As you sit in your dorm room, you stare angrily across the room at your roommate’s Derek Jeter poster hanging on the wall. Five feet away, your roommate is doing the same, glaring at your cherished Nomar Garciaparra poster hanging next to your bed.
The two of you haven’t talked in a week. Hell, neither of you have even left the room. All you know is that at some point soon, an epic battle will ensue, and all that will remain of one of those posters is tiny shreds of paper strewn about the floor. All that remains to be answered is this: who’s going to make the first move? And who’s coming out on top?
The Yankees versus the Red Sox has long been considered by many to be the biggest rivalry in all of sports. From very young ages, Bostonians and New Yorkers have been taught to despise each other based upon the simple premise that “our baseball team is better than yours.”
Ever since Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold a player named George Herman Ruth to the New York Yankees in the winter prior to the 1920 season, the hatred between the teams has intensified, as the Yanks have gone on to claim 26 World Championships, while the Sox continue to endure nearly a century’s worth of misery and misfortune (they haven’t won a World Series since 1918).
The rivalry is clearly evident whenever groups of Yankees and Red Sox fans are present, no matter what the event.
“Yankees Suck” can be heard during Celtics vs. Knicks basketball games and chants of “1918” are commonly repeated at Rangers vs. Bruins events.
Last Monday, students at Fairfield University were among many excited baseball fans who celebrated when it was determined that the American League Championship Series would be played between New York and Boston.
Displays of team spirit have been seen around campus all week. The women’s field hockey team even scrimmaged “Yanks vs. Sox” while many students have been sporting baseball caps and jerseys in support of their teams.
Despite the great division the series creates between the students, as Fairfield’s student population is made up of a majority of New York and Massachusetts residents, most students are excited for the upcoming series.
“Personally, I am pumped,” said Red Sox fan Andrew Wadden ’05. “The rivalry is good enough in the regular season, but the playoffs is a whole new level,” he said.
Fellow Sox fan A.J. Kastanotis, ’06, agrees with Wadden, saying that he is thrilled for the series mainly because of the history behind the rivalry. “I am excited because I know it’s going to be a tough battle for both teams, making it even more exciting for fans to watch,” said Kastanotis.
Many Yankees fans, although also looking forward to the series, admit that the rivalry is not all that motivates them to watch the games.
“I am happy that the Yanks are playing the Sox because if the Yanks were to win the World Series without playing Boston, all we would hear is how they only won because they didn’t play the Sox,” said Justin Rindos ’06.
Other Yanks fans are also sick of hearing the complaints heard mostly from Red Sox nation referring to the Yankee organization as the “evil empire” and attributing New York’s success only to their high payroll.
“The Yankees had the opportunity and the money to take control and they built an army of players,” said Jeff Illustrato ’04. “I think any major city could have done the same.”
After Game three of the Championship Series, which many consider more a childish melee than a professional baseball game, conflicts are plentiful around Fairfield’s campus, as many students are in disagreement as to exactly who is to blame for Saturday’s brawl.
“It was obvious Pedro threw at Garcia, whether he was aiming at his head or not, and Manny definitely overreacted to a pitch over the plate because he was terrified that Clemens was going to retaliate,” said one Yankees fan.
“Pedro is a fierce competitor and he was just pitching the way anyone else would have,” responded an unidentifed Boston fan. ” I think Garcia overreacted,” he said.
While these arguments may well continue throughout the Championship Series, the violence that ensued in Saturday’s game is a growing concern among students, who already witnessed rioting on campus after Boston clinched the division series.
“I feel that students at Fairfield are going to be more prone to acting out after Game three,” said Devon Hagan ’06. “The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry creates such a buildup that it won’t take a lot for people to get excited,” he said.
“Tensions are going to be higher than before,” said Wadden. “It’s going to create a lot more anger and resentment among students,” he said.
Students who are not avid baseball fans are enjoying the aura created by the playoffs.
“It’s a great excuse to get drunk,” said Jen Rochette ’04. “Go Cubs.”
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