Monday, March 3, 2008

Red Sox Nation vs Yankee Country

God why oh why did Hank have to open his big dumb mouth and start the debate of "Red Sox Nation". In his attempt to diminish Boston and their new-found glory, Hank Steinbrenner had to say :

"Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of [expletive] that is," he said in an interview with The New York Times' Play magazine. "That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans.
"Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."


Now granted, i couldn't agree more with Hank. Red Sox Nation is a fabricated description of BOSTON fans. We can thank Peter Gammon's for that one. But it never really bothered me (in fact, fuel the fire to my loathing of Red Sox fans) until now. The smugness and "shit don't stink" attitude has rubbed off on the former Marlins Principal/Current money whore, John Henry, to where he has officially inducted Hank into the Red Sox Nation. Hank, not known for snappy comebacks like dear old dad, graciously declined.

Call me an antagonist here, but I was hoping for Holly War here. Ive been to Yankee Stadium and have seen Red Sox fans get the shit kicked out of them (while cops turn the other cheek and snicker) just for sporting a Beantown hat. I want that kind of rivalry to continue and on a greater scale. I want all out hooliganism to reign supreme. But Hank had to spoil the fun and play along with it. Oh well, here is for hoping.

On a side note- Only Red Sox nation would get a kick out of Jonathon Papelbon performing Michael Flattery's greatest River Dance hits. . Enjoy the video

28 comments:

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

I had a long comment nearly finished, but I had to stop. I think I can sum it all up in one sentence.

Are you kidding me?

SayHey Kid said...

You dont think there is some truth behind Hank's comment?

Or just that I want a little more from this rivalry?

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

First, the only contrivance here can be found in Hank's comments. He and John Henry are old friends. Hank's been trying to stoke up the fan base all winter. He's trying to sell more cable packages with the YES network and some more Yankees gear.

Sox Nation was a phrase coined in the Boston Globe in '86. You can't doubt that the Sox have both an extremely strong (and generations deep) regional following and a strong national following. You only need to walk into Kaufman or [insert this year's corporate name for the stadium HGH, er, Bonds built] to see that. Yes, Red Sox Nation, as trademarked, is a brilliant marketing move, but it also describes a real social phenomenon. Enough said.

And this shit don't stink shit? Considering the entire history of the Red Sox and their fans, that's an extremely myopic statement.

SayHey Kid said...

I am fully aware that Hank and Henry are friends. But forgive me if I want this rivalry to enhance and become bigger. I may not be fans of both teams, but as a baseball man, i find it absolutely wonderful!

I never questioned Red Sox history. Its as deep and rich as baseball itself. Ive been to Fenway and it REEKS of baseball tradition. But win or lose, Yankee fan is still quite visible. Where was Red Sox Nation pre WS rign?? Not in DC nor in Virginia. And its obvious to me you have never been to SF. They are beyond passionate about baseball, PRE and POST Bonds. So dont knock it unless you try it and as for myopic? Take a look in the mirror my friend.

Oh I do get it, you were "cursed". How much longer are you going to hold onto that word?? Until Jim Rice makes the HOF?

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

It's a mentality I've grown up with. I never thought that I'd see a Red Sox World Series win, let alone two. Even now, if David Ortiz grimaces after a huge cut, I get the fleeting fear that he's going to be done for the season. Every dropped fly ball means that we're going to lose the game. Every off-balance strikeout is the sign of a slump. It's some strange New England mix of Catholic guilt and Calvinist determinism. I don't get it, but I know its real.

I've never been to [corporate field], but I spent a good amount of time in the midwest, and I saw plenty of Sox hat amidst Cardinal red and Royal blue both at Kaufman and the old Busch before 2004. It was there. As far as the east coast goes, all I can say is that of my Virginia friends from law school, most were Red Sox fans. Red Sox Nation stretches far and wide.

SayHey Kid said...

I can imagine Red Sox Nation have been walking on glass for sometime now; trying to avoid any mistep that could anger the Gods and bring upon a new curse. I would think the "Papalbon ball incident" would be reason for concern.

For the record, University of Richmond doesnt count as Virginia. 90% of the student body IS from New England and never left the campus.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

I only know one kid who went to Richmond. He's from Connecticut and is a diehard Yankees fan.

Dews said...

As a fan of rival AL East Orioles that grew up in New England, I can't deny the devotion the entire region has to the Red Sox above all other franchises, but I still can see two distinctly different groups when you're talking about its fanbase.

There are the hard-core fans that drudged through life perpetually hoping yet knowing the Sox would never actually win the World Series (while knowing enough about the 86 world series to know NOT to blame Bill Buckner for losing). Similar to Cub fans of today.

Then there are the jackass new members of "Sox Nation" with that retard Jerry Remy at the Helm.

I don't fault old fans for that second group of assholes, but I don't feel at all bad lumping them all into the same category and letting those posers ruin it for the rest of em.

Just as bad as the Yankees to me now.

SayHey Kid said...

I hate to say this, i mean I REALLY HATE TO SAY THIS, but there were no classier fans than Oakland fan in the late 1980's. Many of them were young during their 1970's sucess and passed on that humble gene to thier children.

When the A's swept us in 1989, I wasnt upset, I had more respect for A's fan and cheared for them in 1990 against the Reds. I felt that A's fan emulated the "champion fan" more than any other I had/have ever met.

Then came Jack Gonzo. Needless to say, my impression of A's fan has changed.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Of course you can respect them. They're in a different league.

I want to see Oakland join the NL, just to see if real West Coast rivalry can develop. Send Colorado to the AL, that'll make things interesting.

SayHey Kid said...

Well, because they are in a different league doesnt mean they have to act like a jackass. BTW, i do remember the A's constantly shattering Red Sox dreams in the late 1990's. ALCS was always a one-way battle between the 2. Hence, the hatred between Mike Greenwell and Jose Canstrikeout

SayHey Kid said...

Errr early 1990's. My bad

SayHey Kid said...

Just mentioned this to Dews, but remember the Royals vs Cardinals WS in 1985?? The end result was bitter hatred!! Unlike the Giants v A's.

I know there are many different variables, but its like night and day.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

The 1985 WS was also very controversial because of a call an umpire made, but I'm not a Cards-Royals historian. Something about a guy being safe/out at 1st. I can attest, however, that Cards fans hate the Royals to this day because of that call.

I wish the Royals were good again.

Jack Gonzo, MD said...

For the record I only give SayHey shit cause it gets under his skin...and he likes to flaunt his five super bowl rings

Dews said...

I'd love to see a Royals resurgence. Its really hard to find anything to dislike about KC and its Royals (Speculation Amok being a diehard fan I'm sure can agree).

Really easy to hate the owner, but as an O's fan, that basically makes KC and O's fans brothers right?

Dews said...

Speaking of giving SayHey shit, I wonder if he saw Zito's pitching line from saturday?

I sure hope that doesn't effect the Giants place in the Power Ranking getting blown out in a spring training game (you know, like the O's right?)!

:)

SayHey Kid said...

Hey Dews, second time you mentioned Zito. I let Gonzo bother me because HE CAN. You, well, your just funny =)

Jack- I know, I just felt the need to reel ya into the debate =) And yes, those 5 SB rings are pretty. Seeing how Montana and Young have no 2nd place/runner up ones. But im sure Brady's "loser" one looks nice also

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Wow, the Brady crack was out of nowhere. I'm thinking that SayHey suffers from what I call "Non-East-Coast-Fan Inferiority Complex."

Seriously though, I'm sorry you haven't had a contending team or decent player to cheer for since 1994. Must be terrible to have cheered for teams that haven't been relevant since Newt Gingrich announced his Contract with America, Murphy Brown was a top-rated television program, and Demi Moore had her original tits.

SayHey Kid said...

Well, the Giants did make it to the World Series back in 2002. So I had reason to chear then =).

But yeh, you went quiet for a second. Had to wake ya up.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Right...2002. I almost forgot about the World Series no one watched.

SayHey Kid said...

It still happened never the less my friend.

And for the record, more people watched the 2002 World Series than the 2007 World Series.

2002 average: 20.5 Million
2007 average: 17.6 Million

Try again Dewey =)........

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Eh, the 2002 Series set a WS record low for TV views. That record has been broken by the last two world series in succession.

But, 2004 was the high point in the last ten years :)

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SayHey Kid said...

Well, the stigma of steroids and the popularity of the NFL in the last decade has contributed to the decline of World Series audiences.

2004 was one for the records, I agree. Just a shame the Cardinals failed to show up that series. Would have been nice for the Sox to win game 5 at home

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

I agree, although I certainly won't complain.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Something we haven't addressed yet: what the hell do you have against Papelbon?

SayHey Kid said...

I have nothing agaisnt him, he is a damn fine closer.

But he does some stupid crap. The ball incident and now the recent river dance video? I dunno, I just find it funny. What I like about Papelbon is that he really does not care.