Thursday, June 23, 2011

Pink Stinks!



Author's Note - I wanted to post a positive, non-ranting piece for my first entry on Soxy's blog, I really did! But I saw something last week at the coffee shop that just inspired me to go off.

Source



"I ain't no pink hat-wearin' Red Sox 'fan'".

I wonder how I would explain this statement to somebody visiting our country. Someone with absolutely no knowledge of baseball. Even if they did know a little, I'm sure I'd come off as a complete nutcase. I wonder how I would describe this to a "pink hat" herself. I pondered this question as I took a gander at my first viewing of a pink Bruins jersey, on the eve of game 7 last week. I was sipping my anti-grump serum on my fifteen minute break when a familiar bitter taste of non-coffee origin crept into my throat. I gazed upon the familiar B logo without even a hint of black or gold coloring.

I thought to myself "Well now, I guess this means at least I shouldn't have any trouble finding someone to go to a Bruins game with me." However, I know from experience that the crowd once made up of "Good Will Hunting" stunt doubles will be replaced with wannabe runway models. It will be less of a hockey game and more of a school dance. It's a small price to pay for victory, and hell, some would call it an improvement, but it always makes me mourn  for the watering down of the die-hard crowd.

What does a pink hat in Fenway Park represent to me? It represents a movement of poseurism that inevitably follows any championship, or even any serious run at one. You'll turn around to high five a stranger after a home run, only to see the top of a pink hat, gazing down at her iPhone. Maybe she's updating her Face Book status at how awesome it was seeing Papi knock one out at a Yankees game? Nope. She's playing "Angry Birds".

Congratulations to the runner up in the "Image of a fair weather fan" category.  Source





You couldn't find a more literal sign of when it's fashionable to be a sports fan. I get the same feeling when I watch a post-season game and see the seats filled with Muffys and Mitchum Grayson Snobington III's, that cower at every hint of a foul ball, instead of the real fans that were there rallying with the team all season long. For every clown in a Nantucket red hat sitting behind home plate that's more interested in talking on his cell phone and waving at the camera than watching a crucial game from an amazing seat, there is a real fan sitting at home or in a bar with a hate-induced nose bleed.

Don't think I'm overlooking a double-standard, here. I'm not ready to let green hats off the hook either. Green is not a team color, unless we're talking Celtics. The only reason I don't rail on them so hard is because the ratio of true fans to fashion victims is reversed when you compare pink and green hats. Although the green is meant to show the Irish pride of Southie, it really just dilutes what should be a sea of red. Seriously, it's on the exact opposite side of the color wheel. You're there to support your team; Wear the team colors! I know I've seen correctly-tinted hats and jerseys with a shamrock patch.  That'll do just fine, won't it?

Boston is a proud city, and the greatest sports town you'll find anywhere. It has endured years of agony and last second misses that have made its victories all that much sweeter. The heart and soul of the sports scene is its fan base, who's unwavering passion has brought about nicknames such as the "Fenway Faithful".

Source


Fenway is the only park I've been to where the fans don't need to be prompted over the P.A. or big screen to start a cheer. Take a trip up to Toronto, and see how many gimmicks they use to try and keep half-hearted fans engaged in supporting their team! I think of that whenever I see a pink hat...I feel like there is a spy among us.

I'm not saying anyone that's ever worn a pink hat can never be considered a real fan. I'm merely writing this to alert the unaware that if you want to support your team, you need to wear their colors, and learn not to ask if a pitcher that was traded two years ago is warming up in the bullpen. Get some real gear, and either toss that pink hat out, or just use it to keep the hair out of your face when you clean out the garage once a year. Every time you wear it, you'll be taken as seriously as that girl at every Super Bowl party that cheers when the other team scores because she "thought touchdowns were good"

Source


Unless your name was Lib Dooley...Then you get a pass.





-eMouse

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Red Sox Events Calendar

I'm happy to announce the next major change to SoxyLady!!

There are often many cool events happening for Red Sox nation and now SoxyLady can be your one-stop shop to find out about all of them.

There are two ways to view what's going on.

Now listed in the right hand navigation is an agenda view of upcoming events -- click on the name of any event to get more information and add the event to your personal Google calendar.

Second, also in the right hand navigation there is now a link under the "Quick Link Pages" to the main calendar page. Clicking on this will bring you to the static Red Sox Events Calendar page.


Again, clicking on any date/event name will provide you with more detailed information on the event as well as the option to add it to your personal Google calendar.

I hope you love this change, as I'm very excited about it.

Help get the word out to others by letting them know they can add their own event to this calendar by emailing me at: Soxylady33@gmail.com
In the subject of the email please write "Red Sox Event Calendar Addition"
In the body of the email please write the event name, date, time, registration information, costs associated and a brief description. Events should be in the greater Boston/Providence/Manchester/Portland areas.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Changes Coming to SoxyLady!!!

Over the next few months expect to see some changes over here at SoxyLady. We're getting an overhaul, a self-hosted domain, some new writers, new focus....a lot of exciting stuff. Now is your chance to let us know what YOU want to see on this site, we just might take you up on it and send you a thank-you gift.

The first change I'm going to announce is a writer who has joined the Soxy family! Erin aka eMouse is the amazing artist who brought us such greats as "Darth Jeter" and "Emperor Steinbrenner"



I asked eMouse a few questions in effort to let you get to know her a little bit.

SL: I know you've been a Sox fan practically since birth, what is your earliest Sox memory?
eM: My earliest Sox memory is ironically hearing about my big brother's first trip to Fenway.  I wasn't included on that trip.  Dad says it was because they sat in the bleachers, and that was no place for a little girl.  Of course, my brother's lasting impression of that event was seeing a drunk female flash the crowd and "having to pee in the sink". Of course, I'm referring to the infamous old urinal trough in  Fenway.
SL: Were you disappointed the first time you went to Fenway and realized girls didn't have to "pee in the sink?"
eM: No, I was definitely not disappointed at not having the sink-peeing option.  My first trip didn't come until 1995.  I couldn't tell you who was pitching that night.  I was more interesting in taking in the park for the first time.
SL: Of all of the changes that have taken place in Fenway Park over the years, what has been your favorite/least favorite?
eM: Hmmm, I think my favorite would be the monster seats, though I've never had the privilege of sitting up there.  It just enhances one of the park's most famous quirks in an awesome way.  My least favorite would have to be the seats in section 33 that they swapped out during last year's renovations. They're uncomfortable, they get smaller as they get closer to the wall, and they somehow managed to situate two of my parents' season ticket seats behind the same pole.
SL: AMEN!
SL: Obligatory question, who is your favorite Sox player, past or present? 
eMouse: Y'know, Nomah was my first love, but I think I'm going to have to go with Papi.  He's got as much class as he's got game, and his smile could light up the park at night.  Attitude is very important, and Papi's got the right kind.
SL: What one thing do you want the readers of SoxyLady to know about your love of the Red Sox? 
eM: It is real.  I love the Red Sox and Red Sox Nation.  I even love Yankees fans, in the same way a puppy loves an expensive leather shoe.
SL: Hahahahahaha, there comes some of that personality and fiestyness you're so famous for!
SL: One of my friends said today "Times have changed - my six year old thinks I'm joking when I tell him the Yankees used to beat the Red Sox all the time.." Those kids are lucky. At the same time, what do you say about pink hats who don't know the true pain of being a Red Sox fan? They aren't six years old...they should know better. Or do you think enough time has passed since 2004 that those pink hats should now be given a pass of being a true red sox fan? 
eM: I wouldn't give pink hats a true fan pass.  I'm sick of the pink hats who are just at games because it's the popular place to be.
SL: I suck at interviewing. Let's play a lightening round.....
SL: Fenway Franks or Italian sausages? 
eM: Sausages
SL: Don or Jerry? 
eM: Jerry
SL: Curveball: Damon or Clemens? 
eM: [I hate] Damon more
SL:Dirty Water or Sweet Caroline?
eM: Dirty Water (tough one)
SL: Dirty Water or Shipping Up To Boston? 
eM: Dropkicks win that round
SL: Curveball: ESPN or FOX
eM: ESPN...Fox {censored} {censored}
SL: Haha, ok. Soft serve ice cream in a mini sox helmet or fried dough?
eM: Soft serve in the helmet
SL: God Bless America in the 7th - yay or nay?
eM: Yay. Definitely yay. Please strrrrrrrrrretch and remove your caps for this evening's rendition of "God Bless America"
SL: Beckett or Pedro?
eM: Pedro, no questions
SL: Pardon the sexist girly question, but I gotta ask...[Babe] Kaplers abs or Variteks @ss?
eM: Kapler's abs, hahahaha
SL: Papelbon or Foulke?
eM: Papelbon. Didn't care for Foulke's attitude towards the end. He said he didn't even like baseball! WTF?
SL: Youk - beard or no beard?
eM: No beard! But have you seen him with just a mustache? He looks like Sgt. Slaughter. Fitting, no?
SL: I was thinking Buzz Lightyear
eM: You're stalling...you're on Google Images right now looking up Sgt. Slaughter, aren't you? 
SL: Haha, GUILTY!
SL: Booing players, yay or nay?
eM: NAY!
SL: Bigger dirt dog, Nixon or Pedroia?
eM: Nixon, I used the snot rocket statistics to break the tie...you know, Nixon had more instances of snot rockets and nose picking on camera. I couldn't decide otherwise just based on diving catches and scrap.
SL: Ha! On that note, I think we've given readers a pretty good idea of who you are. I can't wait to read your posts, they're sure to entertain!
 
Stay tuned.......

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Boston Bruins, 2011 Stanley Cup Champions!!!

Photon from http://bruins.nhl.com/