Rolando Arrojo: fled Cuba to pursue his dream of beating the NY Yankees?

Sang Lee: came from Korea a NY Yankee- hater?

In the 1990's the Red Sox "brain"trust led by General Manager Dan Duquette (robot?) seemed to be feeding the Yankees- bashing craze. It was as if they were coaching new additions to the Sox roster to make anti- Yankees statements. Does anyone really believe that Rolando Arrojo, who risked his life and defected from Cuba, hates the Yankees? Do you think that red- haired pitcher Sang Lee, signed to a minor contract from Korea, grew up dreaming of one day beating the Yankees while pitching in Korea? Manny Ramirez grew up in New York City, but the Sox justified giving him 160 million reasons to come to Boston for 8 years by having him proclaim he wants to beat the Yankees. The most ludicrous statement on the subject was from the monotoned nutjob Duquette, who proudly praised his team for having spent more time in first place during the regular season in the 1990's than the Yankees. That alone should have been grounds for his dismissal.

Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez is sick of the Yankees winning

Two things best signify the Boston fan's dislike of the Yankees: the "Yankees Suck!" chant (the "chant") and "Yankees Suck" shirts. The chant has been present at most Sox games for the past 3-4 seasons. At first I embraced the chant. That was me (drunk) at Camden Yards for a Sox- Orioles game in late 1999 chanting "Yankees Suck!" If you heard someone screaming "Yankees Suck!" in downtown Boston in the dead of winter, chances are it was me (drunk.) That was me (drunk) you passed starting the chant when you wore a Yankees hat on public transportation. These days the chant has taken on a life of it's own. It can come out at any time. The opponent does not matter. Timing does not matter. Critical juncture of a regular season game against the Bronx Bombers, they're chanting; first inning of a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies, they're chanting. The Yankees don't even have to be playing that day. At the Patriots Super Bowl victory parade in Boston in February 2002, Patriots player Larry Izzo started the chant. Patriots won the Super Bowl, but the Yankees Suck.

Yankees Suck shirt front view

Yankees Suck shirt back view

In 1999 navy blue shirts with BOSTON printed in red letters on the front, the #21 on the back and "Yankees Suck" where the players name is normally printed began popping up around Fenway Park. In obvious deference to Clemen$, the shirts were hilarious at the time (yes I do own one.) The group who originally sold the shirts grew (visit their website, http://www.hatetheyanks.com/news.htm;) obtaining permits and selling the shirts, along with similarly- themed flags and bumper stickers. The shirts have also grown increasingly vulgar, the worst reading "Jeter Swallows." Today you cannot get anywhere near Fenway Park without seeing them offered for sale or being worn by a Red Sox fan.

sidenote: Sox fans are not the only one's guilty here. I have been to Yankees Stadium and heard "Boston Sucks" and seen "Red Sox Suck" shirts. However, the best shirt read "Boston Suck." I kick myself for not buying one on the spot. To simply point out the stupidity of the fan that sold these shirt, I mean shirts, would have been a story to pass along to my NY Yankee- hating grandchildren one day.

At a recent game the Fenway scoreboard announced a man proposing marriage. The whole event unfolded in the aisle in front of me. He was wearing a "Yankees Suck" shirt. The memories of that event are going to be great for that couple. Imagine their family looking at photos from the magical evening- I can just hear Grandma Trashy now, "Oh Billy I love your shirt, it really captures the sentiment of the moment."

when new Red Sox owner John Henry (left) fired Dan Duquette (right), an opportunity for a change in the organization's attitude emerged

The sale of the team and subsequent firing of Duquette was an opportunity for the whole attitude of the team and it's management to shift. It has to certain extent, but thus far the only criticism I have of the new Sox administration is their continued references to the Yankees (see analysis of the Cliff Floyd trade.) Like Zima, and David Arquette, I'm surprised these references are still around when I see/ hear them. Besides, all of the negativity gives Red Sox fans and the city of Boston an unsophisticated (read: stupid) aura. Why are you letting your children leave the house wearing those shirts? Why are you waving those flags on a street filled with Red Sox fans? Why are you chanting "Yankees Suck" in April while playing a Canadian team? Why is David Hasselhoff in rehab while Bobby Brown roams free?