<p>Just got back from Parents Weekend at Brandeis where a heap of students of all sorts of backgrounds, inclinations and interests, or lack of any of the above, have turned into Bosox fans for the time being (at least). Diversity and tolerance issues at the moment may revolve around being a Cardinal fan. Probably similar happenings at other Boston-area campuses.</p>
<p>Up 3 games to none in a 4 out of 7 series? If the Sox don’t win the Series this time, we will all know that the CURSE has some heavy duty power!</p>
<p>It’s difficult to love any team that plays its home games in some concrete and steel monstrosity–designed by number-crunchers who just don’t get it. It’s easy to feel good about a team that calls a place like [Fenway</a> Park](<a href=“http://tsn.sportingnews.com/baseball/ballparks/fenway.html]Fenway”>http://tsn.sportingnews.com/baseball/ballparks/fenway.html) home. </p>
<p>Baseball is all about place.</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more! There’s something about baseball that, for me, demands that it be played in a really traditional setting. But I have to admit that I’ve been lukewarm about baseball ever since 1986. I followed the Red Sox religiously for that entire season, went to Fenway, watched them on TV, and was kicked in the stomach just like every other fan. I really couldn’t get over it. We have since moved to the Chicago suburbs and I couldn’t even get too excited about the Cubs, even though I’ve been to Wrigley a number of times and it is fabulous. Last year, my husband asked me what it would take to get me seriously interested in baseball again and I answered: “A Cubs-Red Sox World Series,” never imagining how close we would come to that scenario. Well…last October was both exhilarating and crushing, of course. Now, I can hardly believe that the Red Sox are just one game away…the world will seem like a totally different place if they do win…but I’m not buying any champagne until the last out!</p>
<p>Oh and I had the chance to do Fenway and Wrigley back to back a few years ago and I hated to admit it, but I actually liked Wrigley better. I think it was the ivy.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>That and pitching.</p>
<p>I must confess that somewhere in the second inning I foolishly began to wonder if Martinez had lost his competitive fire: what a performance!</p>
<p>I do love the classic parks like Fenway (I’ll even admit to appreciating Yankee stadium, though Shea is getting so dated, its’ starting to have it’s own historic feeling --classic 60’s architecture.)</p>
<p>But though I am rooting for the Sox, it’s nice to see real baseball, National League style, while they’re in ST. Louis. The DH should be abolished (and didn’t David Ortiz play impressive first base when forced to?). Though you would think a National League pitcher could run the bases a little better than Suppan…</p>
<p>…ironically. Reminded me of my days as a little league coach.</p>
<p>Suppan thought the 3rd base coach was yelling “no, no” when he was really shouting “go, go”. </p>
<p>It was a treat to be in Boston last weekend and see the joy and the thousands of Red Sox hats throughout the city. In Cambridge at a deli on Harvard Square on Saturday night, they had set up an outside television so people wandering in the square could sit or stand and watch. I was extraordinarily touched to see one sweet, big Bosox fan, sitting on a chair watching the TV, stand up with a sheepish grin and doff his cap during the National Anthem. </p>
<p>The London Financial Times had an article about how Bush is preparing to cope with a Red Sox “bounce” for Kerry should they win the World Series–the parallel is hard to resist!</p>
<p>YAYYYY! THEY DID IT 
:)</p>
<p>YAY!!! A big hug to all my fellow Sox fans. Marite - I miss Boston a lot now!</p>
<p>Congratulations to Marite and all Boston fans! I’m so thrilled for you. We were in Boston two weekends ago (got into town just as the fans were streaming into the stadium for a playoff game against the Yankees) and it was so exciting that my h and I ended up rooting for Boston every night in our hotel rooms and even when we got back home. What a team!</p>
<p>Congrats to Marite and to you all! Joy in Mudville! See you next year! ;)</p>
<p>Omigosh!!! Wasn’t that something?! Congrats to Sox fans everywhere!!!</p>
<p>Marite…is Boston even still THERE? Has it melted happily into the Charles River? Congrats to all Boston Red Sox fans, which must have recently included most of the people in the country!</p>
<p>There is also a captivating profile of Theo Epstein in the NYT today. Oh to have such a charmed life…I also note the literary roots from which he springs. Some of the best writing is baseball writing…</p>
<p>Well, the honking and the cheering kept up well past 1am, so I’m not sure I am altogether “there” myself! And then there was the lunar eclipse. What else is in store?</p>
<p>I agree about Theo Epstein. :)</p>
<p>Congrats to all of the Sox fans. My daughter told me when the series started that her roommate (who is form Ma.) told her that she must become a Sox and Patriots fan because she will be in New England for the next 4 years. However she feels she must remain faithful to her roots.</p>
<p>But congrats any way, the curse has been broken!!</p>
<p>S and I are happy the Sox won already. We are tired of hearing about the Curse. “Now maybe everyone will shut up,” he says. He’s starting to worry about mentioning in his BU short essay that he’s a Yankee fan. As for me, I still remember that wonderful summer of the 1969 Amazin’ Mets.</p>
<p>Kinshasa:
It’s okay. He can mention it. He won’t be scalped. :)</p>
<p>Not only did the Red Sox finally win the World Series, they did it in a way that will never be forgotten! I’m still stunned–how did they come back after that 19-8 humiliation? They never looked back! I’m gushing too much, but what an inspiration. Oh, to be in Boston right now…</p>