Nineteen Runs

I took one for the team tonight.

As much as I would have liked to, I didn't watch the Red Sox-Yankees game, because unlike the first two games, I was apparently a jinx.

Consider the following scenario:

I'm watching TV, and all of a sudden, think, "I should turn on the game!" I flip over to Fox and it's the bottom of the second, Yankees up 3-2.

All of a sudden, it's tied 3-3.

The Yankees don't look like themselves; Derek Jeter can't make a hard play, bobbling the ball. Red Sox take their first lead in 20 innings, and are up 4-3.

NO WAY.

The Yankees were winning, despite giving up a home run. I turn on the game, then it's tied and then the Red Sox are winning? What kind of luck is that?

Bad luck, that's what.

Top of the third, Alex Rodriguez comes to the plate. We change the station, because I'm not willing to make the Yankees lose just because I want to watch the game.

I'm on the phone with my parents through all of this, and whaddya know, as soon as we change the channel, A-Rod homers.

What are the chances? Yankees are winning before I turn on the game. I start watching, and the game is tied and then Red Sox are winning. As soon as I turn it off, the Yankees score! Clearly, it's me.

And the Yankees keep scoring. But I refuse to turn the game back on. It's not my day to watch.

Flip through the channels in the bottom of the 3rd, and it's tied again. Iron Chef Cod Roe Battle it is!

A bit later, we flipped through really quickly and the score was 13-6 Yankees. I caught some of the local news on CBS and they mentioned that the score was 16-6. My dad calls me, and tells me that it's 17-6 and that the Red Sox could "never" score 11 runs now to make up the difference and that it's safe for me to watch.

I was reluctant, since despite the fact that 11 runs is a lot, I don't believe it's over until it's over. But it couldn't hurt to look, right?

I flip over to Fox, 17-6, bottom of the 7th. Jason Varitek hits a home run.

Ohmygoodness, I am not watching any more of this game! I refuse to jinx the Yankees like this!! The second time I turn on the game for any prolonged length of time (more than one pitch), the Red Sox score! No way. No more game. I'll watch the highlights.

My parents tried to convince me that I should watch, since after all, "there's only 9 more outs." Tell that to Mike Mussina... only 9 more outs and he still had a perfect game. (And I was so sad when he lost it! My poor favorite Yankee starting pitcher!)

I still haven't seen the highlights of the game yet. (ESPN has the Rockets game from China - go Yao Ming!) But I've read the box score and the articles. I'm fine with missing the game if that meant the Yankees didn't have to lose. I was the bad luck jinx for this Game 3; it would only help the Red Sox if I kept watching. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;-)