Endicott College in an Evil Empire state of mind

BEVERLY, Mass. -- The New York Yankees are getting some serious love in Red Sox territory.

On Nov. 23, Endicott College will paint a fire hydrant on campus with Yankee pinstripes in honor of the Yankees winning their 27th World Championship last month.

The reason behind the celebratory painting is that Endicott President Dick Wylie, a Yankees fan, and Student Activities Director Kim Peckham, a Red Sox fan, made a bet prior to the 2009 season.

Some students, however, don’t agree that the wager should have been carried out.

“This is a Boston school, we’re on the North Shore, we’re 10 minutes from Boston, I don’t think there should be pinstripes on our fire hydrants,” said one student.

Every hydrant on campus is painted in reference to some team whether it be the Celtics or even Tigers. But given the state of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, this hydrant is hitting close to home.

“I realize that 75 percent of the students are probably going to do me in tonight,” Wylie admitted. “But we have 25-30 percent of our kids from New York, from New Jersey, southern Connecticut and they need some support.”

If the Red Sox win it all next year, one can bet that the Yankees hydrant will be no longer.

“In springtime I was confident and ready to paint this thing blue and red,” Peckham said. “But unfortunately it’s going to be blue and white.”

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