I realize that there are much more important things to be talking about these days. We are on the verge of a economic depression that cannot be cured with pharmaceuticals. The US election in two weeks is one of the hardest fought in our nation’s history. Art is taking a beating and true artists are being shadowed by too much muck and lowest common denominator. I have to use the spellcheck more now, as opposed to remembering how to spell denominator.
Sports, though feeds into the national psyche. We use sports as a way to escape, for a few hours, the pain we may be feeling in life. Sports can be recession proof, to a point. I believe that God intended sports not only as something for us to do to keep active, but to keep our minds active in watching sporting events.
Some cities have teams that teach us lessons. I believe Boston, always a second home to me, to be such a place. For 86 years, the Boston Red Sox never won the World Series. They would fall like a house of cards, without fail. Yet, the Boston fan had faith. Opening Day was a mix of the excitement of opening a new wrapped gift on Christmas morn, and the rebirth and hope of Easter, all rolled into one.
For Football fans, you had the bone chilling stadium(s) in Foxboro, to see the Patriots. A team that also had it’s shares of ups and downs. The Celtics and even the Bruins all had glorious wins and crushing defeats. Well, for most of Boston sports history, crushing defeats. Yet through it all, there was faith that the team would do better next year.
The Boston sports fan was humble, knew the value of hard work and was not as pompous as a Yankees fan. They are not as hardscrabble as a Mets fan… Mets fans are a breed onto their own. A true Mets fan has an appreciation for the Red Sox, since they have both played second fiddle to the Yankees and all their synthetic glory. However, for a Boston fan, we will never forget 1986. (On a side note, I truly believe that the Mets would play better if they came to Jersey and changed their name).
Something started happening in New England, during these last eight years. Boston teams started winning… championships. The Red Sox have won the World Series twice. The Patriots have won three times. The Celtics once, and the Bruins… well there is always this year.
It dawned on me last winter, when the Patriots lost their fifth appearance at a Superbowl (to the stupid Giants, none the less. If the Giants admitted they were a Jersey team, I might have felt a bit better), that we need to have balance.
Boston, I believe is a city that keeps America in check, humble and on target. Much like New Jersey, but I digress. Boston’s sports teams’ purpose is to entertain and enlighten. They are true art. To have a balance, I believe that the Sox and the Pats cannot win Championships in the same season. Sox/Celts – sure. Pats/Bruins… that would be nice. But Sox/Pats… that could send the earth off it’s axis, McCain would be elected and we’d be at war with Mexico and Canada by next Sadie Hawkins Day.
Now, this is a working theory. The Sox won last year, and this year it’s the Pats turn. I believe a Pats Superbowl win would help keep the balance. The Sox’s loss helps Boston remain humble and full of hope.
I heard it once said that you should root for the team that beat your team, so your team’s loss would not be in vain. Screw that… I really want to see the Phillies sweep Tampa!
Episode notes on RFJ #6: “Clouds In My Coffee”