Growing up in a suburban town just outside Boston, I learned a religious level of admiration for the Red Sox. The flip side of this coin was obviously our never-ending hatred for the Yankees. Our acceptance of this was as natural as the leaves changing color in the fall. From the on-field fights to the unreal losses, every aspect of the rivalry was poetry to fans of tragedy. But now that same old song and dance is adopting a new spin.
With the Red Sox having finally won a World Series, they are no longer lovable losers, but a growing empire structured similarly to the "buy and sell" style that made the Yankees infamous. So why are the Red Sox still acting like they are getting picked on by the kid down the street?
A year ago, it was hard to defend a team that saw its owners whining to the media about George Steinbrenner's buying power by calling them the "evil empire." Then it got even worse in the summer when local whipping boy Theo Epstein announced we had traded Boston legend Nomar Garciaparra for another backup first baseman and a lesser shortstop.
This year the storyline is no longer cute.
Not every player had reported to spring training yet, and already the Sox fired away at New York. In the middle of the rigorous workout schedule of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz discussing what's going to be "in" for this year's hair style, Trot Nixon began the yearly media frenzy by commenting on how much of a "clown" Alex Rodriguez is.
I believe the common questioning of A-Rod and Derek Jeter's "close relationship" status is a question that will never be answered and will always be brought up. However, when the players just keep purposely egging them on, it starts to look like the Red Sox waited the entire post-season to rub it directly in the Yankees' collective face.
Without even touching the ever-tiring "Yankees Suck" chant, just consider the fact that the Red Sox will be handing out their 2004 World Series rings to their players at the home opener against New York. Granted, the organization reportedly considered other ceremonial options, but anyone who didn't think they would go through with it just hasn't been paying attention.
With speculation that George Steinbrenner's old age could end his ownership in a few years, the Red Sox may replace his empire and mold one of their own. Of course, when one owner, John Henry, resembles a grown-up Casper the ghost, calling them an empire seems like a term too serious for this organization. Keep in mind that the other owners prove that no matter how much money you have, it is not going to make you any less of a nerd.
While I'm sure that once my baseball passion kicks in I will be back to supporting the Sox, as of right now it is hard to make a transition after watching the Patriots' admirable but unyielding style. Just a month ago I was supporting a team that has completely avoided creating enemies and performing flashy endzone celebrations that are so common in the NFL. It is hard to imagine that both of these teams exist in the same state and are both champions.
The Red Sox have changed their image this off-season from loveable "idiots" to victorious little leaguers after the game taunting their friends with ice cream. In a sport where walking too far down the first baseline after a home run is considered bush league, how will fans put up with this nonsense?
