\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a lifelong sports fan in the city of Boston , I can honestly say life is good.<\/p>\n
The last 15 years here in the Bean have\u00a0 been euphoria.\u00a0\u00a0 Coming of age in the 80s and nineties the growing pains of Bostons ascension into the upper echelon has been\u00a0 a test of patience.\u00a0\u00a0 To experience the brilliance of Tom Brady\u00a0 defying age over and over again and seeing the Red Sox\u00a0 waltz to victory\u00a0 is pure bliss .<\/p>\n
But the glory has not come easy\u00a0 ,\u00a0 Diehard loyalty and a passion for our beloved\u00a0 teams through the pain has made us appreciate the success\u00a0 we enjoy today .<\/p>\n
So to appreciate\u00a0 our gratitude here are some of the not so awesome moments in Boston Sports History.<\/p>\n
Boston Celtics\u00a0 1977-1979 (The Great Depression)<\/p>\n
My first memories of the Celtics was the 1976 Celtics , the Green continued their\u00a0 dynastic\u00a0 , reign by defeating the Phoenix Sun\u2019s\u00a0 ,led by John Havliceck\u00a0 Dave Cowens, and Jo Jo White .\u00a0 I remember as a kid\u00a0 being awoken in the\u00a0 wee hours of the night by my brother and his friends yelling at the\u00a0 TV\u00a0\u00a0 I witnessed the\u00a0 thrilling win over the Sun\u2019s in triple overtime.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I never even knew what life was like past 12 am .\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing would prepare me however\u00a0 for the free fall in\u00a0 the following years\u00a0 watching the\u00a0 champions\u00a0 plummet\u00a0 into the great depression of 1977-1979\u00a0 .\u00a0 As injuries and age\u00a0 took its toll , the magic quickly vanished.\u00a0\u00a0 Havliceck would retire at 38 and Cowens shortly thereafter , the Celtics\u00a0 depleted of its core would scramble for any combination of players that could restore their prominence . Unfortunately\u00a0 the pickings where of journeymen , whose best days were behind them .\u00a0 Kermit Washington , Marvin Barnes,\u00a0 Ernie D Digregorio ,\u00a0 Dave Bing, Sidney Wicks,\u00a0 all fell short .\u00a0\u00a0 McFadden\u00a0 and Whiteheads song Ain\u2019t No Stopping Us Now , would play between the commercials of televised games\u00a0 a temporary\u00a0 glimmer of hope would surge through me to ..only to be dashed\u00a0 .\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The reality\u00a0 was icy , unforgiving\u00a0 ,\u00a0 cold,\u2026.\u00a0 soulless.<\/p>\n
Ole Bucky\u00a0 F$@\u00d7+++g\u00a0\u00a0 Dent.<\/p>\n
Forever transfixed into the hard drive of\u00a0 the Ole school subconscious\u00a0 of Boston\u2019s Fandom is\u00a0 the bone crushing,\u00a0 surreal moment on October 2 1978 . Not known for his hitting Dent became\u00a0 Boston History when after hitting a ball off of his foot\u00a0 , on the very next pitch smashed a line drive over the 37ft \u201cGreen Monster\u201d<\/p>\n
The 3 run Homer gave the dreaded Yankees the lead ,\u00a0 as they went on to capture the series and\u00a0 later another title.
\nAlso a name change as\u00a0 Dent\u00a0 would go on to be known as colloquially\u00a0\u00a0 Bucky\u00a0 F**%$g Dent .\u00a0\u00a0 The lifespan of the average Red Sox Fan decreased due to stress and misery of losing to the \u201d Evil Empire\u201d<\/p>\n
1983 Milwaukee\u00a0 Bucks Sweep of The Boston Celtics<\/p>\n
The only consolation\u00a0 from the horror of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Celtics being swept , by the Bucks\u00a0 in 83\u00a0 was perhaps not having to face the Philadelphia 76ers in the next round who most likely would\u2019ve swept them\u00a0\u00a0 anyway .<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 Like a swarm of locust\u00a0 Milwaukee\u00a0 took a two game lead in the Bean.\u00a0 Getting outplayed\u00a0 in every way . Bird and Co. were in a coma clumsily bumbling around completely out of sync .<\/p>\n
Sidney Moncrief , and Marques Johnson were like a pair\u00a0 of iceskaters\u00a0 doing pirouettes on the stunned Celtics.\u00a0 When the Green would come up for air , they walked into a custard style ambush\u00a0 in Milwaukee for games 3 and 4.
\nI remember\u00a0 watching it all and being so overwhelmed , my feelings never got a chance\u00a0 to catch up to my thoughts\u00a0 .\u00a0 Rather than process it all\u00a0 I pushed it to the far, far , far recesses of my brain .\u00a0\u00a0 Milwaukee who? , when was that ?<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t recall !!!!!<\/p>\n
The Death of Marvelous\u00a0 Marvin Hagler<\/p>\n
Not so much a sports moment , but a moment for one of the most respected , appreciated\u00a0 sports legends in Boston .<\/p>\n
On March 13 2021 one of our heroes got his wings.\u00a0 Born in Newark New Jersey
\nIn the projects Marvin was introduced to boxing at the age of 10 where he would go on to enter as an amateur ,\u00a0 His record\u00a0\u00a0 was an impressive\u00a0 55-1<\/p>\n
In 1973 he entered into the professional\u00a0 ranks\u00a0\u00a0 , where he emerged as a fierce\u00a0 and dangerous prospect\u00a0 , who ranked fighters actively avoided . After a lengthy period of being a top contender Hagler finally got his chance in 1979 against Vito Antuofermo\u00a0 for a title.\u00a0 Hagler controlled most of the fight , and Antuofermo\u00a0 came on later to close the gap and force\u00a0 a draw .\u00a0 By a large majority of Boxing critics Hagler won the fight unanimously . Vito retained the title and Hagler was denied . Success would come almost\u00a0 a year later with a brutal win\u00a0 over\u00a0 champion\u00a0 Alan Minter.\u00a0 Hagler\u2019s victory\u00a0 would be bitter sweet as the\u00a0 crowd hurled\u00a0 bottles , glass and chairs .\u00a0 After such a long quest , Hagler couldn\u2019t get the respect he deserved.\u00a0 Undaunted by the Minter incident , Hagler went on to reign in the Middleweight division . His legacy\u00a0 would forge him\u00a0 by the Ring magazine as the fourth greatest middleweights in boxing history.\u00a0\u00a0 A 78% knockout percentage ,highest of all undisputed middleweights .\u00a0\u00a0 12 title defenses (ranked 6th amongst middleweights)\u00a0 including wins over,\u00a0 Roberto Duran,\u00a0 Tommy Hearns, Juan Roldan\u00a0 and John Mugabi.<\/p>\n
As notable of Hagler\u2019s accomplishments\u00a0 as a fighter was\u00a0 Hagler\u2019s 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 .\u00a0\u00a0 He was bald, plainspoken , down to earth , non flashy.\u00a0 When retired he instead of living in a\u00a0 more opulent location such as Hollywood,, Miami, Las Vegas or New York City\u00a0 chose to live in a remote town\u00a0 of 3,000 in New Hampshire His long haul to greatness his generosity , and magnanimity was admired by the millions of\u00a0 dreamers across greater Boston and the world.\u00a0 I had the pleasure of meeting Hagler once at a hotel that\u00a0 I worked out of with my limo business.\u00a0 I shook his hand as he said to me \u201cGood to see you brother\u201d\u00a0 as if we were Ole buddies
\nHe then jumped into an old outdated limo of one of his friends\u00a0 uninterested\u00a0 in the appearance of glamor or relevance Hagler whisked away only concerned with helping his friend .\u00a0 Hagler\u00a0 will be missed dearly .<\/p>\n
The Aaron\u00a0 Hernandez Saga<\/p>\n
The New England Patriots incredible\u00a0 dynasty\u00a0 winning 6 superbowls will in the eyes of many will not go unblemished.\u00a0\u00a0 Found guilty for spying on New York jets coaches calling plays , and deliberately deflating footballs to gain an advantage , New England\u2019s\u00a0 respectability warrants much disdain by football fans\u00a0 across the country.\u00a0 Within the Patriot fan base however their loyalty\u00a0 is\u00a0 unbreakable , much like the\u00a0\u00a0 stone expressionless , unemotional exterior of coach Bill Bellichick .\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 One event\u00a0 which permeated the landscape of the Patriots legacy , was the saga of Aaron Hernandez .<\/p>\n
After three years in the NFL Hernandez was a rising star ,\u00a0 alongside Rob Gronkowski\u00a0 he formed one of the league\u2019s most dominant tight end duos, becoming the first pair to score at least five touchdowns each in consecutive seasons for the same team.\u00a0\u00a0 Later\u00a0 Hernandez secured a 40 million dollar contract extension\u00a0 seeming to gain the New England franchises confidence amidst ,\u00a0 skepticism\u00a0 from the league about Aaron\u2019s past.\u00a0\u00a0 Eventually the reservations that caused the NFL teams to pass on him and resulted\u00a0 in him being drafted in the fourth round 113th\u00a0 overall were of substance .<\/p>\n
On June 26 2013
\nAaron Hernandez\u00a0 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.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 another indictment\u00a0 would follow , as he went on trial for the murder of two Cape Verdean immigrants,\u00a0 he was acquitted\u00a0\u00a0 in that trial , but\u00a0\u00a0 five days later Hernandez\u00a0 was found dead,\u00a0\u00a0 hung in his cell\u00a0 by an apparent\u00a0 Suicide .<\/p>\n
Under Massachusetts law a rule\u00a0\u00a0 called Abatement , allowed the conviction to be vacated , because Hernandez\u2019s case\u00a0 was under appeal at the time .\u00a0\u00a0 The prosecution moved to appeal the\u00a0 ruling\u00a0 as the Odin family\u00a0 awaits with a civil suit that has been further\u00a0 complicated.<\/p>\n
The impact of The Aaron Hernandez\u00a0 Case<\/p>\n
Has underscored the parable of the fallen athlete\u00a0 who in their height of\u00a0 glory has managed to screw it all up . It has also become a case study evolving around\u00a0 the pathology of victims of trauma. Aaron was posthumously diagnosed\u00a0 with CTE a degenerative\u00a0 brain disease, and a victim of\u00a0 an abusive father ,and possibly a closeted gay man\u00a0 . There\u00a0 is alot here to sort out .\u00a0\u00a0 Theories will be hatched for decades\u00a0 to come ,but never will be forgotten\u00a0 \u201cThe Aaron Hernandez Saga\u201d<\/p>\n
Red Sox lose game 7 ALCS\u00a0 2003<\/p>\n
The Sox are a deity in Boston .\u00a0\u00a0 Even in the Celtics championship reign\u00a0\u00a0 of the eighties , the conversation would always turn to the struggling\u00a0 Red Sox and what\u00a0 their prospects were for the season.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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 .\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The devotion to the Redsox was like a mother\u2019s love for her only child.\u00a0\u00a0 Disappointment became commonplace who could gripe the most of the Soxs misfortunes . To be a Sox Fan\u00a0 was pure masochism\u00a0 \u00a0The Redsox s misfortunes turned around in the early 2000s with a new ownership of\u00a0 John Henry . The right acquisitions took form and the Redsox roster ,turned into Championship\u00a0 caliber. The culmination\u00a0 of the savvy investments earned the Sox a 7 game\u00a0 AlCS showdown with their arch rivals\u00a0 Yankees in October of 2003 .\u00a0 The stage was set\u00a0 ,the Sox led 5-2 in the bottom of the 8th. Pedro Martinez was on the mound .\u00a0\u00a0 Having to face the\u00a0 meat of the lineup with 113 pitches thrown it was probably time to retire Martinez .\u00a0 The worries increased as Derek Jeter hit a double ,\u00a0 followed by a single by Bernie Williams, that drove Jeter home .\u00a0 A trip to the mound by Redsox manager\u00a0 Grady Little\u00a0 ensued\u00a0 for sure he would remove Pedro\u00a0 .\u00a0 Martinez remained\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ,the next batter Matsui\u00a0\u00a0 hit a double to right field\u00a0 advancing Williams to third.\u00a0\u00a0 With only one out Jorge Posada stepped to the plate\u00a0 it was becoming apparent , Martinez was fading fast,\u00a0 .<\/p>\n
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 ,\u00a0 driving both Williams\u00a0 and Matsui home .\u00a0 Finally Grady Little sat the exhausted Pedro Martinez\u00a0 down .<\/p>\n
However it was too late\u00a0 in the bottom of the 11th inning Aaron Boone homered to crush the hopes of the long awaited Redsox return\u00a0 to the World Series .<\/p>\n
Not at all in vain the Sox would revenge their defeat to the\u00a0 dreaded Yankees the very next year ,coming back 0-3\u00a0 to go on to win their\u00a0 first World\u00a0 Series in 86 years .
\nMore Championships would follow in 2007,\u00a0 2013 and 2018.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Sox dynasty sprung a new Era for the Millennials\u00a0 , and Gen Zer\u2019s to have hope and spirit , unlike the aggrieved old school Townies who bared the anguish of\u00a0 disappointment\u00a0 for so many years .<\/p>\n
For\u00a0 those of us who remember\u00a0 the pain and suffering \ud83d\udc94\u00a0 it\u2019s all the more sweeter. \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 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\u00a0 been euphoria.\u00a0\u00a0 Coming of age in the 80s and nineties the growing pains of Bostons ascension into the upper echelon has been\u00a0 a test of patience.\u00a0\u00a0 To […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n