For the first time since 1956, New York City is caught up in the furor of a baseball season's culminating in what seems to be every citizen's front yard. The first Subway Series in 44 years has almost everyone in town delirious with excitement. Yankee and Mets memorabilia are flying off store shelves. Tickets to games are more sought-after than rent-controlled apartments and those who for whatever reason can't join the sellout crowds at the ball parks are jamming every sports bar and restaurant with a wide-screen television.

A World Series with two New York City teams playing each other would seem to be a win-win situation. Whichever team wins, the ticker tape parade will be held on Broadway and a New York baseball club will be victorious. An aura of camaraderie and good will based on the certainty that New York is the ultimate winner here pervades the city, or at least we'd like to think so.

Unfortunately, there are always a few overzealous types who lose their perspective on the whole situation and spoil what should be a joyous occasion. "Fanaticism," from which is derived its shortened form "fan," has been defined as redoubling one's efforts after forgetting one's aims. Any fan whose devotion to the team he or she supports leads to acts of vandalism and assault clearly fits in this category. Baseball is a game, and whether one plays on a team or supports players as a spectator in the stands, that fact must be kept in mind.

October 21st, the day the first game of the 2000 World Series was played, was also the 195th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, in which Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson died defeating Napoleon's forces and determining the fate of the known world. There was considerably more at stake for Nelson than the outcome of a baseball game, but his prayer before the battle still applies. Nelson asked "a great and glorious victory" and added, "and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it." He also called for "humanity after victory," which modern-day fans would do well to remember. The first Subway Series in several generations is an honor for New York City. May no further misconduct in anyone tarnish it and may the best team win.