Boston has been one of the biggest and most talked about sports cities in recent memory. As a 21 year old, I have been alive to see Boston sports teams win 12 championships. A statistic like that is unheard of and while it has fueled pride, joy and possibly a little cockiness amongst Boston sports fans, it has also fueled mass hatred for Boston sports by other cities. While the easy comeback to a Boston sports hater is to tell them to screw off, their teams suck and yours are awesome, I am going to tell you what to say the next time someone comes after your teams.
Let's face the facts, as a Boston sports fan, we are always on the defense from any other sports buff outside of New England. Due to Boston's track record in winning, almost every other city in the country roots against us. No matter what team the Patriots have played in their 11 Super Bowl appearances, polls have consistently determined that the majority of the country roots for their opponent. Does Joe from Wisconsin really want the Seahawks to win? No, he just hates Boston sports and wants to see us lose. So, not only do Boston sports fans have to deal with the rest of the country hating them, they also have to listen to the countless accusations of cheating, critiques of management's cut throat tendencies and shaming for lack of loyalty to players amongst many more insults and arguments. However, even amongst these accusations and critiques there is always a comeback that is almost impossible to argue with:
We have won 12 championships in the last 20 years.
The Boston sports haters can say whatever they want, however they cannot argue with the fact that whatever Boston sports teams may be in their eyes –cheaters, schemers, liars – they are also champions…year after year. Now, you can't just say that, trust me I've tried. The Boston haters will dismiss this mind boggling fact and instead continue to come after you for why we suck and the championships were rigged or unwarranted (eyeroll). Here's what you tell them next. Tell them that yes, we are cocky but more than that we are believers in our teams. Having your team be so far down, down 28-3 in the third quarter of the Super Bowl versus the Falcons or down 3-0 in the American League Championship Series versus the Yankees, and still come out victorious adds a confidence in your team and your players that you need when you are losing or facing adversity. That confidence and belief is vital when your team is down because you don't lose faith in them and you recognize that a game or a series is never over until it is over.
And guess what? We've lost too. We've had heartbreaking ones, brutal ones, earth-shattering losses. Remember when the Bruins lost in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Blues? Me too. I had already taken off work to go to the parade and spent the next two weeks groaning. But those losses have made the wins even more sweet. Boston sports have given me happiness spanning from screaming for the Bruins at the victory parade in 2011 or watching Malcolm Butler intercept the pass from Russell Wilson in 2018, or tearing up watching Paul Pierce grab that ball in 2008.
I may be biased, this winning streak may not last forever, the rest of the country may hate my teams, however my teams have brought me 12 championships, jaw-dropping moments, a community of believers, a city that lives and breathes sports and immeasurable joy the past 20 years that I would not trade for the world.
