I’ve avoided writing anything football related thus far, since the 2008 Boston Red Sox are currently looking like a legitimate threat to repeat as World Champions and deserve the full attention of my pen.  However, I’ll briefly touch on a small firestorm created by reactions to Tom Brady’s season-ending injury.

Semi-retired Red Sox pitcher Curt Shilling, surprisingly willing to discuss his thoughts to the media this afternoon, lashed out at fans (Yankee fans in particular) for celebrating Brady’s injury.  Curt’s comments were on Boston radio station WEEI, but were predictably picked up by the rabbit-eared New York Post (the Hank Steinbrenner of newspapers).  According to Schilling:

“The euphoria in New York is palpable,”…”The Yankees suck this year and they are bitter and mad and making excuses over that. Now they got Tom going down so New York’s excited. It’s unfortunate, but when you crawl to the top of the pile you will have people trying to knock you down.”

Now, with all due respect to Curt, much of the euphoria over Brady’s knee is coming from places all over the country, not just the pinstriped faction of the sports world.  Buffalo, Indianapolis, San Diego, just about anyplace where you can freely buy alcohol on Sunday is in celebration mode.  Check out any national sports website, and you will see comments that turn your stomach.  This is no surprise; the sickening Lord of the Flies pocket of human nature shines though nowhere better than the anonymous shroud of the internet, where the tormented weaklings among us can finally lash out at society with no consequence.

Now, if you ask me, applauding a career-threatening injury to a superstar athlete is the first chapter in the book titled “How To Act Like a Mouthbreathing Douche”.  Hypothetically speaking, what if Michael Jordan had torn his ACL during the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the mid 90′s?  As a teenage Celtics fan, would I have applauded?  I’m admittedly not sure, but I sure as hell hope not.  What if Wayne Gretzky has severed his carotid artery on an opponent’s ice skate?  Would I have raised my arms triumphantly?  Probably not, because I don’t give a shit about hockey, but you get the idea.

My point is, I’m actually happy about the reaction.  The pure unrefined hatred, the bitterness, the caustic bile being spewed at New England from places I never knew existed.  It’s human nature to hate those who possess what you covet.  We possess two teams that are dominating the 2 major American sports, and heavy lies the crown.  At this point, Boston fans should be like Emperor Palpatine: feeding off of these vile emotions, allowing them to sustain us and make us whole.  Curt, buddy?  Listen to Neil Young: don’t let it bring you down.  Revel in it, as I am.

Thank you, rest of America.

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