Boston Fans, Embrace The Hate - Page 2

During the Finals in early ’08 I was practically the only green shirt in the bar. After the Game Six curb-stomping, I had to convince the owner to leave one television in the corner on the celebration while he grumpily changed every other one over to some random South American soccer game. On St. Patrick’s Day this year, I was the only noise in a dead-silent bar after Iguodala hit a last-second three for the win at the Staples Center. Sometimes the Hate goes both ways.

Many Boston fans say it’s unwarranted. They point to the years upon years that we suffered through Drew Bledose, Mo Vaughn, and Antoine Walker not taking us quite where we wanted to go. Of course that argument doesn’t go over well when you phrase it as, “There was a time when we weren’t on top.”

The tired clichés still resonate that we’re a racially insensitive, overconfident, mentally inferior town of angry Irish drunks. While this is true, we’re also … no, I’m joking. The stereotypes are the same, but I assure you the city has changed immensely. We’re really just like you! I swear!

I used to think the Hate would bother me. But I gotta say – over the years – I’ve grown to enjoy being the Bad Guy. And I think the men we root for have too.

Rajon Rondo has embraced it by throwing people into scorer’s tables. Kendrick Perkins has embraced it by throwing forearm shivers into opponents’ throats. Glen Davis has embraced it, by knocking rich children to the ground. Eddie House has embraced it, by coaxing the opposing bench into technicals. Heck, even Brian Scalabrine has embraced it by fouling everyone in sight with that glowering scowl on his face at all times (though that might just be from all the concussions).

The other teams have been doing their part as well. Papelbon and Youk, for example, ooze attitude every time they step on the field. Randy Moss sneers at opposing fans. The young Bruins get into fights every chance they get (also called ‘Hockey’).

Now we walk into opposing arenas and sports bar like the heel in wrestling. We welcome the jeers. We feed off The Hate. It’s good to be bad. They’re gonna hate us anyway; no matter what we do. There’s no cure for Boston Hate. So we might as well embrace it.

Article Author: Ethan Booker

Ethan Booker was born & raised in Holden, ME. A graduate of James Madison University, he now resides in Los Angeles, CA. He is patiently awaiting casting for the live-action adaptation of Battletoads. He will be reading for the part of 'Rash.'

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