Athanasios Armenis

Journal Staff

Buckner. Bias. Boone. Grady Little…Ouch. Whether it’s been the 80’s, 90’s, or even early 2000’s, Boston teams have put their fans through unbearable, unthinkable and unimaginable situations. With arguably the most heartbreaking moments in professional sports history, Boston teams are experts at knowing how to raise their fans blood pressure.

Then came Tom Brady. In 2001, the luck of Boston fans in every sport seemed to take an improbable swing towards greatness.

It was a typical Sunday afternoon, as the New England Patriots squared off against divisional foes, the New York Jets, when head coach Bill Bellichick called out a passing play on third and long. Enter the game, Mo Lewis.

For the typical American sports fan, the name, “Mo Lewis,” means nothing. But in Boston, the name “Mo Lewis,” well…. it means everything. As quarterback, Drew Bledsoe rolled out on that third and long passing play, the New York Jets linebacker, hurried across the field to lay one of the most vicious hits any NFL quarterback has ever seen.

Mo Lewis injured Drew Bledsoe on the play and although the Jets wound up winning that game, 10-3, the New York linebacker handed over the keys to the city of Boston, to back-up, sixth round pick, and future hall of fame quarterback, Tom Brady.

Since 2001, the 199th overall pick out of the University of Michigan, has led the New England Patriots to nine divisional crowns, five AFC championship appearances and has hoisted three Vince Lombardi trophies in a mere ten years but most importantly Brady has changed the mentality in this city.

In 01’, 03’ and 04’ Brady led the Patriots to three of four. In 04’, the Red Sox finally broke the infamous “curse of the great bambino,” as they snapped an 86-year title drought. Fast forward just a couple seasons and the Sox were back at it again capping off another World Series run in 07’.

One year later, the Celtics decided to join the party, as they re-captured their glory day swag, knocking off their archrivals, Lakers in 08’. And finally the Bruins caught on in 2010, with three unforgettable seven game series as Chara and company hoisted Lord Stanley’s cup on the road in Vancouver.

Over the past decade, the sweetest thing about winning in Boston hasn’t been the fact that we’ve been crowned champs. Bostonians have gone threw too much to feel anything. We expect the unexpected and regardless of the outcome hold our heads high.

Whether the duck boats come rolling through Fanuel Hall at the end of the season, the sweetest thing about winning in Boston is not losing in Boston.