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An Ode to Boston

October 24, 2007 3:59 PM

BRISTOL, Connecticut

Yesterday's New York Times declared October, 2007 as "Heaven in New England."

And to tell you the truth, I couldn't agree more.

In the interest of full-disclosure, I must admit to the fact that I am a lifelong Boston sports fan, sticking by my hometown teams through thick and thin, heartache and heartbreak, and annually uttering the phrase that is instilled into every Bostonian at birth - "this could be the year."

The Boston Red Sox, who, for 86 years, until their 2004 Championship, were looked upon as the bridesmaids of baseball, enter the World Series tonight as the 2-1 favorites against the Colorado Rockies. The Bo-Sox are looking to end their three-year drought without a title. Three years? Who would have ever thought?

The New England Patriots are undefeated, unstoppable, and the undeniable favorites to go all the way this year…led by heart-throb, quarterback Tom Brady, who Esquire Magazine recently dubbed the "Best Dressed Man in the World." Because of him, the roles in some households are now reversed, with women asking their husbands, "are you ready for some football?"

And the Boston Celtics are kicking off their season with more promise than the parquet floor has witnessed in decades, with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen being hailed as the new Big Three….gracing the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated, before even playing in a regular season game together.

Some Bostonians have deemed this resurgence of prosperity amongst our sports teams as the ultimate reward after decades of disappointment. But this is unfamiliar territory for us. And some, it seems, can hardly contain themselves.  After cheering on their football heroes in Miami against the Dolphins last Sunday, the majority of the crowd, who were incidentally decked out in Patriots blue, started chanting "Let's go Red Sox" as the 49-28 blowout came to a close.

It's inevitable that every successful season brings out those who hop onboard the bandwagon. These are the same people who suddenly develop a Boston accent by watching "Fever Pitch" for the first time, or eating Brigham's "Reverse the Curse" Ice Cream.

The latest passenger to throw his hat into the ring is none other than 2008 Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, who yesterday announced his candidacy to become a member of Red Sox Nation. This is the same former Mayor of New York, who has a sign on his desk that reads, "Yankee Fan-In-Chief." The New York Post, for one, is having a field day. This morning's front page featured the headlines "Rudy the Yankee Flipper: Mass-Kisser Roots for Red Sox." Ironically enough, the Republican dropped the bombshell while campaigning across the Democratic hot-bed of Massachusetts, giving strength to the claim that this is all just a political ploy. But Giuliani insists he simply wants to "root for the American League team in the World Series." How patriotic of him.

But everyone loves a winner, right?

Especially this journalist, who is sure to root on her Red Sox tonight…in an unbiased fashion, of course.
 

October 24, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)