Title town has returned. Well, probably.
Anyone from New England knows it’s been a rough stretch for Boston sports. While the big four—the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots, and Bruins—have combined for a total of 40 championships all time, there’s been a drought in the City of Champions. Since the legendary 2018 double-up, when the Patriots and Red Sox won championships, Boston teams didn’t win another title until the Celtics finally got over the hump in the 2024 NBA Finals.
If you’ve tuned into 98.5 The Sports Hub during a commute home or had a conversation with your sports-obsessed uncle at a family gathering, you’ve probably heard the same self-diagnosed-sports-guru rambles over and over again: “The Patriots can’t draft for the life of them,” “The Red Sox won’t spend any money,” “The Bruins always choke.” To be honest, I don’t disagree with a lot of these takes. However, the future doesn’t look too shabby if you ask me.
For starters, the Celtics are on the cusp of another championship. Coming off a swift 16-3 championship run last year, the Celtics picked up where they left off and finished the regular season second in the Eastern Conference. The key to Celtics success has been the team’s depth of talent. With starters like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis missing 20 and 40 games, respectively, the Celtics bench stepped up, and the team developed strong chemistry across all rotations. Ranking third in the league in bench net rating (points scored per 100 possessions minus points allowed per 100 possessions), the Celtics bench has been a cornerstone for the team.
“When asked what kind of tone he would set on the O-line, Campbell let it be known that he’ll do whatever it takes: ‘I’m gonna fight and die to protect [Maye] with everything I’ve got.’ It doesn’t get much grittier than that.”
Currently, the Celtics are up against the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. After an unexpected game three, where the Celtics narrowly lost 95-93 in a controversial ending, it doesn’t look like the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic are backing down. Regardless, since the Celtics aren’t currently suffering from any major injuries, and there’s little competition ahead of them in the East besides the Cleveland Cavaliers, banner 19 might not be too far away for the reigning champs.
Three miles down the street, there’s hope it’s finally that time again at Fenway Park. After trading and letting go of fan favorites Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Chris Sale, as well as missing the playoffs for five of the last six seasons, it seems like the Red Sox might have finally struck a chord. Giving way to fan frustration over the team’s stingy spending, John Henry and the Red Sox front office pulled out the checkbook this offseason to sign third baseman Alex Bregman (three years, $120 million) and pitcher Garrett Crochet (six years, $170 million). And, so far, it’s paid off. Leading the team in runs batted in (22), batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.402), and home runs (5), Bregman has started the season swinging. Likewise, Crochet has been dishing it out on the mound with an elite ERA of 1.95 (12th in the MLB).
While Bregman and Crochet have gotten off to a strong start, the same can’t entirely be said for the rest of the team. After a shaky 1-4 start to the season, the Sox have somewhat pulled it together and currently rank second in the American League East with a record of 15-14. While their record looks good on paper, and fans longing for the 2018 glory days are more than ready to jump on the ’Sox bandwagon, there are dangerous holes in the team’s performance. Our three-time All-Star, designated hitter Rafael Devers, is currently tied for the second-most strikeouts in the MLB (36). So much for a designated hitter.
Additionally, the Red Sox’s sloppy defense has earned the team a spot at the bottom of the league in team errors per game (1.00) and contributed to disturbing blowout losses to the Rays (16-1) and White Sox (11-1). Regardless, there certainly seems to be a new aura of confidence and hope surrounding the team.
As far as the Patriots go, after a failed trial last season with Head Coach Jerod Mayo, the team hired three-time Patriots Super Bowl Champion Mike Vrabel. Under Vrabel, the team has had a stellar offseason and a draft that several analysts are calling the best in recent history. After rookie quarterback Drake Maye got sacked 34 times last season, the Patriots selected offensive tackle Will Campbell with their first-round pick.
When asked what kind of tone he would set on the O-line, Campbell let it be known that he’ll do whatever it takes: “I’m gonna fight and die to protect [Maye] with everything I’ve got.” It doesn’t get much grittier than that. The Patriots also drafted running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Kyle Williams, who will undoubtedly elevate the Pats’ offense alongside the other newly signed veteran wide receivers — Super Bowl Champion Mack Hollins and four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs.
I won’t get started on the 33-39 Bruins … hopefully they figure it out, but at the end of the day, there’s still one question to answer: Is Boston back? Obviously, I can’t say for sure, but the odds look pretty good that a championship or two is coming home to Boston.
