I went to the New York Post web site hoping to get some good headlines and see how they were doing:
DAMNED YANKEES
By ED ROBINSON, JENNIFER FERMINO and GERSH KUNTZMAN in New York and TODD VENEZIA in Boston ——————————————————————————– October 21, 2004 — The Yankees last night completed the worst collapse in postseason baseball history when they got clobbered by the hated Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of an American League Championship Series they once led 3-0. It’s the first time in baseball - and only the third time in any major sport - that a team holding a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series choked.
The final score was 10-3. Humiliating, embarrassing, humbling.
“I feel like a 6-year-old who just watched his dog get hit by a car,” said Paul Avvento, 19, from Wantagh, L.I., who watched the debacle last night at the Stadium.
“Everything I’ve always known to be right has been proven wrong.”
Vin Marino, 37, could not believe that the “Pride of the Yankees” had turned into the slide of the Yankees.
“I was hoping I would never see this day in my lifetime,” said Marino, a Bronx resident. “To win those first three and then lose the next four was shocking.”
Mayor Bloomberg, a displaced Bostonian was asked whether he’ll be rooting for his hometown team in the World Series.
“No, I was rooting for the Yankees,” Bloomberg said.
In Boston, police in riot gear ringed Fenway Park to prevent the hometown fans’ celebrations there from getting ugly. But the party remained peaceful.
The night started with high hopes for Yankee fans, with Bucky Dent - whose improbable home run in 1978 punctuated yet another Red Sox collapse - throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
It was all downhill from there.
Boston’s hero from Games 5 and 6 - David Ortiz - hit a two-run homer in the first inning, his third dinger of the series.
Yankee starter Kevin Brown earned a trip to the showers by loading the bases in the second, and reliever Javier Vazquez gave up a grand slam on his first pitch to Johnny Damon.
Before the cheering had subsided from the shaggy slugger’s clout, Sox fans James Marasa and John Keohan ran from a Boston bar to Fenway Park so they could be first in line for World Series tickets.
“I don’t even care if they win the World Series,” said Marasa - beating the Yankees was enough for him.
The Red Sox technically have one more step before banishing the Curse of the Bambino - the fabled hex that has prevented the franchise from winning a World Series since Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920.
The Yankees had never won a World Series title until the Babe was on their side. And they’ve won 26 since. But the Sox have not tasted that fine champagne since 1918.
Boston has been to the Big Show four times since, but always lost - most notably in 1986, when they were one strike from victory against the Mets. But Bill Buckner let Mookie Wilson’s grounder through his legs in Game 6.
The demoralized team then lost Game 7. And the rest has been history. Miserable history, if you’re a Sox fan.
Meanwhile, the Yankees have dominated, winning their 39th American League pennant last year - against the Sox.
“I actually thought that was the year for Boston,” said Joe DiFrancisco, a Yankee fan from Floral Park who had a grudging respect for the team with the red hosiery.
“But they blew their chance. This year, though, they came back real strong.”
Jerry Marino, a Yankee fan from Newburgh, shared the sentiment.
“They just play with so much heart,” he said. “Being down three games yet staying tough, you can’t feel bad that they won.”
Yes, Jerry, you can.
“This is worse the losing the World Series.” said Curtis Amodio of Staten Island. “To lose to Boston, that’s horrible.”
It was even worse for Tina Ciaramella of Paramus.
“I wanted to see the Red Sox lose even more than the Yankees win,” she said. “I loathe them.”
Year after year, the Sox have found a way to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory. Even when they had great teams - and they certainly did in the late 1940s, in the ’70s and in the first years of the 21st century - they have always found a way to lose the Big Game.
But now, even before the World Series is on, Sox fans were celebrating.
“Now, we get to raise our kids as winners,” said Joe Mulry, a Boston native and father of three who was at the Stadium last night.
“But we still have to win the World Series. This game is not as historic if we don’t win the world series.”
But it was still a moment to savor if you bleed Sox red.
“It’s not going to quite make up for 86 years of heartbreak, but it’s going to take away a big chunk,” said Brian McGonagle, 32, of Boston.
“It’s going to exorcise some demons.”
Yesterday’s extra-inning win by the St. Louis Cardinals extended the National League Championship series against the Houston Astros to Game 7, which will be played today.
On the mound for Houston will be former Yankee Roger Clemens.
Oh, yeah, he once played for the Red Sox, too.