Stan Grossfeld in this morning's Globe:

Birth of a new Nation; Nine months after World Series win, newest Sox fans are coming to life


When Jason Varitek leaped into Keith Foulke's arms Oct. 27, 2004, they weren't the only ones embracing on that glorious night across Red Sox Nation.

Back in Boston, Dr. Robyn Riseberg and her husband, Doug, had a couple of beers, decided the stars were aligned, and celebrated the World Series championship in their own way. ''I will not refute that," said Riseberg, blushing slightly.

Now, there's living proof.

Pretty funny article. My wife was actually seven months pregnant when the sox won it all. I had almost convinced her that Damon would be a solid name for a boy (she ruled out Manny and Pedro pretty quickly). However, when the little bugger came out in December, my would be Damon turned out to be a girl so I was out of luck.

Thankfully I wasn't knocking anyone up.. My gf at the time was a Yankee fan...and I was far too drunk to do anything but keep drinking..

Well you could have gone with Reese, Embree, Belli, Minky, Elly, or Kim.

I was in a state of utter shock after the win - my wife could have walked in the room wearing only her smile, and I probably wouldn't have noticed ...

... well, maybe not ...

... but I definitely would have turned the TV back on after we were done.

JD

Or Roberta.

I was by myself in a hotel room in Cleveland, crying for joy . At least friends and family kept calling so we could savor the moment together.

I actually called my wife prior to the final out and had her wake up our kids (6 and 5, at the time) and put them in front of the TV to witness history in the making.

I so wish I could have been with them that night.

Where were you back in December??? I'm sure my wife is happy I didn't come up with any of these ideas then.

Thats how I celebrated...I mean...uh...

I hadn't shaved since the start of the playoffs, and I hadn't changed my undershorts since before ALCS Game 4. Coming within 10 feet of my groinal region would have been a task that made the producers of "Fear Factor" shudder. Needless to say, my wife was not interested in sex on the night of WS Game 4. And honestly, neither was I.

And to think, I wasted that night just enjoying champagne toasts with some friends.....

What was I doing the night the sox took it all???...

Well, let me first state that i always thought the day the sox won the series would be one of the best days of my life. I figured i'd cry with joy and be surrounded by my bestest buddies having a few victory beers. But this wasn't the case at all.

For you see I have spent the first 20 years of my life living in new england always close by to the sox and the frenzy that surrounded them. However, this past fall I moved out here to North Dakota to go to college. As the sox surged in late august and early september i knew it would be hard for me to watch them make their run with no one around here to celebrate with.(people out here would much rather talk about hunting or hockey-- for petes sake). And as the red sox marched on through the alds and alcs i had an joyous yet emptyfeeling

Of course i kept in touch with my parents but it just wasn't the same. Being so far away from home I just had to do something to reconnect with the MY SOX. So after the sox clinched the AL pennant i got a crazy idea and decided to buy a round trip airfare from minneapolis to St. Louis(non-refundable) and a standing room ticket to game 5 of the world series. Being on a college budget i couldn't really afford this, but i mean how often will i get a chance to see the sox take the series in my lifetime. And naturally i thought to myself there was going to be a 5th game. what were the chances there would be a sweep??

So the sox took games 1 + 2 at fenway and of course i was in total excitement, until it dawned on me..... The Red Sox are going to have to lose a game for me to see game 5!! What do i do?? - Do i dare wish the sox lose? - I was in a moral dilema. The Sox won game 3.

Wednesday, October 27th 2004 was a beutiful day here in Grand Forks. It was a cool crisp autumn day with a high bright blue sky- you know the kind i'm talking about. However, i felt miserable because you see, I knew that either the sox would win the world series that night or i would get a chance to see them win it in person tomorrow night at busch stadium.

Watching game 4 was a bitter sweet moment. Sure i was happy the sox won. But i wish i was home to enjoy the moment and I really wish i was there to see it happen in person. I'm sure there must have been many other people sox fans in similar situations.

I think deep down inside i was hoping the team would lose that night. I mean what would you want if you were in my situation? I know it sounds just awful.

So instead of enjoying the moment with a bunch of frenzied sox fans i watched the sox win it in my dorm room all alone, no beer.

Yup - October 27th 2004 wasn't the best day of my life, just really ok

I honestly believe that if the sox ever win it back again while i'm back home, that that championship I will enjoy it so much more.

- that doesn't make me any less of a fan does it?