Sox-Yankees; a rivalry to kill for?

by Kim Pham

Nowadays, the sport of baseball is plagued with troubles. From steroid scandals to underage love affairs, we rarely go a week without hearing about the newest drama enveloping America's favorite pastime. The latest controversy, however, does not stem from the wrongs of the athletes on the diamond; rather, it's from their own spectators in the stands...even better, between Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees fans.

Disputes between the supporters of these two rival teams are no surprise; the two enterprises have been at each other since the beginning of baseball history. This hatred fatally brewed over in a New Hampshire parking lot last week when a drunken Yankees fan, Ivonne Hernandez, rammed her car into a group of Sox fans, killing 29-year-old Matthew Beaudoin. Shortly before getting behind the wheel, Hernandez had gotten into a fistfight with Beaudoin's friend, 21-year-old Maria Hughes, over the superiority of the two teams. The 43-year-old mother then got into her car and headed directly for Beaudoin and his friends, all of whom were chanting “Yankees suck!”. Never braking, Hernandez accelerated at high speeds and eventually struck Beaudoin; he later died in the hospital due to massive head trauma...all in the name of his beloved baseball team.

Seriously people, get some class. I'm a huge Sox fan; I keep up with the team daily and try to get to as many games as possible. Sox banners and posters of Papelbon and Ellsbury are plastered on my walls and I'm sure as hell proud to sport my Sox hat wherever I go. Last October, I even skipped school to attend the World Series parade in Boston. With most of the nation hating on Boston as a sports town, my Sox pride has only grown in defense to all of the insults and jeers. I was born and raised to (almost blindly) hate our New York rivals; in the heart of Red Sox Nation, it's hard not to.

My love to the team, however, does not cross the line of being extreme. There's a difference between being devoted and being much too personally invested; sadly, Hernandez's preference for the latter cost Beaudoin his life. Her reaction to the trash talk was extreme and rash and her rage was only more enhanced because of the alcohol. She spun utterly out of control; there was no need (and never should be a need) to take it that far.

As a lifelong Sox fan, however, it would be so easy for me to pin all the blame on the Yankees fan, brush my hands, and walk away. But to be a truly unbiased judge, I must admit that some of the fault lays with the Sox fans. While an obvious tragedy, Beaudoin and his friends should not have been taunting Hernandez. She was obviously heavily intoxicated and had already demonstrated her temper and instability before. The physical altercation prior to Hernandez getting into the car only pushed her towards the edge. The chanting was even more unnecessary; while cheeky and cute in the comforts of Fenway Park, it only heightened her rage that would quickly spiral out of control. C'mon Red Sox nation, you know better than that.

At the end of the day, it's just a team and just a game. I advise fans everywhere (and not just baseball supporters) to get some dignity and class. After all, you are the ones representing your beloved home team. There's a difference between loving dedication and dangerous obsession; don't cross that line.