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Some things should never change.

Like Yankee Stadium.

I'm sorry, but I just can't understand replacing Yankee Stadium. Oh, sure, those skyboxes may be important but what makes the Yankees the Yankees are those fans from the Bronx and from Brooklyn and the pinstripes and Yankee Stadium.

In 2002, my son and I traveled to New York City to attend a Yankees-Mets interleague baseball game. We tried to purchase tickets beforehand but they were too expensive, but we decided to go anyway.

Soon after the game started, we bought two tickets from a scalper for $80 just outside the stadium. Our seats, low on the upper deck and down third-base line, were perfect.

As we sat there, my son and I marveled at the history of the place. Yankee Stadium was everything both of us had expected it to be and more.

From Nathan's hot dogs to the memorials in center field, history was everywhere.

We were surrounded by fans from both teams who didn't seem to have any problem sharing space.

We talked about Joe DiMaggio flagging down fly balls right below us and Mickey Mantle driving another home run deep. It was truly hallowed ground.

Now it is under demolition, a "modern" stadium going up next door.

Say it ain't so.

There are plenty of things should never change.

Like the pride parents' eyes when their children do well. It starts with their first steps and moves quickly toward their first hit that gets them to first base or a shot that finds the bottom of the net.

Or John Ward screaming "5-4-3-2-1 ... touchdown, Tennessee!"

We should never change who we are to meet the expectations of others. To do so is to ignore the influence of our parents.

I guess that is the truly disappointing part of this Presidential race.

I don't think Clemson's football team will ever stop rubbing Howard's Rock before a game nor will Monday morning quarterbacks keep their opinions to themselves.

Blount Countians need to always be able to look at Three Sisters and remember how lucky we are to live here.

Some things need to change.

Like traffic around Cades Cove Loop Road

Or the football game I attended last night where there were 30 players on the opposing team and 18 people in the stands. The math means that not every one of those boys had a parent there.

And people's attitude toward the games children play.

If I had a nickel for every time someone yelled "get him outta there" at some teenager, I could retire tomorrow.

I wish I could change the attitude that children have to decide on which sports they are going to play by the time they reach their 10th birthday. They should be playing everything that is available to them at that time.

Is getting a college scholarship more important than learning teamwork and developing an active lifestyle?

So maybe things do have to change sometimes but did they really have to tear down the House that Ruth built?

Joe Black, PT, SCS, ATC, is a physical therapist and athletic trainer at Appalachian Therapy Center. Write to him at: Joe Black, c/o The Daily Times, P.O. Box 9740, Maryville, TN 37802.