Commentary: Red Sox Championship & Parade

By John Hand ('15)

It is rare that major cities shut down. It is extremely rare that major cities shut down twice in the span of eight months. In April the city of Boston was locked down. Streets that were usually busy with pedestrians and cars were desolate as law enforcement agencies tracked down the men who had terrorized the city of Boston. Eight months later the city was once again shut down, but this time it was so duck boats filled with the world champion Boston Red Sox team to celebrate with the city they had brought back to life.

The day’s weather was perfect. The sun was shining and there was a unusually warm temperature for a fall day in New England. The traffic was stopped and people were flooding into the streets to try to get a glimpse of their new champions. Chants of “Let’s Go Red Sox” rang out throughout the streets. Confetti fell like snow during a February snowstorm. Jubilation was in the air. People were in the moment--forgetting all the troubles that were in their lives, continuing to embrace the present and their baseball team. Men, women, boys, and girls of all different ethnicities, demographics, and social status were joined together for one reason, to show love for a team that had been there for them in the most difficult of times.

It was truly a turnaround from worst to first for the Red Sox; not only from a statistical standpoint, but from the viewpoint of the fans.  One year ago the Red Sox were one of the most hated teams in Boston, and rightfully so. The owners got over greedy and felt the need to push the Red Sox brand upon everything, the players played for all the wrong reasons, the manger seemed to be more of a ring leader in a circus than a manger of a baseball team.

In comes the 2013 Red Sox. In Spring Training the word “chemistry” seemed to be used over and over again. It was the main focus of the front office in the offseason. The importance of chemistry was undervalued, and people didn’t realize that the players brought in were also talented besides just being good locker room guys. With all the doubt surrounding the off-season moves, it was agreed that the 2013 Boston Red Sox would need a lot of luck just to get into the playoffs.

After the tragic events of April 15, the Red Sox seemed to embrace the city, and the city embraced them right back.  With some blood, sweat, and beards these Red Sox gave Boston new life. Boston fans found the passion for baseball they forgot they had and they brought it to the ballpark night in and night out. Until the last out was made in the World Series, the City of Boston stood behind the Red Sox and even if the outcome was not the same, this team helped this city in a way that few teams can. The 2013 World Champion Boston Red Sox showed….We Are Boston Strong.