Leap Day is a magical time that comes only once every four years. Leap Day William emerges from the Marianas Trench to bring candy and joy to children everywhere. It’s a day where anything can happen, and nothing counts. Or at least that’s what last week’s 30 Rock episode taught me.
Luke Scott, who will never be accused of being the brightest guy in the room (even in a room full of new born babies that inadvertantly punch themselves in the face), seems to have taken the Leap Day sentiment too much to heart. As I’m sure most of you have probably heard by now, he sat down with Bill Chastain of mlb.com on Wednesday, and provided a rather classy quote about Red Sox Nation:
“Just their arrogance. The fans come in and they take over the city. They’re ruthless. They’re vulgar. They cause trouble. They talk about your family. Swear at you. Who likes that? When people do that, it just gives you more incentive to beat them. Then when things like [the last game of last season] happen, you celebrate even more. You go to St. Louis–classiest fans in the game. You do well, there’s no vulgarity. You know what? You don’t wish them bad.”
(snip)
“I got to see a priceless thing driving back to my apartment,” Scott said. “I see all the Boston fans walking around, and I mean they were crying crocodile tears. People were like this, walking side by side.”
I’ll give you a moment to take all of that in as the classiness wafts over you. Still waiting. Alright. Are we good? Good.
Clearly, Scott has never been one for tact or intellectual thought. This is, after all, the same man that still believes Barack Obama isn’t a naturalized citizen of the country of which he’s President despite producing his birth certificate multiple times. Still, that’s neither here nor there.
Scott’s comments come off as both bitter and misdirected. I can understand his distaste for the Red Sox organization to an extent. For several years, he played for the AL East cellar dwelling Baltimore Orioles that had its teeth kicked in by the Red Sox year-after-year. The gap between the two franchises in terms of payroll, front office leadership, and ownership has become so vast that I can understand the “Us vs. Them” mentality that has seemingly manifested itself on the Orioles roster. For a veteran like Scott, who only has so many years left to win a championship, it probably became a bone of contention for him as he knew deep down the Orioles had only a minute chance of winning anything.
Making matters even worse, Camden Yards turns into Fenway Park South every time the Red Sox come to town. (By the same token, Camden turns into Yankee Stadium South whenever the Yankees come to town.) Red Sox Nation eats up all of the tickets, packs themselves into the stadium, and turns an Oriole home game into a road game. This has to be disheartening to the Oriole players.
Let’s be honest with ourselves for a second. Scott does have a point. As a group (not necessarily on an individual level), we’re not the classiest bunch of fans. We’re rude, obnoxious, loud, belligerent, and frequently hammered. Yes, we yell obscenities around children. Yes, we talk about doing horrible things to certain player’s mothers. Yes, we start trouble. It’s just a fact. We’re passionate. We let our emotions get the best of us. We probably care a little too much. On some level, I can understand Scott’s distaste for the fan base at large. We aren’t as bad as Jets fans, but we’re not exactly likeable either.
One thing about I don’t understand about Scott’s position is that he seemingly takes joy in seeing other people in pain. He called Red Sox Nation’s reaction to the loss in Game 162 last year as “priceless,” and made light about fans crying “crocodile tears.” Genuinely decent people don’t feel this way about others with which they have no real connection. He doesn’t have to feel sorry about beating the Red Sox, but enjoying the sorrow of others is the sign of a sociopath. Expressing these feeling publicly is even worse. It shows that he’s nothing but a cold, bitter, cruel, intolerant person.
I’ve never been one for booing players (although I did heckle Corey Patterson once, just of fun), but I’m going to enjoy booing the hell out of Mr. Scott this summer.
Visit Top Bet for all of your sports betting needs. Choose from MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, College Football, College Basketball, and more! March Madness has arrived. Be a part of the action from the opening tip off of the play-in game though the final second of the championship game.