Red Sox are almost as insufferable as Yankees
There was a time, not too long ago, when I liked the Boston Red Sox.
They were never a favorite team of mine, but I had a certain amount of sympathy for them. Though I never completely understood why Boston fans complained so much (Celtics or Patriots, anyone?), I could appreciate the heartache they had been through.
Bill Buckner was a great player, not a punch line. Roger Clemens will always be remembered as a Red Sox ace.
Boston deserved better. Then came 2004. That season changed everything.
Boston not only ended the fabled “Curse,” but it did so in grand fashion. Down three games to none to baseball’s version of the Prince of Darkness, Boston somehow rallied in the American League Championship Series, and beat the Yankees.
Beating the Cardinals in the World Series was really an afterthought to the rest of the country. I felt good for Boston.
For about 10 seconds.
Then came documentaries interviewing Denis Leary (who I think is great) and Michael Chiklis (who once suggested Grady Little threw the 2003 ALCS to the Yankees).
Then came a romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. Then came endless talk on sports shows about the “Yanks” and the “Sawx.”
Then David Ortiz stopped being known as David Ortiz, instead being called “Big Papi” by every broadcaster. Unless he plans on becoming a pro wrestler, I don’t think he needs that prominent a nickname.
Then Ben Affleck started being shown on TV at games.
I hate the Red Sox. They used to be the long-suffering rivals of the Yankees, the team you pulled for. But after 2004, the team has gone through an almost Animal Farm-like transformation.
For the last two seasons, it has been hard to tell the two teams apart.
Like the Yankees of the last 30 years, the Red Sox have had soap opera. Between general manager Theo Epstein’s job status, Manny Ramirez’s weirdness and Johnny Damon’s ship-jumping, it doesn’t stop.
The Yankees spend more money on players than any other team ($194 million). The Red Sox spend the second-most, at $120 million. The Red Sox total is $17 million more than the third team on the list, the Angels.
You’d think last season, when both the Yankees and Red Sox were dumped in the first round of the playoffs, would give pause to the hype. Instead, it’s worse. Every time the two teams play, it’s as if the rest of the baseball coverage takes a holiday.
Is it fair to blame the Red Sox for this?
Probably not. But their fall from the top of the standings over the past few weeks has left me somewhat less than sympathetic.
What will ESPN talk about if Boston has no chance of playing the Yankees for the American League Championship?
Oh wait, I know the answer. It will talk about how Boston won’t play New York for the AL championship.
Can’t wait.
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