There’s no room for complacency in Red Sox Nation. It is a proud, knowledgeable, and dedicated fan base that expects greatness from their team (i.e. a World Series Championship annually). There’s no denying Boston’s status as a great sports town: the Big Four have all won championships during the past decade and remain competitive to date. Nevertheless, the Red Sox own Boston. The iconic Fenway Park has been sold out for every game since May 15, 2003. For a decade, fans have been flocking to Yawkey Way to cheer on their beloved Red Sox. On the verge of Fenway’s centennial, fans are clamouring for title number eight.
The elephant in the room heading into last year’s off-season was the disastrous September collapse. The Sox had a firm hold on the wild card and were a shoe-in to make the postseason. Even Fox thought a playoff berth was a foregone conclusion by featuring Big Papi belting a homerun in a 2011 MLB post-season commercial.
In the days following the debacle, reports surfaced that certain starting pitchers drank beer and ate fried chicken in the clubhouse instead of supporting their team in the dugout. Fans bombarded the airwaves, voicing their discontent and demanding a change. Ownership granted their wish by dismantling management. Terry Francona and Theo Epstein were shipped out and Bobby Valentine was shopped in as the new skipper, along with Ben Cherrington as general manager.
Ownership didn’t stop there; they were critical of their players’ performances and called them out. Some may question this public criticism. Sure, airing out dirty laundry can lead to a tense relationship but doesn’t it actually foster accountability? Players now need to take responsibility and redouble their efforts for the 2012 season. Their lacklustre performance was unacceptable for the great Red Sox Nation. The players had to be held accountable in order to avoid slipping into a state of complacency.
Moreover, blaming owners for calling out their players is ridiculous. After all, they are the ones writing the cheques. They owe it to us, the fans, to put a quality team out on the field. And Boston is no regular baseball town; it’s a hotbed. Players are fortunate to be in a market where even the recently called-up minor league player is recognized out on the street. Some of these athletes may take their newfound fame for granted and perceive fans’ support as unconditional. If being called out will light a fire under their bellies then so be it.
Athletes know that this is an entertainment business. Do you expect your employer to pat you on the back if you perform poorly at work? It should be no different in the world of sports. I understand that it can be stressful for players to live up to fans’ lofty expectations and to earn their record-breaking contracts, but if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Ultimately, however, winning is all that matters. All will be forgiven and forgotten in Red Sox Nation if the 2012 Boston Red Sox hit the ground running en route to a fabulous season and a championship banner. They must prove their critics wrong and overcome adversity for the sake of the fans, the centennial season, Wally the Green Monster, and their legacy.
– Hrant Bardakjian
