No More Drama

Saturday was the perfect day for a trip to the Cape. Sure the weather was crappy and I was unable for various reasons, mostly because of drinking too much apple juice and lemonade with my uncle the night before, to get off the couch for a good part of the day, but nonetheless, twas' a jolly good day on the Cape. But you know what makes a day on the Cape even better? An afternoon Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway Park. Yes, Saturday was the perfect day. I had my uncle, my aunt, my younger cousin, a much needed couch, two Tylenol, snacks, and....two unwanted house guests: Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. No matter how hard I willed the TV to play the game on NESN, I was stuck with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver on Fox. I prepared myself for the five hours of non-stop chatter, out of control graphics, dramatic montages, and of course, in game interviews with the managers. Where are Jerry and Don when you need them?

But it was something that Joe said in the first few minutes of the game that inspired this blog. During his intro Joe said something along the lines of, "It's the most dramatic rivalry...... in the history. of. sports. the Yankees......... Vs. The. Red. Sox" (note: I understand grammar but I wanted to add to the dramatic fashion in which he speaks).

You know what? Joe is right....and partially wrong. The Yankees vs. Sox is the most dramatic rivalry in the "history" of sports, but not so much in the present day. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I believe that the rivalry is long gone and truly apart of our history (circa 2003).

I think the rivalry died along with the curse of the Bambino. When the Sox, who were in an 86 year World Series drought and never seemed to catch a break, finally caught a break during the 2004 series against the Yankees and then the World Series, the tables suddenly flipped. It wasn't the Sox that had tragedies like Bucky "Bleeping" Dent and Bill Buckner to reminisce about, in stead they now have two World Series wins in four years while the Yankees are on a mini-drought of their own. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the Sox have all the luck in the world on their side which is mind boggling as a Sox fan.

And apart of me is sad that this rivalry is dead. It added that extra umph that made Sox vs. Yankee games so electric. There was something special about being the under dogs and turning on the TV hoping that today would be the day that the Sox luck turned around. And maybe the rivalry only feels dead to me because I am calmer in my old age of 20 than I was as a sassy teenager (ok I'm still sassy) and maybe it's because I now live in New England instead of New Jersey where I am embraced for being a Sox fan, but still, I really think the rivalry has lost its spark. Those intense intros and in game montages during Sox vs. Yankee games, that used to send chills up my spine, now sound ridiculous. Even Joe Buck, who always sounds over the top seems to be even more absurd during Yankee vs. Sox games as he tries to find the intensity that he just doesn't feel anymore. That a lot of people don't feel anymore.

So, what do you think? Is the rivalry dead? What changed in the Yankees vs. Sox saga? Let me know, post your comments.