Today's column reviews ESPN's new miniseries about the '77 Yankees, "The Bronx Is Burning," which has three strong performances at the center but tries to do too much (or too little) in adapting Jonathan Mahler's book:"I'm the straw that stirs the drink," new Yankee slugger Reggie Jackson boldly declared in a bar-side interview during 1977 spring training, dismissing team captain Thurman Munson by claiming, "Munson thinks he can be the straw that stirs the drink, but he can only stir it bad."
This would, in the end, turn out to be one of the less controversial moments for the '77 Bronx Bombers, a team caught up in a series of interlocking turf wars between Jackson, Munson, hard-drinking manager Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner at the peak of his tabloid-baiting powers. That these Yankees managed to (barely) overcome their differences to win the World Series would seem to make them ideal subjects for the miniseries treatment. Yet ESPN's "The Bronx Is Burning" isn't nearly as engrossing as the subject matter would suggest -- especially since it has so many other subjects.
To read the full thing, click here.
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