1918, the same year the Spanish Flu Pandemic killed 675,000 Americans, was also the same year the Red Sox last won the world series against Chicago Cubs, 4-2. In his book, Babe Ruth and the 1918 Red Sox, Allan wood describes the year as follows:
In 1918, the United States was struggling through the first World War. An epidemic of influenza took the lives of more than 650,000 Americans. Fuel shortages and food rationing were daily facts of life. Against this chaotic backdrop, the Red Sox began their quest for an unprecedented fifth World Series title. And a young Boston player named Babe Ruth began his historic transformation from ace pitcher to the greatest slugger the game has ever known.So here we are in 2004, another year in which the U.S. is plagued with problems. The 533% increase in the number of "buttck-augmentation" surgeries being just one of these problems, and the news that "A quadriplegic man succeeded in checking email and playing computer games via a microchip embedded in his brain (source)" are just two of the smaller ones.
The Red Sox winning again after all these years would be just one little high note.
p.s. The prudential building in Boston even staggers it's lights at night to spell out "Go Sox."
