Nick Turturro Speaks Out on Yankees’ Heartbreaking World Series Loss
Actor and lifelong New York Yankees fan Nick Turturro recently opened up about the team’s heartbreaking loss in the 2001 World Series, reflecting on the emotional impact of that defeat. Turturro, known for his role in The Sopranos and as a frequent Yankees supporter, expressed his continued pain over the series loss, which still lingers nearly two decades later.
The Yankees were heavily favored to win the 2001 Fall Classic, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 in the series and securing a strong position to clinch their fourth World Series title in five years. However, in a stunning twist, the Diamondbacks rallied to win the series in seven games, highlighted by a gut-wrenching Game 7 loss. The turning point came in the bottom of the ninth inning when closer Mariano Rivera, who had been nearly perfect in the postseason, gave up a game-winning hit to Luis Gonzalez. That moment forever etched the 2001 loss into Yankees lore as one of their most painful defeats.
Turturro, speaking candidly about the loss, admitted that it still stings, despite the years that have passed. He mentioned that it felt especially hard because of the emotional rollercoaster the team had gone through during the season, including the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, which had bonded New Yorkers and the Yankees in a unique and profound way. Turturro noted how the city had rallied around the team, hoping for a championship as a symbol of resilience, and how the loss felt like a missed opportunity for both the team and the community.
Though time has softened the initial heartbreak, Turturro’s reflections show that, for many Yankees fans, that 2001 loss remains a tough memory—one that still evokes a deep sense of “what could have been.”
