Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) kicked off House floor for wearing 'hoodie'

[Ian David]

18. Bogus Trend of the Day: NYC Criminals Wear Yankee Caps!

Bogus Trend of the Day: NYC Criminals Wear Yankee Caps!
The New York Times discovers a spurious connection between New York Yankees garb and crime.

My diligent pack of bogus-trend-spotters started filling my inbox with their latest find last night as the New York Times published on the Web its report that many of the city's suspected criminals wear New York Yankee caps or garb ("Crime Blotter Has a Regular: Yankees Caps," Sept. 16).

Here's the nut graf from the piece, which the Times put on Page One of its print edition:

A curious phenomenon has emerged at the intersection of fashion, sports and crime: dozens of men and women who have robbed, beaten, stabbed and shot at their fellow New Yorkers have done so while wearing Yankees caps or clothing.

Breathtaking stuff, eh? But just two grafs later, the Times expresses why nobody should be surprised that some criminal suspects drape themselves in Yankee merchandise. While it's not unusual for a bogus trend story to recant its own premise, I can't recall one climbing down this quickly. The Times reports:

In some ways, it is not surprising that Yankees attire is worn by both those who abide by the law and those who break it. The Yankees are one of the most famous franchises in sports, and their merchandise is widely available and hugely popular.


More:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/press_box/2010/09/bogus_trend_of_the_day_nyc_criminals_wear_yankee_caps.html