One week ago tonight, the Red Sox clinched the 2013 World Series. Almost immediately, this "ANOTHER BANNER YEAR" graphic took Boston social media by storm.
Notice how the middle section is almost all green? It's a nice little reminder of why the pro sports franchises most synonymous with excellence (on this continent, anyways) were, for years: the Montreal Canadiens (blech), the New York Yankees (double blech), and our Boston Celtics.
For three solid decades, we were the bee's knees.
The last two decades, however, have been slightly less impressive.
When Celts fans lambasted Doc Rivers back in September for calling the Lakers "the best franchise in sports history," they largely neglected to note that our West Coast rivals, while still one title behind the C's in an all-time tally, have collected seven rings to our one since 1987. Like it or not, our reign as the unquestioned Best in Basketball has gradually come to a close.
Now – if it hasn't happened already – our long reign as Best in Boston could, as well.
In one sense, that's OK. The Red Sox and Patriots, once lovable losers, are now the Model Franchises in their respective sports, and our Garden counterparts have re-engaged their dormant fan-base the same way we did from '08-'10, hanging one banner and coming tantalizingly close to another. These are fantastic developments. It's good to have a City of Champions, plural.
It's not good, however, to be the outsiders in such a city. To be the clear fourth. For that graphic to add more red and gold and blue, but for the shamrocks to get relegated further and further from the fresh updates at the bottom...
In other words, Danny? The pressure (as you already know) is on. It's always on. It's (21st century) Boston. While a year or two of
In other words, please start collecting your bribe for Adam Silver now.
Your friend always,
Dave
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