to dream the impossible...

note: i started writing this thursday morning but it has been so hectic since, i have only now been able to finish and clean it up.

i feel like i've cheated. i've only been a fan of the red sox for about 18 years... and only in the last 10 can i say i have followed them well. Oh, I went through the agony of watching buckner in 86, but honestly since 86 was the year i started liking the sox (because of their appearance in the world series, and me fatefully choosing them to root for), i really didnt suffer all that much. most of the suffering came in the relentless replays since then.

but i felt the playoff victory drought until 98. the crap with Clemens. their finally being good in the late 90s. the loses to the Indians (trust me i felt well confident when the sox had to hit against Tom Gordon this year). the confusing time of Jimy Williams (amazingly it still crosses my mind that Williams needed a little more time... am i on crack?!) the futility against the Yankees, in the playoffs and the regular season (like that 22-crap drubbing a few years ago). the hope that Kerrigan would do better. the 'I want to shoot Grady Little' thoughts. A-Rod/Manny. Nomar. last year's Boone home run.

so thats why i feel like I've cheated... but you know what? i don't care. I love the Sox, I truly do. And you know what? Alot of my joy comes in the thought that there are so many people who also love them, and they've been going to sleep the past few days with a huge smile on their face too. People who put up with that crap much longer than me. It's a great feeling.

I was thinking, when it comes to sports, I'm a lucky fan. I've had 4 of my teams win championships in my lifetime: the Boston Red Sox (this year), Maryland Terrapins Basketball (2002), Washington Redskins (1982-83, 1987-88, 1991-92), and DC United (1996, 1997, 1999). Now all i need to see is a Chilean World Cup title, a Terrapins Football Championship and a Washington Capitals Stanley Cup trophy to finish of the set (technically speaking the Washington Bullets/Wizards won when I was alive in 1978 so it would be nice to redo that one... oh and now that I think about it, my newest addition to the group would have to be a World Series title for the new DC baseball team/Expos).