Raleigh PR| Losses Add Up for Red Sox Fan

One Red Sox fan suffered more than just the loss of a World Series bid

For Red Sox fans, Sunday’s tragic loss to the Tampa Bay Rays put an end to a season and a damper on dreams of another World Series appearance.  As fans around the country accepted the loss with dignity and moved forward with high hopes for next year, one Triangle fan is no doubt still reeling from an unpleasant surprise he found upon returning home after the Oct. 14 game versus Tampa Bay. 

As featured in the Oct. 17 story in the News & Observer, Sean Bunn, Triangle local and undeniably one of the most popular members of Red Sox Nation, returned to a collection of Yankee-themed artwork displayed throughout the gallery of his own condominium.  No doubt, a bad day turned terribly worse for this Red Sox fan.  The vandals not only destroyed Bunn’s collection of Red Sox memorabilia, but proceeded with the rampage by stamping their Yankee pride on the furniture, cabinets, carpeting, and other miscellaneous fixtures in Bunn’s home.  The ensemble was completed with none other than the infamous Yankee pinstripes painted all over the walls.

So much for sportsmanship.  While the rivalry between New York and Boston is as old as the sport itself, the Yankees may be a bit reluctant to add charges of breaking and entering and destruction of property to their repertoire of tricks.  For fans of either side, one thing’s for sure, if you’re going to represent your team, you might want to get the facts straight first.  The vandal, or vandals, mistakenly spelled out the word “Yankes” several times around the condo and neglected to check the record book before painting the “26-3″ reference to the number of Yankees’ World Series championships relative to those won by the Red Sox. 

Bunn declined to speak publicly about the incident, a smart move, considering the potential for repeated attacks, or retaliation from angry Red Sox fans.  As for the New York Yankees, these are the very things that stir up controversy for an organization.  What better way to ruin your image than a couple of your own disgruntled fans?  In the spirit of America’s favorite pastime, take pride in your team, which ever side you choose, rather than adding criminal charges to your brand.  Although the incident is probably not the first of its kind, and may never make national headlines, the message serves as a clear reminder of how important it is to have the right people representing your organization.  Minor incidents, such as Bunn’s unfortunate experience, are just enough to sway the opinions of your major supporters.  For Boston and New York, the rivalry continues as fans turn to what’s ahead for next year.

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