Where Were You Six Years Ago Tonight?

Just returned from 2-week trip - Captain had game on channel 9 on the flight from HNL. So bummed to be going back to Philly, but pleased the lads took 2 out of 3 at home!

Called my Mom (W. Lynn girl) in Florida for bottom of last inning. This was against all family mojo protocol, and we knew my placing it and her answering was a sign that the world had forever changed. Talked through each out about my Dad (found next to the 12th green one evening in '98) and other passed relatives. 7 yr-old whooping and jumping up and down on the couch (you don't want to see the '03 game 7 entry). Sobs at the end. A couple Lagavulin's while family slept and I exchanged emails with Sox friends from around the world. I am still basking in the glow of that month. Forever.

From my Diary (culminated in a trip to Opening Day '05 for 8yr old's and my birthday - yes, 11 April):

"Oct, 2004 – San Francisco, CA. Lowe (see Oakland, 2003) completes return from the dead. Petey makes Daddy proud for 2 runs, but then in a fit of teenage angst, decides not to mug anyone or any part of his body and is promptly disowned by once-proud Father. Ortizzo sizzo. Damon returns from vacation in O-fer. Yanks suspiciously absent from proceedings, both in the stands and on the field. More room for Sox to celebrate. Fans take over stands, Steinie has no “Congrats ALCS Champions” on scoreboard, for first time in post-electricity league history. Fitting as Yonkers make history in several other categories this series as well. Many, many Yonkers firsts. Sox fans begin to realize that if next year their worst nightmare comes true and they choke a 3-0 lead against Yonkers and lose 3-4, they will still never ever be the first to do so! Never! That honor belongs to Yonkers. Forever. “For” + “ev” + “er”… Forever… and a day... and the horse they rode in on.' "

Next entry when Red/Denton call for end of World Series memories...

From my Diary (culminated in a trip to Opening Day '05 for 8yr old's and my birthday - yes, 11 April):

"Oct, 2004 – San Francisco, CA. Lowe (see Oakland, 2003) completes return from the dead. Petey makes Daddy proud for 2 runs, but then in a fit of teenage angst, decides not to mug anyone or any part of his body and is promptly disowned by once-proud Father. Ortizzo sizzo. Damon returns from vacation in O-fer. Yanks suspiciously absent from proceedings, both in the stands and on the field. More room for Sox to celebrate. Fans take over stands, Steinie has no “Congrats ALCS Champions” on scoreboard, for first time in post-electricity league history. Fitting as Yonkers make history in several other categories this series as well. Many, many Yonkers firsts. Sox fans begin to realize that if next year their worst nightmare comes true and they choke a 3-0 lead against Yonkers and lose 3-4, they will still never ever be the first to do so! Never! That honor belongs to Yonkers. Forever. “For” + “ev” + “er”… Forever… and a day... and the horse they rode in on.' "

Next entry when Red/Denton call for end of World Series memories...

After putting up with a week of wall to wall baseball, my wife kicked me out b/c West Wing was on. My buddy Ed & I went out in search of a tube. We were in a parking lot when we heard cars on the road honking their horns. I knew something good must've happened - it was Damon's dong.

We spent the game at a local bar. I was feeling good. Ed, a native new englander, was uneasy. When it was 8-1 he sounded like Agent Smith from The Matrix "More. I want more." No lead was safe. We were at the same bar after Game 4 of the WS, and drank brandy until 2am.

After putting up with a week of wall to wall baseball, my wife kicked me out b/c West Wing was on. My buddy Ed & I went out in search of a tube. We were in a parking lot when we heard cars on the road honking their horns. I knew something good must've happened - it was Damon's dong.

We spent the game at a local bar. I was feeling good. Ed, a native new englander, was uneasy. When it was 8-1 he sounded like Agent Smith from The Matrix "More. I want more." No lead was safe. We were at the same bar after Game 4 of the WS, and drank brandy until 2am.

I was watching the game with my husband. I was a newly-minted Sox fan (2003 vintage), but was terribly excited to see the MFYs go down. My life-long Sox fan husband was in shock. 

(let's hope the Giants win the NLCS tonight!)

I was watching the game with my husband. I was a newly-minted Sox fan (2003 vintage), but was terribly excited to see the MFYs go down. My life-long Sox fan husband was in shock. 

(let's hope the Giants win the NLCS tonight!)

AWESOME STORY!!!!

I was 8 months pregnant with my 2nd child (she'd be born on 11/11/04). the nerves were causing false contractions pretty much the whole game, so I was pacing our floor trying to get comfortable. My husband kept telling me that even if I was really in labor, there was no way he was going to take me to the hospital until the game was over.

as long as the one year old didn't get any, you're OK. For the given event. 

as long as the one year old didn't get any, you're OK. For the given event. 

My then one-year old Son had a double ear infection, I was rocking him through the house, with TVs on in the bedroom, living room and my office, so I didn't miss any pitches...couldn't get as loud as I wanted to, but when it was over, I had a bottle of Korbel given to me by my local liquor store guy (i was a VERY good customer---lol) for my wedding, and I popped it and shared it with my stepsons, who were VERY underage--LOL.

I was on my couch in central Pennsylvania, millions of miles from everyone and everything I love, screaming at the announcers to stop jinxing things and giggling with glee and befuddlement and CURSING the fact that I hadn't been able to move back to Boston yet.  It was one of the five best nights of my life, really.

I was on my couch in central Pennsylvania, millions of miles from everyone and everything I love, screaming at the announcers to stop jinxing things and giggling with glee and befuddlement and CURSING the fact that I hadn't been able to move back to Boston yet.  It was one of the five best nights of my life, really.

I watched it alone in my basement.  Who the hell else am I gonna find to watch it with me in Mulvane-fucking, Kansas?  At the final out, I yelled, jumped up & down with jubilation of the greatest comeback against the greatest enemy in sports.

I watched it alone in my basement.  Who the hell else am I gonna find to watch it with me in Mulvane-fucking, Kansas?  At the final out, I yelled, jumped up & down with jubilation of the greatest comeback against the greatest enemy in sports.

I was in Washington DC playing Texas Hold 'em and watching the game with friends.  Suffice to say I was overjoyed when the final out happened and I ran out the front door.  At the time the Attorney General of USA lived across the street from my friends place and had a Secret Service Detail parked on the corner in an SUV.  I ran up to the window of the truck and screamed "WE WON" and ran down the street.

When I came running back my friends told me the agent almost pulled her glock on me.

I was in Washington DC playing Texas Hold 'em and watching the game with friends.  Suffice to say I was overjoyed when the final out happened and I ran out the front door.  At the time the Attorney General of USA lived across the street from my friends place and had a Secret Service Detail parked on the corner in an SUV.  I ran up to the window of the truck and screamed "WE WON" and ran down the street.

When I came running back my friends told me the agent almost pulled her glock on me.

i was at home here in maine watchin' with the game with the dog. the wife at the time was as ususal passed out from her usual nitely rum binge. when damon hit that salami and gave the sox a good lead i was pretty much in state of bewilderment. how could this be? all those times in a 7th game when u knew deep down inside they were gonna blow it. but no, not this time. finally. after all the years of disappointments it was here. the sox finally shoved it up n.y. ass. when they went on to finish of the cards the first thing that came to mind was all the friends and family that loved and rooted for the sox no matter what were not here to see this. 

i was at home here in maine watchin' with the game with the dog. the wife at the time was as ususal passed out from her usual nitely rum binge. when damon hit that salami and gave the sox a good lead i was pretty much in state of bewilderment. how could this be? all those times in a 7th game when u knew deep down inside they were gonna blow it. but no, not this time. finally. after all the years of disappointments it was here. the sox finally shoved it up n.y. ass. when they went on to finish of the cards the first thing that came to mind was all the friends and family that loved and rooted for the sox no matter what were not here to see this. 

Haha, nice one.

*is happy to have unknowingly helped*

I was in my dorm, standing in the living room with friends when the final out happened. There was a lot of screaming and jumping around. Then there was an energetic discussion of whether or whether not we should go down to Fenway...needless to say, we went down, meeting up with hundreds of fans along the way. We hooked arms and stood next to Fenway in awe for awhile. 

I was in my dorm, standing in the living room with friends when the final out happened. There was a lot of screaming and jumping around. Then there was an energetic discussion of whether or whether not we should go down to Fenway...needless to say, we went down, meeting up with hundreds of fans along the way. We hooked arms and stood next to Fenway in awe for awhile. 

I was in the midst of moving.  My boss invited me to one of the priviedged "doctor meetings" that only the most "deserving" people were invited to.  I'm still kicking myself for attending.  I kept watch of the score and updated everyone (although I'm sure that killed any bonus points I was earning at attending the meeting).  I ran home, moved what little of my stuff was left, took it to my new apartment and headed for the local bar.  I watched the last few innings in euphoria and it took me like a half an hour to get through to my parents,with all the calls they were receiving, who had been waiting a lifetime for this moment.  Insantiy ensued.  Awesome awesome awesome

I was in the midst of moving.  My boss invited me to one of the priviedged "doctor meetings" that only the most "deserving" people were invited to.  I'm still kicking myself for attending.  I kept watch of the score and updated everyone (although I'm sure that killed any bonus points I was earning at attending the meeting).  I ran home, moved what little of my stuff was left, took it to my new apartment and headed for the local bar.  I watched the last few innings in euphoria and it took me like a half an hour to get through to my parents,with all the calls they were receiving, who had been waiting a lifetime for this moment.  Insantiy ensued.  Awesome awesome awesome

My parents tell a story of a woman who was proclaimed legally dead during the midst of Lester's no hitter.  They turned off the TV to tend to her and she "awakened" to ask if Lester was done yet.  They said no, turned the TV back on, Lester got his no hitter, and then she passed on...

My parents tell a story of a woman who was proclaimed legally dead during the midst of Lester's no hitter.  They turned off the TV to tend to her and she "awakened" to ask if Lester was done yet.  They said no, turned the TV back on, Lester got his no hitter, and then she passed on...

I went to trivia night at the bar down my street last night, and there was some question about a British car show.  I threw down "Top Gear", just because it was the only current British show I was aware of (thanks to you).  Wouldn't you know, I was like the only person to get that question right!  Thanks ESF!  If only you could have been available to answer ALL of my questions! :)

I went to trivia night at the bar down my street last night, and there was some question about a British car show.  I threw down "Top Gear", just because it was the only current British show I was aware of (thanks to you).  Wouldn't you know, I was like the only person to get that question right!  Thanks ESF!  If only you could have been available to answer ALL of my questions! :)

I was at URI when I saw the 1986 dream end.  Nice story! :)

I was at URI when I saw the 1986 dream end.  Nice story! :)

I was at the (then) new BU central hangout / tv room in the GSU at BU, watching with my girl and more than a few friends.  The game trudged on and even as it turned into a laugher, there was still that edge of nervousness.  Finally, though, the game ended and we all erupted and everyone - EVERYONE - poured out into the streets and there was a march down Comm ave to Kenmore square. 

People were climbing things, lighting things on fire, doing the car tipping thing.  I got about as far as the Cask before we realized "oh shit, this is one of those dangerous kinds of crowd!"  Sure enough, we were like feet away from where that girl got beanbag-gunned down by the cops as it turned out, but we didn't see it. 

To round out the night, we were chased back up Comm. Ave by riot cops and flash-bangs and could not possibly be happier.  much like defeating any great villain before the Big Game, the ALCS victory was as sweet if not sweeter than the WS clincher, maybe if only for being more of a 2003 catharsis. 

I was at the (then) new BU central hangout / tv room in the GSU at BU, watching with my girl and more than a few friends.  The game trudged on and even as it turned into a laugher, there was still that edge of nervousness.  Finally, though, the game ended and we all erupted and everyone - EVERYONE - poured out into the streets and there was a march down Comm ave to Kenmore square. 

People were climbing things, lighting things on fire, doing the car tipping thing.  I got about as far as the Cask before we realized "oh shit, this is one of those dangerous kinds of crowd!"  Sure enough, we were like feet away from where that girl got beanbag-gunned down by the cops as it turned out, but we didn't see it. 

To round out the night, we were chased back up Comm. Ave by riot cops and flash-bangs and could not possibly be happier.  much like defeating any great villain before the Big Game, the ALCS victory was as sweet if not sweeter than the WS clincher, maybe if only for being more of a 2003 catharsis. 

a week or so earlier said "screw it" and bought tix to see bad religion in orlando, and when the night of the show ended up being on the same night as the improbable gm 7, i said screw it and went to the show anyway.
early into their set, BR frontman greg graffin told the crowd that "the evil empire was down 6-0" - the crowd erupted!! me incuded, of course...
after the show, we caught the last 2 innings at a local bar, and our unbelievable celebration was shared by the small crowd around us....nothing like that night - especially with the wounds from aaron boone still fresh, the difference in emotion was almost too much to compute - like alexis said, i believe i was laughing and cying simulataneously. an oh yeah, my diehard red so fan grandfather passed away a few months later.

I was halfway through my six year Navy enlistment, stationed in Norfolk, Virgina.  I had gone to the bar where this girl I had been flirting with worked, and watched the game surrounded by Yankees fans... just like every other game that series. 

That game was surreal for me, a haze of beer and being the only voice of RSN in the bar, screaming myself hoarse.  Realizing after that last out, that anything was possible.

Six years later, I'm a married father of two, to that very same girl.  To say the 2004 Red Sox changed my life would be a MASSIVE understatement.

I was halfway through my six year Navy enlistment, stationed in Norfolk, Virgina.  I had gone to the bar where this girl I had been flirting with worked, and watched the game surrounded by Yankees fans... just like every other game that series. 

That game was surreal for me, a haze of beer and being the only voice of RSN in the bar, screaming myself hoarse.  Realizing after that last out, that anything was possible.

Six years later, I'm a married father of two, to that very same girl.  To say the 2004 Red Sox changed my life would be a MASSIVE understatement.

I was at home in New Hampshire, a 13 year old kid. My mom probably never slept at all that night with me yelling at every out. She trudged out in a stupor asking if we won. I told her she could go to sleep now.
I don't remember falling asleep, but I remember waking up with a smile on my face.

I cried at Boone. A year's worth of "what if" was over.

Home watching with my best pal Jimmy.  The state-wide collective conscience is something I'll never forget.  The signs were everywhere, no one was sleeping or getting much done. 

And if felt so good.

Home watching with my best pal Jimmy.  The state-wide collective conscience is something I'll never forget.  The signs were everywhere, no one was sleeping or getting much done. 

And if felt so good.

Well, when (God willing) the Cubbies win one it will be the same feeling for their fans. I say "God willing" because their fans deserve that feeling the same way we did.

It was my freshman year at college. I grew up in New Jersey among hordes of Yankees fans (fortunately my parents were both from New England). I spent Game 7 in my dorm room with my friend from Rhode Island, on the phone with my grandfather (who had never seen the Sox win a World Series but never quite lost his faith in the Sox one day winning it all). Greatest night of my life.

My cat had a cat-version of a black eye so I'd been at the emergency vet. I pulled up next to my house when Damon launched it.  I proceeded to drink the same kind of beer, wear the same clothes and follow the same house rules that had been followed for the previous three games.  I don't think it will be the same for any fan of any team ever in my lifetime.

My cat had a cat-version of a black eye so I'd been at the emergency vet. I pulled up next to my house when Damon launched it.  I proceeded to drink the same kind of beer, wear the same clothes and follow the same house rules that had been followed for the previous three games.  I don't think it will be the same for any fan of any team ever in my lifetime.

I was at the Riviera Cafe in the West Village of New York with a packed crew of Sox fans roaring all night. It was madness when Papi went deep, then Damon hit a granny. Bar went batshit at the last out, and a bunch of us went to another pub in the Village, walking there like the conquering heroes.

Two people offered me tickets to Game 7 (at face value), but I turned them down. Had to be at the Riv. One of the greatest nights of my life.

I was a freshman at Holy Cross.  I was in a dorm room that could maybe fit eight people comfortably, with about 50 screaming fans.  We watched that game, with all the damn connecticut and ny Yankees fans across the hall in my room (with my roommate, thanks ResLife), then ran outside to celebrate with the rest of the campus.  I seem to recall being hugged by a naked dude, and cops just watching people pound beers on the streets, smiling... Great night, great memory!

I was a freshman at Holy Cross.  I was in a dorm room that could maybe fit eight people comfortably, with about 50 screaming fans.  We watched that game, with all the damn connecticut and ny Yankees fans across the hall in my room (with my roommate, thanks ResLife), then ran outside to celebrate with the rest of the campus.  I seem to recall being hugged by a naked dude, and cops just watching people pound beers on the streets, smiling... Great night, great memory!

I was in my college apartment in Tallahassee, Florida. Sitting on my bed and watching in disbelief. Millar Red Sox shirt on. Praying to every god I could think of.

I had gotten a bottle of champagne in a tradition I got from my hockey team in the playoffs earlier that year and who went to two game 7s. I figured, the champagne would help no matter what happened. If they lost, I could drown my sorrows. If they won? Well. We know they did. I watched what I could of the celebration, then drank the whole bottle. I was laughing and crying at the same time. Afraid to go to sleep in case it was a dream.

I sat in my college apartment in Huntington, WV on a couch that was rescued from the curb. I wore the same Red Sox hat that I bought 6 years before and still have but have since retired and a Trot Nixon jersey. Among my guests were a 3 ft plastic penguin and a stuffed sheep (I assume was made to be a foot stool) and both wore Sox hats. I kept saying, "Its not over," and didn't answer phone calls until the last out. I ran through my house screaming and popped a bottle of champagne that was mysteriously given to me by a stranger several weeks before.

I still have that empty bottle of champagne. I still have that Trot Nixon jersey. I still have that plastic penguin. When I moved out the ceilings still had remnants of champagne on them.

Backstory, if needed go read my story about Doug Flutie's Hail Mary on my blog. I was still working retail and I got stuck closing that night.  I was listening to the game on the radio on my short drive home.  The A-Rod ball slap happened right as I pulled into my parking lot.  The radio announcers made it seem like he was safe, and I thought that was it, game over.  I turned off my car to go upstairs and watch the rest of the game, unlike modern day Yankees' fans, I was taught the game was not over, until it was over.  As much as it was going to suck, I was going to watch.  When I turned on the TV it felt the universe had flipped on it's head (for the tenth time that week!).