The Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry has helped to create a sports world where fans and players alike have developed a strong dislike for their opponents. In baseball, situations such as bench clearing brawls and retaliation exist on a regular basis. During the 2003 American League Championship Series between New York and Boston, viewers saw one of the worst bench clearing brawls of the year. Following Pedro Martinez's high and tight pitch to Jorge Posada, the two teams cleared the benches but order was restored soon after. A few innings later, the benches cleared again. This time a fight ensued. Punches were thrown. Players were ejected. But tension escalated when Pedro Martinez threw Yankees Bench Coach, Don Zimmer, to the ground. Zimmer, 73 years old, was visibly shaken and hurt by what had happened. Situations like this have become an important topic of discussion. Other problems that have developed include fans running out onto the field to fight players, and vice versa. Just recently, an all-out riot occurred at a Detroit Pistons basketball game after a fan tossed a drink onto a player. Security was unable to calm the situation, as fans and players exchanged punches.
Healthy rivalries can be very exciting for sports. But situations such as the ones that occurred in Detroit and Boston are hurtful to the environment surrounding professional sports.
The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees continues to remain strong. But the bench clearing brawls have marred the environment that the two teams are playing in. The problems will continue to escalate as long measures aren't taken to secure the playing facility for fans and players alike. Boston and New York fans have a deep disgust for one another and that can only lead to more situations like the one that occurred in Detroit.
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