So, the new season of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy starts, I think, tomorrow. The marketing blitz is in high gear, and the season premier will involve a makeover of several Boston Red Sox. Yesterday, a few of the "Fab Five" threw out the first pitch at Fenway. Some people
didn't like it:
Carmen Carbone, 40, a copy machine technician, slumped in his seat and shook his head at the display. He said it exposed the team to unnecessary controversy -- and teasing. Last week, he said, Yankees fans razzed Red Sox fans relentlessly about the makeovers during a series in Yankee Stadium.
''To me it doesn't matter, but keep it to yourselves," Carbone, of Melrose, said after three ''Queer Eye" members lobbed the pitches to start the game. ''If I owned the Red Sox, I wouldn't have done it."
His girlfriend, Karen Garofalo, nodded. ''I think all the other teams are laughing in our faces," said Garofalo, 41, a secretary from Revere.
A pink shirt. People are upset that Carson wore a pink Red Sox Jersey to the mound.
It was also Family Day at Fenway, so all those folks who brought their kids were forced to endure Kressley's painful toss (He really can't throw a ball). What will we tell the children?
Duane Booth, 40, of Wells, Maine, said his 8-year-old son has knowledge about the gay community, which he said has a particularly strong presence in neighboring Ogunquit.
''It's not something we talk to him about," he said. ''I don't really feel comfortable."
If the boy were to ask him for a more specific definition of ''queer," Booth had a plan. ''Probably just ride over to the next town and show him," he said, laughing.
Watching the local Fox News affiliate has been fascinating. Even their moderately right wing bloviator has been saying, "What the hell is wrong with these people?" It's been really interesting listening to the four hosts getting into a discussion of the appropriate use of the term "queer."
That wasn't the only queer controversy yesterday. The Phelpses from Topeka came to town, too.
I went to a picnic.