It is difficult for foreigner to imagine and appreciate the American devotion and loyalty to their native sports and sport teams. Baseball is the national sport of the US, not football (also an American invention), not basketball, or Hockey. Sport fans are fanatical. Especially in Boston which features world champions in recent years in all four sports. But baseball, and the local baseball team, the Red Sox, are first among equals. Stories about the Sox have become legends, speech metaphors, and entered into our lexicon and daily lives. For six months from April to October very year, the citizens of greater Boston and New England states are living with the ups and downs of the Red Sox fortune. In 2008 Sox were the defending world champions. The Tampa Bay Rays (a Florida team) were in last place in 2007. Somehow this year they transform themselves and ended up as the leaders in the American league winning a couple more games than the Red Sox. Thus, the league championship boils down to a series of seven games between these two teams to earn the right to play in the World Series against the champion of the other league (The National League).

It was a historical seven games that just concluded last night, full of drama, records, improbable or near impossible feats down to the last game and last pitch of the baseball before a champion was declared. The Rays won over Red Sox!

 

Sure, as a Red Sox fan since 1950s, I am disappointed. But this drama enfolded over a period of six months also in my opinion showed America at her best.

1.       In America everyone has a chance to climb from the lowest to the highest based on merits alone. This is crucial for a democracy, however imperfect. It is that famous phrase “Wait till next year” that keeps HOPE alive and struggles continue.

2.       There were no scandals, no corruption, no ugly fights or unruly behavior by fans or players of either team throughout the season. Sportsmanship prevailed.

3.       Even in defeat, the Sox team set records, wrote history, and earned the respect of her fan base. There were no recriminations. The memories are bitter sweet. And there is grace in defeat.

4.       The Rays won fair and square. This morning the Boston sports writers were unanimous in acknowledging what the Rays accomplished. They deserved to be champions.

In a globalized and competitive world, one cannot stop hoping that human events can all evolve in this manner. Then we shall all be winners!

(Notes added after posting 10/21/08: My two grown daughters who read my blog both reminded me that I was somewhat one-sided in praise of America and baseball. In the century long history of American baseball, there were the Black Sox scandal early in 20th century and the steriod controversies in late 20th century and other ills typical of a capitalistic system. Even in 2008, there was an incident of 8 Red Sox and Rays players being suspended briefly for unsportman like behavior. However, they agree that " . . . that despite these it is possible to have real sportmanship, good competition, genuine feelings of hope, despair, disappointment, and joy. . . " . It is very much in the spirit of what Winston Churchill made famous - Democracy is the worst form of government except for all others  . .