As a proud Liverpool supporter, I am proud to be associated with the Boston Red Sox.
However I do have to confess to being a Cleveland Guardians fan; this due mainly to the fact that I was a regular at 'The Jake' during my three year stay in Ohio. Suffice to say, I was 'gutted' when Manny Ramirez left Cleveland for the Red Sox in 2000.
I spent several years in the USA, both in Ohio and Tulsa, Oklahoma where I studied. I have been fortunate enough to have travelled extensively around the country, and one thing that is consistent wherever you go in the country is that everyone is generous to a fault, extremely accommodating, and generally quite friendly toward the Brits. And interestingly enough, each state is unique in its own way. In my opinion the USA is still the finest in the world and I do still have friends there who I regard as being family.
Which is why I was outraged at the (isolated) flag burning episode. I remember the Liverpool forums being full of people absolutely mad and bewildered at what they had seen. There was a hell of a lot of anger directed towards the idiots that did it and it was only right that they got arrested. I really hope that one or two idiots do not tarnish what is a great relationship between two countries.
But please don't be fooled into believing that this has only happened in Liverpool. It also happened in Manchester last year when Manchester United supporters were protesting against the glazer's ownership of their club. Here, riot trained police officers had to stop angry supporters from getting to one of the sons of the Glazer family and so it would be unwise for fans of that club to comment in the way that they are. As the old saying goes, 'People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones'. But again this was an isolated incident committed by a couple of Manchester United's idiots, and I am sure that it was met with equal revulsion by their supporters.
The Boston Red Sox not only has a very proud tradition, it is also arguably the best baseball team in the USA today. As a supported of Liverpool Football club I am extremely proud to be affiliated with such a great sporting institution. Boston is also the home of my favourite beer.....Sam Adams!
The Red Sox fans can feel proud to have been affiliated with Liverpool Football Club also. Although recent times have been tough, we are still the most decorated club in Great Britain and our fans are renowned for our great anthems and sporting fans. We have a huge fanbase the world over, and our own website has more daily hits on the internet than any other football (sorry, soccer) club in the world. This has inevitably attracted some petulance from supporters of other clubs down the years, as some of the posts in this thread would suggest.
I hope that this day treats you all well in The Bay State and I'm looking forward to our close future relationship.
