Remdawg, Don and Red Sox nation

One of the reasons why its worth watching Boston Red Sox play baseball day-in and day-out on NESN (New England Sports Network) is for the commentators Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo, and ofcourse the pretty ladies Tina Cervasio and Hazel Mae. Don and Remy are really an oddball combination. With their witty remarks and inane discussions they really liven up the mood, especially when Red Sox is floundering, as they have been offlate.

Not long back, Boston was ahead of New York Yankees by nearly 15 games in the AL East division of MLB!!! And then the Yankees literally crushed all the weak teams down the divisions, while Boston weren't that ruthless. After a couple of shocking away series for the team as a whole, one to Seattle and one to Detroit, and shocking performances of Eric Gagne against Baltimore and more recently against LA Angels, the lead was down to a mere 5 games. There was genuine fear in the air about the impending series in Bronx...Is this a reprise of last year's Boston Massacre??? Red Sox were ahead by 3 games this time last year when Yankees visited Boston for a 5 game series in 4 days. Its more apt to say, they came, they saw, and they battered us to submission. Those 4 days were too much for any Bostonian to handle. In a flash, the miracle of 2004 series was forgotten, and then perennial pessimistic side of Boston started to surface. After all New York is the evil empire, and Boston is the perennial underdog fighting the oppressors !!! When you see buses in Boston screaming with "Go Sox" logos this time of the year, when series' against Yankees are on the horizon, you can almost sense the panic in the air. A couple of elderly ladies from Dallas and Austin were amused to see the passion that is associated with Boston-New York rivalry in sports, especially in baseball.

Anyways, as I write this post, Boston's Curt Schilling was having a rough time handling LA's batters. In 5 innings he had already conceded 4 runs, and the Angels were consistenly threatening to score more. You could see that Angels were more relaxed and Boston's shoulders were drooping. Schilling was having lots of problems in locating his fast ball. And then he pitches a lovely split-finger fast ball only to see it disappear above the Green Monster. Unfortunately for Schilling, the batter he faced was Vladimir Gurrerro. And then came the news that Yankees had defeated Detroit with Roger clemens improving his record. Boston was trailing by 5 runs, and had to win to preserve 5 game lead over New York. Everything seemed to go down, and the crowd at Fenway were quiet, and the crowd at the bar I was watching was staring in disbelief. Its at this moment Remdawg and Don changed the topic of discussion from baseball to dating women, that changed the entire mood in the bar. It goes like this.

Remdawg: Do you remember the pick up line I gave you 2 years back? That was a good one.
Don: yes it is. How can I forget that? You were in great mood then...
Remdawg: Yes I was. But I wasn't trying to pick up girls. I was only helping you guys. I think we were in New York for the game. And we saw this unbelievably beautiful woman at the restaurant, eating all alone.
Don: And you walked upto her and made a conversation...
Remdawg: Thats right. I walked up to her, and asked her if she is eating alone??? And she said "yes". I then said " You shouldn't be !!!".
Don: and then you walked away !!!! leaving her openmouthed !!!
Remdawg: Yes I did. Its one of those days, I was in the mood, and I was only helping out the other guys who were very stiff...

This and the ensuing conversation really lightened the mood at the bar, and we were all smiling even though another Boston defeat was looming large. All of a sudden Boston's offense started firing. They loaded the bases, and were harassing LA's starter Weaver. Then Big Papi hits a grandslam, and in a flash Boston was ahead by 1 run. A shellshocked Weaver had to be taken off the game, and Red Sox toyed with LA's relief pitchers, and in the end scored 10 unanswered runs !!!

Atlast there is some hope of a fight, and we eagerly await our showdown with New York, first in Bronx and later at Fenway Park. It has been a pleasure listening to Remdawg and Don over the games. Their silly conversations liven up the mood when Red Sox are down, and its agreat feeling when Boston claws back the lead, and the game !!! Go Sox.