Tito to attend Fenway Celebration after all..

[JohnGreen2004]

Did you guys hear this? I'm glad he's gonna attend. We, the fans, owe it to him to celebrate his tenure with the Sox. Here's a link to the post on my site if you guys wanna check it out. http://bosoxinjection.com/2012/04/18/tito-to-party-like-its-2004/

[NativeBostonian]

He’s going to come to the 100 year anniversary, because the Red Sox are doing just as bad, as they did when he was manager. If they were lighting it up and winning, there is no way he comes. I’m sure there is a side of him, that is enjoying Boston’s struggles right now.

[The Boomer]

I am glad he's going to be there. He deserves to get some kudos for his 8 years with the Sox and 2 WS championships. How he feels about it is irrelevant to me.

[VA Sox Fan]

Roberts not able to attend Friday's ceremony

 

Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff April 19, 2012 11:40 AM

 

 

Dave Roberts, whose stolen base vs. the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS led to Boston's first World Series championship in 86 years, will not be among the ex-players returning to Boston for the 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park Friday afternoon.

 

Roberts is a coach with the San Diego Padres.

 

Roberts said he would have loved to attend, but his duties with the Padres will prevent that from happening.

 

Roberts' steal may be one of, if not THE greatest moment in Red Sox history.

[BornToRun]

Oh that sucks. It'd wouldve been awesome for Dave to be there.

[kapsis21]

Roberts not able to attend Friday's ceremony

 

Roberts' steal may be one of, if not THE greatest moment in Red Sox history.

 

that steal and him calling the ump safe safe, and his slide home on a bill mueller single pumping the fist... memories are still fresh.. man did we beat the Yankees or what ...i still get chills sometimes.

[Spudboy]

Oh that sucks. It'd wouldve been awesome for Dave to be there.

 

Yup. Plus he appears to be an elegant person.

 

Of course, for all I know, he could be a pedo.

 

 

 

that steal and him calling the ump safe safe' date=' and his slide home on a bill mueller single pumping the fist... memories are still fresh.. man did we beat the Yankees or what ...i still get chills sometimes.[/quote']

 

I'll NEVER forget it either.

[jung]

That s*** is burned into my memory banks thank God. Hopefully as advancing age robs me of some of those brain cells, Dave Roberts will still be imprinted up there someplace.

 

As for Tito, this is another PR screw up. Once he said no the Sox should have left it alone. None of us are going to believe that Tito woke up one morning with some light bulb over his head telling him to go and does this make it easier for the Sox to move on.

 

On top of that while Theo has now been invited to the Friday game, he was not invited to the ceremony and the invite to Theo for the game came today...the Thursday before the game and right in the middle of discussions about why Theo was not invited.....ridiculous.....just don't invite him at all....better than once more trying to cover their ass in that Red Sox FO.

[SoxSport]

Just read Schilling's letter in the Globe saying he can't make it because of other commitments at his 38 studio.

 

He said a lot of nice things about the fans and WS memories, etc. But I think he's wrong for not attending. The management treated him very well--especially considering they handed him $8 mil his last season for not pitching. He gave them back a lot of great pitching memories. A great clutch pitcher.

 

Too bad Henry let things fall apart the last couple years.

[VA Sox Fan]

Schilling will not attend Fenway ceremony

 

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff April 19, 2012 04:20 PM

 

 

Curt Schilling will not attend the anniversary ceremony at Fenway Park on Friday, saying he has business matters to attend to.

 

A member of the World Series title teams in 2004 and ’07, Schilling has made news lately with his frequent criticism of manager Bobby Valentine on ESPN and WEEI.

 

He sent this letter to the Globe and other media outlets today:

 

To Red Sox Nation,

I apologize that business at 38 Studios has made my participation in the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park impossible. Please understand that should in no way indicate my love and passion for Red Sox Nation. There was no greater feeling than standing on that mound, in that park, in front of you fans. The memories I was honored to be a part of, from David’s walk off HR in the 2004 ALDS, to going 4-0 in World Series games in that park, to the true honor of wearing that uniform every single day is something I am blessed to have, and will never forget.

 

I was and always have been opinionated, and unafraid to share my opinion, and for that I accept whatever it is you think of me. But please know that when I had the ball in my hand I gave the team, and you, every ounce of everything I had to get a “W”. It was an honor to wear the uniform, and compete with the incredible team and teammates I was allowed to.

 

Every great memory I have in that uniform is because of the people that paid to watch us play, and I will be forever grateful to you for that.

 

Thank you and God Bless

Curt Schilling

 

 

The Red Sox extended invitations to all living former players and managers. No other players, at this juncture, have released statements to the media regarding their participation

[VA Sox Fan]

I'm bummed about Roberts and Schilling not being able to make it. 2 key players in 2004.

[jung]

I actually don't know why the Sox have tried so hard to get Tito to show up. Tito appearing is not going to signal that he has decided to let bygones be bygones. I don't think Tito will ever forget what happened at the end here. I think he will forever blame upper management for the leak resulting in the newspaper article that really made an effort to bury him.

 

I would be willing to bet he has a LL blow up doll in his bedroom that he goes over and kicks square in nuts every morning when he wakes up and every night before he goes to bed.

[VA Sox Fan]

I actually don't know why the Sox have tried so hard to get Tito to show up. Tito appearing is not going to signal that he has decided to let bygones be bygones. I don't think Tito will ever forget what happened at the end here. I think he will forever blame upper management for the leak resulting in the newspaper article that really made an effort to bury him.

 

I would be willing to bet he has a LL blow up doll in his bedroom that he goes over and kicks square in nuts every morning when he wakes up and every night before he goes to bed.

 

Bottom line? Tito has class. I don't think it's any sort of signal.

 

He's doing it for the fans and the players IMO. Everyone in the sports world knows the real deal.

 

I still wouldn't have blamed him for not showing up. But like I said, he is Class.

[jung]

I don't question Tito's motives. I question the Sox. He said no....they should have let it alone at that point. Clearly they did not. LL calling him probably had the same effect that pouring gasoline of a fire would have. Reports (who knows if they were true) were that the discussion went very badly with Tito finally going off and then I think hanging up. Danny Boy, Boston's journalistic mop-top is writing a book with Tito at present. So, getting the dope on the telephone call was probably not even hard at that point.

 

Somebody, I bet Danny Boy probably convinced Tito that he was likely going to get a huge ovation at this event which in reality is pretty embarrassing for the Sox. That will be the Sox Fandom voting thumbs down on how Tito was treated and thumbs down on a whole series of events involving the outgoing old manager and the incoming new manager. This is a pretty good opportunity for Tito to thank the fans and give the organization a very big robust middle finger. I think the leak crossed a fairness line that has caused Sox fans a good deal of discomfort regardless of whether they wanted Tito gone or not. The whole fabricated story about how and why he was leaving was such a stupid unnecessary mess and it went downhill from there.

[Spudboy]

Just read Schilling's letter in the Globe saying he can't make it because of other commitments at his 38 studio.

 

He said a lot of nice things about the fans and WS memories, etc. But I think he's wrong for not attending. The management treated him very well--especially considering they handed him $8 mil his last season for not pitching. He gave them back a lot of great pitching memories. A great clutch pitcher.

 

Too bad Henry let things fall apart the last couple years.

 

I see it this way too.

 

 

However, if all side would agree, there could be a video of someone not "able" to attend on that huge screen in center.

 

WTF.

[jung]

However, if all side would agree, there could be a video of someone not "abble" to attend on that huge screen in center.

 

My guess is that the chance of that is about none and none

[VA Sox Fan]

I see it this way too.

 

 

However, if all side would agree, there could be a video of someone not "abble" to attend on that huge screen in center.

 

WTF.

 

What?

[The Village Idiot]

I'm thrilled Tito's going to be there tomorrow.

 

I also think we all, myself included, tend to overthink and inaccurately assess most of this stuff. There's a pretty good chance that this is the sequence, in reverse chronological order, of what happened with this entire situation over the past 7.5 months.

 

(1) APRIL: Tito thought about it, probably talked with some confidantes, family, regional friends/contacts, AND his colleagues at ESPN, and decided that going would actually be the best thing for HIM. And for us. So he's coming.

(2) WINTER: Sox make the decision to hire Bobby Valentine. Decide team can pretty much stay intact thanks to its oodles of talent. Change of pace will be all everyone needs to shake things up ever so slightly. Bobby's changed over the years, learned, strong work ethic, never sleeps, very hard worker. All will be a groovy fit, right? Meanwhile, questions swirl around about Cherington being a puppet

(3) OCTOBER: Scandalous, salacious article hits the newsstand. Most avid fans are appalled at the ratting out, by someone, of Tito. May or may not be a purposeful, spiteful leak. Almost irrelevant either way. The unfortunate damage is done.

(4) EARLIER IN OCTOBER: Team, manager, front office and owners are all shocked -- shocked -- at the last game of the season's result and at the Sox not making the playoffs AGAIN. Very good chance that everyone -- everyone -- thought that they'd catch a streak of luck at the very end of the season, last a bit into the playoffs, and that therefore this all would basically be a non-issue in the off-season. But they were wrong. Dead wrong. In their state of relative shock, everything went wrong. People got angry, stubborn and unprofessional. Tito walked away while ownership completely blundered the entire situation. Theo had been thinking about his future for months anyway and decided no better time to split and run than the present--didn't feel he owed anyone anything, after all, it's just business.

(5) LAST GAME IN SEPTEMBER: Sox, being a talented team, expected to win that game and put the s***** end of the season behind them. They were wrong, dead wrong. They couldn't put it together. Season over.

(6) GAMES IN SEPTEMBER: Sox go 7-20. Basically, this team was about 5 wins away from this entire firestorm ever ensuing. 5 games. With just a couple of Lester wins and, say, one preserved game by Bard, and one better game pitched by Beckett (despite his injury), and Pap doing on the last night of the season what he had done all year long, this entire firestorm likely doesn't ever happen. Think about that: just 5 wins. Over a 162-game season.

 

Game of inches. Life of inches. Deal with it.

 

But you know what, let's have some perspective, even if just for one day. Most of us have been Sox fans for our whole lives. We will be for the rest of our lives. Fenway's been with us since it started. It may not be here with us at the end of our lives. Honor it. Cheer it. Celebrate it.

 

Nothing lasts forever, but...

 

Fenway forever. Go Sox.

[SCM33]

Schilling and Roberts are not attending because its a stupid f***ing idea. I wonder how many of these people they had to pay to attend.

 

No Mo Vaughn? No John Valentin? No Tom Gordon? No Jody Reed? No Pedro Martinez? No Brian Daubach?

 

Instead we get a confirmed visit from Jose Canseco.....and the NESN crew.

 

Baseball field's dont have birthdays. This whole thing is tacky and makes us Sox fans look like pathetic homer fanboy apologists. Its sad.

 

Buy a brick!!

[The Village Idiot]

Schilling and Roberts are not attending because its a stupid f***ing idea. I wonder how many of these people they had to pay to attend.

 

No Mo Vaughn? No John Valentin? No Tom Gordon? No Jody Reed? No Pedro Martinez? No Brian Daubach?

 

Instead we get a confirmed visit from Jose Canseco.....and the NESN crew.

 

Baseball field's dont have birthdays. This whole thing is tacky and makes us Sox fans look like pathetic homer fanboy apologists. Its sad.

 

Buy a brick!!

 

It's late, so perhaps I'm missing your sarcasm.

 

But if I'm not, and there's no sarcasm in your post, then what you're saying is just moronic.

 

A National Historic landmark like Fenway Park is certainly worthy of celebrating when it turns 100.

 

You don't punish or lambast the birthday boy or girl just because some of its invited guests decide that they can't make it that day. For every great player who for whatever reason can't make it, there will be another great player who is there who was just as great in his time roaming the outfield or infield of this national treasure.

 

Fenway Park is one of the few remaining original homes of our national pasttime, for God's sakes.

When it turns 100, it is a landmark occasion for the game, the sport, the league, quite frankly.

 

You lack historical perspective and an appreciation for the game and the sport you follow.

[jung]

Go ahead, if you don't think this is a worthwhile ceremony to see on TV or live right now watching these guys come out from center field....go ahead....I dare ya'.....I double dare ya

[ibot2much]

Schilling and Roberts are not attending because its a stupid f***ing idea. I wonder how many of these people they had to pay to attend.

 

No Mo Vaughn? No John Valentin? No Tom Gordon? No Jody Reed? No Pedro Martinez? No Brian Daubach?

 

Instead we get a confirmed visit from Jose Canseco.....and the NESN crew.

 

Baseball field's dont have birthdays. This whole thing is tacky and makes us Sox fans look like pathetic homer fanboy apologists. Its sad.

 

Buy a brick!!

They must have given you the wrong list...Mo was there, Pedro was there

[kapsis21]

is it me or the ceremony is lame ..

[d-money]

Right now Tito probably is probably happy that he doesnt have to deal with this mess.He got managed this team to two world series wins.He will be forever in red sox lore.

[Elktonnick]

Right now Tito probably is probably happy that he doesnt have to deal with this mess.He got managed this team to two world series wins.He will be forever in red sox lore.

 

Amen to that! He will forever be the manager of the team that broke the curse. That is a memory I'll never forget whatever else happens.

[The Village Idiot]

is it me or the ceremony is lame ..

 

You are beyond lame if you can't appreciate what transpired at Fenway this afternoon. You are either catatonic, have only followed this team for about 2 years, or you have no concept of what it means when players from every generation care enough about their experience playing in a ballpark and in a city and for a team that they're willing to cross the country to come back, pay it homage, thank a fan base and reminisce.

 

What the f*** is it with people these days?

 

Part of me wants the Sox to suck this year to get rid of fans who have no f***ing clue.

 

That being said, get 'em tomorrow, Felix.

[SCM33]

Part of me wants the Sox to suck this year to get rid of fans who have no f***ing clue

 

This actually has already begun happening.The angry volatile group is the group I remember at the park growing up.

[SoxSport]

Yeah, they did Tito a big favor for letting him walk. But let's not forget that he was the captain who let his ship sail away without him.

 

The one thing I miss about Tito is the way he handled the media. He gave them a lot of BS--the mushroom farm treatment. That takes talent.

[jung]

I was saying before he showed up that this was Tito's opportunity to thank the fans and for the fans to likewise thank Tito and for both to give the Red Sox organization the big middle finger.

 

Tito taking his Red Sox jersey off as he was leaving and tossing it into the crowd spoke volumes to how pissed off Tito is still.

[RedSoxRooter]

Great article here. The link is the biggest news to me.

 

NY Times - Discarded Manager Basks in Cheers at Fenway

 

After Friday’s bittersweet ceremony, Francona tossed his jersey to a kid in the crowd, discarding the keepsake, and didn’t stay for the game. He surely will hear a few “Come back, Tito” pleas from fans when he returns Sunday — his 53rd birthday — in his analyst’s role for ESPN. But don’t expect Francona’s full story until publication of the book he has agreed to do with Shaughnessy.