Last week in the Boston Globe, Dan Shaughnessy wrote an interesting article stating if the Celtics had overtaken the Red Sox as the number two team in town. It got me thinking, and I have to agree with Shaughnessy, it's a Patriots and Celtics town right now. The Red Sox the past two years have been a nice 93 win team but always bowing out in the first round of the playoffs whereas the Celtics have been improving and came off a crazy season going to the Eastern Conference Finals. In the article one of the main reasons for his reasoning is what you hear on talk radio and that is the point I'll be breaking down.

Shaughnessy states that in August, a New England sports survey conducted research that showed the Red Sox still as number two in the state. However, this survey was taken before we saw what Kyrie could do and before 16 in a row. Ever since both of those events, this team has been the talk of the town it feels like. He also interviewed sports talk hosts from both 98.5 and 93.7 and they both stated, the Celtics have definitely taken over. Mike Felger from 98.5 on the topic said "Its the Celtics absolutely. The Celtics have it the passion of the fans. When we talk about the Red Sox, it gets going but it's the same 20 older gentlemen that call us. I feel that the Celtics talk is much younger and louder". As an avid sports talk listener, I can agree to this. I will be listening to 98.5 at work and every call is either Patriots or Celtics mainly. Why are more people calling about the Celtics? I think its that this team is much more likable. One of the main complaints about the Red Sox is that they just weren't a likeable team. The personalities there right now make them seem like a bunch of entitled veterans who act like babies and just isn't a good look. Whereas the Celtics have a bunch of likable personalities and they do something the Red Sox couldn't win consistently. In Boston, we like winners and the Celtics rattled off a 16 game win streak (without Gordon Hayward) whereas the Red Sox gave us the same old result as last year, have a decent end of the season and bow out in the first round. When the Red Sox were the number 2 team in town, they were a likable team with players like David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Jon Lester, and so on. You may not think likeability is an important factor but ask the TV ratings. People watch teams that they can get attached to and if you look at the ratings last year, the Red Sox are going in one direction and the Celtics another. The Red Sox while still slightly higher than the Celtics, had a 12% drop in ratings this year. Celtics on the other hand, up 165%. People like watching the Celtics because they can find players that they like and can attach themselves to. Whereas the Red Sox it's much tougher to do so.

Overall, I think the signs are clear, the Celtics are the new number two team in town if not already. You can just feel it, people are talking about this team and they are winning which makes fans want to buy in. Last week I wrote about the Red Sox and Stanton but that has died out, so now what with them? There are rumors of them interested in Jose Abreau from the White Sox but how many people are actually talking about this? Unless your a baseball reporter, not many people in the town of Boston are. Celtics though? "Did you see the game last night?" or something about Kyrie or are they better than team x. The Celtics have everyone talking, young and old whereas the Red Sox, it's an older crowd. Being a Celtics fan, I'm happy to see the success they're having around town since I always felt they were second fiddle. Seeing how much attention they're getting now around here, just makes me happy. Watch out Red Sox, the Celtics have come for or are coming for your spot and Boston will soon be a basketball city again (behind the Patriots obviously).