How does a team that is no stranger to success fail so badly? If reports are true, the 2011 Red Sox fell victim to "Back Diesel Syndrome".

Let me explain. Bear with me.

I played high school baseball for Webster High School, a suburb of Rochester, NY. Let me rephrase that. I attempted to play high school baseball. My 13 career varsity at-bats hardly qualify me for anything other than I was a keen observer of the team dynamic- mainly because I didn't have anything else to do.

At the time, my high school's baseball program was pretty well respected. Our coach was a driven man who pushed us all harder than we would have liked. In the early 90's, there was no state baseball tournament. Your season ended with the NYSPHSAA Section V Tournament.

During every preseason, there would be a night where the team would lock itself in the weight room and decide what slogan would adorn the t-shirts we would all wear under our jerseys on game day. The slogan was to set the tone for our year.

In 1991 the slogan was "We're Going To The Big House"- a reference to Silver Stadium, then home of the Rochester Red Wings where the Finals were played every year. That year, Webster did indeed go to the "Big House", although they didn't win.

The 1992 slogan escapes me now, but Webster did in fact take home the title that year.

In 1993, my first year with the Varsity team, we decided that back-to-back championships were our goal. The slogan: "Business As Usual". That year's Webster Warriors went 25-3 and did in fact capture their second consecutive Section V Title.

Then came 1994, my senior year. We returned six starters, including one of the better players in the state- a power hitting right fielder who also doubled as our number one pitcher. Confidence was never in short supply and the slogan we came up with that year was actually two: 1. "Back Diesel", obviously referring to how many starters we had coming back; and 2. "Why? Just Because..." Looking back, it's obvious what road we set ourselves up for.

We ended up 23-5, pretty successful by most measures, but lost the Final to our arch-rival. During the season, the ship needed righting a couple times. Captains calling extra early batting practice, players going out of their way to force cohesion, and the like dot my memory of that season. As a team, we thought as long as we showed up that would be enough.

Hence the term "Back Diesel Syndrome".

Fast forward to September 2011. The latest stories of veteran Red Sox starting pitchers playing video games, eating fried chicken, and drinking beers in the clubhouse during games they weren't pitching give you the mircocosm of what the overall attitude of that club was like.

And while the players who acted in such an unprofessional manner are undeniably wrong, the veterans who know better but didn't say anything as well as their now unemployed manager, Terry Francona, are just as guilty.

Now, even the General Manager has jumped ship; choosing the Chicago Cubs over reloading the Red Sox. Just let that one wash over you for a second.

And to a fan, that attitude just drives you up a wall. Individuals so oblivious to what's really happening around them and completely ignorant of their ability to affect change- good or bad- that they waste an opportunity that may or may not ever come again.

Whoever takes the reign of the Red Sox has to set the example immediately. Josh Beckett, John Lester, and John Lackey- the accused starters- might as well get shipped out of town. A blue collar town like Boston can't possibly stand to cheer slugs like that.

The next manager of the Red Sox has the unenviable task of trying to reload a franchise who no longer has a curse to shake, it has a new tradition of relative success to maintain. Anyone who doesn't get it has to go.

Oh, and a catchy slogan on a t-shirt wouldn't hurt either.