OneTake Radio 5/30 - It's About the Program

Fun episode of OTR after the Celtics debacle on Monday night in game 7. A lot of talk from B-Rider and Tavis Ino about the state of the Celtics, the state of Boston sports, blah blah blah. Here was my argument and here remains my argument: it's about the program.

Last 5 years in 4 major sports:

2 titles (1 SB, 1 WS), Bruins and Celtics have made Finals appearances

Last 10 years:

5 titles (3 SB, 2 WS), 2 Bruins Finals appearances, 1 for Celtics

Last 20 years:

11 titles (5 SB, 4 WS, 1 NBA, 1 Stanley Cup)

All-Time:

Too much for my brain...

Have the Celtics been the preeminent franchise in the NBA in the past 20 years? No, they have not. They are a top 5 franchise, behind the Spurs, Lakers, Warriors, and Heat.

Have the Bruins been the preeminent franchise in the NHL over the past 20 years? No, they have not. I would put them as well in that top 5 range with multiple deep playoff runs, probably 4th behind the Lighting, Blackhawks, and Penguins.

Have the Patriots? Easy yes. Have the Red Sox? Not as easy, but I'd still say yes. SF Giants and Astros in that conversation, though the Astros cheated significantly and Giants had too concentrated of a run.

As far as the Boston 'city of champions' moniker, I will trust TI's assessment that i used to say that when we worked together 5+ years ago, and I stand by it, though that is not a term I find myself using often. I believe San Francisco has the next best claim to that moniker for their body of work, though they have not had as much recent success in football, while still a top tier franchise, and three of the four recent Warriors titles took place while the team was based in Oakland, though I do not hold that against them.

Happy to hear a counterargument back... did the Celtics deserve to win the title this year? No. Are we hanging banners for 5 conference title appearances in the last 7 years for them? No, we are not doing that either. But let the WEEI talk radio short term, clickbait talking points seep into your brain at your own peril. I stand by my words: we know it's not realistic to win every title every year, and that's the point. In Boston, it's about the body of work... it's about the program.