Patrice Bergeron’s retirement got me thinking of Boston sports legends. I pondered who the defining players from each team were, and how they have changed. What better way to represent this than a Mount Rushmore?
I’m going to do this for each decade since 2000 (meaning players that I’ve watched in my lifetime), and for each decade I’ll pick one player from each of the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox. For the 2020s, it’ll be an exercise of projection and idealism.
These are my opinions. If you disagree, first take a good look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself how you dare question my unlimited expertise on the matter. If you do that and still disagree, feel free to comment on this article or Tweet at us @A2ZSportsTakes.
2000s
This was the decade that put Boston sports back on the map. The city emerged as a championship winning juggernaut, claiming seven titles (three for the Patriots, two for the Sox, one for the Celtics). But who led this charge for their respective teams?
Bruins
I’ll start here with the lone team that came up empty this decade, and experienced little success while the other team flourished. It was not for nothing, however, as this decade at least brought the foundation of a later title.
Zdeno Chara
Chara came to the Bruins in 2006 and was named captain immediately. Around him and a few other guys, a middling Bruins team eventually grew to have playoff success by the late 2000s. The culture that he helped build eventually led to a Stanley Cup in 2001. He won the Norris trophy for being the league’s best defenseman in the 2008-2009 season.
Honorable Mentions: Joe Thornton, Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron, Tim Thomas
Celtics
The Celtics were able to take home their 17th title in 2008, which was their first since 1986. Like the Bruins, the Celtics had some lean years early in the decade, but they were able to put it all together right when they assembled their “Big 3” of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and the next Mount Rushmore entry.
Paul Pierce
The Truth. Paul Pierce spent the whole decade with the Cs after being drafted in 1998. He made seven All Star teams in the decade, got the All-NBA second team nod in 2009 (along with 3rd a few third team nods), and won the Finals MVP in 2008. This one was easy.
Honorable Mention: Kevin Garnett (not close, but deserving of recognition)
Red Sox
The Sox finally broke “The Curse of the Bambino”, winning their first World Series since 1918 in 2004, then went on to win another in 2007. They went from “lovable losers” to a powerhouse in this decade.
David Ortiz
The Red Sox had a bunch of players make crucial contributions in this decade, but it would be blasphemous to suggest that anyone other than Big Papi best represented the team and their success. He put up big numbers ever since he came from the Minnesota Twins in 2003 (including a franchise record 54 home runs in 2006), but what makes him such a legend are his numerous clutch performances, especially in the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees.
Honorable Mentions: Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, Dustin Pedroia
Patriots
The Patriots won their first three Super Bowls in this decade (2001, 2003, 2004), and they became the team with the greatest 20 year run in NFL (and maybe all of sports) history. Is there really any question who belongs on Mount Rushmore here?
Tom Brady
Come on. After replacing Drew Bledsoe after an injury, the 2000 sixth round pick began his march towards being the greatest player in NFL history. His list of accomplishments is long and well documented, so I’ll be brief. Three Super Bowls, two Super Bowl MVPs, and a record-setting MVP undefeated regular season in 2007. That’s not the whole story for Brady’s success in the decade, but you get the picture.
Honorable Mentions: No player is in the same stratosphere, but Randy Moss, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Willie McGinest, Randy Moss, and Adam Vinatieri are also among legends of this era.
2010s
Boston sports didn’t miss a beat in continuing their domination in the 2010s, compiling another seven championships (three for the Patriots, two for the Red Sox, and one for the Bruins). While there were familiar faces in this new decade, some new icons emerged for these franchises as well.
Bruins
The Bruins broke through and won their first Stanley Cup since 1972 in 2011. They went to two more in the decade in 2013 and 2019, unfortunately losing both. Overall, the team went from an average team in the 2000s to among the NHL’s best in the 2010s.
Patrice Bergeron
Bergeron actually joined the Bruins before Chara as a second round pick in the 2003 draft, but he really came into his own as an elite, hall of fame player in the 2010s. He wore the “A” for the Bruins for the whole decade, and was a vital piece of every one of the Bruins’ runs to the Cup, fighting through serious injuries to stay on the ice. In addition to team success, Bergeron cemented himself as one of the best defensive forwards of all time, winning four Selke trophies in this stretch.
Honorable Mentions: Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, David Krejci
Celtics
This one was difficult. The Celtics teams took on a few different forms throughout the decade, and while there were some fun seasons, there’s no true benchmark player or moment for this period. The stretch featured Pierce, Garnett, and Rondo at the beginning and Tatum and Brown at the end, but none of these guys really defined the decade. I considered Marcus Smart for having the most tenure in this period, and wouldn’t argue if someone else wanted to put him in this spot, but I decided to go in a different direction.
Isaiah Thomas
At a time where the Celtics were underdogs in the East in the shadow of LeBron’s Cavs, Thomas, an underdog himself at a generous 5’9”, led the Celtics on deep playoff runs on their quests to slay the giant. Although they never ultimately succeeded, those teams were fun to watch and the city rallied around them. He even got MVP votes in the 2016-2017 season, putting up almost 30 points per game. Thomas’s star didn’t burn for long in Boston, but it sure burned bright.
Honorable Mention: Marcus Smart
Red Sox
Although the Sox were not as consistently good as they were in the 2000s, they still managed to put up two World Series victories (2013 and 2018), with that 2018 team being one of the best teams ever, winning 108 games and steamrolling through the playoffs. Even though this decade’s Mount Rushmore entry wasn’t on that team, he still left his mark on the 2010s Red Sox in a way no one else could.
David Ortiz
Again. I thought of going with 2018 MVP Mookie Betts or star shortstop Xander Bogaerts (one of the few members of both World Series teams), but they just couldn’t compare to Papi. Ortiz made five All Star games in this decade despite retiring after the 2016 season (in which he was an All Star). He was a very productive player all the way through the end, but that’s not the main reason for him taking this spot. He could almost be here for 2013 alone. First of all, he was a figure to rally around after the tragic terrorist bombings of the Boston Marathon, giving perhaps the best ever speech for a player addressing a crowd ever when he proclaimed “This is our fucking city”.
In the playoffs, he was on another planet. He hit a clutch grand slam to tie the game in the 8th inning of game two of the ALCS to prevent the Red Sox from going down 0-2 to Detroit. In the World Series, he couldn’t get out. He hit .688 and slugged 1.188 with a .760 on base percentage on his way to an emphatic World Series MVP. Absolutely legendary.
Honorable Mentions: Mookie Betts, Xander Bogarts
Patriots
After ten years without winning a Super Bowl and a growing number of people wondering if the Patriots would be able to ever return to their early 2000s greatness, the Pats embarked on another historic run, winning it all in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Going to five Super Bowls and winning three, along with going to eight straight AFC Championship games, the Patriots owned the 2010s. It’s no surprise what player was at the helm of this success.
Tom Brady
Come on (x2). Obviously. I don’t need to go too deep into this. Two MVPs (2010, 2017), two Super Bowl MVPs (2014, 2016), countless records broken… he’s simply the best ever. Leading the greatest comeback in NFL history (from down 28-3 in Super Bowl LI) after having to endure a bogus suspension for “Deflategate” doesn’t hurt either.
Honorable Mentions: Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Devin McCourty
2020s
The 2020s are yet to be defined for Boston sports. In this section, I’ll discuss who I think will be, or should be, the preeminent franchise cornerstone of the 2020s for each team in their efforts to keep the “Titletown” moniker alive.
Bruins
The Bruins are coming off a historic season and have long been solid, but the direction of the team is uncertain with the retirement of Patrice Bergeron as they seek their first Cup since 2011.
David Pastrnak
After putting up a remarkable 61 goals this past season, Pastrnak established himself as a top five player in the NHL, finishing second in Hart trophy (MVP) voting behind only Connor McDavid. With Bergeron’s retirement, the Bruins will have to rely on Pastrnak’s brilliance while they attempt to stay in contention. The Bruins extended Pasta for eight years this year, so he’s in for the long haul.
Other Possibilities: Charlie McAvoy, Brad Marchand (if he manages to continue to play at a high level/doesn’t retire in the next couple years), Jeremy Swayman
Celtics
The Celtics have a team that’s among the best in the NBA and have already been to the Finals. They will be seeking their first title since 2008 with this loaded roster.
Jayson Tatum
Tatum is a bonafide superstar and a top five-level player in the NBA. He’s the best player on the Celtics, and should be in the running for league MVP for years to come. The talent isn’t in question. Tatum’s eventual legacy in Boston will be defined by whether he can lead the team to a Finals victory, which has so far eluded him over numerous deep playoff runs. As he continues to impress and improve, he is primed to get one in the near future.
Other Possibility: Jaylen Brown (for many of the same reasons as Tatum. Brown will need to perform better down the stretch in the playoffs to cement himself as a franchise icon)
Red Sox
The retooled Red Sox have a lot of young talent, and could make some noise in the coming years. They’re looking to capture titles in their third straight decade, which is a far cry from the championship barren 20th Century post-1918.
Rafael Devers
After losing/getting rid of other homegrown stars like Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, this past offseason the Red Sox decided to make a long term commitment to Rafael Devers with a 10 year deal worth upwards of $300 million dollars. The Sox believe Devers is the future of the team, and so do I. He’s already one of the most dangerous hitters in the league, and as a still young player at 26 years old, he has time to grow. His defense at third base has improved significantly over the years, and this will probably continue. The Sox will look to Raffy to lead this new young stable of players in pursuit of more titles.
Other Possibilities: Brayan Bello, Triston Casas, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida
Patriots
The Patriots are still looking to find a way back into contention in the wake of Brady’s departure. The success of the previous decades is unlikely to be replicated, but the new-look Patriots hope to capture some new triumphs.
Mac Jones
This one is based more on hope than substance, but there is still some promise behind Mac Jones. After a stellar rookie campaign in which he helped lead the Pats to the playoffs and made the Pro Bowl (as a replacement, but whatever, he was recognized for success), he struggled in his sophomore season. This could be due to poor coaching (Matt Patricia), or middling weapons on offense, but it wasn’t a strong season, and brings doubt on whether Jones can lead a contending team. Truthfully, I don’t know if Mac is the guy. I think he can be pretty good, though, and if the Patriots want to compete in the playoffs and for a Lombardi trophy, Mac needs to be good. So, while he has not (to this point) shown to be a convincing candidate for the 2020s Boston Sports Mount Rushmore, if the Pats are any good, he’ll have to make himself worthy of the spot.
Other Possibilities: Matthew Judon, Kyle Dugger, Rhamondre Stevenson
This was fun to put together. I may do more of this type of thing in the future. Going through all of these legends makes me reminisce of the great times I had watching them. I grew up following the careers of all of these guys and look forward to following the 2020s guys in the coming years.