The Media Drop

I thought it would be worthwhile to congratulate the Boston Red Sox on their first win of the World Series in 86 years after their four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday evening. They did, after all, defeat my beloved Yankees in seven (gulp) games, making history as they did so.

For the last week, I’ve been wondering if I could feel for the Sox and their fans. After all, I am a huge New York Rangers fan, another team that went a long drought (though, I must say, only 54 years) between championship seasons. The Rangers were always taunted by their local rivals, the Devils (who were fun with “19-never” chants for awhile), and the Islanders, but were able to get out of that slump, only to soon after enter another one - the lack of playoff-bound teams. But after I thought about it awhile, I realized the Sox are much, much more embattled and universally ridiculed than the Rangers ever were.

So after attempting to root for the Cardinals for a game or two, I quickly realized that nothing would stop the Yawkey Way monsters. No ill-advised parade planning, no falls off the Green Monster for unlucky fans, not even The Curse. Hell, Mark Bellhorn kept hitting a bit.

So, while I am remiss to admit this, the Red Sox are the best team in Major League Baseball for 2004. Thankfully, though, 2004 is over as a season. Next year will bring major changes for all teams in the league, and the rivalry can continue.

In closing, one must start “hot stove baseball,” the ongoing, ending-only-when-pitchers-and-catchers-report discussions, off with a bang. I have one thing to say, and one thing only. [continued after the fold]

[Thanks to Jerry for the idea!]