BACKING A BULLY ISN'T EASY.(SPORTS)

Byline: STEVE CAMPBELL

NEW YORK - The thrill of victory. The agony of defending Roger Clemens.

We're not in 1998 anymore, are we, Joe Torre?

The honeymoon between the New York Yankees and America is over. The relationship is on the rocks, making the Yankees more uncomfortable than ever about living in a glass house. Even Torre, who has survived cancer and working for George Steinbrenner, is beginning to show signs of stress and strain.

Torre has been so adept at keeping anything unseemly from sticking to his Yankees during his five years as manager, it's a wonder hedoesn't do infomercials hailing the wonders of Teflon coats. Now the Yankees might be inclined to show up to Shea Stadium tonight for Game 3 of the World Series in bullet-proof vests …