Bleachers Fixtures: A Chat with Paul Ruzik

Paul Ruzik is from Boston and was my assistant at Solar Sports for almost a year before he moved back to the US. We had many a chat about sports and I have to say that it was a friendly rivalry me rooting for New York teams while he was solid Boston. We had a brief chat not long after the Boston Celtics put the finishing touches on the LA Lakers at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Rick: Describe the atmosphere now in Boston? You have three pro teams that have all won titles since the new millennium. Is there a new jack swagger about?
Paul: The atmosphere is awesome. After the win all we heard throughout Boston was car horns honking, fireworks exploding and lots and lots of cheering and clapping. I wasn't near the garden cause it would have taken forever to try to get home, but all of Boston is basically walking distance.
We have six (COUNT ‘EM SIX) championships in Boston since 2001 (should have been seven). We had this swagger since the Patriots became the most dominate team in football and the Red Sox traded for Yankee Killer Josh Beckett. We now expect all our teams to win the championships. The MLS isn't big here, but we all expected the Revolution to win too, unfortunately they choked in the championship in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007. I would honestly say after the Celtics started out 30-4, the majority of Boston fans knew this was without a doubt another championship year for the C's. Besides, this season was for Red.

Rick: Which was the bigger celebration -- for the Celtics, the Red Sox or the Patriots?
Paul: Red Sox had an estimated 5.5 million at their 2004 Parade. That won't ever be topped in Boston.

Rick: Were you at the Garden for Game 6? What was it like knowing that the 17th banner was practically wrapped up by halftime? Did you get smashed afterwards?
Paul: I wasn't at the Garden, but we actually knew the championship was wrapped up when the Celtics got past the Cavs. The Celtics owned the Western Conference all season and had their way with the Euro-Heavy Lakers both games previously this year.

Rick: I remember when the Red Sox won in 2004, there were girls going around the streets flashing their boobs. Anything of that sort now?
Paul: School’s out for now so many of the college people are out. As for the girls flashing their goods, sadly I didn't see any of that. The Boston Police were a lot more prepared for this celebration. There wasn't too much car flipping or big fires because college classes already ended a couple of weeks ago.

Rick: How about them Bruins? Is there life for them?
Paul: As for the Bruins we now have the great CAM NEELY pushing the buttons in the Bruins Den, but again with their owners being such tight wads it's hard to build a competitive team. Don't forget this is the same team that traded away Joe Thornton for a bunch of no bodies so they can save a buck. The Bruins do have tons of the hardcore fans in Boston, so they'll always have the fan support.

And watch out for the Patriots this year!