BEFORE the World Series three years ago, people were talking about the mystique and aura that surrounded the Yankees, who, as they have this season, often overcame deficits and won games.

Curt Schilling, one of the Arizona Diamondbacks' two ace pitchers at the time, sneered at the idea.

"Those are dancers in a nightclub," he said. "Those are not things we concern ourselves with on the ball field."

In looking ahead to his start for Boston against the Yankees in the league championship series opener tonight, however, Schilling offered a different view.

Asked if he expected Mystique and Aura to show up at Yankee Stadium, he said he didn't respect anyone more than the players he called true Yankees, naming Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, "guys that have proven year out that they are champions, and until you beat them, you haven't done it."