This is shaping up to be a good week for Boston fans. It appears that even on this Tuesday afternoon, this week will be one talked about for a long time. And it won’t be because of Memorial Day barbecues or visits with family or the unofficial start of summer. It will be all about the local sports teams.
A recap of the last few days alone:
Friday, May 16: This will hopefully be remembered as the unofficial end of that nonsense story, Spygate. Earlier in the week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that the Patriots wouldn’t be sanctioned again after his meeting with the hard-to-believe Matt Walsh.
He released tapes of what Walsh had in his possession, which consisted of shots of the crowd, cheerleader performances and very grainy shots of coaches and defenses.
Of course, Sen. Arlen Specter knows there isn’t much going on in the world today – the economy is fine, there isn’t a war, unemployment is at an all-time low, gas prices are the lowest in years – that he will focus on everything Patriots and Bill Belichick for the foreseeable future. (And, yes, between the dashes was meant as sarcasm.)
Saturday, May 17: Red Sox sweep a doubleheader from the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park. The offense is turning it on, Daisuke Matsuzaka earned his seventh win of the season against zero defeats (and a 2.15 ERA) and former fan favorite Gabe Kapler made a return to Fenway, a year after managing the Red Sox Single-A team.
Sunday, May 18:The Red Sox finished off a sweep of the Brewers, led by a homer barrage by David Ortiz (two homers), Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. And this wasn’t the biggest story of the day.
In one of the best game sevens of recent memory in the NBA playoffs, the Boston Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with an exciting 97-92 win over Cleveland. Paul Pierce had a coming out party, scoring 41 points and clinching the win with two late free throws. One bounced off the back of the rim, went straight up in the air and fell through the hoop, almost like magic.
Plus, Pierce went hoop-for-hoop with Cavs superstar Lebron James (45 points). The two stars put on a show worthy of a game seven, and had many fans making comparisons to Bird-‘Nique in the 80s.
Monday, May 19: This was supposed to be a day to take a deep breath for Boston fans. Kansas City was in town, and it was a cool and windy night, and most were looking forward to Tuesday night and the Pistons coming to the Garden. Jon Lester would have none of that.
While the wind definitely helped Lester – the Royals leadoff hitter crushed one of Lester’s first pitches to deep left, but the wind was blowing in, and the shot barely made the warning track, falling harmlessly into Manny Ramirez’s glove – it was his pitching that had people talking.
Throughout his nine-inning performance, especially from the third inning on, Lester kept the Royals off-balance with an array of curveballs and breaking pitches mixed in with his fastball that topped 97 miles-per-hour on the NESN radar gun.
As the innings came and went, one thing remained: a zero in the hit column for the Royals. And a buzz started circulating at Fenway, and ESPN starting updating viewers of Lester’s progress. After the eighth inning, the park was electric, and Lester was sailing. ESPN cut into its coverage of the Cubs-Astros to show Lester’s ninth inning.
He walked the leadoff guy, more probably because of nerves and the moment he was in than anything else. He got the next batter to hit a high chop to Mike Lowell at third, and followed that with a ground out to Youkilis at first. With two outs, the nation watching and the Fenway faithful on their feet, Lester finished off his no-hitter with a strikeout on a 96 mph fastball, turning an ordinary Monday night into a memorable one.
Looking ahead, there are some exciting days ahead for Boston fans. Tonight begins the Eastern Conference finals against hated rival Detroit, and prized pitching prospect Justin Masterson makes his second career start for the Red Sox.
On Wednesday, Bartolo Colon, the former Cy Young Award winner and 20-game winner, makes his Red Sox debut. The Pistons and Celtics play game two of their series on Thursday and continue with games three and four over the holiday weekend.
Just another exciting week in Boston sports history. And, amazingly, none of it includes any team from New York, which may show just how far Boston sports – and the Red Sox – have come.
comments (12) write a comment »
write a new comment
4 months ago
Push some of that luck our way! Boston sports fans definitely are on a great streak with their teams. Just wish some of us in Cleveland could experience more of it. I guess that how sports are nowadays with big markets and big money...Our time will come though. I wouldn't count out an Indians-Red Sox ALCS just yet. Revenge would be sweet..
4 months ago
it's been a great time for boston sports - i like that you write about last night being a night that boston sports fans thought they could take a deep breath - after a weekend of watching basketball and baseball, i thought last night i would be nice, go to dinner with my girlfriend, maybe actually watch some tv together. that whole plan ended quickly upon learning lester was throwing a no-hitter (granted at the time it was the 3rd inning). thinking about little there was to celebrate in boston sports for about 15 years, this stretch has really been enjoyable.
4 months ago
i am just glad i got to watch lester's no hitter in high-def. oh no wait, my wife banished me to the bedroom so she could watch "gossip girl". In her defense, I get the good TV roughly 98.5% of the time, so I cannot complain.
Yeah, this is an exciting time, I find myself exhausted, and there is no rest in sight, with the playoff games starting late, and ESPN there to make sure they all run at least 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Lester was awesome last night. What a great game, and you have to be happy for that kid, after all he has been through.
from 4 months ago
i got banished to the bedroom and the non-high def tv also so my girlfriend could watch "gossip girl"
4 months ago
I can't believe Lester actually got the no-no, ESPN has jinxed every recent attempt that I've watched, whether it was Mike Pelfrey, Justin Verlander, D-Lowe, or others, ESPN always cuts in just in time to say something like "And we're back from (insert city name here) and (insert pitcher name here) is throwing a no-hitter, how about that. We may just be watching a bit of MLB history being made here tonight (A bloop single is hit over an infielder) Well that just about does it for us, (insert pitcher name here) lasted 7 innings before finally giving up a hit."
from 4 months ago
this is funny - it happened exactly like that last year for schilling's near no hitter. maybe they had cut to it early, but when i saw espn cut to the game, the announcers said "history could be made" "his first no hitter" and then single. very deflating.
4 months ago
That is what I was worried about last night. As soon as I saw that ESPN was cutting in for the ninth (thanks John Saunders) I thought that was it for Jon. Plus, Chris Smith (now back in Pawtucket) was warming up in the pen. I don't recall the pitch count, as Orsillo never mentions that. I was so happy for Lester. And I got to watch it in Hi-def because Jen loves watching the Sox. And she was paying bills. Hopefully I don't get banished tonight, although the possibility is there. GO C's!
4 months ago
The Cavs beat the Celtics on Friday!!! Where's that piece of info, huh? Oh yeah Boston Beats Cleveland in 7 seems to be a reaccuring theme over the past year. We are due.
from 4 months ago
Congrats, you won game 6. Bravo. And while the Cavs were at home either watching the Indians or planning their summer vacation, the Celtics were taking a 1-0 lead in the Eastern finals. And Boston BEATING Cleveland is a recurring theme. Get used to it. The Red Sox tried to help you out last year, spotted you a series lead, then crushed you. But you won't have to worry about it this year. The Indians would actually have to make the playoffs for it to happen. Good luck with the Browns!
from 4 months ago
apparently my sarcasm did not come on strong enough. Cherish these sporting times Boston, your deal with the devil will be up shortly.
from 4 months ago
No, apparently your sarcasm is as good as your Cleveland teams.
4 months ago
What has happened in Boston? For years all the stories were losing and bad luck and bitter fans. Now they have had more than their share of good fortune in the last five or six years.
write a new comment