Unbelievable.
Just finished watching the Boston Red Sox complete their historical come-back from a 0-3 deficit to a 4-3 defeat of the Yankees.
I was there in front of the television when Pete Rose hit that double that beat the Red Sox in Game Seven of the 1975 World Series (though I was really too young to appreciate it).
I was there in front of the television in 1978 when little Bucky Dent of the Yankees hit that three-run homer into the net on top of the Green Monster in Fenway, defeating the Red Sox in a one-game play-off, to win the division (after the Red Sox blew a 14-game mid-summer lead on the Yankees). I spent the whole summer doing a spiritual exercise: praying every day that the Red Sox would win the pennant. I remember after that game having a spiritual crisis, weeping in the bathroom. "God how could do this to me?" My first effort at theodicy, which is a key part of the spiritual life of the Red Sox fan...
I was there in front of the television in 1986 when that ball went under Bill Buckner's legs in Game Six of the World Series against that other New York team, capping a three-run rally for the Mets after the Red Sox had taken a two-run lead in the top of the 10th. (But I've always blamed Bob Stanley for that loss. He was the one who blew the Red Sox lead. It should never have come to the point where a gimpy first baseman had to preserve the Red Sox lead. After that loss, it was a fore-gone conclusion that they would lose Game 7. And they did.
I was there in front of the television when Bret Boone of the Yankees hit a walk-off homerun off Tim Wakefield in the seventh game of last year's (2003) American League Championship, after Pedro Martinez was left in one too many innings and gave away the Red Sox lead in the 8th inning. I had spent most of that game walking around Dupont Circle (hanging out in used-book stores) to avoid watching the Red Sox blow it again. When I thought it was safe--around 11:30pm--I went home to find the game in extra innings. It was the will of the universe that the Red Sox break my heart one more time.
And now, tonight. The Red Sox turning the Yankees into the seeming-cursed team. It almost makes up for all those other heart-breaks. Or is it--Red Sox fan speaking here--just the set-up to the greatest heart-break of all?
Posted by jeb at October 21, 2004 12:57 AM | TrackBack