Thursday, October 21, 2004

After more than 80 years of being stuffed into their lockers by the Yankees, after eight decades of receiving atomic wedgies, after generations of walking around with big "Kick Me" signs on their backs and most importantly, after completing the most extraordinary comeback in baseball history, the Boston Red Sox have finally overcome their hated nemesis to reach the World Series, routing New York 10-3 in Game 7 Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

This winter, even if they lose the World Series, Boston fans can take solace in the sweet knowledge that their team somehow pulled off something truly historic, something unprecedented. In the previous 100 postseasons, no team had ever fallen behind 3-0 in a series and rallied to force a seventh game, let alone win it. The Red Sox not only did both, they crushed the Yankees, beating them with a pitcher who required sutures in his ankle in Game 6 and then routing them in a finale that was never close.

Raise a pint at "Cheers." The Red Sox are American League champs and the World Series opens Saturday at Fenway Park.

The Boston Red Sox are the new symbol of inspirational comebacks and the New York Yankees are the new symbol of choking collapse.

And as for Alex Rodriguez, the $252 million superstar acquired in the winter's biggest trade and the focal point of much of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry this year? He went hitless in four at-bats and didn't get the ball out of the infield.

Apparently, George Steinbrenner didn't spent enough money on this team.

The game got so out of hand that chants of "Let's Go Red Sox" drowned out the Yankees fans during the late innings. Or perhaps those were just the cheers echoing in from the Boston bars.