Boston Sports (Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins, Revs) flopped in 2021-2022
Looking back at the completed seasons of Boston sports teams in the season beginning in and tripping over into 2022, it’s a sports year to forget for Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins and even New England Revolution fans.
It was a lousy year and all four of Boston’s major sports teams (most recently the Celtics) and its soccer team, as well, flopped.
It’s painful to recap the season that wasn’t. Yet, as Bostonians always said about the Red Sox prior to their dramatic breakthrough in 2004, we can always, “Wait ’til next year”.
That’s exactly what the Boston faithful have to do since all of our teams were playoff teams (not sure if that’s a good thing or not if you don’t win it all) yet none of them won the big prize. It is what it was, terrible. So let’s take a look backward to see how things went.
Boston sports teams flopped and the biggest flops were the Celtics and Red Sox
The top flop of 2022/2022 has to be the Celtics since they came closest to a title of any of the big four. Having taken two leads in the final series against Golden State, the Celtics couldn’t stand prosperity, lost the critical fourth and fifth games, and then were summarily dispatched in game six by Steph Curry and co.
Now that last factor is nothing to be ashamed of. He and his teammates have dispatched others. But the Celtics having been so close to paydirt is the biggest hurt of all. Brad Stevens has to decide if they can add a piece or two and be right back there or if more radical things have to happen. It will be a good watch.
The Red Sox had a bit of a Cinderella season. Nothing much was expected so reaching the ALCS before finally losing to the Houston Astros was surprisingly good. It was heartbreaking however to see them crash out when all the momentum including against the always tough Astros seemed to be on their side.
Subsequently, the team let two stalwarts go, Hunter Renfroe by trade and Kyle Schwarber in free agency. The expected drop-off in hitting resulted in an early 2022 swoon. But, the ship seems to have been righted now. Hope remains for another playoff run since late possible additions like injury-ridden Chris Sale and James Paxton could bolster the pitching staff. We’ll see.
Boston Bruins and New England Patriots bottomed out in 2021
Continuing the trend of disappointment, the Boston Bruins, seeming perpetual also-rans were bounced out of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs. Ouch! The B’s just can’t seem to get to hold that Stanley Cup these years though they are in the playoffs virtually annually. They just aren’t good enough and their failure this year cost popular coach, Bruce Cassidy his job.
Someone had to take the blame (aka be the scapegoat) and team management decided better Cassidy than them. He didn’t lose much in the process. Cassidy was quickly snatched up by the Las Vegas Golden Knights before the ink was dry on his pink slip. Good luck Bruce!
Maybe someday the absentee B’s ownership will come to the conclusion that a coach is only as good as his players and the people who secure the players are the ones who make that happen. Just sayin’ (as a former coach). Expect more mediocrity in 2022/2023.
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Last on the doomsday list is the New England Patriots. Ah yes, the New England Patriots, the team foolish enough to dispatch the greatest player in the history of their sport while he was still performing at an amazing level. Guess he was too “old” or something. Go figure.
As Glenn Ordway, the former Grand Master of Boston sports talk show hosts was wont to say, “How’d that work out for ‘ya?” It’s an old story but one that still rankles in this space.
Back to last season, with rookie Mac Jones at the helm, the team started slow, picked up steam, and then crashed and burned late. The better team (now that Tom Brady is in Tampa) and the AFC East Division repeat Champion Buffalo Bills ate their lunch, demolishing them in two late games.
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The final one knocked them unceremoniously out of the playoffs in the Wild Card round with a very loud, THUD! But there is hope yet with Jones back and a retooled offense, though the defense well, let’s just say, still leaves much to be desired. Just don’t expect too much in 2022 and you won’t be disappointed.
Add the Revolution’s being dispatched in Major League Soccer playoffs and you have the culmination of the season from the nether regions. All of Boston sports major teams were losers. Thankfully, we move on to better days ahead, hopefully.