Change in Attitude: Opposing fans vs. the Red Sox

[Green Monstah]

Remember in 2004 when anyone not a Yankee or Cardinals fan couldn't help but root on the Red Sox, as they morphed from loveable losers to World-Series Champions? Okay, maybe some of you die-hards out there held out, but for the most part, casual fans of baseball everywhere got caught up in the excitement of the 2004 post-season and celebrated the end of 86 years of misery.

What has happened since then that has turned the tide so swiftly against the Sox? Was it the ridiculous sum of money spent just to negotiate with Dice-K (understandable)? Is it the additional World Series ring? Is it the steady flow of bandwagon fans? Even worse, is it Red Sox' fans behavior on the road (I've witnessed some pretty poor behavior when the Sox played in Chicago (U.S. Cellular), Houston and Dallas, but they were the exception rather than the rule.

For the last three years, I've taken my family up to Dallas every year for the Rangers-Red Sox series. The first two years were completely enjoyable. There was a healthy presence of Sox fans (but the Rangers' faithful protected their home turf by booing over our "Let's go Red-Sox...clap...clap....clap, clap, clap), but all in all I sat next to knowledgable, great Rangers fans.

This year was quite a bit different. I had my wife and kids (8, 6, and 2) with me, and it was a rollercoaster series. The Friday night game was a nailbiter and an awesome game to attend (even though the Rangers won in 11). However, the Rangers fans were overly-belligerent. Dropping F-bombs, screaming at me and my family (decked out in Sox gear) when the Rangers had a big play, etc. We sat in front of another family of Sox fans, and their six year old started to sob when people chanted "Boston Sucks!" for about five minutes during the seventh inning.

Now, I get it...the Rangers are relevant again, which will bring out (albeit smaller) the Texas bandwagon. But in general, I went from high-fiving perfect strangers in '04 when they saw my ratty old baseball cap, to having to plug my kids' ears during baseball games. So, CFU, you all are full of opinions (many of them good), what has turned the Red Sox from loveable losers to "barely more tolerable than the Yankees"?

[Bastage]

I think people hate the Sox because they aren't underdogs anymore. Also, a non Yankees / Red Sox fan has to vomit with all of the coverage those two teams get.

Plus, John Lackey blows. Good signing, Theo.

[BoylenOver]

2-10. Love it. Absolutely love it.

[old_gregg]

dice k has two starts max before he's done. problem is, he's so atrocious in 1-2 inning gigs that there's no place for him in the bullpen either. it will be interesting to see what happens to the rotation going forward.

it's only a matter of time until they improve offensively. carl crawford ain't going to bat .137 all season. jewkilis, jacoby, and salty all improve. scutaro continues to have decent rbi numbers. it's a confidence issue at this point.

[DU Ute]

2-10. Love it. Absolutely love it.

[Sizzle]

Remember in 2004 when anyone not a Yankee or Cardinals fan couldn't help but root on the Red Sox, as they morphed from loveable losers to World-Series Champions? Okay, maybe some of you die-hards out there held out, but for the most part, casual fans of baseball everywhere got caught up in the excitement of the 2004 post-season and celebrated the end of 86 years of misery.

What has happened since then that has turned the tide so swiftly against the Sox? Was it the ridiculous sum of money spent just to negotiate with Dice-K (understandable)? Is it the additional World Series ring? Is it the steady flow of bandwagon fans? Even worse, is it Red Sox' fans behavior on the road (I've witnessed some pretty poor behavior when the Sox played in Chicago (U.S. Cellular), Houston and Dallas, but they were the exception rather than the rule.

For the last three years, I've taken my family up to Dallas every year for the Rangers-Red Sox series. The first two years were completely enjoyable. There was a healthy presence of Sox fans (but the Rangers' faithful protected their home turf by booing over our "Let's go Red-Sox...clap...clap....clap, clap, clap), but all in all I sat next to knowledgable, great Rangers fans.

This year was quite a bit different. I had my wife and kids (8, 6, and 2) with me, and it was a rollercoaster series. The Friday night game was a nailbiter and an awesome game to attend (even though the Rangers won in 11). However, the Rangers fans were overly-belligerent. Dropping F-bombs, screaming at me and my family (decked out in Sox gear) when the Rangers had a big play, etc. We sat in front of another family of Sox fans, and their six year old started to sob when people chanted "Boston Sucks!" for about five minutes during the seventh inning.

Now, I get it...the Rangers are relevant again, which will bring out (albeit smaller) the Texas bandwagon. But in general, I went from high-fiving perfect strangers in '04 when they saw my ratty old baseball cap, to having to plug my kids' ears during baseball games. So, CFU, you all are full of opinions (many of them good), what has turned the Red Sox from loveable losers to "barely more tolerable than the Yankees"?

It is easy to cheer for a story like 3 generations of Red Sox fans waiting their lifetime to see a championship, coming down from a 3-0 hole to beat their hated (by pretty much everyone) rival and then to win the title. But after that, you've had your title. There is no more story, and the things that make the Yankees so insufferable (lots of money, big city, eastern attitude, bandwagon fans, etc) add to the reasons why nobody cares about the Sox anymore. You can't cheer for the story because the story has changed.

I'd say the same thing will happen with the Cubs... but I don't think they'll ever win one.

[MartyFunkhouser]

It is easy to cheer for a story like 3 generations of Red Sox fans waiting their lifetime to see a championship, coming down from a 3-0 hole to beat their hated (by pretty much everyone) rival and then to win the title. But after that, you've had your title. There is no more story, and the things that make the Yankees so insufferable (lots of money, big city, eastern attitude, bandwagon fans, etc) add to the reasons why nobody cares about the Sox anymore. You can't cheer for the story because the story has changed.

I'd say the same thing will happen with the Cubs... but I don't think they'll ever win one.

I'm not convinced the same thing will happen to the Cubs if they ever win. Cubs fans are a lot more loveable than Red Sox fans ever were and don't have nearly the same amount of bandwagon fans.

For me the thing that makes Red Sox fans so difficult to like is they "evil empire" thing with the Yankees. They complain about the Yankees payroll, but they are consistently 2nd in the MLB. They act like they are different than the Yankees, but they are really nothing more than the Yankees East. The Cubs don't complain about other teams payrolls and for me it makes them likeable.

[LA Ute]

I've been a Red Sox fan since 1967, when they were the miracle team that went from last place the previous season to the 7th game of the World Series the next. I was 12 years old and an avid baseball fan in a town (state, really) that had no team, so I adopted the Sox. They have great history (I've read all the Ted Williams biographies) and really great fans.

The problem is that in the minds of many baseball fans they have become, with some justification, a slightly less wealthy version of the Yankees. The Yankees, of course, exemplify everything that is wrong with Major League Baseball (in addition to being a cancer on the face of the Earth).

I am still a big Sox fan but not in the same way I used to be. I am still a Lakers fan too, but not like I was during the 70s and 80s, for similar reasons. And yes, the bandwagon fans are annoying, because they know so little about the franchise or its history. Most of all, they were not there during the decades of suffering.

[CJF]

I've been a Red Sox fan since 1967, when they were the miracle team that went from last place the previous season to the 7th game of the World Series the next. I was 12 years old and an avid baseball fan in a town (state, really) that had no team, so I adopted the Sox. They have great history (I've read all the Ted Williams biographies) and really great fans.

As a Braves fan I have to correct you on this. The 1991 Braves and Twins were the first teams to go from worst to first. They went on to play one of the best World Series in the history of the series in my opinion. (Lonnie F'ing Smith) I'm sure the Red Sox sucked in 1966, but someone had to have sucked worse.

[filsdepac]

I'm not convinced the same thing will happen to the Cubs if they ever win. Cubs fans are a lot more loveable than Red Sox fans ever were and don't have nearly the same amount of bandwagon fans.

For me the thing that makes Red Sox fans so difficult to like is they "evil empire" thing with the Yankees. They complain about the Yankees payroll, but they are consistently 2nd in the MLB. They act like they are different than the Yankees, but they are really nothing more than the Yankees East. The Cubs don't complain about other teams payrolls and for me it makes them likeable.

How do you know how many bandwagon fans the Cubs have if they've sucked for so long?

[Green Monstah]

2-10. Love it. Absolutely love it.

It happens. I fully expect these guys to go on a tear in June, however. Too much talent to play this crappy all season.

In a weird way, I don't mind that the start of the season sucks. There are probably many reasons for this, not the least of which is that I'm fairly well accustomed to sports misery. In fact, I'm probably a little out of my element when my teams are crazy successful. In addition, I hope it weeds out a lot of the bandwagon fans. I went to an exhibition game in Houston on 3/31, and the Sox fans were horrific.

[LA Ute]

As a Braves fan I have to correct you on this. The 1991 Braves and Twins were the first teams to go from worst to first. They went on to play one of the best World Series in the history of the series in my opinion. (Lonnie F'ing Smith) I'm sure the Red Sox sucked in 1966, but someone had to have sucked worse.

You are correct. In 1966 the Red Sox were in 9th place, out of 10 teams. They were one-half game ahead of the Yankees, who were in last place. My, my, how times have changed!

[old_gregg]

buchholz gets his first w tonight.

[pellegrino]

maybe it has something to do with the way that ESPN has been humping the Red Sox's leg since they won it. Or maybe it has something to do with Big Papi's alleged steroid use during that run.

I have nothing against the Sox, but it is annoying to turn on ESPN only to see that I missed their spot on the rest of the league and now have to endure another 30 minutes of Sox news and analysis until the cycle comes back to showing highlights of the games that night.

Plus, nobody likes steroid users.

[happyone]

You are correct. In 1966 the Red Sox were in 9th place, out of 10 teams. They were one-half game ahead of the Yankees, who were in last place. My, my, how times have changed!

But look what happend in '67