red sox love

it's impossible for me to think of loving something, anything, anyone, as much as i love the boston red sox.

when pedro was pedro

it's been so hard for me to write this; i've taken a bit of a sabbatical from writing, really since the world series. it's as if i didn't want to write a/b it, b/c i didn't want it to be over; i didn't want pedro to leave, cabbie to leave, even d lowe and kapler to leave. but now it's less than a week until the start of the real 2005 season, so i guess it's time to face the music.

you know what. i forgot. i forgot a/b so many things. i forgot a/b the 9 inning shutout against tampa bay in august. i forgot a/b '99 and '00 when you were simply unbeatable, a/b the playoff game against cleveland when you came out of the pen, and later in the alcs when you put roger in the shower early. i forgot a/b everything except g7 of the 2003 alcs. please forgive me; i didn't remember. you did so much, i can't even begin to remember it all. you were the best pitcher in mlb for several years, quite possibly the greatest pitcher in mlb history for that stint (with regards to koufax and gibson, of course). pedro and pray for four days of rain. that's how we all felt. who's your daddy? f'ing pedro, that's who.

i forgot a/b the fun times, the soul glow, the giant bobblehead, the red bat, your salsa moves, your personal midget, the goggles. i forgot it all. i forgot a/b your desire to 'drill the bambino in the ass', your pronouncement that 'i don't just play baseball b/c i am cute', your undying love of sandra bullock, your ability to make us all laugh. you were a professor on the mound, but a clown on your days off. sure you were late at times, but that didn't keep your teammates from adoring you. but i forgot. but millar reminded us when he said, with the sox down 3-0 to the yankees, 'don't count the sox out. don't let us win today. give us pedro tomorrow...'

petey, our petey. our savior. whatever the circumstance, you gave us reason to believe. you gave us hope for another day. and sure enough, you answered the call. you gave us one final start to remember in the world series. on the biggest stage of your career, you did it. and it gives me chills to this day to think a/b it; i pitched with you. sure schilling was great, and obviously quotable, but your antics kept me on my toes. every fifth day, i felt like there was an opportunity to witness something special. so were you the greatest pitcher i've ever seen? most certainly so. but i didn't see gibson or koufax, at least in person. so it's easy for me, and even easier as a red sox fan. you were far and away above rc; quite simply, you were unbelievable. rsn truly believed you were unbeatable.

so when it was over, and it had to be, i mourned. i cried for the 'greatest red sox team ever'. i am so proud to be a red sox fan; the 2004 team was truly special. any other mix of characters couldn't have ever accomplished what you all did. i watched faith rewarded again the other day. and when foulke threw that final pitch, i sobbed. not like the first time, but like i was really a believer. so i thank you, my precious petey. my right arm will never be the same. i don't know what i'll do without you this year, but i certainly wish you the best. and i promise, i'll never forget again.

thoughts of a drunkard

drunken thoughts are the best because they are gone before they are remembered.

toasting

next time i make a toast, it will be to 'the sun and the earth for revolving around it'. can't get much simpler/deeper than that...