Freudian slip: Theo Epstein's statement implies National League's inferior status

Most American League fans that go to at least ten games a year undoubtedly hate the Red Sox. Believe it or not, it is not due to overexposure on Fox and ESPN. The Red Sox are actually hated because of the arrogance of their transplant fans, rather than the arrogance of their players or management.

Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has done his best to make sure the hate is universal across both leagues. While touting Jason Bay (who came to the Red Sox in the Manny Ramirez trade), Epstein had a Freudian slip in which he gave us a glimpse of what he really thinks of the National League.

"You may not be as familiar with Jason Bay because he's been in the National League, but he's a really good player," Epstein said.

You might not know much about Bay, not because he played for the seldom heard from Pittsburgh Pirates, but because he played in the National League! Epstein may not be willing to tout his Red Sox as a team on the verge of dynasty status, but he apparently does not think very highly of the National League in the wake of his Red Sox going 8-0 against them in the 2004 and 2007 World Series games.

Why American League fans already hated the Red Sox

In 2003, I personally converted my enmity for the New York Yankees after experiencing the obnoxiousness of Red Sox fans first hand. I went to an Angels game and every single half inning the Sox fans chanted "Yankees suck" with headache inducing, cheerleader like fervor. Apparently they did not get the fact that Angels fans do not share their love of Yankee hating.

The straw that broke the camel's back was to see the thousands of Red Sox fans still cheering raucously for their team when the Angels were up 9-0 in the bottom of the ninth. They still were chanting "Yankees suck" at any opportunity. And when the Red Sox did finally score a run, countless Red Sox fans around the stadium stood up and chanted in Angels fans faces.

It was quite a pathetic sight to see. Right then and there, I said to myself, the Yankees may have enormous advantages that can squash the balance of competition. But if it was between routing for a powerhouse or being on the side of the mental midgets that are oh so many Red Sox fans then it was time to do a 180 and root for everyone ahead of the Red Sox.

Sadly the Sox have won two championships since then. Ironically they beat the Angels in the playoffs both years to do it.

How annoying can Red Sox fans be? Ask Ivonne Hernandez. Following hazing from several Red Sox fans, she was actually so mad that she ran over two Red Sox fans with her car, killing one of them. Certainly there is no justification for it, but I can understand the likely dense nature of the Red Sox fans she was dealing prior to her homicidal actions.