In truth, it was an F-16 F-Up. The now-grounded-for-retraining pilot did it to slow down after zooming in to catch-up to the other F-16s in formation. The problem with the showy stunt? He was flying at an altitude too low for the maneuver (1,100 versus the 5,000 deemed appropriate).

And do you know who’s fault it is? Think about who was in the park to throw out the first pitch.

That’s right, we’re blaming it on Bill Buckner. Who else?

Post from: EveryJoe

F-16 Pilot Does a Mid-Air Oops Over Fenway Park When Bill Buckner was There. Coincidence or Jinx?

Earlier we mentioned Bill Buckner’s who-would-have-guessed-it-before-2004 return to Fenway Park yesterday. And, as this article mentions, Billy Boy was verklempt upon being received so kindly. But the article also highlights some of baseball’s greatest Buckner-esque gaffes. Check it out if you want to engage in schadenfreude (joy through other people’s misery) or relive the all-too-well-remembered pain, depending on your disposition. (Any guesses as to which category we belong?)

P.S. Thanks for sending this, Pat!

Post from: EveryJoe

Wait a Minute, We Thought There Was No Crying in Baseball . . .

1. You think Red Sox Nation was so blinded by the World Series ring ceremony as to overlook the team’s 3-4 record going into yesterday’s game? Hardly. In typical Sox fan fashion, many of us grumbled about how “they’d better win.” (Never mind their hectic schedule thus far!)

2. Fans were also complaining—as we do every year—about the 2:05p.m. start time for the opening game at Fenway Park. Hey Front Office, most of us have this thing called “work” at that time of day. (Luckily, most of us have this thing called “internet access” and/or “bosses and co-workers who are Sox fans and will give us score updates.” But still).

3. Bill Buckner’s missed grounder in the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets was the blunder of the century to Sox fans, who mercilessly blamed him for the ‘86 loss (begrudging admissions that it wasn’t the sole “cause” notwithstanding). Apparently all was not forgiven after the 2004 win, because only in Beantown would we wait until TWO titles were under the belt before making amends with Buckner.

Even so, the happy ending is nice. Did anyone ever think they’d see him throw out the first pitch on opening day?

4. Following the 5-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers, the prevailing sentiment among many fans was . “Phew! It’s about time they won. One would hope they could notch a W over a team that has yet to win in 2008.”

Welcome to baseball season in Boston.

Post from: EveryJoe

Four “Only in Boston” Observations on Opening Day at Fenway