Folks, this is epic, historic... worthy a Jared Diamond book. This is Ozymandius. This is a narrative poem by a blind ancient Greek. We have witnessed one of the most spectacular downfalls in sports history - no, human history. The great Boston run that began in 2002 has ended, ten years later.
We have been there. Boston is Steinbrennerian, circa 1986. Nick Punto is Lenn Sakata, John Lackey is Ed Whitson, and Carl Crawford is Danny Tartabull. Larry Luccino is Murray Cook, John Henry is wavy-haired George, and the city of Boston is the ever-burning Bronx of yesterday, as piloted by Dick Young, Abe Beam and Bernie Goetz.
They chased away their team captain, their manager and their general manager - architects of two World Championships - with pitch forks.
They traded Kevin Youkilis just to be rid of Kevin Youkilis.
They ran Papelbon out of town, just as they did Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs nearly a generation earlier.
They booed Johnny Damon so lustily that, despite all he'd done for them, he refused to return.
Oh, and did I mention that Curt Schilling will not be a future candidate for U.S. Senate?
Two Redsocks - Josh Beckett and David Ortiz - remain from the 2004 team, which blew a mile-deep crater into our lives. It is likely that neither will return next year. Boston has had enough. Will Middlebrooks is the future. They intend to press REBOOT.
Listen: This is what humanity does best. We rise, and then we fall. Hard. One day, the Mayans run Mexico. Then, kaboom, they're gone, and we can't even understand their calendar.
What is world history other than the sad fate of great baseball teams - the lost colonies, the lost civilizations, and the hubris of dynasties that were suddenly obliterated by a storm or a microbe or a pretty face?
Let the PBS historians argue about what really happened to Boston. But today, as we dance on their grave, let us face the reality of our own brief moment in the sunlight.
Nothing lasts forever.
One of these days, Derek Jeter will close his locker, and we will never see the likes of him again.
One of these days, Mariano Rivera will say it's over, and no one like him will ever appear in pinstripes.
Blink, and 10 years go by.
And 10 years in baseball is a career.
Boston (2002-12) is no more. Our rivalry is moving to Baltimore. Long live the Varitek Redsocks. Next time we see them, it will be in an old-timers day game.
(Oh, and if Chavez retires, should we sign Youk in the off-season as backup 3B?)
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2 comments:
Beckett was still on the Marlins in 2004. Big Fatti is the only one left from that team after they traded Big Head Youk and the monsters.
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