Yankees-Sox Continues To Grow
Because of my last name, I often get remarks/questions along the lines of “You’re Italian, [fill in the blank].” And, whenever I get these, I always politely (as possible) reply with “I’m not Italian, I’m an American.” This often leads to another volley sent my way to the tune of “Com’on, you know what I mean…….” To this, I always offer the following: “I was born in this country, America. Both of my parents were born here. Half of my grand-parents were born here. If people like me aren’t willing to consider themselves an American, then who will?”
You see, I am very proud of this country and to be an American. Related, I deeply appreciate the things that this nation provides, etc. Therefore, national holidays of recognition (like The 4th of the July) are important to me.
But, I choose to celebrate these days by taking a moment to myself, at some point in the day, and think about what made that day possible, the reason why it is important, and then to be thankful for what the day provided. On “Independence Day,” I think about everyone who made great sacrifices to make this wonderful country what it is, and to keep it that way for us.
Others, however, chose to take “Independence Day” to mean “The Day to be Independent of Consideration towards Other’s Quality of Life Rights.”
For example, take the twit that lives a few doors down from my house. Despite the fact that he has a backyard the size of my hand, every fourth, he jams it full of 40 of his most alcoholic and rude friends, and has a live band playing for them, amped up to the level required to fill a football stadium with sound, without any consideration to those who live along side him.
And, of course, you have those people who feel the need to celebrate The 4th of July by putting on personal demonstrations reenacting what it was like living under war-time conditions – setting off explosions and rockets, over and over again, loud enough to fray your nerves down to their roots.
Typically, on “noise holiday” weekends such as this, we (in my home) do our best to ride out the storm of sound. And, to pass the time, we’ll watch movies at night for distraction while we sit there, with our fingers crossed, hoping that “the bombs bursting in air” will not:
1. Keep the babies up all night as they try and get their needed sleep.
2. Not cause my older dog to have a heart attack from fright.
3. Not cause my younger dog to lose control of her bowels all over the house out of fright.
And, this weekend, one of the movies that we chose to rent was Ocean’s 12. (Which was not as good as the first one, and not worth catching if you have something else better to do.) What I did find interesting about the movie was at the very end – where the film makers decided to pull the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry into the story line.
Then, just yesterday, deciding that a break was needed having been unable to sleep much on the loud nights of Sunday and Monday, we had my folks watch the kids and me and the Mrs. went to see War of the Worlds. (It was interesting to me, knowing some of the streets and sights in Bayonne. Worth seeing on the big screen for the effects and surround-sound. But, it was not the greatest Spielberg movie ever – as I thought I heard someone once claim.) And, early in this movie, there was another Yankees-Red Sox rivalry tie-in.
This is how big the Yankees-Sox thing has become today. Yes, it was big when I was a kid in the 1970′s. And, I’m sure it was big in the decades before that as well. But, it’s bigger now as evidenced by references to it found in things like popular movies that have nothing to do with baseball.
The rivalry has taken on a life outside of baseball. Something worth keeping in mind for that big series coming up after the All-Star break.
Interesting point about how the Yankees-Red Sox thing has spilled over beyond baseball and into the popular culture at large. And you’re certainly right that “it was big … in the 1970′s.” But I’m not at all “sure it was big in the decades before that as well.” I honestly don’t recall much attention being paid to the Red Sox by Yankee fans when I was growing up in NJ in the 50′s. We were much more interested in seeing the Yankees beat the Dodgers in the World Series (yet again).
You know, I might be clouded by 1949, and you’re right. I have to look into that. Thanks.
Yup. In only five seasons have Boston and New York finished first and second in the final standings where the difference between the two teams was less than 3 games: 1904, 1949, 1977, 1978, and 2000.
There wasn’t that much in the 1940′s and 1950′s, like I assumed.
//Yup. In only five seasons have Boston and New York finished first and second in the final standings where the difference between the two teams was less than 3 games: 1904, 1949, 1977, 1978, and 2000.
There wasn’t that much in the 1940′s and 1950′s, like I assumed.//
IIRC, that angle was covered in one of those documentaries that was aired over the winter. There wasn’t much that went on in the 60′s either because the Yanks were pretty bad.
Yanks – Sox has gotten bigger over the years, but come to think of it, so has MLB.
Attendance would support that – I believe.
don’t forget the most important part- the media.
They do their part to replay every tense and ugly moment b/tw the Yankees and Sox every chance they get.
In 1950- only those present would see Pedro throw Zimmer to the ground….instead of the 50 million who saw it.