Truck Day is Becoming Truck Week

I understand the greatness that is Truck Day but it is now starting to morph into Truck Week. Each year Truck Day grows a little bigger, more fanfare, more show. Truck Day symbolizes the light at the end of the tunnel of a long New England winter and the hope that you will soon be opening a cold one at 7:30 pm (4:30 Pacific...we like to start drinking earlier) and listen to the RemDawg announce the starting lineups. What began as a nice ceremony by dedicated fans is turning into a marketing ploy by the front office. Look at this from Extra Bases:

The 18-wheeler will begin its 1,480-mile journey to Ft. Myers by departing from Gate D on Yawkey Way at 1 p.m. -- and it will be led in a procession by a flat-bed truck carrying Wally the Green Monster, Fenway Ambassadors, and official Citizens of Red Sox Nation.

In a new development this year, a box of e-mails containing well-wishes from fans in Red Sox Nation will also be loaded on the equipment truck by official Citizens of Red Sox Nation. It is intended to bring the Red Sox good luck for the 2009 season.

Emails and official citizens of Red Sox Nation???? Really, do we need this? Have the truck pull out of the gate, let the fans who show up take a few pictures, have the driver give some high 5's and move on. How long before they start selling tickets to Truck Day? The event is in danger of Jumping the Shark if the front office over-manages it. Let it be an organic event and live on as a great tradition, please don't kill Truck Day by making it into Truck Week.