People. Stop asking who I'm rooting for in this series. While I'm certainly not the most popular person ever, there's something about a Tribe vs. Sox playoff series that makes everyone I've ever known crawl out of the woodwork and tell me why I'd be an embarrassment for rooting for one or the other. For the record, when I first moved to Boston, I actually would go to Fenway Park to cheer for the Tribe on their away games. I vowed I would never become one of "those people," (and I still contend that Sox fans never wanted to win that World Series) but eventually became everything I said I would never be.
So. Now I'm really far from Boston, but still follow them pretty closely. But, the team I followed for 20 plus years is making a run, and it's been really fun to watch. I think I lose either way. If I stay with Boston, I'm somehow ignoring my upbringing, if I return to support the Tribe, then I'm a frontrunner who only follows them when they're winning.
So, the plan is to try to root for Cleveland, and honor my Ohio roots (plus I'm in Ohio for the first two games). The reason I say "try" is that I have some fear that once DO or Youki or Manny comes up, I won't really be able to root against them, particularly after it took me a fair amount of time to sit down and even learn the names of the guys on the Tribe roster (thank God for Kenny Lofton). Oh, and when Wake pitches? Yeah, I'm rooting for him. That's not negotiable.
Finally, a brief comment on the Lebron James "scandal." Regardless of how you feel, traitor or not, the following is the crappiest excuse I've ever heard: "well, the Indians sucked when he was growing up, so it's okay that he picked another team." Yeah, he was born in 1984. That means he was 10 when they went to the World Series. And 12 when they lost to Florida. The Indians didn't suck when he was a kid. The Indians sucked when I was a kid. I think they finished 3rd in their division once or twice. We used to show up an hour before the game only to secure fantastic seats on the third base line with a section to ourselves. To cheer for who, Cory Snyder? Joe Carter? And we thought they were going to take us all the way. Not buying that excuse for a second.
Go Tribe. I think.
1 comment:
I see your dilema, and I'm sure it'll be easier once it's over, but pick a team and go with it.
If you're ashamed of being a frontrunner, then you chalk it up to a mistake you made in your past and become a Tribe-first fan that follows the Sox when they're not playing each other. This year, you'll be a frontrunner, but when they slip behind Detroit, or Minnie make sure you don't ditch 'em, again.
Or, you just stay in Red Sox Nation. Reflect back to your drum beating days, but recognize that your heart was ripped out years ago, and has found a new home.
You should always have a priority of teams as a fan, for just this instance. (and make sure that the Yankees are at the bottom)
Go Sox!
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