Inspirational night for Lester
-
- May
- 20
Sadly, I doubt any of us doesn’t know somebody who died of cancer. Or a family torn asunder by the terrible disease.
So tip whatever cap you’re wearing, even if it has an interlocking N and Y on it, to Boston’s Jon Lester. Diagnosed in 2006 with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the 24-year-old threw a no-hitter tonight.
In hospitals from Maine to Arizona and everywhere in between, patients probably gained a little courage from watching Lester celebrate. Maybe they smiled or cheered his every pitch. Even the Yankees fans.
Sometimes it’s OK to root for the other team.
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on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 1:20 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Larry David/
isn’t that the good Hodgkin’s?
/Larry David
God Bless.
Pete, you might want to read through the last thread–tons of good wishes on the part of us Yankee fans.
Hats off. I actually caught the final inning at Stephanies on Newbury in Boston tonight (traveling on business). Very cool.
absolutely,
once it was clear that the royals had no chance of helping us division-wise, i was rooting for the kid all the way.
PS i must gall beckett to no end that now laptops and lester have no-hitters
Great story. Amazing comeback.
BUT
“Sometimes it’s OK to root for the other team.”
NO! Unless of course, you need the Patriots to beat the Dolphins on the final game of the season, so the Jets can win the AFC East against Green Bay at 4:15. Then it’s okay.
But good for Lester, more power to him. I’d rather him do it than anyone else on Boston.
While I certainly wish Lester a long life and nothing but the best of health, I just can’t do it. I can’t be happy with redsox successes, no matter what they are. Okay, maybe if they raise a ton of money for the Jimmy Fund, or some other OFF field success. Call me misanthropic if you want(you wouldn’t be the first) but I’d be very happy if the kid never wins another game. It’s absolutely not me wishing him ill, but I’m a Yankee fan. Can’t help it.
boo! it’s great that he beat cancer, but no yankee fan should be rooting for him or tipping a cap to him.
Whoa,
Honestly would you have just prefered the Royals had broken up the no hitter in the 9th inning and still lost 7-0?? No-hitters are rare and its cool to see one, regardless of team affiliation
His celebration at the end was great. Nothing flashy, just an oldschool approach and to top it off, the exchange between he and Francona was pretty cool. In the end, it was great for the kid, but I a win for the Red Sox doesn’t help the Yankees so I’ll hate on him tomorrow.
Nice to see such classy folks as Tim and Whoa checking in.
The kid thought he was going to die less than two years ago and he just threw a no-hitter. Does it really matter who he plays for? For one night, can’t you say “good job” to him?
Steinbrenner donates thousands to the Jimmy Fund every year. The Yankees also sent Lester a gift when he got out of the hospital. That make them bad guys I suppose?
Sometimes it just doesn’t matter and this is one of those occasions.
Nice holier than thou attitude Peter. Tim and Whoa did not say they wished that Jon Lester died of cancer. They just don’t want to see him pitch a no-hitter. I wish Lester all the luck in the world, living a long life, and raising a great family, but I don’t hope he pitches well for the Red Sox.
I agree with andyman. These are two entirely different things. I hope he has a clean bill of health for the rest of his life, but I also hope he never pitches another good game for the Red Sox. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
do i want to see lester no-hit the yankees? no.
against anyone else, good for the kid.
Kasey… Your comment reminds me of the saying “I have nothing against (blacks, hispanics, catholics, or jews) as long as my child doesn’t marry one.” Pick a side either you think it’s great that a cancer survivor pitches a no-hitter or you don’t like that team so you don’t want him to do well.
Wow, there are some truly shallow folks out there who call themselves Yankee fans.
Good for Lester.
Awesome accomplishment by Lester!
Robinson Cano had 18 no-hitter games this season,Lester only one.
Don’t worry,we’re still the winner.
Hey Peter, I said you could call me a misanthrope not classless! ) Look, is it a great accomplishment? Given the overall circumstances surrounding the kid, absolutely. And he seems like a nice, humble kid. But again, I want him to live long, prosper and LOSE! Is that so wrong? Unless he chooses to don the pinstripes, in which case just win baby.
congratulations Mr. Lester, great job and ill add the most overused word of the new millenium here: inspiring!
it’s never OK to root for the other team when the other team is the boston red sox. i don’t care if their pitcher is a deaf, dumb, and blind quadriplegic.
No…still don’t care, sorry. Don’t need Boston fans to have something else to brag about.
im stunned! i cant believe ppl who claim to be baseball fans cant appreciate what an accomplishment this is and put the rivalry aside for one minute and congratulate the guy!
you’re not even baseball fans, you’re just a#$@%oles.
As much as I despise the Red Sox, good for Lester. If it was any other pitcher I really wouldn’t care. But for a guy that almost died to coming back and pitching a no-hitter…good for him. Great accomplishment.
Curious how the author of this blog also acts as the morality patrol. There is nothing ethically wrong with wishing Lester success with his health and failure as a member of the Red Sox.
I wish Lester nothing but a healthy long life. As a Red Sox, I wish him pure unadulterated and abject failure. No Yankee fan ever wants to see Red Sox success period. Watching his team celebrate makes me physically ill.
Peter, you always root for the other team. You’re an admitted Red Sox fan.
I do tip my cap to the PERSON Jon Lester….I will NEVER root for the Boston Red Sox….EVER !…The game was well over as that kid went for the final strike of the no-hitter so good for HIM that he got it and all the “good” that came of it for PEOPLE. Now that “lovely” moment is over, it is time for A-Rod to come back and spark the Yankees to a 100 win season…..GO YANKEES, today and forever more ! ( siss, boom, BAH ! )
Big Johnson….amen to THAT !!!!
cant any of you losers understand the difference between rooting for the red sox and congratulating a guy for a great accomplishment? i was rooting for kc to break up his no hitter right up to the end, but when its over you congratulate the guy and move on. thats not rooting for the other team, thats just appreciating someone’s accomplishment after the fact.
tipping my cap is one thing after the fact, but by no means was i rooting for the guy while it was going on. huge difference.
congrats to jon lester, if you’re reading…
It’s only too bad that Lester had to pitch in front of naive, silly, and goofy fans holding hands. What a hoot !!!!!
Great post Pete.
I agree with andyman, Tim C, and Big Johnson (and whoever else shares the same sentiment as them).
Nobody ever wants cancer, and I don’t think anyone ever wishes cancer upon another person. It’s a great story that he is healthy now and still playing. I hope he stays healthy and never has a re-occurance, but just because he had cancer, that doesn’t mean I hope the Red Sox do well because of it.
Zane Smith
May 20th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Peter, you always root for the other team. You’re an admitted Red Sox fan.
——————————
Actually, if you’ve been a member of this blog for a while, you know Pete’s not a Red Sox fan. He’s a Patriots fan. He admits to being from Boston, but so what? There are Yankee fans out there that have never seen NY - does that make them any less of a Yankees fan? As a fan, he loves football. Doesn’t really care about baseball - AS A FAN. This is his job. To write about baseball. It would be akin to you (being a Yankees fan) writing about the Boston Celtics or Bruins (whichever sport you care less about - in my case - it’s both). Just because I’m from NY, and I’m writing about the Boston Bruins, doesn’t mean I’m going to inject NY bias into my reporting.
Frankly, winning - no, dominating - Game 4 of the World Series the year that he returned to baseball was more of an accomplishment than pitching a no-hitter against the Royals.
Anytime anyone throws a no-hitter, you can’t help but admire the pitcher no matter what team he represents. The fact that Lester has overcome so much is pretty amazing. I like how you wrote that patients from all over probably have a greater glimpse of hope from watching him, I agree. Can you imagine all the little boys who watched him? I’ve had the privilege to visit St. Jude Hospital several times, and I know for a fact there are many boys who are probably more determined to live than before.
Good post this morning!
Great for Lester, the person who overcame the big C. That’s it.
And if we’re on morality watch I’m a regular sponsor of St. Jude’s too.
Peter I’m with you 100%. You have to smile and feel good for Lester no matter what. This is one time I was rooting for a member of the Red Sox.
I hate the Red Sox with a real passion, but I couldn’t be happier for Jon Lester. What an inspirational feat. God bless.
I think Lester pitched a great game. The Red Sox were going to win the game anyway so if Lester was able to pitch the no no…..good for him. Ellsbury made a helluva catch along the way. I believe Lugo also made a quick bang bang play at SS.
Ok, so the guy had cancer, he’s better now. Since when does that mean we have to have our heart warmed by everything the guy does for the rest of his life? Not to be harsh, but the guy plays for our rivals, so I hope he fails and fails and fails some more. I’m glad he didn’t die from cancer, but I’m not happy to see him do well for the Sox. This is just more classic phony “caring” from the media and American public.
Anthony - YOU are whats wrong with America. People like you make me sick. Life is bigger than a game. You should realize that!! (Maybe you’re 12 or 13, because that would be the only explanation for your idiocy).
I hope you never have to go through what Lester, his family and millions of others have to go through when dealing with cancer, even after you’re “cured”.
Congrats to Lester. It was emotional to watch Francona hug him like he was his kid.
Cancer touches us all, Anthony. Directly or indirectly.
I’m with Pete. Anyone who isn’t beside themselves with joy over Lester’s no-hitter is an evil, mean-spirited, hateful degenerate and should be flogged in the public square. Shame, shame, shame!
In addition to ERA and wins and losses, the daily pitching line should indicate which starting pitcher has overcome the most personal trajedy. This way I’ll know who to root for each game.
We can all see both sides of it, but Dan was right…Did you people root for him last year in Game 4?? It is inspiring to watch Lance Armstrong win the Tour 5 times (or however many), but if Lance played for the Sox, I can promise that I would have never rooted for him. It is tough for a Yankee fan to root for a player of the Sox, no matter who he is and what he has done. How long are we supposed to feel sorry? I felt happy for him when he beat cancer, but now does that mean you root for him for the rest of his career?
I am evil because I am not jumping for joy that Jon Lester pitched a no-hitter? I think it’s great that people who are going through cancer use this for inspiration. Just because Lester had a cancer scare doesn’t mean I am evil for not being happy he threw a no-hitter. If David Ortiz was narrowly missed by being hit by a bus does that mean I should be happy for him every time he hits a homerun?
“I’m with Pete. Anyone who isn’t beside themselves with joy over Lester’s no-hitter is an evil, mean-spirited, hateful degenerate and should be flogged in the public square. Shame, shame, shame!
In addition to ERA and wins and losses, the daily pitching line should indicate which starting pitcher has overcome the most personal trajedy. This way I’ll know who to root for each game.”
I’d like some of the crack cocaine you are smoking, randyhater
Shant- I’m what’s wrong with America? That’s a little over the top, but thanks, good to know I have that type of clout. Go cry me a river. I didn’t wish cancer on the guy, I just don’t care about every little thing the guy does just because he had cancer. I’ve had tragedy in my life, too, and I don’t expect people to be overjoyed by everything I do simply because of that. Stop being such a phony hypocritical dillweed.
Bronxbomber- Maybe it does, but people get sick and people die everyday. Everyone has tragedy, that doesn’t mean I have to like everyone or wish success upon them.
I think Rebecca put it best last night, you aren’t rooting for the team, but rooting for the pitcher, in this case, Jon Lester. A no-hitter is quite the accomplishment, and as a baseball fan I acknowledge this. Lester deserves the accolades, and I’m glad I was able to see him accomplish this.
I’m happy for Lester, but I’m on the Anthony/Randyhater side.
My mom beat cancer, but gets pissed off when people bring it up whenever she achieves something. It’s not about “oh - great job, and you beat cancer too.” NO - great job for you as a person, just like it would be a great job if you never had cancer. Having had cancer 1, 2 or 15 years ago does not make me a better person for achieving something now.
As for those who think Anthony is what’s “wrong with america,” well, you perfectly illustrate the phony caring he pointed out.
Congratulations to John Lester for being a great MLB pitcher last night. I wish the Sox had lost. Oh well - more games today.
Fair enough, Frank, but I don’t think someone is a bad person if they admit that they aren’t jumping for joy. Wishing for failure on the field is far from wishing personal tragedy. I respect what he’s done on the field, no doubt, but I don’t like it and I’m not happy about it. If you are, or anyone else is, that’s cool, too, but I don’t like hearing from people that we have to be happy for him or else we are soulless creatures.
Can someone explain to me why I should be happy that a member of the Red Sox pitched a no-hitter just because he beat cancer a couple of years ago? I hoped Lester recovered from cancer when he had it, which he did, and I am happy for him. But I will never root for him on the field until his uniform changes. If you think that makes me a bad person, then I think YOU are the one who has the problem.
Anthony, I agree, not a bad person at all, I actually respect the honesty. If Lester never threw another strike while a member of the Red Sox that would be fine by me. I just respect his accomplishment last night. He overcame a great deal of adversity to get where he is, but then again so have many others. He threw a no-hitter, pure and simple. That’s what I acknowledge.
The yankees are all about class. Suits on the road, DJ calling joe Mr. Torre. The team donating to the jimmy fund, and the list goes on and on…
To me the true fan is an extension of this class. And for one night I cheered for a fellow cancer survivor. I also cried when terry hugged lester as a father would a son.
So for me, for one night I cheered for a red sox. I cheered for jon lesterm I cheered for someone else who beat cancer.
Anthony - What makes me a phony hypocritical dillweed? (Good choice of words, now I know you’re about 13) From the moment he was diagnosed, I always cheered him on. I could care less if he had a “B” on his hat. Life is more than the Yankees or Red Sox. Sorry, if you live a shallow life that you can’t see beyond that.
I was rooting for him watching it. He beat cancer. There are more things important that a sports rivalry.
Louise. Congrats on beating cancer, and I am happy for you how you felt when Lester threw the no-hitter. I have a problem with Peter and the gang who don’t respect people’s opinions. We are not classless for not wanting Lester to pitch a no-hitter. We just don’t like Red Sox and he is a Red Sox.
Andyman, rooting against it I can understand from a rivalry stant point, but not from a human race standpoint…
It not that I have a problem, it’s the comments on here that refuse to take the human element into consideration after the fact…
When it was over and it was done, the people who felt just because he didn’t deserve praise or a tip of the cap just because he is a member of the red sox.
More important is he overcame odds, he is an american, and a member of the human race…
Shant- This has nothing to do with what is on his hat. I am simply saying that I do not have to root for him for the rest of his life simply because he had a personal tragedy and that doesn’t make me a bad person. However, you, and the rest of the morality police, take the typical road of not really quarreling with what I’m saying, but instead making it out as if I am happy the guy had cancer. That’s an irresponsible and baseless argument and you know it.
People like you love when there is a chance to take a high moral position when there’s not really any argument surrounding it. “I hate cancer and hope everyone who ever gets it recovers and does well!” Wow, that is such a brave statement, congratulations for having the courage to take that stand, for I, also, don’t like cancer and hope everyone who gets it recovers. I just don’t have to support every survivor in everything they do for the rest of their life because of it, and I think Lester is doing just fine without my emotional support anyway.
I’m glad Lester didn’t die from cancer.
I wish the Royals had bashed his head in with base hits last night, too.
Shant- Also, my age has nothing to do with it. If it helps you to disregard what I am saying by imagining I am 13, please, have at it.
Ben’s right on. Jon Lester’s story is an inspirational one, and I applaud his determination in returning to baseball.
I also hope he, Laptop Boy, and the rest of them go 1-26 every season for the rest of their careers.
Whatever. It’s all in fun. They’ve got the hot hand, and we’re retooling right now. The natural order of things will return soon enough.
Sometimes I’m just embarrassed by people. Especially by those with whom I supposedly have something in common. I used to think that Yankees fans where baseball fans who loved the Yankees. A lot of you guys seem to be Yankees fans who hate anyone on any other team. How can you not show respect for any pitcher who throws a no-hitter, regardless of his team? There’s a term for behaviour like that. Its ‘unsportsman-like conduct’. Very similar to Sox fans yelling ‘Yankees suck’ regardless if which team they are playing. It shouldn’t matter what illness he overcame either. The dude just pitched a no-hitter. I don’t care who you are, which team you play on or which team you root for. That was a no-hitter. When was the last time YOU pitched one? When was the last time someone on your favorite team pitched one?
And in regards to the comment about the author of this blog acting as ‘the morality patrol’: I don’t speak for Peter, and he doesn’t need me to defend him, but apparently there is enough anonymous name calling, cyber-bullying and trash-talking in these comments that somebody has to keep things civil.
I’ll say this about Peter, for those of you who are bashing him.
Peter is not rooting for Boston with his comments. He’s rooting for a good story. That’s what most journalists do. It’s a very common trait in the industry.
I’d do the same thing.
But, personally, I HATE Lester threw a no-hitter. I’ll never root for a Redsock.
Way to go Jon Lester. It’s a great story.
Now go out and lose your next 10 starts.
Baseball question:
Anyone know if Leser is on an innings cap this year, and what it is? Wasn’t he under 50MLB innings last year?
He leads the team in IP right now, and threw more pitches last night than he ever has in a game.
Sorry Pete - it’s OK to root for Jon Lester to beat cancer. In fact, it’s a moral imperative for me BUT IT IS NOT NOW OR EVER the time to ask an old Yankees fan to root for the Sox to win anything.
It’s probably easier for a player than a fan to do that.
I’m still outraged - no, annoyed that A-Rod is on Manny’s (soon to be) 500 HR tape. I wouldn’t expect the brass to speak out on that but I wonder if he asked and Hank OK’d it? I can’t imagine George doing that.
Welcome to the new era Yanks-
Not impressed. First of all the guy DOESNT HAVE CANCER ANYMORE, and secondly The Royals have the fewest runs scored in the American League. It’s tantamount to throwing a no-no in the minor leagues.
Tiki,
I am sure he would approve of it, he donates thousands to the red sox charity fund. The players know the rivalry ends when the game is over.. why can’t the fans.. Manny is about to join an elite club in which Alex is a member… I am sure MLB asked him to do it, and in doing so had to get permission from the Yankees…
Maybe its because I haven’t been corrupted by the working world yet and am still a kid (college student), but my pure love for the GAME of baseball allows me to appreciate a no-hitter for what it is, a great accomplishment that only happens 1 or 2 times per year. Regardless of who is pitching or what team they play for. Had Lester only gone 7 innings and given up 3 runs, people would have been saying it was a good outing even though the Sox won. But God forbid he goes the full 9 for the no-hitter in a game that was over anyways and some people can’t appreciate it. I think it’s awesome that he is a cancer survivor, but having people in my family pass away and also survive cancer, I can agree with some posts that Lester probably would want to be known as a baseball player that threw a no-hitter, and not be hyped up so much by the media for being a cancer survivor. Although I’m sure it does motivate alot of young people out there and old people alike, which is very awesome. Just my 2c
The morality sticking point is that some people feel the need to tell others “what the right thing to do is”.
Lester’s no-hitter was great & uplifting, a no hitter for ANYBODY is great, for a guy coming back from a deadly disease OBVIOUSLY more so. No one is taking away from that.
But to come here as a Yankee fan and have some people feel the need to shove it down our throats that you SHOULD be cheering regardless is condescending. Sportswriters like Lupica think that fans are one-dimensional.
Do you think Red Sox fans cheered A-Rod when he got his 500th HR? He grew up poor, abandoned by his father, raised by a single mom working two jobs…do you think Sox fans cheered because regardless of A-Rod’s Yankee pinstripes he’s a guy who overcame odds to live the American dream? I think not. Why? cause that story is not as sad?
Let fans be fans and rivals be rivals.
And that does NOT negate or trivialize the awesome feat that Lester achieved in pitching history last night.
Where are people getting the idea that anyone is saying that what Lester accomplished last night was not a great feat? I don’t think anyone has said that. Some people are merely saying that they aren’t happy that he did it or that the Red Sox won. Having respect and rooting for someone are two different things, it would do some people good to figure that out.
Amazing how many bitter, sad people there out there who can’t for one night be glad for a fellow human being.
Boston was going to win the game any way. Are you that evil that you didn’t want the kid to finish off the no-hitter? What possible difference could that make?
Rooting against the cancer survivor? I hope for your sake you aren’t in a hospital bed dying in a few years wishing you weren’t such a jerk all your life.
I expressed my sympathies when I heard Lester’s diagnosis in 2005. I prayed to the Baseball Gods for his speedy recovery. I even applauded his return to the mound yesterday.
But my charity, compassion, and gallantry extend only so far.
I wanted nothing more than too see a Royal hit the ball through the middle in the 9th inning last night.
Call me chauvinist, a jingo, a yahoo, if you must. But on the field, if not in life, I wish all Red Sox players ill.
Sure, I salute Lester his accomplishment.
Now may he not throw another quality start all season.
Because with each passing day, the Red Sux of now are reminding me and more of my beloved late 90’s Yankees and I grow more and more disillusioned with Cashman.
I can’t shake the thought that on Santana, Esptein outmaneuvered Brian yet again.
Anthony - Calling people “phony hypocritical dillweed”, is not something mature adults would do, that’s why I thought you were a young kid. Oh, sorry, I’m being a morality policeman again.
In your first post you said that you are hoping that he fails because he plays for our rival, but you just told me that it’s not about the hat he wears. What is your point? You’re contradicting yourself.
It is unfortunate how you feel about this, I guess we just see things differently.
Anthony - stop playing the morality police, you’re being a hypocrite.
“last season”, not yesterday, that should read.
Pete, I love you, but with all due respect, keep in mind: you’re a reporter; we’re fans.
You possess an objectivity, we fans have not the luxury to afford.
Do Red Sux fans root for Hughes and IPK to become great pitchers? To pitch no-hitters?
Were Red Sux fans rooting for Cone and Wells in their quests for perfection? I doubt it.
I root for the laundry, and rarely for players who don’t wear the Pinstripes or haven’t worn them.
Judge me accordingly.
And
Scorpio, that was very very well put.
The Author of this blog has demonstrated some very strong narcissistic tendencies over the years interacting with his audience in an infantile way, shoving dubious morality down our throats. Get over it and yourself please.
Nobody is wishing Lester physical warm. We are merely hoping he fails miserably as a member of the Red Sux. If he were ever to don the pinstripes you bet we would all be there cheering out loud.
“Are you that evil that you didn’t want the kid to finish off the no-hitter?”
Your last post is unbecoming and a deeply offensive attack on your audience. This is tantamount to journalistic suicide in my opinion.
Even more disturbing is your flagrant and loose use of the word ‘evil’. Hitler was evil. That monster who locked up his daughter for over two decades and fathered god knows how many children with her is evil. Fans rooting against their arch nemesis evil?
Get a grip man…You have lost your way from reality.
Pete –
I’ll never root for Boston to do anything positive. Never. This is a game. I’m for the team in midnight blue. Not red.
I don’t give a damn if Lester is a cancer survivor or not. (Glad he survived, don’t get me wrong.) He’s a Red Sox. I don’t want him to make one out — let alone 27.
Ever heard of No joy in Mudville? Boston is my Mudville.
Wow Pete, so much for professional objectivity. You call people evil just because they dont want to be forced to cheer a cancer survivor who threw a no hitter. What do you call someone who cheats on his wife, exiles one of his best friends for taking a job he didnt condone of, engages for 7 years in a systematic scheme to cheat and defraud the business he works for and consumers of a fair product and shows no remorse for any of it? I call that someone your hero, Mr. Bill Belichek. So why dont you go cry moralism somewhere else unless you can tell me that you hope for Belicheat’s sake that on his death bed he doesnt regret being a scumbag and cheat for his life. I didnt think so.
trisha- is that you posing as red sux? cowboy up!
Shant- You’re confusing things. I don’t root for him because he’s on the Red Sox, but I am saying that I shouldn’t have to root for him for any reason whatsoever, no matter what cap he wears. I don’t have to do that, and that doesn’t make me a bad person. I am not sure why it is so important to you that everyone roots for Jon Lester.
Woopdie doo… Yankee fans don’t care. I’m glad he beat cancer but tip my cap? No way. Eat it Lester. Go Yankees!
Wow, Pete. Totally unprofessional, I’m surprised your paper allows you to call readers/posters “jerks” whether deserved or not.
Maybe LoHud needs a moderator for it’s own blogger!
Just my opinion, but some of you guys are pretty pathetic. Having so much venom for a baseball franchise that you can’t enjoy a feel good story?
Its the Boston Red Sox. A baseball franchise. In your entire life you will zero effect on their success or failure. How can you invest so much of your energy in something so pointless?
Another thing, Pete, we’re not “rooting against the cancer survivor,” we’re rooting against the Red Sox. Why were the Red Sox going to win the game anyway? The Royals couldn’t possibly win that game? Why is it “evil” to hope the Red Sox don’t do well? Because one of their players survived cancer? Good lord.
Anthony
Dont waste your words on Pete and his followers. They cant understand that everything in life isnt black and white. You can be happy for someone but not cheer them on. You can distinguish between a team and an individual. Maybe we should all strive to be just like Pete’s favorite team, the Patriots….Perfect. Oh wait, nevermind.
Where was all this “feel good” nonsense when it came to Strawberry or Joe Torre? I don’t remember someone bringing up the fact that they were cancer survivors constantly and crucifying anyone who rooted for them to fail.
Agreed. Pete is taking no objectivity here. I already said that we can all see both sides of it, and Pete is looking way too one-sided. This is a blog for die-hards, we are spending our workdays talking about this.
Was Pete rooting for Trent Green as a Dolphin, after nearly being paralyzed as a KC Chief?
If you weren’t, Pete, does that make you evil??
Even if he threw a no-hitter against the Yanks, if a guy throws it on the comeback from beating cancer you have to applaud what he’s done no matter what team he’s on. It’s just a game.
Remember when Torre came back after beating cancer? His first game back was in Fenway Park of all places, and even THOSE bozos showed some class & gave him a standing ovation.
If he throws a no-hitter against the Yanks 15 years from now it won’t be as easy to cheer for him, but right now you have to applaud him for the one game.
I might add: Applauding Jon Lester’s no hitter does not equate to cheering for the Sox to win. It’s not like if a healthy Pedro Martinez had thrown one 6-10 years ago when he was most hated by the Yanks. Lester’s game is a little different.
I think its great. If you cant put a Yankee/Red Sox rivalry aside to appreciate someone who has beaten death to come back and do something so few pitchers got to do, throw a no-no, there is something wrong. Have to agree with Pete.
I love how people think there are “sides” here. Are you truly that bitter and hateful over baseball that you can’t find some joy in a young man overcoming a terrible illness and doing something historic?
That’s really sad. I wish I was surprised but I’m not. If doing this blog has taught me anything it’s that for every 10 good people who realize it’s just baseball, there are one or two dolts.Be careful of that karma, it’ll come back to get you.
But at least you have the courage to post your opinion and thanks for that.
“Be careful of that karma, it’ll come back to get you.”
Unbelievable. Because I am not happy that Jon Lester threw a no-hitter you are giving me a warning that I may get cancer?
congrats to jon lester
some of you are making it more complicated than it needs to be. we’re all human and it is important to recognize a remarkable accomplishment by someone who heard what (statistically speaking) at least some of us on this board will hear some day: “you have cancer”.
He survived to fulfill his dream and on a night that punctuates this fulfillment, I gladly tip my cap to him and I have a problem with those who won’t. I would not want those people “in the foxhole” next to me in any of life’s battles, be it with cancer or in sports etc…
The human element is the part where we wish he survived cancer. Check. He has gotten accolades, see: World Series clincher.
Just because we aren’t happy to see the Red Sox fans rejoice once again, we are evil? It isn’t necessarily even about the player, Pete knows the players, we know the fans. I do not ever root for Red Sox fans to have anything to cheer about.
Excuse me if I do not keep rooting for him for the rest of his career, but I was happy that at least it was him that won the series clincher.
The question is, how long does the rooting for the guy last? Are we going to be evil if we don’t root for him for the next 10 years? Every time he suits up, we need to stand and applaud because he beat cancer?
This is just stupid with the one-sided arguements, Pete, you’ve gotta see the fan’s point of view…Tell me, please, how long you will root for him to do well, which in turn, hurts the Yanks EVERY time.
Andyman:
You drew that line, not me. But I do believe that bad people usually end up with bad things happening to them. Fitting, I guess.
Read Dan Shaughnessy’s Boston Globe article on Boston.com, and see how much you want to see the Sox fans rejoicing.
Hey can I say something here? I will put myself up against the biggest hater of the Red Sux on this earth. I have made it abundantly clear that I cannot stand the sight of anything having to do with them, I don’t respect them as a team and don’t think they are any great whoop and think they play in a playyard and not a ball park. You bet I hate the Sux. I grew up in the heat of the rivalry and don’t feel like I am about to apologize for that to anybody!
About Lester’s no hitter. While I still have the same feelings about the Sux in general and therefore consider his no hitter no big whoop because I consider that team no big whoop - my right mind you - I was happy for Lester because he went through a lot. I would not likely be happy for Beckett under the same circumstances, but I was happy for Lester. I said so last night. I will say so again.
I WAS HAPPY FOR LESTER THROWING A NO HITTER. GOOD FOR YOU JON LESTER!!!
But it is nobody’s right to have their own little morality play here and tell anybody else they either should or should not be happy for his no hitter. Give me one huge freakin break. Talk about condescenion of the highest order! So if someone who truly hates everything about that uniform is not happy for Lester they are not good people? That’s plain sick.
If you want to be happy for Lester’s no hitter, I don’t see one Sux hater here telling you otherwise! I despise everything about that team, and I wish them nothing but bad professionally, and I never applaud their victories. Quite the opposite. But I sure as hell never tell anyone else they are bad for not joining in. The Yankee-Sux rivalry is the oldest and most passionate there is. How about someone telling you that you are less of a Yankee fan for not trashing the hell out of them. I don’t see anyone doing that. But I am seeing the opposite. Pristine Yankee fans who feel they have the right to dictate that other Yankee fans who do not join in with their little happiness for Lester party don’t quite make the grade and are the reason for the destruction of society as we know it.
You know what makes me sick? Holier than thou Yankee fans telling people who can’t stand another team that they are “less than” if they do not rise above it. These are some of the same people who will trash the Yankees night after night and have strokes on a daily basis if a Yankee player isn’t doing well. But once that’s over they turn into dignified adults who feel that we all should just love each other and forget there is such a thing as team rivalry.
You wanna be happy for Lester? Do it. You wanna hate that he got a no hitter. Do it. You wanna hate the Mets? Do it. You wanna love the Mets? Do it. You wanna hate the Sux? Do it. You wanna make nice with the Sux? Do it.
Just don’t feel that you have the right to dictate the same morality or lack thereof to others.
I will say this over and over and over again. Some of the most bitter words I have ever seen passed have gone between Mets and Yankee fans. I don’t understand it because I have not lived around it. I don’t feel it. But I sure as hell don’t think I have ANY right to tell any Yankee fan he or she shouldn’t feel that or act it out. Go for it if that’s what you feel!
GO YANKEES!!!
GO ROYALS!!!
No trisha, I’m not saying good or bad.
I’m saying those people lack perspective.
I’m saying I don’t want those people fighting/rooting next to me because their priorities are mixed up.
If you are unable or unwilling to tip your cap (ie, show respect) to jon lester on many levels on one night because of the letter on his hat, then you have lost perspective on what is important in life. If you can be so easily mixed up over rooting for a team in a game, then I lose respect for you and your opinions.
jeez, are you guys just arguing for the sake of argument?
I hope so.
Manny - nah that wasn’t I. I am all too happy to post under my own name and take whatever hits come with it!
But I have to say that I admired the eloquence of “Red Sux”. I am a huge fan of the king’s/queen’s English!
I have another caveat. I love Pete A. and do not take exception to whatever he writes. Heck he has the right to express his view the same way we have the right to express ours! If we don’t agree with his view, we are free to tell him so, and vice versa!
He has always treated me with kindness and respect in the face of some daunting moments. And you know what? On this blog, with some of the ferocious posters here, that’s worth more than the price of admission!
Anyway, I like his feist.
But PB in DC - just as I totally understand people taking his illness to heart and rooting from that perspective, so do I understand those who don’t because of his uniform! And I am happy to have all camps rooting and fighting beside me if their first loyalty is to the Yanks! That’s the tie that binds. After that all bets are off.
That’s how I feel. There is no right and wrong here, nor any good and bad. If I were to see anyone say they wanted him to lose his battle with his illness, then yes I would have real problems having that person in my space. Short of that I have no difficulty with how anybody processes what he did last night.
i give him props but never will I root for the boshton red sox they can bite me
I appreciate your ability to articulate your opinion trisha, not all on this board have the ability.
I’ve stated the part of my opinion that is appropriate for a board on the yanks/baseball. I’m going to leave it at that. We just have to agree to disagree on many things…
one thing I’d like to comment on, you said: “And I am happy to have all camps rooting and fighting beside me if their first loyalty is to the Yanks! That’s the tie that binds. After that all bets are off.”
The tie that binds is our mortality…not our rooting interest in a team.
See? I told you if I continue in this exchange, my opinion becomes inappropriate for a sports board etc.
GO Yankees! A-rod is back… finally…
Still don’t care about his cancer, hope he dies soon.
Matt Saracen…..you are a complete disgrace of a human being.
I would like to think that Matt is a buster or a Sux troll who is trying to stir up trouble. I truly do not believe there is anyone walking this earth who would say something like that and mean it unless they were truly demented. If that is the case, then we should feel pity for that person because it is not a concious thing but something coming from a deeply troubled spirit.
When guys dominate, the classy thing to do is tip your cap to them. Lester is a good story on top of his domination.
:: hat tip :: Good job Johnny
I don’t wish the guy continuing success but there is no shame in saying good job.
Next time we see him, I hope he gives up 9 ER without recording an out and twists his ankle on the way back to the dugout.
PB in DC -
“The tie that binds is our mortality…not our rooting interest in a team.”
Nope, I refuse to let you do it. I will NOT be part of your plan. I have no tie that binds me to a Sux fan.
Now just stop it!
Anyway, I was talking about the tie that binds us as Yankee fans.
Well, this issue has been hashed and re-hashed, but I thought I’d just type out my feelings, which have all been stated at least once before in this forum… because, hey, why not…
Jon Lester deserves respect because he threw a no-hitter. Jon Lester deserves respect because he beat cancer. The fact that Jon Lester beat cancer and then threw a no-hitter at a later date means nothing.
It makes for a feel-good story, which is fine… as long as people don’t make you feel like crap for rooting against him. It’s really unconscionable to suggest that those who root for their team are bad sports, or worse, miserable human beings.
For the record, I thought it quite stupid in 2001 when those who rooted for the D-Backs in the Series were chastised for not supporting “America’s Team” following 9/11. It just isn’t fair… D-Backs fans were right to cherish that victory and not feel unpatriotic.
This story would have more relevance if Lester was currently in chemo, but he is just a man - with hardship in his past like most of us - who performed a fantastic sporting feat. Props to him, but I’m sorry it happened… and I’m not afraid to say so.
Greg - and I applaud your honesty and your right to feel the way you do.
In fact I kind of wish that I didn’t have the side of me that feels bad for the cancer part and therefore made me kind of happy for him, because I am always feeling happiest when I can totally trash the Sux!
WOAH this is way outta control wouldn’t ya say!
Sheeesh - Peter was just reporting the story as someone stated up top - nothing wrong with wishing someone well no matter what team he plays for. I hate the bo-sox but… man o man, I think it is tremendous there is one more person in this world that beat cancer and went on to live his dream.
MOST of you ‘negative people’ would think differently if you ever had a loved one with cancer. Any cancer survivor makes for a good story whether it’s a boston redsox player or the cleaning lady at my office. God Bless.
He wasn’t just reporting the story, sfill, he reported it and then called whoever disagreed with him “evil” and made comments like if you didn’t root for Jon Lester to throw a no-hitter, you should be wishing you did when you are on your deathbed, and that bad things will happen to you if you didn’t root for him. Sometimes there are some asinine things said on this blog, and this, my friends, was one of those times. A blogger needs to see both sides of a topic.
.. bitter, sad people … . Are you that evil …
“I hope for your sake you aren’t in a hospital bed dying in a few years wishing you weren’t such a jerk all your life.”
Sheesh! Sad, bitter, evil jerks? Wow, dissent is not tolerated here eh? Glad you “don’t” wish evil on people who disagree with you Peter. Should I also have been glad when Buchholz overcame his petty criminal past last year? Yay! Only in America ladies and gents! Not me.
I don’t post here often enough to say go screw yourself, so I won’t.
Well, I learned something from these comments.
People are really THAT wrapped up in an insane baseball rivalry. Its FREAKIN’ BASEBALL!!!
I don’t think it has anything to do with dissent not being tolerated… Its pretty much just shocking how much fans care about something so infantile. More than the people actually PLAYING THE FREAKIN’ GAME!!!
There are things in this world that are more deserving of hatred and spite than a stupid baseball player throwing 9 innings without giving up a hit.
“Peter was just reporting the story as someone stated up top”
He was doing no such thing. I had no problem with the banner post of this entry, even though I disagree with it. The pervasive and summary judgment Pete cast on his audience of dissenters is what most have a problem with.
Being called a “jerk” and “evil” because I enjoy rooting against the Red Sux is abominable, especially from the author of this blog. Even more sinister is casting a nefarious spell of cancer and death on his dissenters. Pete owes his audience an apology.
Pete, think about this one carefully and comprehensively before offering another knee-jerk emotional attack that only further detracts from your character. Your diatribe wreaks of someone consumed by his own rage.
then, how about this?
Jon Lester’s story is a truly inspirational one, culminating last night in his pitching a no-hitter, putting him in the history books alongside such luminaries as the former Yankee great, Andy Hawkins.
I hope that, in the not-too-distant future, the natural order of things returns and we can continue to find newways to embarrass the team he plays for to no end.
…and, if Lester continues to pitch no-hitters, I hope we are able to sign him as a free agent when his arbitration years are up.
No, I just really don’t care about Jon Lester’s “triumph over adversity.” He’s a garbageman Red Sox and I hope he rots in the ground like the rest of them. He just has the advantage over the rest of them in that department, lurking in his body cells somewhere.
I despise the Sux, but good for Lester. He seems like a decent guy, and God Bless him for beating cancer, and coming back to throw a no-hitter. With that said, I hope when he plays us, he gets tagged for ten runs, and gets knocked out in the first inning.