Just a jersey

Monday was a day I never thought I would have to live through. I never ever thought I would be watching SportsCenter and see clips of the Boston Red Sox hanging a World Series Championship banner.

Not only did I have to swallow that pill but also they were celebrating their accomplishment in front of my Yankees. Yes, the Yankees are mine, regardless of what George Steinbrenner thinks.

Now, let me take off my hypothetical Yankees hat and address a larger issue.

After the clips of the game were over and done with, the shot went back to the studio where a debate ensued. A few men on the ESPN payroll had major issues with the fact that former Red Sox Derek Lowe and Dave Roberts donned Boston jerseys for the ceremony even though they are now members of the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, respectively.

As much as I dislike the man for getting the win in game seven against my Yankees in the American League Championship Series, the members of the Red Sox Nation love Lowe. As fans of a team, you love the players that bring your team glory, even if they aren't with your team now.

Bostonians even gave a standing O for Mariano Rivera Monday, saying thanks for blowing the game for the Yankees and giving the BoSox bragging rights.

Okay, I promise the Yankee hat is really off now. Well, for a little bit at least.

Now going back to my original point, I really doubt that those fans in Fenway Park had an issue with seeing Lowe in number 32 one last time. The man was a part of the team that got them a championship after 86 years. I can bet most of those fans will see Lowe as a part of the Red Sox for a long time to come.

Fans will remember the people that impacted their team in the biggest ways as a member of that team, regardless of whether they get traded.

For me, Bernie Kosar will always be a part of the Cleveland Browns. I don't care that he got traded to the Miami Dolphins.

David "Boomer" Wells will always be a New York Yankee to me, even if he's currently wearing a Boston jersey. Please, don't remind me.

Turner Battle, Mark Bortz, Daniel Gilbert and Jason Bird will always be number 11, 42, 31 and 1, respectively. I will have a hard time accepting any Bulls basketball jersey that has the same number but a different last name stitched above it.

It's just the way it is. It's part of a fan's passion.

And fans are what it's all about, right? Fans are the ones who fill the stands, buy the jerseys and cheer loud for their beloved players.

A great philosopher once said, "It's good for your soul, to be a part of something you can't control."

All right, I admit it. It wasn't a great philosopher. Heck, it wasn't even a philosopher at all. It was Jimmy Fallon as Ben, the fun-loving Boston Red Sox fan in "Fever Pitch."

Ben wasn't just a fan of the BoSox; he was a part of the Red Sox Nation. He attended spring training games, painted his face, had season tickets, and virtually planned his life around the team that he loved through thick and thin.

That group of people, diehard fans, is who should be considered when a debate of this matter is being held.

The ESPN guys, sitting in the studio in their suits, forgot about the people that suit up to watch their team day in and day out. I think it was outlandish to look at Lowe's attire for that one instant, that one moment, that one celebration and cause a furor.

He was wearing the jersey he wore when he helped to carry the team to a championship. He earned the ring he was there to receive and earned the right to wear the jersey he proudly wore during the series.

Who cares if he plays for the Dodgers now? He was a part of the 2004 World Series Championship team and the fans respect him for that. He deserved one last moment to shine in Fenway in front of the thousands of fans whose lives were greatly affected by his time on the mound.

Congratulations, to all the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox, including Lowe. To Lowe, thank you taking that jersey off after the ceremony, seeing as you are fortunately no longer a member of the Red Sox.