Fans deride Hank’s ‘delusions of grandeur’

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1077336

Fans deride Hank’s ‘delusions of grandeur’
By Mike Underwood
Monday, March 3, 2008
Boston Red Sox

New York Yankees chief Hank Steinbrenner may have thought he’d have the Fenway Faithful seeing red over his scathing verbal attack on Red Sox [team stats] Nation this weekend, but instead they were laughing off his “jealous” remarks, following the lead of Sox principal owner John Henry.

“I think he is jealous,” said 21-year-old Ken Belanger of Columbus Avenue in Boston. “The Yankees aren’t doing as well as they were, while the Sox are finally where they want to be.”

Steinbrenner unleashed a tirade of trash-talking in an interview with the New York Times [NYT]’ Play magazine.

“Red Sox Nation? What a bunch of (expletive) that is,” he ranted. “Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets.”

Henry responded by sending Steinbrenner an official Red Sox Nation membership card.

The hoopla had Sox fans laughing across Fenway bars and restaurants yesterday.

“It isn’t Yankee country anymore,” said a smiling Jorge Padilla, 24, a former MIT student from El Paso, Texas, back in Boston for a reunion. “I see far more Red Sox stickers, hats and uniforms in El Paso.”

Other fans simply shook their heads in disbelief and smiled.

“I completely disagree with him,” said Miguel Amaya, 24, who was an MIT student when the Sox captured the 2004 crown. “I live in San Diego at the moment and I see Red Sox fans everywhere, especially since they pulled off the two World Series wins. I think they should start winning before they open their mouths.”

Still, not everyone was laughing.

“His comments were unnecessary,” said Mark Kaczorowski, manager of the Red Sox’ official souvenir store in the shadow of Fenway Park [map]. “I think he has delusions of grandeur.”