The Silver Lining

No need to rehash. The Lakers finally beat the Celtics in a Game 7, Kobe cemented his place as the greatest Laker of all-time and earned a place in the mythical "Top 10" of the NBA's greatest players, Pau Gasol emerged as the best complimentary star since Kobe did it for Shaq almost ten years ago, and Ron Artest played the best game of his life when it mattered the most. Yada, Yada, Yada. As soon as it ended, I grabbed a handful of Sam Adams Summer Ale's, my trusty bottle opener, and took a rather long walk to calm myself down. It was the best decision that I have made in quite some time. Halfway through my second cold one, I realized that this series officially marks the end of the first sports decade of the 21st Century and even though my Celtics lost the championship, it did cap off a tremendous run on the Boston sports scene. Beginning with the 2000-2001 season and ending last night, the City of Boston has seen ten major championship victories and seven other trips to championship finals. If you don't mind, please allow a recovering Celtics fan to recount Boston's glories and near misses. The Patriots were the kings of the decade. Winners of three Super Bowls (36, 38, and 39), the Pats also won the AFC Championship in 2007 (before being upset by the Giants in Super Bowl 42) and lost the 2006 AFC Championship Game to the Colts. This decade also saw the Red Sox finally end Dan Shaughnessy's "Curse of the Bambino," winning the World Series in 2004 and 2007 while advancing to the ALCS in 2003 and 2008. College hockey was another strong suit for the Hub over the last ten years. Boston College won NCAA titles in 2001, 2008, and 2009 while their crosstown rival Boston University took home the 2009 championship. BC also lost in the finals in both 2006 and 2007. The Bruins ... oh, wait, the Bruins did not even sniff a championship. That was also true for the 1990s. Someday Bruins fans, someday. Finally, the Celtics returned to glory at the latter part of the decade, capturing the franchise's 17th title in 2008 and nearly missing a second championship in three years before falling to the Lakers last night. All things considered, it would be ridiculous for Boston sports fans to stay upset for too long a period over last night's heartbreaking loss. Yes, it does hurt - especially watching that arrogant S.O.B. Phil Jackson holding the Larry O'Brien trophy - but that does not tarnish the amazing memories Boston has created over the last ten years.