It was such a longed for goal, in fact it was just short of "4 score and seven years". Yes, 86 years between World Series titles. There were so many great teams in Boston those nearly 9 decades, even worse so many game 7 losses. Finally in 2004 the title was back in Boston! The way it was won could not have been written as fiction; no one would have believed it. The ALCS had been totally dominated by the arch rival Yankees; they had just crushed the Sox in game 3 holding a commanding 3-0 lead. No team had ever come back from such a deficit in the history of MLB. Yankee fans will never forget the foolish comments from Gary Sheffield as he and the entire sports world awaited the Yankees victory and their quest for their 27th title. However, that was not to be. Due to a determined and resolute team, and notably some of the worst managing in Joe Torres' career, the Red Sox took the next 4 straight from their rivals. Game 7 was a total
blow out of the Yankees, in front of a devastated home crowd. The Red Sox would not lose again in 2004, winning 4 straight from the Cardinals. They had made history, "reversed the curse" after 86 years, so where's the hypocrisy? Let's fast forward to Friday May 1st 2015, 8th inning, Fenway Park. The Yankees send up Alex Rodriguez as a pinch hitter in a tie game. The Red Sox fans in unison boo Rodriguez long and loud, the booing has a sarcastic and mean spirited delivery, you see A Rod as he is known, cheated. He cheated baseball, its fans, and himself. Here's the problem, the hypocrisy, first a question: who was the MVP of the famous 2004 World Series? That would be none other than Manny Ramirez, this Manny, once beloved in Boston, is not mentioned very often anymore, do you know why? Because he was caught also cheating with PED'S. He was torrid hitter, one of the best in history, the problem is, he was probably using in the "magic" 2004 championship. So what do Red Sox fans do? What do they say? Nothing, that's right, nothing. If we don't bring it up it will just go away, this is how they cope. Remember, the emperor thought he had clothes on…
                Baseball fans know the truth, they also know that David Ortiz was released by the Twins as an unproductive player , then David Ortiz met Manny; they became notably one of the best 3/4 hitters in history, sadly it's a tainted history.
          Once when David Ortiz's name showed up on a list of cheaters he gave a tirade to the press, ironically at Yankee Stadium. He has never really broached the subject again, mums the word. Apparently the terrific reporter in Boston press Dan Shaunessey has been given a gag order, tainting the Red Sox is not allowed in Boston, however, I'm not from Boston...

         Today the report about the ‘deflate gate’ of the Patriots who won this year’s Super Bowl came out:  They more probably cheated by taking air out of the balls in the Championship game against the Colts, Tom Brady, who did not help in any way during the investigation, has been implicated as a main cheater and there are text messages from those he used as proof. Wait though, this is Boston, shush, we can’t say anything; that’s exactly what Mr. Brady has done, silence. Calling Dan Shaunessey, I know, you can’t taint the football team either, even though they are chronic cheaters.

          That May 1st game Alex Rodriguez homered, his first ever pinch hit homer to win the game. The Yankees beat the Red Sox that night; silencing the crowd. Unless the Boston faithful look long and hard at their ‘tainted’ past, this baseball fan will always hear the ‘howl of hypocrisy’ when they boo a cheater.
                          Thanks. JJ
                           © Joseph James