There was a certain buzz in Boston on Friday. Everybody was talking about the Red Sox- the team that won the World Series after 86 years last year with a heroic comeback victory against the mighty Yankees. This time, the Sox were down 0-2 against Chicago and it was a must win game. At 4pm, the city came to complete standstill. Either you were at Fenway Park at the game or you were somewhere close to a television watching the game.
I got out of office at about 5:30 with the Sox trailing but by the time I got home, they had levelled the scores. There was a quiet confidence, almost a certain smugness about the New England fans. They somehow knew their team would deliver. They beat the Yankees last year at Yankee stadium, Chicago at their own home turf would be a piece of cake. The Red Sox fans are believers- they believe in their team- utmost devotion and almost maniacal passion. They somehow knew that the team would be able to come back on Friday, then win the game on Saturday and a final one on Sunday to make the finals of the ALCS. But even the game progressed, the hitters struggled and the pitchers lost their way. Chicago was clinical, less flair but flawless in execution of their plan. By 7:30, the Boston dream was over- at least for this year. We went out for dinner- the raods were empty and there was almost a pall of gloom in the city. The season was over- for good. Sense of dejection. Loss. Confusion about how a team this good could lose its way after promising so much.
That gloom was compounded by the wet weather. Cold and damp, the Fall suddenly turned into a glimpse of what the winter might be like. It took one night for me to move from a t-shirt to a jacket but the indefatigable Red Sox fan was still out, this time hoping for the season to turn next year. Fans started discussing what the team would look like next year- who would stay and who would go. It was almost as if fans had put behind this year and were looking forward to 2006 almost knowing that the team would deliver- this was just a minor blip in what is surely the best team in the business. That optimism is what I like about the New England fan. Always a believer, the fan doesnt give up at all. Shrugs his shoulders, has a Sam Adams, a good sleep and starts preparing for the future. A very good attitude to have.
In a way, I have both been a participant as well as an observer of the Red Sox mania through two seasons- one a fascinating come from behind historic victory and now, a tragic loss. But the attitude of the fan has been consistent- a passion to support the team come what may. This may be a wet weekend and the Gods may be mourning as well but I am sure the fan will turn up at Fenway next season just as optimistic and sure about victory as he has been ever in his life. For the rest of the year, Boston would be following football! As for me, I shall continue to see what sites I can surf to follow my own passion for cricket and soccer, two games that are hardly played on this continent. They really don't know what they are missing out on!
The buzz of Friday may be gone, but the optimism remains and thats what is most important.
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