As strange as it may sound, being hated can feel good.
It was late in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semi-Finals between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs were less than a minute away from forcing a seventh game against the mighty Celtics, owners of the league’s best record throughout the regular season. As the final seconds ticked away, the fans in Cleveland began chanting “Boston Sucks!” again and again.
Watching the game on ESPN with my friends, I heard the fans as they openly jeered Beantown. Rather than get upset, I actually smiled and realized I enjoyed their harsh words.
One can hardly blame the fans in Cleveland for directing their hostility toward Boston. After all, it was just last fall that the Red Sox came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Cleveland Indians in Major League Baseball’s postseason. After the Celtics’ victory in Game 7 Sunday, the Cavaliers became the most recent team to fall victim to one of Boston’s sports teams.
It’s not just Cleveland that’s had enough of Boston’s teams. Judging by the success of the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, Bruins and Revolution in recent years, the Boston area is home to professional sports’ best teams.
When one city seemingly dominates the sports landscape, fans from other cities cannot help but feel resentment. Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago and Pittsburgh each had periods in their histories where all their teams were on top simultaneously and have dealt with abuse because of it. Even Boston, as recently as 2004, had two championship-winning teams in the Red Sox and Patriots, with the Bruins and Celtics both qualifying for the playoffs during those years as well.
The current Boston juggernaut inevitably makes the city a target for sports fans across the country. It seems like people cheer for their favorite team to win and for the Boston franchise to lose. The New York Giants, for example, became football heros not only because they won the Super Bowl, but because they beat the undefeated Patriots in the process.
Earlier this year while I was in Richmond to support Northeastern for the Colonial Athletic Associaiton Men’s Basketball Championship, fans from opposing schools seemed less concerned with the Huskies as they mocked the Red Sox and shouted approval for the Yankees. These instances occur frequently with Boston teams at the top.
At first, it was frustrating to see so much angst directed at my favorite teams, especially with so much of it undeserved. As time passed I have come to realize that all the boos ultimately mean that Boston has earned respect from its opponents.
While many spectators would probably be reluctant to admit they respect Boston, their actions say it all. Tom Brady is hated by Indianapolis Colts fans simply because he has enjoyed more success than their beloved Peyton Manning. Brady has never done anything controversial to anger Colts fans except win more Super Bowls.
The same is true in the opposite sense, too. Red Sox fans boo Derek Jeter every time he takes the field at Fenway. Jeter is a classy baseball player sure to be in the Hall of Fame one day. His only crime, according to Boston fans, is being the captain of the rival New York Yankees. Had he played for any other team and won the same number of championships, he would be largely ignored by local fans. In this way, the boos directed at Jeter are a form of respect.
My message to fans of Boston’s teams is simple: Enjoy it while it lasts. It might be annoying to always be at the top of everyone’s enemy list, but imagine what it would be like if opposing fans took pity on your favorite team. Chicago Cubs fans are always commended for supporting the team dubbed the Lovable Losers. Would you enjoy being a fan of a team of Lovable Losers?
For the time being I will turn the volume up on every “Boston Sucks!” chant I hear. Remember sports fans, all the attention just means your team is the best.
– Patrick McHugh can be reached
