October 28, 2004

• a fateful event occurred at age seven that would forever change the
  course of my life - my family moved from the comfortable abodes of
  virginia to the liberal confines of boston.  how did this event
  change the direction of my life?  perhaps it contributed to my
  social development in a certain manner.  maybe it gave me a
  broader range of academic opportunities.  and surely it placed me
  in contact with individuals who would forever impact the rest of my
  life.  but above all else, this migration to the northeast
  created in me a boston sports fan, tried and true.  okay, maybe
  not above all else, but it sure feels like that right now.

  at age seven i had few sports allegiances, but that was soon to
  change after moving to beantown.  with little direct effort
  from myself, each team eventually overtook my affection and
  devotion.  good times or bad, boston is a hotbed of sports action,
  so there are few conversations that don't get back to the topic of
  the red sox, patriots, celtics, or bruins.  as an easily
  impressionable child, it didn't take long for me to join the
  bandwagon in 1986, perhaps the singular most incredible sports
  year for any one city.  in that year
  alone, the bruins made the nhl playoffs, the new
  england patriots made an unlikely run to the super bowl, the celtics
  won their unprecedented 16th nba championship, and of course,
  the red sox experienced a heartbreaking collapse in the
  world series.  it was easy to get caught up in
  the overflowing pride and passion of boston sports
  fans. 

  with the celtics being dominant through the 80's and the patriots
  reaching 'dynasty' levels in recent years, the red sox remained the one
  team characterized more for its failures than its successes.  the
  lengthy world series drought, the so-called curse of the bambino, and
  the countless seasons of disappointment - all this and more created a
  culture of such mythic lore, not only within boston sports circles
  but also throughout the national media.  the context of time and
  history only added to the misery experienced year after year.

  i've suffered first-hand nearly twenty years of red sox
  disappointment, but i'm a mere newbie member of red sox
  nation, a sports fandom that spreads across ages and
  generations.  i appreciate the history and culture of boston
  sports outside of my own lifetime, and realize that my pain and
  suffering is shared by many.  generations of fans have come
  before me, having gone through plenty more devastating moments than the
  ones i've personally experienced.  indeed, bill simmons refers to a remarkable 50+ page thread on sons of sam horn,
  where fans across red sox nation posted an unending series of
  eulogies and remembrances, honoring all those past and present who
  sacrificed their time and devotion to the beloved boston red sox. 
  all of this might seen quite excessive for a mere sports team, but this
  is no ordinary sports team we're talking about here.  no
  doubt boston sports fans love to talk of their historical significance
  (or amazing insignificance), perhaps to an extent that surely
  becomes repetitive or sickening to those outside boston
  circles.  but when you follow the red sox, you come to
  understand why.

  of course, all of this has now changed.  the red sox, after 86
  years of disappointment, are world series champs once again.  we
  now have nothing to complain about; we're just like any other
  team.  i don't know even know how to feel or react.  at least
  if i were in boston i could go drinking, go partying, or simply go nuts
  in the streets.  even after the last out i wanted to do something. 
  but alas, i'm stuck in the apathetic sports world of silicon
  valley.  so for now i'll just sit back and simply enjoy the
  moment, taking pleasure in not only my own happiness, but also the
  glee of my fellow brethren in red sox nation.  we all feel each other's pain, and now we revel in each other's celebrations.

  the curse is o-vah.  time to party like it's 1918.

  • 11:59 am
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