By Aiden Szymanski

Staff Writer

Although each team has seen rough patches, the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins are four teams that have reached and maintained championship pedigree for extended periods of time throughout the 2000’s

“It’s been really amazing watching the Patriots dominate throughout my childhood,” said Triton junior and football player Cole Piaseczynski. “Watching them every Sunday is part of the reason I like football so much… I’ve grown to like players such as Danny Amendola and James white because both defied the odds and were able to play at the highest level possible.”

“…watching the 2013 and 2018 teams was really fun,” said Triton junior and baseball player Alex Davis of the Red Sox. “Personally I grew up a big Pedroia fan because he was a smaller guy who just played with a ton of grit and hustle. I loved watching Koji in ‘13 and Steve Pierce in 2018.”

“…my favorite Celtics team has to be when we went to the Conference Finals vs. Cleveland,” said Triton junior and basketball player John Prendergast. That team with Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, and even Al Horford was so fun to watch… that team had so much heart and vastly over-performed expectations. When Isaiah Thomas got traded I was heartbroken and no team since then has had me cheering so hard for them.”

Much like the others, the Bruins have enjoyed similar success in the 2000’s on the shoulders of cornerstones Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara, missing the playoffs just two times since the 2006-2007 season.

These teams have all had storied histories. The Bruins and Celtics dominated their respective leagues in the 1970’s and 1980’s, and more recently saw a Stanley Cup Championship (2011) and a Larry O’Brien Trophy (2008). The Red Sox were starved for a title many years in what many referred to as the ‘Curse of the Bambino’ after the Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees, but that was broken in 2004 after an 86 year drought; titles in 2007, 2013 and 2018 soon followed. And we all know the success the Patriots have, particularly this decade, enjoying six NFL championships from 2001-2018 under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. As we enter 2023, some of these teams look to be on a path towards etching themselves in Boston sports history and further cementing Boston as the all time best sports city in America. Meanwhile, others will look to retool and build toward a more distant future.

“I think [the Patriots] should be preparing to rebuild at this point,” said Piaseczynski on the current state of the Pats.

“With a lot of money spent on free agent signings the last few years and missing the playoffs I think it is necessary to rebuild. They are clearly not going to be contenders at their current state and it’s time to blow it up.”

“I think this Sox team is just looking for a bridge year,” said Davis. “Making huge moves this offseason would’ve been more what the average fan is looking for… the team got better but clearly isn’t a serious contender. [The Sox] need a mid infielder who will take mid money to play some here and there plus some serious fixed to the rotation.” Davis also believes the Red Sox will benefit from the development of their prospects: “…this team is just waiting until Marcelo Mayer comes up next year.” Mayer, a 2021 fourth overall draft pick, is a highly touted prospect in the Red Sox’s system.

The Celtics and Bruins, meanwhile, are at other ends of their respective league standings and are looking to make another championship push this season.

“I think it’s very likely,” said Prendergast when asked about the likelihood the Celtics can win an NBA championship this season. “We are the best team around night in and night out. No team scares me and anything short of a ring would be a disappointment this season with all the talent we currently have.”

Meanwhile, the Bruins are off to a historic start in their season, sitting comfortably atop the league standings with a +82 goal differential and a 38-6-4 record.

the Celtics and Bruins, will look to get over the hump this season and add another pair of championship banners to the rafters at TD Garden; led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics’ young core seems eager to prove themselves capable of the task and build towards an undoubtedly prosperous future. Meanwhile, the Bruins are looking to take perhaps the last kick at the can with uncertain futures for aging stars Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

For the Patriots and Red Sox, times have certainly been brighter.

The Patriots were eliminated from postseason contention for the second time in three years and will be seeing some turnover on the coaching staff by way of a new offensive coordinator, and have not won a playoff game since 2019.  The Red Sox also missed the postseason for the second time in three years and recently lost superstar shortstop Xander Bogaerts to free agency. But with most championship rosters in todays sports ecosystem comes a lengthy rebuild before it, and perhaps that is what both of these teams need to get back to the top of their respective mountains.