music: Professor Longhair- Anthology d.2
It is widely believed among the baseball nation that when the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920, the Sox fell under a curse. Despite having some of the best teams in the game the Red Sox could not win a world series. Tonight, after 86 years, the curse was lifted. The Red Sox won game 4 of the World Series against the Cardinals and became world champions.
We were tuned in at Duncan and Amy’s house up in Arlington, but we still heard the roar. You could feel the entire metropolitan area of Boston rumble as the last out was made-a couple million fans screaming their heads off really does make things shake a little. Peet and I got on our bikes and shot down Mass Ave into Kenmore Square, Ground Zero for Red Sox celebrations. The only other thing I have seen like this celebration was New Year’s Eve 2000 at Big Cypress. There were fireworks. There were whistles and drums. There was lots and lots of horn honking. There were sirens, cops on bikes, cops in riot gear, choppers with huge spotlights. There were lots and lots of people. It’s now 2:00 AM. The city is still raging.
Three things struck me about this occasion. The first is that in the baseball world, this is truly historic. Never mind that the Sox staged one of the most impressive comebacks in sports history (winning the last four games against the Yankees after being down 3-0 and solidly sweeping the Cardinals), this victory goes much deeper than this single season. The Red Sox are the quintissential second best, and (until now) the most recognized underdogs in the game alongside the Chicago Cubs. That the Sox finally pulled out a World Series victory is a victory for the underdog. And don’t this city know it; the collection of fans here live and die by this baseball team, mostly die, and have suffered through four generations of disappointment. Although I grew up rooting for the Sox (behind the hometown Brewers, a real lost cause) I haven’t been invested in the team the way the locals and other fans have. Even this season-I was gone travelling for the bulk of the season. But given the history, given my experience (I remember watching Buckner’s imitation of a croquet wicket in 1986 and being near tears), and given this city’s relationship to their baseball team, this is a historic evening. I feel an entire city’s anger and frustration and disappointment evaporate, I honestly feel that a weight has been lifted from Boston, and albatross cut from our collective necks. The city is a little more buoyant. Not a lot, but noticably so.
The second is that sports are a powerful force in our society. Tonight I witnessed a very earnest and beautiful celebration, and it was one shared by people of all sorts. Sports is the great equilizer; it crosses age, class, and race lines. It is something two people from very different realities can share with one another, it is a common ground upon which to stand. Tonight people from all walks of life gathered in Boston’s streets to celebrate. Tonight I got high-5’s all the way from Arlington, through Somerville and Harvard, down to Kenmore. I’ve never seen as many Bostonites recognize and interact with each other as tonight. I am reminded that no matter how hard things may be, no matter where you are coming from and what you are doing with yourself, it is important to take time to share with your community and to be happy. That sports can provide this is very powerful.
The third is a sense of wonder, as in “what now?” Boston is a rough edged place, filled with people who are crass and brusque, people who seem to have a chip on their shoulder about something at any given time. It has been the norm here to bitch about things, and the Red Sox Curse has been the city symbol for how things just don’t seem to go our way. Now that the Sox have finally won a World Series, what will come of all the negativity? Will this city actually start being positive? Will people stop to acknowledge others’ existences on the street? Maybe I’m asking for too much. Probably. But I can’t imagine this will be bad for morale around here. There is a certain stoic nobility in the mentality of the underdog. Now that we are not the underdog any longer, I think things will change. I hope they will But now a new dilemma: are we that much different from our arch-rivals, the Yankees?
I suppose that none of that matters tonight. The Red Sox are World Series Champions, this city is celebrating in grand fashion, and the curse is lifted. This is great. This is enough. The real problem now is managing to get to work on time tomorrow.
Last night was also a lunar eclipse. Hey, whatever it takes.
Posted by davidtaus at October 28, 2004 02:24 AMAhh, people acknowledging each others’ existence. How wonderful. TThe lack of it has always been one of the biggest impressions I too away from Boston.
Here in SF, it seems like every day I get the regiment of at least several gals and guys flashing smiles on the street, sometimes even guygals or galguys, depending on the part of town.
Maybe it’s too easy here. I’ve heard it argued that it’s just superficial,… well, I heard that argued about the South and not the West, I wonder what Sean would have to say about the West… Kudos go out to one of the better Devil’s Advocates I’ve had the pleasure to argue with.
Posted by: 1e at October 28, 2004 05:45 AMIt is amazing how events such as last night bring people together. It’s a rush. As it was for the Sox. I had a feeling they would shut the Red Birds out. They were so pumped and definetly ready to win.
I remember at Big Cypress when these huge ballons came down when they started playing Down with Disease and they jumped around in slow motion towards me. And the giant tee pees…and marshmellows. That was a crazy time.
Posted by: begonias at October 28, 2004 10:30 AMmmm I remember talking to Bostonian strangers in the Metro a lot. Maybe you need an aussie twang to your accent? But if you think its bad there, try Munich (you get stared at in Munich).
Back to the baseball, the paper here was saying before the Series that they wouldn’t be surprised if the mortality rate flies up should Boston win, since there’s all these old people hanging on saying “I can’t die till the Red Sox win the series”. Keep us posted.
Posted by: brad at October 28, 2004 08:50 PM