How crazy has this been? Undoubtedly something we will never see again in any city. This is Boston's answer for 27 world championships. Its hard to come to grips with it. Something tells me I'm about to wake up and turn on NESN Daily to see the highlight of the Sox game at the New Fenway Park, in the midst of the age-old question, "Will this be the year?" The year of course where they win their first World Series since 1918. There will be talk about the Patriots upcoming season, as they go through their 5th coach in 10 years, as Drew Bledsoe plays before a half empty Gillette Stadium. Meanwhile, Jeremy Jacobs continues to hold the Bruins franchise hostage as he establishes himself as the Donald Trump of the West End. And the Celtics..well lets just say Larry Bird ain't walking through that door. Basically just the typical life of what a Boston sports fan is accustomed to- suffering, suffering, and more suffering...
Ranking the 7 Championships
1- 2004 Red Sox- Is this even up for debate? Total no-brainer in my opinion. The fact they did it, their first since 1918 of course, was big enough to the people of New England and all those who followed the Red Sox so religiously for so many years, waiting for next year to come. But what was even more remarkable is the way of which they did it. Coming back from down 3-0 to knock off the Yankees, then making a mockery of the 105-win Cardinals. It was the biggest of the 7, and will always be the biggest in Boston sports.
2- 2011 Bruins- Boston has always been a hockey town, with so many big names in the hockey world coming out of the Boston area, its also home to the Hockey East, mecca of college hockey, the most prestigious college hockey tournament in the Beanpot, and one of the most prestigious high school hockey tournaments in the Super 8. What it did was make it an NHL city, where hockey became the forefront of talk at the local Dunkin Donuts, in the bar rooms, and on the sports talk radio stations. To add to that, the Bruins represented everything good about Boston and its people- blue-collar, hard working, with undying resolve.
3- 2001 Patriots- It was the championship of them all. It was a long 16-year wait between championships for Boston, and for that it was of great significance.
4- 2008 Celtics- It brought the Celtics back to the top of the NBA after such a long dip. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish weren't walking through that door, but instead it was Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen were. These three had been three of basketball's best for nearly a decade, and they finally got that well earned ring. It was even more special for Pierce, since the ring now allowed him to be mentioned in the same breath of Bird, Russell, Havlicek, Cousy, and all the other great Celtics over the years.
5- 2004 Patriots- The third in four years, it made the Patriots football's first dynasty in the new milenium. It made the Pats a first-class model organization and put Belichick officially in the same breath of Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Don Shula, and Bill Walsh as the greatest coach to ever patroll an NFL sideline, and put Tom Brady in the same light as Montana and Unitas as the greatest to go under center.
6- 2007 Red Sox- It was the championship built by the Henry administration. While they won in 2004 with many of Duquette's pieces, this one was truly tailored by Theo and the Red Sox current front office. It also put to sleep any thoughts of another 86 years.
7- 2003 Patriots- The least significant, but still very significant. Like the dumbest kid at MIT. It proved that Brady wasn't a one-year wonder, and the 2001 Pats weren't just a cinderella story, but a team that was here to stay.
- We must remember that there could easily have been more. If not for a circus catch by David Tyree and a freak three-pointer by Ron Artest, there could very easily have been 9 in 9 years.
Other Champions in 4 major sports in New England since 2002
Eastern Connecticut State Warriors- 2002 NCAA Division III Baseball Champions
Norwich Navigators- 2002 Eastern League (AA Baseball) Champions
Williams College Ephs- 2003 NCAA Division III Basketball Champions
Norwich University Cadettes- 2003 NCAA Division III Hockey Champions
Connecticut Huskies- 2004 NCAA Division I Basketball Champions
New Hampshire Fisher Cats- 2004 Eastern League (AA Baseball) Champions
Portland Sea Dogs- 2006 Eastern League (AA Baseball) Champions
Amherst College Lord Jeffs- 2007 NCAA Division III Basketball Champions
Boston College Eagles- 2008 NCAA Division I Hockey Champions
Trinity College Bantams- 2008 NCAA Division III Baseball Champions
Boston University Terriers- 2009 NCAA Division I Hockey Champions
Boston College Eagles- 2010 NCAA Division I Hockey Champions
Norwich University Cadettes- 2010 NCAA Division III Hockey Champions
Connecticut Huskies- 2011 NCAA Division I Basketball Champions
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