Sometimes You Just Need A Cookie

Hawks Herald Article: Just Another Hypocrite.

Hey everyone, just wanted to share with you the article i wrote for the RWU Hawks Herald newspaper. Sadly, when i presented it to the sports editor, he informed me that because there was only one more issue, they were "too Cramped" to fit anything else in. Figures, i finally get inspired at write an article and they are full. Semi-Story of my life. Well hope you all appreciate this, because it came from the heart of a die hard Red Sox fan.


“Just another Hypocrite” by Greg Walsh

This article is in regard to Jim Dugan’s article “Red Sox fans not as innocent as they look” that appeared in last issue of the Hawks Herald. Before I start I would like to say that this isn’t an attack, just a chance for a Red Sox fan to step up to the plate and defend his team. Jim’s article was an enjoyable read and he did bring up many good points, but as he said, he is a Philadelphia fan, and it showed.

My problem with the article is his points about the New York Yankees. Jim said that Red Sox fans complain too much about the high payroll of the Yankees and how they buy their championships. Then he refuted this argument by saying that we are second on the payroll list. But what Jim failed to mention was the actual numbers of their salaries. Here is a quick chart to show why we Sox fans get so frustrated and call out the Yankees.

2002
1st New York Yankees $133,429,757
2nd Boston Red Sox $110,249,535

2003
1st New York Yankees $180,322,403
5th Boston Red Sox $104,873,607

2004
1st New York Yankees $182,835,513
2nd Boston Red Sox $125,208,542

2005
1st New York Yankees $208,306,817
2nd Boston Red Sox $123,505,125

2006
1st New York Yankees $198,662,180
2nd Boston Red Sox $120,100,524

So as you can see, although the Sox usually have the second highest payroll (minus 2003 when they were 5th) their’s is significantly less and more reasonable. The Yankees set a major league record for highest payroll in 2004, and broke it in 2005. This is the first year in recent memory in which the Yankees have “slashed” their payroll.

The Yankees are the target of our hatred because they “buy championships.” We say this because it’s a fact. They have an alarming 10 players on the roster that make over $10 million a year. And three of them make over $20 million a year. 20 million dollars! Only four players in the majors make that much money; Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, and Barry Bonds. That is why Sox fans hate the Yanks as much as we do. The top three highest paid players in baseball play for the Yankees. Does that sound fair to you? The Red Sox, on the other hand, have three players who make over $10 million dollars; Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling, and Jason Varitek.

Although this free spending philosophy hasn’t helped the Yanks recently, since they haven’t won since 2000, we still have a big problem with this. What chance do other teams have if the Yankees go out and import star players year after year? Is it honestly a surprise that the Red Sox lost to the Yankees in the 2003 ALCS when we were 5th in payroll and trailed the Yanks by about $76 million? The Yankees go out and buy whoever they want and no one can even think to challenge them, especially when there is a 78.5 million dollar difference between the first and second place teams on the payroll list this year.

The fact is we hate the Yankees. Whether it’s hatred toward Damon for leaving because of money (we offered the same contract length, just less money), or Alex Rodriguez and his antics in 2004 (picking a fight with Varitek during the season and slapping Bronson Arroyo’s glove in the playoffs), or if it’s just Derek Jeter (no reason, we just don’t like him).

For what it’s worth, you may find the true Sox fans that respect the Yankees when they deserve respect. For me, I respect the Yankees of 98-99, the teams that featured professional players like Andy Pettitte, Scott Brosius, Tino Martinez, and Paul O’Neill. We can respect these players, but I believe I speak for all of Red Sox Nation when I say that we won’t respect the “BALCO boys” like Giambi and Gary Sheffield, or Mr. Purple Lips himself, A-Rod. These players fuel our hatred for the Yankees and will never earn our respect.

So you may be sick of all the complaints coming from Sox fans, but next time you hear us complaining, just try to understand where we are coming from.

-END-

So that was my article that i wrote for the Hawks Herald. I just wish it was a week earlier so that it could have been published. Oh well, i just have something to shoot for next year.

Keep On Rocking In The Free World!!

posted by Greg @ 1:59 AM