The BoSox and the B’s

I know there’s a lifetime of hockey yet to play this season, or so it would seem. So I tread lightly here as I write on this subject. I have thought on this often and recently a brief online conversation prompted me to post this piece. I have many thoughts here and could approach the subject from a few different angles. So here it goes, in my own opinion and style.

Ownership:

Red Sox: Meddlesome? Hands on. Center of attention even when pleading with the public that they are not the center of attention. Can’t get out of their own way.

Bruins: Have been accused of being too distant, to quiet, and for not caring enough about the team. Certainly not the center of attention. Actually lets the management manage the team.

Management:

Red Sox: In title only it would seem, which is not management’s fault, but rather a statement of the ownership’s position.

Bruins: Appear to have a unified idea of who they want, how they want them to play, and the ability to make corrections without knocking the train of its tracks.

Coaching staff:

Red Sox: Who knows? Ownership just fired the best manager in franchise history.

Bruins: Consistent. Boring at times. They win and they are going to play everyone on the roster any given night.

leadership in competition:

Red Sox: They have a couple of guys who lead by example in everything they do. 2011 looked like most players were in it for themselves if they felt like it. Nobody led those gone astray back into the fold though.

Bruins: Strong leadership on the ice and every member of the team appears to ‘get it’. Recchi taught for a couple of years on the ice. It appears they learned well. 

teamwork:

Red Sox: Even Daisuke Matsuzaka’s team of interpreter’s couldn’t have defined this word for the Sox in 2011. They have shown it in the World Series runs but that looks like a distant black and white photo now.

Bruins: The biggest reason the Bruins are defending Stanley Cup Champs, other than maybe a Catamount Alum who played on a different planet last year. They play well at both ends of the ice.

talent/skill:

Red Sox: Maybe the most talented team in baseball last season. If not, they’re close. Maybe they’re too left-handed at the plate. Lost the franchise’s best ever closer to Philly. Certainly didn’t implode last season because they weren’t good enough.

Bruins: No superstars here. Yet. Solid skills. They are full of role players that play their roles better than most of their competition. Goaltending can be other-worldly on any, if not many, nights. Best five-on-five team in the NHL for a couple of years now.

character/chemistry:

Red Sox: They have some characters alright. Even in the middle months when they had the best record in baseball this area seemed to be lacking. The pitching staff quit on this team. Speaking of chemistry, they somehow figured out a lab experiment that equaled the greatest implosion in sports history.

Bruins: Everyone has everyone else’s back and there’s no waiting or wondering when a teammate will step up. It’s as instantaneous as needed. See reaction to Horton receiving a cheap shot in Game 3 of the Cup Finals. B’s won 8-1 and four of the last five games. They had clutch play everywhere. Haven’t forgotten the lessons: Last night, Thomas gets run, Campbell drops ‘em, Bruins win.

Well at least that’s how I see it, a little piece about the BoSox and the B’s.

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Just a little moment

It was just a little moment. Maybe it lasted for a minute or two. The twins on their tip-toes, stretching instinctively to get the highest vantage point possible. Who teaches them that? They both knew that as they leaned on the sliding glass door to the backyard, they had to get higher to see better. As I took a knee to pick each of them up, they grabbed for my neck as to steady themselves on the way up. I stood up, facing the slider, with one twin in each arm. They worked to turn themselves into the best position so they could look outside. I didn’t get any pictures of what was outside because I spent this little moment with the twins so they could take it in. As we peered into the backyard I let the twins find the object of our gaze on their own. They struggled at first looking all around and wondering what daddy was so excited for them to see. Then with the flip of a furry whitetail they squealed with their own excitement. Now they saw the beautiful white-tailed doe standing on the knoll out behind the house. As they slapped their hands on the glass, the deer took notice and just stared toward the house on high alert. Then as quickly as it had appeared it turned again, and walked into the woods. The twins, seeing the deer’s white-tail in retreat, both raised a hand and waved. They knew even in this little moment that this meant good-bye at least for now. Theodore continued his wave long after the doe was out of sight. He shared some mumbled narrative with me, I think recapping what he had seen as I put him down. Jacqueline exclaimed over and over, “Deer!, Deer!, Deer!” and gave one last half interested wave toward the backyard as if to say, she was all done with this little moment. I put her down too. As their little feet hit the carpet they were off to something else, another moment perhaps. Every day is full of little moments and I try real hard to make sure I am present for them, and to make them as memorable as possible. As you know these moments in life go way too fast. Kids, or no kids, try to take some time as often as possible to be very much a part of all the little moments.