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?
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?