Yes, I am a Boston Red Sox fan. No, I do not like to think of myself as an idiot. But the morning after last nights resounding, fairy tale World Series title, I wake up feeling a little embarrassed. Why? Because as John Farrell was delivering a classy postgame address–beginning with a commendation of his opponents–Boston fandom was devolving just beyond the gates of Fenway.
In Kenmore Square, beneath the shadow of the Green Monster, the celebration was relatively placid. By that I mean only a few cars were flipped, and only one still had the driver in it. Further afield things got worse. On the campuses of Plymouth State, students lit fires. At the University of New Hampshire, they toppled lampposts, threw bottles at police, and had to be dispersed with pepper spray. At UMass Amherst, reports indicate ranks of State Troopers in full riot gear and on horseback clashing with students en masse, complete with discharged rubber bullets and tear gas.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good riot. Some would disagree, but I’d even argue there is a place (albeit minuscule and rather indefensible) for rioting in sport futbol. But come on people, timing is everything. Apparently Boston fans don’t have a watch.
It’s well documented that America (because, of course) is the only country where people riot after winning, but even within that illogical subset of rioting, there are levels of legitimacy. For (obvious) example, when this very franchise ended it’s 86 year title drought in 2004, rioting was arguably in order. It was nearly a century of pent up emotion finding outlet on windshields, storefronts, and traffic lights. It was poetic, in a sense.
But then they won again. And again. And in between those wins, every other major sports team in the city won a championship. The media tried, as the media is wont to do, to make a mountain out of molehill when it came to clinching the series at home. Sure, it’s special, but when you have to make a story out of the winning location, it’s pretty clear that the winning itself has lost its luster. Yes, it was an incredible year. Yes, this we just won the World Series. No, it is not an excuse.
There’s and old adage in sport: “Act like you’ve been there before.” Last night, Red Sox fans failed in that regard.
-Ari Glantz
