To All Real Fans of the Boston Bruins:
I'm sorry. I'm really really sorry.
I have badmouthed you and your team for more than 30 years. I did not believe that the Bruins would ever meet the expectations that you fans would have believe was their destiny. Further, I never in my wildest dreams could imagine that they would ever have the players nor the leadership to even come close to actually winning another Stanley Cup.
I was wrong. As my daughter Hannah states, "Maybe the Bruins are actually pretty good after all."
1. The History:
As a child, I was fascinated by all sports and almost-immediately became a die-hard fan of just about all Boston teams. I completely and unconditionally loved the Red Sox, the Celtics, Boston College Eagles, the Patriots, and even long-forgotten teams such as the Boston Breakers, Boston Lobsters, and New England Tea Men.
However I never took to the Boston Bruins.
I believe this dates back to my early-childhood enjoyment of basketball during the wintertime, while most other little kids in the Medford/Boston area where I lived were instead drawn to hockey. Since their seasons overlapped, it didn't occur to me that someone could honestly throw their full support behind both teams.
So by the time I realized that you could like both basketball AND hockey, I was already a bit older and wiser -- something like 8 years old. And something strange happened. All the kids that loved the Bruins kept telling me that the Bruins were the greatest thing since sliced bread, how they couldn't help but win every Stanley Cup. I heard their words, but noticed that when the going got tough, the Bruins often lost. While the team never actually won a Championship during these years, the fans were super-braggadocious, and would act like they never lost a game, or were cheated when they did.
Further, when things got rough, so did the Bruins -- they couldn't beat the opposition on the ice, so they'd have to beat up on the opposition physically. And the kids I knew as fans -- as well as many of their fathers and other relatives -- liked this part of the experience even more than if the Bruins had become champions. Even at my young age I realized that this had no place in legitimate sports.
I realized that both the Bruins and many of their fans had their priorities wrong -- and I turned against the team.
These feelings got substantially stronger when I entered Belmont Hill School in the fall of 1979. The school was hockey-crazy, and most every student was a huge Bruins fan. Most of these fans bought into it all -- that the Bruins were the best team, they'd never lose except when they were cheated, and if they happened to lose, they'd win with their fists. Being surrounded by these fans and hearing their opinions again and again while reality told me differently brought me to the verge of insanity. From then on, I watched and attended a ton of Bruins games, always rooting really hard against the team, and pulling hardest for the Bruins' most-hated rivals: Buffalo Sabres, Hartford Whalers, and Montreal Canadiens.
It was in this environment, somewhere between 1979 and 1982, that I was told in no uncertain terms that the Bruins would win the Stanley Cup. Knowing better, I retorted that the Bruins would never win the Stanley Cup. Putting teeth behind my claim, I agreed that if the Bruins EVER won the Stanley Cup, I would write a lengthy apology letter; this promise would hold until I was 50 years old.
At the time there were 21 NHL teams, so odds were that the Bruins would win the Cup just by accident by somewhere around 1993 or so. And I definitely did not take into account that I would not reach 50 until fall of 2017. But as the years went by and the Bruins kept falling short, I became quite confident that a formal apology would never be necessary
And then somehow, some way, the Bruins put together their magical playoff run this year and miraculously were able to earn their first Cup since 1972. Hence, true to my word, I am writing this letter.
2. This year's team:
I have nothing but respect for this year's Bruins team.
Until recently, most previous Bruins teams were overrated by their own fan-base. Further, many underachieved in the playoffs. However this year's team was able to play a style which maximized the talent they had and always put the team in position to win. Further, they came up the biggest in the most important games.
No media member, save for hockey sage Mattheiw Barnaby, expected the Bruins to do much in this year's playoffs. Just about all the media predicted against them in each of the final three rounds. Yet the team played to their maximum potential and surprised everyone, leading to their incredible final game romp.
First I acknowledge the biggest star: Goaltender Tim Thomas was nothing short of unbelievable during the Stanley Cup Final and most of the playoff run. He played to a level we have never seen from a Bruins goalie for an entire playof. His play was reminiscint of all-time greats such as Patrick Roy or Martin Brodeur. He played an agreesive old-school style, and I have nothing but positives to say about Thomas.
I also credit the Bruins' strong team defense. They not only played an extremely disciplined style which limited the opposition's chances, but they also covered for each other in true team-first style. A defender behind Thomas saved a goal in a key situation during the Montreal playoff series -- and then again against Tampa Bay and even again in the final game against Vancouver. They played selflessly and within the team framework and made opposition star players such as the Sedins seem invisible.
Lastly I give props to Coach Claude Julien. He got the team to buy into this defense-first methodology, and his team was opportunistic when the scoring chances presented themselves. In previous seasons the Bruins often outshot opponents yet lost; this time, they were often outshot and won -- due to him being able to get the team to stay within this system. While his team's offense lacked star power, he was able to find the right combinations to make sure that all players contributed something such that the sum of all the parts was enough to get the team the most important victories.
The team had tremendous perseverance, winning 3 game 7s, 2 of them by shutout, and the final one on the road.
I am so respectful of how well the team performed that I'm sorry I had to root against them. If any of them ever read this apology I hope they understand that my dislike for the club was more due to history than to anything they specifically did.
3 Other "real Bruins" I'm actually happy for:
There have been numerous Bruins over the years that played the game "the right way" and who I really liked and/or respected even though I was rooting against the team. Not necessarily the biggest stars, these guys can all "play on my team" anytime, and I am sorry I had to root against them due to their sweater. I hope that all of the following players feel like they are a small part of the Stanley Cup-winning family. These include:
- Gilles Gilbert
- Rick Middleton
- Jean Ratelle
- Steve Kasper
- Normand Leville
- Jim Craig
- John Carter: The REAL seventh man!
- Craig Janney
- Adam Oates
- Joe Juneau
- Reggie Lemelin
- Andy Moog
- Glen Wesley
- Pete Peters
- Rosie Rusizca
- Dave Poulin
- Don Sweeney
- Shawn McEachern
- Steve Heinze
- Sergei Samsonov
And also:
- Bob Wilson
- Fred Cusick
- Johnny Pierson
- Rene Roncourt
4. "Real Bruins" I will always root against:
In spite of this being an apology, the following are people I consider "real Bruins" who have really helped solidify my dislike of the team over the years. I want to recognize this group here as part of completeness, and hope that they are not particularly credited or associated as part of the current Stanley Cup winners.
Note that I have tried to keep this list as short as possible for purposes of this apology; these are really only "the worst of the worst" in terms of Bruins whose style I did not appreciate.
They include:
- Terry O'Reilly
- Mike Milbury
- John Wensink
- Stan Jonathan
- Lyndon Byers
- Bobby Sweeney ("The Big Reach")
- Ken Linesman
And also:
- Gerry Cheevers (as coach)
- Harry Sinden
- Jeremy Jacobs
5. Conclusion
I would also be remiss if I did not credit any Bruins fans who have remained die-hard through the last 30+ years. If you could stay positive and continue to lend suport through many of the lows of the past 30 years, you have my respect. I am extremely happy that you guys are able to celebrate this year's Stanley Cup, as you really deserve a celebration.
In closing: I hope all of the Bruins and fans enjoy this year's Stanley Cup victory tremendously. I will do my best not to criticize and be negative toward the team as strongly in the future -- even if it takes another 39 years before they win another Stanley Cup.
