Bob Lobel: Remember the History of Red Sox Heartbreak

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Where to start?

Kraft vs Kraft? Boston (Bogaerts) strong?  Boston (Bradley) strong? Boston (Brady) strong! Or just very, very strong! Scary strong! 

Why scary strong? Because we are totally sucked into becoming your father's Red Sox fan. 

Caution, however!   

One of the memorable lines in "Fever Pitch" says it all (transparency here; not my line):  “they will break your heart every time.”

They used to, in a city that actually had a parade for the team after not winning the World Series. Yes, we did that. Correct me if I'm wrong. 

Many really memorable teams have come through that dugout through the years. I just offer, in my opinion, that the two teams most remembered and talked about over the decades are 1967 and 1986. Both put their fans through roller coaster torture. Both teams went seven games in the World Series and lost. Yet, both teams are the easiest to remember and conjure up forgiveness, mixed with anger and disappointment. 

The 1986 team (30-year anniversary) came to Fenway again this week. Clearly, with the exception of Dwight Evans, none of them looked close to being in playing shape.  All that was asked of them was a walk to the mound. Well done men. 

Their progeny sitting in the dugout watching a team they never saw play for the most part. The current Red Sox team may well join '67 and '86 as one that will be talked about for a long, long time. They are in the position of making that happen, just like they are in a place where heartbreak is just  around the corner. 

The  “new” fans don’t look around that corner. The “older” fans are always peeking.

They know what lurks there, and their motto is "if you forget the past, you are doomed to repeat it.”

That basically defines the relationship between fan and team at the moment. 

Of course, it could turn on a dime. Moving onto a more bizarre topic, Kraft vs. Kraft. 

Which Kraft is going to win, and which will lose? Defining the subject is easy. First, the Kraft as boss and friend, and grateful to his present quarterback, Tom Brady. Publicly supporting him in his efforts to fight the suspension from the league where the other Kraft lives.  

The owner part of Kraft is pretty quiet (for him), while the employer of Brady is pretty vocal. It is so much more noble to shout out support for the oppressed individual in a region where it would be suicide to do anything else. Throwing bombs at the NFL (of which he is a working and influential partner) means nothing.  That is a “who cares” position.  Kramer vs Kramer or Kraft vs Kraft. 

Whatever the outcome, Kraft has positioned himself in a place of not losing. There is a little Donald Trump in that place. 

By the way, who would our team owners endorse for President? 

I would be interested in that survey. I could be way off base here, but I seem to remember Trump being in the owner's box at one time or another. If not, mea culpa. 

Doesn’t really matter. I have an idea of who is supporting whom. The Red Sox ownership? Democrats. Celtics? Democrats. Bruins? Republicans. 

Who would Jeremy Jacobs endorse? Clearly it would be tied to income. His. Not being critical, just going with the obvious.  

That’s the place we love and cherish. 

Ps. The argument about Ortiz changing his mind and not retiring? Know when your cup runneth over. Stop on top is the new bumper sticker.