Respecting the Enemy: Boston Red Sox

Too often in sport and in life we are negative. Too often we are hateful and too often we focus on bad stories. When I started this site, I wanted to point out the good guys in sport. However, I too sometimes fall into the captivity of negativity. I have posted my fair of negative stories as well. Here in America though, we are better than that. We do not need to physically fight for our team in sports. It is not necessary to hurt others to get our point across. While disagreeing with somebody, we can be civil and we can show respect. Therefore, I decided to do a little project.

This project was to point out likable things about the sports teams that I cannot stand. I decided to pick the three professional sports teams that I disliked the most and point out three brilliant people in their organization. Three people that I would love to have in my organization. Three people that I respect. I will say why I do not like that organization, but also point to brilliant people in that organization. This will be done for the Seattle Seahawks, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Red Sox.

First, we did the Seattle Seahawks. Then, we did the New York Yankees.
Today we discuss the Boston Red Sox and their bandwagon nation.

The Red Sox must have really done something to pass the Yankees on my disliked teams list. This fanbase is so incredibly annoying to me. I will admit that I actually at one time felt bad for the Red Sox and their "curse." There was a time that I thought if the Red Sox win one, maybe they will stop being such miserable sad people. Then they won....

After the win in the 2004 World Series the Red Sox Nation has been out of control. Everybody is all of a sudden a Red Sox fan. People that never knew one person on the Red Sox are all of a sudden diehard fans that were long suffering. Red Sox Nation is the biggest bandwagon of all-time it is unbearable.

Not just that, many of their fans are just rude. They try to take over stadiums and boo fans of the home team. I was at a Red Sox-Rays game in Tampa in High School and they shouted at kids and would not stop with the "Let's Go Red Sox" and said this is Red Sox Country. They call Camden Yards "Fenway South" and are just rude to fans there as well. At an Orioles-Red Sox game I was once kicked by an elderly woman for cheering on my team striking out David Ortiz in the 9th inning to win the game. Can you imagine a fan from any other fanbase in America do that? I can not.

Speaking of David Ortiz, he is the least likable athlete in sport for me. Ortiz took steroids. He was on the 2003 list, was implicated elsewhere, and was player X in the Mitchell Report. How Ortiz gets a pass absolutely blows my mind and drives me crazy. This guy is not a good example and he is the face of the Red Sox franchise. It really makes the team difficult to like for me.

However, even though I dispise the Red Sox, it is not all bad. There are a few likable people in the organization.
Here are some people I currently like for the Boston Red Sox.

Koji Uehara

The Baltimore Orioles are the team that brought Koji Uehara over to the United States. Koji was a great Oriole too and he contributed to the team. Most Orioles fans loved Koji. None of us can forget either that the Koji trade to the Texas Rangers is what brought us Chris Davis. Without Koji, we don't get Chris Davis and his 53 homer season. In addition to Chris Davis, we were able to get Tommy Hunter in that trade.

After the trade to Texas, Koji clearly wanted to be an Oriole still. He wanted to come back. This guy asked to come back when he was a free agent. The Orioles were not willing to pay what Boston was willing to pay for Koji. That cannot be held against Koji. Uehara wanted to be an Oriole, loved his time in Baltimore, and got us Chris Davis. Nothing but love from the Birdland faithful for Koji despite which team he ends up on.

Stephen Drew

There is one other automatic forgivable for being on a team I do not like. One being Koji's situation and this one being the former Nole connection. Stephen Drew is one of the best baseball players in Florida State history. The only baseball player I have seen play for FSU that was better as a Seminole than Stephen Drew was Buster Posey. Stephen Drew was absolutely incredible for the Noles and did nothing but produce. The guy was simply fantastic for Florida State.

Because of his production for Florida State and the fact that he is a Seminole, I vowed to always support Stephen Drew. Therefore, even though he is a Boston Red Sox I still love me some Stephen Drew. Not as much as when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but I am still a fan of Stephen Drew.

Brock Holt

This last one is not to the same extent as the first two. However, I must admit it. I really like the way Brock Holt plays baseball. I hate that he is a Red Sox, but I like Brock Holt. The guy plays with so much energy and intensity and really brings something to the lineup. This is a guy I would like to end up in Birdland in a few years. I hope he keeps playing this way in years to come.

-Noland