"Dog -- I can't
believe how awful of a user experience Tickets.com provides. The Red Sox really
need to drop them as their ticket provider. They can't even come close to
meeting the demand. Not to mention their system is full of holes, so all these
ticket brokers get in the back-door and load up on tickets (then charge a ton of
money for them on eBay). Some brokers even sell advice on how to beat the system
on eBay. I've heard horror stories from several programmers that used to work in
Tickets.com Wallingford, CT headquarters. They would talk about how screwed up
and hacked up their system was. Ugh.. this is terrible...
If you actually
look at the source code of the ticket page, you can see all the hidden variables
that get passed at server time. Anyone with any technical expertise could easily
figure out the correct variables to pass to the server, thus back-dooring the
entire "virtual waiting room".
If Tickets.com had their act together, all of this would be done on the server
side, and the client (the web-user) shouldn't be able to see any of the code.
Instead, Tickets.com has produced an easily back-doorable system so that ticket
brokers can scoop up all the tickets, while other Sox fans and I sit here today,
wating in virtual waiting rooms, cursing with frustration.
Regards, Carmine"
No passports
needed.
12.12.04: More on
Nationgate:
"Members of
the world's largest baseball fraternity have seen videotape of that last out
in the 2004 World Series several million times. Face it, Red Sox faithful
cannot get enough of the moment, and why should they? After all, has any
other band of baseball brethren suffered as much at the hands of so many for
so long? Not even close. This is the team that has birthed the most loyal
fans in the game. Having said all that is why current Red Sox management
and, in large part, Major League Baseball, should be ashamed of themselves
for nothing more than gouging these fans for another fast buck.
In Thursday’s editions of the Boston newspapers — there it was. As promised,
or as threatened, your own official “Red Sox Nation” card designating you as
a, of course, card carrying member of this fraternity. Only 10 bucks, and
for your hard earned cash that isn’t being spent on tickets or concessions,
you get a shot at trinkets and throwaway toys that were mass produced for
about a buck forty.
Isn’t it bad enough people are taking out fourth and fifth mortgages to
attend a single baseball game? Isn’t it bad enough that a soft drink and hot
dog are about equal in price to a coronary bypass? There will be buyers, of
course, but this is a terrible idea from a sport that has tinkled on it’s
fans for some time. Perhaps if they are going to sell such baubles, how
about donating every nickel to the Jimmy Fund? Or at the very least, taking
$10 off a ticket to a home game next season.
The John Henry-led Red Sox have shown themselves to be a first class
organization that cares about their fans, and I applaud them for it. Here’s
hoping this is nothing more than a momentary lapse of good judgment."
-- Ed Berliner's CN8 Sports Pulse, Fastest 60 Seconds, Boston Press Box
Stock answer.
If somebody wants
a census of RSN Citizens nationwide or measure interest in the Red Sox, just
have the Sox offer stock and see how fast it would sell out.
The Celtics, Indians and Packers each sold stock over the years. The Celtics
stock initially went for only $17 per share, slightly more than a $10 annual
membership card in MLB-RSN. Possibly the Celtics IPO helped finance the Fleet
Center? The Indians must have used their stock money for the "Jake by the Lake."
How much of the revenue from a stock sale would MLB take? Did the Indians have
to share their revenues with MLB? These are questions that need answers.
OK, maybe Sox Stock could get a little pricey even at $17 per share because
there would have to be minimum purchases - like say 50 shares. Otherwise the
bookkeeping would be a nightmare.
Each season, we RSN Citizens see the Yankees buy more high priced free agents
and their payroll climb over $200 million. Theo wouldn't have to burn up his
calculator wrestling with new contracts versus a budget limitation . . . or . .
. use the money for a New Fenway? You're right the Sox are the most popular team
- there are more and more fans everyday now that we won the Series. Most every
Sox fan would really enjoy owning a little piece of their team - even if it's
only 50 or 100 shares, even if there's never a financial dividend, just as long
as the franchise is strong with more latitude to make deals and operate.
I've suggested this several times via the Sox website but never got a response.
As someone recently said "Why not us?" even selling stock already. It has been
done before! -- J.V."
Taking it to
the grave.
"I’m a former
Townie and a Red Sox fan now living in Virginia Beach. I read the Sportsmen of
the Year article in SI and was touched by an idea expressed by one of the fans
in the article. It was a request for creation of a Red Sox fan grave marker. I
believe this is a wonderful idea and I would certainly purchase one for my dad,
John Castor, who was a faithful Sox fan (I can still see him sitting on the
floor, against the couch, swearing at the tv) but he never got to see the Sox
win; he was born in 1918, (but, I believe, had a hand from above in this year’s
incredible victory. Yes; I am Bostonian, Irish, Catholic and believe in that
kind of stuff!)
Anyway, is this something that is in the works? -- Majorie Doyle"
Don't fear the
reaper Margorie. iI you buy two fake World Series championship rings and 5
members of your family sign up to become Official Members of Red Sox
Nation, you get 50% off your Red Sox Grave. Call now, MLB Advanced Media
Operators are standing by...
Paul
Pierciaparra.
"Come on! Give
“Pierciaparra” a break! At least he wanted to play and made a difference in the
final outcome of the game. The image of Nomar sulking by himself on the bench at
Yankee Stadium will be forever engraved in my mind and everyone knew from that
point on that he had to go. Pierce isn’t going anywhere. It was his passion and
intensity that caused the mini-conflict between him and the Doc, not a lack
thereof as it was in Nomar’s case. Let’s not jump to conclusions…" -- Rick H.
Check off the
calendar.
2005 Red Sox schedule items
of interest:
- Critical period of the season -- Sep 6-21, playing 16 consecutive games without a day off against Angels, @Yankees, @Blue Jays, A's, and @Devil Rays
- Longest road trip of the year = 10 games w/ Tigers, Angels, Royals (not
bad compared to 2004)
- 4 times the team will have to play 14+ consecutive days without a day off
(seems pretty harsh)
- Only 3 west coast series all season (good)
- Playing most AL Central teams 6 times, but we get an extra 4 games against
the Tigers (good/bad?)
- Playing most AL West teams 9-10 times, but we miss 4 games against the M's
(bad)
- Playing 4 of 6 NL Central teams, but we miss last place Milwaukee
(bad) and wild-card Houston (good)
- Playing 1st place Atlanta and Philly in the NL East (bad), but not NYM
(bad) and last place DC (bad)
--
Lew
Here's Johnny.
The Globe's "Names
and Faces" Mark Shanahan writes in: "Hirsute Sox star Johnny Damon is writing a
book. No kidding. In fact, the center fielder's already taken pen to paper.
"More than a quickie, we see this as a classic," said his literary agent, Ian
Kleinert, whose other clients include Iggy Pop and Tommy Chong. "This will be an
inside chronicling of a legendary team." Crown Publishing calls Damon's book a
"major deal," which typically means the author's getting a high six-figure sum.
"I don't know if he'll talk about the hair," said Michael Cader, founder
of Publisher's Lunch, an industry newsletter. "Perhaps they're saving that for
the sequel." Kleinert said Damon is currently ruminating with veteran
ghostwriter Peter Golenbock , who's done books with Phil Esposito and several
ex-Yankees, including Ron Guidry, Graig Nettles, and Sparky Lyle. Best of all,
the as-yet untitled book will be launched in the Big Apple on April 5 the day
after the Sox open the season against the Yanks. "The idea was to do it in the
Yankees' backyard," said Kleinert. "And we'll have another event April 11 when
the Yanks are in Boston."
I don't know if
this is of any interest to you, but apparently Johnny signed a deal with Random
House publishing. This is the report that was published:
More on the same from emailer: "Red Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon's candid
"insider's account" from the time he joined the team to winning the World
Series, as well as ruminations on the team's future. Like Damon himself, to Rick
Horgan at Crown, in a major deal, by Ian Kleinert at The Literary Group in
affiliation with Impact Marketing Solutions."
My friend who
works for another publish company sent me this, and said hes probably going to
get some substantial cash. The second sentence doesn't really make sense, and my
friend said it was probably a typo, and that Crown is the publishing company
(part of Random House), Ian Kleinert is the agent who represented JD, and Rick
Horgan will be the editor."
Damon right on
cue: I love Johnny Damon. So deadpan funny he can get away with saying anything.
On Channel 7 Sports Xtra last, last Sunday night, he's got Wendy Nix down at his
house in Orlando touring the place, and Johnny says they are moving across the
lake soon, blah, blah, they show him in the hot tub with friends, he's got a
friggin' beer bong (I hadn't seen one since high school). As they tour his crib,
Wendy and Johnny go into the game room and Johnny shows off the pool table and
says "we haven't got much use out of this yet... the only thing that's been on
here (pool table) are these duffel bags... and Michelle."
Ft. Myers
rumblings.
12.2.04: "Fellow
Sox fan: A short note to let your readers know that another 600 seats will be
added this season at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, which is on top of the
additional seats that were added last year for Spring Training when the Nation
set an all-time franchise Florida attendance record. The idea of building a
replica Green Monster in Fort Myers remains in discussion and won't be up
standing in 2005. Friendly Reminder: Sox Spring Training tickets go on sale Dec.
7. For more of the latest scoop on planning a trip to Spring Training, you can
visit my Web site,
Modern Baseball where I annually update "A Fan's Guide To The Ultimate
Spring Training Experience" that “The Sporting News” has called "the electronic
guide to it all." GO SOX, and that Giambi is now a proven cheating bastard!
Regards, Joe Connor, Proud Red Sox fan since birth!"
And you thought
you heard the last of '1918.'
Be sure to check
out the upcoming independent short film -- "1918" - screening soon at local film
festivals. The film, based on a true story, tells the story of two life-long Red
Sox fans who miraculously land tickets to the World Series. On the way to the
big game, disaster strikes at every corner. Unlike other Sox-related films,
"1918" boasts a creative team composed of almost exclusively Massachusetts
natives. Cameras began rolling early during the 2004 ALCS and continued through
the World Series. The film, written and directed by Dartmouth native Jay Burke,
was shot on High-Definition and is currently shopping for a distributor. Check
out 1918film.com for more
info and screening dates.
"There really
isn't much curse talk in the film at all, the story is about two guys who
get tickets to the world series, and on the way there, some new disaster
keeps hitting. In other words, their fate in their journey kind of mirrors
what it has been like to be a fan over all these years. Right when you think
you're there... wham. Something hits.
1918 might be the working title, it might be the final title. We don't have
a better option right now...
The other thing is, we didn't know they were going to win it this year.
Before we shot, we thought 1918 would be appropriate, since it's almost this
albatross around Sox fans' neck (and these characters reek of that). The
story pretty much takes place in one day (minus the opening scene from
1986).
The title 1918 also puts us as almost guaranteed first listing in every film
festival guide, for the festivals we get in. That's great for exposure.
Also, people could *assume* what the content is, but that type of
double-entendre is actually good when you're marketing a film - and playing
with expectations (e.g. "I don't want to see a whiny film like that",
response, "no, it's not that way at all"). Talk is good. This film will get
out there, and we expect it to be a hit at the local film festival circuit
(Boston Independent, Nantucket, Rhode Island, Boston Int'l, etc) at the very
least. Eventually people will know what it's about by word of mouth, and
it's got locally-made written all over it. It's definitely pro-Sox and it
isn't whiny. So people have to come out and see it to see for themselves.
Oversensitivity as filmmakers for making sure everyone likes our title could
backfire as well. If you go least common denominator, you run the risk of
falling into a trap where the title is so neutral that it's not catchy. The
fact that you're asking is a good thing for us, I think!
Thanks again,
Jay"
Dirt Dog mom.
Oldie but goodie
10.9.04: "Good Morning, I have to send a note to tell you of a special woman who
often (when it comes to the Red Sox) leaves me wondering if I actually know her.
She is my mom of 26 years and an absolute nut who has left me shaking my head
all season with late night trips down to Boston, and even later night drives
back to Vermont after the game.
She is 50 some years old and when it comes to the sox she is like a little kid.
Yesterday was the ultimate in "head shaking antics" from my Mom.
Here is the story. She calls me 1 hour before game time and says that she is on
Storrow Drive and that she would be there soon. This was a little surprise to
me, as I did not even know she was going. Lucky her! 45 minutes later she calls
me back and says. "Don't worry, I just got in an accident on Storrow
Drive...have no idea where they are towing my car, but have caught a cab and
will be there for the first pitch." Lastly she said...Please, don't tell your
father!
I know you guys have a lot going on...but I thought that was a story only you
would appreciate. She is a fervent reader of your site (as am I) and would be
glad to know I sent out the props for her that I did to you.
Thanks...And GO SOX!"
2000 relaunch.
I have been a long
time reader of not only your site, but also when you posted over at SoSH, where
I am also a member. I am writing to you in the hopes that you could give my site
a link in your next section of Barks and Bites, or wherever you choose. I run www.redsox2000.com,
which is in effect an ezboard community with close to 300 members. We have been
low key for the past couple years, but have just launched a new site design that
looks great graphically. This new design incorporates the green monster,
along with a scoreboard at the base, and an animated citgo sign above the
monster seats. I encourage you to visit our site and see the great stuff
going on there. I am not writing to you just so our board's traffic
will increase, but because I think it is finally time for our quality
posters and page designers to finally get a little credit for their work over
the past couple years, as I have seen happen over with your endorsements of SoSH,
Royal Rooters, and RemDawg's among others.
Odds and ends.
Only four people
in total wrote in about Sean McDonough leaving. Not exactly an uprising, but a
testament to the Outstanding job that NESN's Don Orsillo does each and every
game. How much would you play to have a D.O. call of the World Series final out
on file over Joe Castig's under whelming call (which was more fitting for a
Twins win in June)? 10% of the unofficial RSN is deaf or hard of hearing. The
Red Sox will be getting back to them regarding closed captioning on Red Sox 2004
DVDs and the pre- and post-game shows. The Boston Police still owe us their
findings on the Victoria Snelgrove killing. Please visit
The Benjamin
Foundation, get a copy of Bambino's contract, and help fight Spinal Muscular
Atrophy (SMA). Now that they're through spamming the internet, check out
Call of the Green Monster. HBO Reverse revised curse documentary was
exceptional in the last 15 minutes. Paul Sullivan (who is putting out a new
movie,
First Time Caller, steals the show. Can we now stop talking about how
everyone who died between November 1919 and October 26, 2004 didn't get to see
them win it all again? Enough already. Anyone can purchase a poster of the SI
Sportsmen of the Year cover at
www.sicovers.com. A bunch of the recent Sox covers are right there on the
front page. Nice 16x20 posters available. Minutemen do it in an Instant. UMass'
61-59 Stunner Over UConn will re-air this Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m., ESPN
Instant Classic. What about Bob? New England sports treasure Bob Lobel returns
from some well-deserved R&R in Florida to host (with Liz Walker) the
22nd Annual WBZ Children's Hospital Telethon set to air Tuesday, Dec. 14 on
UPN 38.
Christmas at Fenway, December 11 and 12, Sox Pax details
You can get NESN's "Faith Rewarded" DVD by calling 1-877-9REDSOX or online here
It's in New England retail stores only, but many are holding off until Tuesday.
We have a winner: NESN puts out a curse-free DVD
12.1.04: A Ruth-less effort: Just watched the new NESN "Faith Rewarded" DVD, (in
stores on Friday). It blows away the MLB World Series DVD. Hats off to Russ Kenn
and everyone involved in the production. Let's start with Steve Zirkilton, of
Law and Order announcer fame, who does the narration throughout.
Professional, and doesn't get in the way of the story, like Denis Leary's clumsy
read and uncomfortable Hollywood "Papi" talk did on the MLB WS DVD. First
chapter begins with a brief look at the 2003 playoffs, the A-Rod saga, how it
overshadowed even the Patriots Super Bowl run. They then move to Spring Training
and use some of the same footage as the MLB version (MLB Productions was
involved in this effort as well). Lots of brief interviews with John Henry, who
does a great job throughout, Larry Lucchino, Trot, Tek and Millar... but not too
much Millar this time. They get into the game one loss in Baltimore where Pedro
gets racked in the second inning (and was out of the park by the 8th), move onto
Schilling's first win as a Red Sox for the second game "day off felt like a
week." Timlin pops up with his camouflage shirt again.
They get into the first plane disaster when they left Baltimore at 5:30am, even
had a shot of Johnny Damon on the plane, which basically blew Opening Day. Damon
is terrific in his interviews as well. Millar says they call Ortiz "The Big
Cat." Good to know he has as many nicknames for the players as he does annual
team slogans. They get into David's walk-offs early. More interview clips with
Jerry Remy, Tom Verducci. On the media side Gammons and Edes were unfortunately
missing from this release. Everything is nicely paced and edited.
Next is the first Yankees series sweep. Tom Werner makes his cameo. Then the
May-June slide covered very briefly. Nomar's heel, Jeter's tumble in the Bronx,
complete with the money shot on Garciaparra sulking on the bench when everyone
was on the top step. You get the All-Star game, watch them drop 9-1/2 games out.
Then the turnaround. The Yankees fight. More soundbites from Tito, Theo. And 9
wins in a row. John Henry reminds the smarter-than-you crowd who deny the
obvious "this year we saw a complete transformation of Manny Ramirez." Then the
pennant race, the big win at Yankee Stadium to move 2-1/2 back. And the playoff
clincher.
The
playoffs begin, and yes there is plenty of ALCS and WS footage. The first curse
mention is that of "The Curse of The Big Papi" on David's shirt. Damon slips up
once and mentions "breaking an 86 year curse" but we'll give Johnny a mulligan.
Otherwise, this thing is curse-free, and Babe Ruth free, unlike that crap on the
MLB WS version. You get the full Slappy, no worries. Bells ring when Bellhorn
bangs one off the pole. And a nice look at the "past." Most excellent footage of
Boggs crying, Hurst, Billy Buck, and even Oil Can while the voiceover repeats
"generations have come and gone... generations have come and gone." Great stuff.
After they wrap up each series you get the usual on-field and clubhouse
celebrations along with nice little extras like the team coming off the plane at
Logan, and a shot of a couple of people waving at the busses on the morning
drive back to Fenway. That's the real stuff, the raw, spontaneous actions of the
fans that sends chills, not the packaged parade shots that you knew was coming
up. The early morning arrival back at Fenway. And thank God Larry Lucchino can
sleep easy because you get Mr. Mayah, sayin' "Let the parade begin!" (and I
thought it was a rolling rally the whole time). And the coup de grâce is that it
ends with The Standells' "Dirty Water," not the godawful "Tessie" screamed by
that pack of rug rats.
If
you want the parade, you get some great inside-the-duck-boat shots in the Extras
which also include O.C. doing his awesome bit on the handshakes, and the NESN
60-second profiles on some of the players. There's a
William Joseph
plug at the end as I believe he contributed background music. The music is not
electrifying like the short Brian Fox CBS-4 effort, but it doesn't get in the
way of the production either.
You
won't be disappointed if you get this DVD as a stocking stuffer that's for sure.
Ebert out.
Fascinating tidbits
12.1.04: Why not Curt? Is Curt Schilling the most fascinating
person of 2004? Find out next Wednesday night when "Barbara Walters Presents: The
10 Most Fascinating People of 2004," an hour-long ABC News special highlighting
some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, politics, sports and
business. Among those competing with Schilling for number one: Donald Trump, who
could give Schill a run for his money (although putting Chris Russo on The
Apprentice 2 probably blew it for him). The skanktress Paris Hilton. Old news
Oprah. Usher, poor-man's Michael Jackson (the one from the 80's of course), and
world-class buffoon Michael Moore. Unless there's a dark horse among the other
four not named, Schilling wins the thing hands down.
So D-Lowe said he was not even
invited to the Ft. Myers WS celebration next week in his own backyard, while the
Sox said Derek was not available. "There was sort of a miscommunication," said
Adam Grossman, the Red Sox special projects coordinator. "We will make an
invitation to him." Adam also told us in the Globe last week that the way for
all young people to try to get a job with the Red Sox is to have a friend whose
dad is friends with Larry Lucchino. Wonderful.
Dakota got fired, and now he might get served. Word
is that one of the NESN targets of the former morning talk show host's Page 6
gaffe is considering suing Mr. Hapless for slander. Yikes. Maybe Steve should
have trotted out his old "Kerrigan going to the Yankees as pitching coach" fake
rumors or one of his goofy Varitek-Posada "studies" that morning instead. Let's
just pray that 'EEI puts him on permanent hold if he tries to call back.
The Inside Track gals just reported on FSN that
Johnny Damon is scheduled to appear on Celebrity Poker, while Kentucky Fried
Kevin Millar is the potential target of a makeover by the Queer Eye gang. Now that's
must-see-TV. They also reported in today's Herald that J-Lo paid off the $1,800 booty she owed Affleck for betting him, after they broke up, that her Yankees would get past the Sox in the ALCS.
Cartoon characters: Yes that was Hench's
head exploding in
"The Wave Home," episode one of Hollywood Sports Guy's new ESPN.com cartoon
that debuted last week. Who else's head explodes at the mere mention of Dale
Sveum? They actually had the episode finished before the Sox won the Series and
had to tack on the "it was all a dream" ending. Episode two was due out today. And another former Dirt Dog original and Dream Job dropout
Nick Stevens is starring as Thurston Long in another cartoon on the CBS NFL
pre-game show. When am I going to catch a break?
More on Minaya, and Tim Hudson
A BDD source
reiterated tonight that overall, Omar Minaya "is just overwhelmed." "He already
has ZERO respect from the other front office personnel. Jim Duquette is the one
leaking information to the press, trying to screw him over, and the front office
is in complete disarray. The stories on espn.com are complete BS. Minaya gets
easily intimated by other GM's and ownership-level types. Lastly, Minaya is very
cheap both professionally and personally. Pedro is just using Minaya to push the
Sox."
Regarding
Choakland: A MLB source said "Hudson is out and will not re-sign with them and
the front office knows this. He (Hudson) wants to come back to the East coast
but the A's will not let him walk for just draft picks." Make your move Theo.
R.I.P. Teddy
Ebersol, member of Red Sox Nation
The Ebersol family
released the following statement today in connection with Sunday's jet crash in
Montrose, CO: "His wonderful spirit lives on in our family, and in all who knew
and loved him. Of course, everyone who knew Teddy was aware of his passion for
the Boston Red Sox, and a highlight of his short life was the Red Sox winning
their first championship in 86 years. Like his team, Teddy never lost hope."
Sportscolumn of
the Year
Tom Verducci hits
the jackpot in the new SI "Sportsmen of the Year" issue that hit newstands
today. Some highlights from Verducci's piece:
The most
emotionally powerful words in the English language are monosyllabic: love,
hate, born, live, die, sex, kill, laugh, cry, want, need, give, take, Sawx.
The Boston Red Sox are, of course, a civic religion in New England. As
grounds crew workers tended to the Fenway Park field last summer after a
night game, one of them found a white plastic bottle of holy water in the
outfield grass. There was a handwritten message on the side: go sox. The
team’s 2003 highlight film, punctuated by the crescendo of the walk-off home
run by the Yankees’ Aaron Boone in ALCS Game 7, was christened, Still, We
Believe.
“We took the wording straight out of the Catholic canon,” club president
Larry Lucchino says. “It’s not We Still Believe. Our working slogan
for next year is It’s More than Baseball. It’s the Red Sox.” -- (Umm,
Larry, I think another team used something similar recently... need a
copywriter? Call me :-)
--
What the Red
Sox mean to their faithful—and larger still, what sport at its best means
to American culture—never was more evident than at precisely 11:40 EDT on
the night of Oct. 27. At that moment in St. Louis, Red Sox closer Keith
Foulke, upon fielding a ground ball, threw to first baseman Doug
Mientkiewicz for the final out of the World Series—and the first Red Sox
world championship since 1918. And then all hell didn’t just break loose. It
pretty much froze over.
--
On its most
basic level, sport satisfies man’s urge to challenge his physical being. And
sometimes, if performed well enough, it inspires others in their own
pursuits. And then, very rarely, it changes the social and cultural history
of America; it changes lives. The 2004 Boston Red Sox are such a perfect
storm.
The Red Sox are SI’s Sportsmen of the Year, an honor they may have won even
if the magnitude of their unprecedented athletic achievement was all that
had been considered. Three outs from being swept in the ALCS, they won eight
consecutive games, the last six without ever trailing. Their place in the
sporting pantheon is fixed; the St. Jude of sports, patron saint of lost
athletic causes, their spirit will be summoned at the bleakest of moments.
The issue also
features a Rick Reilly piece entitled "Buckner got my vote." Reilly leads with
"So the Sportsmen of the Year are the 2004 Boston Red Sox? Big freakin’ beans.
You want to know who deserves the Sportsman urn more?
Bill Buckner, that’s who."
Another Yankee fan playing cards
"Since you didn't choose to respond to the email
about your pictures of A-Rod and Pedro being insulting to the Dominican
Community (although you did take time to respond with repeating the Yankees had
the biggest choke of all time, as if it had anything to do with the email), let
me elaborate for you. I think your fan base is in sad denial if you don't think
their is a good deal of racist undertones within your fan base. Take a look at
this latest comment from "a good friend of yours" about a minority GM trying to
sign Pedro, "But he looks good and is very presentable and Selig wanted a
minority GM in Montreal. It's a shame because there were more qualified
candidates out there. My last point is he will play the race card with Pedro.
Minaya doesn't think you can play if you aren't a Latin player." How dare anyone
try to sign Pedro? And obviously he doesn't know what he is doing. He isn't
white after all. Take one good look at the next game you go to in Fenway. You
can count the amount of minorities at the game (not on the field or a Fenway
employee) on one hand. Many minorities feel they are not welcome at baseball
games in Fenway. But what do you expect from a franchise that turned away Willie
Mays because a Boston scout said, "He isn't our type of player." Say what you
want about Yankee fans, but you have Hispanics, Indians, Asians, Whites, Blacks,
everyone in the crowd, and they all feel welcome. When I went to Fenway, I got
more comments about not being white than being a Yankee fan. My dislike for the
Red Sox doesn't stem from the team, but the fan base. Boston is an international
city, after all, that caters to many different type of people. But Boston
sports, can only cater to whites I guess.
And you have the nerve to claim you guys are the most loyal fans in the world.
If loyalty means wearing shirts that says, "Jeter has Aids" or "Jeter Sucks
A-Rod", or "Gay-Rod," then you may be loyal but you have no class also. You
can't even where a "Boston sucks" shirt in Yankee stadium, because the
organization thinks its too offensive. But anything goes in classy Boston I
guess. The organization will never have the same class as the Yankees. And as
far as the biggest choke in Baseball, see being up by 2 runs, with no one on,
and one out from winning you first World Series in 68 years.
- Jason Nanda"
Some Jose Ramos, Dominican Yankee fan responses
"Big Dog,
I, like Jose R. Ramos, am proudly of Dominican descent (20 yrs in the US). I am
also very proud of the incredible baseball talent the DR produces, and celebrate
as the MVP and Cy Young candidacies amass year after year. I'm also very proud
whenever I witness the admiration these players receive day in and day out from
Red Sox and baseball fans from all walks of life.
Most of my friends are of Dominican descent too, and let me tell you Big Dog, we
laughed our arses off at the AROD-Pedro-Mahow picture. The picture didn't insult
me or any of the other ten Dominicans I showed it to.
In fact, it was my DominiCAN brother who doctored the original A-Rod-Jeter photo
(which was the SI photo of Alex and Cynthia Rodriguez) to piss-off a Yankee fan
friend of his.
Jose Ramos is just another sore-loosing, still-in-denial Yankee fan who didn't
get IT. He doesn't understand the fact that players (Dominican or not) want to
play for the Yankees, not because they are THE Yankees, but because they PAY
more than any other team in baseball. If the Sox were the ones paying the
outrageous salaries the NYY pay, they'd have every player in MLB wanting to play
in Boston regardless of the number of trophies being displayed. I'd bet he
wasn't that insulted when NYY fans were referring to Yankee Destroyer David
Ortiz as the Magilla Gorilla.
Keep up the good work.
JJ
A Proud DominCAN and Red Sox Fan"
---
"As
a native of Seattle, new to Boston, this last year has been an eye-opener. I now
groove to the Red Sox sweet music (of course) because you can’t be here and not
get swept away by the love and enthusiasm for this team.
However: My point is “respect” and “Insulting to the Dominican community” as Mr.
Ramos put. Who is more insulting than the New York Yankees organization and
fans, to baseball as a whole and their own players? I can’t even imagine a
Yankees fan using the word respect, it’s so preposterous. Please examine your
team and your fans and get back to me on this one, I’m really confused.
Mr. Ramos, respect is a word, just a word, when it’s tossed about so cheaply as
Pedro and you seem to use it. True respect must be earned, not just by winning
baseball games but also by your actions and comments off the field. Pedro
Martinez has gone back on many of the things he’s said. Is that is a disrespect
to all Americans... No, probably not.
What it is, is simply an arrogant child behaving as such.
Don’t make respect a Nationality thing. So you’re from the Dominican, it’s a
pleasure to meet you.
Go
Red Sox
Andrew M Ward
Cambridge, MA"
---
"Thank you SO much for publishing the letter from Jose R. Ramos, who accused Red
Sox fans of racism (gee, that card isn't played enough) for accurately
portraying Pedro as the Bora$ disciple that he has become. His rantings gave me
the biggest laugh I've had since Slappy McPurplelips (aka "the best player in
the game today") tried to slap the ball out of Arroyo's glove with his limp
wrist. I hate to burst Jose's rather large, delusional bubble, but the best team
in baseball is actually the one that launched the biggest comeback of all time,
and not, in fact, the team that was embarrassed in its own house.
But please, Jose, grab on to the past with all your might. I have a feeling
that's all you Yankee "fans" are going to have for a long, long time. Now if
you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch Yankeeography.
Kate Huvane
A very proud Red Sox fan"
---
"Wow. Wow is the only word I could come up with in response to the incorrect
rant by Jose Ramos on the Dirt Dogs website. Which as a side note Dirt Dogs must
be providing a hell of a website if Yankee fans are spending there time perusing
through it. First things first. I found the picture of Petey and A-Rod
hilarious, and did not see any homophobia in it. It was not an attack on
Martinez, just finding humor in the fact that he was meeting with the enemy. To
address the statement that the best players in baseball will always choose blah
blah blah blah blah. That's a crock of crap to be honest. For example, a fellow
named Curt Schilling. What about that one?
Yeah he sure chose the Yankees huh? The bottom line is that players do sometimes
choose the Yankees when it comes down to the fact that the Yankees will offer
idiotic contracts, i.e. Jason Giambi and Kevin Brown, to get these players. And
also, since the Theo Epstein regime took over I find that players are more eager
to come to Boston. And how can you insinuate that these comments are racist
towards Dominicans when the most prominent players on this, I must add in WORLD
CHAMPION, team are Dominicans and are well loved across "the Nation." Finally
Jose I am glad that you still enjoy calling A-rod the best player in the game
while he hit under .300 and hit miserably with RISP all year. Not to mention the
"Bitch Slap Heard Round the World." You were right in saying one thing Jose, We
are WORLD CHAMPS.
Matt Schooley
American, and A proud member of RED SOX NATION"
---
"Jose,
Your letter is evidence in of itself that you my friend are the one that can't
handle the truth. You can not handle the fact that the Boston Red Sox are World
Champions. You can not handle the fact that your "team" gave up the biggest
choke in the history of sports. And you may be having a hard time handling the 1
for 17 A-Rod put up in games 4 through 7 in the ALCS.
One Yankee fan so eloquently put it to me that, "He could not handle losing like
that every year." And the same goes for you Jose.
Having the best player in baseball is just about good enough for second place in
the American League. Having the best team in baseball is just about good enough
to be World Champions.
Players choose Boston to be apart of a team, a culture, a way of life, and for
the love and passion of the Red Sox. I know that for New Yorkers like you, that
is a hard pill to swallow, but it is the truth. And you have certainly proved
that you can not handle it.
Dan Moran
Springfield, MA
Proud Reader of BostonDirtDogs.com
Proud Die Hard Red Sox Fan"
---
"I
myself have been a Pedro fan since he started with the LA Dodgers, and I've been
seeing him pitch since he pitched with the Tigeres Del Licey, in the Dominican
League, I still remember Pedro coming up to the "Big Leagues" to pitch right
beside his brother, Ramon Martinez, I remember feeling good when they made him a
starter, I remember feeling bad for him when he went to Montreal, I remember
jumping up and down when he won they Cy Young with Montreal, I have followed his
career since he started, before I was a Boston Red Sox fan, I had been a Pedro
fan... but things change, just because he's Dominican, like me, doesn't mean I
will not feel betrayed that he is acting like a prostitute, I really thought
that Pedro had more "RESPECT" for himself, he talks about "RESPECT" that he more
then money wants "RESPECT" well let's see, we are talking about the same guy who
had to stand and hear the "Who's Your DADDY?" chants, the same guy who was
called a "Bully" for defending himself against a charging Don Zimmer, all in all
I can't remember all the things I've heard Yankee fans say about him, but even
so the first team he talks to is the Yankees, and you know why, because he just
wants more money, he thinks that he can put pressure on The Sox like this, to
get more money, Pedro is not the same player or the same person he was, he's not
the same person who built churches, schools, and I don't know how many other
things in Dominican Republic, he's just become an Ego-maniac, and the only thing
he cares about is Pedro Martinez, my problem is not that he did what he talked
to the Yankees or to the Mets, the thing is that I thought he had 2 things:
1.
Honor
2. Faithfulness
But
obviously I was wrong, now some people may say that all the things being said
about Pedro are "racist" but I have yet to see anyone say "Dominicans are... "if
Red Sox fans were so racist, would Manny and David be so loved in the city or by
the fans? would everybody in the Red Sox Nation be waiting for Hanley Ramirez to
come up to the "Big Leagues"? I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic
and I can say with 100% certainty, that the first Dominican Yankee fans I have
met, I met in the US, at least I don't remember anyone I knew back in Santo
Domingo being a Yankee fan, and it is no secret that Pedro got a lot of people
mad at him for seeing Georgie, and I'm not talking about just RSN, I'm talking
about people in Dominican Republic, and anybody who reads a Dominican Newspaper
knows this.
Why
is it people forget what they want when they want?, a picture of Alex and Pedro
being homophobic, the only homophobic person is the one who is threaten by that
picture, and let us not forget some T-Shirts sporting "Who's Your DADDY?"
slogan, (I wonder how many Yankee fans have them?), or how about Yankee fans
dressed in diapers and running into to Yankee stadium to make fun a Pedro, Oh
but that wasn't dis-RESPECT-full, to end this little rant I would just like to
remind those who may have forgotten, BOSTON RED SOX are the 2004 CHAMPS, the
Yankees are "HISTORY'S BIGGEST CHOKE", all the "26 CHAMPIONSHIPS" talk is going
to be accompanied by that little remark, doesn't matter what the Yankees do,
they will always be remembered for loosing a 3-0 lead to the RED SOX in the 2004
ALCS and being nothing more then a stepping stone on our glorious rise to the
top!
Manuel Alejandro Sanchez-Ramirez
100% Dominican, and proud citizen of RSN!"
---
From the emailbag: Dominican't believe it
"The racist criticism of Pedro Martinez appearing in the Boston press and the
homophobic picture of Pedro and Alex appearing in your website, show that
although the Red Sox might be the world champion, deep inside, Red Sox fans like
you, will never get over the fact that the best players in baseball, if given a
choice, prefer to play in a Yankees' uniform and not a Red Sox's.
I understand that it is hard for Red Sox fans to always have their team play
second fiddler to the Yankees, but you guys need to get over that known fact and
quit treating players of the caliber of Pedro Martinez like trash just because
he is exercising his right as free agent to play with the best baseball team in
the world.
The denigrating comments of the red sox fans about Pedro Martinez were uncalled
for and the pictures of him and Alex Rodriguez were out of line and insulting to
the Dominican community.
You and the red sox fans that have so
Turning
Japanese again
