An Unfortunate Situation...

[VandaleIndustries]

I'm sure there are questions about a Red Sox fan living in Texas... Let me assure you, I am no bandwagon, fair weather, member of the pink hat brigade. My situation is a very sad one. Let me explain.

 

My dad is a die hard yankees fan. He lived his whole life in Morristown, New Jersey before attending college in Boston (Bentley College), where he met my mom who lived her whole life in Hanover, MA. I was the first of 9 grandchildren to my grandfather (who lived his whole life without ever living outside of Massachusetts), who would be damned before any grandchild of his had anything to do with the yankees. For this reason, I will always consider him the greatest man who ever lived.

 

My dad didn't do too well during my birth. As a matter a fact, he fainted (typical yankees fan, but all joking aside I do love my Dad, he's the only one I have) towards the end of things. When things were finally settled down a bit, my grandfather was the first to see me. Luckily he had his red sox hat handy, and he took a polaroid of that hat as close to me as the nurses would allow, and set off to find my dad. You snooze you lose, as the saying goes.

 

I've been to Fenway more times than I could ever count, and since leaving Connecticut (where we lived while in New England), I have yet to miss one single Sox game when they are down playing the poor rangers (who have no fan base. Baseball is nothing to anyone in Texas, it's sad really).

 

My first Red Sox memory isn't a very detailed (or a very good) one. It happened when I was just 3 years old. We were staying with my grandparents for a visit, and my grandfather woke me up from my sleep because the Red Sox were about to win the World Series. Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out, and while I can't honestly say I remember watching the game (I was 3 after all), I do remember taking a VERY long walk down Winter Street in Hanover, MA as my Grandfather tried to get me back to sleep and sort out what he would do with himself.

 

When I was little my favorite player was Mike Greenwell, because his name reminded me of the Green Monster, and stuff like that matters when you don't know any better. It could have been worse, I could have chosen roger clemens.

 

My Grandfather died without ever seeing the Sox win it. He was Korean War disabled veteran and is buried in Cape Cod National Cemetary. My Aunt lives in Sandwich and went down to decorate his grave and his wife's grave with Red Sox stuff the day after they won it all in 2004. She said it was difficult to get to his grave because everyone else had the same idea, and people just cried together. She said it was one of the most emotional experiences she's ever had.

 

My reaction was tears of sadness. I'd love to say they were tears of joy that it finally happened, but I was sad I couldn't celebrate it with my Grandfather more than anything else. I was also sad because I think a large piece of me had decided I was going to die without seeing them win it as well, and for some strange reason, the realization that wasn't going to happen got to me. Strange... And there was guilt involved too. What made me so special that I got to witness it? But the life of a true Red Sox fan is one of suffering, so why should winning be any different?

 

Truth be told, I am not a big message board kind of guy. I am going to try this thing out, and see if I can't contribute anything to this community. Sorry this post got so long, but how can you describe what it is to be a BoSox fan without getting long? haha.

 

Take care!

[Cocos Disciples]

Great first post, and great user name! Welcome!

[Rdsxmbnt]

welcome

[Gom]

Aside from the fact that his father let him be the victim of child abuse at the hands of his grandfather, it was a great post.

[Cocos Disciples]

Aside from the fact that his father let him be the victim of child abuse at the hands of his grandfather' date=' it was a great post.[/quote']

 

Point me in the direction of this.

[Thumper]

Point me in the direction of this.

 

I think what Gom meant was the fact the father allowed the grandfather to make him a Red Sox fan...

 

And welcome!

 

I have some what of a similar experience with my great uncle, he passed away before 2004 having never seeing it either. I just recently went back to his grave after this past World Series.

[Soxfan1]

I miss Sox fan in Tex

 

Welcome by the way.

[a700hitter]

Welcome. There are lots of strange roads to Red Sox Nation. All that matters now is that you love the Sawx. I can understand your sadness that your grandfather wasn't there to see 2004. One of the big joys for me was that my dad age 86 at the time (yes born in 1918, but after the baseball season) did live to see it. Right after the last out was recorded he called me. It was a special moment.

[Cocos Disciples]

I think what Gom meant was the fact the father allowed the grandfather to make him a Red Sox fan...

 

And welcome!

 

I have some what of a similar experience with my great uncle, he passed away before 2004 having never seeing it either. I just recently went back to his grave after this past World Series.

 

Oh. That went right over my head. :dunno:

[VandaleIndustries]

Thanks, everyone (except Gom, you and I might have a problem.... haha). Special Kudo's to Coco's Disciples who seems to know where my user name came from. haha. Greatness!

[zackredsox]

Welcome man

[Gom]

In all seriousness, welcome.

 

Nice side story a700. Part of my reason for season tickets is I want my father to see a World Series clincher in person. My best baseball memory ever is [sorry Sox fans] watching the Boone game with my father and brother at the stadium on what happened to be my brother's birthday. It's a memory I'll never forget, and more so that we saw it together than the game itself. I just missed out, starting my season tickets in 2002. He's getting up there in age, not in good health, and only has a few more years at best, if that, so I understand where you're coming from.

[a700hitter]

Gom, it would be nice if your father sees a clincher in person, but you'll have a better chance if you convert him to a Red Sox fan.

[VandaleIndustries]

In all seriousness, welcome.

 

Nice side story a700. Part of my reason for season tickets is I want my father to see a World Series clincher in person. My best baseball memory ever is [sorry Sox fans] watching the Boone game with my father and brother at the stadium on what happened to be my brother's birthday. It's a memory I'll never forget, and more so that we saw it together than the game itself. I just missed out, starting my season tickets in 2002. He's getting up there in age, not in good health, and only has a few more years at best, if that, so I understand where you're coming from.

 

In all seriousness, thank you! I will look forward to occasional witty banter between all the Sox fans (for all purposes we will call them "those with a special spot in Heaven waiting for them), and yankees fans (whom will be referred to as "those with a special spot in whatever is worse than hell"). hahahaha.

 

I've done some reading on this site, looks like they accept you Gom, not sure how that happened..... In either case, thanks for the welcome and I look forward to ya, especially when the yankees once again fall short of expectations and no longer have Joe to blame for their woes. hahaha.

[Gom]

Touche.

[Gom]

Gom' date=' it would be nice if your father sees a clincher in person, but you'll have a better chance if you convert him to a Red Sox fan.[/quote']

Two Championships in four years, and they think they're world beaters. Imagine four out five like we just did. You'd be insufferable. You'd be intolerable.

 

In other words....you'd be us. I LOVE IT!

 

By the way, it was his love of the Yankees that made me a Yankee fan. He could have just as easily gone to the Mets. Thank God for small favors.

[a700hitter]

Four out of Five like you just did? That string started 12 years ago and it ended 7 years ago. Not too many guys from those teams are still active. You can see more of them at old-timers days than in regular season games. Jeesh, get current.

 

Everyone admired those Yankee teams because it was thought that they played the game the right way, but now we find out that the clubhouse was like a crack-den with a perjurer leading the rotation.

[Gom]

"Get current" from a fan of a team that waited 86 years between championships...lol.

 

You really in your heart believe that the Yankee clubhouse is a steroid enclave and that the Red Sox clubhouse is the Church of Latter Day Saints? I have a couple of friends who work for the Yanks, and are downright shocked that Ortiz wasn't named, as well as Delgado.

 

Look at Ortiz's numbers from Minnesota to Boston. Talk about a meteroic rise. Then throw in his irregular heartbeat [wow, where did that come from?]. How about the time he defended Carribean players taking steroids at a young age? Too many random coincidences. This isn't proof in a court of law, but where there's steroid smoke...there's steroid fire. Your championships are just as, if not even more, the result of star players taking steroids. Don't kid yourself. The athletes are just as dirty, the uniform doesn't matter.

 

Most of the ballplayers in the majors, in fact, I'd say 99% of them, aren't as smart as I am, or even you. How many of them actually graduated with a real college degree? They have money, but outside of the game, that's it. The education level isn't there, they don't follow up on what this stuff will do to their bodies in the long run. Either that or they don't care. They don't have the education because they never had to. I wouldn't have had it either if I had a 99 MPH fastball. They've lived a life of priveledge. Things came easy to them compared to the rest of us. Women, money, fame. What they have over me is unbelievable physical skill in the game of baseball. This is all most of them will ever know. They'll be famous, but they are out of the spotlight when it's over. So they will do nearly anything to stay where they are, get better, etc.

 

I don't think they're any better than me, or that I'm better than they are. Because they have such disposable resources, they lie, cheat, steal, do drugs, have money to literally burn on wine, women, and song. They have the money and fame to replace anything they lose with little consequence. Considering the life they lead, I'm not surprised they cheat.

 

What annoys me the most about this steroid stuff is that it's on all teams. From the sure-fire HOFers [bonds, Clemens] to the marginal [Mota, Lawton]. It's everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised at anyone anymore. Not Jeter. Arod. Rivera. Posada. I wouldn't be shocked and surprised at all.

 

In baseball, this s*** was known. You really think that only the Yankees were doing it, and the Red Sox sat there and watched? You think the Bronx Bombers were juiced up while the Monsters of Fenway played a good clean game, went home to their wives after the game, and went to church on Sunday?

 

I have no illusions about the "purity" of the team I watch. Can you say the same?

[Thumper]

I have no illusions about the "purity" of the team I watch. Can you say the same?

 

I use to until I saw Mo Vaughn's name on the Mitchell Report. I don't care if he used it to heal faster, he still used. That really got to me as he was my childhood hero. Now I myself wouldn't be surprised at most players. I'm sure Garciaparra was another one and probably David Wells too.

[TheKilo]

 

Look at Ortiz's numbers from Minnesota to Boston. Talk about a meteroic rise. Then throw in his irregular heartbeat [wow, where did that come from?]. How about the time he defended Carribean players taking steroids at a young age? Too many random coincidences. This isn't proof in a court of law, but where there's steroid smoke...there's steroid fire. Your championships are just as, if not even more, the result of star players taking steroids. Don't kid yourself. The athletes are just as dirty, the uniform doesn't matter.

 

 

I didn't feel the need to read any past this post.

[VandaleIndustries]

I used to work in Southlake, TX, which is one of the area's richest neighborhoods. I really hate that town, but that's besides the point... A MLB player for the blue jays was a frequenter of our shop during the off season, we saw him about twice a week, really down to earth guy, nice family, etc....

 

The talk came up at one point, he said the talk has gotten out of hand. He admitted that in his opinion, about 25% of players have done SOMETHING, he wouldn't get into much detail though (understandably). He dismissed the notion that over 50% are on something (as many people believe, and said that's ridiculous. I had made the comment that I think Manny is just that good of a contact hitter, and that I don't think he'd be on anything, but Ortiz scares me a little. He said, "Ortiz, nah, that guy's just a freak, he's not on anything..." That was as detailed as he got on the whole conversation, but he seemed pretty adamant on Ortiz being clean.

 

Now, how much are we going to trust this guy??? Especially one that was so tight lipped on the subject? Who knows, but I don't doubt him, he always seemed like a legit guy.

 

Just my two cents in defense of Ortiz.

[a700hitter]

"Get current" from a fan of a team that waited 86 years between championships...lol.

I am not dwelling on those 86 years, but you are apparently stuck in the 90's.

[rician blast]

I have no illusions about the "purity" of the team I watch. Can you say the same?

 

Although not directed at me I'll chime in. I have no illusions about the purity of the Red Sox versus any other team, nor do I care.

 

I was watching a bit of a replay of a Sox game from the mid to late 90's, not sure what year. Canseco was on the team. Either that year or in subsequent years certain Sox players HR totals grew as did their shirt sizes...Johnny Valentin, Troy O'Leary come to mind. Nixon's neck-size soon grew and his HR totals rose. Brian Daubach was hitting the mid-20's in HRs, Garciaparra became a beast.

 

I suspected many of these players back then as I suspect some of the current squad. I don't care and I don't blame them either.

[rician blast]

Frankly this "purity" of the game ******** is annoying. When has the game ever been truly "pure"? If laws are broken, there should be consequences. If MLB rules are broken there should be consequences as well. But personally I've had it with the "purity" rhetoric.

 

In terms of PED's or any other immoral, illegal or just plain "not nice" behavior, is anything pure? Is football pure? Basketball? Cycling? Doubt it.

 

There are much more important "impurities" to be concerned about...for instance:

Are politics pure? Is our court system pure? Is Corporate America pure? The impurities within those systems mean a hell of a lot more than baseball's ills, IMO, but aren't necessarily viewed that way by much of our society.

 

The thought that baseball should be held to some higher standard than other walks of life is ridiculous. If fans don't like the impurity, don't attend/watch or purchase anything baseball related.

[Taliesin]

I don't know. I felt like I should be eating a can of beans and wearing a hobo hat and people would call me Sal the Hobo when reading this thread. With someone named One Armed Willie as the protagonist. (he had both arms...just don't ask about why he is called one armed Willie and you'll be fine)

 

The doomed guy is playing the harp in the background. Seriously, that first post was like The Yearling but w/ more tragedy and the subsequent answers were full of more self-important self-indulgent senile rantings than a meeting w/ The Felons brain w/ The Felons brain.

 

Available for cameo appearances only during The Love Boat reunions but sadder.

[Mr Crunchy]

mannys #s havent changed in 10 years of pro baseball

ortiz is another story

nomar wasnt named in the investigation but stevie wonder could see this guy was busting out of his body when he was a rookie who went from 160 to 190 in 1 year as an adult.

ironic how ny loves andy petitte,a liar a cheater and a f***ing rat bastard who had his dad pump him up

congrats mr petitte,you're the voice of yankee ethics.....

this my friends is the f***ing disgrace of it all.

as someone above noted

who really gives a f***?

 

i do like the fact that clemens is about to do the perp walk

f***ing idiot wanted to press and press and press and lie and lie and lie

well raj

now you're wide open to indictment and lets hope that indictment comes after 1/20/09 so corkey cant pardon his buddy before he leaves office...

federal time isnt that bad

the only issue is you have to serve 2/3 of your sentence and they tend to make you do your time close to where youre tried....clemens will be well received in the fed pen in brooklyn,all those italian kids who loved mike piazza and the mets will be waiting to give raj a welcome he wont soon forget....

[BudLight]

mannys #s havent changed in 10 years of pro baseball

ortiz is another story

nomar wasnt named in the investigation but stevie wonder could see this guy was busting out of his body when he was a rookie who went from 160 to 190 in 1 year as an adult.

ironic how ny loves andy petitte,a liar a cheater and a f***ing rat bastard who had his dad pump him up

congrats mr petitte,you're the voice of yankee ethics.....

this my friends is the f***ing disgrace of it all.as someone above noted

who really gives a f***?

 

i do like the fact that clemens is about to do the perp walk

f***ing idiot wanted to press and press and press and lie and lie and lie

well raj

now you're wide open to indictment and lets hope that indictment comes after 1/20/09 so corkey cant pardon his buddy before he leaves office...

federal time isnt that bad

the only issue is you have to serve 2/3 of your sentence and they tend to make you do your time close to where youre tried....clemens will be well received in the fed pen in brooklyn,all those italian kids who loved mike piazza and the mets will be waiting to give raj a welcome he wont soon forget....

 

 

Sean

 

Without Pettite though there will be no conviction of Clemens. So, while he may be all of those things you state, he will also be the main reason Clemens will get to spend time with the Piazza loving Mets fans in the Federal Pen. I wonder how Raja feels about changing positions from a pitcher to a catcher.

[rician blast]

Sean

 

Without Pettite though there will be no conviction of Clemens. So, while he may be all of those things you state, he will also be the main reason Clemens will get to spend time with the Piazza loving Mets fans in the Federal Pen. I wonder how Raja feels about changing positions from a pitcher to a catcher.

 

Or from "Tight End" to "Wide Receiver"?

[schillingouttheks]

Or from "Tight End" to "Wide Receiver"?

 

"Give it to me! I'm open, I'm open!"

[Thumper]

I'm sure this won't be the first time Clemens has has two or more balls on him.