Yankee Fans in Denial
Bob Klapisch writes that the 2008 version of the Boston Red Sox are no longer obsessed with the New York Yankees:
With two championships in the past four years, and practically everyone back from the ‘07 World Series roster, the Sox’ domination is likely to continue in 2008. That’s why no one’s obsessing over the Bombers’ spring training story lines…
Spend a day at Red Sox camp, and you sense their profound tranquility. No Yankee-bashing, no personal attacks against A-Rod and certainly no gloating over the miniature dynasty.
Jonathan Papelbon… when asked to assess the Yankees’ chances, said, “Dude, I don’t even know who’s on their roster this year”.
The column was picked up by Steve Lombardi of WasWatching and presented to his readers with a question:
How about Yankees fans? What do you say? Do you feel like the “Hammer and the Nail” relationship that the Yankees had with the Red Sox, for so long, is now gone (thanks to 2004 and 2007)?
The comments were predictably of two types:
- Maybe the Red Sox players are no longer obsessed with the Yankees but their fans certainly are; unlike Yankee fans who really don’t give the Red Sox much thought.
- On our level? No way. The Red Sox have a long way to go before they’re comparable to the Yankees.
Number one is false. I’ve worn a Red Sox cap in New York. Dirty glances, sarcastic remarks, and comments on my bravery; I got it all. When New York is bumped from the playoffs Yankee websites are flooded with comments praying for Boston to lose.
Was it different at one time? Sure. That happens when the history between two teams is so lopsided for so many years. But times have changed. From the bumbling Steinbrenner sons to the team’s fans the Red Sox have never been more on their minds. It’s time for Yankee fans to let this idea die.
The second probably won’t die in my lifetime. The Red Sox could close out the decade with three more championships and some Yankee fans would still be calling on teams from 50 years ago to feel superior. Living through two titles in the past four years seems like a pretty fair trade to me. They can feel free fall back on championships won before they were born. I won’t begrudge them that (though I may snicker).
But there was one comment by “A Tampa Yankee in King George’s Court” (catchy name) that was especially telling:
I always thought the rivalry was one sided and it hasnt really changed but the only thing that really bothered me was the fact that had what Varitek did taken place anywhere but on a baseball field, he would have been arrested for assault and battery while A-Rod would have been blameless. It is a sad state of affairs when a team that has an inferiority complex can get rewarded for physically attacking the team to which they are inferior.
No, Yankee fans aren’t obsessed with the Red Sox, but four years later they’re still so upset over Varitek lunging at A-Rod with (OMG) his mask still on that they’re calling for assault charges. That makes perfect sense.
I guess I can’t do too much talking. That ass kicking fight is typically my mac’s wallpaper during the season.
I’m ignoring his comment that the rivalry “hasn’t really changed” and chalking it up to either a crack addiction or a delusional psychosis.
