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Oh God said to Abraham, “kill me a son”
Abe says, “man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God say, “no.” Abe say, “what?”
God say, “you can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me coming you better run”
Well Abe says, “where do want this killin’
Done?”
God says, “out on Highway 61.”


-Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited

Well, for me it was the Interstate 95, rather than Highway 61, which was the route to my crisis of faith.

I must preface all of this by saying that I have always been a Toronto Blue Jays fan. I was first introduced to baseball as a young child in, say, 1986 or 1987, and the rabidity of my Jays fanship has never before wavered.

Last Friday afternoon, three colleagues and I left Fredericton, NB for Boston, MA. It would be my second trip there in four months, and the conditions were to be ideal: Fenway Park, Yankees vs, Red Sox, Saturday afternoon game, nationally broadcast on Fox, and the city abuzz with Democrats awaiting the coming week’s National Convention.

As is fast becoming our custom, we hit the Kenmore area two hours before game-time on Saturday in order to secure some tickets. After some negotiation, we scored four bleacher seats in the fourth row, directly behind the Red Sox bullpen.

The pitching matchup was, er, interesting. The Red Sox sent the grossly underrated Bronson Arroyo to the hill. The Yankees, as if only to mock the second place Sox, countered with Tanyon Sturtze. In a Boston vs. New York game, there are 25 pitching match-up permutations, and we seemed to have drawn the least awe-inspiring one.

I absolutely adore Fenway Park. It has this effect of distorting one’s sensory perceptions. A crackling, low-quality public address system? Sweet melody. Uncomfortable seats? Like sitting on air. The indeterminately constituted Fenway Frank? Like filet mignon. The odor of stale beer and frank-induced flatulence that permeates Yawkey Way? Like a thousand roses, my friend.

It’s not just the Park, either. It’s the players. Not only do the thoughts of Ruth and Williams and Boggs get one in the mood for baseball, but the current team does too. Pedro and Nomar are heroes to the Fenway fans. Manny’s look goes from “playing in the sandbox with some crayons” at one moment to “focused homerun-hitting machine” the next. The designated hitter looks like the Cookie Monster; the centre fielder looks like Jesus. On a day when they are playing the Yankees, there is - accurately - an underdog feel to the team. Sure the Sox’ payroll is obscene relative to most other clubs, but next to the Yankees’ it seems restrained. The Red Sox are the lesser of two Evil Empires.

From my bleacher seat, I cheered enthusiastically for the Red Sox as the game unfolded. I cheered for Damon when he made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Bernie Williams of an extra-base hit on the first play of the game. I cheered when the Sox scored two runs on consecutive ground-outs in the third inning. I cheered when Varitek hit A-Rod. I felt no real conflict between vocally supporting the Sox and maintaining my Jays fanship. After all, joining in the quasi-vulgar yet poignant refrain of “Yankees Suck” felt perfectly natural to my inner Jays fan. Cursing at Tanyon Sturtze really brought back some memories.

I had been resolute for the entire trip: I was a Jays fan cheering for the Sox only in order to remain inconspicuous amongst the Red New England Horde. But then it happened: my crisis of faith. The first feeling of uncertainly regarding my loyalty to the Jays, ever.

When Garciaparra hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth inning, I yelled, “Yeah! Way to Go, Nomah!” My hard “R” had disappeared. Stunned, I looked down to discover that I had just spilled Samuel Adams brand beer on my new Red Sox “Ortiz 34” t-shirt. What has happened to me? I’d been seduced; and I liked it.

I watched the rest of the game not as a Jays fan watching a Sox game, but as a Sox fan. It was new and exciting and it felt good.

As if she knew that her charms were working, as if she knew that she was leading me astray, Fenway offered up the highest of highs in the final inning. The game-winning homerun off of the bat of Bill Mueller soared through the sky and loomed toward me in the bleachers. It hung in the air, and after the rope-a-dope of the relatively unexciting seventh and eighth innings, Fenway knew that she could deliver this knock-out punch to my vulnerable Jays fanship.

The ball landed perhaps fifteen feet in front of me, in the bullpen. I high-fived perfect strangers, I stood and cheered, gleefully stewing in my infidelity.

Back in the hotel, after the game and the celebrations, we turned on the television to catch the highlights. As I tried to decipher my grainy image in the crowd shot of where the homerun landed, I learned from the ticker that Pat Hentgen had retired.

A flood of guilt washed over me. What had I done? The Jays had always been my team, and the knowledge that one of its greatest pitchers had just announced his retirement brought back all of the memories, the joy, the comfort, and the excitement of a lifetime of being a Jays fan. It was one night at Fenway, and the Sox meant nothing to me, I swear. It was only cheering.
A True Test of Faith | 21 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Moffatt - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 09:53 AM EDT (#48336) #
What's with all these lefties who cheer for the Yankees and Red Sox? I thought the left were supposed to be the champion of the downtrodden underdogs. Couldn't the Pirates use more fans? :)
Mike Green - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 10:19 AM EDT (#48337) #
Oh, Moffatt, you are so cold :) Can't you see that it's about love?

The owners (Steinbrenner, John Henry, Ted Rogers, whatever), the players (Jeter, Ramirez, Delgado, whatever) all are hardly downtrodden. There are no underdogs in the game except maybe the vendors who bring you beer.

Nice piece, Leigh. We all forgive your one-night stand with the Sox. For easterners, with the Sox so close, it's always been a temptation to hang out with the trailer trash down the road!
_Moffatt - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 10:20 AM EDT (#48338) #
All kidding aside, Leigh, this was a great piece. I once found myself doing this at a White Sox game about 10 years ago, so I can relate.
Craig B - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 10:35 AM EDT (#48339) #
I once found myself doing this at a White Sox game about 10 years ago, so I can relate.

It's one thing to let yourself be seduced by the millionaire's widow with lines in her forehead and a Marlboro voice (even if it's well known that she got rich by bumping off her husband). You're not kissing her; you're kissing a million dollars, and that's an experience everyone should have once.

It's another thing entirely to let yourself be seduced by the trash-eating, funny-smelling lady with the shopping cart and the weird scars that screams at the people who walk their dogs along
"her" sidewalk.

Both are Sox, but one is beyond the Pale.
_Moffatt - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 10:40 AM EDT (#48340) #
I'm telling Hannah that you're making fun of my taste in women again.
Mike Green - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#48341) #
Both are Sox, but one is beyond the Pale.

The pun of the week.
_Brent - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 11:01 AM EDT (#48342) #
I'm telling Hannah that you're making fun of my taste in women again.

Oh man. Now you're in trouble Craig.
_Moffatt - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 11:10 AM EDT (#48343) #
Oh man. Now you're in trouble Craig.

Nah, they get along way too well for her to be mad at him. Plus they like to come up with plans at my expense. Craig is the Henry Kissinger to Hannah's Richard Nixon.
Mike Green - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 11:16 AM EDT (#48344) #
Craig is the Henry Kissinger to Hannah's Richard Nixon.

That, sir, is the definition of libel. And two in one sentence is, I must tell you, pretty darn impressive.
_Moffatt - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 11:20 AM EDT (#48345) #
What can I say? I do good work.

The unfortunate implication of the above is that it makes me Communist China, which is not a comparison I like. :)
_Jonny German - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 12:54 PM EDT (#48346) #
Fantastic piece, Leigh. I was also blown away by Fenway when I went to my first game there earlier this year. It was against the Blue Jays, so my team loyalty was uncompromised... as for my park loyalty... nah, I never had any to begin with.
Leigh - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 01:38 PM EDT (#48347) #
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040727/MAE27/TPSports/Other
Rob pointed this out in the Roundup thread, but I think it belongs here. Don't worry, she'll come crawling back, remorsefully, as I did. COMN.
_Jobu - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 01:40 PM EDT (#48348) #
I find it funny that for all this talk of one night stands with the Red Sox and the seduction of Fenway, on September 1st I will taking my first "Baseball Trip" and for the first time be seeing baseball in a different stadium. Funny part is im going to Montreal, and while I may cheer for them that night, I doubt the seduction factor will be there. Plus I'll always remember the picture of Reed Johnson in my wallet to bring all my thoughts of loyalty home.
Named For Hank - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 02:12 PM EDT (#48349) #
Plus I'll always remember the picture of Reed Johnson in my wallet to bring all my thoughts of loyalty home.

Man, if I were Reed Johnson and I read that, I'd be totally creeped out.

Nice piece, Leigh. I found it really easy to cheer for the Red Sox in Fenway when I was there in June. I felt a little dirty afterwards.
_Jobu - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 02:18 PM EDT (#48350) #
If it makes Sparky feel any better I dont actually have a picture of him in my wallet, it was more a symbolic comment.

I would never do anything that creepy. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to tattoo reed johnsons face over mine and streak the field next time he touches the ball.
_Paul D - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 02:20 PM EDT (#48351) #
Jobu, I was in Montreal on the weekend for a ballgame - it was great.
I think it's fair to have a favourite team in each league, which is what I've always done with the Expos and Jays. I'm not sure what I'll do next year.
_Jobu - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#48352) #
Paul D: Any tips from a person whose visited Montreal? Places to see, places to avoid, best seats at the O?
_mr predictor - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 05:49 PM EDT (#48353) #
Jobu, start at the corner of Sherbrooke and St Laurent and walk north on St Laurent to Laurier. Turn right on Laurier and walk to St Denis, walk (south) down St Denis to Ste Catherine. Turn right on Ste Catherine and walk west...
_Magpie - Tuesday, July 27 2004 @ 06:59 PM EDT (#48354) #
Once upon a time I saw a game in Dodger Stadium. Did I get caught up in the local mythology, their passion for the boys in blue...

I guess. I mean I can't even remember who won.

I do remember Davey Concepcion came in to PITCH, so it was probably the Dodgers...

but who knows?

California.
_Jobu - Wednesday, July 28 2004 @ 12:41 AM EDT (#48355) #
I have a feeling i'm going to be walking direcltly off a cliff or something, but so be it. Mr. Predictor, I will actually follow your route when I get there. Life's full of surprises....
_Cristian - Wednesday, July 28 2004 @ 01:04 AM EDT (#48356) #
I was almost swayed into becoming a Cubs fan the first time I visited Wrigley Field. It would have been all too easy. The Cubs are loveable losers. It's a joy to take the El to Wrigleyville and then sit in the beautiful ballpark on a sunny day. Besides, the Cubs are in the NL so I wouldn't have had to abandon the Jays. However, I had one problem. The starting third baseman for the Cubs that day was the craptacular ex-Jay Willie Greene. Sitting in the stands I couldn't help remembering all the times he let the Jays down with his horrible defence and feeble hitting. I booed Willie mercilessly as Cubs fans around me wondered what the hell I was doing. What really sticks in my craw though is that Willie went 2-4 with a homerun that day to lead the Cubs to a win.

Thanks Willie, for keeping me loyal to the Jays.
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