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

Favorite MLB Players

I wanted to talk a bit about my favorite MLB players. This will help you get an idea of who I like/liked in the game of baseball. For this list I will only post players who I have seen play, so players after 1990 (I was born in '87, but obviously can't remember those). I will also only pick each player one so I will not pick Griffey for Seattle and Cincinnati. I will try to pick each person for the team they were with longest to keep it interesting.

Atlanta
Deion Sanders
It's primetime. The two sport athlete and perhaps best Seminole all around athlete ever. Perhaps best all around athlete ever period. Deion was the best.

Arizona
Stephen Drew
FSU legend. What is not to like?

Baltimore
Cal Ripken Jr.
How can it not be Cal? I did love Brady and Devo though. Cal was everything that was right with baseball in the 90s and perhaps saved the game.

Boston
JD Drew
One of FSU's greatest players ever. One of the only tolerable Red Sox ever.


Cincinnati
Eric Davis
This guy was enjoyable to watch. Loved him in Cincinatti and Baltimore.

Chicago Cubs
Jerry Hairston Jr.
One of my least favorite trades was sending Hairston to Chicago for Sosa.

Chicago White Sox
Frank Thomas
The Big Hurt was the coolest baseball nickname. He absolutely killed the ball.

Cleveland
Kenny Lofton
Loved the spectacular catches.

Colorado
Todd Helton
I like Helton and not much else from that team.

Detroit
Justin Verlander
One of the harder picks. Love Verlander and couldn't think of one I liked more besides Pudge. Can't use Pudge twice.

Houston
Craig Biggio
My aunt went to college with Craig Biggio. One of the all-time greats.

Kansas City
Bo Jackson
Bo knows baseball. Who didn't love Bo Jackson?

Los Angeles Angels
Tim Salmon
Just always like him.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Eddie Murray
Murray didn't do as much with the Dodgers, but his Oriole history made me root for him while he was there.





Miami
Randy Choate
Former FSU pitcher gives him an edge over the other Marlins.

Milwaukee
JJ Hardy
I always liked JJ Hardy even before he came to Baltimore. I was overjoyed when he came our way.

Minnesota
Kirby Puckett
I loved the bowling ball belly and him still being athletic. Love the effort and joy he brought to the game. Love that he stuck with the Twins his whole career.

Montreal (eventhough the expos no longer exist, I added them in addition to the Nats because I remember them)
Vladimir Guerrero
Loved him in Montreal with his cannon. Not so much in Baltimore.

New York Mets
Billy Wagner
Wagner was from VA and was lights out as a closer. I love how he kept battling back.

New York Yankees
Mike Mussina
I never hated Mouse like many O's fans did. Always supported him while rooting against the dang yankees.

Oakland
Rickey Henderson
Greatest leadoff hitter of all time. My second favorite leadoff hitter (Brady was #1)

Philadelphia
Jaime Moyer
Jaime Moyer is the man. You have seen me post on Moyer already. Incredible longevity.

Pittsburgh
Brian Giles
This was probably the toughest pick for me. I have not liked many Pirates. I liked Brian Giles though.



San Diego
Tony Gwynn
He did all the little things and he did them with a smile.


San Fransisco
Buster Posey
I took a class with Posey at FSU. He is a superstar. Anybody that follows FSU baseball has to love Buster Posey.

Seattle
Ken Griffey Jr.
What is there to say about Jr. that hasn't already been said? The guy was the pure athlete in an era of cheaters. Griffey is the gold standard.


St. Louis
John Mabry
Mabry was actually my favorite baseball player in his time. Mostly because he was a distant relative, but Mabry is a class act. He sent some baseballs to my brothers and sister when we found out we were related. He was actually a solid baseball player eventhough he is best known for being the other first baseman in St. Louis. I will post more on Mabry at another time. Class Act.

Tampa Bay
Paul Sorrento
The only real reason I love Sorrento is that he was an FSU legend. When I found out players went to FSU or I saw them play there I rooted for them nonstop. Sorrento was a great baseball player in his day.

Texas
Ivan Rodriguez
I posted about Rodriguez on his retirement. Best catcher of all time.

Toronto
Roberto Alomar
Robbie Alomar is the second best player I have seen play. The only one that was better was Griffey and it was pretty close. Alomar did everything amazing. It was a pleasure to see him play for the Orioles a couple of seasons.

Washington
Ryan Zimmerman
I'm not the biggest fan of anybody the Nationals have had. I do like Jerry Hairston, but I already used him. I decided to pick Zimmerman because I love the way he plays and if I could pick anyone on the Nationals roster out of position players, he would be it.


-Noland