Warning

It's T minus 18. Johnny Damon is checking his bats and doing wind sprints. Curt Schilling is psyching himself up for his biggest game since Game Seven of the 2001 World Series. And I took a look at what archives of InstantReplay people have visited today. Somebody searching for "Valentine breakup statistics" found IR's entry from last October 18th:

The breakup is slowly dimming. I've concentrated on thinking about other things, thinking about the future, and lowering my expectations. I guess I expected too much. But if you aren't willing to let yourself go when you're head over heels in love, how will you ever attain your destiny?? It's the great paradox of pain and love - you can't love unless you're vulnerable to pain. I suppose that's the way God created it; it's even the way it is for Him. Mea culpa: I'm talking about the Red Sox. And yes, the pain is dimming. The great grace of breaking up with the Red Sox is that they always promise to get back together with you on Valentine's Day, or a week or two thereafter. Then the whole cycle begins again. Someday, we really believe, our collective love for this team will not be scorned, and our shame will be lifted. I'm not the only one this unbalanced. The Sports Guy talks about the only one he loves more than the Red Sox (I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on that, actually): Anyway, my wife understands now. She only jumped on the bandwagon a few years ago, thanks to me. Now her Sox virginity has been taken; she was near tears last night. "I finally understand why you're so crazy about this team," she kept saying. "I can't imagine going through this for my entire life. This is horrible." Add another one to the list.

Those of you who know this team didn't need to read that. But for anyone who is new to the bandwagon, don't say you weren't warned.