Nomar receives standing O in Fenway return

July 7, 11:53 AMBoston Red Sox ExaminerEric Dorval

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 Red Sox Nation greet Nomar with the warm ovation he deserves.

With two World Series rings, three Lombardi Trophies, and an NBA Championship in recent years, it’s easy to forget what life was like prior to 2000.  Back then, the Boston sports scene was much different.

In 1999, Boston wasn’t the city of champions.  Rick Pitino was ruining (sorry, running) the Celtics - “Vitaly Potapenko’s not walking through that door.”  The Boston Bruins traded away icon Ray Bourque, because he would never win a Cup in Boston.  As for the Patriots, they were in the final year of the brief Pete Carroll era.  Ugh.

It was a different time.  It was really a swing time.  Two decades of pain were ending and dynasties were about to be born.  At this time the Red Sox were really the only game in town.  In 1999 Pedro won the Cy Young Award and the All-Star game was at Fenway Park.  And there was nothing more Boston than walking down the street and hearing someone scream, “NOMAR!!!”

Nomar!  Talk about a name built for Boston.  Nomar was big.  Kids used to imitate his at-bat ritual.  (Admit it, you enjoyed it at the time.)  He wasn’t a great defensive shortstop, but he was good for the occasional great play in the hole.  You know, when he would backhand a ball and then make that 180-degree jump, delivering a throw to first that barely beat the runner..

Did SI jinx Nomar? He has not been the same since he appeared on the magazine's cover in 2001.

He was flashy.  He would take fifteen seconds between each pitch.  He would boot routine ground balls.  He would swing at awful pitches and somehow drive them off the Green Monster.  That was just his game.

Nomar was a part of Boston.  From 1997 to 2000, Nomar averaged .340 BA, 28 HR, and 105 RBI per season.  While he did not walk a lot, his on-base percentage was over .400 in both 1999 and 2000.  He did have his shortcomings defensively, but he made up for it by being a terrific offensive shortstop.

For full disclosure, I must admit that I was not sad to see Nomar traded.  He had recently turned down a contract worth $60 million over 4 years.  If I were him, I would have taken that offer.  However, Nomar obviously thought he was worth more money.  I cannot fault him for that.  If you don’t get mad at Bill Belichick for low-balling players, then you cannot blame a guy like Nomar for trying to get all he can.  How many times have we heard the cliché: sports are a business.

Last night Garciaparra made his first appearance at Fenway Park wearing an away jersey.  Before his first at-bat, the Red Sox faithful gave him an extended standing ovation.  I’m glad.  If I were in attendance I would have stood and cheered as well.  Nomar had his quirks and defensive gaffes, but he always played hard for the Sox.  Sure it was maddening to see him swing at a pitch in the dirt, but it was also easy to root for him.

In the late 90’s there was no Manny.  No Big Papi.  No Theo Epstein.  Think about it, how many Red Sox memories do you have from the late 90’s that don’t involve either Nomar or Pedro?