As a lifelong sports fan in the city of Boston , I can honestly say life is good.
The last 15 years here in the Bean have been euphoria. Coming of age in the 80s and nineties the growing pains of Bostons ascension into the upper echelon has been a test of patience. To experience the brilliance of Tom Brady defying age over and over again and seeing the Red Sox waltz to victory is pure bliss .
But the glory has not come easy , Diehard loyalty and a passion for our beloved teams through the pain has made us appreciate the success we enjoy today .
So to appreciate our gratitude here are some of the not so awesome moments in Boston Sports History.
Boston Celtics 1977-1979 (The Great Depression)
My first memories of the Celtics was the 1976 Celtics , the Green continued their dynastic , reign by defeating the Phoenix Sun’s ,led by John Havliceck Dave Cowens, and Jo Jo White . I remember as a kid being awoken in the wee hours of the night by my brother and his friends yelling at the TV I witnessed the thrilling win over the Sun’s in triple overtime. I never even knew what life was like past 12 am . Nothing would prepare me however for the free fall in the following years watching the champions plummet into the great depression of 1977-1979 . As injuries and age took its toll , the magic quickly vanished. Havliceck would retire at 38 and Cowens shortly thereafter , the Celtics depleted of its core would scramble for any combination of players that could restore their prominence . Unfortunately the pickings where of journeymen , whose best days were behind them . Kermit Washington , Marvin Barnes, Ernie D Digregorio , Dave Bing, Sidney Wicks, all fell short . McFadden and Whiteheads song Ain’t No Stopping Us Now , would play between the commercials of televised games a temporary glimmer of hope would surge through me to ..only to be dashed . The reality was icy , unforgiving , cold,…. soulless.
Ole Bucky F$@×+++g Dent.
Forever transfixed into the hard drive of the Ole school subconscious of Boston’s Fandom is the bone crushing, surreal moment on October 2 1978 . Not known for his hitting Dent became Boston History when after hitting a ball off of his foot , on the very next pitch smashed a line drive over the 37ft “Green Monster”
The 3 run Homer gave the dreaded Yankees the lead , as they went on to capture the series and later another title.
Also a name change as Dent would go on to be known as colloquially Bucky F**%$g Dent . The lifespan of the average Red Sox Fan decreased due to stress and misery of losing to the ” Evil Empire”
1983 Milwaukee Bucks Sweep of The Boston Celtics
The only consolation from the horror of the Celtics being swept , by the Bucks in 83 was perhaps not having to face the Philadelphia 76ers in the next round who most likely would’ve swept them anyway .
This was shocking to say the least . Boston had won the Championship two years earlier and stood as one of the elite teams in the league. Like a swarm of locust Milwaukee took a two game lead in the Bean. Getting outplayed in every way . Bird and Co. were in a coma clumsily bumbling around completely out of sync .
Sidney Moncrief , and Marques Johnson were like a pair of iceskaters doing pirouettes on the stunned Celtics. When the Green would come up for air , they walked into a custard style ambush in Milwaukee for games 3 and 4.
I remember watching it all and being so overwhelmed , my feelings never got a chance to catch up to my thoughts . Rather than process it all I pushed it to the far, far , far recesses of my brain . Milwaukee who? , when was that ?
I don’t recall !!!!!
The Death of Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Not so much a sports moment , but a moment for one of the most respected , appreciated sports legends in Boston .
On March 13 2021 one of our heroes got his wings. Born in Newark New Jersey
In the projects Marvin was introduced to boxing at the age of 10 where he would go on to enter as an amateur , His record was an impressive 55-1
In 1973 he entered into the professional ranks , where he emerged as a fierce and dangerous prospect , who ranked fighters actively avoided . After a lengthy period of being a top contender Hagler finally got his chance in 1979 against Vito Antuofermo for a title. Hagler controlled most of the fight , and Antuofermo came on later to close the gap and force a draw . By a large majority of Boxing critics Hagler won the fight unanimously . Vito retained the title and Hagler was denied . Success would come almost a year later with a brutal win over champion Alan Minter. Hagler’s victory would be bitter sweet as the crowd hurled bottles , glass and chairs . After such a long quest , Hagler couldn’t get the respect he deserved. Undaunted by the Minter incident , Hagler went on to reign in the Middleweight division . His legacy would forge him by the Ring magazine as the fourth greatest middleweights in boxing history. A 78% knockout percentage ,highest of all undisputed middleweights . 12 title defenses (ranked 6th amongst middleweights) including wins over, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Juan Roldan and John Mugabi.
As notable of Hagler’s accomplishments as a fighter was Hagler’s cultural impact on New England and what he epitomized . Hagler was an everyday man who represented the blue collar sensibilities of the average working person . He was bald, plainspoken , down to earth , non flashy. When retired he instead of living in a more opulent location such as Hollywood,, Miami, Las Vegas or New York City chose to live in a remote town of 3,000 in New Hampshire His long haul to greatness his generosity , and magnanimity was admired by the millions of dreamers across greater Boston and the world. I had the pleasure of meeting Hagler once at a hotel that I worked out of with my limo business. I shook his hand as he said to me “Good to see you brother” as if we were Ole buddies
He then jumped into an old outdated limo of one of his friends uninterested in the appearance of glamor or relevance Hagler whisked away only concerned with helping his friend . Hagler will be missed dearly .
The Aaron Hernandez Saga
The New England Patriots incredible dynasty winning 6 superbowls will in the eyes of many will not go unblemished. Found guilty for spying on New York jets coaches calling plays , and deliberately deflating footballs to gain an advantage , New England’s respectability warrants much disdain by football fans across the country. Within the Patriot fan base however their loyalty is unbreakable , much like the stone expressionless , unemotional exterior of coach Bill Bellichick . One event which permeated the landscape of the Patriots legacy , was the saga of Aaron Hernandez .
After three years in the NFL Hernandez was a rising star , alongside Rob Gronkowski he formed one of the league’s most dominant tight end duos, becoming the first pair to score at least five touchdowns each in consecutive seasons for the same team. Later Hernandez secured a 40 million dollar contract extension seeming to gain the New England franchises confidence amidst , skepticism from the league about Aaron’s past. Eventually the reservations that caused the NFL teams to pass on him and resulted in him being drafted in the fourth round 113th overall were of substance .
On June 26 2013
Aaron Hernandez was led out of his Attleboro home in handcuffs . He was indicted , convicted , and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his friend Odin Lloyd. another indictment would follow , as he went on trial for the murder of two Cape Verdean immigrants, he was acquitted in that trial , but five days later Hernandez was found dead, hung in his cell by an apparent Suicide .
Under Massachusetts law a rule called Abatement , allowed the conviction to be vacated , because Hernandez’s case was under appeal at the time . The prosecution moved to appeal the ruling as the Odin family awaits with a civil suit that has been further complicated.
The impact of The Aaron Hernandez Case
Has underscored the parable of the fallen athlete who in their height of glory has managed to screw it all up . It has also become a case study evolving around the pathology of victims of trauma. Aaron was posthumously diagnosed with CTE a degenerative brain disease, and a victim of an abusive father ,and possibly a closeted gay man . There is alot here to sort out . Theories will be hatched for decades to come ,but never will be forgotten “The Aaron Hernandez Saga”
Red Sox lose game 7 ALCS 2003
The Sox are a deity in Boston . Even in the Celtics championship reign of the eighties , the conversation would always turn to the struggling Red Sox and what their prospects were for the season. I remember when the Patriots won their first superbowl in 2002 , within a few days everyone started to wonder what the Sox were gonna do . The devotion to the Redsox was like a mother’s love for her only child. Disappointment became commonplace who could gripe the most of the Soxs misfortunes . To be a Sox Fan was pure masochism The Redsox s misfortunes turned around in the early 2000s with a new ownership of John Henry . The right acquisitions took form and the Redsox roster ,turned into Championship caliber. The culmination of the savvy investments earned the Sox a 7 game AlCS showdown with their arch rivals Yankees in October of 2003 . The stage was set ,the Sox led 5-2 in the bottom of the 8th. Pedro Martinez was on the mound . Having to face the meat of the lineup with 113 pitches thrown it was probably time to retire Martinez . The worries increased as Derek Jeter hit a double , followed by a single by Bernie Williams, that drove Jeter home . A trip to the mound by Redsox manager Grady Little ensued for sure he would remove Pedro . Martinez remained ,the next batter Matsui hit a double to right field advancing Williams to third. With only one out Jorge Posada stepped to the plate it was becoming apparent , Martinez was fading fast, .
Martinez seemed to compose himself , with a 2-2 count and in position to gun Posada down . The Yankees momentum continued as Jorge blasted a shot into a gap in center field between three Sox defenders , driving both Williams and Matsui home . Finally Grady Little sat the exhausted Pedro Martinez down .
However it was too late in the bottom of the 11th inning Aaron Boone homered to crush the hopes of the long awaited Redsox return to the World Series .
Not at all in vain the Sox would revenge their defeat to the dreaded Yankees the very next year ,coming back 0-3 to go on to win their first World Series in 86 years .
More Championships would follow in 2007, 2013 and 2018. The Sox dynasty sprung a new Era for the Millennials , and Gen Zer’s to have hope and spirit , unlike the aggrieved old school Townies who bared the anguish of disappointment for so many years .
For those of us who remember the pain and suffering 💔 it’s all the more sweeter. 😊
