I want to start this post by congratulating the Boston Bruins on winning the 2011 Stanley Cup. It's been a long time coming, with 1972 being the last year the Cup called Boston its home. A truly remarkable run for the B's, who have shed the weight of being the last Boston sports team from the four major leagues to win a championship in the new millennium, allowing both themselves and their loyal fans to breathe a big sigh of relief, followed by the widest smile they've ever known.
But while the Bruins' achievements are certainly to be admired and celebrated, the real winner here is the city of Boston. This was not the Bruins' first title, though it may feel that way for many. It has, however, marked the culmination of the most spectacular, compact sports run any city has ever seen.
Boston has celebrated championships in all four majors before last night. In fact, that quest ended when the Patriots secured their first Lombardi Trophy back in February of 2002, thanks to the arm of Tom Brady and the leg of Adam Vinatieri. That championship put them in elite company; to date, only five American cities have had the honor of being called Champions in all four majors: New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and then Boston.
What's incredible about this Bruins victory is that Boston now boasts the shortest span of time in which all four championships were won by the local team. From the last Patriots Super Bowl win in 2005 to last night's hoisting of the Cup, at one time or another, Boston sports fans have been able to say that yes, their team truly is the best, a claim that fans in only those four other cities can make. But Boston is different because of this incredibly short time span.
Detroit, perhaps the most unlikely city on this list considering market size, has the longest gap between all four titles, sitting at 34 years. Beginning with the Red Wings Stanly Cup win in 1955 and ending with the Pistons first NBA Championship in 1989, they also saw the pre-Super Bowl NFL Championship won by their Lions (1957) and a couple World Series taken by the beloved Tigers in 1968 and 1984.
Chicago, while part of this exclusive club, also had to wait many years in between titles. In a 24-year span from 1986 to 2010, they were able to relish championships from Da Bears, Jordan's Bulls, the surprise 2005 White Sox, and last year's Blackhawks. A great run, filled with some incredible moments for sure. But still, it took a quarter century to complete the superfecta.
Philadelphia was not much more impressive than Chicago's teams in terms of winning time, besting them only by four years. Philly's span reached from the 1960 NFL Champion Eagles to the 1980 Phillies, encompassing back-to-back championship wins from the Flyers as well as Wilt Chamberlain's first title, coming as a member of the 1967 76ers.
Ah, New York. Of course they're on this list. When you have two entries in three of the four sports, you give yourself a pretty monumental advantage. However, they still don't best Boston's six-year run. In their most concise effort, New York teams won all four titles in a 15-year span from 1973 to 1988. This run began with the Knicks' most recent NBA Championship and went through a couple World Series in Yankee Stadium, four straight Stanley Cups on the Islanders' ice, and finished up with the New York Football Giants' Super Bowl victory and ensuing Bill Parcells Gatorade shower. An impressive run, for sure.
But the crown goes to Boston, who before last night sat just ahead of Detroit with a span of 32 years (last Bruins Cup in '72 to 2004 Red Sox). Interesting, too, that there are no duplicates within the six year title run, though we were close. Minutes away, in fact, from an undefeated Super Bowl season from the 2007 Patriots and another Celtics victory over arch nemesis Los Angeles last June. Nevertheless, from the 2005 Patriots through the 2007 Red Sox, 2008 Celtics, and the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins, this has truly been the most incredible, remarkable run for any four-sport city in modern history. Congratulations, Boston fans, and enjoy this. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Note: Anyone who wants to argue that "Boston" doesn't count because the Patriots don't play within the city limits must also then throw out New York and Detroit. But more importantly, they should probably just get over themselves.
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