(SawxBlog Illustration)
The relationship between Keith Foulke and the Boston Red Sox has finally come to an unceremonious end. Yesterday Keith Foulke declined a $3.75 million option on his contract to finalize the rocky relationship between Foulke, the fans, and Red Sox management.
As rocky as the relationship between Foulke and Red Sox Nation has been the last two years I'll never forget the effort he exuded during the 2004 playoffs. It's pretty plain and simple, Keith Foulke's heroics are on an even level, if not higher, during that playoff run as David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, & Dave Roberts. He was a rock, made Theo look like a genius, and had us all thinking that he'd be with the Red Sox organization for a long time to come, but how wrong we were.
The fall of Keith Foulke in Boston is directly equated with his own utter stupidity. When he called out Red Sox Nation as "Johnny from Burger King" it may as well have been his eulogy. Fans have all the right to cheer and boo an individual based on their actions and performance on the field. Having the option and ability to make that much money in a public spotlight comes with things the individual may not especially like.
I believe the fans in Boston (the great majority at least) especially have the right to boo or cheer. We pay the most for our tickets. We have the smallest ballpark. We have one of the greatest traditions and longest love affairs with a professional sports team in all the world. Anything that intense is going to be a double edged sword. Foulke essentially shot himself in the foot there.
Keith also was known to say that he didn't even like baseball among other things...
I say good riddance to you Keith Foulke. I thank you eternally for your role in 2004, you were amazing. But I don't have the time or patience to deal with spoiled, bratty, millionaire athletes who have it "so tough". You call me out, I call you out and here's one last for you on the way out. Don't let the door hit you.
Boo.
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