This century has seen a drastic reversal of the Red Sox and Yankees' fortunes, but the draw of the teams' storied rivalry is still as strong as ever. Although small-market fans across the country will express derision or disinterest at the meeting of the powerhouses, chances are they will still tune in to tonight's series opener, writes Boston Herald columnist Steve Buckley.
The departure of Joe Torre hasn't quelled the fire between the two fan bases, and this is one rift time is unlikely to heal. “This rivalry is going to continue for a lifetime, unless both cities decide that they hate baseball,” says Sox catcher Jason Varitek. If past trends hold, there will be plenty of drama, if not some scuffles, tonight. (More baseball stories.)