ANDOVER — What started as a "virtual water cooler" for Ernie Paicopolos and his baseball-loving friends has evolved into an online destination for Red Sox fans everywhere.
From Brazil to Uzbekistan, Internet users from more than 120 countries have visited Fenwaynation.com, a site Paicopolos started eight years ago as a forum to discuss his favorite team with friends.
"That's all it was for a long time, just us posting our ramblings," said Paicopolos, 57, an Andover resident. "The best part of the Web site is just realizing how global of a phenomenon (Red Sox Nation) is."
Paicopolos, who describes Fenwaynation.com as a "one-stop shopping experience for anything you want to know about the Red Sox," spends three hours a day working on the site.
The Web site offers game recaps, and links to Red Sox fan sites and media sources.
Paicopolos attends about 20 Red Sox games each season.
He went in on season tickets with three friends two decades ago, well before the waiting list for such tickets swelled to 50,000 people, he said.
Winning has changed a lot about being a Red Sox fan, but not everything, Paicopolos said.
"The same intensity is there," said Paicopolos. "There's just a little ratcheting down of the angst level. ... People are more confident now."
Paicopolos took his 12-year-old son to Game 1 of the World Series last year.
"That's a special moment," said Paicopolos. "It's a great memory."
He hopes the Sox will provide him with more great memories this fall.
"There's just no match for a World Series game at Fenway," said Paicopolos.
