Old Boston scored a decisive 10-4 victory over New Boston in yesterday’s biennial Games, confounding political-sports analysts who had speculated that New was poised for a win. The thumping administered at the polls underscored Old’s continued domination of the Games, one that has lasted for more than a century.
The Games, a Boston tradition, included two matches this year, one for Mayor and a second for City Council. Old won the Mayor’s contest 1-0 and the battle for Council by a lopsided 9-4. Still, the slight improvement by New -- two years ago, it managed to score only 3 -- provided some consolation to New stalwarts. “At this rate, it is entirely possible that New scores a victory in 2011,” said Robert Taylor, a close observer of city-sports.
Others scoffed at the claim. “New has no bench to speak of,” pointed out analyst Gill Jackson. “Of the 17 or so players in the Games this year, New was only able to field a handful. You’re never going to win as long as that is happening.” Other New strategists glumly agreed, noting that potential New recruits seem to have little enthusiasm for playing poli-sports, preferring to go to school, start a business, or do other useful things with their lives.
In a second contest held yesterday, Men routed Women 13-1. While Men have never lost the biennial games, they did see their margins erode a decade ago to a low of 10-4. In 2001, however, Men bounced back, winning 12-2. This year's results prompted exultation. “Next time it’s a shutout!” said one fan of Men. If so, that might mark a return to the Games held prior to the 1960s, when Men were so powerful that Women frequently would not even play.
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