Ten things I learned from World Series
Posted in Red Sox on Nov 1st, 2007 2 Comments »
It was an eventual World Series, in that the picture of the Red Sox became clearer and clearer as the playoffs and World Series grew old.
The Red Sox looked as good as they’ve EVER looked for a sustained, important period. And so many players contributed, increasing the potential story count exponentially.
Anyways, here it goes.
Ten things I learned from the World Series:
1. Red Sox fans are not normal.
I realize this is not a revelation, but especially in Denver, I saw how devoted fans really are. And I’m not talking about New Englanders. Being a Red Sox fan is practically a birthright. I’m talking about fans from other parts of the country who have no connections to Greater Boston. It was astounding. They love the Red Sox.
I was talking to ex-Sox second baseman Marty Barrett for a must-see-and-read-and-review special section we are producing on Saturday and he said he was on a cruise with a few couples near Central America.
“Ninety percent of the people on the ship were rooting for the Red Sox,” said Barrett. “We would head to the bar just before the game and almost everybody loves the Sox. It’s amazing. I think people just like the way they play the game, with class.”
2. Fenway Park is an incredible piece of property but …
Coors Field was great. The scenery, with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, was breath-taking. But what was even better was the facility. It had a Camden Yards, old-school feel to it, yet was huge, clean and had an open space feel like Gillette Stadium.
Fenway is great. The feeling of having the fans on top of the field is unlike any other place. But as Yankees third base coach Larry Bowa said, “There’s just no room here. I love it. I really do. But everything is cramped. You bump into everybody.”
When Coors is packed, with 49,000 fans standing and shouting, it was hard to hear yourself think.
I realize Fenway is here to stay, but a nicer, larger, cleaner facility would be better.
Just my opinion.
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