You just can’t script October.
Yankees-Red Sox 2004, a clash of baseball behemoths, finally concluded after nearly 24 hours of total game time, an epic Red Sox comeback and enough twists and turns to put a conga line to shame.
But the proof that Fox Sports Net chose the right motto? The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in Game 7 in a shocking blowout, after being down 3-0 in a best-of-seven series.
After the Yankees’ Ruben Sierra grounded to second for the final out, Communication senior Arjun Jaikumar clasped his hands together and looked to the sky. After reality sunk in, he raised both arms and leaped up and down in the Norris University Center food court.
“This is just one of those silly days in your life when everything goes right,” the Sox fan said in disbelief. “This is what you’ve always dreamed of — the chance to erase mistakes of the past.”
Jaikumar was referring to Boston’s sale of Babe Ruth to New York in 1920. Since then the Yankees went on to win 26 World Series, the most of any team. Boston? Zero.
The ensuing “Curse” seemed as strong as ever when the Yankees jumped out to their 3-0 series lead. But by Wednesday night, Boston rallied to tie it at three games apiece.
Many students took time off from studying to watch history in the making: a 10-3 Red Sox thumping.
“I’m going to celebrate by jumping into Lake Michigan after calling every single one of my friends,” said Weinberg freshman Billy Carberry. “Then I’m going to study for my midterm and write my paper.”
The Red Sox defeated the Yankees for the first time in a postseason series. In doing so, they became the first team in baseball history to overcome a 3-0 series lead.
It was enough to leave Yankees fans stunned.
“This is probably the worst experience of my life,” Weinberg freshman Adam Eisenstein said. “I can’t believe I’m alive to see the Red Sox beat the Yankees.”
Weinberg junior Jill Sager, a lifelong Red Sox fan, was trying to watch the game while studying statistics.
“I’m perfecting the art of reading while watching,” she said. “I haven’t accomplished as much as I otherwise would, but it’s definitely worth it.”
By the middle innings, Yankees fans had cleared the Norris food court stunned at the reversal.
But in true Yankees fashion, New York fans, like McCormick freshman Kevin Sagui, were quick to remind Red Sox enthusiasts that they shouldn’t be so quick to celebrate.
“Just remember,” Sagui said, “just because they won tonight doesn’t mean they’ve broken the Curse.”
That could happen only if Boston won the World Series next week.
Then the celebration would really begin.
Reach Anthony Tao at [email protected].
