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I'm just not sure which "history."

"This is not a good time to be with the Yankees," embattled GM Brian Cashman told reporters.

"This is a tough time," manager Joe Torre said. "But you don't sit around and complain and say `Woe is me.' After the success we've had, no one is going to feel sorry for us."

Were these statements made this past weekend as the Yanks lost 2-of-3 to the Red Sox, or last weekend when the Sox swept them?

Actually, they were made May 6, 2005, at a time when doom and gloom hovered over the Bombers as if the world were about to re-enter the dark ages, or a Bergman film. You know, 1965-1976 - the lean years that Yankee fans fear someday will return.

Funny thing happened, though: the Yankees righted themselves and went on to win 95 games in 2005 and 97 games last year in 2006. (But no World Series rings which is always a problem for Steinbrenner and Co. Can't they ever be happy with first place?)

Remember in 2005 they started at 11-18. Sounds familiar to this first month of the season, doesn't it? It could happen again.

Or, it could not happen again.

Maybe history repeats itself, but, uh, not that version. Could it be that 2007 doesn't follow this script, but the other, more depressing one, the dark ages one? Maybe it is 1965 all over again. Think of it as playing chess with Death in Bergman's The Seventh Seal. Maybe you will be walking around like Max von Sydow in the Swedish dark ages facing the most barren of times. Your body shakes from the cold, the end is near, everywhere you look are Mets hats. But you're in ...

Last place. Yeah, I said it.

In that case, here's the storyline: this year's Bombers got old quick, like the Bombers of 42 years ago. That team had an old Whitey Ford whose 16 wins would be his last winning season; Jim Bouton's 18-13 record in '64 spiraled downward to 4-15 in '65; and veterans Mantle, Maris and Howard all sustained injuries which slowed down the previous year's juggernaut.

The 1965 Yankees' record: 77-85, and it would be another 12 years before they would reach the postseason.

Hmmm ... that would be 2019 for your next ring! Ouch! That's 26 rings and holding, boys and girls!

These 2007 Yankees lost Bernie Williams to age during this past winter, Jeter slowing down a step, Rivera losing a few mph, the old guard getting replaced by guys who look like they're ballplayers but, alas, they're imposters. But this time, their names aren't Roy White, Felipe Alou, and Horace Clarke and Jerry Kenney, but Sean Henn, Jeff Karstens, Doug Mientkiewicz, Carl Pavano, and other replacement busts like Jaret Wright and Big Unit.

Time (and not crystal balls) will tell us which path this year's team will take. As Yogi would say, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Or better yet: "It's déjà vu all over again."

Yeah, Yogi, but which one?