University of Arizona - The Desert Yearbook

“/^^^ FOUR MORE YEARS - THE BUSHlEELECTION Right: Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitck leaps into the arms of pitcher Keith Foulke (29) after the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 to sweep the World Series in this Oct. 27, 2004 photo, in St. Louis. AP Photo October, 200 RED SOX WIN WORLD SERIES There was something magical about the Boston Red Sox in 2004. It could have been the infamous " curse " that fell on the Sox after trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees leaving Boston without a World Series title for 86 years. Or perhaps it was the Cinderella story of a team that came back from a 3 - deficit against the Yankees in the AL Playoffs to win the series, becoming the first baseball team in history to accomplish the feat. Maybe it was stamina of pitcher Curt Shilling pitching a win in game six with a bloody ankle, creating a literal red sock. But when the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series on Oct. 27, the " curse reversed " , Red Sox fans across the country knew something extraor- dinary had happened that year. November, This time there were no " hanging chads " or Florida jokes. After a grueling, mudslinging election season, incumbent President George W. Bush won re-election against Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. While votes were cast on Nov. 2, 2004, the election was so close that no one dared to call it. After Ohio went red, KeiTy conceded on Nov. 3. The biggest issues in the election, according to exit polls, were social issues and national security. With his eye on social security and the Iraq war, Pn dent Bush settled in for his final four years. Utiteii* coitet M».0(t EnkoMr & MiK» tfN* ”