The Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire State of Mind

[YouLaToya]

New Yorkers: We pretend to be humble... ha ha

[dusttracks]

'these other people were deprived of joy, to a lesser extent'.

ha haaaa!!!!

[brittanyultra]

Lmao that cat just glaring at him when he's like "Yes we can!"

[bmw0688]

LOL- hilarious! thanks for keeping it real!

[recon123ism]

hm....i bet the people who cried when Obama won, are now crying for a totally different reason now.....

[Motionedout]

Yeah, the mood of the 2009 Yankees victory parade was a little creepy. People were happy that the Yankees won, but there was an angry undercurrent, unlike the other years. Near riots at the SI ferry terminal, and I was thinking "Wait, didn't we win?" Was it Iraq War defeat/fatigue/Obama's presence in the

White House? It was different, that's for sure.

[lapetrov]

"we pretend to be humble" --that is the best line I've heard about New Yorkers. So true. (and that is why everyone loves to hate a Yankees fan.) But truth of the matter is, if the billion dollar club can't win, then we have to seriously rethink things.

[p849]

this video had me rolling, i dont think you dont understand how funny you are

[HowToGetFreebies]

This cat reminds me of Asa for some reason.

[robotmastercutman]

Anybody who watches baseball to see a particular team lose is watching for the wrong reason.

[zeanian]

Just like the Saints winning; while to others who've celebrated a super bowl victory for their favorite team, a win this year would've been great. The epicness of the win to Louisianians is often misunderstood and even taunted by sone whole feel we're being idiots to STILL even be talking about it. We are, and we will. It's huge, it was a first, and we're basking in it. :)

[blackwoodjankins]

this dude is to funny, said in jest

[mrj24]

ha so funny and so true

[MegaBlank1]

thats why i dont give a fuck about sports fuck them they dont pay my bills

[Steadno]

'pretend to be humble' lol

[pitosunshine]

hahahahahahha

[whataboutki]

What are you using for sound recording? It's really top notch.

[HaddyD]

stop bitching so much dude

[mastamaxx]

Baseball embodies everything that I believe is wrong with a Laissez Faire Capitalist economy. As a result of there being no salary cap, or any other regulations related to team spending, teams with more money can use their monetary influence to keep bad teams from ever progressing or even making money. Even if a bad team gets a good draft pick and builds him up. As soon as that person is a free agent some money bags team like the Yankees will buy him. I'm from Baltimore so take it how you will.

[bmoreg]

I grew up in Baltimore and understand your pain.

[AnimusBehemoth]

Um yeah. Except that it's not Laissez Faire at all, because there is no open market for competition.

Way to try and drag down a hilarious and poignant video with irrelevant (and inaccurate) economic philosophy.

[youreabird]

i couldn't keep my eyes off the darn cat.

-______-

[bmoreg]

As a current Bostonian and an almost New Yorker, I am always confused by moments like these. And then, I remember, that I don't watch baseball and we are a little less than humble for calling an event that only happen in America the World Series.

[Mvenven]

These are the best players in the world there are player from many countries in the Major Leagues. It is the best league in the World. 30-40% of players in the league are not even American.

[bmoreg]

And? They are in US playing for US teams. While baseball is huge in Japan, there will never be a team representing a Japan city or any other city. It is comical. It is all about the American baseball leagues. It is only economic globalization that has lead to ethnic diversity in baseball. It was still called the World Series when all the players were American and white.

[ladydontekno]

Of course, there *is* the small matter of the Toronto Blue Jays... so a team not based in the US can, in fact, win the World Series. =)

[bmoreg]

The US and Canada is still not even close to a representative sample of the world.

[ocsspot]

Who else looked up "magnanimous?"

[Odinak]

yay for dictionaries!

[youreabird]

@ocsspot lmfao

[delphicdemise]

"Yes we can, we always do, what were you even thinking?"

Lol. Wow.

[cowsgoJT]

Nice

[journalismgrl]

lmao @ everything in this video

[Espy1988]

This is quite possibly the best video I have ever seen. You are amazing man

[misremembered72]

so tru phillies fans are obama u yankee fans straight mccain

[gottago]

actually yankee fans are obama and phillies fans are mccain because the yankees won.

[datphatkid]

Entertaining as always....holla

[ocsspot]

illdoc1, your comparison of celebrating an election victory to celebrating a sporting event victory is like comparing fruits and vegetables to Coke and Pepsi. They're two diff things. And it's hard to listen to you speak profoundly about so many diff topics while speaking proudly about the election of Obama. A little confusing. Do you turn a blind eye for your viewers sake or are you just selective on what you choose to be sincere about.?

[twizzy16]

those are actually 4 different things

[ocsspot]

@twizzy16

You really think so?? Let me simplify it for you: "fruits and vegetables" ref to something important/necessary - ie. elections; "Coke and Pepsi" ref to something leisure/fun - ie. sports. I'm not comparing Veggies to fruits or Coke to Pepsi. It's a comparison of "2" "things/ideas/concepts..."

[twizzy16]

those are still 4 different things

[ocsspot]

No problem, twizzy16, you got it.

[poloboyl89]

lmfao

[xKineticSparks]

you're being far too analytical about it.. clearly he was kidding,,

and he's not necessarily drawing a comparison between the EVENTS but the roles that are played by two opposing sides. so frankly, even we were to be analytical about it, you'd have to understand what was at work to begin with. and you don't...

on ANOTHER NOTE.

FUNNY VIDEO illdoc! what a champ.

[ocsspot]

xKineticSparks

You must be illdoc1's Video Comment Monitor. But, whoever you are, you might be right about me over analyzing. But that's irrelevant now. Stay subscribed, I will.

[amandaisagoraphobic]

At 2:40-2:45 your cat looks like he/she is about to pee on your bed or pluck out your eyeballs.

[DWilli707]

"Yes! These other people were also deprived of

joy, to a lesser extent, ha-ha!"

Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha­ha.

[behmdaniel]

Kitty has strong screen presence - She gonna be a star !!!

[misterk213]

illdoc...u know sports is used to keep the public docile and distracted. hope yr not unaware of that

[kaniamia]

Used by whom, exactly?

[SyphaUno]

is anyone tripping off of the cat?

[frane9r9r]

oh, my gawd.

YES!

[SupriseSexify]

The cat is the best part. Every one of his videos is great, but the cat takes it to that next level.

[ObamaTheRealLoser]

election night? this brotha is too smart to support Obama. Prezs come and go but those that are really in power remain the same....long before this nation was even thought of. Ask Obama about the FED Reserve and AIPAC

[xKineticSparks]

so anyways..

[mcjon77]

"THAT is what real New Yorkers do. We pretend to be humble." PERFECT!!

[crazeeladie]

lol that was too funny "yes we can, yes we always do woo!" XD

[truegem13]

2:46 That cat totally freaked me out. It just appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly.

[sallyboo8892]

Love your vids, but as a non-New Yorker, rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for the Soviet hockey team against the USA in the 1980 Olympics. (I read that somewhere recently. I should credit, but can't remember who to credit.) At least you had the honesty to admit the Yankees BUY their titles.

[illdoc1]

i think that's what my video was saying in the first place, tho? :)

[sallyboo8892]

And certainly the Yankees aren't the only MLB team to BUY a championship. They are just the ones who have been able to afford to do it the most times.

Just take my comments as a bitter, non-practicing Cincinnati Reds fan. ;-)

Seriously love your videos. Keep up the great work.

[Hollow4ever]

This is why there is a unwritten law to hate the yankees if your city has a sports team....love the vid

[yungotcha]

hey ill i love ya clip u speak on it perfect ... but i dont care if im eva alive when the knicks win the championship lmaoo im crying lol ..... and im jumping up and down ... that will be history in the makin.. lmaooooo ....

[tapthepope]

Wait....are you complaining about alienating WHITE people in regards to POLITICS.

Why don't you go cry more somewhere else?

[mrdeedz1]

Fuck the Yankees!!! White Sox, baby!!

[magickaleva]

Dude, your cat's a Phillies fan! Look at that face! LOL!

[dan917x]

44-0.. Yes we always do.. lmao

[sisforshayla]

LOL! love it

[BaldButWigged]

kitty!

[str8evil]

Ahh... an obvious Met fan. hahaha...

[sleepylain]

I love the cat in the background making faces. So cute.

[TheSeungjin]

Yankees won?? booooooooo

[MsIreneRenee]

Great connection to the presidential election and how the other side (must generally) feel EVERY ELECTION...never thought about it that way.....Yankees have something in common with the dominant race....ha ha ha.....you are too funny! Well put together as always!

[Ty1Brown2Studioz3]

dont u jus love his background music

so unique

gotta luv this guy (no homo)

[tashianah]

your cat looks like he's going to kill someone in the beginning

[thugXmosh]

kitty returns! & i agree with being humble only because i'm a bitter phillies fan.

[aimjeezy]

What's up Jay (assuming you see this) I love hearing your opinion on hip hop and other matters. I know you try to keep the discussion on hip hop, but after seeing your Michael Steele video and your mention of election night, I can't help but wonder what your opinion is on the health care debate... just saying.

[Neverletgorox]

why do you have to emphasize the fact that mccain is white? that sounds pretty racist, ill.

[caughtinyourquagmire]

Acknowledging differences doesn't = racism. Besides, the video isn't about McCain or him being white. He's juxtaposing two situations and weighing scenarios.

[psyqyq]

LMAO...you are SUCH an ass for this one.

[curlykidz]

there was a cat? watching again...

[curlykidz]

oh, there it is... right behind that flippin' ad!

[geeznuts123]

Boston does suck! lol ;-p

[MrLesWhite]

Ninja Cat LIVES!!

[yorkshirepuddiiing]

another lame juxtaposition imo.

by insinuating obama was an underdog is complete b.s.

obama winning the election is a victory for the establishment. obviously if mccain would have won, it would have been a victory just the same.

[heyhomee]

The BEST thing ever is that your cat sat through all those takes like, "Look at this dude. When's he gonna feed my face?"

[almost401]

true stuff man, yankees still own the mlb :P!!!

[CHARLESHARDIN96]

lol, funny vid!

[frinasweets]

DWL PREE DIS LIKKLE BATTYMAN LMAO.

[illdoc1]

you're on the wrong page, anti-gay trolls belong on the video before this one.

[frinasweets]

lol ur right thts where ma comment belongs lol. lovin tha vibe GO YANKEES!!! LOL. by the way found it strange tht u knew wht "battyman" meant. lol.

[bronxgirl712]

Fail.

[Natediesel115]

LMAO yes we yorkers do pretend we give a F**** but brilliant message.

[CherubicFunk]

I hate the Yankees!

[SquallCloud]

I don't care about sports but it was funny to see the place go buck wild twice. Election night I was part of the euphoria. When the Phillies won the Series I was just looking out my window at the drunk white folks jumping up and down on cars laughing and hoping they get home safe.

[kerrykop]

There's me thinking he wasnt another smug New Yorker

[cnote1239]

redsox fan here, the yankees can suck it. fuck them.

[DIRTYDUNNZ]

the star was the cat....no diss

[branDav21]

SMOOTH

[ManusFrigus]

solid 5 stars

[gnorralicious]

As a Red Sox fan, I'm so tempted to just get angry and say the Yankees can suck it. On the other hand, I am happy for them, deep down. Deep, deep down... sort of...

It's really hard for me. :V

[gcsugirl]

sports are for idiots

[Efferts]

I wish this fact was well known.

It's true, in a contest, people can be more "anti" than "pro". There are folks that voted for Obama mostly because they hate/feared McCain or Palin. Hey, I was one.

Seemingly there's such a thing as voting or cheering AGAINST another party to succeed.

[soulbaby]

I'm British, so I have no idea about baseball, but this was funny.

"yes, these other people were also deprived of joy!"

hahaha!!

[captaincracklins]

I was shocked when I moved to NYC to find that anyone still cares about baseball.

[nappyp33z]

lol where u from?

[scribegurl]

Well if my Mets had won, it would've been different. Then, it would've been truly joyous. (Like if the Democrats won after being out of power for 8 years but the candidate was another white guy, not Obama?) ;)

[ladydontekno]

"Well if my Mets had won, it would've been different. Then, it would've been truly joyous."

Yeah, that. Not everyone in NY was celebrating that night.

[greedygenius77]

lol the mets suck its all about the marlins

[pgrudo00]

Go get a piece of ass idiot.

[TheArtOfTheComment]

I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan, and I voted for Obama, and I approve this message.

[HackBennys]

Baseball blows sack.

[AAgibsonAA]

Don't really care for the sport personally ...

But ye, in general supporters have a habit of celebrating the other teams' defeat rather than their team's victory.

Which is pretty lame, yet pretty common.

And not only in sports ...

[SWDenverjuggalo]

My Rockies didn't win it, so I could honestly care less that the Yankees won. Congrats, I guess...

[bombonyou]

"If you want it bad enough, you can buy anything!"

Exactly. Yankees = Bloomberg.

Baseball is so boring.

[themightygman]

Aiight Jay, We are the Borg, you will be assimilated, the evil empire rules. By the way how come the cat never moves during your rant?

[runts101]

Your amazing! =)

[luckylissette]

Love the cat! Looks like it's plotting your demise though.

[JenniferKelly]

Every cat does that. All day, every day. All cats.

=]

[MyNameIsIndustry]

I'm pretty sure that I could lead the Yankees to a pretty good win/loss record if I had a $200,000,000.00 payroll.....I'm not really impressed.....

[stanthrax]

Lol, not taking away from how hilarious this was but I somehow got caught up in watching the cat to see if it would ever react to anything

[verpete]

Which is close enough... :D Very nice video.

[chuckbjj2000]

nicely put 5/5

[tastymoose]

Love how the cat is chilling in the background like hes saying "Are you done yet I'm hungry".

Nice video

[jamid87]

Duh I expected the Yankees to win. They only spent $400 million+ in getting them players.

[thefkncomplex]

LOL! Great one.

I obviously missed all the fun though I'm just a few blocks away (not that I'd go anyways...)

More importantly, I love your kitty. What is his/her name? Lol.

[veach52]

this is great dude - also you've got a hella cute cat

[AnbusKi]

Yankees......Lucky bastards -_-

I hope they enjoyed this victory that wont happen again for a few decades.

[Backatwon]

LOL ..great comparison ......enjoyed this !!.....with respect

[drby3]

how many people were drunk???? ......those other people already think they're the shit after taking back new jersey and virginia ..... lol

[jefgain]

great video, funny and yet also inspiring,

Hysterical: "rediscovering smug superiority.." Is that like being a 6th generation San Franciscan?

[Pleblian]

My favorite comedian, Doug Stanhope, has a great routine on this very topic.

It's called "Fuck the Yankees" enjoy!

watch?v=jvWGZpu_TXw

[aozoratenshu]

I'm glad you guys won. After all, you needed some consolation as my New Orleans Saints sent BOTH New York teams home crying like the little wusses they are. In fact, if you could send them back, I'd like to beat them down again, just so you understand that in football, this is not your year. Not at all. BLACK AND GOLD SUPERBOWL!!!!

[DaveOfCleveland]

im not going to say anything.

[mlking213]

2 guys take steroids.

Almost 1-billion dollar payroll.

yeah they won but,i mean they're supposed to

IF THEY DIDN'T, THAT WOULD BE SAD.

[Confucius0ne]

lol u mad?

[mlking213]

no I'm not a Phillie fan ,I rarely even watch baseball but, I understand that if i have a team worth almost a billion i should win.

[Confucius0ne]

i understand your point, im not even that big of a yankees fan..i'm just on the bandwagon i guess. baseball is not my thing.

[Confucius0ne]

oh but i have a problem with the billion thing, sure they're a billion dollar team but if you have the best players then you should win, the team costing a billion is only a byproduct of that fact

[mlking213]

The reason they have the best team is because unlike most teams they can buy it.

not having a salary cap league, and a huge organization is why they win.

If i have all-star team of players i expect to win when it matters.

[Confucius0ne]

i completely agree, would be nice for things to be competitive. like illdoc says, it's not really a surprise anymore that they win.

[bryan295B]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS MAN SERIOUSLY!

[LiLiYajuujo]

You hit it right on the head with that "you can BUY anything!" Because honestly, it feels like that's what Bloomberg and the Yankees both do all the damn time. As a broke-ass Bronxite, I'm still pissy that the Yankees get that much money handed to them for a stadium they didn't need. Hell, why didn't we give that money to nearby schools? Or at least give neighborhood kids free tickets to games like they used to do 50 years ago. (Moral: rich folks need to either get off my lawn or gimme money.)

[logic39da]

I was gonna give this a thumbs down until you wrapped it up with the Moral

[SoldierOfBreath]

HEy, umm, due, just so you know-Philly fans brag after they LOSE! I don't understand how they can do that. They don't even have to beat the team (New York fan), just as long as your team loses. When the Giants (my team) lost to the undefeeated Saints, and the Eagles lost to the Raiders, they were bragging about how we lost. These Philly fans actually deserve it. They're all sore losers and today on my Facebook wall everybody posted "Cost you enough".

[Hajalin]

Pft, Bloomberg didn't buy the election. ]He didn't have to. New York is full of enough rich and wealthy conservatives where as he didn't even have to make commercials to win this last election. Most of those that voted for him live in Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens. Just really think about where these people's values lie. They couldn't give a f@*& about all of the lower middle class people Bloomberg is pushing out of this city.

[Hajalin]

And they especially don't care about the fact that the educational system's focus or should I say obsession with testing in certain schools is pushing kids into Junior High, High School and even college totally unprepared. They don't care because their kids don't go to those types of schools in the first place.

[zypher1990]

Too funny. BTW, What the fuck does that cat do in the winter when the radiator is on? Just wondering...

[SoldierOfBreath]

PHUCK YEAH! Yankess! Too bad I can't brag-I live in a town 5 minutes from Philly

[SupriseSexify]

The cat returns!

[Amuia]

I agree, but maybe not about New Yorkers.

YAY Kitty

[projectzdragn]

It only took a 1 billion dollar payroll and 2 counts of steroid use.

[illdoc1]

Are you familiar with the rhetorical device commonly referred to as a "joke"? Because this was one of those.

[axioms22]

It was funny, can't say I didn't smile (mostly at the end), it was most certainly not as funny as the last video. Overall though a weak analogy makes a weak joke, the two things you are comparing have to have some semblance of similarity for it to work. Also, don't scapegoat to a joke, I mean, obviously this isn't a serious topic, but there was some reality to comparing one type of joy to another.

PS. The MLK video you did way back has to be one of the best things I've seen on youtube.

[illdoc1]

Well I guess we also disagree, because I see far more than a semblance of similarity between how we relate to sports & politics in general and these two nights in particular.

Of course they are not exactly alike, mainly because the stakes were much higher in the last election, hence my reminder that I didn't mean this to be taken but so seriously,. But I could have spoken instead of the Red Sox' first time breaking the curse and this video would have gone pretty much the same way..

[illdoc1]

and the smugness and sense of entitlement from some Yankee fans was quite similar to what I saw from GOPers even last year in defeat..

[illdoc1]

and then, on top of that, the similarity in big money's influence that casts doubt on how much pride can really be taken from the achievement, and how true a victory or mandate it really represents, as opposed to just showing how the whole system is corrupted.

[axioms22]

I get all that, I've even substituted in a sport for which I care so I can better get it. And I never said it wasn't funny. Just pointing out that this analogy either complicates a sports victory or simplifies down a political one. When Olympique Lyonnais wins I am smug because I think "Hell ya, we beat their sorry asses." When Obama wins I am smug because I say "This represents an ideological shift in American thinking for the better."

[illdoc1]

"This represents an ideological shift in American thinking for the better."

yeah but again, that's not really the reaction I am comparing to. anyway this has probably gone as far as it can go. :)

[axioms22]

Sounds good, have a nice day.

[illdoc1]

in fact the more I think about it, the more of-base I think you are here... look at how people relate to football (soccer), the intense joy driven by nationalistic pride that comes with victories there.. the similarity between that and the joy seen last election night is far beyond a semblance to me.

[axioms22]

You could make a better argument for futbol because that does involve nationalism somewhere deep down, because the whole world plays it and follows it, unlike baseball. Still not the same, and that is due to implications. But this is getting too philosophical in useless by arguing whether one joy is different from another joy. Also I think it was unfair to characterize the GOP as smug after loosing: they were violently unseated after having their way for 8 years, they were just stage 1 greifing

[Thenewyorkcritic]

He was just using that as an example, why are you getting butt hurt over it?

[mrshiftyballs]

haha. sport and politics are very alike my friend.

there's a great part in Fear & Loathing On The Campaign Trail where HST compares his job as a journalist to that of a sports bettor (can't be bothered to look it up, it stuck with me though).

at the very least they're comparable in the sense of WINNING something beyond yourself... that's all he's doing.

[axioms22]

In the sense of winning something beyond yourself they aren't alike at all. When you put a president in power that's something that can directly affect your life (through policies). It's an unfair analogy with sport because sports competition is intrinsically smug, its about being better, physically. When you compare the two it just sort of devalues politics.

[mrshiftyballs]

politicians devalue politics, we just talk shit on youtube

[axioms22]

That's just a sad cynical view. Politicians cannot devalue politics, they are people and they are really dumb sometimes, but no matter how much you hate one of them, they are part of something bigger. It is a system, and beyond that a system with a philosophy.

[illdoc1]

but what you're leaving out is if we're gonna be real (and as I've discussed at length here before), the joy expressed that night was more about pride in the *symbolic event* than the substantive effects that would come from it.. that is where the similarity lies

[SpyroSan]

Pause at 0:12 creeeeeeepy cat...

Great video, as always

[TabzeeKat]

Magnanimous = Great word.

[eKh79]

and again: n1!

[kruesimuesi]

love your vids