They Deserved a Second Ring

RSN Diaspora

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Even accounting for homer-tinted glasses, it's hard not to see both the Bruins and Celtics as favorites to win their respective sports' championships this year. Obviously, a lot has to go right for this to happen, but no one would look askew at anyone who laid down a bet right now for the B's to win the Cup or for Celtics banner #18 to get hoisted after this season. Recalling the dread that Bergeron was gonna hang up his skates after last season, I started thinking of which Boston athletes got one ring here but deserved a second ring owing to their importance to the team. Conversations like these tend to revolve around guys who deserved one and never got it, and I think that list is easier to compile: Ted Williams (Sox), Ray Bourque (Bruins), Andre Tippett (Pats), and Antoine Walker (Celtics). One ring but deserved another is tougher to determine.

The only obvious choice to me here is Pedro--his leaving after the first championship in 86 years but before the 2007 series makes that an easy pick. For hockey, right now it's Chara, but if the Bruins fail to win this year and Bergy retires, I could make a pretty credible case for him instead. Celtics? KG is a strong candidate, but as much as I loved him in green, he only played five seasons here and I'd say was ultimately more of a Timberwolf than a Celtic. For the Pats, it might depend on whether or not Terry Glenn counts--he was technically on the roster for the 2001-02 team through the Super Bowl but had been suspended and was such a malcontent the Pats didn't even give him a ring. Maybe Lawyer Milloy? Bill wanted him to take a salary cut and Milloy wasn't interested, heading to Buffalo before stints in Seattle and Atlanta.

Any other candidates?
 

RSN Diaspora

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Pierce has to be at the top of the list for Celtics players.
I'm a complete fucking idiot--I meant to have him in this conversation, forgot about him, and then searched for a different option. It's especially dumb when you consider my only two Celtics jerseys are his and the Chief's.

So, in that case, Pedro and Pierce. Maybe then the Pats are the only question mark, especially if the Bruins win the Cup this year.
 

Bergs

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Even accounting for homer-tinted glasses, it's hard not to see both the Bruins and Celtics as favorites to win their respective sports' championships this year. Obviously, a lot has to go right for this to happen, but no one would look askew at anyone who laid down a bet right now for the B's to win the Cup or for Celtics banner #18 to get hoisted after this season. Recalling the dread that Bergeron was gonna hang up his skates after last season, I started thinking of which Boston athletes got one ring here but deserved a second ring owing to their importance to the team. Conversations like these tend to revolve around guys who deserved one and never got it, and I think that list is easier to compile: Ted Williams (Sox), Ray Bourque (Bruins), Andre Tippett (Pats), and Antoine Walker (Celtics). One ring but deserved another is tougher to determine.

The only obvious choice to me here is Pedro--his leaving after the first championship in 86 years but before the 2007 series makes that an easy pick. For hockey, right now it's Chara, but if the Bruins fail to win this year and Bergy retires, I could make a pretty credible case for him instead. Celtics? KG is a strong candidate, but as much as I loved him in green, he only played five seasons here and I'd say was ultimately more of a Timberwolf than a Celtic. For the Pats, it might depend on whether or not Terry Glenn counts--he was technically on the roster for the 2001-02 team through the Super Bowl but had been suspended and was such a malcontent the Pats didn't even give him a ring. Maybe Lawyer Milloy? Bill wanted him to take a salary cut and Milloy wasn't interested, heading to Buffalo before stints in Seattle and Atlanta.

Any other candidates?
First of all, in the "zero-ring club", 'toine is an amusing pick for me; he was a very good player on very flawed teams, but I don't feel like he "deserved" a ring, whatever the hell that really means. Actually, I don't know if there's a single Celtic I'd put on the list. I'd put Hannah over Tippett, not to mention a ton of great Patriots from 2005 to 2013 (not that Tippett wasn't awesome). I'd add Neely to the Bruins and of course, Yaz.

As to your actual thread topic (which is fun):

Celts: I absolutely have KG (and Pierce). If Perkins doesn't blow out his knee, they have 2, and if the NBA didn't hand the Heat game 4, maybe 3.

Sox: 100% agree on Pedro.

Pats: This is a harder one for sure. Mayo maybe?

Bruins: As it stands, there are two clear answers, and their jersey numbers add up to 100. Hoping that changes soon.

Edit: I see someone already brought up PP while I was working on my post.
 

Was (Not Wasdin)

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Keith Foulke. He pitched his ass and his arm off in 2004 for that team-would have been great if he somehow had been able to hang around on the 07 team.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Mayo for the Patriots, got one in 2014 while on IR. Mainly he deserved to win a Super Bowl he played in but if Terry Glenn is the alternative then he jumps to the front of the line.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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For the Celtics, I'd say definitely Paul Pierce. He really carried some Celtics teams deeper into the playoffs than they should have been early in his career, then unfortunately was just past his prime by the time the Cs were trying to create a dynasty.

If excluding Mayo and Glenn due to lack of playing in the Super Bowl, I tried to find the best player on the Patriots that did not quite bridge from the early to late halves of the dynasty in the 10 years between SB wins, and didn't find many inspiring choices. Ben Watson and Randall Gay were the best rookies on the SB XXXIX squad who didn't make it to XLIX. Logan Mankins perfectly occupied the years between XXXIX and XLIX and Dan Koppen was here for the last two of the first run, or else those O linemen may qualify as a high enough level of player.
 

InstaFace

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First guy to mind is Drew Bledsoe, who was such a crucial part of putting New England on the map under new, high-quality ownership (the arrival of Kraft, Parcells and Bledsoe all feel simultaneous in my mind). He was fairly close to making 2001 his #2, too.

Nomar got a ring for 2004, deserved it on career achievement, and you could argue deserved another for making us a legit contender in the late 90s.

Cy Young, maybe? Won the 1903 WS. John McGraw refused to play us in 1904. Never got another chance.

I assume we're only counting titles in Boston, so e.g. Wade Boggs can't make the list.

Thinking beyond Boston:

Oscar Robertson going 0-for-the-1960s before being dragged to his only title in 1971 by Kareem.

On the baseball side, Walter Johnson is arguably the best pitcher of all time and pretty inarguably a top-5 pitcher of all time. 21 years in the league. Won the NL pennant twice, 1924 and 1925, and the former's world series, and that's it.

Do we count the 2 ABA titles for Dr. J, or just his 1983 NBA title?

Logan Mankins being in New England from 2005-2013 (Before finishing his career in Tampa Bay) is one of the more unfortunate-timing cases in the zero-ring club - which I realize is not the club we're discussing, but who stands out because I always have to look him up to think "was he really not here for any lombardis?". 4th highest AV of any Patriot, behind only Brady, Hannah and Grogan. Karl Malone is probably right in line behind him.

We can name the "got 2, deserved more" club after Wilt Chamberlain. Or Vince Wilfork, whose career in New England was bookended by titles (2004-2014). Or after Bill Walton.
 

phineas gage

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Not sure if this fits the criteria, but Raymond Bourque--didn't win a title in Boston, but did elsewhere.
 

RSN Diaspora

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First of all, in the "zero-ring club", 'toine is an amusing pick for me; he was a very good player on very flawed teams, but I don't feel like he "deserved" a ring, whatever the hell that really means. Actually, I don't know if there's a single Celtic I'd put on the list. I'd put Hannah over Tippett, not to mention a ton of great Patriots from 2005 to 2013 (not that Tippett wasn't awesome).
It was between Hannah and Tippett for me--Tippett was the only player from my childhood of woeful Pats teams that I still love (I have a Tippett jersey that I wore to the 2019 SB), so I may be biased by having watched him play.

The issue for the Celtics is that so few of our stars never won a ring. You could argue for Reggie Lewis, but he sadly didn't live long enough to play too many seasons in Boston. I'm not sure who that leaves beyond Antoine.

Not sure if this fits the criteria, but Raymond Bourque--didn't win a title in Boston, but did elsewhere.
I think of Bourque as one who deserved a ring here and didn't get one and is at the top of my Bruins list for that category.
 

bankshot1

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Jerry West.

He probably would have been a little less miserable with 2 rings.

Although his buddy Elgin would have been thrilled with just one.


"We can name the "got 2, deserved more" club after Wilt Chamberlain. Or Vince Wilfork..."

Or Dave Cowens

or Jo Jo White.

Both those guys should have had three.
 

snowmanny

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Thinking beyond Boston:

Oscar Robertson going 0-for-the-1960s before being dragged to his only title in 1971 by Kareem.
I think you mean Jerry West. 1-8 in the Finals, IIRC

edit and MVP of a finals they lost.

also I was just a kid but that 1971 team was one of those teams that looked as if nobody could possibly ever beat them, like the 83 Sixers or 86 Celtics.
 
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yeahlunchbox

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Tuukka for the Bruins. He has one as a back up, but deserved one as a starter.
I felt Bergeron was the obvious answer for the Bruins, for everything he's meant to the franchise he deserves to be presented with the Stanley Cup once, but Tuukka is an interesting candidate. His 2019 run was right up there with Tim Thomas' 2011 run right up until the end. There was talk he had a shot at the Conn Smythe even if the Bruins lost he was so good that playoffs.
 

Mooch

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How about Chandler Jones? He's obviously not done yet but he only has the one ring with NE and he's putting together quite the career. 2x First Team All-Pro, 4th among active players in sacks.
 

Ale Xander

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Pats: Lawyer Milloy
Celtics: Pierce and KG (2009 or 2010 or 2012)
Bruins: Bergeron and Chara
Red Sox: Pedro
 

Beomoose

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The Truth no question. Honestly, though, while KG was a Timberwolf longer the man was an excellent Celtic and I think he deserved a second ring.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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First guy to mind is Drew Bledsoe, who was such a crucial part of putting New England on the map under new, high-quality ownership (the arrival of Kraft, Parcells and Bledsoe all feel simultaneous in my mind). He was fairly close to making 2001 his #2, too.
Derrr, yes I missed the obvious in Bledsoe. He didn't play in XXXVI, but barely missed winning XXXI and helped beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship, so he should definitely qualify.
 

RSN Diaspora

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Derrr, yes I missed the obvious in Bledsoe. He didn't play in XXXVI, but barely missed winning XXXI and helped beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship, so he should definitely qualify.
Maybe time has gotten the best of my memory, but I don't remember that game being particularly competitive and instead remember Desmond Howard scorching us at least twice (including the 99 yard return) and Parcells already having one foot out the door.

So Pedro and Pierce are obvious choices. We could make a strong case for Bergy or Chara, but @FL4WL3SS raises the very salient point that if we don't get a ring this year, Krejci and Marchand (love them both, but I'm on board with the latter more than the former) get added to the discussion. If we *do* get the Cup this year Chara stands alone IMO, though Pasta's career and the Bruins' fortunes may wind up having him in the mix.

The Pats are tougher, almost certainly because of the unlikely-to-be-repeated twenty-year run that was predated mostly by seasons alternating between mediocrity and canine excrement. Lawyer Milloy, Chandler Jones, and Ben Watson are the best ones I think I've seen so far, assuming we're excluding Mayo and Glenn (although I'm much more inclined to include Mayo than Glenn--injuries happen in the game while being a fuckface like Glenn is a personal choice). Bledsoe, I guess, but the team didn't really become good until he was relieved of his starting duties.

And I guess it doesn't have to be just one, so KG and D. Lowe in the mix too? Others?
 

tims4wins

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Maybe time has gotten the best of my memory, but I don't remember that game being particularly competitive and instead remember Desmond Howard scorching us at least twice (including the 99 yard return) and Parcells already having one foot out the door.

So Pedro and Pierce are obvious choices. We could make a strong case for Bergy or Chara, but @FL4WL3SS raises the very salient point that if we don't get a ring this year, Krejci and Marchand (love them both, but I'm on board with the latter more than the former) get added to the discussion. If we *do* get the Cup this year Chara stands alone IMO, though Pasta's career and the Bruins' fortunes may wind up having him in the mix.

The Pats are tougher, almost certainly because of the unlikely-to-be-repeated twenty-year run that was predated mostly by seasons alternating between mediocrity and canine excrement. Lawyer Milloy, Chandler Jones, and Ben Watson are the best ones I think I've seen so far, assuming we're excluding Mayo and Glenn (although I'm much more inclined to include Mayo than Glenn--injuries happen in the game while being a fuckface like Glenn is a personal choice). Bledsoe, I guess, but the team didn't really become good until he was relieved of his starting duties.

And I guess it doesn't have to be just one, so KG and D. Lowe in the mix too? Others?
The Pats fell quickly behind 10-0, but then scored back to back TDs to take the lead at the end of the first quarter. The Pack scored the next 17 to go up 27-14, then Curtis Martin took a draw play about 18 yards to the house to make it 27-21. That's when the Howard return struck. It was a fairly competitive game. I'd love a do-over on that kickoff to see if the Pats could have pulled it off. Once behind by 2 scores again and into the 4th quarter, they had to abandon the run and that was it for Max Lane vs. Reggie White.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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Maybe time has gotten the best of my memory, but I don't remember that game being particularly competitive and instead remember Desmond Howard scorching us at least twice (including the 99 yard return) and Parcells already having one foot out the door.

So Pedro and Pierce are obvious choices. We could make a strong case for Bergy or Chara, but @FL4WL3SS raises the very salient point that if we don't get a ring this year, Krejci and Marchand (love them both, but I'm on board with the latter more than the former) get added to the discussion. If we *do* get the Cup this year Chara stands alone IMO, though Pasta's career and the Bruins' fortunes may wind up having him in the mix.

The Pats are tougher, almost certainly because of the unlikely-to-be-repeated twenty-year run that was predated mostly by seasons alternating between mediocrity and canine excrement. Lawyer Milloy, Chandler Jones, and Ben Watson are the best ones I think I've seen so far, assuming we're excluding Mayo and Glenn (although I'm much more inclined to include Mayo than Glenn--injuries happen in the game while being a fuckface like Glenn is a personal choice). Bledsoe, I guess, but the team didn't really become good until he was relieved of his starting duties.

And I guess it doesn't have to be just one, so KG and D. Lowe in the mix too? Others?
Like @tims4wins I remember the game being pretty competitive, and it was for the most part. If not for Bledsoe throwing 4 picks and Favre somehow not being an erratic gunslinger and throwing none, it could have been closer to a coin flip game.

Ben Watson would be low on my personal ranking but much like the Malcolm Butler post-season bump, major extra points for his chase down of Champ Bailey in the 2005 AFC Divisional round which SHOULD HAVE (!!) been called a touchback and kept the Broncos from going ahead by two scores.
 

grsharky7

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I know this is all about only one ring, but what about Logan Mankins being on the Pats for so long and not winning any rings? Came the year after and title and was gone the year before the next one.
 

RSN Diaspora

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Bergy now joins Paul Pierce and Pedro Martinez on the Mount Olympus of Boston athletes who got one ring, but absolutely deserved a second.