Erin The Great

It was in June of 2004 when the most treacherous thing happened. For those of you who keep up with MLB (Major League Baseball) you’d know that that was the year that the ‘Curse of the Bambino’ was lifted enabling the Boston Red Sox to win the World Series after an 86 year drought.

It was in 1920 when the greedy Harry Frazee, owner of the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth, the Sultan of Swat, the King of Crash, the Colossus of Clout, the Colossus of Clout… The Great BammBeenO, to the New York Yankees. Little did he know that Babe Ruth would go on to be one of the best players to ever play the game, setting the record for most home runs in a single season (60) until 1961 when Roger Maris broke the record. With the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees came a terrible curse that kept the Red Sox in the gutters until 1934 when they became decent again, but still never winning a World Series. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees brought in 26 World Series wins with 39 American League Pennants. Ever since the trade it’s been a clash of the titans.

My point is this. With the whole Yankees vs. Red Sox… Whose side is right? Who’s side is it better to be a fan of? Both teams have had amazing players through the years, but say that Babe Ruth was originally playing for the Yankees and traded to the Red Sox? Would it have been different? Would Yankee fans instead of being apathetic towards the Red Sox, would it ignite the passion needed for being a true fan? Being a 3rd generation Yankee fan (starting with my grandfather) I’ve grown up in a world where the Yankees rule the world and being a fan requires a sense of entitlement because lets be honest, they have, up until recently (and a very short time in the 1980’s) been one of the best teams in MLB.

As sad and pathetic as they are, Red Sox fans are some of the most pure, wholesome and devout fans you’ll ever find. For 86 years the fans of the Red Sox have watched their team fight for the World Series title. They sometimes would make it to the World Series but would always choke and lose… Meh Heh. Even in the disgrace of all this, they all held fast until their prayers were finally answered in 2004 coming back from a 3 game deficit and defeating the Yankees and then sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals. Much to the chagrin of the Yankees fans… This was a really bad week for us. Some of us needed therapy after this. Tragic.

So, what about the Yankees now? Granted most of their players are extremely overpaid (Thank you George Steinbrenner) and have egos bigger then their stadium but does that mean that just because Georgie-poo’s son is turning the Yankees into the biggest joke since the Cubs walked on the scene, does that mean we as Yankee fans should just turn our backs on them? And why do the Red Sox complain incessantly about the Yankee’s payroll when they themselves have the second highest payroll in the MLB? Answer me that one? As long as we’re talking unanswered questions, as long as Alex Rodriguez remains on the Yankee payroll, will his self-induced curse keep us from winning another World Series? I know, let’s trade him the Red Sox as a token of our appreciation from receiving the defective product aka Johnny Damon… Thanks so much for that one! Next time you want to take out the trash, take out A-rod first…. Maybe the Cubs can use him, but looking at the standings I think that A-rod will only hinder their rise to the top of the NL Central (National League Central)
I don’t consider myself a fair weather fan, so do I take a page from the Red Sox guide to being a fan and humble myself until they are good again or new owners present themselves?? What is one to do?