Thorp and Sailor's Grave Board

Fuck the Red Sox! Fuck the Air Force! Fuck the Government! and Fuck Taxes!

XHonusWagnerX - 4-8-2008 at 10:41 AM

FENWAY OPENER 2008
Air Force cutback still allows roaring fly-by at game today
By David Abel, Globe Staff | April 8, 2008

When Lieutenant Colonel Dave Smith leads a squadron of four F-16s from Burlington, Vt., to Fenway Park this afternoon, the fighters will circle over Cambridge, dropping to 1,000 feet and screaming over the baseball field at about 350 miles per hour as the final note of the national anthem ends.

The round-trip journey, which will cost taxpayers about $100,000 for fuel alone, has become as much of a tradition as the ceremonial pitch on Opening Day.

In fact, it can seem there's hardly an event without a flyover these days. The roar of jet engines is heard at everything from Major League Baseball games to NASCAR races to town fairs and community parades. With requests for flyovers rocketing nationwide - to 3,623 last year, a 37 percent jump from the previous year - the Air Force says it is cutting back.

Instead of providing flyovers at 108 NASCAR races, as they did four years ago, Air Force officials this year approved 38. Some National Football League teams used to have flyovers at every home game; now they're limited to four flyovers a season. And Major League Baseball teams are also now limited to four flyovers a year: for the season opener, the first games of the playoffs, and the World Series.

Last year, the Air Force approved 843 flyovers, down from 1,009 in 2006.

"The large increase in the number of requests has made it more difficult to consistently support the many different kinds of eligible events for flyovers," said Pamela Friend, a spokeswoman for the aviation support program in the Air Force, which no longer allows flyovers at high schools and elementary schools, nonmilitary graduation ceremonies, and other events deemed unlikely to boost recruitment.

The number of flyover requests has risen as the price of jet fuel soars and the military struggles to cope with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Air Force this year had to cut its training hours by 10 percent.

Friend and others said the ubiquity of flyovers led more people to request them. "Flyovers are being broadcasted on television, newspapers are writing about them, and towns are watching what others with similar events are doing," Friend said.

Red Sox officials said they have sought flyovers for every season opener since 2002, after new ownership took over and the attacks on Sept. 11 sparked a national surge of patriotism. Last year, the team had flyovers in the opening playoff games and at the opening game of the World Series.

"It energizes the crowd and thrills our players," Sarah McKenna, a Red Sox vice president for fan services and entertainment, said in a statement. "The inclusion of a flyover during the celebration of some of the Red Sox's greatest moments also provides our fans and us with an opportunity to appropriately salute our men and women in uniform."

There's another benefit for the Red Sox and others who request flyovers: Taxpayers pick up the tab.

The Air Force accounts for the flyovers as training missions and says they benefit recruitment efforts. In return for flyovers, recruiters usually get a place at events to set up a table and distribute literature.

"We don't just do a fly-by and call it a day," said Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd Goodrow, a spokesman for the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th fighter wing, which will fly over Fenway today. "We have an extensive training plan during the day. The pilots have in-air training objectives. We don't just generate flights for flyovers."

But the flight over Fenway is a coveted mission. The Burlington-based 158th fighter wing, known as the Green Mountain Boys, now competes for the job every year against vying wings from the Otis Air National Guard in Falmouth, the Barnes Air National Guard in Westfield, and the Connecticut Air National Guard. On March 6, when the Red Sox asked the Air Force for a flyover, the Vermont Air National Guard volunteered for the job on the same day.

Goodrow said his wing has an edge, because its fighters did the flyovers in 2004 and 2007, when the Red Sox won the World Series. Aside from bragging rights and media exposure, there's another perk: The pilots, who land at Hanscom Air Force Base after the flyover, are escorted back to Fenway to watch the game.

For Smith, a lifelong Red Sox fan, the flyover is an honor.
"Being able to represent our military in the opening game is pretty awesome," he said.

He isn't concerned that the journey from Burlington to Boston will cost about $32,000 an hour in fuel and requires special arrangements with the Federal Aviation Administration. He said the money is being spent on training, and he compared the flyover to a bombing mission.

For the flyover to succeed, to come just as the national anthem ends, he and his pilots have a window of about three seconds.

They must rely on a military ground controller inside Fenway, who will radio them when the anthem starts. Then they will set their "Time Over Target" computers for 80 seconds, the normal length of the anthem, descend from about 10,000 feet over the Cambridge area, and fly in at half the speed of sound.

"The pressure of hitting a window like this is more than in combat, because you have to be perfect," Smith said. "We can't be too late or too early."

JawnDiablo - 4-8-2008 at 12:52 PM

Red Sox fans irritate me........

chris - 4-8-2008 at 01:58 PM

I just watched them go by at work and I was pretty entertained, not sure if it was worth $100,000, but it was pretty cool to see 4 F-18's in formation.

XnMeX - 4-8-2008 at 02:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by juandiablo
Red Sox fans irritate me........



A little image I made a while ago that express my feelings towards the "HAHDCORE REDSOX FANS".

DeathByForce - 4-8-2008 at 02:01 PM

You wanna talk annoying fans? You should see Toronto Maple Leaf fans. I was at the Sox series in Toronto this weekend and there's a whole bunch of transport Leaf fans cheering for the Jays now.

XHonusWagnerX - 4-8-2008 at 02:36 PM

I think that most SERIOUS Sports Fans are just fucking tools!

I think it takes a real idiot to get so involved that watching grown men playing a game and getting paid millions of dollars to do it. Im talking about the people that....

own every jersey, in every color, with every number.

Have collected all the variations of the Tom Brady Bobble-Head doll.

watch EVERY game on TV and have to blast the game on the radio if they are at work.

when someone asks what time the game is on they say "WE'RE playing at 1:00". Oh... I didnt know you were on the team too.

Anyone willing to goto more than one game per year when the fucking tickets are over a hundred bucks!

and so on... and so on.... and so on.....

chris - 4-8-2008 at 02:55 PM

I'm a huge baseball and hockey fan, love both sports, but I see your points. Anyone that says we in refernece to their favorite team is an idiot. The Bruins playoffs this year is the first time I've ever bought tickets for more than or even anywhere near $100. I try to scoop up cheap standing room only tickets to the redsox as they get relased during the year and usually manage to go to a bunch of games on the cheap. I also almost never get beers at sporting events its just too expensive. I had bruins half season tickets for the last few years but couldn't afford them this year, so I splurged on expensive playoff tickets 4 rows from the ice.

Siczine.com - 4-8-2008 at 02:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
I think that most SERIOUS Sports Fans are just fucking tools!

I think it takes a real idiot to get so involved that watching grown men playing a game and getting paid millions of dollars to do it. Im talking about the people that....

own every jersey, in every color, with every number.

Have collected all the variations of the Tom Brady Bobble-Head doll.

watch EVERY game on TV and have to blast the game on the radio if they are at work.

when someone asks what time the game is on they say "WE'RE playing at 1:00". Oh... I didnt know you were on the team too.

Anyone willing to goto more than one game per year when the fucking tickets are over a hundred bucks!

and so on... and so on.... and so on.....


I watch every Philly team I can when I can but hey to each their own. Some people like to buy sports collectibles, others like to buy 30 different versions of the same record.

Siczine.com - 4-8-2008 at 02:56 PM

Oh and fuck Boston in general.

newbreedbrian - 4-8-2008 at 03:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX


when someone asks what time the game is on they say "WE'RE playing at 1:00". Oh... I didnt know you were on the team too.



yup.

JawnDiablo - 4-8-2008 at 03:53 PM

going to a Phillies game Saturday night.
Cubs are in town.
god when i had season Phils tix a few years ago there were so many Baaaaahston fans there i thought i was at Fenway.

upyerbum - 4-8-2008 at 05:07 PM

I like Boston, baseball is the gayest sport in the world though.

XHonusWagnerX - 4-8-2008 at 05:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com


I watch every Philly team I can when I can but hey to each their own. Some people like to buy sports collectibles, others like to buy 30 different versions of the same record.



Guess the difference to me is that I dont run through the streets screaming that WE are the best band ever because I bought some records. It seems like Mass & NY sports fans do things like that.

What I was was relaly judgemental on just the fans and what I really think is that the country as a whole is just to obsessed with the games. I mean why should the government be involved at all? Its a private industry! Why wont the air force do a fly by my house just because I would like to see the planes?

Siczine.com - 4-8-2008 at 05:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com


I watch every Philly team I can when I can but hey to each their own. Some people like to buy sports collectibles, others like to buy 30 different versions of the same record.



Guess the difference to me is that I dont run through the streets screaming that WE are the best band ever because I bought some records. It seems like Mass & NY sports fans do things like that.

What I was was relaly judgemental on just the fans and what I really think is that the country as a whole is just to obsessed with the games. I mean why should the government be involved at all? Its a private industry! Why wont the air force do a fly by my house just because I would like to see the planes?


I'm not going to disagree that the government should have nothing to do with sports...and it is retarded that they flush millions of dollars down the toilet for something so stupid.

"It seems like Mass & NY sports fans do things like that."

If Philly won any championship, especially a Super Bowl, we'd be doing the same, myself included haha. I loved playing sports when I was a kid, and still do and I've been watching sports since I was a kid so sports are a big part of my life.

XHonusWagnerX - 4-8-2008 at 05:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com

If Philly won any championship, especially a Super Bowl, we'd be doing the same, myself included haha. I loved playing sports when I was a kid, and still do and I've been watching sports since I was a kid so sports are a big part of my life.


to each their own, thats just something I cant relate to. I like sports, dont get me wrong... I just dont understand getting that excited over something that really has nothing to do with you and doesnt effect your life at all.

Furly - 4-8-2008 at 06:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
I just dont understand getting that excited over something that really has nothing to do with you and doesnt effect your life at all.


like Bettlejuice and Leatherface?

:saint:

defstarsteve - 4-8-2008 at 06:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XnMeX
Quote:
Originally posted by juandiablo
Red Sox fans irritate me........



A little image I made a while ago that express my feelings towards the "HAHDCORE REDSOX FANS".


could also read boston
sucks cox

and could also have said cox added to the pic cuming in from the side

photoshop a haters best friend

Siczine.com - 4-8-2008 at 06:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com

If Philly won any championship, especially a Super Bowl, we'd be doing the same, myself included haha. I loved playing sports when I was a kid, and still do and I've been watching sports since I was a kid so sports are a big part of my life.


to each their own, thats just something I cant relate to. I like sports, dont get me wrong... I just dont understand getting that excited over something that really has nothing to do with you and doesnt effect your life at all.


That's like saying why get excited over your favorite band coming to play your town or releasing a new record.

JawnDiablo - 4-8-2008 at 06:45 PM

I'd love to see Philadelphia win the World Sereis.....

XHonusWagnerX - 4-8-2008 at 06:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com
Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com

If Philly won any championship, especially a Super Bowl, we'd be doing the same, myself included haha. I loved playing sports when I was a kid, and still do and I've been watching sports since I was a kid so sports are a big part of my life.


to each their own, thats just something I cant relate to. I like sports, dont get me wrong... I just dont understand getting that excited over something that really has nothing to do with you and doesnt effect your life at all.


That's like saying why get excited over your favorite band coming to play your town or releasing a new record.


no its not because if my favorite band is coming (or even taking me on tour) I go "yeah.. thats awesome". I dont go out and take over a city screaming to everyone that cares or not about how excited I am.

Siczine.com - 4-8-2008 at 07:01 PM

I wasn't talking about going and rioting just the part about how you said your local team winning has nothing to do with your life or doesn't affect your life at all. I don't know after the Eagles win, my Sunday is a lot better. Sports teams have a lot to do with city morale, thats why cities pour in millions of dollars for the building of arenas and sports complexes.
And when you live in a city where 20% of the population are at or below the poverty line, little things like your team winning mean a lot. But I guess if you live in rich, white suburban area its hard to understand that.

clevohardcore - 4-8-2008 at 07:08 PM

I'm a fan of BASEBALL. Always have been.

upyerbum - 4-8-2008 at 07:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com
when you live in a city where 20% of the population are at or below the poverty line, little things like your team winning mean a lot.


Or your favourite gladiator, for instance....bread not circuses, just sayin'.:saint:

XHonusWagnerX - 4-8-2008 at 07:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com

And when you live in a city where 20% of the population are at or below the poverty line, little things like your team winning mean a lot. But I guess if you live in rich, white suburban area its hard to understand that.


I dont live in a rich area at all and I am far from rich which is another reason that sports piss me off. Even if I DID want to goto a game, I would be lucky if I could afoard to go. What if its a family that really wants to goto Fenway Park for a game. With tickets, parking, food and maybe a program they would be lucky if it wasnt a $300+ night out. What familys can aforad that? Not mine!

I guess Im wrong, but i would think that more working class people would resent the whole thing.

Siczine.com - 4-8-2008 at 07:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com

And when you live in a city where 20% of the population are at or below the poverty line, little things like your team winning mean a lot. But I guess if you live in rich, white suburban area its hard to understand that.


I dont live in a rich area at all and I am far from rich which is another reason that sports piss me off. Even if I DID want to goto a game, I would be lucky if I could afoard to go. What if its a family that really wants to goto Fenway Park for a game. With tickets, parking, food and maybe a program they would be lucky if it wasnt a $300+ night out. What familys can aforad that? Not mine!

I guess Im wrong, but i would think that more working class people would resent the whole thing.


Fenway Park must be a lot more expensive than Citizens Bank Park, a family of four can get tickets for less $60 unless you want to have lower level seats that is. And with that said, most working class families either go to games when their bosses give them tickets or maybe once or twice a year because they can't afford to go on vacation. Shit I'm lucky if I make it to 3 Phillies games a year and usually when I do go it's free tickets.
And you don't have to go to a game to be a fan, I've never been to an Eagles game yet I follow them like crazy.

XHonusWagnerX - 4-8-2008 at 07:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com
Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com

And when you live in a city where 20% of the population are at or below the poverty line, little things like your team winning mean a lot. But I guess if you live in rich, white suburban area its hard to understand that.


I dont live in a rich area at all and I am far from rich which is another reason that sports piss me off. Even if I DID want to goto a game, I would be lucky if I could afoard to go. What if its a family that really wants to goto Fenway Park for a game. With tickets, parking, food and maybe a program they would be lucky if it wasnt a $300+ night out. What familys can aforad that? Not mine!

I guess Im wrong, but i would think that more working class people would resent the whole thing.


Fenway Park must be a lot more expensive than Citizens Bank Park, a family of four can get tickets for less $60 unless you want to have lower level seats that is. And with that said, most working class families either go to games when their bosses give them tickets or maybe once or twice a year because they can't afford to go on vacation. Shit I'm lucky if I make it to 3 Phillies games a year and usually when I do go it's free tickets.
And you don't have to go to a game to be a fan, I've never been to an Eagles game yet I follow them like crazy.


Fenway is the most expensive park in MLB.

We just see things differently and thats cool. Sorry if what I said sounded totally obnoxious. I know it probably came off that way.

barc0debaby - 4-8-2008 at 07:42 PM

The Louis vs Schmeling fight is a perfect example of the "we won" mentality and how important athletes can be to the working class. I see no problem with saying we are playing or we won because without US those times are nothing. Regardless of how distant it may be people still have an emotional and monetary investment into their favorite teams/athletes, which should at the least give them a sense of entitlement. Plus the feeling of being something bigger. Just like a bunch of punks singing and dancin at a show. I get a fuckin rush when I'm surrouned by 10,000 people and we are all screaming for our favorite team. I think that, although many sports players are completely overpaid, they play a very important role in society. And if you look at alot of many sports greats they come from middle/lower class roots so its easy to feel a connection.

JawnDiablo - 4-8-2008 at 09:33 PM

Siczine.com - 4-8-2008 at 10:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com
Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Siczine.com

And when you live in a city where 20% of the population are at or below the poverty line, little things like your team winning mean a lot. But I guess if you live in rich, white suburban area its hard to understand that.


I dont live in a rich area at all and I am far from rich which is another reason that sports piss me off. Even if I DID want to goto a game, I would be lucky if I could afoard to go. What if its a family that really wants to goto Fenway Park for a game. With tickets, parking, food and maybe a program they would be lucky if it wasnt a $300+ night out. What familys can aforad that? Not mine!

I guess Im wrong, but i would think that more working class people would resent the whole thing.


Fenway Park must be a lot more expensive than Citizens Bank Park, a family of four can get tickets for less $60 unless you want to have lower level seats that is. And with that said, most working class families either go to games when their bosses give them tickets or maybe once or twice a year because they can't afford to go on vacation. Shit I'm lucky if I make it to 3 Phillies games a year and usually when I do go it's free tickets.
And you don't have to go to a game to be a fan, I've never been to an Eagles game yet I follow them like crazy.


Fenway is the most expensive park in MLB.

We just see things differently and thats cool. Sorry if what I said sounded totally obnoxious. I know it probably came off that way.


Indeed.

Some of the things I said could come off just as much if not more obnxious, what can you do?

DeathByForce - 4-9-2008 at 02:33 AM

I think the biggest part of the Red Sox fan douchebaggery is that Boston is a HUGE college town. What can you do?

I see a lot of real Sox fans that have some class. I see the same with some Yankees fans. It's unfortunate that there has to be such pettiness amongst fans. Some morons should take themselves out of sports fandom and throw themselves off a bridge to cleanse the genepool.

chris - 4-9-2008 at 08:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DeathByForce
I think the biggest part of the Red Sox fan douchebaggery is that Boston is a HUGE college town. What can you do?

I see a lot of real Sox fans that have some class. I see the same with some Yankees fans. It's unfortunate that there has to be such pettiness amongst fans. Some morons should take themselves out of sports fandom and throw themselves off a bridge to cleanse the genepool.


Seriously, the amount of numbnuts who come to this city, and do stupid things on mommy and daddy's dime, is rediculous and shouldn't be a reflection on the rest of us.

XHonusWagnerX - 4-9-2008 at 08:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by juandiablo


$10 for reserved seating
$6 for bleachers and upperdeck

and its about a 15 minute walk from my house.

chris - 4-9-2008 at 09:07 AM

I didn't realize you lived in the bucket. Love minor league games though, my brother lived in Portland last year, and I got to see Bucholtz and Ellsbury there early in the season.

XHonusWagnerX - 4-9-2008 at 10:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chris
I didn't realize you lived in the bucket. Love minor league games though, my brother lived in Portland last year, and I got to see Bucholtz and Ellsbury there early in the season.


yup... I live in Pawtucket right over the South Attlebor line right off of 95.

MikeCore - 4-9-2008 at 02:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by juandiablo
The Red Sox irritate me........


:P

XnMeX - 4-12-2008 at 09:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by juandiablo


$10 for reserved seating
$6 for bleachers and upperdeck

and its about a 15 minute walk from my house.


Exactly.... MLB = Grown men playing baseball. MINORS = grown men playing baseball. It's all the same to me. If you are a poor family, just take the kids out to the Paw Socks and tell them it's the Red Socks. They'll love it! ;)