Don't Boo Teixeira

No one epitomizes the Evil Empire more than Mark Teixeira. He is the perfect Yankee and the anti-Red Sox. He is all about himself and money.

The fact that the Sox were outbid by the Yankees for him this offseason will turn out to be a good thing in the long run, just like when the trade for Alex Rodriguez was blocked and A-Roid eventually ended up in New York.

If the Sox had won the bidding war for Teixeira we'd be stuck with this overpaid loser who's never won anything in his career, and 2007 World Series MVP Mike Lowell, a class act by all accounts, would be playing elsewhere.

With Teixeira set to make his first appearance in a Yankee uniform at Fenway this weekend, the fans will be geared up to greet him with a chorus of boos saved only for the most hated of rivals.

But let's think about this for a minute. Should we really be booing this guy? We say, let's cheer him for not coming to Boston.

Sure, he is a selfish pig that plays for our arch enemy and deserves to be booed, but most athletes thrive on negative reaction from opposing fans.

Anyone who has played competitive sports knows that other than making a great play in front of your home fans, the best feeling you can have is to make a game-changing play on the road to silence the other team’s crowd.

The Red Sox' epic comeback against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS was due in part to Boston's ability to finally get to New York closer Mariano Rivera.

The following season, opening day at Fenway featured another Red Sox–Yankees game. After the Sox received their World Series rings, the Yankees were introduced and the Red Sox fans gave Rivera a standing ovation.

He thought it was funny and tipped his cap. The Red Sox won that game 8-1 and the team and the fans have been in Rivera's head ever since.

We are Baseball's Best Fans for a reason -- because we know the game and have an effect on it. So let's give Teixeira something to think about as he walks back to the dugout after striking out yet again.

Spread the word by forwarding this on to any Sox fans who will be going to Fenway over the weekend and check out our poll at redsoxnews.bostonstenth.com.