An unusual fall classic

Ups and downs make Series memorable
By Eric Lear
Sports Editor

This year’s World Series was definitely one for the ages, but along with the greatness that is the fall classic, there were many not-so-great aspects to the 2007 Series.
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Good: I’ll start with the Colorado Rockies, who won an amazing 21 of 22 games before getting swept in the World Series. The Rockies almost missed out on making the playoffs, twice actually. They should still be thanking the Milwaukee Brewers and the umpires from the one-game playoff.

Bad: Could the four-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox over the Rockies have been any more dull? The Red Sox set the tone in the series by winning Game 1 by 12 runs, and they never looked back.

Good: Jon Lester got the win in Game 4 of the World Series. Lester, 23, was diagnosed with cancer during his rookie year. He was suffering from strange pains in his back, which he later found out was Lymphoma. Lester pitched sparingly throughout the 2007 season, going 4-0 in 12 games.

Bad: Those awful Dane Cook commercials are still haunting my dreams. I think we all know by now that “there is only one October.” I think someone needs to tell TBS and FOX that there is no need to advertise for playoff baseball games during playoff baseball games. Perhaps they should target the audience that is not already watching the game.

Good: The prayers of Red Sox fans were answered in 2004 after an 86-year drought, and 2007 is icing on the cake. Now they have two World Series titles in four years.

Bad: All we still hear about is the Yankees. It started during the American League Division Series with talk of Yankees Manager Joe Torre not being welcomed back if the Yankees lost, and it happened. We had to wait from the ALDS until after the World Series to figure out who was going to manage the Yankees.

Worse: What horrible timing by Alex Rodriguez to make his decision to opt-out of his contract. A-Rod and agent Scott Boras could not have made a more selfish move than to opt-out during Game 4 of the World Series. Boras said it was a mistake on his part to release the information at that time, but I’m not buying that.

Good: The World Series MVP award could not have gone to a better player than Mike Lowell. When you mostly hear about the athletes with the big egos, or the athletes that have broken the law, it is great to see this award go to such a great person as well as a great player.

Bad: We had to continue to see Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon dance his celebratory jig on the mound, during the parade, on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” However, it is great to see a lights-out closer with a passion for the game and a personality like no other.

Good: Baseball is alive and kicking. During the strike in 1994, and the recent problems of the “steroid era,” it looked as if baseball would fade away. I don’t think so. Baseball is here and better than ever. Just ask Red Sox Nation.