End?

Tonight the Red Sox could win their second World Championship in four years. For the legions of Boston fans who have lived and died by this team through the generations, it’s got to be mind-boggling. It is to me and I’ve only been seriously following their fortunes for the last decade.

It could all end tonight, and that’s damned melancholy. No more Ellsbury and Pedroia heroics. No more grinning Papi, loping Manny, howling Youkilis, bat-shit Tavarez, Riverdancing Papelbon or nails Lowell. It’s been a magical season all around. The Red Sox on top all season, battling it out at the end and close to winning it all. A really entertaining Cleveland club clawing their way to a near-win in the ALCS but ending up only with tears on the top step of the dugout. A Phillies team taking full advantage of a Mets collapse to scrap their way into a division win and a spot in the post-season for the first time in fourteen years.

What a year. What a game.

I can’t wait for next year.

But it ain’t time for valedictory speeches just yet. There’s still one more game to play high atop the Denver plateau. As Manny so wisely reminds us, ““We don’t want to eat the cake before your birthday.” — 10.27.07, Manny Ramirez, who we turn to for words of wisdom in times like these”

Once more now, with feeling:

@#$*! the Rockies!