Teams should keep their post-victory celebrations indoors

It is probably an understatement, but I’ll go ahead and say it anyway. No one is more delighted or satisfied that the Boston Red Sox have moved on in the postseason than I am.

No, I’m not one to take satisfaction from the recent demise of the New York Yankees. Unlike a lot of New York rooters, who seemingly get their jollies from Red Sox faux pas, I cheer for my team and let the opposition worry about itself.

I must admit, however, that recent post-victory celebrations by all winning teams in the major leagues deserve a cautionary word or two today.

When the Boston Red Sox clinched their division title recently, there was, as expected, a good deal of screaming and hollering in Boston. That’s understood. Heck, at my house, we danced and sang a little bit ourselves.

What I didn’t like was the players sharing champagne and beer with the two or three thousand fans remaining in the stands to celebrate with them when they came back onto the field to thank their loyal supporters.

Here’s why.

Among the throng were kids – underage kids – and when the booze began to spray out, many of those minors were swallowing what liquor was sprayed onto them.

Violation of the law? Certainly. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor? Absolutely. Charges filed? Hardly.

After all, the hometown team is a division champ.

With local police being soaked in booze, too, who among them would step up and arrest a local hero? If you answered “no one,” then you are correct.

Now, make no mistake about it: All victorious teams this fall will share in the so-called bubbly. And why not? Let’s face it. The professional baseball season is a long, tough grind. From February to October, these athletes are under the gun and the associated scrutiny of the media.

Letting off a little steam in the locker room or the clubhouse is one thing. Taking it out onto the field, a field which includes minors, is another matter entirely.

Party pooper, you’re calling me? Fine. I’ll live with it.

In a day and age when teenage – or younger – binge drinking is a nationwide problem, shouldn’t the Sox ownership step up and put a stop to on-the-field revelry?

To most kids, these great athletes are heroes.

I remember the first time I saw Carl Yastrzemski smoking a cigarette in the Red Sox dugout, I was blown away. Yaz, smoking? I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Admittedly, I didn’t run out and buy a pack of cigarettes.

The point is this: All this boozing and acting out sets a bad enough example. Let’s take the party back inside.

30-Second Time Out

I caught a Boston Celtics exhibition game from overseas on TV recently and came away thinking that the key to the upcoming season may boil down to one thing: ball distribution.

Yes, the team is talented – more talented, perhaps, than they have been in 20 years – but they will only be as good as they are getting the ball to the right guy at the right time, in the right spot.

Gosh, Kevin Garnett is good.

BDN columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net