TitleTown

When I was little and first started watching NFL games, one of the first things that I learned (aside from how crappy Schafer/Sullivan/Foxboro Stadium was and how much of a pain in the ass it was getting to and out of the stadium), was that the Green Bay Packers were one of the best, if not the best, NFL team during the 1950's and 1960's and because of that Green Bay was labeled as 'TitleTown'.

Now years later, ESPN has decided that it's time to put the 'TitleTown' mantra to a vote and are looking for 19 nominees (with Green Bay already having a spot as one of 20 finalists) to answer the question that has been at the front of all of our minds - "Who is the real TitleTown?"

Who cares?

All of these special promotions they ESPN are doing (recently they had a vote for the Best Sports Highlight) are stupid and don't teach us or mean anything. Is the 1980 US Olympic Hockey win over Russia a better sports highlight than Flutie's 'Miracle in Miami' or Kirk Gibson's Game 1 walkoff homer in the 1988 World Series? No.

The worst part about it was that Chris Berman ws commenting on the highlights from those games as if they had happened that day. It was horrible.

Anyways, the reason that this promotion, or contest is stupid is that 'TitleTown' was a referral back to the Green Bay Packers and was symbolic of the Packers success. It was something that was unique to that team. What happens if Los Angeles, or New York, or Detroit, or Chicago or Boston is selected as the new 'TitleTown'? Will all of the professional teams in that city be as identifiable with the title of 'TitleTown' as the Packers are? No. This is an exercise in stupidity and an idea by someone who has no idea what they are doing.

Now the real fun begins, with ESPN personalities making their case as to which town they think it's 'TitleTown'. Scoop Jackson said it should be Chicago.

"Titles have rested on our shoulders like minks and sables on Liz Taylor and Bishop Juan. We look good when we wear them, and no other city can rock them like we do."

No Scoop, your town sucks. How can the city that has the Most Loveable losers (the Cubs) in sports be part of TitleTown? Thanks for playing, we have lovely parting gifts.

Others have made the case for Dallas or Los Angeles. Nope and Double Nope (need to have a football team to be called TitleTown).

The real TitleTown is obvious (especially if you're only looking at the 21st century). It's Boston with New York a close second (it's easier for them to win titles - they have more teams and some of their teams play in New Jersey, that doesn't count). Of course, I might be seen as biased because I've lived in New England my whole life, but the merits of the four professional teams in the area can speak for themselves.

Aside from the success that the Red Sox and Patriots have had this decade and that the Celtics are enjoying this year, the picture below tells it all. It's from this year's Opening Day celebration at Fenway. According to the Red Sox PR staff it is the only time that the World Series trophy, the Super Bowl trophy, the Stanley Cup and the NBA championship trophy have been in the same place at the same time. There are other cities that can do it, New York, Chicago, Detroit, but they haven't be able to do it lately or as often.

Beat that.