. John Kratofil who can't help being a Yankee fan just as I can't help rooting against them: It's in his genes. — Roger Morris