Categories
Boston Red Sox

SAY GOODNIGHT TO THE BAD GUY

Here’s a major point of contention of mine. Concerning the rivalry, our great theater featuring the Red Sox and Yankees, battle lines have been drawn. We’ve painted mythical pictures, illustrations of villainy and courage, of conviction and cowardice. To an average fan living beyond the realms of Boston and New York, the Red Sox are viewed as heroes, entrapped in an epic morality play, where greed is opposed by blind ambition. This generally [not universally] accepted outlook has polluted basic reasoning. Sure, the Red Sox payroll isn’t as stratospherically inclined as their rivals, but that shouldn’t excuse their extravagance.

51 million sunk just to chat with Daisuke Matsuzaka?
70 million gambled on the enigmatic J.D. Drew?
36 million gouged on the decidedly average Julio Lugo?

These aggressive, perhaps reckless, transactions sewn by the Red Sox hierarchy should offer conclusive evidence of the supposed underdogs ruthlessly seizing upon their market advantage, without a care to the moral implications of their machinations. [And rightfully so. This is America, baby.]

When the Yankees acquire Alex Rodriguez, Ben Affleck suddenly becomes a spokesperson for a level playing field in Baseball, proprietors of small market teams bemoan unequal revenue streams [while subtly pocketing their collectively bargained cash], and best of all, John Henry, the OWNER OF THE BOSTON RED SOX, practically demands Baseball instill a salary cap to protect the game against such brazen spending. [Wonder if he had a change of heart on that one.]

When the Red Sox bid 51 million for the mere privilege to negotiate terms with Scott Boras, there is anger, but no outrage. There is surprise, but no shock.

And there’s acceptance, above everything.

Where is Bob Ley’s newest edition of “Outside the Lines”, featuring a disgruntled Pittsburgh Pirates beat writer and some random “sports economist”, discussing the ramifications of paying a pitcher with zero major league experience a king’s ransom?

Where’s all the talk radio callers, screaming at the top of their lungs that THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, OH MY GOD THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!  [Leaps out window]

Why the double standard?

Look, I’m not insulting the Red Sox here.

In fact, I respect their guts.

They had a plan this hot stove season, and after a frustrating third place finish, would let absolutely nothing stop them from executing it.

But why does my team have to be the bad guy? Every big market team has an advantage, and every big market team will spend. If an analyst wants to praise the Red Sox for splurging on Matsuzaka, by all means proceed.

But it isn’t fair to turn around and judge the Yankees.

Because in sports, good and evil simply ceases to exist, opposing forces outside the competition only conjure these emotions to amplify the event.

Put the morality play to bed.

Say goodnight to the bad guy.

– Matt Waters

By mw2828

Matt Waters is a screenwriter currently living in New York. He has been writing about sports since age seventeen, about the time when it became painfully apparent that his athletic dreams would go unfulfilled, due to terrible luck and an obscene lack of talent. His favorite movie is “The Thin Red Line”. His favorite band is “Modest Mouse”. His favorite sport is baseball! With an exclamation point.

One reply on “SAY GOODNIGHT TO THE BAD GUY”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *