Classic, but tragic

Last night's Red Sox v. Yankees matchup at Fenway was one of those games that you knew, before the first pitch was even thrown, that it should have been simulcast on ESPN Classic as regular ESPN aired it live. Roger Clemens, the former Red Sox player and one of the games all time best pitchers, returns to Boston for the last time in the regular season as a Yankee; pitching against Curt Schilling, another old timer who's had a bad season but is always money in the clutch. The last time these two pitchers met, the World Series was on the line. And until the top of the eighth inning, the game was tied at one until Derek Jeter -- who's vying for best Yankees shortstop ever -- hits a three run homer off Schilling. But then the Sox strike back in the bottom of that inning with Mike Lowell hitting a solo shot off Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees phenom rookie setup man who had yet to give up an earned run in the majors. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Yankees closer Marino Rivera goes through a meltdown: walking Pedoria, hitting Ellsbury in the knee, letting Lugo get a hit, and thus loading the bases before Big Papi came to the plate.

This was a moment to live for. All the drama of a single baseball game coming down to one final batter -- who just happens to be the Red Sox most prolific clutch hiitter ever. I think this stands as a good constrast to the supposed intensiity of the NFL, since this baseball game was played on a Sunday (like NFL games). Comparing sports to amorous relationships, football is like cheap sex whereas baseball beautiful and someone you want to see in the morning. For all the slam-bang, hard hittiing action of the NFL, compared to the slow pace of a major league game, there's absolutely no level on which the NFL can compete with baseball as far as the deliverance of drama and suspense is concerned.

Millions of fans waited on the edge of their seat to see Big Papi popout, killing the Red Sox chances for a comeback victory.

The collective THUD! you heard emanate from New England last night was caused the sinking of those fan's hearts. I'm surprised their impact wasn't seismic.

Just think... We're not even in the playoffs yet.

[Crossposted from Sugar Land is Dreamiing]