Number 13: Take my Dad to a Red Sox Game

At first glance, I would appear to be woefully behind on my 30 before 30 list. In point of fact, I am woefully behind on my recapping. Well, and on my list. I’m just sort of behind. And woeful.

I should start this off by saying, Happy Birthday Dad! You’re the only man I know who can decide to throw himself a birthday party with less than two days notice and have a couple dozen people, including a bona fide rock star, show up.

This past August, I took my Dad to go see a Red Sox game. Now, you would think that I should have just let a man who openly roots for the hated New York Yankees watch the game at home. And you’d probably be right. He wore his Yankees hat and everything. But, he did provide me with half of my genetic material. And he brought me to more games than I can remember when I was little. So I sortof owe him one.

Every year, I enter the lottery for Green Monster Seats. And every year I find my hopes and dreams of sitting on the Monstah crushed. It’s a lot like being a Red Sox fan. But this year was different! This was my 2004. And possibly my 2007. I managed to procure 4 standing room only tickets up in the Monster section. Our game was before the Sox were cruelly eliminated from the playoffs. It was a beautiful, clear August evening. A great night to be standing on one of the most famous walls in baseball.

I wanted Monster Tickets pretty much for the sole purpose of saying that I’d been lucky enough to get Monster Tickets. As you may or may not have noticed by now, I enjoy a good story. I also wanted to be able to see Fenway from the Monster. Everyone said it was a cool spot. I was unprepared for just how cool it is. You get a bird’s eye view of the field without feeling far away. Home runs come blasting towards you and you get a clear picture of just how impressive it is to hit one out of the park. Those balls go high. And they are fast.

I always enjoy going to sports games with my Dad. Even if he does root for the Evil Empire. It’s a bit like sitting in the bleachers with a Storm Trooper. A Storm Trooper who knows a ton of information about baseball. It’s an odd experience to go to Fenway with someone wearing Yankees paraphernalia. I hated it when I was younger. Now? I just rolls my eyes and laugh.

The Yankees/Red Sox rivalry manifests itself deep in the culture of our family. My Dad and his Dad root for the Yankees. My Mom and her Mom root for the Sox. My sister Allison roots for the Yankees. Her twin Christina does not, which I would have thought was genetically impossible. A good portion of each family gathering is devoted to talking smack about our respective teams. 2004 was a good year for me. 2010 was not.

I’m taking my Dad to a Pats game in January. Lucky for me, that’s one team that we both root for. We’re also talking about going to some games in other cities next year. I’ve been to some minor league fields, but the only other MLB ballpark I’ve been to is the old Tiger Stadium. Which is now a hunk of rubble. Who knows if baseball on a neutral field would be more or less fun. I’ll probably get just as much shit for my Red Sox hat as he does for his Yankees cap. At least we’ll have a common enemy.

Are there any sports rivalries in your family?