Boston Red Sox are Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Team of the Year

To those who follow sports, and to those who understand the impact sports can have on the lives of those who follow them, it will come as no surprise that the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox have been named the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Team of the Year.

On the surface, and just on the surface, the Red Sox deserve the title for their incredible “worst-to-first” season that saw them rise from the ashes. A team in complete disarray in 2012, the Red Sox once again set the standard for hard work, excellent play, and for finding ways to win with different games turning different players into heroes throughout the 2013 season.

But the Red Sox are so much more than wins and losses to the citizens of Boston.

It is often said among the members of Red Sox Nation that baseball is not a matter of life or death, but the Red Sox are.  And immediately after two explosions ripped through the finish line of the Boston Marathon last April, the Red Sox proved that they are life to the City of Boston.

The Sox did everything right. Understanding their role to the city, they provided a distraction to help  forget the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy. Simultaneously, they made sure the victims and heroes were not forgotten. Both seemed to really drive their desire, more than usual, to bring the World Series trophy back to Boston. When they played, win or lose, Boston was happy. When they asked, Boston gave to the charities that were helping those who lost life and limb.  The Sox kept Boston in their hearts, and in their dugouts, displaying home and away jerseys with "Boston Strong" where a player's name would go. Boston was their 10th man.

The Red Sox will receive their award on Monday, January 27, at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association 110th Annual Awards Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, NJ. The banquet, which is open to the public, opens its doors at 5:00 pm. Tickets are $95.00 per person and can be purchased at www.PSWADinner.com.

As a board member of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association, I could not be happier with the selection and don't mind telling you I was VERY in favor of the Sox being the Team of the Year. I'm a transplanted Bostonian living in and around Philadelphia since 1994. I wear my Sox cap proudly, and my accent is picked on daily. I have a lot of family in and around Boston, some of which were standing at the marathon finish line, between where the bombs went off and got away unscathed. And I can tell you that after crying together in April, it was incredible to cheer together in October.

(Hey, Boston.com's Obnoxious Boston Fan column quoted me about the Sox and their Team of the Year Award. I love that column!)