Nowadays, with the Patriots sporting a record six Super Bowl titles and the Red Sox having won four World Series in the 21st century, it's difficult to understand what being a die-hard Boston sports fan meant in the early 80s. While the Celtics were at the top of their game, the other Big Four teams from the Boston area were in a sorry state. This was no more true than for Red Sox fans, who (as Big Ed is quick to point out) had not won a World Series since 1918. Carla's vow to abandon the Red Sox probably rang true to many fans at the time. And of course, no team is more hated by Red Sox fans than the New York Yankees.
Enter Big Ed, the most obnoxious fan to ever cheer on the Bronx Bombers. Eddie has clearly come to Cheers to gloat, and he proceeds to mock the Red Sox, and when he recognizes Sam, mocks Sam's former boozing. Big mistake. Soon Carla is on him like a spider monkey, giving him a (surprisingly brutal) beating.
This the first episode to focus on Carla, and it establishes her fanatical devotion to Boston teams and her extreme temper. (Her lustiness and extreme fertility will come later). It's a standard sitcom plot, and we know that the threat (Sam could lose the bar) will come to nothing. But Ed is a formidable antagonist, and Carla's attempt to control her anger makes for a good conclusion (with a punchline that shows why you shouldn't insult hockey players).
There's not much for the rest of the cast to do, but Diane has a funny moment where she runs down all her former majors, showing she truly is the perpetual student.
