Why We Boo Our Team

If Josh Beckett had any sense of relief from his last game it was when he flew in the air and could now look down at Fenway park from the plane.  It looked so small now, tiny, toy like, but to Boston fans it was now the centerpiece of a city teeming with lights.  Logan airport, The Constitution, Freedom trail, Harvard, MIT, they all were their to make Fenway Park look even grander.  Fenway Park was the capital of Boston. 

Josh leaned his head back against the chair.  The chatter of the team fading in the background.  He would not read the papers or listen to the press.  He would only sleep.  He could only sleep.  How could he.  He was blowing game after game.  His velocity was gone.  He was no longer a power pitcher and this was a death to him.  He always was aggressive and forceful but being booed off the field over and over again was getting to him.  He hated it.  He really did.

"Hey buddy, got a light?"

Josh's eyes sprung open as he turned to his right.  Their in front of him was none other than Babe Ruth, the legendary Yankee that only smiled before gobbling down booze.  Josh looked past him to find nobody else on the plane.

"Worst part about being dead -- you really can't enjoy a good smoke or a good drink...no actually, you can't enjoy a good woman...now you got a light or not?"

"Am I...dead?" whispered Josh as he watched the legend laugh.

"Do you look dead?"

"How would I know?"

Babe put down his drink.  It looked like pure satisfaction.

"They give me moments like this to enjoy a good drink.  Satisfaction."

Josh watched as Babe adjusted himself in the seat.

"In my day, you drank, you smoked and you got paid -- not much mind you -- but you got paid.  Today, weights, steroids, press, I have no idea how you guys take it...then again, I like money too."

"Uh hu.'

Babe laughed and said, "if the fans could see you now...humbled by Babe Ruth.  Oh I like it.  Good headline and I liked good headlines.  I mean I could have been a legend in Boston but the new owner, I forget his name, didn't like me, didn't like my drinking and behavior and certainly didn't like me not wanting to be a pitcher...but New York did.  Biggest mistake of his life -- but hey, I got into the Hall Of Fame.  Not bad if you ask me."

Josh only nodded.

"Back in those days, fans in Boston expected a World Series -- but it ain't like today.  Today, it's a huge event.  Back in them days, heck, nobody cared like today.  Oh, how we forgot out history...speaking of which, you're in for a treat.  The big boys have decided to give you a little education about what Boston baseball is all about...for whatever reason.  Anyway, I gotta go.  Big date."

"Right, "said Josh wide eyed and rather terrified at this moment.

"Relax, she's gentle.  Anyway I gotta go.  "

Josh nodded and within a puff the great legend of his time disappeared and the plane returned to normal, fading into sharpness. 

Josh quickly grabbed the drink he had in his lap and shoved it to the right of him in the hands of a sleeping Dustin Pedroia.  He needed that drink.  He needed to get over the pain of the game.  It hurt so badly now.  He really needed it tonight.  He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"Hey, wake up will ya. You modern baseball players take up enough space to fill up a ballpark.  Dammit. "

Josh looked over.  Sharp, crisp, and harsh, it was none other than Ted Williams.

"Oh God.'

"I ain't no god.  Boy you people.  I played ball in Boston.  Goodie.  Now I'm supposed to remind you that I got booed a lot when I played in the World Series and I hated sports writers.  Knights of the keyboard if you ask me.  I played hard in the 1946 series Josh but I had an elbow injury and that stupid shift they put on me didn't help.  I hated the fans and when I did my last at-bat, I wasn't gonna tip any cap at them.  Heck with them.  Hated Boston fans.  Obsessed with the game. "

'Uh hu.'

"Is that all you can say.  A man with your fat ego can at least use a verb. Don't ya know what a verb is."

"Are you always this way?"

"Hu, "chuckled Ted. "Guess I am kind of a crank but heck, I fought twice in both World War II and Korea and that was a hell of a lot more important than hitting home runs -- but nobody ever remembers that do they?  No, it's all about home runs.  Biggest home run hitter of all time."

"Ah actually it was average."

"I know that sorry excuse for a ballplayer Ruth gets that distinction -- or was it Aaron -- but no, now it's Bonds who had more juice in him than a Minute Maid factory.  Disgusting.  Cheat his way to the hall."

"Right...why are you here?"

"Because I hate baseball, the fans...but I did enjoy making commercials.  That was fun.  I like fishing did you know that?'

"Ya...I guess."

"Know your history man.  After they sold Babe Ruth the fans kind of stopped coming but Tom Yankee took over and turned the team around.  Sox almost beat the Cardinals in 1946 and then in 1967 but finally got it in 2004.  You would think the fans would have enjoyed that moment...but NO...its what have you done for me lately.  "

"Uh hu."

"Look kid, the fans should not have booed you...even if you stink as a pitcher and make more money than I ever made in a year.  It's baseball, its fun.  They should lighten up...but I guess they won't.  Anyway, I gotta go.  "

Josh nodded.  He closed his eyes and sure enough their was Dustin Pedroia snoring with the small bottle of beer in his lap. 

"Right."

Josh closed his eyes. 

"You awake."

"Hu, no...you're back."

"Ya, I forgot one thing.  In the 1950's the Sox became Ted Williams and the seven dwarfs.  African Americans, did I get that right?"  Ted paused and Josh nodded.  "Anyway, Tom Yawkee refused to sign a Jackie Robinson or a Willie Mays.  The 50's stunk for that team.  Now I gotta go.  Man I hate history lessons and I hate this plane.  You're so crammed in here like fish.  Speaking of which, got some fishing to do."

Josh nodded.  He looked out the window and then saw Dustin again.

"Hey kid...you doing OK?"

"Tony...you're Tony Conigliaro.  I mean...Tony C...wow."

"Well, if I can humble Josh Beckett, I can feel proud.  Did you meet Babe Ruth yet?'

Josh nodded.

"Did you meet Ted Williams?"

Josh nodded.

"Baseball legends.  Great stuff hu!"

Josh nodded.

"I would have been a legend but the ball bashed in my face and ruined my career.  I would have helped the Sox win the World Series in 1967 but I sat on the sidelines.  I never played ball again like that year.  I mean in 1975 when I was with the team, I couldn't see the ball as well and...well they sent me down to Pawtucket.  I was so angry at that.  I hated being in Pawtucket.  Then I suffered a major heart attack.  Not a great way to end a story hu.  Fans, oh they cheered me in 1975 and that was nice.  Boston by then loved their team. Ya see, when the Sox got the pennant in 1967, it sort of turned the fans around.  They love their team.  They loved everyone and everything about it.  From 1967 on...well the Babe Ruth curse started to come about and suddenly everyone loved baseball in Boston and hated the Yankees...well actually they really hated the Yankees after losing Babe Ruth...am I talking too much?"

"No, no...you're fine, "said Josh.

"Anyway, I love to talk about this.  From 1967 on...are you sure I'm not blabbering?"

"No...go on."

"After 1975 though...wow...the Sox were on the map.  They beat the Yankees, The Orioles and almost won the World Series against the Reds.  Many fans wondered if Jim Rice was aboard...instead of with a broken hand...would they have won it.  I mean, Fisk's home run...the most famous home run in all of history with the most famous game of all time -- game 6 of the World Series. "

"Listen...ah..."

"I know, "said Tony.  "Their is a point I'm making.  "  Tony leaned in and starred at Josh.  "The point is that once the Sox won in 1967, that changed everything.   Baseball became an obsession.  To come so close, ya know.  1975 cemented that idea.  Boston and baseball became one word almost.  Know what I mean? Fans care so much about baseball in Boston.  They're obsessed with it...but of course that all changed in 2004 right?'

"Wasn't there."

"Naw, but you know what I mean.  But I tell ya, 1986, that was a year to forget.  You can't write this stuff.  The Sox were one out away, one pitch away from winning that World Series and Bob Stanley, who is thanking Bill Buckner forever for this -- blew the game and tied it after they were two runs ahead.  Can you believe it.  But then 2004...that gave the fans what they wanted."

"2007 too."

"Ya, ya, I know, you were the hero to the team and saved them in that series.  Good job Josh...but anyway, after 2004, after that, fans kind of expected a World Series and they got it in 2007.  Then they expected the post season.  After all they spent enough on it.  Things have changed in Boston now.  Now its expected instead of hoped for.  "

"Tell me about it."

"Look Josh, as a player, know two things about fans.

1) Passion - you have to care about the game and play your heart out.  If you show you care, they care about you.

2) Accountability -- you have to apologize and be humble when you lose."

"Ya well, I hate to lose man.  I'm a competitor but I'm not about to apologize to fans.  "

"Show face, I can respect that.  That's just who you are.  Look, this is Boston Josh.  It's the way it is and it always will be.  Fans care about the game.  It's a tradition where they pass it from father to son.  To be a Red Sox fan is to be part of a culture, almost a sort of family tradition.  Just how it is.  Learn to live with it.  Fans care...bottom line...but I gotta go.  I've enjoyed talking with you Josh.  You just hang in their OK.  The fans care...they really do.  "

"Ya."

"Ya what, "snapped Dustin waking up and discovering the liquor.

"Josh you want to drink fine but not in my lap."

"You're not...Tony C."

Dustin gave a peculiar look and started sniffing.

"The bottle's still full and you don't look drunk. You OK?"

"Ya, "said Josh with a little smile.  "I'll be OK."

Josh leaned back and could finally sleep at last. He never did drink from that bottle.