Listening to the World, One Red Sox Game at a Time

Have you ever seen one of those MasterCard commercials where they list the prices of random objects which end up leading to their favorite slogan? Priceless. But still, when does MasterCard know what is priceless and what isn’t? Things that can be purchased tend to have a price, but how come the commercials never end with something like “Listening to a quiet song on your iPod while talking to your dad about the Sox; priceless.”? When does something reach the pantheon of pricelessness? And furthermore, how does a cup of coffee cost $6.95??

My personal favorite activity these days happens mostly every night (or, on the weekends, in the daytime) and I don’t have to exert any energy, except for crying out in anguish at a moronic umpire. It’s a relaxing yet nervous nine innings of baseball on the stations of NESN, or FOX, or ESPN, or even the occasional TBS. I spend this time with my dad and we talk about the world, politics, families, friends, pets, and a lot else; but mostly it’s all about the Red Sox, baby.

It’s normally about 15 minutes till gametime, unless I have a prior commitment (homework, usually), and we crack open a couple of sodas and maybe a bag of chips. He and I comment on how it seems like JD Drew has been injured for about 6 decades, and how we can’t really hate the Rays, but we don’t care for them. The game starts with Lester on the mound (or Dice-K/Beckett) with the exception of either away games or one of the other seven starting pitchers we’ve had this season taking the hill. There’s usually one or two questionable (cough, cough) calls here and there, but mostly the game is fair. Somebody hits a homer, probably Youk or Papi, and Dustin Pedroia always seems to have 2 hits in the game. (Atta boy, Dustin!) If Jacoby Ellsbury is playing, we will have stolen a base, which causes Dad and me to whisper intensly…Yes! If the games are close, 99% of the time Papelbon comes in and shuts down the next three batters.

Once in a great while, the game we watch will be a little more important than the usual ones. A playoff game is almost more intense to watch than it is to play in, when it comes to our Red Sox. Dad and I are freaking out whenever the Sox are pitching; and then we can breathe for half an inning when Boston is at the plate. Once in an even greater while, it’s a World Series game (This has only occurred twice in my life) and we’re nervous and dysfunctional throughout the entire nine innings. If we win the series (God willing) there is much rejoicing and almost a little bit of sadness for those who we wish could have been around to see this glorious moment. Those are the best feelings in the world.

On the other side of the ball, material possessions are very nice to have. Specifically, my iPod is a great thing to own. The ability to simply touch a device two or three times and instantly hear “Hey Jude” is a pretty cool piece of technology. The emotions of all of my music are amazing, and the sheer rock-your-#@*$!&^-face-off ability of others is just a sickeningly delicious combination. To transition seamlessly between the two should be considered a federal crime.

I use my iPod whenever I need to get excited, get relaxed, or get Zeppelined. Except for school days, it never leaves my pocket (except to charge). Plus, I think that schools should allow students to bring in iPods for quizzes or even (shudder) standardized testing. Having a big exam with Baba O’Reilly (It's a song by The Who, might also be known as Teenage Wasteland) would get me to study more. My iPod is also a great thing to have because it doubles as a clock, light, and even a gaming device (BrickBreaker). So, with the MP3’s running through my head, I love listening to my iPod.

Now, when it comes to my Red Sox, there is almost nothing greater than those games; but my iPod is a close second. The way that anything can happen in baseball is quite related to the way that the music can change at any time on an iPod. Both are very valuable, but both can also be put together to make something great. Music and baseball make rooting for the game and enjoying the music so much easier. For example, “Tessie” was a great song about the Red Sox written by Dropkick Murphys, and I keep it on one device and one device only: …if you can’t guess it, you haven’t read this very well (Hint: a lot of things are valuable…including iPods!)