Boston Bruins Actually Spend Some Money

Maybe you noticed that hockey season has begun; maybe not.  In the case if the Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes, it commenced today in Prague, Czech Republic.  The B's are down 1-0 at the first intermission.  What I find amazing, is the Bruins are actually spending some money these days to keep a good team together.

Bruins ink Chara to seven-year contract extension

Bergeron gets 3-year/$15M extension

This is a welcome change from, well, the history of the Boston Bruins. 

Last year's team was a Stanley Cup contender, but suffered a historic, "Yankee-like" collapse in the playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers.  Offense is still the weakness, but re-signing key players, and some new additions, like #2 overall pick, Tyler Seguin, will make them a contender for the next few seasons. 

"Anything is possible," Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said. "We have a good enough team to win all the way. If we stay healthy, yeah, this team is very strong." (link)

Agreed.

If you want a real hockey preview, this isn't it.  I'm sure there are plenty out there.  I'm just saying that it's nice to see the notoriously cheap Bruins spend to keep a talented team together.  They've usually been more interested in not spending, and the cheap alternative, then pursuing championships.  Lest we forget, this is the franchise that traded Joe Thornton in the middle of his MVP season.

I'm finally convinced that these Bruins are different.

So wake me up when it's playoff time.

"Four Days In October"

ESPN is showing "Four Days In October" tonight (8pm EST), as part of the documentary series "30 for 30".

"30 for 30" contains some of the best sports documentaries ever made.  This one is particularly interesting because I know the story so well.  It is the greatest moment I'll ever have as a sports fan.  #2 is reserved for the USA winning the World Cup.  I can hope, but it probably will not happen in my lifetime.  

The night prior to our story, Red Sox lost game 3, 19-8. The loss meant they were down 3-0 against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.  They were on the verge of being eliminated by the Yankees for the second year in a row.  The 2003 ALCS was particularly cruel because of the way it ended, and because I believed the Red Sox were the better team.  We had our shot, and blew it. 

2004 was to become a different story.  It would be the Yankees who had their shot and blew it.

Kentucky Fried Kevin

Before game 4 of the ALCS, the first of the four nights, I remember sharing precisely the same thoughts as Red Sox resident clairvoyant, Kevin Millar. 

"Don't let the Red Sox win this game." 

I held the same hope, for the same reasons.  If Derek Lowe could get us through game 4, the Yankees would have to defeat Pedro Martinez or Curt Schilling (would become the "bloody sock game").  Pedro is the best pitcher I have ever seen; Schilling, one of the best of his generation.  And, as we learned the year before, anything can happen if the Red Sox can just make it to a game 7.

During "Four Days In October", the Red Sox accomplished the most unlikely of comebacks, winning four straight games to go to the World Series.  The World Series was almost anti-climactic, as the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first championship since 1918.  When that game ended, not a moment earlier, I removed the bottle of Dom from the refrigerator to celebrate.

The Red Sox won the World Series again in 2007.  It was a great moment, not the same as 2004.  Then, the Mitchell Report was released, casting a shadow over the whole generation of baseball.  Today, the Red Sox are no longer considered the lovable losers.  Like the Yankees, Celtics and Patriots, winning has become the expectation.  Fans take success for granted.  Those who are not fans of the teams turn against them, rooting for the new underdog.  Please let anybody but them win. 

Not in 2004.  Nothing will ever be like those "Four Days In October".