March to the Sea: Boston Losing Is a Good Thing

My name is Alex Sherman, and I’m from Boston. On Monday, I watched the Boston Bruins lose to the Montreal Canadiens in Game Six of the first round of the National Hockey League playoffs. The Bruins were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and a potential Stanley Cup finalist, so it was a disappointing end to a fantastic season.

For the first time this year, I felt a sense of relief. I’m not ashamed to say it. I was rooting for Montreal.

Boston is the greatest sports city in the country, bar none. Bostonians are fanatical about their sports teams. Finally, after 10 years of stagnation, Boston’s “big four”—the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox—have all had recent success. Frankly, I’m afraid of the repercussions.

Boston separates itself as the best sports city from New York, Chicago, Detroit and other sports havens because of the hopelessness of its teams. The Celtics had a dynasty from Bob Cousy to Larry Bird, but recently the Celts have consistently been at the bottom of the NBA standings. Before this season, the Patriots had never won a Super Bowl. The Bruins last won the Stanley Cup in 1972. The Red Sox, of course, haven’t won since 1918.

Yet, Bostonians never give up and flourish in futility. Every year, Fenway Park is sold out. Since Bill Parcells took over the team in 1993, the Patriots have been supported by droves of fans, win or lose. The Bruins and the Celtics boast die-hard supporters who remember the golden ages and annually pray for a return to greatness.

This year, everything has gone right for Boston. The Pats finally win the Super Bowl. The Bruins are the top seed. The Celtics look like the best team in the East in the NBA Playoffs. The Red Sox are currently the best team in baseball.

I don’t like it.

It’s not that I dislike Boston sports teams. It’s that I love Boston’s uniqueness of relishing defeat. Boston thrives on losing. Bostonians are the greatest fans because they never-say-die despite constant failure.

If Boston sports teams begin to win, everything will be ruined. If the Red Sox win the World Series this year, what will be exciting about next year? Who will really care? The perennial frenzied excitement about the Sox derives from breaking the “curse of the Bambino”. As soon as the curse ends, the Sox will lose the allure that has made Boston renowned. Ten years after the Red Sox finally win the World Series, whenever that may be, the team will see a drop in attendance. Baseball just won’t be as interesting to watch.

I love angry Boston sports fans. I love the “this is the year” feeling. If the Bruins had won the Stanley Cup, the euphoria would continue. I was willing to give the Patriots a pass this year because they will certainly not repeat next season. The Bruins, however, have a solid core of young talent. If Bill Guerin and Byron Dafoe are resigned, the B’s could easily challenge for the next five years. That is a good thing—because there’s nothing better than good Boston sports teams that disappoint.

I’m sure there are Bostonians reading this who will think I am a terrible human being for thinking this way—perhaps I am. Some might ask, “what type of demented person would obtain happiness by observing the misery of others?”

I answer: the type of person who loves unique culture. The type of person who feels privileged to live in a city whose citizens do not lose hope despite ridiculous moments of bad luck.

And, perhaps, the type of person who is sick in the head.

I hope the Red Sox win the World Series in my lifetime. I would love to see the city of Boston celebrate for weeks. But I hope it does not happen for a long, long time. In fact, I hope I am at the very end of my life when the Sox win.

So when the Bruins lost on Tuesday, I felt vindicated. All was right in the world. Order has been returned. If the Celtics bow out soon, the next step toward harmony will take place.

Only then will I be able to comfortably watch the Red Sox have a great season and make the playoffs. That’s when the true excitement will begin. If we’re all fortunate, the Red Sox will find a new way to lose, maybe even in the World Series.

And wouldn’t that be grand.