Okay, I get it. Yankees fans do not like (see hate) the Red Sox, and everyone from New England does not like (see loathes) the Yankees. But come on, can’t the bad blood be shelved, one day a year, during the All-Star game? If not, can’t everyone at least behave like self-respecting adults? Given the mindless booing of the young Red Sox closing pitcher Jonathan Papelbon at last night’s game—I’d say not.
The sad behavior from Yankees fans actually began before last night’s game, when, during the All-Star parade that afternoon, Papelbon was viciously heckled by New York fans as he sat next to his pregnant wife riding up Sixth Avenue. To shorten a long story, Yankee fans were peeved, compliments of an article by Daily News sports writer Mark Feinsand, that Papelbon had impugned their beloved Mariano Rivera in an interview on Monday, implying that he, not Rivera, deserved to come in to close the game on Tuesday night. But then, as Tuesday arrived, it was beginning to look more and more like Feinsand had taken Papelbon’s comments out of context. The damage, though, was done.
By the time Papelbon and fellow Boston manager Terry Francona arrived at the house that Ruth built for the game, Yankees fans had inexorably turned against them. Both men were booed during the normally civil All-Star lineup introductions, followed by Papelbon getting his own special treatment in the 8th inning when he came in to protect the 2-2 tie. At one point, during Papelbon’s relief stint, in between the cycles of boos, the crowd loudly chanted, “Overrated!” only to witness him blowing a high fastball past the batter for an out. Never mind if he threw it back in their face, no one should boo the guy who is pitching for their own damn side.
You have probably come to the conclusion that I am either a Red Sox fan or some kind of Yankees fan who hates their own team in the same way that the people who published the Obama New Yorker cover probably hate the US, I am neither. I am a proud Yankees fan, except when I see my brethren booing guys who are giving their all trying to make the last All-Star game at Yankee Stadium the best one ever.
4 Comments
My own biases lead me to say such statements as, “I would expect no less from most avid sports fans.”
Retardo, you are absolutely right. Most Yankees fans that actually go to the games on a regular basis and were probably at the All-Star Game are meatheads with pea brains.
Most Yankees fans, IMO, display a false sense of entitlement that no other fans in American sports seem to have. They think their team can do no wrong and everyone else eats taint. Johnny Damon is a perfect example; vilified while playing for the Sox and extolled as soon as he came to the Yanks.
Of course, go to England and you’ll find Gooners and Scousers have that same sort of attitude.
You left out the most important part of the story! Papelbon told a reporter from the Daily News that he should be named the American League closer.
Then, anticipating a horrible response from NY sports fans, he argued that his comment was taken out of context.
There are only few rules when dealing with NY sports- 1) don’t make fun of Jeter and 2) don’t ever, EVER criticize the greatest closer in the long history of the game.
Imagine the response from Red Sox fans if someone like Jason Giambi said that he was a better hitter than David Ortiz or Ted Williams.
Papelbon is a moron. He deserved everything he got. They should have pelted him with rotten fruit at the parade.
PS– Johnny Damon was not immediately accepted by Yankee fans. In fact, he was known as Johnny Douchebag for his first six months in NY.
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