How can one reconcile this with the greatest rivalry in professional sports history? How can one explain that the pitcher who sent not one but two hated Yankees to the hospital on a warm July day in 2003 will be leaving the Red Sox "Nation?" How can you tell your little girl or boy that Pedro, the Red Sox "Nation's" most heralded soldier, loves his "nation" but only if the price is right? Well, it ain't that difficult.
The greatest rivalry is not IN sports. It is ABOUT sports. Red Sox fans hate Yankees fans. Red Sox fans root for a team that has not won what is important since 1918. The Red Sox players and the Yankees players, with few exceptions, do not hate each other. They belong to the same union. Many employ the same agents to negotiate for them.
But the fans are different. Very different. When was the last time you heard of a Red Sox fan becoming a Yankees fan? Never. It just doesn't happen. A Red Sox fan is a Red Sox for life. A Yankees fan is a Yankees fan for life. Changing teams is not an option for fans. But it is an option for players and management. Roger Clemens, Bernie Williams, and Kim Ng are prime examples.
Roger Clemens became a Yankee in 1999. Red Sox fans were upset. They excoriated Clemens, questioning his character, loyalty, and courage. Yankees fans had mixed feelings because David Wells, who helped lead "their" team to the 1998 World Championship, was included in the trade to get Clemens and Yankees fans despised Clemens for throwing at Scott Brosius and Derek Jeter, but if Clemens could help the team, then....
Buster Olney, who worked for the New York Times before he left for ESPN, related that Clemens' sister wrote a poem extolling tradition, pinstripes, and winning when Roger joined the Yankees. Roger said it rang true to him. He stated repeatedly how excited he was to have a chance to win a championship.
In his new challenge, Roger wanted his wars with the Yankees to be forgotten. When questioned about the Brosius and Jeter bean ball incidents, Clemens responded that "The same guys you want to knock down are the same guys you want on your side sometimes." Jeter voiced a similar opinion.
