by cptrios » Mon Jul 04, 2005 11:07 am
Forgive me for talking about American sports yet again, but:
I'm a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan. For years, we had a "talisman" almost exactly like Gerrard, named Nomar Garciaparra. Captain of the team, 3-time batting title winner, hero to thousands of Boston kids, adored to death by every Red Sox fan who ever lived. He was one of those guys that nobody could ever imagine in any other team's uniform.
Three seasons ago, new ownership comes in, bringing with them new managment. Nomar's status on the team began to be cast in doubt just like Stevie's was last year. At one point before last season, he was actually traded away to another team, but the deal fell through at the last minute. After that he didn't seem himself, and it always felt as though he wasn't performing up to snuff as a sort of subconscious revenge against the team (which he loved as much as any of its die-hard fans) for trying to trade him. Finally, about halfway through last season, we trade him away for two players who, while not even coming close to equalling his stature, filled very, very useful roles in the team. So, the fan base mourned for a while, and it was tough, but that very season, boom...the Red Sox win the World Series. For the first time since 1918.
Sometimes, I suppose, you just have to let go.