Crash Course
10-17-2004, 01:52 AM
I saw a lot of things tonight, watching Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS, regarding the Boston Red Sox that I found disturbing. And, interesting enough, none of it was things that happened on the field during the game. (And you thought this was going to be about Manny's baserunning and fielding!)
Right out of the chute, Sox management got me by allowing The Cowsills to sing "Hair" (http://www.robinrecords.com/cowsills/discography/music-hair.html) directly following the National Anthem.
Earlier this year, I heard a radio interview with Bosox G.M. Theo Epstein where he was asked about the Red Sox players and their 'out there' hair, etc. He said that Sox brass realized they needed to allow it with this current roster (because of the personalities on the team); but, it would not become a long term image policy for the Red Sox. Well, then, why celebrate that 'wild bunch' image but having The Cowsills sing "Hair"? Bit of a contradiction there. But, that was just a small peeve tonight. Two bigger ones followed - one during the game and one after.
In the top of the 8th inning, the Yankees were batting. The score was then 17-8 in favor of New York. The FOX camera went into the Red Sox dugout and it showed a shot of Bronson Arroyo and Derek Lowe laughing over something in the dugout. They were all smiles. This was Arroyo, who, three hours earlier, was in the same game (albeit very briefly), getting his corn rows dusted by a crop duster full of Yankee hits. And, this was Lowe, the next day starter for the Sox (as he is slated to pitch in Game 4 of the ALCS).
It seems somewhat inappropriate for these two, being in the positions they were in, to be joking in the dugout at a time like that. Your post-season opponent is about to go up 3-0 in a best of seven. They have knocked you down to the ground, and are standing on you with their foot pressed up against your throat. That's a time to laugh?
On the flip side, a few moments later, Derek Jeter nearly broke his ankle hustling towards 2nd base - in an attempt to beat out a force play - - in a the 8th inning of a game his team was leading 17 to 8! Take a guess at which team is more serious in this ALCS.
I thought that was pretty bad - until I saw the post-game interviews live, following the game (on YES).
When Sox Manager Terry Francona was addressing the media at the podium you could clearly hear music blasting in the background behind him. It was loud enough to be annoying. "Boom, boom, boom" went the bass line. I thought "That can't be the Sox clubhouse, can it? They just lost 19-8 and basically blew the ALCS and they're playing music that loud in their clubhouse? No way. Maybe it's the Yankee's clubhouse?"
But, then, the YES cameras showed Yankee Manager Joe Torre's live press conference just minutes later. And, there was no music in the background at all. Zero. Zip. Nada. Zilch. That leads one to believe that it was not the Yankee's clubhouse behind Francona.
Seems to me that the Boston Red Sox are more interested in living up to their "Animal House" image than they are about winning the ALCS. That's a shame. There is a ton of talent on the 2004 Boston Red Sox. With a little more discipline, they could have gone much further than they have this year.
Oh, well, maybe it's just easier to have "fun" and then just cry "unfair revenue gaps" after the party's over - rather than actually apply the talent that you have through a serious and focused effort?
Right out of the chute, Sox management got me by allowing The Cowsills to sing "Hair" (http://www.robinrecords.com/cowsills/discography/music-hair.html) directly following the National Anthem.
Earlier this year, I heard a radio interview with Bosox G.M. Theo Epstein where he was asked about the Red Sox players and their 'out there' hair, etc. He said that Sox brass realized they needed to allow it with this current roster (because of the personalities on the team); but, it would not become a long term image policy for the Red Sox. Well, then, why celebrate that 'wild bunch' image but having The Cowsills sing "Hair"? Bit of a contradiction there. But, that was just a small peeve tonight. Two bigger ones followed - one during the game and one after.
In the top of the 8th inning, the Yankees were batting. The score was then 17-8 in favor of New York. The FOX camera went into the Red Sox dugout and it showed a shot of Bronson Arroyo and Derek Lowe laughing over something in the dugout. They were all smiles. This was Arroyo, who, three hours earlier, was in the same game (albeit very briefly), getting his corn rows dusted by a crop duster full of Yankee hits. And, this was Lowe, the next day starter for the Sox (as he is slated to pitch in Game 4 of the ALCS).
It seems somewhat inappropriate for these two, being in the positions they were in, to be joking in the dugout at a time like that. Your post-season opponent is about to go up 3-0 in a best of seven. They have knocked you down to the ground, and are standing on you with their foot pressed up against your throat. That's a time to laugh?
On the flip side, a few moments later, Derek Jeter nearly broke his ankle hustling towards 2nd base - in an attempt to beat out a force play - - in a the 8th inning of a game his team was leading 17 to 8! Take a guess at which team is more serious in this ALCS.
I thought that was pretty bad - until I saw the post-game interviews live, following the game (on YES).
When Sox Manager Terry Francona was addressing the media at the podium you could clearly hear music blasting in the background behind him. It was loud enough to be annoying. "Boom, boom, boom" went the bass line. I thought "That can't be the Sox clubhouse, can it? They just lost 19-8 and basically blew the ALCS and they're playing music that loud in their clubhouse? No way. Maybe it's the Yankee's clubhouse?"
But, then, the YES cameras showed Yankee Manager Joe Torre's live press conference just minutes later. And, there was no music in the background at all. Zero. Zip. Nada. Zilch. That leads one to believe that it was not the Yankee's clubhouse behind Francona.
Seems to me that the Boston Red Sox are more interested in living up to their "Animal House" image than they are about winning the ALCS. That's a shame. There is a ton of talent on the 2004 Boston Red Sox. With a little more discipline, they could have gone much further than they have this year.
Oh, well, maybe it's just easier to have "fun" and then just cry "unfair revenue gaps" after the party's over - rather than actually apply the talent that you have through a serious and focused effort?