By Sam Schiffman ‘21

Boston is home to many great sports teams, both of this generation and past. Each team has had its ups and downs, but the one constant has been the fanbase of Boston sports teams. Being a Boston sports fan has been tough at times, but rather easy recently. The people of Boston follow many rituals, traditions, and rules. Here are the keys to the integrity of being a Boston sports fan:

1. One of the most important rules of being a Boston sports fan is knowing the history. Luckily for me, in my lifetime Boston has been fortunate in having great teams, but it has not always been a dynasty. We have seen things such as the curse of the Bambino, a 86 year drought in which the Red Sox did not win a World Series. It may seem like an annual tradition for the Patriots to go to the Super Bowl, but before Tom Brady, the Pats did not know the feeling of winning a championship. Being a Boston sports fan in this day and age is all about being grateful for the dynasty that has been built, while also knowing the past.

2. Hating other teams is also a major part of what it means to be a Boston sports fan. The sight of a Yankees logo is unacceptable in the streets of Boston. Not to mention the hating of New York in general. A small reason for this hatred is the Giants ruining the Patriots near-perfect season in 2007, by beating them in the Super Bowl. Some other rivels in Boston include the Los Angeles Lakers; the Celtics have met the Lakers a total of 12 times in the NBA finals, in which the Celtics won 9 of those 12. The last of these prominent rivalries is the Canadians. The Bruins-Canadiens rivalry is often referred to as the greatest rivalry in sports. In a sport more physical than any other, you can expect that things will get heated. The confrontations between these two teams have often led to on-ice fights and even some tension between fans. Boston fans certainly love cheering for their team, but also have an intensity for booing the rival team.

3. A big part of Boston sports culture is knowing the heroes and legends. The obvious legends being players like Larry Bird, Tom Brady, David Ortiz, and Bobby Orr just to name a few. Along with these greats, there are also players who have come in clutch when we needed them the most. The most notorious hero is Dave Roberts, who stole 2nd base in the 4th game of the 2004 ALCS. Roberts also stole 2nd base in the 9th inning, which later led to him scoring a run, tying the game. The Sox went on to not only win that game but the World Series, breaking the curse of the Bambino. It is widely known that Roberts can get a free meal anywhere in Boston. Another hero is Malcolm Butler. Butlers interception in the last few moments of the 2015 super bowl clinched the Patriots their 4th all-time super bowl. While Butler had a bitter end to his Patriots career, not playing in Super Bowl 52 and later leaving the Pats in free agency. However, Butler is still beloved by all in Boston for his work in the 2015 Super Bowl.

4. Knowing the music that you may hear while attending or watching a game is a must for fans. The most popular song would be the famous “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. During every Red Sox home game in the 8th inning, you will hear this song blasting throughout Fenway Park. Every fan needs to know when to say “Bum bum bum” and “so good, so good, so good.” The playing and singing of this song is one of the most beloved traditions of Boston sports fans. Another popular song you may hear is “Zombie Nation.” You will hear this song after every Bruins goal, and it will be near impossible to not sing along. There are some more songs, such as “Shipping Off to Boston,” that are anthems for all of Boston.

5. Finally being a Boston sports fan is all about having an unconditional love for your team. I have been lucky to be born in an era in which trophies and rings have become the norm, but I understand that this will not last forever. Every fan in Boston should love their teams through the winning seasons, and, more importantly, the losing ones.

Sources used:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/celtics-lakers-rivalry-years-article-1.3238683

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/habs-vs-bruins-the-greatest-hate-of-all/