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A night of bliss: they're paying me for this? The Red Sox win, and I'm there

Sporting News, The, Nov 8, 2004 by Chris Bahr

Let me--a lifelong Red Sox fan born and raised in St. Louis (long story)--get this straight. I get to cover Game 4 of the World Series while I tag along with an MLB film crew? Eat your heart out, Ray Kinsella.

As I approach the Busch Stadium press gate, Red Sox G.M. Theo Epstein walks right past me. Theo and I are the same age, though only one of us has a Nomar Garciaparra trade on his resume.

You'd be amazed at the amount of behind-the-scenes work involved--and the stuff you see in the clubhouse tunnels. A flower arrangement with red and white balloons arrives for someone on the Red Sox (from Bill Buckner?), Joe Buck and Tim McCarver scout the area, and something is carted through under the secrecy of a large white sheet. "The World Series trophy," someone speculates. Dear Lord, I pray, please let it be 29-inch good-luck charm Nelson de la Rosa.

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Other amazing revelations: Red Sox zillionaire owner John Henry and I possibly share the same oxygen as he walks by, Bronson Arroyo's hair looks even sillier in person, the champagne (about 20 cases) arrives at 6 p.m., and Lou Brock hangs around in full uniform as he prepares to throw out the first pitch. Hank Aaron and Bud Selig walk side by side (Aaron hasn't looked this uncomfortable since those yahoos ran the bases with him when he passed the Babe). And I swear I hear "Big Pimpin'" playing as Pedro Martinez and his hair stroll in. Perhaps the music was from Manny Ramirez's iPod, which Julian Tavarez is examining in the Cardinals' tunnel.

The MLB crew has set up an interview room in a radio station's stadium office (they used a laundry room at Fenway), and I squeeze into a corner as Pedro, Alan Embree and David Ortiz do separate Q&A sessions. Three things stick with me: Embree actually uses the phrase "a winter of bliss" to describe a possible World Series title, Pedro genuinely is enamored of Boston fans but obviously is leaving the Red Sox, and the chain on Ortiz's neck weighs more than Pokey Reese.

I roam the stadium during the game with MLB programming specialist Jon O'Sheal, cameraman James Potocki and usher John Hall. Even the most levelheaded person on the planet instantly is transformed into a soccer hooligan once you point a TV camera at him/her.

Twenty minutes after the final out, I'm standing on the field in the midst of absolute madness. Players are kissing the turf, credentialed reporters are crying, fans are holding the trophy, and Jimmy Fallon is chatting with me. I mention that thousands of Boston fans are chanting, "Thank you, Red Sox!" and Pokey turns to me and calls them the best fans in the world.

Ortiz, Pedro and Curt Schilling are filming a Disney commercial 5 feet from me on the mound. How the hell could Disney World top this?

A night of bliss: they're paying me for this? The Red Sox win, and I'm there

Sporting News, The, Nov 8, 2004 by Chris Bahr

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