Making Hub history? Read the signs, kid
WithSoxwin, Boston’s dominance continues
Start spreading the news. The duck boats are rolling today.
The city of Boston has yet to sleep.
But our Red Sox are a No. 1, King of the Hill and Top of the Heap.
A celebration that began 16 years ago on City Hall Plaza after Super Bowl XXXVI, followed closely by the Sox’ epic curse-busting 2004 season, resumes today with another rolling rally through the heart of the Hub.
Boston’s “Decade of Dominance” is morphing into a “Score of Supremacy.”
Millions today will honor the greatest Red Sox team ever. Don’t take my word on that hyperbole. Just ask Pedro Martinez.
In case you haven’t noticed, this is Boston’s (expletive) century now, to paraphrase Big Papi.
For the lucky ones under 21, skipping school or work for another duck boat parade means it must be October, February or June.
It’s gotten so bad — or so good, so good — this new generation of 11-timeblessed Boston fans has its own iconic figurehead.
His name is Jason Patrick McKeon of Haverhill. You may know him as “Sign Kid.”
Jason, 16, and his dad, Steven McKeon, will be among the throng at City Hall Plaza with his should-be-trademarked sign updated to read “16 years — 11 parades.”
“Sign Kid” came into this world just two weeks before Tom Brady ignored the wishes of John Madden and drove the Patriots into legend on Feb. 3, 2002. His arrival heralded the most successful and diverse title run Boston has ever seen. Four teams. 11 championships. 16 years.
Jason has attended seven of the previous 10 celebrations. The signs go back to “9 years — 7 parades.”
He is a varsity cross-country athlete and a junior at Haverhill High School. He takes school as seriously as Brady takes pliability. Jason missed watching the first couple of innings of World Series Games 1 and 2 on TV because he had to finish his physics homework.
That tidbit perhaps best describes what this newgeneration Boston fan is all about. In my high school, I flushed any shot at academic success by watching the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins on TV or in person at every opportunity. And when I wasn’t watching sports, I was betting on sports or the greyhounds at Wonderland Park.
Jason — and millions of Red Sox fans like him born since the 1990s — does not carry the traumatic emotional baggage that burdened his parents and grandparents for decades.
Sure, these youngsters have tasted disappointment. Their “1986” was “18-1.”
But winning has been a lifetime default setting.
It’s now the new normal for the rest of us connected to Greater Boston by birth or choice.
Some have foolishly asked if Boston would ever tire of winning.
My response is simple: “When my parents get to see the Red Sox win a World Series, I’ll be content.” Both lived after 1918 and died before 2004.
Success is now expected, contagious and delicious.
After the Red Sox won this World Series, Celtics forward Gordon Hayward congratulated the team before adding: “They call it Titletown for a reason, now it’s time to do our job.”
Brady, speaking on WEEI’s Kirk and Callahan yesterday, talked about how Boston’s pro teams and athletes find motivation in each other’s success. “They’ve made such a commitment to winning,” Brady said of the Red Sox. “Hopefully they inspire other teams to do something similar.”
Jason, it looks like you may need a bigger sign. Bill Speros (aka Obnoxious Boston Fan) tweets @RealOBF and can be reached at bsperos1@gmail.com.