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Slugfest!
| Rocco Baldelli |  | Kristine Leahy |
| Greater sports city...Boston or Chicago? |
 Rocco Baldelli Outsider 415 votes |
Rocco Baldelli said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:37pm the question is-which is the greater sports city...boston or chicago? i found this question amusing at first and i didn't know this was even an argument, but we will debate it nevertheless. now the challenge is to put it into words so every new englander reading it can say...."this is a guy who obviously hasn't used grammar in a long time but boston is clearly a better sports city than chicago and is probably the best sports city in the world. " that is my goal here  |
 Kristine Leahy Outsider 573 votes |
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Kristine Leahy said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:42pm <p>It’s ironic that I am writing my half of the debate after just returning from a vacation in Palm Beach where there was a bar called Boston’s filled with Sox and Celtics décor, where three times on the beach I learned of Richard Seymore’s trade from crazy Patriots fans screaming in angst faster than my mobile ESPN update, and where on my return flight the pilot actually gave play by play updates over the loudspeaker of the Sox game. I’ll give you this Rocco…Boston is a great sports city, but I hate to lose a debate, so I’ve got to show some love to my home town. By the way, Chicago’s Sox won the game.</p> |
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Rocco Baldelli said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:45pm <p>when a bostonian couple has a child there are several things that happen. most are fairly typical, but one sets it apart. before the infant can even get back to it's newly decorated room for the first time he or she already owns<br /> <br /> a red sox hat<br /> a red sox jersey<br /> a red sox t shirt<br /> other assorted red sox paraphernalia<br /> and if they're really lucky some sort of personalized autograph from a past or present red sox player</p> |
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Kristine Leahy said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:52pm <p>Chicago fans do exactly the same things, except that as they grow up they continue buying team paraphernalia even when their teams aren’t doing well...and for the Cubs, that’s been a long time. We do not have long lapses where fans disappear for a while only to reappear over a world series win wearing pink hats all around town. Speaking of which…I own one of those hats, it was given to me as a gift when I moved here five years ago…strange isn’t it? Chicagoans are so famous as sports fans that we have the famous “sportsfans” of SNL who love Da Bears, and Da Bulls. Bears fans even paint their garages, and in some cases, their entire houses in Chicago blue and orange…not just nursery rooms.</p>  |
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Rocco Baldelli said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:53pm <p>this child will grow up thinking that NESN is the only television channel in existence and will live and die with this team. their daily mood will be directly affected by a red sox win or loss and this will continue up into their teens, twenties and until the final day they walk this earth. most of the lifers claim the 2004 red sox world series to be the happiest day of their lives and now they can die happy. i firmly believe there have never been more tears shed over a sporting event than there were on october 27th, 2004. </p> |
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Kristine Leahy said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:55pm <p>First, let it be known that I moved to Boston five years ago and since then the Sox have won a world series, the Celtics won an NBA title, the Patriots won a Super Bowl, and my BU Terriers won the NCAA title and numerous Beanpots. I’d be lying if I didn’t call myself a huge fan of Boston sports…but again, I have to show some love to my home town. While Bostonians stay with their teams through thick and thin, Chicagoans stay with their teams through thick, thin, and thinner. It’s been over a century since the Cubs’ last world series and they still pack Wrigley Field! I believe Fenway’s only been selling out since May of 2003. Coincidence? I think not. WHEN Chicago wins their world series it will either be the happiest day of every Chicagoans life, or the universe will spontaneously combust. And while I appreciate the impact of Boston’s 2004 championship, I’d like to offer you MJ’s last game and fadeaway jumper from the free throw line to win the ’98 NBA championship. I was just twelve and I cried.</p> |
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Rocco Baldelli said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:56pm <p>now this isn't an argument about red sox fans being the most avid in all of sports (they obviously are.) i'm using it as an example of the way sports is interwoven in the daily world of every boston resident and almost every new englander. some might call it obsessive, but no one from the area will apologize for any of it. we actually wouldn't have it any other way. </p> |
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Kristine Leahy said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:57pm <p>Everyone knows how famous the relentless Cubs fans are. Turn on ESPN and you’re much more likely to see them covering how crazy the Cubs fans were that night than the Red Sox fans. Walk through Wrigleyville on a game day and the first thing you’ll notice after the overwhelming aroma of Old Style, is the sea of blue Cubs jerseys walking under the waves of white flags with a big blue W on them. Chicago fans pack the trains pounding beers, and then enjoy a game at the GREATEST ball park in the U.S. Cubs fans throw back other teams’ home run balls or risk getting thrown over the fence themselves. And we actually STAND during the games. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen even a wave make a full round around Fenway. Oh, and when our rivals come to town, the crowd does not fill up with suits who drink martinis and don’t know whether it’s the second inning or the seventh.</p> |
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Rocco Baldelli said the following @ 09/08/2009, 10:59pm <p>now that i've laid the foundation for my argument i'm going to start rattling some things off. the red sox are hardly the only good reason to be a sports fan in boston. the city was an upstart sports haven and has history that few can match.<br /> <br /> the boston garden (rip) over the years was home to the greatest coach in NBA history, the greatest center in NBA history, and the greatest shooter/clutch shooter in NBA history. while we're at it... the greatest announcer in NBA history too. if you need me to list these names you probably shouldnt be reading this anyway. the franchise has taken home 17 world championships, but who's counting.</p>  |
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Kristine Leahy said the following @ 09/08/2009, 11:01pm <p>Greatest announcer? Have you heard of Harry Caray? You couldn’t understand a word he was saying yet Cubs fans still loved him! And I’ll rattle a few more off too while we’re at it. Chicago had the greatest team in football history (’85 Bears), the greatest team in basketball history (’95-’96 Bulls), the greatest player in all of sports history (MJ), and the greatest running back in history (Walter Payton). You may have Sweet Caroline, but Chicago has the Super Bowl Shuffle, Go Cubs Go, large guys dancing at halftime, Bill Swerkski and his magic hula ritual (Da Bears, Da Bears, Da Bears, Da Bears), the world’s best seventh inning stretch, and no jumbotron out past centerfield…that’s classic.</p> |
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Rocco Baldelli said the following @ 09/10/2009, 2:37pm <p>nice to see all of you again. i learned a new lesson today. just like you don't tell anyone who youre picking in the first round of your fantasy football draft -you should not send in your debate 4 days early so it can be analyzed and carefully rebutted by the competition. back in high school i should've asked my teachers for the answers before every test. better yet i think for the rest of the season ill call the opposing pitcher the night before every game and ask him every pitch he's going to throw. i didn't know these were acceptable practices until now.<br /> <br /> some of my original statements (boston marathon turning the city into one big block party and the belichick/brady dynasty)are missing all together but im ok with it. i talked about number 4 bobby orr and 16-0 seasons. those didn't make it in there either. and im ok with that too. we've all seen gladiator. even with that gaping covered up stab wound maximus still slays the king- though it took a little more effort than it shouldve.<br /> <br /> ive read over this whole thing and kristine's done a nice job and made some valid points but i think chicago is actually an impostor the wrong debate. its rightful place is here, in the "most fun city in the midwest" debate. i think chicago could possibly do well in that one.<br /> <br /> doing this debate wasnt a difficult moral decision but i am however a fan of the city of chicago. its seems like a big city with a lot of small town people in it and i think anyone who hasnt been should visit. that being said, the people of chicago seem to have a certain mindset - "even if we're not good we're still going to have a good time," and thats respectable i guess. theyre the lovable losers, but that doesn't make it a better sports city than boston. the "aw shucks we'll get'em next year, lets go get a beer" routine might work in illinois but please dont try it in massachusetts.</p> <p>by the way kristine. i just got off the phone with my best friend. he voted for you.</p> <p>apparently there is a vote skewing disparity in our pictures at the top of the page. who knew?</p> |
Kristine Leahy wins the slugfest!
Comments
 Sox Fox From MA |
posted @ 09/09/2009, 9:35am ROCCO! ROCCO! ROCCO! |
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