Classless Sawx

Is it just me or does it seem like every player that comes to the Red Sox turns into a big obnoxious jerk when it comes to the Yankees. The rivalry between New York and Boston has become legendary. People talk about it, think about it, and invariably get caught up in it whether they want to or not. There's been the Yankees-Red Sox, Knicks-Celtics, Rangers-Bruins, and believe it or not Giants-New England Patriots. But at the center of it is baseball, there is no more heated rivalry in sports. But there's an issue here that continues to raise its ugly head and that's one of classlessness. Full disclosure compels me to tell you that I am a long time season ticket holder for the Yankees, but this is not about the rivalry, this is about class, style and appropriateness. It's hard to root for other team's players in such an intense environment but over the years the Red Sox have had guys that have demonstrated class and style and made you respect their competitiveness. The original Derek Jeter years ago was probably Carl Yastremski, a great competitor who kept his mouth shut and tried to win on the field not with his mouth. Then there was the quiet Dwight Evans Mr.Cannon himself always gunning guys out at home plate, and made it seem like his job not his destiny. Fred Lynn was the epitome of quiet gracefulness in centerfield. MVP in his first year and hard not to like. Then you have the other side of the coin Pedro Martinez, Bill Lee, Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett and of course there was Carlton Fisk always taking shots at Thurman Munson the heart of the Yankees. Maybe its just because I bleed Pinstripes but I don't seem to remember Yankees constantly trashing the Red Sox players on a personal level and talking about how bad the organization is. No matter how successful the Red Sox are they can't resist trashing the Yankees. Maybe its the Big Brother Little Brother syndrome that they are constantly trying to overcome. Maybe it's knowing no matter how much they win they will never replace the New York Yankees as the iconic franchise that they are. Coming back from a three-game deficit in the ALCS to make history and going to win the World Series still wasn't good enough for the Red Sox to keep their mouths shut.They spent the entire winter that year trashing Yankees.(inferiority complex anyone), and for those who care the St Louis Cardinals are clearly the next most successful franchise in baseball .The most recent example of Boston's lack of class was last night's game were Napoli called Tanaka an idiot. Do they really need to go there. Yes Tanaka made a mistake, a bad pitch selection, squared it up for Napoli and Napoli was fortunate enough to jack it out to win the game. Sawx win a big game to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. Instead of being gracious, classy and grateful he turned it into a negative trashing of a guy he doesn't even know, a quiet man who has demonstrated nothing but class himself. Most athletes would know better than to mess with the gods and be happy that Tanaka didn't book him and he got away with one to win a big game for his team. But that's not the Red Sox way and it never has been. One of these days they'll realize that the only real idiots in sports and especially baseball are the Boston Red Sox...

Doing Things The Right Way

Well the rangers did it, they are in the Stanley Cup Finals as Wales Conference Champions. Because of the exhausting, physically combative, violent nature of the the sport you almost feel being Wales Conference Champions would be enough. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Their next test will be their toughest, maybe that's why it's been said the Stanley Cup is the toughest Championship to win in Sports, works for me. The Rangers won because they were a more talented, deeper, more disciplined team. Their excellent defense and all star goalie didn't hurt either. In short they are a complete team, add to that a laser like focus and commitment by all the players and a great job by the coaching staff and bingo Wales Conference Champions. The series had it's share of ugly goonish incidents. The dark side of hockey is always just one cheap shot or goonish hit away. If a fourth line player takes a star off the ice with him it's considered a good thing  no matter how he does it. Hockey rule #1 if the other team is better and has more talent, level the playing field by gooning it up. The NHL allows it and it's truly a black mark on a sport that in it's purest form is truly a marvel to watch. The skill set alone makes most of us realize we'll never be hockey players. One final thought before I continue to praise the boys in Blue.  All Great organizations usually have the same qualities, winning over time takes pride, commitment, leadership and class. Yankees, Celtics, Packers, Canadians.. Oops let me correct myself. until this series I always considered Montreal the class of the NHL. All those Cups, Guy Lafluer, Ken Dryden, Larry Robinson, Scotty Bowman etc. They were always considered a team that would beat you with there talent, superior skating and speed, this year's addition was anything but that. Three minutes into game #1 Broussard was almost killed with a late hit. Subban cold cocked one of the rangers behind their net just for the hell of it and on and on. It almost worked, the Rangers eventually wore down and started taking bad penalties ( see Rule # 1). Maybe after the first 2 games Montreal realized they were over matched. The Rangers have won all of their series with the qualities that win all championships. Talent, discipline, execution, and heart. Win or lose in the Finals the Rangers have won with Class and been an example of how to do it right. Maybe Montreal can Learn something from them.