Comedifans Post-Game - Episode 031

Initially, I wanted Golak to write The Comedifans Post-Game for this week. He did take up 72 of the personal record 92-minute podcast of the show talking. For me, it was hilarious because I'm his friend. I have no idea how the random listener felt about it. I'm sure Golak feels you loved every second of the 72 minutes. I'm not so sure. You easily could have wondered what was up when he proclaimed that he missed me, acknowledged he made a strange comment about ranking guys, and ranted crazily about free kicks, then ranted crazily about “pink slime” (these are the moments where I wondered what was up). But, nevertheless, it was a fun podcast and new approach for us to try to do the show individually while on the road.

Given that, I figured I would expand a little bit on my time “on the road” particularly focusing in a little further on my experience at Fenway Park. I will take a page out of the Golak 72-Minute Playbook (I'm sorry, I'm really pouring it on, but seriously, I couldn't believe he actually spoke for 72 minutes when he was supposed to do 20) and rant a bit about my issues with Fenway.

As I mentioned on the podcast, I took issue with the feel of Fenway. We sat in the bleachers for both games, and the crowd's interest in the actual baseball game was anywhere from total focus on something that is not baseball to kind of caring about baseball when the Red Sox scored runs. As someone who considers himself a purist in a sense with baseball, I don't take my eye off of what is most important, which is the game. Sure, I might zone out for a second or strike up a conversation with a friend that I am with, but I'm still there for baseball. Today, I listened to a B.S. Report podcast episode from last week In it, JackO mentions that Fenway Park is now just a “fancy, trendy bar.” I felt that way. As I mentioned on the podcast, for some reason, there was always a beach ball popping around during Friday's game. Then, the crowd would boo when a fan or a security guard would take the beach ball away. So, let me understand this right, you boo not being able to play with a beach ball and Josh Beckett in Boston? Okay, that makes sense.

They both then discuss “Sweet Caroline,” which is something that I cannot stand. First of all, I'll admit that I don't really like the song much to begin with, but really don't like it since it's part of the Red Sox fans' enjoyment. I really disliked it in that movie, Fever Pitch. That movie sucked. I suppose if it was about being a tortured Cleveland Indians fan, then I'd like it more. Actually, I'm not sure that I would. Thank God for Major League. When “Sweet Caroline” played on both nights, I didn't sing along at all. I'm an Indians fan. There is absolutely no reason that I should be involved in it. I sat there and watched these people sing along to it. There are a number of YouTube videos of people singing “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway Park. I would post a link, but I don't even want to do that on this website. That's how much I can't stand it.

In that way, I much rather prefer what have become the norms of all baseball parks between games. Sure, I don't mind seeing Ketchup, Mustard, and Relish race each other. Sure, I don't mind watching the JumboTron to see someone in the crowd answering a trivia question to win a prize. Sure, I don't mind watching a video of which ball a cap is under. This is fun stuff.

When it comes to songs, the other thing I noticed is that Fenway Park does not do “God Bless America” during the 7^th Inning Stretch. I thought this was the norm now. Where are we at with “God Bless America” and the 7^th Inning Stretch? Are we past our patriotism and our memories of 9/11? Is this only a New York thing? I feel like when I was in Camden Yards last year for a White Sox-Orioles game that the song played. I guess time has passed enough for Boston to just dislike New York again.

I can't knock Fenway Park at all for its history. There are a lot of greats that played in that park: Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Oil Can Boyd. The list goes on and on. The Green Monster is certainly a sight to take in as a baseball fan. So, when it all comes down to it, if you're a baseball fan, you got to see a game there.

But, to be honest, you're always going to truly love your home park, and Jacobs Field (again, not Progressive Field. I'm being purist.) is still on top for me. Also, this is way better than “Sweet Caroline.”