Guliani hopes the Red Sox wins.....Yankee Fans outrage!!

[ATRAIN]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/specials/playoffs/2007/10/23/giuliani.redsox.ap/index.html

Giuliani pulling for Red Sox over Rox

BOSTON (AP) -- Sounds like a baseball flip-flop.

Rudy Giuliani, a lifelong New York Yankees fan, said Tuesday he's pulling for their most hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox, to win the World Series over the Colorado Rockies.

"I'm rooting for the Red Sox," the Republican presidential contender said in response to a question, sparking applause at the Boston restaurant where he was picking up a local endorsement.

"I'm an American League fan, and I go with the American League team, maybe with the exception of the Mets," he said. "Maybe that would be the one time I wouldn't because I'm loyal to New York."

Giuliani's Yankees lost in the first round of the playoffs, then lost their manager when Giuliani's friend, Joe Torre, refused to accept a pay cut and walked away. Giuliani said the Yankees had "a great season."

The former New York mayor said his declaration of temporary Red Sox loyalty was "not just because I'm here in Massachusetts."

"In Colorado, in the next week or two, you will see, I will have the courage to tell the people of Colorado the same thing, that I am rooting for the Red Sox in the World Series," he said.

Indeed, if Giuliani was pandering, he miscalculated.

In the last presidential election, Colorado went with Republican President Bush, and recent history shows Massachusetts voters would sooner adopt Manhattan clam chowder as the state's official food than vote Republican in 2008.

Of course, just to the north is New Hampshire -- home to many Red Sox fans -- and the nation's first primary.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All

[Reggie Miller]

Why discuss healthcare when you can put on a baseball cap and distract Americans from legitimate issues? This country deserves what it gets...

[Thunder Dan]

he can be like the rest of Red Sox Nation- proclaim your a huge fan once they reach the World Series (although in his case he is 3 years late)

[ATRAIN]

he can be like the rest of Red Sox Nation- proclaim your a huge fan once they reach the World Series (although in his case he is 3 years late)


Isn't that the way NON new Yorkers are with the Yankee's? I know someone who's name i won't mention that posts here that is a bandwagon yanks fan.

[Jimcs50]

You root for your own league....what is the big deal. He will be for his Yankees next year and hate Boston when they play each other. People need to get a life.

[Thunder Dan]

Isn't that the way NON new Yorkers are with the Yankee's? I know someone who's name i won't mention that posts here that is a bandwagon yanks fan.

yeah back in 2004 people were like "I hate the Yankees I want the Red Sox to beat them" But the reasoning for not likeing the Yanks (big payroll, annoying bandwagon fans) is what the Red Sox have become. They ARE the Yankees now. They have tons of fans for no other reason than they are on TV and they are good. It's like baseball is the only sport where nobody has a problem being bandwagon fans. I wish it would go back to the 90's where nobody gave a shit about the Red Sox outside of Boston and there was only one team ruining baseball by throwing money around.... but that will never happen. The Cubs are next. Get ready for "Cubs Nation" to be formed after they reach the World Series in the next couple years with a $200,000,000 payroll. Pretty soon the MLB will consist of The Yanks, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs and mabye the Rangers, Astros, Braves and White Sox. At this point everyone will have jumped ship from their team onto a large market bandwagon and will forget about the 20 something other teams that play in their own backyards.

[Reggie Miller]

yeah back in 2004 people were like "I hate the Yankees I want the Red Sox to beat them" But the reasoning for not likeing the Yanks (big payroll, annoying bandwagon fans) is what the Red Sox have become. They ARE the Yankees now. They have tons of fans for no other reason than they are on TV and they are good. It's like baseball is the only sport where nobody has a problem being bandwagon fans. I wish it would go back to the 90's where nobody gave a shit about the Red Sox outside of Boston and there was only one team ruining baseball by throwing money around.... but that will never happen. The Cubs are next. Get ready for "Cubs Nation" to be formed after they reach the World Series in the next couple years with a $200,000,000 payroll. Pretty soon the MLB will consist of The Yanks, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs and mabye the Rangers, Astros, Braves and White Sox. At this point everyone will have jumped ship from their team onto a large market bandwagon and will forget about the 20 something other teams that play in their own backyards.

The Tribune Co. will have to sell the Cubs first, but otherwise, I am afraid you may be prophetic.

Related, but off-topic: Why does ESPN constantly discuss the various teams' ratings? How is this relevant to the in-game coverage? (Admittedly, they do it much more on ESPN radio and commentary-type programming.) Apart from the legitimate reasons for not doing so (irrelevant to the outcome of games, undermines confidence in the leagues, etc.), it also strikes me as bad taste. It's like trying to have a conversation with someone who only wants to talk about how much they make a year.

It usually comes up in the context of East coast bias. As in, "We at ESPN are not biased for East coast teams; they just get the higher ratings..." Pardon the crude analogy, but that's the equivalent of, "I'm not gay, but my boyfriend is..." In other words, their bias isn't personal; it's commercial, which somehow justifies the complete absence of perspective or balance.

[Thunder Dan]

The Tribune Co. will have to sell the Cubs first, but otherwise, I am afraid you may be prophetic.

Related, but off-topic: Why does ESPN constantly discuss the various teams' ratings? How is this relevant to the in-game coverage? (Admittedly, they do it much more on ESPN radio and commentary-type programming.) Apart from the legitimate reasons for not doing so (irrelevant to the outcome of games, undermines confidence in the leagues, etc.), it also strikes me as bad taste. It's like trying to have a conversation with someone who only wants to talk about how much they make a year.

It usually comes up in the context of East coast bias. As in, "We at ESPN are not biased for East coast teams; they just get the higher ratings..." Pardon the crude analogy, but that's the equivalent of, "I'm not gay, but my boyfriend is..." In other words, their bias isn't personal; it's commercial, which somehow justifies the complete absence of perspective or balance.

Imagine if Cuban owned the Cubs.... think of the Yankees times 100.



But about the ratings: you should get this month's Esquire, Chuck Klosterman (my favorite writer) writes a section on just that. ESPN basically forces casual baseball fans into likeing the Yanks, Mets, Red Sox and Cubs. Thats all they lead off with, that's all they talk about. I'm serious, it is trouble for the rest of MLB. As long as ESPN and Fox force the big market teams down the throats of America it will drive down fanbases of other teams. Baseball is the only sport where the large market teams can ALWAYS be good. Now top that with the fact that they are on tv 3 times a week, and Sportcenter is basically Yankees Post Game, who is a kid to root for growing up in Kansas City? The Royals pockets are shrinking as are other small market teams, and because of that the large markets are just growing and growing. It's possible that in 20 years there will be no Royals, Devil Rays, or Reds because there fan base is slowly getting older, and they are not being replaced by the younger generations.

[ATRAIN]

yeah back in 2004 people were like "I hate the Yankees I want the Red Sox to beat them" But the reasoning for not likeing the Yanks (big payroll, annoying bandwagon fans) is what the Red Sox have become. They ARE the Yankees now. They have tons of fans for no other reason than they are on TV and they are good. It's like baseball is the only sport where nobody has a problem being bandwagon fans. I wish it would go back to the 90's where nobody gave a shit about the Red Sox outside of Boston and there was only one team ruining baseball by throwing money around.... but that will never happen. The Cubs are next. Get ready for "Cubs Nation" to be formed after they reach the World Series in the next couple years with a $200,000,000 payroll. Pretty soon the MLB will consist of The Yanks, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs and mabye the Rangers, Astros, Braves and White Sox. At this point everyone will have jumped ship from their team onto a large market bandwagon and will forget about the 20 something other teams that play in their own backyards.


On that note ive been an Astros fan since I was born. When I was a kid I liked the Oakland A's just because of the bash brothers, but other than that have been nothing but astros through and through. I do see what you mean, but they are very similar to the yankees but are NOT the yankee's YET!! Yes the markets on the 2 teams are very similar and they both spend the most. I can't respect a team that does buys their championship. The astros spend a lot yes, but they also build their farm system. I for one will be rooting for the Rockies tonight, not because im a bandwagon fan, but because im a baseball fan and I support ex astro Willy T.

[Reggie Miller]

Imagine if Cuban owned the Cubs.... think of the Yankees times 100.



But about the ratings: you should get this month's Esquire, Chuck Klosterman (my favorite writer) writes a section on just that. ESPN basically forces casual baseball fans into likeing the Yanks, Mets, Red Sox and Cubs. Thats all they lead off with, that's all they talk about. I'm serious, it is trouble for the rest of MLB. As long as ESPN and Fox force the big market teams down the throats of America it will drive down fanbases of other teams. Baseball is the only sport where the large market teams can ALWAYS be good. Now top that with the fact that they are on tv 3 times a week, and Sportcenter is basically Yankees Post Game, who is a kid to root for growing up in Kansas City? The Royals pockets are shrinking as are other small market teams, and because of that the large markets are just growing and growing. It's possible that in 20 years there will be no Royals, Devil Rays, or Reds because there fan base is slowly getting older, and they are not being replaced by the younger generations.



I agree. It is the media equivalent of overgrazing. MLB as a whole (Selig, the owners, "broadcast partners," etc.) has opted to make as much money as possible right now, with no regard for the future. Although the Commissioner has basically been pro-ownership during the history of the office, having an owner as Commissioner has been a disaster. We all know the details, so I'll skip it.

At this point, it seems inevitable that the bust will follow the boom. In addition to all of the reasons we have mentioned, a major recession or depression will hit all of the sports leagues hard, except perhaps the NFL.

Also, escalating costs (mostly players' salaries) have already created a huge divide in fandom because of ticket prices. Realistically, most fans cannot afford to go to many games. Most die-hards I know consider themselves lucky to go to 2 MLB games per year. (I finally managed that impressive tally this year, but I live in Indiana so travel is involved too.) Just my opinion, but I would imagine that attending games in person is important to forming a lasting interest in baseball. Baseball on television can be wonderful, but many telecasts are now intrusive and irrelevant, as we have discussed.

Now more than ever, I am thinking that the last expansion was a really bad idea. A few of the franchises really need to move at this point. Obviously, I do not have access to their financials, but it looks like Kansas City, Oakland, and Pittsburgh are prime candidates. Their markets are actually shrinking in addition to not drawing well.

[T Park]

Why discuss healthcare when you can put on a baseball cap and distract Americans from legitimate issues? This country deserves what it gets...

Nothing legitimate about it.

Fuck that, watch baseball.