Butler’s interception, Orr’s flying goal, Bird’s steal, Fisk’s bomb, and hundreds more highlight some of Boston’s most iconic sports plays.
From the plays, players, arenas, and fanbases, can another sports city compete with the dirty water? That’s a question for another time.
Los Angeles is a basketball city. The showtime era of the 1980s is all you really need to say. A little more south, and despite all of Mark Cuban’s work with the Mavericks, Dallas sees the Cowboys as its prized possession.
Boston is a tricky one, though. We live and breathe sports. Whether we’re at a bar, a family gathering for the holidays, or the living room on a Tuesday night, there’s always something sporty to talk about.
Right now, we’re in Red Sox mode. But in a month or two, our Sundays belong to the Pats. Yet, look how passionate we were with the Bruins and Celtics last month – ugh, both awful endings.
See what I mean?
This begs the question: if you had to pick one, which sport is Boston’s number one?
What’s funny is a lot of cities can solve this problem by looking at players. We can’t. No matter the sport.
The C’s have Bird and Russell, B’s have Orr and Neely, Sox have Carl and Ted, and Pats have Brady and Gronk. I could name about 100 more. You just can’t win here.
As for success, the Celtics have the most league championships with 17 (tied with the Lakers). Oh, wait, the Patriots are tied with the Steelers for the most Super Bowls with six, and Bruins are tied for fourth in the NHL with an impressive six Stanley Cups.
OK, arenas. Fenway is the most iconic, Gillette most renovated, and Garden most used. Most cities would kill for one of these.
Can someone help me out here?
Remember when you were a kid facing a difficult situation, and your friend would tell you “pick your favorite in three, two, one” to make you answer? I’m going to do that now and write what I think.
Celtics.
Wow, I’m regretting this already, but my heart tells me it’s true.
The Patriots weren’t all that relevant before Brady, and interest in baseball is diving like Tom Cruise in the most recent “Mission Impossible” movie. It was between the Bruins and Celtics for me, but I think the NBA’s popularity annihilating the NHL’s did it for me.
I’m not saying the other teams don’t, but to me, the Celtics personify Boston – a blue-collar, put-your-head-down city – more so than the others.
I mean, M.L. Carr and Marcus Smart were two of our favorites because of their trash talking and willingness to dive on the floor.
My answer could change tomorrow. Heck, Bergeron’s game-tying goal against the Leafs is haunting me already.
But in the end, between their social media popularity, long-lasting success, and iconic moments, I’m going with the C’s.
Anyway…
I’ve listened to great public address announcers the past nine months. To Lynn’s Jim Beliveau and Noubertson “Noubie” Rateau over at Lynn Tech – among others – well done.
The NECBL All-Star Game is Sunday at Fraser Field. The weather says 85 degrees and sunny, and six Navigators are suiting up. See you there.
I spoke to Peabody Baseball and Football Coach Mark Bettencourt a few weeks back, and he spoke to me about disciplining players who curse. He said there’s no room for bad language, and I couldn’t agree more.
I enjoy watching Lynnfield’s Pat Lamusta coach football and lacrosse games. With his hands on his knees and celebratory fist pumps, I think it’s awesome. So do his players.
There are 43 college football bowl games. Seriously? Let’s get that down to four or five. Even 10 would do for now.
I found out Adam Sandler initials his basketball when he plays pickup. That’s so him.
Classical Baseball Coach Mike Zukowski called it a career after leading the Rams to a 17-4 season. To one of the classiest coaches I’ve talked to this year, congratulations.
