Boston Sports Then and Now

My love for the #8 began with Yaz.

What’s your favorite number?

Why?

People have hundreds of stories or reasons, but one of the top choices is probably sports.

I have been crazy for the #8 since I was a little kid.  When I was a little kid, I LOVED the Red Sox (probably on Jared Carrabis level). I recall spending summer days in my family’s screen house watching the Sox on a little black and white television.

My favorite player was you guessed it, #8 Carl Yastrzemski. I loved YAZ and I am not sure why. I just gravitated towards him and have been a fan of his ever since (I have bought my share of Yaz shirts over the years).

I still remember vividly watching Yaz day on TV during the ’83 season which proved to be his last.  It was such an emotional and wonderful day. He received many gifts on that day at Fenway Park. I can still see him sitting in the rocking chair that was presented to him (I even cut out all the pictures from the Boston Globe).

Who can forget his lap around Fenway Park slapping hands with all the fans?

That’s how my love affair for the #8 began.

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Everyone outside New England thinks we are a bunch of greedy, spoiled cry babies.

Ok this is year two without a championship, yes this is NOT a typo!

It’s year TWO without a championship in Boston perhaps the Bruins or probably the Celtics can end this “drought.”

After the Red Sox and Patriots took an early exit out of the playoffs this year, Boston sports fans are saying, “Whoa is me!”

Are you kidding me?

I am a HUGE Boston sports fan. I eat, breathe, and sleep the Bruins and Patriots. I am a casual fan of the Celtics and Red Sox. I may not watch every Sox and C’s game but I keep tabs on ALL four major sports teams.

But folks we are GREEDY!

After 2001, we packed up the U-Haul and moved from the run down shack in Loserville. The Patriots(x3), Red Sox(x2), and the Celtics(x1) hired the moving vans and bought us property in the “City of Champions.” Now in 2010, we have a fat swanky mansion in Spoiled Rottenville.

People, the Patriots and Sox realistically can not win it EVERY single year!

As Americans and especially Bostonians/New Englanders, we all have  SHORT TERM MEMORIES (don’t even get me going about the American flags after 9/11)!

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It was a frigid day on January 10, 2004.

This Sunday will mark the sixth anniversary of the “Ice Bowl” at Foxboro stadium. The Patriots met the Tennessee Titans in one of the coldest playoff games in NFL History.

The temperature only reached 4 degrees and with the wind chill it was 7 below zero.

And I was there.

I will go to playoff games in ANY weather.

Regular season games are different story. I am in full blown woos mode.

I rather sell these games than sit in the rain or cold.

But the playoffs are for all the marbles.

The Patriots faced the Titans in a divisional playoff game on January 10, 2004.

Of course the game was on a Saturday night so the sunshine wasn’t an option to heat up our frozen backfields.

It was going be cold. Or in Boston speak, Wicked Friggin’ Cold!

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I now know how Scott Norwood feels.

I now know what the Buffalo Bills and Scott Norwood feel like. Missing out on your dreams by the slimmest of margins.

They have wide right.

I have .05 points. Yes, that’s five one hundredths of a point.

I have never won a fantasy football championship.

I could be considered the biggest fantasy football bridesmaid of all time.

A half a dozen trips to the big show and I have nothing to show for it. But, this one hurt more than all the others combined.

I was playing my biggest rival. Good versus Evil. Darth versus Luke.

Against the man who had the audacity to pour a beer on me at a bachelor party.

Not spill, literally pour.

I was trying to rid tyranny from the Earth! I wanted revenge!

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What could be better?

JF88 was my man crush during a night of Fantasy Football Ecstasy.

Winning the lotto?

Or having nine mistresses like Tiger Woods?

Doesn’t that qualify as a harem?

I digress.

The only thing better than winning in reality competitive sports is winning at fantasy competitive sports.

As you read from previous entries, I have a great team but I have been taking on more water than the Titanic.

After a 6-2 start, Steaming Cup of Joe lost 3 of its next 4 to stand at 7-5. This included a 2.3 point heartbreaking loss due to Lendale White vulturing a touchdown from CJ28 (Chris Johnson) and Kris Brown missing a field goal which could of sent the Texans-Titans game to overtime.

That one left a bad taste in my mouth.

The ‘Bury league is the most competitive league I have been in. Nine teams were still alive for six playoff spots going into the last regular season game.

Who would be left standing after the dust settled?

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Aaron Rodgers threw 348 yards and 3 touchdowns on Turkey Day.

Yes Fantasy Football ruined my Turkey Day.

My opponent didn’t give me any thanks at all. I guess that’s what happens when you go against Donald Driver, Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, and Miles Austin when they play the pathetic Lions and lowly Raiders.

No favorable matchups for me!

After a painful loss last week by 2.3 points, I am now only 1 game up in the division at 7-4 after losing 2 out of 3 games.

Thanks to Kris Brown for botching his tying field goal versus the Titans. If you made it, I would have won and could have enjoyed my holiday more.

Kickers even ruin fantasy football when they miss a kick!

Thanks for nothing!

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