Not to sound too much like someone who gnaws on buttered lobster with a golden spoon, but have you noticed it’s been 402 days since the City of Boston’s last championship?
Its fans are spoiled rotten when it comes to collecting titles, even adding “we” beat the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals.
They mean the Celtics . . .
But, then again, it reminds me of Ricky Gervais’ bit about spoiling his cat.
“People say to me, ‘oh, you spoil that cat.’ I go, ‘yeah, I do. It’s a cat,’” the comedian said. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
That’s how I feel when fans from Cleveland or Salt Lake City say Boston fans are spoiled with championships.
So what?
My apologies, Clevelanders. That was a jab, and LeBron’s probably not coming back either.
But haters often have points. Boston has captured 13 titles since 2000. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots lead the way with six, followed by the Red Sox (4), Celtics (2), and Bruins (1).
Fans have celebrated with parades, merchandise, bragging rights, and a few too many beers, but who’s next?
You’d have to say the Patriots. The team just reached the Super Bowl, young gunslinger Drake Maye was a Most Valuable Player candidate, and the previously-subpar receiver room has gotten stronger with the additions of A. J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.
That said, I’d pass on the Pats.
They’ll have a strong season and make the playoffs, but last season’s road to Santa Clara felt far too convenient. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs had an “eh” year, while Josh Allen and the Bills were edged by the Broncos — who then lost their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, for the AFC championship game, against the Patriots!
I hope I’m wrong. I just don’t see the Patriots doing that again . . .
Let’s talk about the hottest team in baseball.
The red-hot Red Sox are exactly that, and — if they reach the playoffs — their pitching could be deep enough. But will the bats stay this hot? Will Roman Anthony return? How will they respond after Wednesday night’s streak-snapper?
Too many questions, Sox.
The Bruins are my personal favorites, but, sadly, a group with only three great players in David Pastrnak (four consecutive 100-point seasons), Charlie McAvoy (career-high 61 points in just 69 games last season), and Jeremy Swayman (recent .907 save percentage).
Morgan Geekie’s 39 goals were a pleasant surprise, but he’s not very effective without time and space in the offensive zone. The speedy JJ Peterka, a new addition who I hope skates with Pastrnak, should settle in nicely, but the management team hasn’t made any other moves.
Shocker.
You’ve got promising talent in Fraser Minten, James Hagens, and Marat Khusnutdinov, but the young trio is simply too inexperienced to help ignite a deep playoff run.
That leaves one team, the Celtics, and with the recent departure of fan favorite Jaylen Brown, you might scratch your head and wonder about me. (I do it all the time.)
Say what you want, but the Celtics have a foundation that can’t be replicated through an offseason trade or an All-Star signing. They’re experienced, well-coached, deep, and have hoisted gold before.
Paul George, 36, isn’t who he was a decade ago, but he just might fit the system perfectly. He can create his own shot, spot-up shoot, and play perimeter defense. Most importantly, he won’t have an ego and get in the way of Jayson Tatum — a top-five player on the planet.
Throw out a ball and give me Tatum, George, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson (acquired from the Knicks), Mike Conley (Timberwolves), Sam Hauser, Hugo González, Baylor Scheierman, and first-round draft pick Chris Cenac Jr.
You just might get banner 19 . . .
