It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....
October 25, 2001 3:06 PM Subscribe
Later, I went to college in Boston and almost got my ass kicked several times for bringing it up.
posted by Ty Webb at 3:39 PM on October 25, 2001
Unfortunately, the Yankees will not lose. The only comfort will come in the afterlife, when one notices that Heaven is suspiciously free from Yankee fans. And Yankees.
posted by yerfatma at 3:42 PM on October 25, 2001
It's destiny.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:43 PM on October 25, 2001
My personal story: I was watching that series as a 10-year-old, leaping up and down in the living room as we were "one strike away". That elated moment and the heartbreaking ones that followed are captured by wonderfully Bill Simmons in this piece (if you look in his archives, he's written some other good '86 and Red Sox pieces), and that Series epitomized for many Boston fans our unusual history and emotions when it comes to rooting for this team. It still hurts to relive that moment, but sometimes you just gotta have the catharsis, especially in October when the Yankees are playing...
Interestingly, this year many BoSox fans began actively rooting against the Red Sox about when they fired Jimy Williams; while still a BoSox fan at heart, I can't root for that team until it cleans house from management on up.
That said, I'm so rooting for the Diamondbacks; as a Seattleite, I think all that national media rimjob about Yankees mystique and that organization's class were fully dispelled when, after a humiliating 14-3 loss to the M's in game 3 of the ALCS, the key players like Jeter and Williams left the dugout before the game ended to shower and be out of the clubhouse 10 minutes after the last out- so they wouldn't have to face reporters. Real "class" there... sounds more like a spoiled sense of entitlement from the richest team in professional sports.
posted by hincandenza at 3:44 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by girlhacker at 3:50 PM on October 25, 2001
It's like the Kennedy Assasination: I was sitting in our family room, in the seat furthest from the television, pretending to skim a copy of some magazine when Schiraldi, Buckner, et al fufilled their cosmic destinies. The magazine flew in a perfect straight line, 30 feet into a family heirloom. Goodbye Series, goodbye mom's treasure.
posted by yerfatma at 3:52 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by msacheson at 4:03 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by msacheson at 4:10 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by yerfatma at 4:14 PM on October 25, 2001
It was the last chance for my dad to see a world championship. At the same time, I now realize it was the moment I became a 'real' redsox fan.
I will not give up though. They will win a world series one day, and can you imagine the celebration? I will fly to boston just to be there for that event. As painful as it is, I enjoy being a redsox fan. Anyone can be a yankees fan.
I, like the writer, hold no ill will for buckner. I save it all for two people. Calvin Schiraldi and Roger Clemons. Schiraldi was awful. Thankfully, he was soon punished for his failure to end the 9th (traded to the cubs). Clemons, for the first time in his career, showed that even a hall of fame pitcher can lack balls. I think Clemons, and I think classless. Riding yankee coattails to a championship (or several) is fine, but it doesn't compare if he could have won it all here. Too bad he didn't have the guts.
posted by justgary at 4:42 PM on October 25, 2001
on the night in question, i was in a little restaurant in oklahoma city, watching the game and hanging out with my friend who tended bar. because of my longstanding (and unchanged) dislike for all new york sports teams, i was rooting for the 'sox. a group of people came in, red sox fans, around the 7th inning. they had gotten pretty excited after the top half of the tenth, at which point i pointed out to them there was no way the red sox were going to win, because they weren't allowed to.
this of course, started quite an argument which didn't end until bet of (a portion of their/all of my) bar tab was made. after hernadez goes down (2 outs) i get out my money and place it under my drink. several comments of 'just go ahead and give it to us' were made. carter singles. mitchell singles. it starts to get very quiet. then of course, the baseball gods descended from the heavens to wreak hell and havoc on the sox in a clearcut case of divine intervention.
posted by lescour at 7:46 PM on October 25, 2001
oh well.
posted by aenemated at 7:49 PM on October 25, 2001
You have absolutely no idea.
No idea.
posted by jpoulos at 8:17 PM on October 25, 2001
But as a baseball fan, I can say that there are two moments in World Series history that reach the absolute high and low for me:
High: Watching Kirk Gibson hit that home run and hobble around the bases.
Low: Watching Buckner turn around and look at the ball behind him.
I had no vested interest in either game/team, but I felt the emotional impact of both moments.
posted by Grum at 9:25 PM on October 25, 2001
Low: Watching Buckner turn around and look at the ball behind him.
Baseball (the game) does a great job of creating amazing, emotional moments. (super bowl anyone? ZZZZZZzzzz)
posted by justgary at 9:37 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by evixir at 11:30 PM on October 25, 2001
you're right, I can't read it either. I've printed all 8 pages of it, can't do it.
posted by matteo at 4:01 AM on October 26, 2001
2001: Mark Grace, a likeable, good hitting, quality first baseman in the later years of his career. Spent many years with the Cubs.
The Cub Factor must be off the chart on this one.
posted by groundhog at 5:55 AM on October 26, 2001
Obviously, you did not watch Super Bowl XXXII or XXXIV. Both incredibly exciting, nail-biting games. XXXII was especially satisfactory for anyone interested in seeing Elway kill one of the largest back-clinging monkeys in sports history.
Anyway, I just moved to Boston recently, and while I had heard about this story before, the way people go around talking about the Red Sox now makes so much more sense to me. All the conversations sound like they belong in a hospital, where friends and family have gathered to be there as their lover-one passes away. About a half and half mix of love and resignation...and where all hope is faked.
posted by thewittyname at 6:47 AM on October 26, 2001
Sure I did. While better than your average superbowl, they pale in comparison to the world series moments discussed here (incredible doesn't come to mind).
I really won't argue this point. The super bowl being a snooze fest is common knowledge. The nfl has tried for years to find a way to make the games more competitive and exciting. Nothing beats the super bowl when it comes to a week long party, but the game is usually an after-thought.
posted by justgary at 7:11 AM on October 26, 2001
In the last ten years, only the 1997 and 1991 Series went to 7 games. Not to mention the four blowout series: 2000, 1999, 1998, and 1990.
Of course the fact that the World Series is twice as old as the Super Bowl has to be mentioned, but still, I think recently, the Super Bowl has been much more exciting. (Nothing beats the Stanley Cup finals though). My 2 cents.
posted by thewittyname at 7:50 AM on October 26, 2001
I just think the highs in world series play have been much higher than in football. Just my opinion. (same goes for the allstar game, but that's a different story)
And I agree about hockey, but then again they need 'final' excitement after a practically meaningless regular season.
posted by justgary at 8:12 AM on October 26, 2001
Or how's about XXV? Norwood could just be Buffalo's Buckner (or Schiraldi for that matter).
posted by PeteyStock at 8:15 AM on October 26, 2001
[ducks, expecting owillis to come in here swinging any minute]
posted by jpoulos at 9:16 AM on October 26, 2001
Or how's about XXV? Norwood could just be Buffalo's Buckner (or Schiraldi for that matter).
That statement alone proves baseball's superiority when it comes to great games. As far as superbowls, it's up there. It pales in comparison to the 86 series however.
posted by dantheman at 9:35 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by jerseygirl at 9:36 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by yerfatma at 9:44 AM on October 26, 2001
Sorry Dan! Just had to throw the Giants-Bills reference - besides, as a Giants fan living in Deadskunks...er, Redskins territory, I couldn't resist. Personally, baseball and hockey are more entertaining right now than the NFL.
Oh yeah...Yankees in 7.
posted by PeteyStock at 10:48 AM on October 26, 2001
I think at this point, and from the "New Fenway" perspective, I am rooting for McCourt. A Fenway by the Sea doesn't sound too bad right about now.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:53 AM on October 26, 2001
I agree! We need a baitball vs. foosball discussion instead.
posted by rodii at 11:36 AM on October 26, 2001
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posted by theJaybird at 3:33 PM on October 25, 2001