Do you believe in Dog?

RIP Ruby 2/2/94-10/18/04

Everyone knows that sports is ripe with superstition. Players have unique routines to prepare for games, good luck charms that they can't play without. Some have specific dining rituals, others spiritual practices that they feel are integral to their performance. Perhaps in no other arena is there such devout adherence to superstition and ritual as there is in sports, at least with such little cynicism. We are perfectly willing to accept our players foibles, actually just as willing to buy right into them. I wonder how many necklaces Phiten has sold to non-athletes over the past 5 years? I'm guessing it is an impressive figure.

Fans are no different though. We have our own rituals and superstitions that we adamantly defend in the belief that we can influence the outcome of a game or series through our devotion to these odd behaviors. Mid-summer I was on the lawn tractor mowing the yard, and as I passed under a low tree, my beloved Red Sox cap was snagged by a branch and before I could dis-engage the blades, swallowed up in a cruel fashion, rendered to shards of fabric strewn across the lawn. This cap saw me through the 2004 World Series, was worn proudly at Opening Day at Fenway in 2006, and witnessed many, many other games along the way. The Red Sox promptly lost 3 games. Riddled with guilt, I bought a new cap and hoped it would be imbued with the same powers of the old one. The Sox won again that night. Phew.

It goes beyond me. My friend Don ate shrimp 7 times this post season. It was what he had for dinner before Game 5 of the ALCS, and you don't mess with what works. I myself wore the same Red Sox red jersey (and the new cap, of course) for those 7 games. You all know the results, feel free to thank us for our efforts. I'll wear my Paul Pierce jersey Friday night when the C's tip off for the 2007-2008 season, and you can bet I'll be sporting the Brady top for the Showdown In Indy on Sunday. These things work, for reasons that are as mystical and unexplainable as anything in the universe. We don't question them, we just Believe.

See, here's the thing. On the afternoon of October 18th, 2004, we were forced to make what may have been the hardest decision of my life, emotionally. My beloved companion Ruby had been ravaged by cancer, and it was time to let her go. We ventured to Springfield, Massachusetts and said good-bye, holding her as she was put down. In deep sorrow, we wandered over to The Student Prince for a couple of steins of Spaten Oktoberfest to ease the pain. The Boston Red Sox were down 3-0 to the dread New York Yankees, our chances looked bleak. I remember as we prepared to leave the bar, the teams were just taking the field. I looked over at the TV as we walked out and said "Come on guys, Rally For Ruby". They never lost again and under that blood-red moon captured their first World Championship in 86 years. Thanks Ruby.

Fast forward to 2007. With the Sox down 3-1 to Cleveland, I called my buddy Chomper, trying to remain positive. When I got him on the phone, he told me the bad news. His dog Cleetus, suffering with cancer himself, had to be put down the day before. I consoled him, having been there myself not so long ago. And then I reminded him of 2004, of Ruby, and of the Red Sox. I told him then it was time for the boys to Rally For Cleetus. And as fate would have it, the Red Sox won 7 straight, and here we are, celebrating another Red Sox World Championship. As any good dog owner can tell you, our dogs know us better than we know them. They feel our joy, our anger, our pain. And in our hours of longing and loss, they knew to give our team a boost, and us along with them.

So I guess all I'm saying is...Do YOU believe in Dog?











Rolling Rally starts at noon. That's right, they are Your 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox. That never gets old.