Traitors in Red Sox Nation

Normally when a state names a state fish or flower there is very little fanfare or discussion, and nearly 75 percent of the time these decisions are so patently obvious they are adopted with unanimous votes of the legislature. One would think that a state that houses a sport’s hall of fame, is home to the winningest franchise in the sport’s history, and, oh by the way, is the birthplace of this sport… might make some room in their cabinet to recognize the aforementioned sport. This past week, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognized the contributions of the sport of basketball and named it the official sport from Sturbridge to Salisbury. So why did the Legislature and Governor do so by giving 100 percent of the credit for this designation to a group of school children? It’s because their afraid of being labeled traitors in Red Sox Nation.

Politicians are never afraid to accept credit for good ideas, when they shy away from the spotlight for these ideas it is worth taking note. But, before you suppose this is another writer ready to criticize government, think again.

I’ve been a Red Sox fan as long as I can remember. As a little shaver, probably no more than 3 years old, I can recall my father watching a game and telling me over and over what a great hitter Jim Rice was. (I believed him, even if I ended up as more of a Dewey Evans fan.) In 1986, sports came into focus in my life, and I was lucky enough to be able to comprehend how special that year was in sports. How high the highs can be with the greatest Celtics team of my lifetime winning banner #16, and how low the lows can be with the death of Len Bias, the Pats blowing Super Bowl XX then doing blow themselves, and of course the ’86 World Series.

It all happened that year, and has set the tone for how I view sports to this day. The Celtics are still far and away the closest to my heart, but the Sox are a close #2 and I cheered and wept with everyone else two years ago this October. In my mind there is more than enough room in my life to support more than one team, and in fact in addition to being a die hard Celtics and Red Sox fan, I’ve developed quite a passion for the Pats and Bruins. To this point, I’ve had no side effects and overall I appear to be relatively normal.

So, why is it that there is a growing need to consistently justify the place of the Boston Red Sox in the Boston sports strata? Isn’t it good enough that one can’t turn a corner in the six state region of New England without seeing a Red Sox cap of one variation or another? Many of the comments surrounding the Massachusetts legislature’s vote to name basketball the official sport immediately mentioned how Boston “is a Red Sox town” and the Celtics weren’t all that good anyway. Uhhhh… what?

In 1891, long before the Red Sox were a twinkle in someone’s eye, it was James Naismith trying to figure out a new activity for the boys at Y to do during the winter months. 115 years later, Dr. Naismith’s game is the second most popular worldwide behind only football (soccer). But, some Sox fans would have you believe that Massachusetts’s contribution to the world is secondary to that of the team that has won five world championships in 104 years and one in the last 87.

I don’t take issue with those in Red Sox Nation who wish to support their team and see them succeed, heck I’m one of them. What I see as a growing, and damaging trend, is the need to discredit and disregard the franchises of the other four major sports in New England. A perfect example of this is Dan Shaughnessy’s article from Thursday’s Boston Globe which includes a line where during a conversation with John Henry, the two agree that the Patriots are jealous of the Red Sox. Jealous, huh?

Jealous of what one may ask. The three Super Bowls in four years certainly eclipse winning one World Series in 86 years, but it is obvious from the context that Shaughnessy and Henry are referring to the attention paid to the team. Let’s look at that a bit closer…

17 percent of the ownership of the Boston Red Sox is the New York Times Co., which is the parent company of your Boston Globe. The more storylines the better for the Globe and a successful Sox team sure sells papers. Those that buy the papers, and the ad space, also buy tickets, pink hats, and Rem Dawgs. It’s one hell of a profitable cycle for the Boston Globe, the Red Sox, and their radio partners at Entercom (WEEI/WRKO). Meanwhile, the team with the uncommon success, the Patriots, who is considered a model franchise across their league, is jealous.

What irks me is the suggestion that somehow honoring the sport of basketball is against some sort of religious creed Red Sox fans are asked to uphold by the team. Sox spinmeister, Dr. Charles Steinberg has worked hard to overexpose and cause many fans to wonder when it’s time to say “when” on the constant PR blitz. It has gotten to the point where fans feel the baseball team they love somehow rises in importance far above that of its relative significance both locally and across the world. Even at the signing of the legislation, Governor Mitt Romney remarked that he was afraid his signing might affect the site of his season tickets next year. Wow.

Sure, the governor was likely saying this with a smirk, but since when should such a positive event as recognizing the contribution basketball has made to Massachusetts and the world cause one to automatically make a remark about the Red Sox. They’re a great team… WE GET IT! Can’t we have room like the Sox, Pats, B’s, and most of all, Celtics? We can have our cake and eat it too, thank you very much. Enjoying one sport should have absolutely no effect on another, yet it seems that Dr. Steinberg and the Red Sox would like to see their team be at the top of the sports page 365 days a year.

That doesn’t leave a lot of room for quality Celtics coverage or game stories on Paul Pierce’s latest game winning basket, does it?

“Buzz” doesn’t show up in win-loss columns or provide extra draft picks, but it does put fannies in the yellow seats and sells merchandise. The Celtics need both of those things to be able to sign their young players to long term contracts or, dare I say it, sign a veteran to the mid level exception. Wyc and the Boys are millionaires and I’m not worried about them going broke without “buzz”, but what happens if this Celtics squad is able to turn it around and becomes a winner again? I know I would expect coverage of the team at the same level of what the current winning teams are provided, but why do I get the feeling that a piece on Rajon Rondo’s upbringing would get bumped for an article on the Red Sox new candy bar the S-Cora Bar? Could their inability to attract fans in the future affect their bottom line and the ability to keep and attract players? I hope not, but pie is only so big in Boston sports and if one team consistently going back for seconds… it doesn’t leave much for everyone else.

As Celtics fans, and more broadly basketball fans, we recognize that a 33 win team isn’t on the tip of everyone’s tongues, yet we also keep our eye on the future and the promise of a championship on the horizon. Naming basketball the official sport of Massachusetts is the right thing to do, suggesting that has anything to do with the Red Sox is simply ridiculous. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m headed to Mantown to throw some darts at my life-sized Julian Tavarez cardboard cutout.

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Meanwhile, there are major changes to come here at the Full Court Press in the coming months, none probably more notable than my departure as the full time contributor and coordinator of the efforts here. In my place, Bruce has gone to the bench and found a fella who will continue to bring some of the most unique takes on the team you’ll find almost anywhere. I’ll let Mike fill you in on his plans for the site, but as a tease I can suggest that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

I will continue to contribute articles and participate in orignal content here, but I am moving on to a new venture with the gents from the Celticsstufflive podcast, JB and Justin Poulin, to begin a new site. I’ve truly appreciated the opportunity Bruce has given me here, and I certainly will continue to be contribute here and on the BSMW messageboard. Thank you to the many well wishes over the past two years, and I hope to speaking with you all in person as you call into the podcast.

Thanks once again.
Jon Duke