The funny thing about ESPN is that it is the only game in town. So the network would lead you to believe that the only baseball series that matters involves their two favorite teams: the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.
Every SportsCenter broadcast leads with either of those two teams. And God forbid, when the two teams play each other, you would think that the rest of the world is supposed to stop. This mentality even ebbs down to their radio affiliates which ESPN 1050 commentator, Don LaGreca, hammered the New York Mets for having the nerve to celebrate their 20th anniversary of their 1986 World Series this weekend. "You would think that the Mets would have better sense then to celebrate 20 years this weekend when the city's attention is focused on the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry ... and I'm a huge Met fan," he cried.
It appears that LeGrecca has bought into the media bias propagated by the sports monopoly that is The All Sports Network. (Please, save your arguments that Fox Sports Channel or the Outdoor Life Network are actually sports networks.) The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is a good one but one that has gained notoriety through two events: the New England-centric All Sports Network and two teams that have bought their way into winning baseball.
As a man who spent my first 25 years living in middle America, I can bring an unbiased perspective to the "war" known as Yankees-Red Sox. During the mid-80s, when the Yankees were starting their decline, Boston was know for having a pretty good baseball team. But in that division, they also had good teams in the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. Rarely, was the "rivalry" known as Boston-New York shown on NBC's "Game of the Week". And if it was, it wasn't nearly as hyped as the rivalry to end all rivalries. True, the two teams had a history which included season-ending home runs and brawls, but the rivalry was dormant for the majority, if not the whole decade.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Friday exemplified that neither team has any semblance of a pitching rotation, with each team designating one of their starters for assignment yesterday. Chien-Ming Wang is the only good young starter, and beyond Papelbon with the Red Sox none of the pitching can be "hyped." Imagine if Liriano, Verlander, Zumaya, or Jered Weaver pitched for either the "Yanks or the Sawx." We'd never stop hearing about them.
2 - Brent
Amen! You're saying what I've been thinking all season now.
There are other, arguably better, rivalries throughout baseball: Giants/Dodgers, Cubs/Cardinals, even Cubs/Brewers. Red Sox/Yankees only comes to mind because Bristol has, for over 10 years now, owned the series. And since we've seen Sportscenter openly and without shame pimp its corporate family's product, the actual nature of rivalry is diminshed because it's on national television.
3 - cory
get a life you wish you were writing for ESPN
every yanks/sox game is a great game to watch... just shut your mouth and stop trashing the monopoly that owns the sports world- Sportcenter
4 - Nathan L.
"And since we've seen Sportscenter openly and without shame pimp its corporate family's product, the actual nature of rivalry is diminshed because it's on national television."
Excuse me? ESPN is not related to Sportscenter by being "its corporate family". It's the other way around, if anything. ESPN operates Sportscenter, on their channel.
How is the rivalry diminished due to being on national television? Also, just how stupid are you?
Bristol has owned the Red Sox/Yankees series you say? Neither team is based, nor has any affiliation with Bristol. What are you smoking?
Saying "Yanks and Sawx" doesn't really mock the series, because their own fans often refer to themselves as such.
And Auburn vs. Alabama over Yanks vs. Sox?
Oh yeah, the late season series' have meant alot, especially the last few years, as the division crown was on the line (not this year, apparently). This year it may mean more, although neither team seems capable of winning the division this year, as it looks like one of the teams, if not both, will miss the playoffs. Oh yeah, the Red Sox are leading the wild card race.
If my Yanks can sweep the Sox, we will be lifted so much psychologically and otherwise, it won't be funny. We may also go on a serious season-ending tear with such a mental boost.
The Sox, in such a scenario, would be terribly hurt, with having to deal with the Yanks being only two games back of them, and seriously, they just lost three games in a row to THE YANKEES (In such a scenario, of course. Don't get too riled up Red Sox fans).
So please, shut the heck up, as it doesn't look like you know very much about sports in general.
5 - Nathan L.
Oh great, we lost. This may screw us.