There was a time when Red Sox rage around here was real. I mean down deep in your gut, painstakingly real.
It kept fans up at night. It caused bar fights. Divorces. The crime rate in Boston was sky high.
But since the Sox won in 2004, more rounds are being bought at the Baseball Tavern. Divorce lawyers have been forced to chase ambulances. That crime rate? Down.
Of course, I just made all of this up.
Just like all this rage over Fat Panda and Hanley the Hound is made up. It's manufactured. It's faux rage, people. I don’t buy any of it. Fans are just lost without the Patriots, so they “think” they should be angry with Pablo Sandoval’s weight problem and Hanley Ramirez’s poor work ethic.
Did you really think these two would change? Come on. Grow up.
When I hear on sports radio or read online how infuriating Panda and Hanley are, I don’t believe a word of it. Even though it's coming out of your mouth, neither should you.
Boston Red Sox
Find the latest Boston Red Sox news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.
No one gets mad at the Red Sox anymore. I mean, real New England sports fan, blood-pressure-raising, stroke-causing, aneurysm-popping mad.
Like when Johnny Pesky held the ball in 1946. And Luis Aparicio tripped on his way home in '72. And Bucky Dent homered in '78. Bill Buckner in '86. Grady Little leaving in Pedro Martinez in '03. Those are events that caused true pain.
But today, people just don’t care about the Red Sox the way they do about the Patriots, period. The Red Sox are something to do between the Super Bowl, draft, June mini-camp and training camp in July.
The Belichick pooch punt against the Eagles, giving the ball to the Jets in overtime, and that ridiculous game plan in Miami caused the kind of true anger that was once the result of something Red Sox.
That’s just the way it is, people.
“That &*%$#@)*&^%$#@ fat &^%$#@# Panda and no-good, *&^%$#@#$% Ramirez!”
Scream and swear all you want. It’s just faux rage.
It will keep you busy until something really important comes along. Like the NFL draft.