Friday night, Manny Ramirez returned to Fenway Park for the first time since he was traded on July 31, 2008. The response was mixed, with approximately 50% cheers and 50% boos. Save for that “Benedict Arnold” Johnny Damon, this was unlike the return of other 2004 Red Sox to Fenway Park. Apparently, people are so angry with the events leading up to Manny’s departure that they simply had to have their voices heard.
I get it, I really do. People are either angry that Manny pushed local hero and national treasure Jack McCormick (which is worse than Derek Lowe abusing his girlfriend apparently), that Manny did steroids (probably much like David Ortiz), or think that Manny tanked his way out of town (even though the statistics say otherwise). Nothing that happened before that doesn’t seem to matter to Red Sox fans anymore.
Here’s what really happened: 2004 and 2007 while great, also had a negative impact on the Red Sox fanbase. We’ve become entitled, “Red Sox Nation” membership card carrying, “Sweet Caroline” singing (I like this, btw) douchebags who think it is more important to claim they went to the game rather than actually watch it. Furthermore, doing the wave is apparently much cooler than showing appreciation for the 2004 World Series MVP.
Let me say that again:
Manny Ramirez was the most valuable player of the playoff series that changed everything for me. Without him, Red Sox fans would undoubtedly still be hearing “1918″ chants from obnoxious, hair gel-crusted, greasy/shiny guidos from Yonkers. Manny Ramirez was partly responsible for probably the greatest month in Red Sox history. Without a hint nor a sniff of exaggeration, Manny Ramirez LITERALLY changed my life.
In response, someone might say that they appreciated Manny while he was here and they don’t have to do it now. I can somewhat see the logic in this argument. My contention is only with his first at-bat back in Fenway Park. In my humble, often-shared, and unsolicited opinion, he should not have heard any boos during that first at-bat. If someone booed him after that, I could somewhat understand. Friday night, if you couldn’t cheer Manny during that first at-bat, then you should have stayed silent.
I went to the game last night and felt physically ill as Manny was booed again. It didn’t used to be like this. Fenway Park used to be filled with knowledgeable fans who hung on the edge of their seat with every pitch. Fenway Park used to buzz even at the hint of a possibility of a two-out rally. During the really exciting moments, the joint used feel like it was shaking.
Not anymore.
Last night, people seemed to stick around for Neil Diamond and then quickly headed for the exits as soon as the song ended. This happened with the heart of the order coming up in a two-run game. They happily booed one of the men who changed it all and left as soon as they couldn’t yell “So good, so good!” anymore. As Dustin Pedroia rounded the bases for a triple, I wondered who was moving faster: Pedroia, or the people heading for the exits.
I might have to rethink my “favorite time of the year” when it comes to sports. When the Celtics and Bruins are the in the playoffs, spring is a great time to be a Boston sports fan. Adding in the new, three night format of the NFL Draft has only exacerbated this fact. Right now, Boston is the only city with both a basketball team and a hockey team still alive in the playoffs.
Hub of the Universe, indeed.
Saturday is a perfect example of how this may be the most wonderful time of year. I started the day at Jerry Remy’s new sports bar (which might be my new favorite bar in Boston, btw) for the early start of the Bruins game, continued the day at an LSU alumni crawfish boil at the Baseball Tavern with some friends (where I met New England Patriot, Eric Alexander), headed to Devid’s house for the Celtics game and then ended the day at home watching the Mayweather/Mosley fight on illegal internet feeds. It was a perfect storm of fun, friends, family, and sports.
Let’s take a quick snapshot of the local teams, shall we?
RED SOX: This team is in trouble, folks. Even as the eternal optimist, I am struggling to find a silver lining to the start of this season. However, I can’t help but laugh when I think about this weekend’s irony of the Aquapocolypse.
If you don’t know, after every home Red Sox win they play “Dirty Water” by the Standells over the Fenway Park speaker system. It is also a rallying cry for circle-jerking (myself included) Red Sox fans after a win. The irony is even though the Red Sox got swept by the worst team in baseball, dirty water was literally prevalent in the lives of many Red Sox fans. H2OMG!
CELTICS: The youtube above is dedicated to the huge challenge the Celtics are facing right now. There is no doubt that LeBron James will be wearing multiple championship rings on his fingers when he retires. I only hope that the C’s can delay the coronation for at least a year.
BRUINS: This is the feel good story in Boston sports right now. All season they have dealt with a myriad of injuries, swine flu and even an injustice from the league regarding a cheap shot on Marc Savard. The best part about rooting for the Bruins is that we aren’t the 17-time NBA World Champions or the “Team of the Decade” football team or even the big market, recent two-time winning World Series baseball team. We’re just fans of a team that hasn’t won anything since 1972 and has been hit with a ton of bad luck this season. Furthermore, if you told me that Savard was going to score a playoff overtime game-winner in his first game back, I would have said you were crazy.
The Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox all play again tonight.
We’ve just concluded 36 of the most interesting hours of the sports year. Let’s take a brief look back on what just transpired:
Sunday 1pm – Celtics 117, Cavs 113: The team has been absolutely dismal lately, but this was a needed win. Hopefully, it inspires a great playoff run.
Sunday 8pm – Red Sox 9 Yankees 7: Although it didn’t have the same feel as a normal home opener, this was a great start to the season. I had a feeling we were in for a good night after reading Bill Simmons take a completely different (for him) look at baseball. From Pedro’s magical first pitch to the great performances of the Red Sox newcomers, it was a spectacular night in Fenway. Scu-Scu-Scutaro!
Sunday approx 8:13pm – McNabb traded to the Redskins: It is never a good thing when iconic players are traded away from their franchises. This was a huge deal for anyone who follows the NFL and reminds me of the Drew Bledsoe trade. From the Patriots perspective, it is a great deal because the “Donofro” did not end up in Oakland (the Pats own Oakland’s first round pick in 2011).
Sunday approx 10:30pm – Evan Turner wins Naismith Trophy: The Naismith is the Men’s College Basketball Player of the Year. “The Villain” is the first Ohio State Buckeye to ever win the award.
Monday 1pm – First pitch in Cincinnati: I really wish MLB got back to the tradition of having the first pitch of the season being thrown in Cincinnati. It is a very big deal to people in the Queen City. They throw a parade and it is one of the few days when the city buzzes. Baseball should really start in the home of its first professional team.
Monday 1pm-Tuesday 1am – MLB Opening Day: Opening Day is a special day. For me, it signifies the end of winter. It is even better when your team signs Josh Beckett to a four year, team-friendly contract extension.
Monday 2pm – Tiger’s Back: This story will only get bigger as the weekend approaches and the Masters begins.
Monday 7pm – Capitals 3 Bruins 2 (OT): The B’s played well against one of the NHL’s best teams. We’ll take the point.
Monday 9:21pm – Duke 61 Butler 59: Years from now, the one thing people will remember most about the 2010 NCAA Tournament was how well Butler did. They were a team nobody knew about three weeks ago and in the end, everyone rooted for. I can’t imagine what it was like for those guys to play in front of 70,000 people, in the city Butler is located in, for the national championship and come so close to winning it all. What a heartbreaker.
If that final three pointer went in, it would have been one of the greatest moments in American sport. IMHO, it would have been bigger than Flutie’s Hail Mary pass in Miami. This game was a fitting end to a spectacular NCAA tournament. The only bad thing was Jennifer Hudson’s butchering of “One Shining Moment” (the traditional end to the CBS broadcast of the tournament).
And yes, I’m still pissed about West Virginia losing.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Chris the Grouch thinks the Red Sox are going to win 100 games. He also has a funny podcast which I added to my links (right-hand column).
All week, my big plan was to cap off “West Virginia Week” with a fabulous blog entry about how Duke University is the Devil of college basketball. It was going to be the culmination of a week dedicated to West Virginia and appease the basketball gods into helping the Mountaineers beat those devilish Blue Devils.
It was going to be great.
So what happened?
Via Twitter, I came across a link on Deadspin (a site I really should be reading more often) written by a Duke student named Ben Cohen. He writes a compelling argument stating why this year’s Duke team is different than the (annoying) Duke teams of the past. Upon reflection (along with some Good Friday guilt thrown in), he’s right. These Devils have not been as annoying as in previous years. Also, they got me into the final four of a 286 entry NCAA pool by winning last Sunday.
This weekend is going to be an epic sports weekend. Not only is it Final Four weekend, but Sunday marks the first day of the baseball season. I am finally ready to say this:
I’m really excited for baseball season to start.
It literally just hit me right now. By Sunday, I will have accomplished my goal not to watch one pitch of spring training (not even highlights). You can have your truck day, your pitchers and catchers reporting day, and spring training. I can’t stand any of it. To me, it all is a big tease (especially spring training). I went to spring training one year (2005) and I’ll never go back. You go expecting to see real baseball and all you see is practice.
For me, the baseball season is long enough. Spring training is for the (snow) birds.
Thankfully, it’s over now.
The stars are aligning for a fantastic weekend. The weather here in Titletown is supposed to be sublime. It is Easter weekend and I am going to be breaking into the Cadbury Mini Eggs I have been stockpiling like a squirrel. Saturday, my NCAA-pool-adopted West Virginia Mountaineers play the dreaded (Blue) Devils. Sunday, the Red Sox play the over-spending New York Yankees. Monday will be filled with home openers all across baseball and hopefully, another game for West Virginia that will “show me the money.”
(On top of all that, Saturday Manchester United has a league deciding game against the over-spending Chelsea Blues and Sunday the Celtics play the dreaded Cleveland Cavaliers!)
The Devils and the Yankees.
I can’t think of two teams I’d rather root against on Easter weekend.
Go Mountaineers. (and Red Sox!)
Have a great Easter weekend, everyone. Make the most of every day.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Avenue Q is coming back to Boston on November 17-22. If you haven’t seen it, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Seriously.
“Pedro is probably the smartest pitcher I’ve faced in my career.”
Derek Jeter, postgame 10/29/2009
After the Red Sox got eliminated, it virtually ended the baseball season for me. Sure I was watching bits and pieces, but I didn’t/couldn’t watch every inning. Well, a funny thing happened yesterday. I was drawn back in. I must have checked the clock a hundred times all day, waiting for 7:57pm.
With Pedro on the hill, it actually felt like I was watching a Red Sox game. The visage was the same but the vintage and vetements were not. I hung on pins and needles during each and every pitch he threw. It was a party like 1999, with old familiar #45 on the bump and the dreaded Yankees flailing away at his (much slower) pitches.
All things considered, I think he pitched valiently. Charlie Manuel (who tried to party like it was 2003) did his best Grady Little impression sending Pedro out to start the 7th inning. After 99 pitches, every Red Sox fan knew it was time to go to the bullpen. I don’t know what it is about Pedro, but he possesses Jedi mind powers that can convince managers to leave him in the game too long.
I guess this all speaks to the the type of transcendent player he is. He single-handedly restarted the baseball season even though my team wasn’t playing. I don’t think any other player in baseball could have had this type of effect on me. He’s the best pitcher I will ever see in my lifetime and in my mind will forever be a Red Sox.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Make the most of every day.
As a sports fan, it’s the sound you never want to hear. It is a sound that really isn’t a sound at all. It is better defined as a lack of sound. It happens when your team’s playoff run ends in their home stadium/arena/ballpark.
It is the sound of silence.
Waking up today, I had real high hopes for the day. After two anemic performances in the OC, I didn’t have high hopes for the Red Sox to win the World Series. I did however, like their chances in Fenway Park for Games Three and Four of the ALDS. While the Patriots have always had trouble in Denver, I really wasn’t sold on the 2009 Denver Broncos. Denver’s 4-0 record consisted of wins over Cincinnati (a game they really should have lost), Cleveland, Oakland and the very shaky Dallas Cowboys.
For eight innings in Fenway, sitting out in the bleachers, it was a good day. The weather was perfect. It was a picturesque, fall New England day. The sun was out and there was a slight chill in the air. The Sox appeared to be well on the way to cutting Anaheim’s two game series lead in half. Things looked good. Life seemed good.
Then in one fell swoop, the day was Papelboned. I know it is unfair to pin this type of loss on one player, but I’m going to do it anyway. The biggest goat horns of the day belong to Papelbon. His outing was almost a microcosm of his whole season. All year, he epitomized the term “heart-attack” closer. He welcomed inherited runners to home plate with open arms. There is no riverdancing around it, while his numbers may look decent – this was not a good year for the man with the self-given, unoriginal nickname.
(I’m going to take it a step further: Knowing full well this will sound reactionary, I predict that today was Papelbon’s last day as the closer of the Boston Red Sox. He will be either moved to the starting rotation or traded. Time will tell.)
Papelbon proceeded to throw about 217 consecutive fastballs to propel the Angels to the American League Championship Series. He also brought the sound back to Boston. It was the sound that the Carolina Hurricanes and Orlando Magic danced to earlier in the year. This time the sound wasn’t in the New Garden; It had found its way to Fenway Park.
The sound only lasted for a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. The Angels danced and the locals bit their tongues. It was the same sound heard in Fenway Park after Game 3 of the 2005 Division Series. It is the worst sound a sports fan can hear.
After the game, I had plans to watch the Patriots game at a nearby friend’s apartment. The timing was perfect. Her place was walking distance from the ballpark. There was probably no better way to erase the memory of the sound then by watching the Patriots with some good friends. Even though they (and Mr. Brady) also laid an egg, just being together lifted my spirits. It’s tougher to mope in numbers.
Walking through Kenmore Square after the Pats game, the sound lingered in the background. The usual gameday hustle and bustle had ended. It was quiet. It was an eerie, end-of-the-season quiet. A few late-leaving, bar-hopping stragglers meandered by and the sound began taking its residence in Kenmore for the long, cold winter ahead.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Monday’s are always better after the Patriots win.
On April 15th, the Red Sox were 2-6 and I predicted (on Facebook) that they would win 95 games this season. While I was mocked when I said it, yesterday’s win put their final record at….
(drum roll please)
95-67
As a public service, here are the times for the first round playoff games:
Game 1 – Thursday 9:37pm
Game 2 – Friday 9:37pm
Game 3 – Sunday 12:07pm
Thankfully, there is no conflict on Sunday with the Patriots game (4:15pm at Denver).
I’d also post the time for Game 4 (8:37pm, next Monday), but I don’t think it will be necessary. Defeating the Los Angeles Awesome Angels of All-Around Anaheim in the first round has become tradition around these parts. It’s like getting a first round bye.
The times for the next two rounds will not available until the proceeding series are completed. But just so you know, the World Series will go into November for the first time ever this year.
With all of this in mind, I am advising all my fellow Red Sox fans to get to bed early each night this week. We’re not going to be sleeping on our normal schedules until mid-November, so you might as well get some rest now.
I’ve taken some heat lately for not updating the blog enough. Frankly, I think I do a good job here (this is entry #300, btw). It is very difficult to continually think of things to write about. It is even harder to think of those things while trying to maintain the standard I hold myself to.
In light of that thought, here’s a bonus weekend entry:
Because of David Ortiz’s press conference yesterday (and after re-reading my entry on the news), I’ve changed my stance on PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) and steroids.
I don’t care anymore and nobody being exposed for PEDs will surprise me anymore.
This is the steroid era of baseball. A fair amount of players in this era (and past eras, for that matter) are using or have used substances to enhance their performance. It is what they do. If given the opportunity to make the amount of money they do, I’d probably do the same. To me, there are no style points in professional sports; There are only wins and losses.
You’re probably thinking, “Great Mike. You don’t care, but what about people with kids? What kind of example does steroids (or PEDs for that matter) set for them?”
To that I say this:
If I had kids, I would tell them it is ok to watch sports, but professional athletes are NOT role models (as Charles Barkley once accurately proclaimed). We should not look to them to set our moral compasses by. They can do what they do, I’ll do what I do. I can look at that “man in the mirror” every day and feel comfortable with what I see. It is up to them to do the same, if they choose.
Professional athletes are people fortunate enough to have a God given ability to play (or coach for that matter) a game well. They get paid an exorbitant amount of money to play games we all used to played on the playground. Good for them, more power to them.
I would tell my kid (if I had one) that his/her mother was a role model, his/her Uncle John was a role model, our family and friends are role models and hopefully the majority his/her teachers are role models. Those are the people you should emulate and look up to, not professional athletes. We root for the laundry they wear, not the people who are in it.
All that said, could the Red Sox shoot up some PEDs and get me a win tonight?
