The Boston Red Sox can take comfort in knowing that media tycoon Rupert Murdoch is in their corner tonight as they face potential elimination from the American League Championship Series at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays. Whether that will help the Sox overcome a 3 games to 1 deficit is doubtful.

Murdoch, who probably prefers rugby or soccer to America's past time, is in a pickle with the World Series that will be broadcast over his Fox network. News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) shareholders, whose holdings plunged more than 60 percent this year, are probably gritting their teeth that the Philadelphia Phillies (my team) defeated ex-Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers to capture the National League championship. Ramirez is one of the game's best known and controversial personalities. Moreover, the Dodgers attract fans from all over the country including older folks who remember them when they were in Brooklyn.

The Red Sox nation are among the most passionate fans in baseball. I bet they are miffed that the ALCS has been relegated to TBS while the much inferior National League basked in the glow of network television. Furthermore. the Red Sox , one of the most storied franchises in sports, are on the verge of being eliminated by a team from Tampa Bay, which gave the world Hooters. Okay, that was Clearwater, but it's close enough.