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Tales from the trip

Email|Link|Comments (12) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff October 4, 2008 03:20 PM

Peter King, in his weekly must-read "Monday Morning Quarterback" piece on SI.com, always includes an "Enjoyable/Aggravating Travel Note of the Week".

Taking the six-hour flight from Boston to Oakland on Friday night -- which thanks to Jet Blue's DirectTV setup meant that there was no missing any part of the Sox-Angels game -- offered up one of my own.

With the majority of televisions on the plane tuned to the Sox-Angels game, passengers roared every time the Sox had something going. When Dice K got into trouble in the fifth, and when the Angels tied it at 5 in the eighth, there was silence.

And that turbulence in the air?

That was just a result of most passengers jumping out of their seats -- fasten-seatbelt-sign be darned -- when J.D. Drew went yard in the ninth. The shaking returned when Jonathan Papelbon closed things out in the bottom of the frame.

Great stuff, all around.

It was like being in an airborne Red Sox dugout.

I've often wondered if such passion and intensity for sports teams exists in many other cities. Surely, Boston isn't alone in having a passionate sports following -- and the winning obviously helps -- but I imagine there probably aren't many cities that can match it.

From the perspective of a sportswriter, you want to write to people who care.

With that in mind, last night's trip provided yet another reminder to me why being a sportswriter in Boston is one of the greatest things going.

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12 comments so far...

Mike,

Great story. Thank God for JetBlue with the Directv so you all could watch the game

I live out here in The Bay Area and have to say you are right nobody can really match the intensity of Boston sports fans

Posted by reef October 4, 08 03:41 PM

Great story Mike and it's nice to hear it from one of the few sportswriters who still seems to appreciate how lucky he is to be doing what he's doing.

Posted by Matt H. October 4, 08 05:14 PM

What a fun experience! I am a boston fan as well as a buckeye and there are many similarities between the groups of fans. Not sure if its good that I am part of both but it sure is a lot of fun!

Posted by Jill October 4, 08 05:33 PM

That is so awesome! I'm glad you got to be a part of that.

Posted by TNTim October 4, 08 06:21 PM

Thanks alot Mike! I read your blog everyday and it makes me feel connected to everything patriots.

Keep up the excellent work!

Posted by Rocco October 4, 08 07:02 PM

Mike, this was the best line I have heard in some time.

"It was like being in an airborne Red Sox dugout."

Posted by Mike Allen October 4, 08 07:45 PM

Also, Mike, say your prayers and say "thank you" that you aren't part of the Phoenix Crew of Sportswriters. You would not be a happy camper.

Posted by Mike Allen October 4, 08 07:52 PM

Hi Mike. Your down to earth writing style has always attracted me to this blog. Its a refreshing change from the "holier than thou" old school sports writers. This is another great example. Its good to see you still have a real appreciation for your job and the sports team, or teams in this case, that you cover. Keep the good stuff coming!

Posted by Matt L. October 4, 08 09:06 PM

Mike, a big part of the reason is people like you... In the beginning there was McDonough, Gammons, Ryan, and they begot ....Dan and Jackie.... and they begot Mike and Chad.... This is an absolutely equal reason why people love their sports here so much.... because we always get the world's best coverage. Dan talked today about it being a forgone conclusion that The Sox will beat the Angels... that's the same way a reader looks at the Globe Sports.... It will always be the Champ. Let's hope that stays that way for another few generations.

That was just an incredible story, told very tightly... just another Reiss golden nugget. Cheers Mate!

Posted by stevefiji October 4, 08 11:00 PM

Great stuff Mike...you are certainly the #1 sports writer in Boston right now

Posted by Jonathan October 5, 08 12:29 AM

I flew on Jet Blue last year during the NE - Colts game. I was in the window seat and across the aisle was a Colt fan. The woman sitting between us was amused to no end.
I also had to fly during the Super Bowl in 2001. Now TV then but the pilot put the radio broadcast game over the headphones. Once more I was an object of attention for the crew. When they asked me how the game was I remember saying you can call the Patriots lucky but you also must call them Super Bowl champions too.

Posted by Onkel Bob October 5, 08 01:05 AM

Thanks for sharing, Mike. Sounds like great fun. And thank you for your solid, clear-eyed coverage of the Pats. You may feel privileged to cover Boston sports; Boston sports is lucky to have you.

Posted by duinne October 5, 08 09:40 AM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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