Boston Sports Dominance in 2011

All the hype and attention put on today’s New England Patriots/New York Jets game got me thinking about the Boston sports landscape. Over the last several years, all 4 major sports teams in Boston (Bruins, Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics) have made the playoffs on multiple occasions and 3 of the 4 teams have won their league’s championship (Bruins are the exception). As we approach game-time this afternoon, a time when most of New England will be glued to their TVs, I want to present a status report on the 4 major sports in Boston. Let’s start with the obvious and tackle the New England Patriots.

This season has been another impressive chapter in the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era with the Patriots. This team is different than past squads because they field younger talent, specifically at the TE and CB position. They faced some growing pains earlier in the year, losing to this week’s opponent, the Jets, and then the lowly Cleveland Browns, but the team has, in typical Belichick fashion, used each loss as a learning opportunity and a chance to improve in many aspects of the game. The Pat’s 14-2 record and their #1 seed in the AFC made a statement about their success this year and the season isn’t over just yet. The team is as strong as ever going into today’s game and they certainly have a strong chance at making the Super Bowl and possibly taking home another trophy.

Moving from football to basketball, the Boston Celtics are having an equally impressive amount of success. The main difference between the 2 teams is injuries and overcoming them. The Celtics have faced their fair share of injuries this season and have fought (or are fighting) through them to a strong 30-9 record about halfway through their regular season schedule. Like the Red Sox, the Celtics added a big name before this season by signing Shaq, Shaquille O’Neal. He has come up huge recently for the thin, injury-filled front court for the C’s and once Kevin Garnett returns from injury, his role off the bench will be crucial to the team’s continued success down the stretch. Sitting 8 games up on the New York Knicks in the division, the C’s are poised to make yet another run at a title in the NBA. Boston could see banner number 18 raised at the TD Garden during 2011.

From basketball to hockey we go. The Boston Bruins have seen a re-emergence on the top stage over the past several years in hockey after decades of disappointment at the TD Garden. The Bruins were poised for a long run in the post-season last year before a shocking comeback by the Philadelphia Flyers ended their run, but right now, about halfway through their season, the Bruins are playing together and looking like a team to beat in the NHL. With the return of Marc Savard this season after a debilitating concussion put him out of commission for almost an entire season, the team continues to win, sitting atop their division by 2 points over the Montreal Canadians and 3rd among the Eastern Conference’s elite teams. The Bruins are the only major franchise without a championship in the the past decade, but are putting themselves in position for a run at the title this season.

The last, but certainly not least sport is baseball. The team in Boston is your beloved Boston Red Sox of course and about a month before Spring Training, hopes are sky-high. Theo Epstein and his staff have made some of the biggest moves in baseball this off-season, bringing in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, while also adding to the pitching staff by bringing in Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler. It is pretty difficult not being optimistic about this MLB season if you are a Red Sox fan, because they appear to have enough top talent to compete with anyone else in baseball if they stay healthy. Just like the other 3 clubs, the Sox are near the top of their sport and will likely be in the hunt for a playoff spot and even on a path for a 3rd World Series title since 2004.

Overall, the Boston sports landscape looks as strong as it has in years. When you factor in the potential of the New England Revolution soccer team next season, 2011 could be a year filled with parades, rings and trophies. There is still a long way to go for each team, but if you are a Boston sports fan, this is the pinnacle of greatness. The chances all 4+ teams win a championship in 1 year is slim to none at best, but we are lucky just to have 4 highly competitive teams, all with legitimate chances to win on the highest stage. Can any other city boast that type of balance dominance? I don’t think so…