It may seem as if I'm writing this post under the influence of peyote, and believe me, I'm not above trying that. But in this case I'm sober and it's all true: A girl who was part of a school group touring Fenway Park on Thursday was attacked by a red-tailed hawk, who delivered a decisive hawk beat-down on the youngster before returning to its nest in the upper deck. And what was the victim's name? (Drumroll) ... Alexa Rodriguez.
Vince Jennetta, a teacher who chaperoned her class trip from Memorial Boulevard Middle School in Bristol, Conn., told The Boston Globe that Alexa is "a little shaken, but OK." The hawk was perched on a railing in the upper deck behind home plate while the group toured the stadium. The hawk flew at the girl and swooped with its talons extended, scratching her scalp.
This is surely an omen, is it not? Things like this don't just happen. The Yankees may not win this division for another 100 years.
And Alexa should consider herself lucky: If the hawk hadn't got her, the mountain lion that lives in the concession stand would have.
Action photos by the Boston Globe.