Red Sox Still Selling Disappointment

Certain sports teams seem to cloak themselves in the warm blanket of lovable losers. The Chicago Cubs own that brand, but the Boston Red Sox, despite winning two rings in the past decade, seem unable to let go of their comfortable woobie.

After reeling off 95 wins this season, their playoffs ended with a thud with a sweep at the hand of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Jonathan Papelbon, the Sons of Sam Horn's clown prince, raindanced away a 2-run lead in the deciding final game, giving up three runs in the ninth inning, and allowing the Angels to advance to the AL Championship Series.

While winning can fill a bandwagon, in some cases, like Red Sox Nation, losing can become a brand all its own. Despite having gone 101 years with no World Series win, and having the chance at one ruined in epic fashion, the Cubs still pack 'em in, with the sixth highest attendance in baseball last year. The Sox don't trail far behind, at eighth. Why do people keep coming back to have their hearts broken?Continue reading...