Boston Sports Thread

[KentXie]

I don't know how many hardcore fans are out there but I have to say, this year is the best year for sports in Boston. I mean it has been an unbelievable year for sports in the Boston area. Look at the achievements:

Red Sox won the world series.
Revolution made it to the championship again (loss again though)
The Pats are the best team in the NFL and are threatening to be undefeated the whole season.
The Celtics have the best record so far in the NBA.
And the Bruins are currently tied in third place overall in the NHL.

Yes let the good times roll =D

[JimboJones]

If a tree drops in a forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

[BarbaricManchurian]

^^^

What does that have to do with sports? Everyone hears about sports in Boston and the whole nation hears about how Boston is "the greatest sports city in America" all because of our winning teams. Boston is getting a huge amount of attention because of sports and its stature is rising because of it.

[Ron Newman]

I suspect Jimbo's remark was directed specifically at mention of the Bruins, but I could be wrong.

[JimboJones]

I was able to go the whole year without seeing one basketball game, one football game or one baseball game.

The entire World Series (and its aftermath) took place as if it was in a completely different city ... AND I WAS SO HAPPY!

That's what I meant.

[statler]

I never really understood this phenomenon in internet forums.

"Look! A group of people discussing a topic I don't care about. I'll have to rush in to tell them how much I don't care about it!"

Strange.

[JimboJones]

I have seen that phenomenon, too.

I try, I really do.

I'll try harder.

[Ron Newman]

A silly stat that I read in some newspaper or blog, updated to today:

From game 5 of the American League Championship Series (October 18) forward, the combined record of the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics is 35-2.

[TheBostonBoy]

WE OWN
Pats are going 16-0 baby, then superbowl
Then the Celts are winning the NBA finals
i love it! Too bad BC decided to suck ass at the end of year, and ruin even more of this amazing sports year. I was soo pissed that they lost the ACC championship after have an amazing season like that, and now they are playing in a bowl against MSU! BS!

[Mike]

Can't wait for tonight.

[Lrfox]

I can't wait for tonight either. Even though seeing the Patriots stuff in this thread makes my heart hurt a little.

[Suffolk 83]

I'm really geeked for this series. Hopefully it lives up to the hype. I'd argue this has gotten more hype than some super bowl games.

[Cojapo]

Go back just 10 years ago....
The Sox were mediocre, having just come off a LOOSING season, even with Nomah, Johnny V and Mo. They made the playoffs in 98, but were god aweful against the Indians.
The Pats were starting the downward spiral after a SB apperance. Patsy Pete Carroll had no idea how to coach a loaded NFL team, with Drew, Curtis, Coates, Teddy and soon to be the greatest place kicker in NFL history....though he was was quite there yet.
The Briuns, well, made the playoffs and promptly got bounced by the Caps in the first round...a pretty steady occurance from them.
The C's were terrible, with the only shining moment being drafting Paul Pierce.
Now...
The only thing that hasn't changed is the Bruins getting bounced in the first round!
Everthing else is a complete 180. Good times!!!

[statler]

The only thing that hasn't changed is the Bruins getting bounced in the first round!

I haven't really been following the B's that closely, so correct me if I am wrong, but aren't they the only team that hasn't changed management (Jacobs/Sinden) in that period?

[Mike]

^ that is correct. I don't think Jacobs will ever let that team go.

--


Net Gain
Celtics' brilliant season has businesses near the Garden basking in the glow
By Rachana Rathi
Globe Staff / June 5, 2008


Everyone loves a winner - nowhere more than on Causeway Street.

Tips are better these days, lunch lines are longer, and the sun seems to shine brighter, people working in and around TD Banknorth Garden say. The difference in attitudes is like the difference between last year's Boston Celtics team, which had the longest losing streak in franchise history, and the squad competing in the NBA Finals this week (against their bitter rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, no less).

A neighborhood overshadowed literally by the Green Line and old elevated Central Artery until 2004, and figuratively by the dismal performance of the Celtics, a prolonged hockey lockout, and the Democratic National Convention, is bright and cheery in June for the first time in 21 years.

The Celtics' deepest playoff run since 1987 has been more than an economic boon for the neighborhood, business leaders and residents say.

"It's symbolic of the rebirth of the area," said Robert O'Brien, executive director of the Downtown North Association, a business-oriented advocacy organization representing the downtown, North End, and West End community. "It's exhilarating for everyone."

In the years following the passing of the triumphant Celtics teams, this once-bustling corner of the city fell into disrepute, traversed primarily by commuters hastening in and out of North Station. Neighborhood advocates began working on a redevelopment plan.

"Ten years ago, there were junkies and hookers along Causeway Street," said Josh Davis, a manager and chef at DJ's at The Garden, a recently opened restaurant and bar on Friend Street. "Not only was it empty, but it was unpleasant."

A portion of the redevelopment plan came to fruition in 2004, when the Green Line and highway overpass came down. But a seasonlong professional hockey lockout kept the Garden idle many nights the following winter and perpetuated the atmosphere of a ghost town. And while the Democratic National Convention brought an estimated 35,000 visitors to the city, the lockdown it necessitated effectively kept people out, business owners said.

"The key to surviving here is getting through June, July, and August," said Matt Coleman, a bartender at Sullivan's Tap on Canal Street and a local resident who has seen the changes in the neighborhood firsthand for 22 years. "It was so bad for so long, a lot of people didn't make it."

In recent years, at least nine once-popular establishments have closed their doors, including Mulligan's, Burger King, and Paddy Burke's Pub. Not only was the Garden having trouble selling tickets, fans had trouble giving away tickets. Red Sox jerseys were prevalent. The restaurants and bars in the area were lucky if they were half-full, even during basketball season.

"It's turned around . . . the sellouts, the enthusiasm of the fans who are coming back, people wearing green. Even the streets look wider and brighter," said Derick Mains, a manager at Halftime Pizza on Causeway Street.

Mains said Celtics mania is even more intense now than it was in the 1980s because "it's been so long. Back then, everyone expected the Celtics to be in the finals. Now, there's more excitement."

Along with the excitement, there's tangible development. One million square feet of residences, hotels, office buildings, retail space, and a supermarket are expected to be built in the next three years in the triangle between Causeway, Merrimac, and Washington streets, O'Brien said. And $2 billion worth of development projects are underway in the downtown, North End, and West End.

"Like the Celtics, after 20 years, we are an overnight success," O'Brien said. "Twenty years of planning is now coming to fruition."

There are other tangible changes. Thousands of fans lined up at the arena, some camping out for two days, to get a crack at 1,200 finals tickets released Monday. Local bars and restaurants say their profits have jumped as much as 40 percent over last year. And bartenders and parking lot attendants say people tip more generously because the team's success puts customers in a good mood.

When the Celtics win, everyone wins.


Link (http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/06/05/net_gain/)

[Beton Brut]

Hell of a game tonight. Finish strong or don't finish at all.

[castevens]

Yeah, that was beyond amazing. Tough to watch, but great outcome

[kz1000ps]

Ralph Wiggum had this to say about tonight's game:

"That's unpossible!"
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7058/3a0c0953e74086074c2d553cs1.jpg

[Mike]

http://www.nba.com/media/finals2008/RAPPLocerk_627_080617.jpg

http://www.nba.com/media/finals2008/kgtrophy_627_080617.jpg

[Beton Brut]

I feel 17 again...I don't think I'll be standing on the roof of the Government Center T Station with my bro Billy Mac and a 40 of Schlitz for the rally.

A shame the Greenway isn't on the parade route -- wouldn't that make sense?

[Ron Newman]

Parade route and time is already set?

[unterbau]

Wonder how much wheaties paid for that plug...

[Cojapo]

Awesome! Boston is Titletown!! Amazing to think that players used to have to LEAVE Boston to win. How things have changed!

[Ron Newman]

I was sorry to see workers already starting this morning to remove the huge Larry O'Brien Trophy replica overlooking the Zakim. They should have at least left it up for tomorrow's parade, if not all summer long. People love taking pictures of it and having their pictures taken in front of it.

[Beton Brut]

Knowing the City, they'll replace it with "The Metals (http://www.archboston.org/community/showpost.php?p=55140&postcount=119)" (as skaters of my generation called it).

[Suffolk 83]

Quack k k Quack Quaack Quack

[Suffolk 83]

I got the ball!

[kennedy]

quack quaaaaaack no you didnt!

[Beton Brut]

Anyone see this?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2591021045_01bb3d9c38.jpg

[Suffolk 83]

anybody else getting sick of "rolling rallys" ? The duck boats dont really give you a great opportunity to actually see the players, and what ever happened to a stage, a jumbletron, some music and a mike? This is for the fans right? what about the people that work? I wanna see some memorable moments like Shaq and Madsen dancing during one of the lakers championships. Should be a rally at City Hall Plaza, I swear its just the BPD and the city being lazy

[Ron Newman]

There's one big problem with that idea: City Hall Plaza is currently hosting a Phantom Gourmet Barbeque festival, which is scheduled to run from today through Sunday. There is no room on the plaza to have a rally of any kind.

I think they should have the rally in Franklin Park, which is huge and can easily accommodate the crowd.

[Scott]

Normally I would think that is a good idea except Franklin Park doesn't have the rest room facilities, T access or enough businesses nearby to support such crowds, supposing people would go there because of its reputation.

One good thing is that the BBQ should be a roaring success.

[Merper]

i agree... the rolling rally makes for awesome photo-ops, but for a fan, i'd rather have a more traditional rally - the last one was for the pats' first superbowl win, and we got to see Kraft dancing.

Weird thing is, they actually did do a 'formal' rally. inside the garden. with like 16 people in the stands. Why not fill in the arena? They could even sell concessions! Heck, if they sold tickets, they'd still probably sell out.

[statler]

Yes, these are truly obnoxious but I'd thought I'd share them with you anyway.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4344/motivator7083622ji9.jpg


http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5271/massachusettsbe6.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/dholway/11-10%20and%20on/9years.jpg

[Cojapo]

Spoiled brat!
That kid has no appreciation for the old days! Not that I miss them, it makes what it is like now a days that much more special!

[statler]

Ugh....

[Suffolk 83]

He either shot his way out of town behind the scenes or this is completely retarded

[GW2500]

I think the Pats have been trading horibly lately. Lets do more recent first.
Moss: 33 years old, which is NFL old and is at the end of a contract. This directly translates into Moss being forced to play well this year if he wants another multiyear contract. His age from here on out will be something he will have to constantly prove has not slowed him down yet. If he played poorly this year it would have made his next contract less valuable. And while I subscribe to the philosophy don't overpay for aging talent, especially on long term deals, the Pats totally sold themselvs short. It's almost like they wanted to help the Vikings out. A top reciever that stetches every defense out is not equal to a 3rd round gamble.
The phone call should have gone like this:

Pats: What will you give us for Moss?
Vikings: A 3rd rounder
Pats: Go fuck yourself, click
Want to bet who calls back 30 mins later with a better offer.

And the trade that got me fuming before was Casel, thought the Seymour trade was bullshit too. Lets look at Casel. At the time a 26 year old, groomed by Brady/Bellicheck/McDaniels, decently mobile, and proved he can make all the throws and lead a team to a well above 500 record. A team that just lost it's marquee player. He basically filled Tom Brady's shoes (w/ the exception of a couple early games) and had a record worthy of the playoffs. And we had a throw in an all-star (granted aging) linebacker just to get a fucking 2nd rounder. Is there any athlete more sought after than a young PROVEN NFL QB?

[statler]

Mike Reiss reported (http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4684726/added-piece-in-moss-trade) that there were reports that the Pats traded Moss AND a 2012 7th for the 3rd.

[GW2500]

Free piece of advice for football fans. Harvard football games are a really good take. Ivy league football is good football. Harvards stadium is solid and creates a nice atmosphere. You can get really close to the action. Tickets are 15 bucks, but if you have any kind of college id it's 10. And Redbones has a tent set up to get good food and beer.

edit: Also bands make football even better!