#2 The Boston Red Sox

I am likely going to seem extremely biased in this post.  However, I don't care what you think about me.  If you live in New England, and you don't like the  Boston Red Sox, you should probably leave.  In fact, drive yourself to the nearest bus station, find any bus that's final destination ISN'T in New England, and get on it.  The exceptions I'm willing to make include: if you're my boyfriend.  I admit it!  My boyfriend likes the Yankees.  And frankly, although I would like to rid our territory of Yankees fans, I would rather he DOESN'T get on the next bus out of here because I would have to go with and let's face it, I would probably melt if I had to live outside of New England. 

 

Anyway, I currently live in Boston and therefore I hear about the Sox on the news, weather, sports, front page, back page, comics, radio, street art, billboards and in just about every conversation with anyone in this city.  Furniture stores in Boston give away free furniture when the Sox sweep ...anything.  It's like when the Sox win, people here lose their minds and can't control their behavior anymore.

Now, I will add that I've never been to any of the other cities that people consider to be "Baseball Towns", but I cannot imagine that any other city in this country reacts quite like Boston does to the Sox.  On opening day, it's like the whole city took Prozac.  Further, it's not just necessarily what Boston feels like in "Soxtober"- it's that the entire population of Stockholm, Maine (257) is adjusting their TV sets and settling down with a beer to watch Papi hit one out of the park.  It's that when the Sox had their 2007 World Series Victory Parade, parents pulled their kids out of school because, well, it's the Sox!  The Red Sox are more popular than Nascar, more widely adored than the Celtics and, more closely followed than Michael Phelps in a speedo.  

Recently, Manny Ramirez left the Red Sox for the L.A. Dodgers.  I just want to take a minute and laugh about how one minute Manny was the epitome of Red Sox baseball- just Manny bein' Manny- and the next second he's a good for nothing loser who can rot in baseball hell for all we care.  

In conclusion, I love the Red Sox because I believe they directly reflect what it means to be a New Englander.   Just a bunch of regular guys, hanging out, maybe playing music on the dug out wall in the bullpen with their water bottles.  No big deal.  They don't like those fools who don't appreciate New England, and will give them a hard time until they leave.  I love how the Sox are just one of the many things that bring us all together, make it alright to consume adult beverages in public, in large quantities and make even the biggest health nut a hot dog fan.  The Red Sox are like a big neverending New England party.