Shaugnessy's column was totally misleading. based on the results and methodology of the poll, i think it is fair to conclude that more people actually think this was the most devastating loss in Boston history than any other individual game. Here is the letter I sent to him:
Dear Dan,
Did you ever stop to consider that your poll was completely skewed? Considering the relatively narrow margin of victory of the poll, I am quite certain that had you compared the Patriots loss in XLII with INDIVIDUAL Red Sox losses and not lumped every devastating Red Sox loss from the franchise history into one category a different result would have
ensued. The overwhelming odds are that if you had done this then the Patriots loss in XLII would have won far and away as the most devastating loss over other one game Red Sox losses.
In fact I would argue that based on the results of this poll I think it is quite fair to say that XLII was CLEARLY the most devastating loss in Boston sports history because it is unlikely that 80% of the 56% of people who voted for the Sox would have picked one Sox loss over the other. More than likely, the Red Sox vote would have been approximately evenly split between 1978,1986 and 2003 giving each loss around 15-20% by itself with each game clearly being dwarfed by the 44% who voted for the Pats in XLII.
I know all internet polls are unscientific, but for you to conclude that the Patriots loss was not the most devastating based on this poll is deceptive and misleading
The timing of this poll (occuring right after the Pats loss) as well as omitting other devastating losses from other Boston teams also grossly confounds the results, but in my opinion the results clearly suggest that at the time it was taken the Patriots loss was almost certainly the most devastating individual game loss in Boston sports history.
Regards-
Dear Dan,
Did you ever stop to consider that your poll was completely skewed? Considering the relatively narrow margin of victory of the poll, I am quite certain that had you compared the Patriots loss in XLII with INDIVIDUAL Red Sox losses and not lumped every devastating Red Sox loss from the franchise history into one category a different result would have
ensued. The overwhelming odds are that if you had done this then the Patriots loss in XLII would have won far and away as the most devastating loss over other one game Red Sox losses.
In fact I would argue that based on the results of this poll I think it is quite fair to say that XLII was CLEARLY the most devastating loss in Boston sports history because it is unlikely that 80% of the 56% of people who voted for the Sox would have picked one Sox loss over the other. More than likely, the Red Sox vote would have been approximately evenly split between 1978,1986 and 2003 giving each loss around 15-20% by itself with each game clearly being dwarfed by the 44% who voted for the Pats in XLII.
I know all internet polls are unscientific, but for you to conclude that the Patriots loss was not the most devastating based on this poll is deceptive and misleading
The timing of this poll (occuring right after the Pats loss) as well as omitting other devastating losses from other Boston teams also grossly confounds the results, but in my opinion the results clearly suggest that at the time it was taken the Patriots loss was almost certainly the most devastating individual game loss in Boston sports history.
Regards-