Something's different
Red Sox fans have been through a lot, it’s no secret. Ask anyone all over the country about it and you’re sure to hear some of the “B” words that have become worse than curse words in the greater New England area…Bucky…Buckner…Boone…and the worst of them all, Babe. I’m actually nauseous writing about it. It’s glaringly apparent that for the last almost 100 years heartbreak is a dish served at every household in New England on a regular basis. Those on the outside looking in will probably never understand the torment that is exclusive to Boston fans. The closest might be the Cubs, who haven’t won a World Series since Henry Ford rolled the Model T off the assembly line, but they hardly ever put a decent team together which makes it less of an emotional rollercoaster and more of a general malaise cast over most of Chicago. The Red Sox are always (well, almost always) a great team and a perennial playoff contender, and yet somehow manage to have their dreams “yank”ed away at the last moment each time. Hopes raised to the highest, and then dropped to see what kind of damage ensues. My 80 something grandfather still watches every game and cheers with all his heart even though no living member of my family has ever seen the Red Sox win a World Series, much like most New Englanders. And yet, 86 years since the last time the Red Sox won a World Series; through countless blown opportunities, foiled plots, mistakes, and bad descisions (fuck you Grady); through the hype surrounding some “curse”; after almost a century of taunts from our closest neighbor and rival; after 26 really big taunts from our closest neighbor and rival; and after way too many heartbreaks; the Fans of the Boston Red Sox remain the most loyal, boisterous fans in the country. Where else in this country can you find fans who take so many emotional blows and still can’t wait for every season, every game, every pitch. New England has a pulse and it beats to the “W” column of the Boston Red Sox.
Even with all this on our shoulders, something feels different this year. During the Yanks series last year, we sat in the 3013 afraid to say a word, lest it stir up the demons of the curse. Even when it looked like victory was imminent, we still had visions of a certain big, fat, drunk, womanizing, homerun hitting former Boston player dancing in our heads. Boone’s homerun seemed like simply the most dramatic way to twist that knife in our hearts. But this year feels different. Sure, the stats are there, on paper we look great. We have improved on the mound, in the pen and on defense. But we’ve looked good on paper before. We looked really good last year, but apparently someone forgot to tell Aaron Boone. But it goes beyond that this year. This year is different. There is a chemistry on the team this year that is unmatched by any team in any sport. The 2004 Boston Red Sox are not only the most talented team in the league, but unarguably the best friends, and it shows. From the stupid haircuts to the gay ass hugs, this team has fun on and off the field. This, of course, makes them the perfect antithesis to the extremely business like, anal retentive other team in the North East. The players can definitely feel it. The usually media shy Manny made a public proclamation at the start of spring training that this was indeed, “The Year.” Well, we’re with Manny. Fuck the Bambino, Fuck the Curse, Fuck the New York Yankees and Fuck You if you doubt us. Here’s to the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox…
