2008 Woodie Awards
RSSBoston fans, worst of them all
Edit Desk
By Ben Johnson
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Opinion
Boston, Mass., one of the oldest and most historic cities in the country. You'd think it would be on many travelers' lists of places to go before they die. That all may be true, but I think I'd have to go the other route and say I'd rather die before I visit Boston.
OK, maybe that was a little harsh, but as with most sports fans in the country that are not from Boston, I am quite frustrated with the city's success as of late. Sure, the Boston Tea Party was a great accomplishment, but in the 230 plus years since then, including the Red Sox 86 year drought, not much has really happened until the current decade.
Let's start with Boston College. The Eagles, who finally lost to Florida State University last week, dropped to No. 8 in both the Associated Press poll and the Bowl Championship Series standings, which all but eliminated them from national championship contention.
More importantly, it gave the sports fans outside of Boston some hope that maybe we can put on Sports Center and not hear about the greatness of that city. For that, I thank you Florida State. That's about as far as the hope stretches.
Let's see, where to next? The New England Patriots' (note they are not the Boston Patriots) home games are played in Foxboro, Mass. which is about 30 miles from Boston, and the "Pats" are playing about 30 times better than any team ever.
Peyton Manning let all of us down last week. The game of the season so far started well for the Indianapolis Colts, until Tom Brady did what he does best: Win. I was cringing as he took control with his team down and only a few minutes left. We all knew what was going to happen, as it has so many times before.
Bill Belichick, the Patriots Head Coach, got caught taping and stealing his opponents coaching signals. Did it matter? No. The Patriots are averaging almost 40 points per game. Tom Brady is on the verge of shattering the single season passing touchdown record Peyton Manning set two years ago. And, oh yeah, they are on the verge of becoming only the second NFL team to go 16-0. Yes, it is going to happen, unfortunately.
As an avid New York Yankee fan all of my life, I can honestly say that there is nothing I hate more than when the Red Sox win. I won't get into the various reasons of why I truly hate the Red Sox so much, but let's just say at the top of the list is the Red Sox Nation ridiculous marketing scam.
The group of fans which so avidly root for the Red Sox could be the most obnoxious group of people in the world, and they will admit it. Yes, we all know Yankee fans can be a bit loud and annoying, but nothing can compare to a Boston fan.
We all get upset when our teams lose, it's only natural.
What isn't natural is how Boston fans absolutely hate any team that does well, except teams from Boston. The Colorado Rockies went on one of the greatest streaks to make it to the World Series and all eyes were on them during the playoffs. Except the eyes of Boston fans.
Talking to a good friend of mine from Boston, he will concur that his fellow Boston fans are all as obnoxious as possible. With a bowl of clam chowder (the creamy kind, obviously) in one hand, a Sam Adams in the other and their Tom Brady jersey proudly worn on their back, they gladly will tell you how the Sox will win again next year and that Manny Ramirez is actually a good person.
When anything and everything good happens to one their sports teams, Boston fans feel they are in some way responsible. Tom Brady is dating one of the most famous super models in the world, Gisele Bündchen. But I bet if you asked Boston loyalists, they would tell you it feels like they're dating her too.
I suppose I am just a bitter Yankees fan who hasn't won a championship in a few years. And truly, I have nothing against Boston fans. A lot of my good friends are Boston-rooters.
But show me a group of Boston fans, and I'll show you one of the most irritating group of people in the country.
Ben Johnson is an accounting major. He is the sports copy editor and the sports editor emeritus for The Brown and White.
OK, maybe that was a little harsh, but as with most sports fans in the country that are not from Boston, I am quite frustrated with the city's success as of late. Sure, the Boston Tea Party was a great accomplishment, but in the 230 plus years since then, including the Red Sox 86 year drought, not much has really happened until the current decade.
Let's start with Boston College. The Eagles, who finally lost to Florida State University last week, dropped to No. 8 in both the Associated Press poll and the Bowl Championship Series standings, which all but eliminated them from national championship contention.
More importantly, it gave the sports fans outside of Boston some hope that maybe we can put on Sports Center and not hear about the greatness of that city. For that, I thank you Florida State. That's about as far as the hope stretches.
Let's see, where to next? The New England Patriots' (note they are not the Boston Patriots) home games are played in Foxboro, Mass. which is about 30 miles from Boston, and the "Pats" are playing about 30 times better than any team ever.
Peyton Manning let all of us down last week. The game of the season so far started well for the Indianapolis Colts, until Tom Brady did what he does best: Win. I was cringing as he took control with his team down and only a few minutes left. We all knew what was going to happen, as it has so many times before.
Bill Belichick, the Patriots Head Coach, got caught taping and stealing his opponents coaching signals. Did it matter? No. The Patriots are averaging almost 40 points per game. Tom Brady is on the verge of shattering the single season passing touchdown record Peyton Manning set two years ago. And, oh yeah, they are on the verge of becoming only the second NFL team to go 16-0. Yes, it is going to happen, unfortunately.
As an avid New York Yankee fan all of my life, I can honestly say that there is nothing I hate more than when the Red Sox win. I won't get into the various reasons of why I truly hate the Red Sox so much, but let's just say at the top of the list is the Red Sox Nation ridiculous marketing scam.
The group of fans which so avidly root for the Red Sox could be the most obnoxious group of people in the world, and they will admit it. Yes, we all know Yankee fans can be a bit loud and annoying, but nothing can compare to a Boston fan.
We all get upset when our teams lose, it's only natural.
What isn't natural is how Boston fans absolutely hate any team that does well, except teams from Boston. The Colorado Rockies went on one of the greatest streaks to make it to the World Series and all eyes were on them during the playoffs. Except the eyes of Boston fans.
Talking to a good friend of mine from Boston, he will concur that his fellow Boston fans are all as obnoxious as possible. With a bowl of clam chowder (the creamy kind, obviously) in one hand, a Sam Adams in the other and their Tom Brady jersey proudly worn on their back, they gladly will tell you how the Sox will win again next year and that Manny Ramirez is actually a good person.
When anything and everything good happens to one their sports teams, Boston fans feel they are in some way responsible. Tom Brady is dating one of the most famous super models in the world, Gisele Bündchen. But I bet if you asked Boston loyalists, they would tell you it feels like they're dating her too.
I suppose I am just a bitter Yankees fan who hasn't won a championship in a few years. And truly, I have nothing against Boston fans. A lot of my good friends are Boston-rooters.
But show me a group of Boston fans, and I'll show you one of the most irritating group of people in the country.
Ben Johnson is an accounting major. He is the sports copy editor and the sports editor emeritus for The Brown and White.
