It's Gonna Make It Hard To Tell You That I'm Leaving

I remember the night of October 27, 2004 for two reasons. First of all, it was 'intramural night' for GSP, one of the most challenging pledging events we have, except that by 2004, I was a member, and on the giving end of all the torture. I also remember 10/27/04 because it was the night the Boston Red Sox finally put an end to 86 years of bad luck and won the World Series by beating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 0, by far the greatest memory I have as a baseball fan.

At that point in my life, I had never been to Boston and had never seen them play in person, yet they were my favorite team in the Majors after the Rangers. This affection for the BoSox started when I was a kid and my dad told me A) How much we (and by 'we,' I mean Agans, for generations and generations) hate the Yankees and everything about them and B) His memories of the summer of 1978, when he was taking summer classes at UT and rooming with a friend who happened to be, yes, a Yankees fan. That summer, the Red Sox had a huge lead in the standings, and looked for all the world like they were finally going to break the Curse. Just when Red Sox fans were feeling comfortable with their 14 game division lead, the Yanks made a furious second half comeback, capped by the 'Boston Massacre,' a four game sweep in Fenway Park. After winning a one-game playoff, the Yankees went on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games to win the World Series.

In part because of this hatred toward the Yanks, I became a Sox fan by default, and pulled for them every October, since by then, the Rangers were way out of the pennant race. I remember the pain that Aaron Boone caused in game game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, and how hopeless I felt after the first three games of the 2004 ALCS. When Dave Roberts stole second in game 4 that year, hope was alive, and after an unprecedented rally from three down, the BoSox were in the World Series, and honestly, the Cardinals didn't stand a chance.

I write all this because, well, times have changed. After winning the 2004 Series, the Sox became, overnight, America's Sweetheart. It's literally impossible to walk across a college campus (coughcoughACUcough) and NOT see at least 5 Red Sox hats being worn, most likely by fans who, pre-2004 didn't know a thing about the Sox. The bandwaggoning continued to grow, and after the Sox won the 2007 World Series, reached epidemic portions.

I got to witness this phenomenon last night at the Juice Box, just two weeks after experiencing the power that is the Yankee fan. Let me start by saying this: For all the crap I've given friends who actually like the Yankees (I'm looking at you, Luke Reeves and Michelle Oakley), I have to admit, they have great, great fans, even on the road. Going into the game against New York two weeks ago, I knew we'd be in for a long night of obnoxious "Let's Go Yankees!" clap, clap, clapclapclap chants. Well, I was right. There was probably a 60-40 split in Astros to Yankee fans, but the Yankee fans were much more vocal than the 'Stros fans, and cheered for their Bombers every chance they got.

Heading to the game last night, I expected the same from BoSox fans. I was wrong. While the Stros fans/Sox fans split was at least as close as it was against the Yanks, the Sox fans were shockingly, ehh, what's the word? Uninterested? (Doubt that, they wouldn't be there if they were uninterested) Unfamiliar with the players? (Not a chance, Boston's on ESPN more than Chris Berman) Tired? (No way, the game started at 6, an hour earlier than most evening games in Houston) What was it then? I mean, why did all these Red Sox 'fans' only cheer when Manny, and Kevin Youuuuuuuuukilis came up to bat? Suddenly, it hit me like a Mookie Wilson grounder through the five-hole.

These fans aren't real fans.

They saw the Sox become the darling of sports four years ago, latched on to the bandwagon, scooted farther inward after more fans hopped on last year, and haven't let go since.

I should have known this would be the case the second we took our seats and saw two middle-school aged boys sitting two rows in front of us wearing brand-spankin-new 'Ramirez 24' T-shirts and bright shiney hats, both of which couldn't have been bought more than two hours before the game. Besides the junior high bandwagonners, to my left were two toolish looking dudes with popped collars and green Sox hats. Disgusting.

For all the arrogance and obnoxiousness of Yankee fans, you have to give it to them-they're real fans. It isn't nearly as popular to cheer for New York as it is Boston, so you know they're the real deal when they show up in visiting ballparks, ready to raise heck and support their team.

Much has been made about this 'Red Sox Nation' phenomenon on other blogs, websites, and television shows, so this isn't exactly a new occurrence. Heck, even the most notorious Boston homer, ESPN's the Sports Guy, wrote an article about the absurdity of the Sox bandwagon last year.

All that to say-I've made up my mind to depledge my allegiance to Red Sox Nation. This is a decision I have been thinking about for almost a year now, and after last night, that decision is final. It's become too easy to be a Red Sox fan, and way too convenient to ride the coattails of a team you know is going to win than it is to stay with a team through thick and thin. I'll still root for them to beat the Yankees of course, but I can't in my right mind cheer for a team that I honestly have no real connection with, and one that 13 year olds across the nation openly pull for only because they know the Sox are good, and because middle schoolers have no soul.

This choice isn't anything against the Sox players. Heck, they seem to be pretty cool guys. Youkilis, Manny, Lowell, Varitek, etc are all great players, seem to be generally good guys, and there's really not anything to dislike about the team. (Side note: After the game, we were driving away from the ballpark and I saw a dreaklocked Latino riding in the back of a golf cart. After doing a double or triple take, I realized, 'Holy cow, that's Manny Ramirez!' I hurriedly rolled down my window, stuck my arm out, waved and shouted, "Mannn-eeeeee!!" And yes, he saw me and waved back. Who's the man.) It's just that, what's the fun in rooting for a team you have no real connection to when you know they're always going to win? That's like rooting for Wal-Mart or Big Oil in 2008, or the Black Plague in 1400.

For those who are die-hard Red Sox fans-those who suffered through 1978, 1986, 2003, and so many other heartbreaking years, I have no problem with the success they've enjoyed recently. If the Rangers ever reach the point that Boston has these past four years, I'll be extremely happy and proud that 'my team' finally made it to the top.

For now, however, I have to be honest with myself and realize that I'm not a tried and true BoSox fan, and more importantly-no one likes a bandwagon hopper.

Goodbye, old friend, it was fun while it lasted

(L-R) Cole Griffith, Me, Garrett Oakley, Brandon Maenius, Fenway Park, March 2005

It's Not Fun To Play At The YMCA

Whilst perusing the archives of espn.com this morning, I came across an absolute gem written by Patrick Hruby from last May. If anyone has played pickup/intramural basketball at any point in life, you can relate to this article. Without further adooo, I give you....THE PICKUP GAME FROM HEEEELLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

Can't Say I Saw This Coming

In an upset to upset all upsets, the Dirty Dirty is tops on 'the most desirable city to live, work, and play based on job opportunities, population growth, and affordable living' list, according to Yahoo!.

Somewhere in Southern California, Dan Carlson is swearing out loud.


-Twig

King Me

Once again, channeling my inner Peter King for ten things I think I think...

10) Now wouldn't be a good time to bust out the 'who's the bigger faker, Tiger or Paul Pierce?' joke. In fact, let's just pretend I never even brought it up.

9) Speaking of Pierce, for all the attention KG got this year, is there any doubt who the best Celtic is? I mean good grief. Three-four is an animal, and was by far the best player in that series (I'm looking at you, Kobe)

8) Say what you want about how great Phil Jackson is, but these are the facts:
-He's never won a championship without Michael Jordan or Shaq O'Neal on the squad.
-He did, however, lose a Finals with Kobe Bryant AND Shaq on his team.
-He can't see eye to eye with (arguably) the best player on Planet Earth.
-His bench players, supposedly the best and deepest in the League, just got embarrassed by Eddie House, James Posey, and PJ Brown, who at this point may or may not be an AARP member.
-He's never ever ever taken a lousy team and made them good.
-He constantly leaves his teams in worse shape than they were before he got there (I know a lot of that is on the front office in Chicago and LA, but still)
-Perhaps the most troubling fact of all: He is a combined 3-8 his last two Finals appearances (both of which his Laker teams were favored to win), losing to the likes of Larry Brown and Doc Rivers. Oh yeah, in 2004 he had the TWO best players in the series (Shaq and Kobe) playing for him, and had the best player in the series this year (Kobe). Of course, that was before we knew The Truth.

7) I think I'm ready to purchase my very own first set of golf clubs. I dropped by Play it Again Sports the other day, and noticed that they had incredible prices on used bags and clubs. For those of you who have seen my golf game-if you want to call it that-know that I'm terrribbbblle at it, but a set of clubs is something every guy should own, and let's face it, I won't get better if I don't play more often (at least that's what I keep telling myself)

6) I think the College World Series just isn't the same without the Horns in it. It's been three years since they made it to Omaha, and I just can't get into the tourney if the aren't there. Let's go, Augie, I miss the CWS.

5) I think teaching summer school will be verrry interesting, to say the least. It begins Monday, and as of now, I only have one student registered for the class I'm teaching. One student doesn't seem so bad, but for four hours every day? I dunno, folks.

4) I think Lost is incredible. I know I'm speaking to the choir here, but Kayla and I are knocking out at least two episodes a day on DVD, and honestly, I'm having dreams about it. I dream that I'm on the island, working in the hatch, and doing stranded beach stuff that the rest of the cast does. Everything that is, except going deep into the jungle just for the heck of it. I mean, really, have you seen how these crazy fools you know, KILL people?!!? Consider me content with staying safe in the hatch, taking showers, eating real food, only emerging during the afternoon to go bodysurfing for a few hours. Anyway, we're about a quarter through season 2 and should finish it and season three by the end of the month.

3) I think I'll either be getting another Chuck Klosterman book (finished IV yesterday. Very very entertaining) or a John Krakauer book for my next reading. Suggestions as always, are welcome.

2) Kevin Garnett is crazy. No really, he's cuh-rrraaaa-zzzzzeeeeee.

1) One more video, just cuz. I think you'll like it.


-Twig

Shea Slip-N-Slide

Finally, I have something good to post about the Rangers. This video is from their Saturday rain-out in Shea Stadium. Looks like Kinsler, Hamilton, Bradley, and some other Rangers had a little fun with the tarp during the delay. The best part of the video is the Mets fans reaction to the whole deal. "Let's go, Rangers!" clap, clap, clapclapclap. "Let's go, Rangers!" clap, clap, clapclapclap...



Hopefully this play day will boost the Rangers to the good side of .500

-Twig

Whirlwind Touring

Much apologies for the layoff, JAT fan(s). The wife and I were in the Land of a Thousand Dust Storms, sometimes known as Lubbock, Texas, looking for (and finding) a nifty little apartment that shall be our home until springish 2010.

We began our trip last Friday afternoon, driving three hours to my hometown of Belton. We stayed in the Big B until Sunday afternoon, even finding time to stop by this guy's house on Saturday for a round of golf, the card game. After church on Sunday we headed north and got to Lubbock around eight. We stayed the night and spent pretty much all of Monday looking at all the apartments that we could. After narrowing our choices down to two, we went with the Dakota Arms Apartments. Very weird name, I know, but what can ya do, right? After dropping a few bones on that deposit, we made our way south again, this time stopping in dear ole Abilene to stay with Kayla's cousin Lindsay and her husband, Jason. Oh yeah, Kayla's sister Bethany lives there, too.

Anywho, after staying an extra day just because we could, we finally made our way back to the Greater Houston Area yesterday evening. Eighteen hours of driving and over $120 of gas later, I'm ready to stay in one spot, at least for a day or two.

Besides traversing Texas, Kayla and I, along with her parents, have gotten really into watching the TV show Lost, on DVD. Kayla bought us the first season for my birthday last month, and we've since purchased seasons 2 & 3, so we have plenty of Lost ahead of us. I know we're a little late to the party, but I now realize why it's such a popular show, and can completely relate to how people get so sucked into it.

That about sums up things for me, if you need anything, I'll be the guy in the driveway washing pounds of red dirt off his car.

-Twig

The Dog Days Are Here...

I'd love to write a nice blog about how happy I am that the Rangers are (hovering around) .500, but I can't justify praising a team that consitently gives up 10+ runs, even if they manage to win a few of the barnburners.

Since I'm not in a Ranger-writing mood, here's a plug about the book I'm currently reading, IV: a Decade Of Curious People And Dangerous Ideas, by Chuck Klosterman. IV is a collection of essays and articles written by Klosterman over the past 6-7 years from publications such as Esquire, New York Times Magazine, ESPN the magazine, and others.

Here's his intro for the chapter 'Nemesis', written for Esquire in 2004:

Think of someone who is your friend (do not select your best friend, but make sure the person is someone you would classify as "considerably more than an aquaintance").
This friend is going to be attacked by a grizzly bear.
Now, this person will survive this bear attack; that is guaranteed. There is a 100% chance that your friend will live. However, the extent of his injuries is unknown; he might receive nothing but a few superficial scratches, but he also might lose a limb (or mulitiple limbs). He might recover completely in twenty-four hours with nothing but a great story, or he might spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Somehow, you have the ability to stop this attack from happening. You can magically save your friend from the bear. But his (or her) salvation will come a a peculiar price: if you choose to stop the bear, it will always rain. For the rest of your life, wherever you go, it will be raining. Sometimes it will pour and sometimes it will drizzle-but it will never not be raining. But it won't rain over the totality of the earth, nor will the hydrological cycle be disrtupted; these storm clouds will be isolated, and they will focus entirely on your specific whereabouts. You will never see the sun again.
Do you stop the bear and accept a lifetime of rain?

Dang. I don't know. I want the friend to be alright, but non-stop rain kinda stinks, too. Am I a jerk for possibly not saving the friend, just so I can avoid perpetual rain? I mean, it's possible that the friend walks away with a cool scar and great story, right? But how awful would it be if he looses an arm, a leg, and has to have reconstructive surgery on his face becuase it's mangled so bad? If push came to shove, I don't think I could not save him, but still, it's quite the quandary.

For the record, Klosterman doesn't follow up with his answer what he believe is the "right" thing to do, so I didn't get too much closure. Because of that, I'd like to know y'alls opinion on what you would do. I'm pretty sure there's no right or wrong answer, but I'd like to know what others think of this interesting proposition.

-Grizzly Twig

Confession Time

I write this on a Sunday morning: as I got ready to go to church, I felt a burden that had been weighing on me for quite a while. It is time for me to make a confession. Even though I'm not Catholic, I feel this is the right time to do the right thing.

Last December, I did a Top-Ten (or so) list of my favorite college football uniforms. This two part list was something I had a lot of fun putting together. I have a deep affinity for all things uniform-related, but I'm afraid I let bias and some questionable judgment get in the way of putting together a quality list. Although I did put a little bit of thought and time into doing this list, I didn't think it through or plan it out well enough, and frankly you, the reader, are the one who has suffered most from my lackluster effort. For that, I sincerely apologize.

For every one's sake, (or anyone who cares) here's the real list of my top-ten most favoritest all-time college football uniforms. And yes, it actually has bugged me for six months now:

10. USC Trojans
9. Ohio State Buckeyes*
8. Georgia Bulldogs
7. Florida State Seminoles
6. LSU Tigers
5. Penn State Nittany Lions
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Michigan Wolverines
2. Texas Longhorns
1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Whew, that feels much better, glad to get that issue straightened out.

Also, I realize I'm a week late with this, but last Saturday, May 24th, I attended the Houston Astros game, along with J. Thomas Scott, and my old roomate Garrett. I won't get into too much detail about the game, since it's been 8 days since it took place, but I will say this: the ending was the coolest way to end a baseball game I've ever seen, live or on TV. Yes, that includes the walk-off home-run. There, I said it.

-Twig

*I realize that Ohio State went from the worst list to the best list, but truth is, I do like their look; I did like it a little more a few years ago, before the shoulder-stripe change, but that's just being picky.