Lil Bit Special Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/bob_ford/20080616_Bob_Ford__Red_Sox_Nation__Scourge_on_the_country.html Someone find M. Night Shyamalan and get him down to Citizens Bank Park tonight. There's a horror story to be told. I see people. I see annoying people. I see annoying people wearing blue hats with a red B on the front. And they're . . . they're . . . everywhere! Yes, it is the seemingly annual invasion of the denizens of Red Sox Nation. (Motto: In Us We Irritate.) It is a nation whose currency is based on being cloying, self-important, pompous, overly loud and, regrettably, ever-present, and the economy is great. Axis of Evil? You make your list of nations that belong and I'll make mine. Once, there was something appealing about the passion that Boston fans brought to the team that had broken their hearts on such a regular basis. The Red Sox played their home games in a quirkily interesting, if decaying, ballpark. The team offered a counterbalance to the corporate machine of the New York Yankees. Boston fans who were flung to the far reaches of the country came out to support the Sox, and that was fine. That was then, this is now. Catch 'em, tag 'em, put 'em on the Northeast Limited to Back Bay Station if they like it there so much. The rest of us are tired of having them around. The Red Sox, thanks largely to their streak-breaking championship in 2004, became cuddly, cute, popular, and attractive to great scads of casual fans who wanted to glom onto the gravy train. There's nothing cuddly or cute about a team with a $133 million payroll. You can't be an underdog if you spend like the Kennedys. If the Red Sox - who struggled to draw one million fans under the penurious final seasons of Yawkey family ownership - were once a cold-water walk-up on Kenmore Square, they are now a gated compound on the Cape. Oh, I know. The fans sing songs together and have other adorable rituals, and tend to overlook small things like the fact that Manny Ramirez is one of the most selfish, self-indulgent players in the game. Ah, c'mahn. He's a Sawk. Well, self-indulgence loves company, so much so that somewhere around 15,000 fans nationwide have sent in their $15 to become official citizens in the nation, complete with membership cards and newsletters and probably a secret lyrics sheet. Last year, the team held an election to select the president of Red Sox Nation. Nominations were received from just about every state in the union and several foreign countries, a total of 1,200 candidates in all. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania and New Jersey were not among the exceptions. For those who missed it, the winner was Jerry Remy, a former player and now a color analyst for the New England Sports Network. The run-up to the election included a debate among the leading candidates that was shown on NESN and moderated by Tim Russert. Remy, no doubt, ran on a platform that called for more annoying sing-alongs, louder shouts from the stands in Boston accents even more fake than those presently employed and, of course, better turnout on the road. That last pledge might be tough. The Red Sox led the major leagues in average road attendance last season (38,641) and, combined with daily sellouts at Fenway, played to an amazing 90.1 percent of seating capacity for the 162-game schedule. This season, the Sox trail only the Yankees in road attendance, but if they keep winning and the Yanks keep losing, that will flop again. Earlier this year, Hank Steinbrenner, part-owner of the Yankees and son of legendary windbag George Steinbrenner, said he doesn't believe in Red Sox Nation. "Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets," Steinbrenner said. "This is a Yankee country." At the moment, judging by the national deficit and some unfortunate policy missteps, this actually seems to be a Kansas City Royals kind of country. But we'll leave that debate for another time and focus instead on this question for Mr. Steinbrenner: What in the world are you talking about? There are Yankees hats out there, certainly. I see them in plaid and argyle and all black, and worn sideways with no bend to the brim. Those are prevalent, and I honestly don't know what they are, but they are not baseball hats. Everywhere else are the blue hats with the red B on the front. Those are stained and weathered, and the brims are curved to keep out the sun. The people who wear them have a big team that pretends to be little, a team that won a championship in 2004 and then another last season. They are very happy with themselves. Starting tonight at Citizens Bank Park, they will be back and, regardless of the outcomes, it will be a long three-game series. Forget Shyamalan. Someone find William Peter Blatty. We need an exorcism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anskyruben Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Bandwagoners. Same thing happened in the late 90's. I would go to Yankee games out here, and 60% of the people wearing crispy new hats were not from NY, and had no clue who anyone on the team was besides Jeter. These days you see a lot less of that. Those fools dumped their Yankee caps and bought Bo Sux caps. Happens with any team that wins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Bandwagoners. Same thing happened in the late 90's. I would go to Yankee games out here, and 60% of the people wearing crispy new hats were not from NY, and had no clue who anyone on the team was besides Jeter. These days you see a lot less of that. Those fools dumped their Yankee caps and bought Bo Sux caps. Happens with any team that wins. A co-worker and myself were discussing this the other day. He from Boston, a True Sox fan, and me From NYC a true Yankee fan, how much we hate the 96(Yankee) and 04(Sox) bandwagon fans. They are a disgrace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garb Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 The front-running fan base is the bane of the real fans existence. It's the price you pay for success, I guess. Plus, it's not like the MLB, and more specifically, the Red Sox FO don't market to this segment of people....not that anyone should take what I say as gospel. I jumped off the Sox bandwagon as soon as the current ownership and management came into town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anskyruben Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Anyone else find it ironic that a Phillies fan is complaining ? They must not own many mirrors in that part of town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anskyruben Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 The front-running fan base is the bane of the real fans existence. It's the price you pay for success, I guess. Plus, it's not like the MLB, and more specifically, the Red Sox FO don't market to this segment of people....not that anyone should take what I say as gospel. I jumped off the Sox bandwagon as soon as the current ownership and management came into town. Lucky Larry Lucciano and his wagon of enforcers ? They raped San Diego , got people to vote for a new stadium, and cashed in. Then they went out east ! I can only imagine how they are finding ways to rape the average fan out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garb Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Lucky Larry Lucciano and his wagon of enforcers ? They raped San Diego , got people to vote for a new stadium, and cashed in. Then they went out east ! I can only imagine how they are finding ways to rape the average fan out there. A family of four, decent seats (decent being $50.00 and up -at cost - and really, good luck with THAT!), parking, hot dogs, cokes, cotton candy, a souvenier or two.....about $450 or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anskyruben Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I went to Petco 3 weeks ago . Some friends were going so we tagged along. 2 tickets for us were 44 a piece, to sit in the outfield. Parking was 25 bucks. I had 2 beers @ $9 bucks each, and my fiancee had a little wine bottle which was 11 bucks. That's $142 bucks for 2 people who didn't even eat. Then you sit there to watch a crap team with no good players. At least in Boston, NY etc, you watch good talent. Then these teams complain they aren't making any money. Please. I wonder what they do with all that 9 dollar beer money, because they sure aren't spending it on players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garb Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I went to Petco 3 weeks ago . Some friends were going so we tagged along. 2 tickets for us were 44 a piece, to sit in the outfield. Parking was 25 bucks. I had 2 beers @ $9 bucks each, and my fiancee had a little wine bottle which was 11 bucks. That's $142 bucks for 2 people who didn't even eat. Then you sit there to watch a crap team with no good players. At least in Boston, NY etc, you watch good talent. Then these teams complain they aren't making any money. Please. I wonder what they do with all that 9 dollar beer money, because they sure aren't spending it on players. dude, that $450 Fenway scenario is actually a pipe dream. The games are virtually all sold out. So unless you have some connections, corp seats, or a vendor is doing you a favor, a trip to Fenway for a family of four - via tix through a tix agency - more like $1200.00 And I'm not kidding. Geez, though, I didn't realize that they were raping you all out west too. Welcome! The survivor support group meeting will commence shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anskyruben Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Let's not mention the 250 bucks I pay a year for the MLB extra innings package. I had to pay extra to get the games in HD this year. Fans get raped from every direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 As a Cubs fan, I shared a real kinship with RS fans prior to their first WS win this century. Then all these pseudo fans jumped on board and it was quite funny listening to them act arrogant and pretend to hate the Yankees. I still like the real Sox fans, you can tell who they are in a minute. But most the RS newbies can go FT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baseballnut Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Let's not mention the 250 bucks I pay a year for the MLB extra innings package. I had to pay extra to get the games in HD this year. Fans get raped from every direction. The first year I ever purchase the MLB baseball package was 158.00 and then you got all pre game and after game stuff and a **** load of spring traing games . Now most of the time channel cuts off right at or near the end of the game / you rarely get an afternoon game on Saturday any more . And now you have to pay extra for the HD . But how do you put a price on being able to see Webb against Lencicum --- Santana vs Cain ----- Wang vs CC ---- Kazmir vs Saunders --- Ervin Santana vs Sonnanstine . SIMPLY PRICELESS !!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 The reason you dont get Saturday afternoon games is because Fox owns exclusive rights for those games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anskyruben Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 If you have Direct Tv like I do, you will be able to see all the post and pre game shows on YES and some other networks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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