New York vs. Boston

Published: 2007 - December/2008 - January, Sport

In American sports, David is often viewed as favorite to win against Goliath. That Biblical contest is back again in media headlines this year: After the Red Sox won the MLB title, beating the Colorado Rockies in the World Series, Boston could start dreaming of an all-sports grand-slam year. The New England city is more ambitious than ever now. With most New York teams struggling, this makes out to be a glorious year for all Boston teams.
But the idea that Boston might win the NBA, NFL, NCAA and NHL championships is what keeps many New York sports fans up at night. Because the rivalry between the two cities is ferociously bitter, especially in baseball. In fact, in 2004, when the Red Sox won the World Series (beating the Yankees on the way) for the first time after 86 years, the New York Post headline read, “See You in 2090!” A snide provocation that proved to be totally wrong: the Red Sox took only three years to win their new championship rings. But the popular New York City tabloid wouldn’t miss a chance to poke fun at the eternal rivals, also on their day of triumph. Because even if the Red Sox seem to have overcome the “Yankees jinx” after 86 years, both teams appear reluctant to bury the hatchet. Whenever they meet the tension is as high as in Juventus-Inter or Lazio-Roma games in Italy.
The Boston-New York rivalry, which has no parallels in the United States, goes back to the early decades of the 20th century, when the Red Sox’s owner, Harry Frazee, sold George Herman Ruth, better known as Babe (the Bambino) Ruth, to the Yankees  for “just a few pennies.” A terrible deal, because Babe Ruth would become one of the greatest baseball players of all time. The period that followed the trade, with the team struggling for decades at the bottom of it division, has been mourned by team fans and is remembered as “the Curse of the Bambino.”
Besides baseball, other Boston teams appear to be ready to go the distance this year. And heading the list is the basketball team. Because ever since the day Celtics fans saw Kevin Garnett (one of the top NBA stars), Ray Allen and Paul Pierce standing together and wearing the legendary green uniforms, all doubts have disappeared and after decades of nothing but disappointment the NBA title no longer seems to be out of reach. Whereas in New York spirits are generally low: the Nets’ five starters are the same of last season, reinforced only by the recovery of Nenad Krstic (out most of last season); and the Knicks, after a “humiliating” (according to The New York Times) off-season games, have opened the season with a series of corporate scandals.
While there’s nothing new about Boston’s dominion on football fields: The New England Patriots, who have won three Super Bowls in the last six years, are so far the only team in the league without a single loss. The New York Giants, on the other hand, are having a so-so season and are struggling to secure a playoff berth.
Boston College is one of the top teams in the NCAA football league (the most popular league in the United States). The only way New York can take part in this league is by watching its games from the bleachers: the Columbia Lions, once a glorious team, are now remembered only for their recent history of bad results and are now playing in the embarrassing I-AA Division, together with other Big Apple college teams.
The situation is less unbalanced in favor of Boston in ice hockey: the Bruins is a tough team to beat, but it must deal within its division with hardened Canadian teams such as Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. But so far, the New York Islanders and the Rangers have not had an excellent season either.
If New York fans wish to avoid seeing a sequel to the Biblical story they should cheer on their teams all year. Otherwise, there’s nothing else to do but pray.