| Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 11:59  |
|
Saw some live coverage in the smally hours here of the Red Sox - TP Devil Rays match. I blame celtickev for this as I know he is a bit of Red Sox fan so I decided to find out for myself.
Well baseball is alive and kicking in Boston. Fenway Park was filled to the rafters and where treated to a good game. 8-6 Red Sox, squares it 1-1.
A few questions to those in the know.
Is Fenway Park one of the oldest stadiums? It looked very traditional.
What is the distance between bases? As the fielder seems to have an age to run the batter out.
I seen a banner on the stadium wall stating Red Sox World Series 1918. Surely this is not the last time the Red Sox have won this !
Moving on to the Texas Rangers - Oakland A's incident. One of the Rangers players threw a chair in to the crowd, hitting a woman, which ended up with the woman having her nose broken.
What's going to happen to the player in question? Lifetime ban?
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 13:59  |
|
Magpie,
Please allow me to try to address your questions. My three favorite baseball teams are the: Pittsburgh Pirates, the Atlanta Braves, and the Boston Red Sox. Each has a piece of my heart for different reasons.
However, I can look around my office and see a framed front page of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette from October 14, 1960, and an original water-color painting of Bill Mazeroski finishing his swing at 3:35 PM on October 13, 1960, as the Pirates beat the very hated New York Yankees.
I love most sports, but I formerly operated one of the largest baseball schools in the USA.
Is Fenway Park one of the oldest stadiums? It looked very traditional.
Fenway is one of the oldest, but is my favorite because of its Boston neighborhood, it's extreme intimacy, and the vibe Red Sox Fans and the neighborhood provide. I've been to many of America's newest parks, but San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore are the only parks that I walked away from feeling special. Fenway, and Chicago's Wrigley Field, are older parks in a league of their own. The neighborhood's around the park impact their appeal.
Fenway is special because of Red Sox fans, to-die-for Italian Sausage sandwichess, ans post-game pub experiences.
What is the distance between bases? As the fielder seems to have an age to run the batter out.
The distance is 90 feet.
I seen a banner on the stadium wall stating Red Sox World Series 1918. Surely this is not the last time the Red Sox have won this !
Surely, it is! The "curse of the Bambino" hangs over the Red Sox Nation. The "curse" and the llaments of long-suffering loyal Red Sox fans are the subject of another post. If you are interested in this sports lore, I'd love the opportunity to share with you.
Moving on to the Texas Rangers - Oakland A's incident. One of the Rangers players threw a chair in to the crowd, hitting a woman, which ended up with the woman having her nose broken.
What's going to happen to the player in question? Lifetime ban?
He'll face a suspension, but I doubt it will go beyond this season. The "lady" involved had hurled racial slurs and profanity at they player before he tossed a chair at her.
Baseball moguls and media scribes will condemn the player to no end, but this incident has been brewing. The fan-players love-hate relationship has lost a lot of its love in recent years.
Fans hate the high price of going to the games. Tickets cost $25-$50, parking $10-$20, and beers run $5-$8. Hot dogs are often $5, and almost always stale.
Players hate fans coming onto field and attacking them. They hate the "hate" for their wealth. And, they hate the constant media attention associated with their fame.
The lady is Dafodil's neighbor in the Bay Area. Maybe it's in the water, but she supposed hurled several profanity-laced adjectives at the players with her multiple racial slurs. He's young, Hispanic, and she probably touched a nerve. I don't agree with his action, but I don't buy her actions.
Let me know if the "Curse of the Bambino", and it historical impact on 20th Centruy American life in New England has interest.
Rebel
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 14:05 |
|
Just a few extra facts to toss in here:
Fenway is now the oldest park in baseball--not just one of them.
The distance between bases sometimes seem huge, sometimes seems not long enough! 90 feet has proven to be a great balance between offense and defense for over a hundred years.
I agree that the player who through the chair will probably not get a lifetime ban, but he has been arrested and charged with battery.
LTN
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 14:33 |
|
If a fan runs on to the pitch at one of our football matches and attacks a player he will get a lifetime ban. I was just wondering if that would be the case the other way around.
The 'curse of the bambino' - 86 years and still running, must have some depth to it. Go on then tell us all about it Rebel and does everybody believe in it!
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 15:00 |
|
the Legend of the Curse
In 1918 the Red Sox won their 5th World Series, the most by any club at that time. One of the stars of the Boston championship franchise was a young pitcher by the name of George Herman Ruth, aka The Babe or The Bambino.
In 1920, however, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee needed money to finance his girlfriend's play, so he sold Babe Ruth's contract to Colonel Jacob Ruppert's New York Yankees for $100,000 (plus a loan collateralized by Fenway Park).
Since then, the Yankees, who had never won a World Championship before acquiring Ruth, have gone on to win 26, and are arguably one of the greatest success stories in the history of sport.
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox have appeared in only four World Series since 1918, losing each one in game seven. Many consider Boston's performance after the departure of Babe Ruth to be attributable to "The Curse of the Bambino."
the Evidence of the Curse
Over the years, the Red Sox have compiled one of the most infamous stories of defeat, near miss, and utter collapse that the world of sports has ever known.
the meaning of "1918,"
The ubiquitous appearance on the Bambino's Curse website of "1918," refers to the last year the Red Sox won the World Series. The comma is symbolic of the fact that at the time of selling Babe Ruth in 1920 the Red Sox were the premier team in baseball, and everyone expected they'd win the next World Series quite soon. The comma is in expectation of completing the listing of the championship years: 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, . . .
Well, we've been waiting for the next one for 83 years now.
The comma following the 1918 date continues to symbolize every Red Sox fan's ongoing belief that a World Series Championship will happen "next year."
An unfortunate yet familiar phrase among Red Sox fans is "wait 'til next year."
I just copied this from a web site to save my typing LOL
This year could be our year thou they are playing well at the minute even after swapping Nomar Garciaparra (One of the best shortstops in the game)
If the Redsox dont win it this year im going to wait till 2017 before i say the immortal lines
"Next year will be our year" LOL
One thing i will add thou and ive had this conversation on a few baseball web sites in the past.
The yankees have won 26 world series championships and their fans claim they are sports most successfull team.
firstly it cant be called the world series if only north American teams play in it and so its a national championship really. well Glasgow Rangers have won their league 50 times so the Yankees are nowhere close. Glasgow Celtic have won the league 39 times so that puts the Yankees even further behind.
ok i know im biased but when i put this info on Yankees.com forums they got really annoyed and very upset.
It made me a hero on the redsox forums thou LOL
it does seem strange that i am a redsox fan and yet the original name for the Yankees was The Highlanders.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 16:55 |
|
Well Reb if we can just make these guys Steelers fans they'll be real men!! LOL
AJ
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 17:07 |
|
ajbounaserra
Dont you think the redsox are far more interesting LOL
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 17:17 |
|
If I ever go to Boston, I'll make sure of going to a Red Sox game. $25 for a game that lasts 3 hours or so isn't too bad if you consider the prices we get charged for a Premiership match that lasts 90 minutes (95 at Manchester United if they are not winning)! 
I like the look of Fenway Park, you can see the history oozing out of the place and there must have been some great nights over the years.
Looks like the Yankees will win the division with the Red Sox settling for a wild card.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 16 September 2004 17:20 |
|
Magpie wait till the Yankees and the Redsox play each other this weekend. The Redsox have given them a few hammerings this year already so fingers crossed.
I think the Redsox appeal to us becasue they are like our footie teams (Newcastle and East Fife)
They used to be good but they will win absolutly nowt in the near future LOL
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Fri, 17 September 2004 00:59 |
|
Magpie,
A friend operates a local soccer club. Manchester United is coming to my Atlanta suburban community in 2005. I suspect they will either play some sort of exhibition with another power from Europe, or conduct a clinic for coaches and players.
I'll speak with my friend and update you.
Celtic Kev,
I was impressed with your recap of the Curse. As much as the Red Sox are worshiped in Boston and New England, they their impact is only on the fragile psyches of New Englanders.
The Steelers fans have been noted and saluted in American patriotic recordings by country-music icons, and Steelers fans really believe they make a difference in the outcome of a contest's score.
The Steelers original owner, (now deceased) Art Rooney, was a true "Burgher". He lived in the same home for more than 50 years -- and didn't move when the neighborhood went dangerously bad. He walked the streets and smoked his stogies -- and walked to the stadium to his office until very near his death. He was loved more than any of the Burgh's 3 Andy's. (Carnegie, Mellon, Worhol)
Steelers fans love their tough-guy image, only approached in American sports by their respected (except for when they play) cousins up the Turnpike in Cleveland.
In 1973, Sports Illustrated sent a writer to Pittsburgh to follow the team. The writer ended up writing a book mostly about Steelers fans, their incredible toughness and craziness. Allow me to illustrate their craziness with an antedote.
The Steelers and Oakland Raiders are hated rivals. The hate has always been real. It carried into the courts during the 1970's.
I worked in sales for a large American icon company that's name was also a verb. Its sales force wore dark suits, white shirts, and flirted with secretaries and admins as discussed in pop culture.
We were supposed pretty boys. Our annual kickoff meeting was the last Saturday morning each December. At the meeting, bossed passed out prior year attaboys for the year ending the day before and announced the next year's comp plan. After the meeting, management hosted lunch and an open bar for the 50-60 sales folks in the Burgh.
In 1976, this meeting was held at Pittsburgh's Greentree Marriott Hotel. The Oakland Raiders were in town for the AFC championship game with the Steelers the next day. After their walk through at 3 Rivers Stadium, several Raiders players ventured into the lounge.
One large Raiders player nick named "Mars" (Otis Sistrunk) by Monday Night Football's Don Merideth, attempted to take over a section of tables in use by our group. He identified himself, and claimed squatters rights.
After saying, "Yea though I walk through the shadow of death, I fear no evil cause I'm the baddest Mother F ----- in the valley. "
One of my associates, a former linebacker at Penn State University walked up and said, "You don't know what ye say, cause this is my valley. I'm the baddest Mother F----- here, and you need to leave." He punched the big shaved-headed Raider and a fight ensued.
When the police arrived at the Marriott, two Raiders players were removed to the hospital. Otis missed the game the next day. The Raiders won and went on to win the Super Bowl.
No Xerox salesmen missed work on Monday, although I had a mouse under my eye from taking a punch from one of my own guys that missed his target. The numbers were certainly in our favor.
The point I make is that Steelers' fans do not back up -- even when common sense tells them to leave harm's way. They are known as the fiercest and most loyal sports fans in the USA. The Steelers coach has taken on the personality of the community, and passes it on to his players. Go to the Steelers web site and read about Bill Cowher.
Pittsburgh represents less than one half of one percent of US citizens, but 30 percent of the NFL's coaches are Burghers.
The Steelers are the only team in the NFL without cheerleaders. No need to sell sex in Pittsburgh, because all Steelers fans want is violence against opponents.
In Atlanta, there are fourteen "official" Steelers bars where transplanted Burghers gather on Sundays and dress in black and gold, and bring their "Terrible Towels", the symbol of spirit made famous 30-soome years ago by their sole cheerleader, Myron Cope. The last two times the Steelers played in Atlanta, more Steelers fans were in attendance than Atlanta fans.
Cope is a dimulative little ethnic broadcaster beloved in the Burgh.
The difference in Steelers fans and Red Sox fans is Sox fans whine and wait til next year. Steelers fans demand toughness from their team, and do their best to intimidate opponents with all they can bring.
Rebel
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Sat, 18 September 2004 11:45 |
|
The Redsox beat the Yankees in the first game last night. I imagine the Redsox will win the series 2-1 .
The yankees lead is now only 2 1/2 games. Recently they were 10 games ahead and cruising.
The worrying thing is playing Baltimore straight after the Yankees as the Redsox do badly against them usually.
Still it looks like both the Yankees and the Redsox will qualify so it just might be Bostons year after all.....#
.........if not there is always next year LOL
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Sat, 18 September 2004 12:47 |
|
|
I would get rid of that comma celtickev. I think that is more of a curse than the Babe Ruth story !
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Sun, 19 September 2004 01:23 |
|
well this red sox fan disappeared for the bottom of the first inning when A-Rod was at the plate.
what happens?
5 runs to those damn yankees.
never mind. Pedro is up tomorrow.
Ryder cup and NYY/Boston at the same time. Toooooooo much sport
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Sun, 19 September 2004 16:22 |
|
Talking about jinxes celtickev. Southampton 1 - 2 Newcastle today. 
Our first league win in Southampton since February 1972. Over 32 years. Now if we can end our other jinx - that one without a domestic trophy in 50 years we'll all be !!!
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Sun, 19 September 2004 17:09 |
|
50 years. Thats longer than East Fife without a major trophy.
how do you think Souness will do there ?
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Sun, 19 September 2004 17:44 |
|
I've got no idea.
To be honest it doesn't matter who is the manager. The objective is the same for all of them at Newcastle.
All the managers from Keegan onwards (1991) have been well backed financially from the board. Money that they were given to help bring in some decent players in the hope of winning trophies.
All have failed so far, so Souness can't do any worse.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Tue, 21 September 2004 09:54 |
|
C'mon celtickev you are conspicuous by your absence. 11-1 to the Yankees the other night.
What's that all about?!!
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Tue, 21 September 2004 10:21 |
|
Magpie,
Shish! The Curse is lurking, but they meet in Bean town this weekend for another series. The games between now and Friday are big, too!
Rebel
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Tue, 21 September 2004 14:40 |
|
Looks like boston will have to settle for a wild card palce. On ething in their favour is that Ramirez and Ortiz only need a couple of more runs to be the most successfull duo in Redsox history. Thats good news for the playoffs. Boston have been on fire recently so i hope thye can hold out and not slip.
That dam curse LOL
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Tue, 21 September 2004 14:50 |
|
A few years ago Birmingham City believed they had a curse at their St Andrews ground. They got one of these spiritual people in and he suggested that the only way to get rid of the curse was for them to urinate in all four corners of the ground.
They did and they got promoted to the top division soon after !
Maybe Fenway Park needs a little extra watering !
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 22 September 2004 19:15 |
|
Rebel
Just watched a film about Babe Ruth.
In his last match (Boston Braves) at Pittsburgh Pirates he became the first player to hit the ball out of Forbes Fields. 3 times !
That must have been hard to take for the home fans even though he doffed his cap to them.
Is it safe to say his off field antics cost him a chance at manager in the Major League?
|
|
|
| |
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Tue, 28 September 2004 13:10 |
|
Magpie,
The Braves were anchored in Boston when the Babe called his shot at Forbes Field.
Ruth didn't love the game as much as he loved showing off. His entertainment value was as a player. Other players never took him seriously, although they were in awe of his ability.
Many times I sat under the roof in the right field stands at Forbes Field where Ruth launched the famous home run.(the seats were just $1.50 when the Pirates played their last game there in July of 1970. Hot dogs were a buck, but Pennsylvania blue laws prevented the sale of beer at Forbes Field.)
One of the Pirates all-time greats, Willie Stargell, cleared that roof with a home run shot. The player often credited with being the greatest of all time in Pittsburgh, Roberto Clemente, patrolled the shadows of that same roof.
Forbes Field sat in one of the best places ever for a baseball field.
On one side was Pittsburgh's Schenley Park, replenished with treed meadows and spectacular museums. On another side sat the University of Pittsburgh, with its majestic Cathedral of Learning and renown research hospitals. A third side hosted a commercial area with pubs, restaurants, books stores, and theaters.
An ethnic neighborhood full of Italians occupied the fourth side. The classic smells of red sauce and Romano cheese leaked into the streets where my father used to park. I loved those smells.
Rebel
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Mon, 04 October 2004 03:46 |
|
As a Puerto Rican girl from New York or as I pronounce it Noo Yawk I have only one thing to add to this Boston Red Sox thread and everyone out there can feel free to sing along with me:
Let’s go Yankees, let’s go!!!
Let’s go Yankees, let’s go!!!
Let’s go Yankees, let’s go!!!
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Mon, 04 October 2004 07:29 |
|
You sound like a glory hunter Marci !
What's wrong with the Noo Yawk Mets ?!
Boston or Boaston Red Sox for the World Series ending 86 years of hurt !
By the way the Philadelphia Eagles are looking good for Superbowl XXXVIIII this January in Jacksonville.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Mon, 04 October 2004 16:30 |
|
|
Did you say METS??? Are you kidding me??? No self respecting Noo Yawka would ever root for the METS!!! Anyone ever tell you what METS really stands for??? Nope it’s not short for Metropolitans, nah it really stand for My Entire Team Sucks.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Mon, 04 October 2004 17:45 |
|
|
But the Mets do have a nice song about the yankees called Yankees suck
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Mon, 04 October 2004 22:16 |
|
Marci,
Shame on you! You are nothing but a "bandwagon fontrunner". Puerto Rico got a shot at having a major league team after producing so many great players through the years (including my all time favorite, Roberto Clemente) and you jump on the frontrunner band wagon for the Yankees.
Why did you put your energies behind the Expose. MLB all but handed them to San Juan, but not enough fans showed up to prove MLB's hope correct. (Puerto Rican owners were lined up if fans wanted a team)
As well, you should be ashamed. Even the lowly Cubs got more fans to their old stadium in 2004 than Yankee fans attending their games at the hallowed Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees are the likely favorites to win it all. Jeter, A Rod, and Sheff are a class act. Joe Torree is too, But, I'm rooting for the Red Sox, Twins, Angels, Braves, Astros, and Cards. Any team but the Damned Yankees and @#*@#**#@* Dodgers.
Rebel
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Mon, 04 October 2004 22:53 |
|
|
im rooting for the Redsox then anyone else bar the Yankees
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Tue, 05 October 2004 18:08 |
|
An amazing site this really.
How on earth could you get a shared interest in the Red Sox and stockings by such varied folk?
Wonderful!
Curt to start the series off with a win 
aahjay
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 01:19 |
|
My dearest disillusioned Rebel,
Were it not that I’m so ill I’d hunt you down and punch you in the head for having these thoughts then I’d feel the need to slam you hands in a door repeatedly for actually having the audacity to type this message, then I’d probably choke you to death with one of my stockings!!! 
Now that I’m done with my hollow threats, let me address your insane post. I AM NOT A “BANDWAGON FONTRUNNER”, I have been a Yankee fan for all of my life, I will continue to be a Yankee fann for the remainder of what little life I have left, don’t ever think that my loyalties will ever waver, whether the Yankees are in first place or in last licking their wounds from a sound thrashing.
As for the homegrown Puerto Ricans, I can’t be held responsible for their lack of motivation, I’m Puerto Rican but I was raised in my beloved Noo Yawk and have no idea what the hell was going on in the minds of all of my brothers and sisters in the motherland. However just to let you know I would have embraced the Expos and rooted them on but they would in no way, shape or form have ever replaced the Yankees in my heart and soul.
As for attendance, again I can’t be held responsible for all the others in my beloved Noo Yawk, if they can’t come out and support our local hometown Bronx Bombers, what can I do??? Just know that my husband, my baby girl and I were at as many games as we could squeeze in, and every time that the national anthem finished and they released the eagle I got caught up in the moment and felt all choked up and had to fight back the tears, because you can accuse me of is being a patriotic American, but never of jumping on the Yankee bandwagon.
As far as I’m concerned I will forgive you this one lapse in judgment, but do us both a favor and don’t ever let it happen again. And I agree on the Dodgers, can’t stand them ever since they left Brooklyn, then again I wasn’t even born when they played in Ebbett’s field, but I can still be angry at them denying me the pleasures of having a team in my home borough.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 08:26 |
|
Marci,
I stand corrected!
Your passion for the Damn Yankees is impressive. I salute you, your husband, and your daughter for wearing pinstripes with pride.
As a very little boy, the Dodgers were my favorite team. The local radio station in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania carried Dodgers' games. Roy Campanella was my favorite player. Years after his accident, I wore his uniform number - 6 - and adopted his position.
Ten years ago I built an 18,000 square foot building for my sports training business. The building's facade was an exact 1/3 scale replica of Ebbets Field.
I traveled to the corner of Bedford and Flatbush to study the neighborhood. The bricks in our building were made of cement (instead of clay) so we could copy the color of Ebbets Field exactly. The brickwork patterns were exact scale replica's to Ebbets, as were all details. Even window grids and awning were to scale.
Ebbets Field was a Victorian adaptation of the old Roman Coliseum.
All I can say is that your husband is a very lucky man. Any man that marries a lady passionate about stockings and baseball, and displays the very important value of loyalty like you have, has been truly blessed by God!
Rebel
Oh yeah, Twinkies 2, Yanks 0!
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 09:13 |
|
|
What happened with the Brooklyn Dodgers?
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 09:49 |
|
Magpie,
Dodgers fans were among the most loyal in American sports. The Ebbets experience exceeded the Fenway and Wrigley experience according to those I talked with that experienced all three.
Air travel opened the door to the wealth of California where no MLB teams competed for attention. The Dodgers moved suddendly, and baseball left the comfty confines of an ethnic neighborhood that embraced it with such passion.
The Dodgers last season in Brooklyn was 1956. Ebbets Field was destroyed to make room for cookie-cutter apartments. Today, a minor league team plays down the street near Coney Island.
Since the stadium opened in Brooklyn, no seat has gone unsold for minor league baseball in a city where the Yankees can't sell out. That goes to show that the Dodger brain trust may be an oxymoron.
Rebel
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 10:10 |
|
|
It makes you wonder why the Yankees didn't move instead.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 13:09 |
|
Magpie,
The answer to your question treads on hallowed ground and edges over the curse.
Many in New York City consider it the center of the universe. After Ruth went to the Yankees, they suddenly grew into the most storied sports franchise in America.
In essence, the Yankees were the center of USA professional sports in the 50's when the Dodgers left the Big Apple for the "left" coast. Part of the moves were about money, but part were about fatigue of being the number two team behind the Yankees.
To this day, the Yankees are the valuable sports franchise in terms of dollars in the USA. Despite calling the largest city in the USA home, and in spite of public transportation right to their gates, the Yankees rarely rank among the top five teams in attendance.
At the "center of the universe" they tell us it's all because they are too distracted by all the great entertainment options and world class restaurants to pay money to see the Yankees.
The truth is that New York City is not a good baseball town. Unlike Marci, many Yankee fans are front runners. New York produces few pro baseball players, especially when you compare in to the number of pro basketball players it generates. With all of its entertainment options, New York does not love the Yankees like Boston loves it Red Sox, or Chicago loves its Cubs.
If Steinbrenner cut his payroll to what other teams pay out, the Yankees would be forced to leave the Bronx. The Dodgers found more love in LA than the Yankees get in NYC. And, LA's distractions include miles and miles of beautiful beaches.
It's one of those American things.
Rebel
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 17:26 |
|
Just to throw in a couple of other facts:
The NY Giants went to San Francisco when the Dodgers went to LA (and broke my father's heart). Even with air travel, the Dodgers needed to have another team out there with them.
George "The Boss" Steinbrenner would move the Yankees to Manhatten in a, well, New York minute if he could get the city and state to build him a new ball park. He keeps threatening, but so far no one has offered to bankroll it for him, so the Yankees stay in the Bronx for now. Presumably, they would sell out in Manhatten. Although they don't regularly sell out, you have to remember that Yankee Stadium is enormous and holds upwards of 55,000 people. The Bombers attendance figures may not be tops, but they are pretty good.
LTN
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 18:35 |
|
Reb!!! I am totally impressed with your baseball knowledge!!! You get the gold star for the day. And you are right on point with the fact that us Noo Yawkas think that our city is indeed the center of the universe, are you here trying to tell me that it’s not??? Next thing you’ll be telling me that thee world isn’t flat that it’s actually round and that there are things called pantyhose and that all of the women on our flat earth have taken to wearing them and that I’m in the minority because I still wear proper stockings. Now that I think about it, I take it all back Rebel, I’m not so sure that you ‘re so knowledgeable after all, I’m convinced that someone was whispering into your ear as you typed that message, because someone that knows so much about baseball should know that the universe revolves around Noo Yawk. Now before you go on and break my poor little fragile heart sit back take a deep breath and think long and hard on trying to prove me wrong that Noo Yawk isn’t the center of the universe, I am after all in failing health and I’m not sure that my fragile body can take the shock what you might say, be nice to me, lol.
Ok now that I’m done with my ranting we might not have the best hometown crowd, we may not sell out most of our regular season games, and I give it to you that we just might have the most expensive team in terms of payroll, but we do have the winningest team in sports history. But sadly you are right about the fact that Noo Yawkas have their heads up their bums when it comes to supporting the Yankees for the long haul, it is true that we probably are the largest city in America, and that yes the gates of the public transportation system lead right into Yankee stadium. They should all be publicly flogged.
As far as Ebbett’s field, let’s have a moment of silence for our dearly departed Ebbett’s field . . . . . . . . . . . ok now that that’s over we may continue. I think that in some way you may be right, there are way too many things to do in Noo Yawk, add to that that there really isn’t much space here to play baseball and you have the root of the problem. It is much easier to stick a basketball court on a street, or just hang a hoop on a lamp post. Baseball fields are pretty big and we just don’t have the room for many baseball fields, blame it on poor urban planning I guess. I remember growing up as a little girl and the boys were always playing basketball because the nearest place that could afford them the room to actually play baseball was too far to get to. So yes we are more loyal to the Knicks (for the record I HATE the Knicks with a passion) than we are our beloved Yankees, but please don’t hold it against me that the rest of the losers in this town don’t support the bestest team in baseball history.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 19:47 |
|
Well here in the U.K we'll have a chance tonight to see how good the Noo Yawk Yankees are as their match with the Twinkies is being shown live on Channel 5 at half past midnight. I'll probably watch the first couple of hours before the old z's fire up.
Lester - Is there much space in Manhatten to build a new stadium? I'm unaware of how big it is as you only see down town Manhatten on the t.v and it seems to be a bit gridlocked.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 20:27 |
|
I hear the Expos are moving to Washington - Is that right.
Over here in Scotland a lot of people wear NY baseball caps. Anyone i have spoken too knows very little about baseball at all. Its a fashion thing to them. Im sure the Yankees make an absolute fortune from worldwide sales. Over the last few years i have met quite a few baseball fans. Guys i have met through work have worn various baseball caps or shirts.
Ive met a few fans wearing St Louis, Redsox, Whitesox or bluejays caps and they usually know a bit about the game but NY merchandise is much more popular. The NY emblem is known more as a fashion accessory than a baseball team. The Yankees wont be complaining thou as it will bring in revenue.
I read sometime ago that when Babe Ruth played for Boston he had a house in the country and whne he let to go to New York he threw a piano in the local lake. Is this true or just a rumour. If its true why?
I also read last year in the papers that Ted Williams body has been frozen by his relatives and they hope to sell the DNA if bodies are ever cloned ?
Anyway 9-3 to the Redsox last night - They are smoking just now.
Go Sox Go
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 20:33 |
|
Rebel, Rebel, Rebel,
You lost me on this one my friend. New York City not a good baseball town????? Where did you come up with that? Try calling into NY talk radio and ask any of the hosts whether they agree with that. They get baseball calls 365 days a year. Doesn't matter what the season. Just check any of the NY area newspapers and see how much ink is devoted to baseball over the course of the entire year. With all due respect, NY is indeed a great baseball town.
And check you facts on attendance figures. The Yankees drew 3,775,292 fans in 79 gates (47,788 Avg.) - #1 in all of Major League Baseball in 2004. They have not won a World Series in 3 years and yet set a NYY attendance record this year. They never drew close to this many fans in the Ruth/Gehrig years or the Dimaggio/Mantle years. (By the way, the Yankees also ranked #1 in attendance in 2003, #2 in 2002 and #3 in 2001. ESPN.com only went back to 2001.) The Cubs drew 3,170,184 fans in 81 gates (39,138 avg). As for NYC being a "bad" baseball town - my lowly 71-91 Mets drew 2,318,321 fans in 80 gates (28,979 avg.) Your home town 96-66 Division Champion Braves only drew 2,322,565 fans in 79 gates (29,399 avg) and will not sell out their play-off games. Talk about "bad" baseball towns. By my math, 6,093,613 fans attended Major League Baseball games in New York and that does not count the many fans who went to see the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Staten Island Yankees or the Long Island Ducks - all of whom sold out most of their games. By comparison, 5,100,721 attended games in Chicago; 6,863,960 attended games in LA/Ana - both division winners; and, 5,460,380 in SF/Oak.
Again, where do you get New York not being a good baseball town???????? Boston and Chicago may be better - but that may have more to do with their many, many years of heartbreak - I don't think either Cubs fans or Red Sox fans will know what to do with themselves if either team ever wins the Championship - but NY is most definitely a big baseball town!!
Go Twins!!!!!
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Wed, 06 October 2004 22:31 |
|
Ryan,
Well, I must eat crow. This is reallly embarrassing. I was way too arrogant about my knowledge of baseball, obvious lack of in relative to attendance figures) the one subject htat I consider myself somewhat expert. On other things I check facts, and the facts show I should have in this case.
Don't compare Atlanta because it is a transient city where fewer Southerners live than folks from north of the Mason-Dixon. Baseball fans usually align their loyalties before they finish their education. Chicago transplants go to games when the Cubs come to town, Philidelphia fans occupy seats when the Phillies are here, and so on.
Last week I attended a weekly ritual for Pittsburgh transplants when I was among 300+ Steelers fans jammed into a sports bar to watch the Steelers - Bengals game. The owner expects 500 burghers this week when they play the Browns in the first game of the Turnpike Series.
Egg is dripping down my face -- deservedly so! I equated baseball attendance to watching Mets-Braves games.
Rebel
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 07 October 2004 12:49 |
|
Well the Yankees sneaked a 12th inning win to tie the series at 1-1 in front of 56,354 fans. It's quite a strange shaped stadium, bit tight down the sides.
However the Red Sox go from strength to strength.
Cardinals look the best bet for the National.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 07 October 2004 14:38 |
|
First, if you haven't been to Manhatten, it's a pretty big island. NYC is enormous.
Second, although there isn't a lot of open space on the island (except Central Park, but that's not available!), there's so much old construction that buildings are routinely pulled down to make way for new, bigger, better buildings.
Steinbrenner has his eyes on the old rail yards on the west side of the island, about half way up (Manhatten is long and narrow).
It's hard for anyone who has seen Manhatten to conceive of, but as recently as the early 1900's, much of the northern part of the island was rural--it even had dairy farms.
LTN
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 07 October 2004 14:50 |
|
I think it will take a very good team on top of there form to beat the Redsox.
Manny, Varitek, Ortiz, Damon (brother of Matt Damon i just found out.
Pedro (hopefully back on form), Lowe, Arroyo, Schiling, Wakefield.
To name but a few.
ok Pedro isnt having his best season but never write him off. i get the feeling his arm still isnt 100% but he is doing the biz.
If these guys keep up the way they have been playing this year i dont think anyone will touch them.
Manny / Ortiz - the most successfull duo at bats ever for the Redsox -
Nuff said
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 07 October 2004 15:26 |
|
Lester I've been to Manhattan a few years back, but only for the day as I was in Philapdelphia at the time, so done a bit of sightseeing. Got the ferry across to the Statue of Liberty that kind of thing. Apart from Central Park all I saw was a concrete jungle.
If the Yankees keep selling out like they did last night then that might not do this Steinbrenner fella's cause much help to relocate.
celitckev - What we saying - A Red Sox, Cardinals WS?
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 07 October 2004 16:26 |
|
I have been in the same spot with lots of egg on my face lots of times before Rebel. I had to call you on it though cause while there are lots of bad things you can say about New York, but no one has ever suggested that it was not a good baseball town before.
For years Steinbrenner did nothing but badmouth the Bronx. He basically told his customers not to come to Yankee Stadium because it was not safe. Of course, on game nights, even back then, with the huge NYPD presence it was probably the safest place to be in NYC. During this last run, he has stopped badmouthing his building. He is no longer threatening to go to Jersey and moving to Manhattan has even been abandoned. They have announced plans to build a new stadium right next door to the old one in the Bronx. Now it is the Jets and the NYC Olympic Organizing Movement who are trying to build a stadium on the westside of Manhattan. As a Jet fan, I hope it never happens. Tailgating is such a huge part of going to NFL games and that would be impossible to do on the westside - to say nothing of the nightmare having the summer olympics here would be!
Having said all that, Gardenhire blew the series last night for the Twins by hanging Nathan out to dry. It will be deja vu (Red Sox v. Yanks) all over again. Could this finally be the Sox year?? Nahhhhhh!
[Updated on: Thu, 07 October 2004 17:15]
|
|
|
|
| Re: Boston Red Sox |
Thu, 07 October 2004 19:39 | |
|
