Print | Comments () Posted by Obnoxious Boston Fan October 6, 2011 08:12 PM
The 1972 and 2011 Bruins got together to make a little history of their own Thursday night at the Garden.
The joy of sixth.
Seeing the 1972 Bruins show up along with resident legend Milt Schmidt to raise the 2011 Stanley Cup Championship banner made the 39-year wait seem like 39 minutes. Like everything else in Boston sports – the Bruins celebration was entangled in generational angst and ecstasy. Yes, this really happened.
The ovation for Cam Neely was bone-chillingly sweet. Goosebumps gave way to gooselumps. Except for Jeremy Jacobs , the banner-raising ceremony at the Garden was like a bunch of guys at the corner bar sharing a toast for a job well done. “What do you say we do it again, guys.” Neely said. The Starter jacket going to “Recchi, Recchi, Recchi.” (Does he keep it for good?) It was all so clichéd. But damn good. Can Rene Rancourt sing at my next wedding?
Style, simplicity, grace, class, real emotion. Take that, Red Sox theatrics.
Banner No. 6 went up, the Bruins fell flat 2-1 to the Flyers, but the Yankees got eliminated from the playoffs. All in all, a good night. The post-Cup hangover was evident. At this rate, Brad Marchand will score all 82 goals for Boston this season. Yes, the 2011-12 Bruins are in last place, but I'll panic when they go 7-20 in April.
There have been many unforgettable banner days and nights in the city's history – including Thursday. Given the befuddled state of the Red Sox, the dormancy of the NBA and the Patriots defense, it may a while before the next Duck Boat parade. The Bruins get a three-year pass. With that in mind, we’ve managed to unearth a few Beantown celebrations history missed or (more importantly) cheated us out of. Fiction mixed with a few facts.
1978 American League Champion Red Sox: On April 5, 1979, after Boston raised the pennant and Joe Cronin threw out the first pitch at Fenway – the Red Sox celebrated their 1978 American League title on a chilly, rainy spring afternoon with a 7-1 triumph over Cleveland. The 1978 Red Sox vanquished the Yankees in a playoff game after Yaz won it with a homer in the 9th off Rich Gossage – who was subsequently traded to Boston in the off season for Bob Bailey during one of George Steinbrenner's infamous tirades. ALCS MVP Mike Torrez won two games as the Red Sox beat the Royals. The Sox lost the World Series to Los Angeles in six games as Reggie Smith powered the Dodgers with five home runs.
1986 World Champion Boston Red Sox: Every living Red Sox Hall of Famer was on hand as the "1986 World Champs" banner went up the center field flagpole. Ted Williams walked Mrs. Yawkey to the mound on April 10, 1987 before she handed the ball to Rich Gedman – who subsequently dropped it. On that day – 1986 World Series MVP Bruce Hurst threw a complete-game 3-0 victory against the Blue Jays . Calvin Schiraldi – who saved Game 7 – Bob Stanley - who won Game 7 in relief – and Bill Buckner were lauded as heroes. Buckner received a three-minute standing ovation in recognition of the grand slam he hit in Game 7 to beat the Mets. “Yeah, I can only imagine what people would think of me if we had lost the series after what happened in Game 6,” Buckner said. Content with her only World Series title, Yawkey sold the Red Sox to Donald Trump in 1988.
2010 World Champion Boston Celtics: The Celtics raised their 18th championship banner on Oct 26, 2010 as Heatle LeBron James and his side-kick John Henry looked on at the Garden in disgust prior to Boston’s 88-80 victory over Miami . Boston’s Game 7 victory over the Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals was made memorable by Rasheed Wallace , who played 10 minutes in the 4th quarter without fouling out – scoring nine points and pulling down eight rebounds to lift the Celtics. "I'm no J.D. Drew," Wallace said. "I'm only getting $6 million a year." After the game, Andrew Bynum ripped off Kobe Bryant’s jersey and threw it into the stands before Phil Jackson hit the peyote.
2003 World Champion Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox marked their 2d World Series crown in 17 years on Opening Day 2004 with a raucous celebration at Fenway Park featuring Aerosmith, Wally and the Super Bowl champion Patriots. The 2003 Red Sox – riding the momentum of Pedro Martinez's complete-game victory over the Yankees in Game 7 of the ALCS – steamrolled Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell , and the Florida Marlins 4-1 in the World Series. Boston Manager Grady Little was given a lifetime contract with the team, but retired following the 2011 season. Among the candidates rumored to replace him: former Phillies manager and current TV analyst Terry Francona .
Super Bowl XLII Champion New England Patriots: Before their 2008 opener against the Chiefs (a 17-10 victory on Sept. 7) at Foxboro – the Patriots lowered their 4th Super Bowl championship banner and celebrated the NFL’s only 19-0 season. Team captains Tom Brady and Randy Moss carried the Lombardi Trophy to midfield. Brady was benched for the start of the game after dropping the trophy on his foot but came in after Matt Cassel suffered a knee injury. At kickoff, fans were still buzzing over New England’s 14-10 Super Bowl victory over the Giants and Bill Belichick’s ensuing retirement. The video of Asante Samuel’s title-clinching interception in the final 1:20 highlighted the pregame ceremony. Samuel waved to the crowd – having re-signed with the Pats in the offseason. The Giants had been stung the night before the Super Bowl when Plaxico Burress was arrested in Arizona for not carrying a gun.
1973-74 Stanley Cup Champion Bruins: The “Big Bad Bruins” capped off their mini-dynasty by winning their 3d Stanley Cup in five years with a seven-game thriller over the Philadelphia Flyers. With the Flyers leading 3-2 going into Game 6, Kate Smith lost her voice and was unable to sing "God Bless America." Bobby Clarke went home despondent and the Flyers never recovered. It would be the only time in history when the NBA and NHL titles were won the same year in the same city. On October 13, 1974, Conn Smythe Trophy winner Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito carried the Stanley Cup to center ice surrounded by a cheering throng of 15,003 slightly-inebriated, polyester-clad, chain-smoking fans at the Garden. The Bruins and Maple Leafs then skated to a 2-2 tie . The owners of the team, Storer Broadcasting, were so inspired they would keep the Bruins for several years – passing up a deal to sell to the Jacobs family in 1975. General Manager Harry Sinden , speaking for ownership that night, said: “Do you see where that banner is up there? We’re leaving room for another one.” Adding: “Trust me. We will win it again.’’
Sometimes, you just can't make this stuff up.
Who's got next when it comes to a banner? The Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins or Patriots. Let us know. Post your thoughts here, on our Obnoxious Boston Fan Facebook page or e-mail them to me at obnoxiousbostonfan@hotmail.com . And don't forget to follow us on twitter @realOBF. Thanks for reading. Pass the clicker.
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