It's nice to have them back, the Red Sox I grew up with, hapless and lovable.
We in the Boston area have had an unprecedented run of championships in the past decade, from the post 9/11/2001 Patriots to the current Stanley Cup champion Bruins. Along the way the Celtics won once and the Red Sox twice. We are thankful for that. It's been terrific. Young fans might think that winning is the norm in the history of Boston sports. They would be wrong.
Those of us with longer memories recall so many years when the Patriots were simply awful. The highlight of one losing season was the time we pelted the Buffalo Bills with snowballs at a game played in Fenway Park. While the Celtics have a rich history of success, the Bruins spent ages in hockey frustration. In the 6-team NHL of half a century ago, they almost always finished in 6th place.
The Red Sox, however, are special. This is the team that miraculously lost the '86 World Series they had all but won: two outs, two strikes, ninth inning and gone! It's the team of Jimmy Piersall, "Spaceman" Bill Lee, and Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd. From the confines of baseball's oldest stadium, where the score is posted by hand and they spray worn spots in the outfield with green paint, the Red Sox have put their unique stamp on the national game.
Prior to 2004, they failed magnificently and often. A mid-season surge would be dashed on the rocks of September. Or a dreadful April through August would culminate with a terrific last month, leaving fans scratching their heads about whether this team might actually be any good. And kindle hopes for next year.
It's been beautiful failure that earned the Red Sox such a large following and diehard fans all around the country. The Sox consistently draw some of the largest crowds at ballparks in other cities. They have a mystique that other teams don't. And now they're back.
The Sox are back with what they do best: lose with style. This September's collapse proved it. It was a brilliant swan dive worthy of the cliffs of Acapulco. The artistry of the final night could scarcely have been scripted: ace closer blows lead in ninth against lowly Orioles after lengthy rain delay while Tampa Bay rallies from a 7 - 0 deficit to defeat the Yankees.
It was astonishing, and brilliant. It brought forth memories of a cast or characters from Red Sox history: Bob Tillman, a powerful slugger of a catcher whose success evaporated when opponents realized he couldn't hit a curveball. Billy Rohr, rookie phenom of a pitcher who no-hits the Yankees for 8 2/3 innings in his first outing, and is never heard from again. Moe Berg, the WWII spy who spoke ten languages and couldn't hit in any of them. Dick Stuart, the fumbling first baseman known as Dr. Strangeglove.
Red Sox fans, your beloved team is back. Set aside your frustration and tears. Love them.
Stuart Cohen is the author of The Seventh System: Harnessing the Power of Your Emotional System. The book presents an intriguing new way to understand feelings and achieve better emotional balance. Please visit http://www.seventhsystem.net to view quotes from the book and the blog. Order through website. Print and Kindle versions also available via Amazon.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S_Cohen
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar