There's Room for everyone in Red Sox Nation

Akileese · 08-29-2007, 11:30 AM

ESPN Page 2 - The Sports Guy: Vacancy in Red Sox Nation

Absolutely great read on what Simmons talks about with the Red Sox being the new bandwagon team in pro sports (I've also noticed the Patriots being the same way and expect the Celtics to be that way come opening day).

So I want to further elaborate. Is Boston the new bandwagon sports city in America? Much like the Red Sox, no one has a middle ground on the Patriots. They either love them or hate them (much the way people are with all dynasty level teams). The Sox are pretty much the same way as those Yankee teams from the mid 90s that everyone hated. They hated them for being a perennial powerhouse who was always around in October.

Frax · 08-29-2007, 11:54 AM

As with anything, when teams win, non-dedicated fans spring out of no where. 8 years ago you probably couldn't hit a patriots fan with a rock if you threw one into a crowd in Faneuil Hall, today you probably couldn't miss hitting 'a patriots fan' and having the rock ricochet into a second or third.

Same with Cowboy's fans in the 90s, 49r fans in the 80s/90s, and steelers fans in the 70s.

Flood950 · 08-29-2007, 12:03 PM

I am from the Boston area, have been my entire life and I cant stand the Red Sox nor half of their fans. Well, I need to clarify a bit, I know there are "normal" Sox fans out there, people that enjoy baseball and their favorite team happens to be the Red Sox...But...

So many people around here are so just...overly passionate about them. You know, they idiolize one particular player, the guy cant do a thing wrong in their eyes, then he changes teams a season later and he is now the antichrist. C'mon, did you like the player or just the fact that he played on the local team? Seems when you were wearing his shirt you obviously liked something about the guy..now you want to burn it? ok..

Probably the worst thing is the whole "Yankees suck" chants. If you want to cheer that at a Yankees game..ok fine. But, its done at concerts, amusement parks, bars, you name it. By the way, people that do that sound like morons because the Yankees dont really suck, they generally do pretty good...

PS, I am not a Yankees fan, but living around here year after year makes me want to be one.

Cybsled · 08-29-2007, 03:24 PM

Part of the fun is having fun with the "rivalry".

I'm from Mass and I'm a Sox/Pats fan. I could give a shit about the Celtics since Bird left, though...then again, I haven't watched Basketball period since the early 90s.

Angerz · 08-29-2007, 03:26 PM

I remember being at a Sox v Sox game here in Chicago and a "Yankees suck" chant broke out.

I thought it was pretty funny.

NargorothRiP · 08-29-2007, 04:08 PM

i dont know. im not an overly big fan of baseball but I do root for the Sox mainly because i have family from the area, i was a fan of roger clemens pretty hardcore and the city has such a loveble character to it. Not to mention the entire saga unfolding of the sox coming back from 3-0 down to the yankees. A team they have such a huge rivalry with and how schilling basically being like the embodiment of the working class mentality of playing through such an injury kind of mythologizes the team and i personally dont see it as a bad thing.

You want to see some bandwagon teams who have annoying ass fans look no further then the redwings from a few years ago or any lakers team.

Blumpster · 08-29-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NargorothRiP

i was a fan of roger clemmings pretty hardcore

Were you really?

Red Wings fans are a bunch of shits.

NargorothRiP · 08-29-2007, 05:59 PM

way to be a jerk. so i mispelled the name when i was quickly typing up a post. eat a dick.

Flood950 · 08-29-2007, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cybsled

Part of the fun is having fun with the "rivalry".

I'm from Mass and I'm a Sox/Pats fan. I could give a shit about the Celtics since Bird left, though...then again, I haven't watched Basketball period since the early 90s.

Totally agree that rivalries are fun, thats a big part of what makes sports enjoyable, regardless of what sport one enjoys.

See...apparently I am really jaded. I completely expected to get flamed to high hell for my comments about Red Sox fans..granted I did have my disclaimer that not all fit the mold I was describing.

I am use to the type of person that just..wont even talk to you if you say ANYTHING negative about the team or anyone on it...unless of course..its someone that left the team for whatever reason. I really have nothing against the Sox anyways, I just get tired of the rabid fans I seem to be surrounded with around here.

True story, that there is a manager at my company that will directly tell someone they have less chance of being promoted if they support the Yankees in any way. I mean....I am sure he isnt serious at some level, as you should be fired if you really do things like that. But the fact he even says it in a serious manner (this isnt a joking around type of man, he is usually serious as a heart attack) just pisses me off. Basically he just doesnt want to hear any baseball talk unless its Boston.

I feel like a lot of people just have..unhealthy obsessions with them. lol. At least Patriot fans still watch games that the Pats are not part of....Monday Night Football..is MNF....doesnt matter who plays usually...ya watch and enjoy. Eliminate the Sox from the post season and no one even wants to think Baseball until next year.

/disclaimer
Again, just my humble observations and of course not everyone is like this.
/end disclaimer

Akileese · 08-29-2007, 07:28 PM

I apologize. I wanted to go more in depth but due to a complete engine blowout on a 3 year old car, I've been in a bit of a rush the past 3 (full warranties own).

I think the Yanks and Sox should play 6 times a year. 3 at Yankee Stadium, 3 at Fenway. Or at most, 12 times. 6 in the first two months, 6 in the last two months. The fact that they play like 19 times makes the whole rivalry a lot less of a rivalry. Plus, being 8 games up at the start of the 3 game set really made people care a bit less also.

As for the Pats, I live in CT and a lot of people aren't really talking football yet. I can't believe it's almost here personally. The whole area is a Baseball area first. If by some chance either team is completely out of it (like the Sox last year), we start getting pumped for football season. I like to moderate both. I usually go to 4 Pats games a year or so (usually 1 at the Meadowlands since it's so much easier to get tickets), but this year it's gonna be a lot less. Probably 1 and 1.

It's painful to see the Sox turning into the Yankees, but it's also fun to know that when Scott Boras asks for a king's ransom for Matt Holiday in about 2 years, that Boston will be right at the door. They need to replace Manny with someone and I'd rather they spend a shitload of cash of Holliday as opposed to A-Rod.

Ham n Cheese · 08-29-2007, 07:51 PM

I had a post written out about how overly self centered and retarded this red sox/yankee shit is but I don't feel like replying to the responses it gets. The thing is a media creation moreso than any rivalry (at least these days). When you have former Red Sox joining the NY roster and vice versa and the team playing nearly 20 times a year the thing is hardly a rivalry worth getting excited about.

anyway I'm starting to get back to my original post so I'm stopping. In short I'll just say I hate the Red Sox more than any other MLB team out there and a lot of that is likely due to their 'fans'. I also think saying you'd rather pay a shitload for Coors Park Holliday over the best player in the game is retarded and probably not even total honesty. The red sox have shown just because they spend xx amount at this position that won't stop them from spending more elsewhere. They're just as bad as the Yankees, they're just better at showing old players the door

Akileese · 08-29-2007, 08:41 PM

Holliday is much younger, a great power hitter and would benefit from the lines at Fenway. A-rod is clubhouse poison. Also, everywhere he goes, his team doesn't win championships. No thanks.

kcxiv · 08-30-2007, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flood950

I am from the Boston area, have been my entire life and I cant stand the Red Sox nor half of their fans. Well, I need to clarify a bit, I know there are "normal" Sox fans out there, people that enjoy baseball and their favorite team happens to be the Red Sox...But...

So many people around here are so just...overly passionate about them. You know, they idiolize one particular player, the guy cant do a thing wrong in their eyes, then he changes teams a season later and he is now the antichrist. C'mon, did you like the player or just the fact that he played on the local team? Seems when you were wearing his shirt you obviously liked something about the guy..now you want to burn it? ok..

Probably the worst thing is the whole "Yankees suck" chants. If you want to cheer that at a Yankees game..ok fine. But, its done at concerts, amusement parks, bars, you name it. By the way, people that do that sound like morons because the Yankees dont really suck, they generally do pretty good...

PS, I am not a Yankees fan, but living around here year after year makes me want to be one.

I know what you mean about people that freak out because their favorite player gets traded. I learned that shit back in the 80's when i used to idolize Erik Dickerson. Then he got traded to the Colts. i was like wtf. I was still very young. So i didnt understand what was really going on.

Alot of people dont understand that its just a business for the players. All it is, is work for them. The player could care less who they play for. There is a very very low number of players that actually care about the team they play for. Most of them are probably long time baseball superstars that play their whole career's in 1 city.

People are stupid though, they will never learn.

Pharazon · 08-30-2007, 02:22 AM

Silly to imply that A-Rod is somehow responsible for none of his teams winning it all. He's simply never been on a team with a good pitching staff. Sure, he has yet to really produce in the playoffs, but he also hasn't been there a ton and he'll break out prolly the next time he gets there. Helping your team get to the playoffs is more important anyways.

I just can't see the Yankees letting A-Rod go. They'll offer him more than anybody else or they're fools. The only way he leaves is if he's holding a grudge towards the NY fans for the shit they always give him when he's not playing well. And if he does that I doubt he'd want to go play in Boston so that he can get the crap bood out of him 10 games a year.

Urlithani · 08-30-2007, 08:44 AM

The only rational Red Sox/Patriots fan I ever met was an 11 year old kid who was wearing a Tom Brady jersey and Sox hat that his dad bought him.

The Yankees won't let A-Rod go if they're smart. He is on pace to crush the home run record, and I'm sure they would love to be able to say that the HR record is held by a Yankees player.

08-29-2007, 03:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cybsled Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 8,632	Part of the fun is having fun with the "rivalry". I'm from Mass and I'm a Sox/Pats fan. I could give a shit about the Celtics since Bird left, though...then again, I haven't watched Basketball period since the early 90s. __________________ Training the citizens of Norrath from 1999-2003!

08-29-2007, 04:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
NargorothRiP Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 242 +1 Internets	i dont know. im not an overly big fan of baseball but I do root for the Sox mainly because i have family from the area, i was a fan of roger clemens pretty hardcore and the city has such a loveble character to it. Not to mention the entire saga unfolding of the sox coming back from 3-0 down to the yankees. A team they have such a huge rivalry with and how schilling basically being like the embodiment of the working class mentality of playing through such an injury kind of mythologizes the team and i personally dont see it as a bad thing. You want to see some bandwagon teams who have annoying ass fans look no further then the redwings from a few years ago or any lakers team. Last edited by NargorothRiP : 08-29-2007 at 05:59 PM.

08-29-2007, 07:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ham n Cheese Productive, fully-charged, cocked and pointed Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 8,386 +20 Internets	I had a post written out about how overly self centered and retarded this red sox/yankee shit is but I don't feel like replying to the responses it gets. The thing is a media creation moreso than any rivalry (at least these days). When you have former Red Sox joining the NY roster and vice versa and the team playing nearly 20 times a year the thing is hardly a rivalry worth getting excited about. anyway I'm starting to get back to my original post so I'm stopping. In short I'll just say I hate the Red Sox more than any other MLB team out there and a lot of that is likely due to their 'fans'. I also think saying you'd rather pay a shitload for Coors Park Holliday over the best player in the game is retarded and probably not even total honesty. The red sox have shown just because they spend xx amount at this position that won't stop them from spending more elsewhere. They're just as bad as the Yankees, they're just better at showing old players the door __________________ Xeph Hunky Dory Mavo Mayhem

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08-29-2007, 11:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Frax Axis of Evil Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Axis of Evil Posts: 2,183 -2 Internets	As with anything, when teams win, non-dedicated fans spring out of no where. 8 years ago you probably couldn't hit a patriots fan with a rock if you threw one into a crowd in Faneuil Hall, today you probably couldn't miss hitting 'a patriots fan' and having the rock ricochet into a second or third. Same with Cowboy's fans in the 90s, 49r fans in the 80s/90s, and steelers fans in the 70s.

08-29-2007, 12:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Flood950 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Boston Posts: 269 -1 Internets	I am from the Boston area, have been my entire life and I cant stand the Red Sox nor half of their fans. Well, I need to clarify a bit, I know there are "normal" Sox fans out there, people that enjoy baseball and their favorite team happens to be the Red Sox...But... So many people around here are so just...overly passionate about them. You know, they idiolize one particular player, the guy cant do a thing wrong in their eyes, then he changes teams a season later and he is now the antichrist. C'mon, did you like the player or just the fact that he played on the local team? Seems when you were wearing his shirt you obviously liked something about the guy..now you want to burn it? ok.. Probably the worst thing is the whole "Yankees suck" chants. If you want to cheer that at a Yankees game..ok fine. But, its done at concerts, amusement parks, bars, you name it. By the way, people that do that sound like morons because the Yankees dont really suck, they generally do pretty good... PS, I am not a Yankees fan, but living around here year after year makes me want to be one.

08-29-2007, 03:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Angerz Rock and Roll Gangster Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,661 +0 Internets	I remember being at a Sox v Sox game here in Chicago and a "Yankees suck" chant broke out. I thought it was pretty funny.

08-29-2007, 05:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
NargorothRiP Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 242 +1 Internets	way to be a jerk. so i mispelled the name when i was quickly typing up a post. eat a dick.

08-30-2007, 02:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
Pharazon Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 270 -2 Internets	Silly to imply that A-Rod is somehow responsible for none of his teams winning it all. He's simply never been on a team with a good pitching staff. Sure, he has yet to really produce in the playoffs, but he also hasn't been there a ton and he'll break out prolly the next time he gets there. Helping your team get to the playoffs is more important anyways. I just can't see the Yankees letting A-Rod go. They'll offer him more than anybody else or they're fools. The only way he leaves is if he's holding a grudge towards the NY fans for the shit they always give him when he's not playing well. And if he does that I doubt he'd want to go play in Boston so that he can get the crap bood out of him 10 games a year.

08-30-2007, 08:44 AM	#15 (permalink)
Urlithani I lieks bacon! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Palm Beach, FL Posts: 191 +0 Internets	The only rational Red Sox/Patriots fan I ever met was an 11 year old kid who was wearing a Tom Brady jersey and Sox hat that his dad bought him. The Yankees won't let A-Rod go if they're smart. He is on pace to crush the home run record, and I'm sure they would love to be able to say that the HR record is held by a Yankees player.