Mix It Up With Some World Cup Action

Besides the random MLS games that are on every once in a while, there is not much soccer to be found on television these days.  It makes sense, considering soccer is one of the less popular sports in the U.S.

But it's the world's most-played sport for a reason.  If you learn the rules of the game, the strategies, the dynamics, then soccer can be a thoroughly enjoyable game to watch.

My recommendation: take advantage of the Women's World Cup that is currently on ESPN for the next couple of weeks.  Watch a few games.  Try to learn how the game is played.  I know... there isn't a lot of scoring.  But there is constant action.  After some time, you'll start to appreciate the game and the emotion. 

The U.S. Women's team even has some Boston pride associated with it.  Five players - Kelley O'Hara, Amy LePeilbet, Lauren Cheney, Stephanie Cox, and Rachel Buehler - have played for the hometown  team, the Boston Breakers.  So support the country, support BeanTown, and support the under-appreciated sport of soccer.

A Defining Series

The Sox take on the Phillies this week in a series that will decide which team is truly the best in Major League baseball so far this season.  The Phils still maintain the best record in baseball at 50-30.  The Sox are right behind them at 45-53.

The Red Sox have been praised for their potent offensive attack, led by Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz. On the other hand, the Phillies have been successful through their overwhelmingly strong pitching staff that includes Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Cole Hamels. Baseball analysts have argued all season about which team is the ultimate power in the league.  The series this week will help answer some of those questions.

Unfortunately the Sox dropped the first meeting last night, 5-0.  Cliff Lee bedazzled the Sox by only allowing two hits on his way to a complete-game shutout.  But no fear...the Sox will be back with a vengeance tonight.  They understand what's at stake in this series.  Yes, it's only the mid-point of the season.  Yes, it's only inter-league play.  Yes, this series will mean nothing for either team after they've finished 162 games.  But right now, when reputations are on the line, it's very meaningful.

Lackey's on the mound tonight, and we need him to be AWESOME.  He could use a good game to win back the allegiance of many of his doubting fans. Fingers crossed.

Boston All Over The ESPYS - VOTE!

ESPN is holding the 2011 ESPY Awards on July 13th this year and Boston is very well represented in the nominations.  

Here's what's at stake for Boston:

- Tim Thomas has been nominated for BEST Championship Performance and BEST NHL PLayer. Is there even the slightest chance he doesn't win both?  I don't even need to hear the other nominations.  He's a shoo in.

- Ray Allen has been nominated for BEST Record-Breaking Performance.  I remember the game when Ray hit the threes to break the all-time record.  His reaction was priceless. I've only seen him more happy after winning his ring in 2008.  He deserves some recognition for that sweet stroke of his.   

- The Boston Bruins have been nominated for BEST Team.  With all of the momentum that the Stanley Cup Final brought to fans, it's going to hard for a team to beat the Bruins right now.  Especially since they're a team with no real stars or phenoms.  The Bruins define team.  

- Tom Brady has been nominated for BEST NFL Player.  He already won the MVP, right?  This decision has already been made.  Just give Brady the crown now, no one was better this year.  

The link to vote can be found HERE. 

Vote and support our favorite Boston teams and players!!

Say Hello To JaJuan Johnson

Take a good look at the Boston Celtics' first round draft pick, JaJuan Johnson.  Johnson is a 6' 10" forward/center from the Purdue Boilermakers.  I heard of this guy while watching March Madness this past year, but never realized how much of a force he was in the paint.

It's clear from this highlight video that Johnson has a lot of potential.  He reminds me of KG, hitting fade away shots in the paint with ease over his defenders, but also having the ability to hit the near-three point shot too.

I don't think it's possible for this kid to not become a great player with the likes of KG himself as a mentor during his rookie season, telling him all the tricks to succeed in the NBA.

Watch for great things next season - assuming he even gets a chance in a regular season game. Only time will tell...

Watch Out: Here Comes Rory

LONDON -- U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy is confident he can handle the pressure that comes with being considered the heir apparent to Tiger Woods.

Comparisons were made between McIlroy and Woods after the 22-year-old Northern Irishman swept to his first major victory in record-breaking style at Congressional on Sunday.

His status will undoubtedly soar as a result, but McIlroy said he'll try to stay grounded.

-From ESPN.com

Can you even imagine being Rory McIlroy right now? You wake up, roll out of bed, flip on SportsCenter, and hear John Anderson and Hannah Storm comparing you to one of the best golfers to ever hit the links.  

There's no denying Rory has talent; that is clear.  But what's clearer is his confidence.  This kid knows he's got enough talent to become the next face of the golf kingdom.  And there's nothing wrong with that! A little bit of confidence is refreshing in a sport that urges overwhelming humbleness (complimenting opponents on their shots and giving pointers at every free moment.)

It's part of why we love(d) Tiger. The fist pumps, the high fives with Stevie, and the raw emotion he brought to every round of golf he played was a significant movement for the sport.  It made golf more popular.  It made golf "cool."  It made it okay for middle-aged men to use animal driver headcovers.  

But are we ready for Rory yet?  Is the sport of golf ready to forget about Tiger and accept Rory as its new golf idol? I'm not so sure.  

I think we're going to see many epic battles between Tiger and Rory in the upcoming years. Mentor v. Apprentice style. Obi Wan v. Anakin.  Eventually Rory will come out on top, but not after earning it.

May the birdies be with you, Rory.  

Player Profile...Zdeno Chara

Chara swatting flies

It's only appropriate to write a Player Profile in honor of the Boston Bruins.  And who better to cover than the CAPTAIN of your 2011 Stanley Cup Champions: Zdeno Chara.

This man is a literally a monster in the NHL.  At 6' 9" he is the tallest player to ever grace NHL ice.  The Godzilla of the Bruins. 

Chara's gargantuan stature does more than just intimidate any threatening forwards (wink, wink, Sedin twins), it comes equipped with the ability to produce the fastest slap shot ever recorded.  At the 2008-2009 Skills Competition, Chara set a record with a blistering 105.4 mph slapshot.  I'm not sure what defender would even dare throw himself in front of that puck to try to block it.

Chara is from Slovakia, and was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 1996 Draft.  He spent time with the Islanders and the Ottawa Senators before making his way to Boston in 2006.  And boy are we glad to have him.  About the time that Chara showed up, this Bruins team started to play with a bit more swagger and confidence.  And it finally paid off.

Boston United

One of the biggest attractions of team sports is the sense of unity that is formed within a particular roster.  It is evident to all fans when a group of players come together and become not only good teammates, but also good friends.

Clearest example: the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.  This group of players had fun together.  They had their ultimate goal always in mind, but seemed to stay light-hearted about the ordeal.  It helps when you have the likes of Kevin Millar, David Ortiz, and Manny Ramirez showing up to play everyday.  In the end, this unity was entirely necessary.  This Red Sox team had to win four straight against the Yankees, a feat that was nearly unheard of at the time.

But they did it.  They "cowboyed up" and did it.  Together.  

Seeing the newly-crowned Boston Bruins ride the duckboats around Fenway this weekend, many clad in Boston Red Sox hats, pushed this sense of unity to a whole new level.  The Boston Bruins didn't just unite together to win this trophy.  They united the entire city.  They united all of the sports teams in the area.  Big Papi lifting the Stanley Cup high above his head in the locker room says it all.  This was a victory for every player in Boston, as the Bruins finally fulfilled an era of Boston sports dominance. 

During the duckboat parade on Saturday, Claude Julien made a brief speech.  He thanked Terry Francona, Doc Rivers, and Bill Belichick for helping him in his journey to a championship.  He said he never quite felt that he belonged in the prestigious club of Boston coaches.  Well, Claude, you certainly should feel welcome now. 

It's that statement by Julien that sums up Boston sports.  There is no in between for a Boston sports fan.  If you love one team, you love them all.  No questions asked.  It is one unit, one well-oiled Boston sports machine that we have here in Massachusetts.  It is rare, and only a few other cities can boast such an entourage of succesful teams.  So don't be greedy, and root for them all. 

Go Revs. 

We Are The Champions, My Friends

I’m speechless.  We’ve all seen those “There are no words” commercials for the NHL, where they show clip after clip of hockey players choking back tears after a reporter asks them about winning the Stanley Cup.  I always thought it was a bit over-dramatic. But I was dead wrong. 

Every player on the Boston Bruins poured his heart into last night’s game.  And when the time finally ran out, and we saw Tim Thomas tap the posts of the goal with his stick for the last time this season in a triumphant and assertive manner, it was clear to every Bruin fan watching that there truly are no words for such a moment.  The emotion is overwhelming. 

This team is a conglomeration of varied players.  There is the very-seasoned veteran in 43 year-old Mark Recchi.  There are the young, confident rookies in Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin.  There are players from the U.S. and players from abroad.  Despite all this variation, they became united as a group and were determined to achieve the ultimate goal of every NHL player.

We can thank the Boston Bruins for completing the cycle.  To repeat a statistic that you have already heard and will hear hundreds of times again in the next week, professional Boston sports teams have won championships seven times in the last ten years.  That is remarkable.  We are all blessed to have witnessed each major sports team attain its goal of a championship.  Some fans will go their entire life without seeing one of their teams win a championship.  Gotta love that dirty water*.

Enjoy the parade on Saturday, and keep in mind that you just witnessed something very special.  You witnessed triumph against all odds.  You witnessed another underdog team fight hard and win another title for Bean Town.

Now we just have to wait on those slacking football players in Foxboro to come through.  Jeez Tom, it’s been a little while. 

*I hope everyone saw Nathan Horton pouring some of that dirty water he had brought from Boston onto the ice before pre-game warm-ups.  Great moment.   

Adding Insult to Injury

Well that's embarrassing...

In case you hadn't heard, The Miami Herald included this Macy's ad in the newspaper on Monday, congratulating the Miami Heat on winning the NBA Finals.

Really?  How does something like this happen?  There was no way Miami could have won it all on Sunday night anyways.  The earliest this ad could have gone up was on Wednesday (had the Heat actually eventually won in seven games).

This is just another example to add to the long list of reasons why Miami and its fans are sub par.  I often wonder whether some of the people who showed up to the Heat games were more interested in buying an expensive white-collared shirt that would accentuate their spray tans than actually appreciating the action on the court.  As much as  Mark Cuban annoys me at times, one can tell from his over-worn navy t-shirt that he is a true fan at heart and goes to the games to root passionately.

So my departing message is directed toward the Boston Globe and The Boston Herald: Do Not Make The Same Mistake.  We are better than that here in Boston.  Let's not give anyone a chance to think otherwise.  We are knowledgable fans who show up to games in classy gear, and we know what's happening on the ice.

Unsolicited Prediction for Game 7 Tonight:  The stadium in Vancouver is eerily silent by the middle of the second period as the Bruins put up another quick early four goals, the Green Men can be seen sitting still in their seats for the first since they started their shenanigans, the Spoked-B's bring home the Stanley Cup for the first time since '72 with a dominating win over the Canucks, proving to the entire country that the more deserving team won.

It All Comes Down To This: Game 7

Boston fans are very accustomed to Game 7’s.  The Bruins themselves have already endured a pair of Game 7’s this postseason.

But the Game 7 of a Championship series is different.  The stakes are never higher than the moment the players step onto the ice, grass, or parquet floor, knowing that if their team wins, they are the best in the world; But if their team losses, they go home with nothing.  Second place means zilch in the world of professional sports. 

Just ask the 2009-2010 Boston Celtics.  Last year’s NBA Finals went seven games.  The Celtics, after holding a 3-2 lead going back to L.A., needed just one more win.  Just one.  But after the demoralizing loss of Kendrick Perkins to injury in Game 6, the boys in green couldn’t pull it off.  That Game 7 was heartbreaking just as a fan, and I can’t fathom how the players must have felt. 

Emotions run highest in Game 7’s.  This Bruins-Canucks series has already had its fill of intensity and it will inevitably come to a point tomorrow night.  All of the biting, all of the talking, and all of the blind-side hitting that has occurred over the series will boil over into this final game. 

Looch and his crew will hit hard.  Thornton will assume his role as the Enforcer.  The sparkplug, Brad Marchand, will continue to play at a level light years ahead of his rookie status.  Timmy will be Timmy: an unforgiving brick wall.  And Chara will dominate the Sedin Sisters one more time.  Neither Thelma nor Louise will know what hit her. 

So prepare for this Game 7, Bruins fans, because it’s going to be one hell of a ride.  No other team deserves it more. 

It’s the Bruins turn to take a spin on the Duckboats. 

Dirk and Company Saving the NBA

The Dallas Mavericks just saved the NBA. 

It’s not an exaggeration or an overstatement by any means.  Last summer, an evil entity was born in Miami, creating universal sentiments of detestation and loathing across the league from fans and players alike. 

The creation of this good vs. evil motif strengthened the NBA and its following, surely.  People tuned in all over the country hoping to see the Heat lose.  The city of Cleveland has never been more jubilant than when the Celtics defeated the Heat on opening day, temporarily stunting the Heat’s unearned confidence. 

But, just like any good super hero film, the movie can’t end with the bad guy on top.  It goes against basic instinct.

That’s why Dirk and company had to win last night.  They had to set the world straight.  They had to prove to NBA fans all over the country that justice does exist, and that perseverance and hard work do pay off in the end.

Had Miami won the Championship, the NBA would have suffered.  Fans would have viewed the Heat’s victory as manufactured and illegitimate.  A shortcut taken by LeBron to buy his way to a championship because he couldn’t do it himself.  The exact opposite of the path taken by the 7-foot German phenom in Dallas.  It would have been demoralizing to see a team win in that fashion.  Fans would have lost the motivation to support their own team, when other teams were creating unstoppable forces.

So congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks, on not only winning the 2011 NBA Championship, but for ensuring a proper ending to this year’s NBA script.   

P.S. Snap Backs are officially back and here to stay.  I need one of those Locker Room hats.  Jason Terry rocking it with the crooked headband underneath officially sold me on them. 

Classic Moment of Greatness - The Snow Bowl

It’s easy for us Boston fans to get caught up in all of the excitement of the Bruins and Red Sox.  But we must not forget our other beloved teams.  It would remiss of us to push the Patriots and Celtics towards the depths of our minds during all of this Bostonian success. 

Therefore, we wanted to bring you the first “Classic Moment of Greatness,” where we remind you of important and defining moments in the history of Boston sports. 

This week’s moment was the turning point for Bean Town sports this past decade.  It’s the moment that marks the beginning of the New England Patriots’ dynasty.

Adam Vinatieri’s overtime, game-winning field goal in the 2002 AFC divisional playoff game against the Oakland Raiders.  This game is better known as the “Snow Bowl” or the “Tuck Rule Game.”

I’m sure most of you remember where you watched this game.  It was just one of those games that you don’t forget.  It evoked such emotion: doubt, anxiety, excitement, worry, jubilation. The fans were not sold on Brady yet.  It was too early in his career, and he hadn’t won anything yet.  But seeing Brady march the Patriots down that snowy, slippery field multiple times during that game changed everyone’s mind.  This guy was good.  This guy will change the Patriots forever. 

And he did. 

The football gods must have been on our side that night; that is clear.  The infamous “tuck rule” still doesn’t make sense.  It looked like a fumble.  How was it not a fumble?  Brady thought so, the crowd thought so, I think even the omniscient Belichick thought so.  But the powers that be had different ideas for the flying Elvises that night.  They were merciful. 

There were no snowplows that night to help Adam kick those two clutch field goals.  Instead, the players using their feet to clear a path for their kicker is an image I won’t soon forget.  It showed the unity of this team.  It defined them that year, right up to their unprecedented introduction as a team at the Superbowl. 

As we watched Vinatieri’s line drive kick fly directly through the uprights, we changed as fans.  We realized we were witnessing something special.  It’s a feeling very similar to watching Brad Marchand dodge defenders to score that amazing goal in Game 3.  The Bruins have that same unity.

Let’s hope my gut feeling about the Black and Yellow is right.  Go Patriots, Go Bruins, Go Boston. 

We Want The Cup!

Talk about momentum shifts!  It’s amazing how a little rendezvous back to BeanTown can completely turn the tides in a playoff series.  The Bruins left Vancouver heavily medicated to deal with all the heartbreak they experienced during the first two games of the series.  But now the team is rejuvenated, fighting with Horton’s injury and that big, shiny, silver cup in mind.

To get you guys even MORE amped up for a decisive Game 5 in Vancouver on Friday, I’ll leave you with a couple Boston Bruins viral videos that have become very popular in recent weeks.  They prove that Boston fans are indeed the best fans in this country.  Get that Cup Bruins!

The Bat Flip Heard 'Round The World

Another classic Sox-Yanks matchup last night.  With first place for the AL East on the line, tension was high amongst the players on both rosters. 

Jacoby Ellsbury didn’t seem to let it get to him though, slapping a quick home-run off of the intimidated-looking Freddy Garcia during the first at-bat of the game.  It was like getting points just for putting your name on the SAT.  Starting off in the black.

When Ortiz knocked a bomb out of right field to put the Sox up 6-1, his reaction to his hit was classic.  He abruptly flipped the bat back towards the Sox bench, not even watching as the baseball soared over the outfield grass. 

To say the least, Yanks manager Joe Girardi wasn’t pleased with Ortiz’s reaction to his homerun.  Seriously?  Come on, Joe.  I know you’re the Yanks manager and you have a special duty to hate everything Red Sox, but you have a team full of some of the cockiest players in the league.  You have no right to criticize Ortiz for a little bat flip.  This should have been a non-issue.  Something not even discussed.  But instead it’s blowing up ESPN articles left and right.  “Was Ortiz wrong?” “Was it an inappropriate reaction?”

Please.

Ortiz summed it all up pretty well: “Big deal. I enjoy the game. I’m a home run hitter. It’s not like I do it all the time. It’s part of the excitement, you know what I mean? What can I tell you?”

Perfect response from the lovable big guy.  He’s not going to take any crap from Girardi about how he handles his Louisville Slugger after he hits a home run.  Good for you, Papi. 

Unsolicited Prediction For Bruins Game 4:  Brew Crew win by one, Timmy Thomas wears a Hannibal Lecter mask to start the game, Alex Burrows disappoints Canucks fans everywhere with another underwhelming performance (too tired from sleeping with one eye open).

Bruins In The Zone, In The Series

There is a special phenomenon that affects many players at some point during their athletic careers.  Many athletes are lucky enough to enjoy this otherworldly experience multiple times.  This intangible and desirable occurrence is known as “being in the zone.” 

I’ve heard athletes often describe “being in the zone” as a feeling of invincibility.  A feeling that everything is and will go their way.  It’s a metaphorical injection of confidence and luck that creates moments of flawless play and success.  

Fans know when individual players or teams are experiencing one of these moments.  When Ray Allen hit seven straight three pointers (8 total) against the Lakers in Game 2 of the Finals last year, it was clear to all that Sugar Ray was feeling it.  The ball left his hands and there was no doubt where it was ending up.  These moments are special, and fans enjoy watching them happen because they know they’re witnessing something unique and timeless.   

Fortunately for all Boston fans, we were able to witness another one of these “in the zone” moments while watching the Bruins pick apart the Canucks last night.  The Brew Crew hit Vancouver where it hurts, putting up a touchdown and two-point conversion on the back-heeled boys from Canada. 

The Bruins played flawlessly - hitting hard (Looch), finishing plays (Marchand), and stopping pucks (Timmy T).  The rhythm they were in was unstoppable.  They ended the game scoring three goals on three consecutive shots!  I think they broke Luongo. 

They sent a clear message to the Canucks.  A message that Burrows took right to the left temple.  The Boston Bruins are back in this series (as if anyone here doubted they would be; see yesterday's prediction).  So buckle up and prepare for more nail-biting (get it?) action the rest of the way. 

Keep Horton in your thoughts and as always, GO BRUINS!

Feeling Out The Weekend

How The Starting Roster feels about:

Miami up 2-1 in the NBA Finals?

Frustrated, but certainly not surprised.  As much as it pains me to give the Heat even the smallest bit of credit, I have no choice but to admit that they are playing at a frighteningly high level of basketball, particularly on the defensive side of the ball (Maybe LeBron finally took the time to watch some 2008 Celtics-Cavaliers game tape for pointers.) 

And this type of basketball is what LeBron, Wade, and Company promised the entire country on national television during their overwhelmingly humble* muscle show/welcome party this past summer.  

*dripping with biting sarcasm 

Boston down 0-2 in the NHL Finals?

Excited.  Seriously, I’m not all too worried about our boys in this series.  We lost both games by one questionable goal each.  Remember: A playoff series doesn’t start until the Home team loses a game.  Vancouver did their job, and now it’s time to do ours. 

Unsolicited Prediction for Game Three tonight: Bruins win by at least two goals, Chara scores, three Canucks lose some teeth in fights.

Player Profile...Adrian Gonzalez

The BoSox got off to a pretty ugly start this season.  For one of the League’s most-promising and hyped teams coming into the year, their 2-10 start was pretty underwhelming.  Although the undying faith of Red Sox Nation kept hope afloat in Boston, it was the coming-out party for Boston newcomer Adrian Gonzalez that helped the Sox turn their season around. 

The Sox traded for Gonzalez this past December and signed him for a seven-year, $154 million deal.  Not too shabby, huh?  Gonzalez has the record to deserve that kind of deal, with a career batting average of .285, 168 homeruns, three All-Star selections, and two Golden Gloves.

The Florida Marlins drafted the slugging first baseman in 2000, but he never made an MLB appearance.  He was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2003 and played 59 games over two years with the squad from the Lone-Star State.  He was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2005 and became a household name during his stay at Petco Park. 

As is only fitting for a slugger of Gonzalez’s prestige, the man has a LOT of nicknames.  “El Titan”, “Gonzo”, “A-Gone”…they’re all aliases for a man who’ll make a living the next seven years putting dents into the Green Monster.  My favorite nickname was coined by YouTube personality Fitzy.  He calls Adrian “El Chupucabra, the Mexican Monster,” in one of his videos and I just fell in love with it.  Flows right off the tongue.  El Chupacabra.

So, Sox fans, get accustomed to having a new kind of Monster in town.  Fortunately for us, it’s another Monster we can all love.  

Heart. Break. City.

Wow.  Words cannot appropriately describe my emotions after watching that Game One.  A mixture of sickness and slight hope all wrapped together to form one sour aftertaste of feelings.

The Bruins played their hearts out.  That was perfectly clear.  And no one played better than Timmy Thomas, who planted himself in front of that goal with authority and confidence.  And he nearly pitched a shutout.  One fluke play was the difference between OT and a loss.

But everyone watching that game learned the same thing: the Bruins can play with the Canucks.  This isn't going to be an easy series for either team.  We're on their level.  We played them as close as you possibly can in their own house with their own obnoxious fans hooting and hollering.

It's safe to say that the Bruins have been placed on the back burner of the Boston sports hierarchy for the last decade or so.  This is not to say that Bruins fans have been less dedicated or less fervent in their support.  It's simply the overwhelming success of the Sox, Celts, and Pats that has overshadowed the recent unfortunate times for boys in black and yellow.

But these times are officially over.  The Brew Crew has reignited Bruin fandom in Boston and raised it to levels reminiscent of the Bobby Orr and the Big Bad Bruins era.  This team plays hard and they play tough.  It's this "dirt dog" mentality that breeds champions in the NHL.

So don't count out our boys for this series.  We'll be back with a vengeance Saturday night and I'm sure the Canucks know they'll have their hands full.  Watch out.

Public Enemy No.6

Here in Boston, we love to hate our rivals.  Perhaps we feel that as a long-time major sports hub, it’s our duty and a privilege to maintain these heated rivalries.

The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is one of the oldest and recognized rivalries in the country.  Fans from both cities indulge in the long, epic battles between these two teams.  We live for those games in October that keep children up past their bedtimes and make parents scream from the family room couch at the television while periodically hurling a miscellaneous object in the general direction of Joe Buck’s voice.                      

And how about that Bruins-Habs rivalry, eh?  The blood-stained ice reminds fans that very little separates hockey from trench warfare.  And it’s the same case with Patriots-Colts and Celtics-Lakers.  There is an unmatched, immense passion on display when these teams meet.

The sporting world is not too different from Hollywood.  For every good guy, there needs to be a bad guy.  It’s Movie-Making 101, and Boston fans are great at creating these enemies.  Over the years, many players and coaches have assumed this role atop “Boston’s Most Wanted” list.  Peyton Manning, Alex Rodriguez, Kobe Bryant, and Rex Ryan have all garnered the hatred of Bean Town fanatics over the years. 

But while I watched Game 1 of the NBA Finals last night, I determined that no one else should be more detested right now in Boston than No. 6 of the Miami Heat: LeBron James. 

“King” James has been a formidable enemy of the Celtics in years past, but back then we always had the last word.  In retrospect, the Celtics are one of the main reasons why LeBron left Cleveland.  He realized he couldn’t get through Boston without the help of another superstar (or two?).  But this year, LeBron got his revenge and sent the Celtics home in a dazed state of confusion and regret. 

So as you watch the remaining games of the Finals, including each and every smug grin and over-zealous celebration by LeBron, remember that it is your duty as a Boston sports fan to root for the Mavs.  It is your right.  Go Dirk.