Alright. Alright. I can hear the objection already from charged up Mets and Yankee fans about how this weekend's Subway Series at Shea Stadium is the first of six games for 'bragging rights.' Have you ever heard of anything so outlandish? It's pathetic to think that six games between two locals who reside in different leagues is going to decide who's better.

When interleague play began back in '97, the nostalgia worked. Fans got their money's worth as the Mets and Yanks squared off for the first time ever in a regular season. I even coughed up some money to go to the rubber game of the debut series at Yankee Stadium. The atmosphere was excellent. Yankee and Mets fans rooting on their teams. The "Let's Go Yankees" chants were countered by "Let's Go Mets" ones. And the best part was that ex-Met David Cone flirted with a no-hitter. He didn't quite get it. But the Yanks wound up pulling out the game and series in the bottom of the 10th. When it was over, I can recall some Mets fans coming up and congratulating me. I remember shaking hands and saying, "Good series." Nothing bitter about that. Some fans aren't like that. For a few, these games mean everything. But hasn't it finally worn off?

Ever since the Bronx Bombers defeated the Queens Metropolitans in the first ever real "Subway Series" of any meaning between the two ball clubs back in 2000, these other series just don't feel the same. They're just another six games on our team's slate. New York was at a feverish pitch that October. Nobody ever thought it would happen again. The last Subway Series before that was way back in 1956 when the Yankees edged the Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games. So, the build up 44 years and a new century later was huge. Finally, the Mets and Yanks would play for the ultimate prize! But despite only winning 87 regular season games, seven less than their rivals, the two-time defending World Champions prevailed in five, clinching the series on a Bernie Williams catch of a deep Mike Piazza drive at Shea. It marked a modern-day dynasty, with sports' most successful franchise taking their third consecutive championship and fourth in five years. That championship would be the Yankees' 26th. They haven't won since, coming close the following year in the first ever November baseball classic before losing a seventh game heartbreaker when Arizona's Luis Gonzalez blooped an RBI single over the drawn-in infield with baseball's best postseason closer Mariano Rivera watching in despair.

So, how can these games continue to measure up after what happened five years ago? Sure. The intensity is great. Fans are into it. And the games are usually competitive. But don't you think the players could care less at this point? Wouldn't they be better served playing these extra games against division foes, this way they're not trying to make up ground in September? Division races are where it's at. What if they got rid of these meaningless games and tacked on an additional six games against division rivals? That would mean 25-game schedules against the other teams in your division. Imagine that. Pennant races at a fever pitch. The emphasis would be put back where it should be. In ultracompetitive divisions such as the NL East and yes, the AL East as well, this would make for some great baseball. Imagine the Mets hang in there with the Braves, Marlins and Nationals in September? Those extra games could make a difference. Due to an imbalanced schedule, you're talking about an additional 18 games. For the Yanks, playing the Orioles, Red Sox and even Toronto six more times would definitely help their chances of coming back to win the AL East. Even if your team doesn't win the division, they can still get the wildcard. But wouldn't it make better sense to have those games mean more? Not in Bud Selig's league.

Aside from Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox, Cardinals-Royals, Indians-Reds, Astros-Rangers, Dodgers-Angels and Giants-A's, there aren't many interleague match-ups that are appetizing. Atlanta vs Boston is intriguing just for the fact that Boston used to have the Braves. But is there really a rivalry? Who wants to watch the Yankees play the Pirates or at the Brewers? In the old days, a Yankee-Pirate match-up would mean the World Series. Ditto Yanks vs the Milwaukee Braves. On the schedule, the Bombers do host the Cubs at The Stadium and travel to Busch Stadium for traditional series from yesteryear. Though they are interesting, wouldn't these fantasy match-ups be better off reserved for a World Series? Imagine what kind of hype a Yankees-Cubs or Yankees-Cardinals series would get? It would be a ratings bonanza. Tell me how many people in Southern Florida are getting 'amped up' to watch the Marlins battle the Devil Rays? Who's watching the Diamondbacks take on 'archnemesis' Detroit? Toronto against the converted Expos of Washington just doesn't have the same juice. Not that Canadian fans are as passionate for baseball as they are for an NHL sighting. The Phillies at Orioles pits two teams from rich baseball towns against each other. But is it really a rivalry? Milwaukee and Minnesota used to play in the same division but not anymore. What's so appealing now? The Padres and Mariners play out west but is there really any build-up?

There just aren't enough games between NL and AL teams that are worth it for interleague play to continue. It's time for major league baseball to reassess things and think long and hard about going back to what worked for a century. Baseball is a game rich in tradition. It's time to go Back To The Future.