As we were reminded last week, nothing polarizes sports fans quite like religion and politics. In fact, nothing polarizes anything quite like religion and politics.
Lets never talk about that stuff again, OK? We dont need it. Especially when there are plenty of other hot button issues to argue over.
For instance, booing.
Is there anything in sports that polarizes fans faster than the concept of booing athletes?
Whether its an issue with the home team, or the home players, or former heroes returning as enemies, when we talk about booing, true colors come flying out. We end up debating morality and basic human rights. Everyone gets preachy and nothings ever accomplished.
In other words: Its awesome.
Im already bracing myself for January.
Boston Red Sox
SHOULD CELTICS FANS BOO RAY ALLEN?
I dont know.
They should do whatever they want. This isnt a moral issue; its booing. Its part of the game. And if you think theyre wrong, thats your right, but theres no point in lecturing. Youd be better off trying to convince Tim Thomas to vote for Obama.
People will believe what they want to believe. And right now, a lot of people believe that Josh Beckett deserves to be booed. Not for getting injured, but for being Josh Beckett. Not for his back spasms, but because back spasms are an injury consistent with the notion that he's out of shape.
Bottom line: Beckett's become the face of this year-long Red Sox nightmare, and fans are ready to wake up. They don't want to see him anymore. Hell, if they really wanted to be cruel and unusual, they could have cheered the injury. Celebrated the possibility that this guy might disappear for 15 days. But they booed.
It's OK.
Beckett will be OK. Ray Allen will be OK. Johnny Damon was OK. And if booing makes a fan feel better, who's to say whether it's right or wrong?
Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine