The only place for an underdog is in the comics.

Yet, everywhere you turn, there’s an underdog sports team staring you right in the face.

Listen, I hear the arguments. It’s a great story; it’s good to see the little guy succeed; down with the man!

But there’s a reason these underdogs are just what they are, and that’s the elites.

There are reasons why the elites are elites and the underdogs are underdogs. Sometimes it’s location, sometimes tradition – but sometimes it’s because you want to be.

Anybody know where I’m getting at? I’m heading towards the greatest franchise in sports, the New York Yankees. The Yanks were bounced out of the playoffs last week by the Texas Rangers, a team with more brand new fans than Tyler Wilson.

In a sport with no salary cap, there should be no underdogs. But there are, only because the Yankees have such a high payroll.

Why don’t the other teams?

Because no team wants to win as much as the Bronx Bombers do. Their 2010 payroll is $213,359,389, according to SI.com. The Rangers spent only $64,810,570.

Here’s an example to demonstrate that disparity: New York’s starting infield – Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez – earned more this year than the entire payroll of 15 major league teams, including the Rangers.

Many view the Yankees as the Evil Empire, a disgustingly rich corporate team that just throws money at any talent that moves. That’s why they’re hated by the masses, and that’s why a lot of folks were glad to see them lose.

But instead of hating the defending world champs, fans should start to look at their own club.

The Yankees win because they spend the most money, not because they have the most money. The Steinbrenner’s care of nothing more than winning championships – they’re a baseball family that wants to win games, no matter the cost.

Case in point: the man who might have single-handedly beat the Yanks, pitcher Cliff Lee, is on the fast-track to Yankee pinstripes in 2011.

Lee knows New York is his best place to win championships, and the Yankees know Lee is their best chance, too.

And New York doesn’t care. They’re not above signing angry players (Reggie Jackson), players who have killed them in the past (Johnny Damon) or the greatest player of all-time (Babe Ruth).

They will swallow their pride and sign the best players for the largest amount of money. End of story. All the Steinbrenner’s ask for in return is a championship.

Don’t be fooled into thinking New York has all the money – many of these owners are billionaires. Robert Nutting, the owner of the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates and the second lowest payroll in baseball, is president and CEO of Ogden Newspapers, Inc., and chairman of a resort close to Pittsburgh.

John Moores, the chairman of the Padres and the lowest payroll in baseball, is the founder of BMC Software, Inc., a company whose total revenue for the 2010 fiscal year was $1.91 billion, according to their web site.

So the money is there, it’s just being spent in other places.

Except in the Bronx.

So don’t hate the Yanks for overpaying for players and having baseball’s highest payroll.

Hate your team for not.