The Fall Classic

Amazing. Probably the most important sporting event I'll ever be lucky enough to attend. The only thing better than the clinching game of the World Series is the Superbowl - and since tickets start at $3000 for Superbowl tix, the Fall Classic will be it for me. Growing up a Red Sox fan and going to games at Fenway for the past 25 years, it was numbing to watch the Sox clinch game 4 against the Rockies. I went wearing my Rockies cap but there's no way I can root against the Red Sox. I basically just saw the clinching game of the world series between my favorite two teams, and it was amazing. We made it over to the Pour House, a Red Sox bar (the owners are from Boston) a few blocks from Coors Field, after the game. The place was packed with Sox jersey's and Red Sox chants, and a couple of knuckleheads started a Rockies Suck chant only to be told to shut up by a few other Sox fans. It's just not the same when you're the favorite and you're chanting against the underdog - its hard for some of these Sox fans to be gracious in victory after finding it impossible to be gracious in defeat (Yankees Suck, anyone?). Still, the Sox are clearly the most dominant team in the MLB and will continue to be for many years. How about the Boston sports dynasty - Sox, Pats, Celtics, even Boston College is undefeated and ranked #2 in the BCS standings after a Flutie-esque win against Virginia Tech on Thursday night. We are living in the Golden Age of Boston Sports. Figures it happens two years after I move to Colorado. So here are a few pics from Game 4 of the World Series:

Dave, Ben, and I arrive at the game about an hour before the first pitch.

Blake Street, outside of Coors Field, before the game.

The scoreboard - with the Rocky Mountains in the background.

The largest American flag I have ever seen during the Star Spangled Banner.

Fireworks and balloons are released after the fly-over at the end of the Star Spangled Banner.

The Rockies take the field for the first time.

The first pitch.

Bottom of the ninth, down 4-3, two outs, 2 and 2 count, Seth Smith facing Jonathan Papelbon.

The Sox celebrate after Seth Smith strikes out for the final out of the 2007 season.

As Ben said, there are probably only a 100,000 people or so who can say they've seen the Sox clinch the World Series in person.

Congratulations 2007 Boston Red Sox.

Sox fans crowd around the Red Sox dugout after the game.

The World Series Trophy (Commissioner's Trophy) being held by an unidentified Red Sox player. (To the left of the glare, next to the green and white sign being held by a fan.)