The Red Sox
In our household the Red Sox are something like a religion. From spring training until the last pitch in the fall our TV and Tivo are pretty much dedicated to the Red Sox.
In 2007 we had a benifit Red Sox legends game in Bangor sponsored by the Bangor Fire department. Many previous Red Sox players were there including Bill (spaceman) Lee, Jim Coursey and Oil Can Boyd to mention a few. The governor threw out the first pitch and the game was on. The Bangor FD basically got shelled! In the last innings, the Red Sox legends pitching was toying with the FD batters. They would practically lob a pitch over the plate and then blow one by them so fast that they never knew what happened. Even though these guys are older, when you see them put on the heat you know why they were pros.
In July of 2007 my wife and I went to Tampa to visit family. You have to remember that growing up in the Boston area, my wife has been a devoted Red Sox fan all of her life. So. . when a family visit was planned last February, first and foremost it was based on the Red Sox schedule and them being in Tampa. We had great seats a bit past third base. We were all settled and I was making sure I knew where all of the NESN camera's were positioned. The first time I held my sign up a person directly behind me noticed it and said "I'm originally from Ellsworth". the man, now living in Hermon was also down visiting and he and his brother were there at the game. I guess it definitely comes under the heading of a "small World". All the way to Tampa, in a sold out crowd of over 36,000 people and we bump into some one from the area sitting directly behind us.
It was "Flower Power Night" At Tropicana field. A baseball spoof to the 60's. Each player was introduced with great graphics of them in 60's fashions and hair cuts. A real hoot with all fans getting a good laugh.
As we entered I was grabbed by a tropicana field reporter to be interviewed when he saw our Maine sign. He asked a few baseball questions and then why we were all there. I couldn't pass that set up so I said, "All of us Red Sox fans decided we'd come down and help the 6 Tampa Bay fans fill up the trop". I don't think he really thought he had heard that! The game went into 12 innings with thr Red Sox prevailing.
Short clip from NESN broadcast with Milbridge Maine sign
Stills from the 7-28-2007 Red Sox Tampa game