March 3, 2008
Welcome Back, Red Sox/Yankees Rivalry
"Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans."Go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."
Whoaaaaa there, cowboy!
Hank Steinbrenner's comments to The New York Times' Play magazine has made waves in the sports world, both for the absolute ludicrousness of the comments and for the unspoken glee that we have yet another irrational Boss running the Yankees (the only time a Steinbrenner learned to keep his hands off the team, they had a dynasty).
John Henry, the owner of the Red Sox, fired back tongue-in-cheek and with considerably more class than Hank, inducting Hank into Red Sox Nation and sending him a membership card chock full of goodies that he can use as a member. (Hey John, send me one too so I don't have to pay to be a member.)
Let's talk about Hank's comments.
Red Sox Nation was indeed a creation of the Red Sox --- the membership portion of it, that is. The real Red Sox Nation, the one where you don't have to pay to be a member of and includes all Red Sox fans, has been in existence from the very beginning. The Red Sox saw a marketing and financial opportunity in this fandom and took advantage of it. That works for me, as it's more capital for the Red Sox. But to use it as a term of derision and then turn around and proclaim this Yankee country? Smacks of being a hypocrite. Will there be Yankee Country memberships coming out soon? Don't bet against it.
He also seems to think that the Red Sox are backed by ESPN. Funny, because most Red Sox fans think that ESPN bows down to the Yankees. ESPN Insider Buster Olney has run a few e-mails from Red Sox fans blasting him for being a closet Yankee fans, Yankee fans have done the opposite. ESPN is a large sports media outlet that follows the big market teams and the storylines within. As a journalistic enterprise, it is their job to present news in a fair and balanced way and I have a very tough time thinking that they would purposely side with the Red Sox --- or Yankees, for that matter. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for Hank to say that about ESPN just goes to show how stupid he is. (Or smart, I suppose, to stir up controversy. But if he really does believe that, then he's back to being stupid.)
Hank then directs us to "go anywhere in America and you won't see Red Sox hats and jackets, you'll see Yankee hats and jackets."
I'm not going to waste any time on this comment other then to wonder if Hank has actually been anywhere else in America other than The Bronx and <s>Legends</s> self-serving Steinbrenner Field, their spring training home.
"We're going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order."
The Red Sox were baseball's power in the early 1900s before the Yankees took over. The universe went all a kilter after that and we've seen two World Wars and three other regional wars (Korea, Vietnam, Iraq) ever since then. Since the Red Sox have won, have there been any wars? No, there has not. Hmm... could it be that the Red Sox were the one that restored the universe to order?
Sound ludicrous? Well, so does Hank's comments.
Actually, I was happy to see those comments. The last couple of years, despite the media circus only increasing in frenzy, there has been something missing from the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry. With the Yankees stumbling majorly in 2007 to start the year and the rivalry being pretty much a non-factor in 2006, there hasn't been that sort of hatred on each side for a long time. God forbid, by the time 2007 was drawing to a close, I actually felt the Yankee games were nothing more than a tight intra-division game! Hank's comments has put that notion to rest, and the flames of the rivalry have been fanned.
As Larry Lucchino said, the Red Sox are more than happy to be the Rebel Alliance to the Yankees' Evil Empire.
The opening salvo of the War of 2008 has been fired.
Enjoy the ride.
Discussion
23 Comments on "Welcome Back, Red Sox/Yankees Rivalry"
#2
Posted by nwcajun, March 3, 2008 12:53 AM
Hank needs to come to Texas (not) and see how many Boston hats I see out here. There's a lot of support here for the Sox prospects that are native Texans, besides interest in the major league team. I've made sure to replace the one NY cap I've seen on one of the local kids with a Red Sox cap.
#3
Posted by Moshe Mandel, March 3, 2008 8:18 AM
Hank is silly because there obviously is a RSN, it is not artificial. However, Evan, I think most Sox fans would agree that there are a lot more Sox fans now than there were 5 years ago. That is the nature of winning- there are many more Yankees fans now than in the 80's. The casual fan loves a winner, and will latch on to the flavor of the month. Also, I agree that this little bit of silly sniping is great for the rivalry. Here's to a great, animosity filled 2008!
#4
Posted by Geno, March 3, 2008 4:20 PM
I agree, Hank is a bit of a blowhard. That being said, the whole rebel alliance/evil empire star wars thing is exceedingly dorky.
#5
Posted by patrick, March 3, 2008 4:29 PM
Hanks an idiot, i live here in Nebraska and there are Red Soxs fans everywhere, most band wagon after 04 but none the less alot more then yankee fans i see around.
#6
Posted by Ankit, March 3, 2008 5:54 PM
I have to agree with Hank a little bit here. I move to Illinois from Boston a few months ago and I see way more Yankees gear (even more than white sox) than I do any other team. I see a few Red Sox hats but nothing like full Yankees jackets, scullies, etc... Kind of weird since there are two baseball teams here yet I think a lot of transplant New Yorkers representing the Yankee pride.
#7
Posted by BartoLoco, March 3, 2008 7:09 PM
The third annual Cookie Off!
http://www.outincenterfield.com/blog/2008/03/c_is_for_cookie_off_3.html
Probably the funniest production of every Red Sox season.
#8
Posted by Sam, March 3, 2008 7:13 PM
I think it's an idiotic ... these two teams obviously possess the largest fanbases in baseball ... both teams spend large amounts of money, enjoy fairly consistent success, and have rich tradition ... to say that one side has more fans than the other is stupid ... its a BIG country ... there are more Sox fans in certain parts and there are more Yankees in other areas ... I dunno maybe Hank should use some kind of "numbers" to back up his argument ... I'm sure that'd be entertaining
IMO its a stupid and pointless argument to make ... but hey ... Keep it up Hank! RSN salutes you! (sorta)
#9
Posted by Sean O, March 3, 2008 7:24 PM
Ankit, that's because you just moved there. In '04, even before the WS win, there were as many Sox hats as Cubs hats in Chicago, north and south side.
Yeah, it's an RSN.
#10
Posted by Rob, March 3, 2008 8:09 PM
Honestly,speaking from experience whether it's travelling within the U.S or outside the country...Hank is right. Go to Spain,Italy,or London and all you see is Yankee hats,jackets,etc etc.I'm sure there is your sprinkle here and there of all other major sporting teams like the Lakers & Cowboys, but none like the Yankees..come on now.
#12
Posted by BartoLoco, March 3, 2008 9:09 PM
Rob, but how many of those people are wearing those because it's fashionable, or because they're representing the city of New York, and how many do you think are wearing them cause they actually care about the Yankees? It's one thing having a popular logo. It's another to be the most passionately loved team in the country.
#13
Posted by Rob, March 3, 2008 9:32 PM
First off,Only DIE HARD fans wear there teams colors because they truly love them.Finding out who the bandwagon fans are is IMPOSSIBLE! But let me get this straight...anyone who wears RedSox hats & colors are true,passionate,loyal fans? But anyone who wears Yankee hats are just doing it to look good in a fashion sense? My point being..the Yankees & there merchandise are the most popular in all of sports regardless why people are wearing them.I'm not saying the RedSox arent a popular team,I'm just saying they aren't in the same category in the marketing sense as say the Lakers,Cowboys,or Yankees are.
#14
Posted by Sam, March 3, 2008 10:47 PM
ok so the Yankees probably have a larger fanbase worldwide ... understandable considering their long history of winning ... but so what? ... theyre both huge fanbases ... what I'm wondering is why does this even matter? and why is the owner of the richest and most powerful team in sports feel like he needs to say this? Fenway and Yankee Stadium will always be full and they will both make ridiculous amounts of money from merchandise every year ... who cares if one fanbase is bigger
Hank is either insecure and nervous about his team's fall from dominance and the RedSox recent success ... that or he's just plain stupid and doesn't think when speaking ... I tend to think its the latter
#15
Posted by Rob, March 3, 2008 11:41 PM
Powerful owners will say whatever it takes to fire up there team regardless the sport. Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban never shut up! I believe 2003 was the first we heard Larry Lucchino refer to the Yanks as "The Evil Empire"..doesn't that remark carry the same weight as what Hank said today? Both ownerships have done there fair share of sarcastic/jealous remarks over the decades,it comes with the rivalry and that's why it's the greatest in all of sports.
#16
Posted by Sam, March 4, 2008 12:46 AM
I didn't say it was bad for the sport or bad for the rivalry ... it is certainly entertaining and draws attention (mostly ridicule and laughs of course) ... and yes it apparently does fire up some people (sadly enough) ... I'm just saying the small amount of difference between the two fanbases doesn't matter enough to argue over ... it's a stupid debate ... I am (and I imagine most of RSN) gonna treat it us such by laughing at and ignoring him
#17
Posted by dave, March 4, 2008 12:46 AM
Jaredk: you are ot fooling anyone. As soon as red sox fans raise their hands, Yankee fans will be picking their pockets.
New York is the city that never sleeps, or bathes
#18
Posted by Rob, March 4, 2008 12:52 AM
Very True lol The fans & media definitely have more fun with this then the players & owners.
#19
Posted by BartoLoco, March 4, 2008 2:32 AM
Rob, you have to admit, a large portion of the people who wear Yankees stuff outside of the US care very little if at all about the Yankees.
#20
Posted by Kristy Fasano, March 4, 2008 10:46 AM
Bill Simmons- "the Sports Guy"- is sometimes impossible to read the way he waxes on about Boston sports.
Also, BartoLoco- "...a large portion of the people who wear Yankees stuff outside of the US care very little if at all about the Yankees." ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE. Go to Japan, or even Korea, and from personal experience, these are people who BREATHE baseball...
Hank is clearly off his rocker sometimes, I agree...and I don't know if he says things like this for publicity or maybe even to take the spotlight of off Andy Pettitte...and though his comment in this instance is absolutely radical, it is definitely not ludacris.
#21
Posted by Jaredk, March 4, 2008 11:10 AM
Can we get some satelite images from space and have all redsox fans raise their hands first and have the census bureau count (what do they in those 10 years between census's anyways) and then have the Yankees raise their hands and get a count...then we can get to the bottom of this all important matter. Seems the logical thing to do since the goverment loves wasting tax payers $$ on baseball related issues.
#22
Posted by Therston, March 4, 2008 11:23 AM
To heck with your Nation...Sir Hank was right. See you in October. No other trash talk needed.
#23
Posted by Jaredk, March 4, 2008 1:32 PM
Good point Dave...I forgot..also it brings up a better point...who will control the satellites? Will the Sox or Yankees win the space race. Imagine a satellite that can zoom-in from outer space onto some ghetto baseball factory town in the Dominican and provide MRI's on rotator cuffs and detect the true age of a player.., contrary to an agents claims. In fact, who will sign the first player from outer space? I say the Yankees get China, we take space. The Sox open the season on the moon in 2010 to gain an edge at making in-roads with inter-galactic talent. Lugo, despite the lack of gravity and being in his walk-year, only goes 1 for 4.
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