I haven’t written about sports much lately, but I just have to write a quick note about the American League Championship Series.
Up 3 games to 1, the Rays had a 7-0 lead in game 5 in the 7th inning. The series was over. The celebration was starting. There was only one problem.
This was the Red Sox. They have ripped my heart out before, and now I must watch as they likely rip out Tampa’s heart too…
Here’s the thing about Boston. They’re like an old fighter. They’ve been in the ring a thousand times. They show up for the fight against the young kid. The kid is confident, thinking he’s the next big thing.
They juke and jab for a few rounds, the kid landing nice punches and building a lead on the scorecard, finally a significant one. All the announcers are talking about a changing of the guard, new blood taking over, the crowd is in a frenzy.
And just when everyone relaxes a little, the old veteran throws a punch. The kind of punch that staggers the kid, in fact so much so that it completely changes the fight. The kid may still be ahead, but his capacity to continue to wage the battle has been severely limited. He’s so staggered that he actually loses his confidence at that moment, and goes on the defensive, just trying to protect himself from getting hit that way again. His offense is gone. He’s a shell of the fighter he was 10 seconds before, and it’s a matter of time before the old veteran finds a way to knock him out.
That was the last 3 innings of game 5, a 7 run comeback, a win in extra innings, the body blow that has the Rays utterly staggered. Before you know it, your 3-1 lead is 3-3, and you’re looking at an all or nothing and not quite sure where you are.
Joe Maddon, the Rays manager, isn’t throwing in any towels, and neither are the players, but you have to wonder, given Boston’s history and the punch they threw in game 5, can the Rays recover in time to have anything to say about game 7? If they do it will be a very impressive feat, one that will define them as a great team. If they don’t, they’ll just be the next one in line to take on the pesky old boxer, and have their moment in the sun, before remembering why this old boxer has KO’d kids so consistently over the years… the hard way.
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