Boston, Massachusetts ---
Ladies and gentlemen, meet this years Anakin Skywalker, Minus the Jedi mind tricks. Kevin Youkilis was well known for his gritty and rock solid play in Boston. He was their hero, their light. When everything was going wrong, they stilled had Youk. When people were worried about what would happen, where the Red Sox were heading, when would they return to the playoffs, they still had Youk. That is until Youkilis joined LeBron James, Wade Boggs, and Johnny Damon as the most hated professional athletes by their former team. The 1B/3B totally kicked the Red Sox front office to the curb. Totally told all of Boston to go molest themselves. He completely went against what he supposedly believed in, which was the beauty of Boston and winning a World Series there, and joined the other side. He didn't just leave. He didn't just say good-bye, I'm sorry but I don't really want to play here anymore. He said nothing, packed his bags and left for New York City, following the trails of dollar signs that would lead him to his most prized desire, a 6 year $102M contract that was nestled on the playing field that is Yankee Stadium. He did not just leave, he left shoving what he wanted and what Boston couldn't give him into the faces of Red Sox fans throughout New England. He told a city he was willing to be their man, was willing to take on their heart's challenges no matter what the obstacle, and then, he leaves to the Empire that is the #1 culprit of those challenges. He does it for money, not for the game, not for all the people he promised he would represent or protect. Not even for his family, which grew to love Boston. His kids that loved the game so much their bedroom wall was replicated as the green monster, were told by their beloved father that he didn't care what they loved. They were going to New York and they were going to like it.
Something just hit me. Maybe he didn't do it for the money. Maybe he didn't do so he could win a ring. I think I know why he did it. He did it not for the love of fame, not for the love of money, not for the love of the game. He did it for the love himself. Now he has a ring with New York, he has ridden the 5th avenue parade line with all it's confetti and blown kisses. He's got what he wanted despite leaving a city in peril, despite breaking the hearts of millions of people, people that trusted him with their very lives. People that were willing to pay ridiculous ticket prices just to help compensate for whatever outrageous contract he sought. People that could not take more heart ache after a century of broken atrium and ventricles. He forgot that being a star player came with responsibilities to the people who created his stardom. He did it because that was what the business executives on Wall Street would do. He did it because it only helped himself. Kevin Youkilis, are you happy now?
No comments:
Post a Comment