Of course I’m going to brag about my love for Boston sports. Heck, in my lifetime I’ve seen a championship from both the Celtics and the Bruins. I witnessed the Red Sox “reverse the curse” in their fabled 2004 playoff run, and I’ve watched Bill Belichick turn the New England Patriots into the greatest dynasty in the history of sports. But beyond just bringing championships, Boston has provided sparks of hope in times of need and role models to people of all ages. Professional sports in Boston have not just given me something to root for, but have influenced my life in ways I could have never imagined. I can proudly say that Boston sports have shaped me into the person I am today.

Before I go into detail, let’s make one thing clear: Tom Brady is the GOAT, he’s the greatest of all time, end of conversation. Now 95% of you who read this are rolling your eyes, “typical New Englander”. But let me plead my case before you write me off as psycho-obsessed Pats fan. He was selected in the 6th round of NFL Draft, No. 199 overall, going unnoticed by almost every team in the NFL, except the Patriots. He was slow, un-athletic, and had no potential. One scout even went on to say that he didn’t see Brady ever making it further than the practice squad.

Fast forward 16 years to present day. Tom has four Super Bowl wins, three Super Bowl MVPs, and two League MVPs, amongst a plethora of NFL records that he is still building on. But beyond the stats and achievements, Tom is an even better person. He frequently works with the Boston youth, and has been the face of organizations such as Best Buddies, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and the Jimmy Fund. Additionally, in 2012, Tom and his wife donated $1.5 million to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. Perhaps the greatest steal in the history of the NFL Draft, Tom was one of my biggest role models growing up, and he still is today. He captures the ideals of leadership and persistence that we all strive for, and his aura has become one of legend status in the city of Boston and beyond.

Boston has been home to Hall of Famers in all four major sports, including Bobby Orr of the Bruins and Bill Russell of the Celtics, amongst MANY others. However, in my lifetime, it has been two future Hall of Famers that have stood out the most. One of them being the before-mentioned Tom Brady, and the other being the heart of the Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz.

On April 15th, 2013, a day of peace and celebration in the city of Boston was instantly shattered. At the finish line of the beloved Boston Marathon, two bombs went off, shaking the entire city, from the Fens to Southie, and all of America for that matter. Right away we knew what had happened, a terrorist had bombed the finish line of our cities most sacred tradition. And for those first few moments, Boston was lost. We sat by our televisions in complete pandemonium, shocked and at a loss for words. In the weeks that followed we fought to recover and come together, from which evolved the phrase “Boston Strong”. Now Boston is often times referred to as the City of Champions, and in that time of loss and devastation, we turned to those Champions.

David Ortiz emerged as that portal of strength we all needed, and he gave a speech that would cement his legacy as one of Boston’s greats. David stood on the pitchers mound of the historic Fenway Park, sporting a jersey that read “Boston” across the chest, a noticeable change from the normal home white’s that said “Red Sox”. He grabbed the microphone and addressed the sold-out 37,000 person crowd, shouting “This is our f*****g city! And nobody is going to dictate our freedom.” Everyone’s jaw dropped. At that exact moment we all became one. We weren’t students or teachers or fans, we were Boston, and we were unified. One of the most powerful things I have ever witnessed, David’s speech has changed the way I live my life. He showed me that it’s possible to be strong even in the most dire of circumstances. He showed me to stand up for justice and to put myself out there as a beacon of hope when others are in need. I’ll ever forget the day those bombs went off, and I’ll never forget how we rallied together as a city in the months that followed.

The truth of the matter is that sports in the city of Boston are unique. In most places, professional sports are simply entertainment, a forum where fans can step aside from reality for a couple of hours. Yet in Boston, sports are our reality. I probably just sound like a crazed fan, but that’s because I am. Boston sports have been one of the most influential aspects in my life, and I can’t imagine being brought up in any other city in the world.

Boston Strong.