Cheering on the Sox, Medford-Style
Medford Fans have Unique Rituals to Ensure a Sox World Series Victory
Infant Sox fan Greta Rubenstein takes in a game at Good Time’s Emporium. Rubenstein’s mother Jessica insists Greta has been key in helping the Sox clinch the playoffs by being held or in close proximity to a family friend until the fifth inning of each game.
– Allison Goldsberry
Jessica Rubenstein, a self-described diehard Cardinals fan, swears by a ritual that she says helped the Cardinals win last year’s World Series.
Luckily, Rubenstein decided to share her “mojo” this year with the Red Sox and she said applying the same ritual to each playoff game this year helped the Sox secure a spot in the World Series.
“It worked for the first game, then we got away from it for a few games…then decided to reinstitute when things were on the line. It worked!” Said Rubenstein.
The Rubenstein routine involves gathering friends and family to watch the game. Family friend Steve must hold or be near Rubenstein’s two-month old daughter, Greta, until the fifth inning. Not even diaper changes can mess with this ritual- Rubenstein said her daughter has waited through necessary diaper changes to stick to the plan.
At the sixth inning, Steve must go home and in the seventh inning Rubenstein must go to bed. She then checks the score when she awakes at 3AM to feed her daughter.
Rubenstein says this plan has worked every time.
Some Medford Sox fans, however, stick to a simpler plan.
Kara Hanlon said her children Patrick and Megan sleep with baseballs under their pillows since they go to bed before the games end. Megan sometimes also sticks a glove under her pillow for good measure.
Audrey Stanwood has a red ALCS T-shirt she plans to wear while watching each game.
Tufts Community Relations Director Barbara Rubel discovered that Red Sox rightfielder J.D. Drew “does better” when she leaves the room.
Rubel said she was not in the room when Drew ended a dry spell with a grand slam in Game Six, and she plans on leaving the room each time he comes to bat during the World Series.
There might be something to that. Sue Luongo used to banish her late husband, Bob, from the room during Red Sox games because she swore he was a jinx. Not only did Bob come to believe it, but the rest of his family and his friends did, too.
Medford Police Lieutenant Paul Covino thinks these superstitious Red Sox fans are nuts.
“It’s up to them to play hard to win. What I do has no effect on the game,” said Lt. Covino.
Be that as it may, even Medford’s Capitol Hill crew is getting into the Red Sox spirit.
US Senator John Kerry wears his favorite Red Sox hat and often has his glove next to him on the couch while cheering on the Sox.
Senator Kerry and Senator Ted Kennedy have a bet going on the World Series with the two senators from Colorado, Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard.
If the Sox take the series, the Colorado senators must donate Colorado-raised beef to a Massachusetts charity selected by Senators Kerry and Kennedy.
And if the Rockies win, the Massachusetts senators will donate New England clam chowder and lobster rolls to a Colorado charity selected by their Rockies’-rootin’ colleagues.
Not to be outdone, US Representatives Ed Markey, Stephen Lynch, and Michael Capuano have declared a friendly wager with Colorado counterparts Mark Udall, Diane DeGette, and John Salazar.
If the Rockies choke, the Colorado reps will serve up steaks and chili. If the Sox lose, the Massachusetts reps will be on the hook for, what else, New England clam chowder and lobster.
Game 1 of the World Series starts tonight at 8PM at Fenway Park.
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