There's nothing that bonds a city closer than when one of it's sports teams wins a championship. A championship puts everyone in a good mood; strangers talk to each other, food tastes better, even the T doesn't seem as hot and crowded. For a few days we all feel connected, we feel like we're part of something. We've been lucky in Boston to have seven championships in the last ten years. Our lucky seventh came courtesy of the Boston Bruins. From the moment Big Z lifted Lord Stanley's Cup over his head B's fans let out a collective roar and have been celebrating ever since. The Bruins were bringing the Cup home after 39 years! (and no we don't count the time when Ray Bourque brought the Stanley Cup to Boston. The Cup that he won with another team. Does not count.).
I knew as soon as the Bruins won that I would attend the parade. I had not attended any of the other team's championship parades not even the Sox but I've got a soft spot for the B's and I wanted to join in the celebration. (Oh wait, I did attend one of the parades. In 1984 my mom took my brothers and I to the Celtics championship rally but I don't remember much about it except that it was very crowded and hot and that we got stuck on the Red Line coming home.)
This time would be different. My mom being the trooper she is joined me for today's Bruins celebration. We got to the parade route about 8:45am. The parade wouldn't start until about 11am and it wouldn't reach us on Boylston Street until about 12pm. I thought it might be tedious waiting but the time flew by. We could feel the excitement in the air. I have never seen so many black and yellow jerseys, t-shirts and hats in one place. I was proud to be a Bruins fan! Finally the duck boats came toward us with all the Bruins players on board. The crowd erupted and confetti exploded as Timmy Thomas, Chara, Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand, Recchi, Horton, Coach Claude and all the rest waved to the fans. The actual parade went by quickly but it was so worth the wait. Thank you Boston Bruins for one helluva season!
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| Boylston Street at 9am. |
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Fake Cup
Here they come!
Big Z!
Timmy Thomas!
Hi Looch!
Tyler Seguin
Michael Ryder |
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Brad Marchand
Patrice Bergeron!
Andrew Ference
The Stanley Cup was carried right in front of me! Slow down boys! |
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Me and mom. Thanks for sticking it out Mom!
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Confetti is all that's left.
It's hard to put into words how I feel about the passing of Clarence Clemons. I've been thinking about him all day and wondering why I feel so affected by his death. I guess it's the reality that I won't see him perform with Bruce and the E Street Band ever again and that saddens me deeply. As fans we know the story of Bruce and Clarence and the band. These guys have been together for years and are like brothers. When attending their shows you feel their joy and love for each other and those feelings elevate the music to a whole other level. There is a special connection, a spirtual connection between the band and audience. It's hard to imagine that I won't hear those glorious sounds coming from Clarence's saxophone. Jungleland, Bobby Jean, Born to Run and so many other songs take on different meanings. 
