Fans Show Up In Droves to Celebrate Championship
By William Hinkle
BOSTON--Boston fans are growing accustomed to championship parades. With the Boston Red Sox’s 2007 World Series Championship, October 30th marked the city’s fifth championship parade since the New England Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001. The Patriots also won the Super Bowl in 2003 and 2004 and the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 as well.
Thousands of loyal, passionate Red Sox fans packed the parade route that ran from Fenway Park to City Hall Plaza. Decked in American League Championship, World Series Championship, and any other Red Sox gear they could find, the Red Sox faithful chanted, cheered, and celebrated with their team.
Driving through Copley Square, Red Sox outfielder Bobby Kielty led the crowd in their favorite “Yankees suck” cheer. Kielty hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth inning of Game Four of the World Series that turned out to be the difference in the 4-3 final.
The crowd also serenaded General Manager Theo Epstein and the Red Sox front office with resonating chants of “Re-sign Lowell!” Mike Lowell, the 33-year-old third baseman for the Sox, won this year’s World Series MVP.
Lindsay Douglas, a 21-year-old junior at Simmons College, lives at the corner of Beacon Street and Park Drive, where she can see Fenway Park from her front doorstep. After the Red Sox won the ALCS and the World Series, she saw the police preparing for the riots and had no desire to join the rowdy crowd.
However, when she was leaving for class at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning, an hour before the parade was scheduled to begin, she said, “This looks like it is going to be so much fun. I wish I could skip class and go celebrate.
After the Red Sox broke an 86-year World Series Championship drought in 2004, more than 3 million people attended what Mayor Thomas M. Menino dubbed the “rolling rally.” This year’s event was similar as the team rode in the famous duck boats again, but was different in that they did not go into the water of the Charles River. As a new addition to the parade, the Dropkick Murphys performed on a flatbed truck accompanied by a dancing, kilt-wearing Jonathan Papelbon.
Also, the 2004 rolling rally was on a cold, rainy day whereas the 2007 edition was under a bright, blistering sun. Many fans had to shed their jackets and sweatshirts.
James Schmitz, a 21-year-old Boston University junior and lifelong Boston sports fan, added, “This year wasn’t as crazy as 2004. People were still climbing trees and stuff like that, but the craziness wasn’t there. It was still just as fun, though. Championships are always fun.”
Anticipating future success, Schmitz predicted, “We’ll get another one of these when the Pats win the Super Bowl this year. These parades never get old, and I can’t wait to celebrate another one. Even the Celtics might have a chance this year.”
Sox fans line the street at Copley Square as the team approaches in duck boats
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