 "Photo: Courtesy Photo")
Sunday night as I watched Jonathan Papelbon overpower hitters with his 96 mph fastball and marveled at David Ortiz's two towering homers over the right field wall, I couldn't help but be reminded of the on-going trend that has become Red Sox baseball.
Throughout ESPN's Sunday broadcast they would often show countless fans dressed up in Red Sox gear (mind you this is in Arlington, T.X.), wearing stupid bunny ear head pieces. The first thought that popped in my head was how ridiculous these people looked. However, as the game wore on the telecast continued to display these individuals sporadically until the point where I felt I was being mocked.
Soon, I became slightly irritated and was painfully reminded of the reality that my beloved Red Sox have been reduced to a mere circus act.
But should I be surprised? I mean this is nothing new for the Red Sox. They've had this nation wide fan base ever since it became cool to be a Sox fan back 2004 when they won the World Series.
The funny thing is these band wagon fans still haven't gone away. They seem content not only ruining the entertainment of watching a game but taking away seats from people who actually care about baseball and don't view it exclusively as a social event.
I'm sure you've noticed these people. If you haven't just head down to Fenway Park on Wednesday they'll all be there. They are the fans that constantly get up after every inning and scream obnoxiously after every hit the Red Sox get. They are ones that parade the stands wearing pink Red Sox hats and $100 Coco Crisp jerseys.
The ones that have no accurate knowledge of what they're talking about but act like they're experts. However, if you ask them who Grady Sizemore is they'd probably look at you funny.
They're the fans who go to games and equip themselves with a beer in one hand and a cell phone in the other and who will not shut up the entire time.
My message to them: go home.
Can I really be the only who's sick of this? I mean how could you not be? I pay enough money to get into the park; I expect a good time. Not to be pestered by some clown holding a cell phone behind me calling all his buddies to tell them he's at the game.
Now don't get me wrong-- I'm all for having a good time and cheering for the home team; that's all good and well. And hey, if you want to drink a beer or two during the ballgame, you're entitled. But when it comes to the point where I have to get up in the middle of innings and at the end of an inning for somebody's beer run, then I start to get a little peeved.
If you're going to do that then you might as well go stand with the countless others who hang out by the concession stands and drink the entire time, watching the game on the little TVs hanging from the ceiling.
Hello? You're at the game-- it's right outside.
I don't understand these people. They pay all this money to get into the park, and they never actually go and find their seats.
I guess I should be used to this by now. I mean it's been three years, you'd figure I'd be conditioned to deal with these people. But I'm not. Instead I'm saddened. I'm saddened that people have turned America's pastime into a joke. They sit in the stands and probably watch all of five minutes of the game.
But what I don't understand is why the Red Sox have become such a trend. Before that 2004 season you never saw this overflow of people who claim to be a member of Red Sox nation with their little cheesy cards. Instead of using your time to sign up for some stupid club that says you're a fan, turn on the game and watch it-- that makes you a fan.
So as much as I treasure that 2004 championship run, I can't help but be reminded what it has done to the culture of Red Sox baseball.
And as much as I love watching the Sox contend for a title year after year, sometimes I can't help but hope they fail.
Now I know that seems harsh, and don't get me wrong I am a huge fan, but at least it would separate these phonies from the real fans.
The exact opposite is happening with the Celtics. Twenty years ago you couldn't even get tickets to a home game at the Garden. Now the team couldn't even give seats away to fill the arena.
But the one good thing you know about going to a Celtics game is that those people care. They want their team to win and they have a passion for what is and always will be Celtics basketball.
Now maybe that will change if the Celtics eventually have some sort of success in the future. Sure you will still have your die hard fans but they will also be accompanied by the all too familiar band wagon fans. And they will all jump aboard for a title run like they've been fans forever.
And as I look forward to this baseball season, I can only imagine how commercial the Sox are becoming with the signing of Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Just look at the impact the Coco Crisp signing had on fans last year. In my experience going to games it was pretty hard to not spot a girl wearing a pink Red Sox t-shirt with the name "Coco" planted on the back.
Now maybe I'm just old fashioned and I like to enjoy the game of baseball for what it is. Or maybe this is growing trend that will never go away. I guess one can only hope.
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