A resounding joy!
A skywriter spelled out "Red Sox Nation." Signs in
windows over Tremont Street read "Thank Youk." Vendors sold brooms. And
pitcher Jonathan Papelbon finally came out of his shell. All right, Papelbon
didn't need a lot of prodding, not in his sunglasses and kilt, not as he
played the air guitar, did a jig, and used a broom over the side of his
flatbed truck to pretend he was rowing down the street. Thronging the
streets on a sparkling autumn day, Red Sox Nation cheered and chanted for
its world champion team at a celebratory parade for the second time in three
years. Rolling Rally II crowned a season in which victory seemed more
destiny than magic. But if there were any doubts that a second World Series
title would be as exhilarating, the fans erased them yesterday. From Fenway
Park to Copley Square to the Boston Common to City Hall, the very air seemed
jubilant. Children skipped school, and grown-ups skipped work, or at least
lunch, to see their beloved club's victory tour.
"Incredible," said Angel Zayas, the director of office
diversity and equal opportunity at the state Department of Revenue, who
watched the passing insanity in a suit and tie. "What a team, hunh? What
a team." The players, riding on a convoy of duck boats under cloudless
skies, happily returned the love. Captain Jason Varitek waved the trophy.
Manny Ramírez told the crowd he loved them. Papelbon reprised his Riverdance
and played air guitar with the Dropkick Murphys. Jacoby Ellsbury gave the
victory sign as Bobby Kielty sang, giddily off-key, into a microphone as his
Duck Tour boat passed the Common. "Sweet Caroline!" the home run-hitting
pinch-hitter sang."Oh! Oh! Oh!" the delirious crowd bellowed back. The
3-mile route was much the same as the one in 2004, except that this time it
did not go into the Charles River. It passed from the Fenway to Back Bay
along Boylston Street, alongside the Public Garden and the Common via
Tremont Street and then down Cambridge Street to City Hall Plaza.
Police declined to provide estimates of yesterday's crowds,
but MBTA officials said that about 1 million people rode the subway
yesterday (about the same number as on the day of the Red Sox victory parade
in 2004), compared with the usual 650,000 riders...
Carla Gomes (owner of Terramia) and Robert (her son) at
Fenway Park 10-24-04 game II
The Red Sox are World Series champions. I guess sometimes simplicity says it
best.
This is the moment millions of Red
Sox fans have waited for. Some doubted it would ever come. Many died waiting.
Under some ridiculous October aura that has had us all under its spell we are
fortunate enough to witness it because somehow, someway, the Red Sox are World
Series champions.
Dusty bottles of champagne, the cork
half popped 18 years ago, are opening all over the world. Phone lines everywhere
are jammed as loved ones call each other to share in the moment. Many of us
remember those who would have loved to witness this moment, just ever so
quickly, if their time hadn’t run out on them first.
THAT is why this is so special. If
you’re a baseball fan, it’s a nice story, this team of hard knocks finally
winning the big one. If you’re a Red Sox fan, you understand how very important
this is. It’s something your grandparents yearned to see. It’s something your
parents tried to shield you from so you didn’t end up like they did. Then 1986
came along, and the temptation was simply too great for them not immerse you
into it all.
And now, we have witnessed it. The
greatest moment in Boston sports history. And if you have another nomination,
please keep it to yourself because you will only sound like a fool trying to
defend it.
Prayers:
