Allen: The magnificent obsession

I don't ever want to hear again that Red Sox/Yankees is a one-sided obsession.

We've been told for years that Red Sox fans and media have and obsession with the Yankees, but that the Yankees and their fans couldn't care any less about the Red Sox. Most of this came during the time when the Yankees were winning World Series while the Red Sox were still trying to bring home their first title since 1918. We were told that Yankees/Red Sox wasn't all that special to New Yorkers, and that Bostonians suffered from an inferiority complex which was one full display by their emphasis on what the Yankees were doing at any given point during the season. We were told that Yankees fans didn't even think twice about the Red Sox.

This All Star break should put an end once and for all to such ignorant talk.

It was a break that saw the New York Daily News work up an exaggerated and inflammatory article on Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, causing the pitcher to get heckled and booed during the pregame All Star parade and during introductions. When Papelbon came into the game, ostensibly pitching for their team, the New York fans continued to do their best to rattle Papelbon.

The New York media also tried to get American League manager Terry Francona tripped up by putting forth the notion of how important it should be to make Yankees closer Mariano Rivera the starter of the game. Francona didn't play along. They wrote snide things about him in their articles. When other Red Sox players were introduced or came up to bat during the All Star game, they were met with lusty boos...again, the New Yorkers were booing their own team.

J.D. Drew wins MVP of the game, helping the American League to home field advantage in the World Series - something that will benefit the Yankees should they find themselves there, and still the boos were there.

The New Yorkers were putting their own hatred (and fear) of the Red Sox above rooting for their own team. Sounds like an obsession to me.

It might have something to do with the role reversal that has enveloped these two teams over the last five years or so. Perhaps the reason Red Sox fans appears obsessed with the Yankees was because the Yankees were on top, and that's where the Boston fans wanted to be. The Red Sox were the team that just couldn't quite get it done, who came up short in the postseason time and time again. They made dumb mistakes, the front office made unfortunate comments and created soap operas out of the smallest items. Obsessing over the Yankees was somewhat natural, because they were the best.

Now, things are exactly the opposite. The Red Sox have won two World Series since the Yankees last win. The Yankees have struggled to replace the valuable role players that they won with, choosing to sign big name free agents instead. These players have failed to come up big when the stakes are the highest. The front office has been a circus, especially with Steinbrenner, The Next Generation coming aboard.

The Red Sox meanwhile, are the model franchise. Great farm system, solid pitching staff, front office and manager who are on the same page, and a roster filled with players who have shown a history of getting it done when it counts.

Who wouldn't be obsessed with having the same for their team?

Bruce Allen is the creator of Boston Sports Media Watch, which has recently been recognized by SI.com as one of the best non-corporate sports web site's on the Internet.