By Dave Mangene
Soccer and baseball are obviously very different games. But the history of two of my favorite teams, the Dutch National Soccer Team (known as Oranje) and the Boston Red Sox, are surpisingly similar. Here's why:
1. Both teams have suffered heart wrenching losses for many years.
The Dutch National Team is known around the world as a highly skilled and competent squad. They are respected by both fans and players alike. But despite making the finals of the World Cup in 1974, 1978, and 2010, they have never won soccer's biggest prize. Those losses have left their scars.
Boston's misery began after selling superstar Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919. Before that time, the Red Sox dominated baseball. After selling Ruth however, the Sox became cursed. It was as if the club was being punished for making such a grievous mistake. It became known as 'The Curse of the Bambino' and it lasted almost 90 years. The losing began as soon as Babe Ruth went to New York and it kept going and going and going until they finally reversed the curse in 2004 by winning the World Series.
During those many decades of heartbreaking losses, Red Sox fans learned to suffer. The team had many close calls, most notably in the World Series of 1986 (I'm not even gonna say his name), but just couldn't win the big one.
Until they finally did - in 2004. They won it again in 2007 and 2013. Having known the pain of loss, the Red Sox fans have learned to cherish the precious glory of victory. And now there's no going back.
2. Both teams come from 'small markets'.
Holland is Europe's 12th biggest country. Boston is America's 21st largest city. Despite having substantial budgets (the Red Sox have the 4th highest budget in baseball), both teams suffer from the Big Neighbor syndrome. The Dutch have the Germans. Boston has New York. Being the 'small' team/town can create an inferiority complex. It can give us a chip on our shoulders, and there's nothing that can be done to change it.
3. Both teams have very passionate fans.
Both the Oranje Legioen (Orange Legion) and Red Sox Nation are well organized, moneyed, and willing to travel. They follow the club with an almost religious devotion. As we speak, roughly 5000 Oranje fans, who have traveled thousands of miles, are currently following the club throughout Brazil to support Oranje.
4. Both are sometimes seen as arrogant.
If you ask people around America how they feel about Boston sports fans (not just Red Sox fans, but also Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and New England Patriots fans), they'll most likely say: "Boston fans are obnoxious!" There is truth in that stereotype. Boston fans can be very outspoken and loud, but they back it up by winning.
The Dutch have a reputation for 'Hollandse arrogantie' (Dutch arrogance). It's a kind of smugness mixed with a touch of superiority based on the elegant way they execute 'total football'. The same reputation is sometimes true of Dutch people in general, particularly if you ask the Belgians. Interestingly, Germans and New Yorkers rarely accuse us of being obnoxious and arrogant mostly because they are too busy ignoring us.
As the World Cup progresses into the next round, the Dutch team have played well and gone through. I can only hope that this is the year Oranje finds the same good fortune as the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and wins the big one for the first time. Either way, I'll be cheering till the final whistle.
~ DAVE
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