Is Indians’ Victory in ’97 Motivation for Anybody?

While most of the Yankees have tried to downplay their need for revenge against an Indian team that upset them in the division series last year, the New York tabloids are having none of it.

“Remember The Alomar” screamed the back page of the New York Post in Tuesday’s editions.

The headline was referring to Sandy Alomar’s eighth-inning, game-tying home run off Mariano Rivera in Game 4 last year, when the Yankees were four outs from eliminating the Indians and taking another step toward a second consecutive World Series championship.

“To be honest, I do feel a little bit of that,” acknowledged David Cone, Yankee pitcher.

Charles Nagy, Indian pitcher, thinks that is bunk.

“At this point, if you need that kind of incentive, something’s wrong,” Nagy said. “If last year matters this year . . . when you see something like that, you’re scratching your head.”

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Not that either of these rivals is looking for an extra edge but . . . each team has its own nun.

For the Yankees, it’s Sister Mary Marguerite Torre, local Catholic school principal and sister of Yankee manager Joe Torre.

For the Indians, it’s Sister Mary Assumpta, who runs a Cleveland-area nursing home and has been been featured in TV and movies as a fanatical Indian supporter.

Both say they are praying for their teams, and both claim their teams are blessed. In about seven days, this could make things a little uncomfortable in one of their convents.