Everyone remembers last year's American League Championship Series.
With five outs remaining, the Boston Red Sox led by three runs. An inning-and-a-half later, New York was rejoicing, and for the 85th time, Boston was lamenting.
The Red Sox still remember it. Fans definitely still remember it. Don Zimmer, the dinosaur Joe Torre called his right-hand man, remembers it even after Pedro Martinez's haymaker dropped the old butterball like a Cadillac Escalade with a chromed-out nose.
Eighteen presidencies since their last World Series win, the Red Sox are led by two of the best pitchers in baseball with Martinez and Curt Schilling.
Schilling's 21-6 regular-season record has everyone in Boston dancing a jig. While Martinez didn't have the regular season he's used to, he's still one of the most dominant postseason pitchers in this era.
We'll also forget that he said the "Yankees are my daddy," after two regular-season losses in which New York produced more runs than Exlax.
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The Yankees are without the services of Roger Clemens, David Wells or Andy Pettite this year. They've been replaced by Jon Lieber, Javier Vasquez and Kevin Brown, to complement Mike Mussina.
Brown moves like an armadillo with rheumatoid arthritis and was recently activated from the 15-day disabled list a month after breaking his hand by punching a clubhouse wall. Who would have thought there was concrete behind those things?
Vasquez gets hammered more than binge drinkers, as his 9.00 ERA this postseason can attest.
The Sox are led in the hitting department by the triumvirate of Johnny Damon, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Ortiz and Ramirez produced 84 home runs and 269 RBI between the two of them - way more than any one-two punch for the Yankees. Damon, convinced this year that long hair really does make you look younger, batted .304 and added 94 RBI and 20 home runs to the potent Boston offense.
The Yankees have heartthrobs Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, but look at the stats this year and those guys aren't anything more than pretty faces. Jeter and A-Rod's combined productivity: 59 home runs and 184 RBI. Gary Sheffield, who really does play baseball for the love of the game and not for whichever team will pay him the most money, jacked 36 home runs, 121 RBI and batted .290. But I'm sure he would have to refer to his spokesperson when asked what team he plays for.
The Red Sox look better on paper for the first time in the rivalry, and the Yankees are without the most-hated man in Boston, Aaron Boone.
In a series so incendiary Smokey the Bear should be present, let's all hope the 86-year jinx is lifted. Let's hope the Red Sox give the city of Boston this chance to rub it in New York's face.
