The Golden Age of Boston Sports
Just perusing the standings in today's online Boston Globe, and I was struck by how successful all four of the Boston sports teams are, or were, in their current or most recent seasons.
Certainly, as any New Englander can tell you, this is not earth shaking news. With the Patriots defeat of St. Louis in the 2002 Super Bowl, the greatest era in Boston sports history was brought upon us. The Pats went on to win two more Super Bowls, the Red Sox ended 86 years of post season futility in 2004, then won the World Series again in 2007. The Celtics recaptured the championship last season, their first in 22 years.
And finally...yes, FINALLY, the Boston Bruins are back winning games. Currently, they are second in the Eastern Conference in points, behind only the newly vigorous New York Rangers. Good for the baby B's!
The Bruins were my first Boston sports love. I was a bit too young for the Red Sox World Series losing team in 1975. I can remember watching the series, but was not heavily involved. Even in the playoff loss to the hated Yankees three years later, I recall going outside to shoot baskets with friends on the afternoon of the game. But the B's, Lunch-Pail-AC? With Don Cherry at the helm? With wicked wrist shooter Bobby Schmautz, Terry O'Reilly, John Wensink, Stan Jonathan, a balding Gerry Cheevers in goal? Forgettaboutit! I was in love.
How many of you can remember "Too Many Men on the Ice", against the arch rival Montreal Canadians back in the Stanley Cup semifinal round in 1979? The Bruins, pre-Bourque, were quite the lovable band of overachievers. General Manager Harry Sinden could always find hard working, talented but not too talented players to shore up the forward line or the defense. And man could they fight! Wensink and Jonathan especially. Little Stan went about 5 7, but was the toughest player in the league pound for pound. This was a time in my youth when I actually enjoyed hockey fights, thinking them harmless sideshows that proved how tough a team was. I would grow out of this phase and have developed a certain distaste for the fisticuffs. But in my early teens I loved to see two tough guys mix it up. And no one ever outfought the Bruins.
Remember the entire team going into the stands in Madison Square Garden to fight with a bunch of drunken fans one night? John Wensink once challenged the entire Minnesota North Stars team to a fight, and they chickened out! Classic stuff that seemed harmless to a young kid watching at home.
Though they never won a Stanley Cup with that wonderful crew, they did give Boston sports fans a ton of exciting years of high caliber NHL hockey. Thanks to all of them.
And thanks to the GM Peter Chiarelli and the entire Bruins management for finally finding a winning formula that has provided the groundwork to give some of the NHL's best and most loyal hockey fans a team worthy of their love. Go Bruins!
Certainly, as any New Englander can tell you, this is not earth shaking news. With the Patriots defeat of St. Louis in the 2002 Super Bowl, the greatest era in Boston sports history was brought upon us. The Pats went on to win two more Super Bowls, the Red Sox ended 86 years of post season futility in 2004, then won the World Series again in 2007. The Celtics recaptured the championship last season, their first in 22 years.
And finally...yes, FINALLY, the Boston Bruins are back winning games. Currently, they are second in the Eastern Conference in points, behind only the newly vigorous New York Rangers. Good for the baby B's!
The Bruins were my first Boston sports love. I was a bit too young for the Red Sox World Series losing team in 1975. I can remember watching the series, but was not heavily involved. Even in the playoff loss to the hated Yankees three years later, I recall going outside to shoot baskets with friends on the afternoon of the game. But the B's, Lunch-Pail-AC? With Don Cherry at the helm? With wicked wrist shooter Bobby Schmautz, Terry O'Reilly, John Wensink, Stan Jonathan, a balding Gerry Cheevers in goal? Forgettaboutit! I was in love.
How many of you can remember "Too Many Men on the Ice", against the arch rival Montreal Canadians back in the Stanley Cup semifinal round in 1979? The Bruins, pre-Bourque, were quite the lovable band of overachievers. General Manager Harry Sinden could always find hard working, talented but not too talented players to shore up the forward line or the defense. And man could they fight! Wensink and Jonathan especially. Little Stan went about 5 7, but was the toughest player in the league pound for pound. This was a time in my youth when I actually enjoyed hockey fights, thinking them harmless sideshows that proved how tough a team was. I would grow out of this phase and have developed a certain distaste for the fisticuffs. But in my early teens I loved to see two tough guys mix it up. And no one ever outfought the Bruins.
Remember the entire team going into the stands in Madison Square Garden to fight with a bunch of drunken fans one night? John Wensink once challenged the entire Minnesota North Stars team to a fight, and they chickened out! Classic stuff that seemed harmless to a young kid watching at home.
Though they never won a Stanley Cup with that wonderful crew, they did give Boston sports fans a ton of exciting years of high caliber NHL hockey. Thanks to all of them.
And thanks to the GM Peter Chiarelli and the entire Bruins management for finally finding a winning formula that has provided the groundwork to give some of the NHL's best and most loyal hockey fans a team worthy of their love. Go Bruins!
posted by joe sweeney at 5:03 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home