We're Not In Title-Town Anymore

By Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Three game-seven losses in the span of seven months. A near undefeated season that was so much worse than it sounds. Big Papi is benched and Jerry Remy is sidelined. And amidst it all, the Evil Empire has strung together three straight walk-off wins.

After seeing three Super Bowls, two World Series, and an NBA Championship in the past nine years, all this can be an awful lot to stomach. It’s even tough to watch at times. After countless efforts to wake myself from the awful dream that has been Boston sports in the past week, I realized something.

We’re not in Title-Town anymore. As much as I hate to admit it, we’re back in a little place called reality.

It’s the place that sports fans call home – a place that Boston fans have so enjoyably vacationed from in the past decade. It’s the place where, believe it or not, teams do lose in the playoffs. They lose, and it hurts – badly.

It’s a place where last second field goals aren’t made - they’re missed; and last second touchdowns aren’t converted - they’re given up. It’s a place where 24-point deficits aren’t come back from. It’s even a place where 3-1 series deficits can miraculously turn into 3-3 series ties – and heartbreaking 4-3 series losses. Twice. It’s a place that Boston has learned to forget over the past 10 years – but been reminded of oh so quickly in the past few weeks.

But you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way.

Because this place - this reality – is a necessity. It’s an ugly, unfortunate, necessity. This reality is the reason that Boston has become the city of dreams, comebacks, and championships. This reality is the reason that we dream in the first place, and the reason that the dreams taste so much sweeter when they come to fruition.

Maybe coming back down to earth is just what Boston needs to remember what it had – or hopefully still has.

Here are the facts: Boston still has arguably the best franchises in each of the major sports leagues. The Patriots will contend for a Super Bowl year in year out for the foreseeable future – or as long as Tom Brady is at the helm. The Red Sox, under this management and core of young stars are and always will be one of the top teams to beat in the MLB. The Celtics as of right now are one of the top three teams in the NBA when healthy, and top eight even when they’re not. And the Bruins recently proved that they’re ready to join the party as well – boasting a roster that has the brightest future of any Boston team.

I am by no means saying that it's time to jump ship from the Boston Championship cruise. All I’m saying is that it’s about time us Bostonians got a reality check. After all, to truly understand what it means to win, you first have to feel what it’s like to lose. And this most recent, and unfortunate, string of events has done exactly that.

Let’s be honest – did you honestly expect the Celtics to be championship bound with the banged up roster that they featured? And did you seriously consider the Bruins a Stanley Cup contender – when the bulk of their roster hasn't even finished puberty?

Well, yeah. Of course we did. Because we’re from Boston – and that’s what we do. We win. And when we don’t, we’re disappointed.

But maybe it’s time for a change. For a brief 16-game NFL season, Boston was reminded what it’s like to be an underdog. Armed with a quarterback who hadn’t started since high school, a rag-tag team of running-backs, and a no-name secondary, the Patriots made a run at the highly competitive AFC-East crown – and it was the happiest I had been in years.

Why? Because I was finally reminded what it’s like to be a fan. I finally felt genuine excitement. I finally felt something that I hadn’t felt since no-name quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots against the Best Show on Turf in 2002 – shock.

And that’s the best part about being a fan. When your team can come back from down 3-0 and win a World Series. When you can experience something you haven’t in 86 years.

The best moments in sports are the ones you don’t expect. And here in Boston, we had come to expect them. We needed a gut check. Like Bird needed Magic. Like Batman needed the Joker. Boston needed to lose.

After all, being the Champ is hard work. Being the Champ in every sport is even harder. Let someone else take the reins for a while. We’ll be back. And it will be so much sweeter when we are.