Soldier
not redeemed with gold but with His Blood
Teams who are beloved because they made a memorable playoff run to the second round of the playoffs, conference finals…or even all the way to the Super Bowl , NBA Finals, World Series or Stanley Cup Final. But for various reasons, these teams lost in their final championship game or championship series. And despite never tasted the sweet thrill of victory... and instead had to drink the bitter tears of defeat...the fans still love them and are grateful for the memories, from the happiest to the saddest.
I’ve noticed that these type of teams were also beloved because they had a cast of entertaining, endearing, unique, charismatic and polarizing characters. They are also beloved because in that particular season, they embodied the cultural zeitgeist of the era and fit the identity, soul and spirit of their city. As a result, They were beloved because the fans saw themselves in the players. Some, but not all, of these teams were also beloved because of how dominant and talented they were compared to the rest of the league. But despite their overwhelming skill advantage over the rest of the other teams, they couldn’t win their championship.
Underdog teams who were short on skill and talent, but were still beloved because they had plenty of players with grit, heart, never say attitude, courage, clutch performances under pressure, determination, mental strength, resourcefulness, and poise all over the lineup.
Teams who were beloved because of the way they won games and in the particular Context they won.
My list from Toronto sports.
1992-93 Maple Leafs(Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Dave Andreychuk, Sylvain Lefebvre, Jamie macoun, Dave Ellett, Felix Potvin, coach Pat burns, etc )
2001-02 Maple Leafs( coach Pat Quinn, and Mats Sundin, Curtis Joseph , Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Alexander Mogilny, Shayne Corson, Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Tie Domi)
2000-01 Raptors
The peak of vinsanity, Vince Carter full of potential in his prime, it was also a big,veteran and gritty squad ( Charles Oakley, Mo pete, Alvin Williams, Jerome Williams, dell curry, Antonio Davis, Chris Childs) the first legit attempt at a playoff run, their first ever series win over the perennial contending New York Knicks, the epic battle with the iverson led Philadelphia 76ers in the 2nd round. That exciting, tense but heartbreaking game 7 loss. We all know about Vince Carter’s missed shot.
2015-16 Raptors. The starters were Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Bismack Biyombo, DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Patterson with Terrence Ross, Jonas Valanciunas, Luis Scola, Norm Powell, Jason Thompson, Cory Joseph, and Delon Wright on the bench. The city of Toromt hosted the All star game for the first time ever, the team clinched the Second seed in the east, overall the third season of the « we the north era » that started in the 2014 Brooklyn series was entertaining and satisfying despite the fact that we weren’t close to the Cavs and warriors that year.
In 2016, they played two very hard fought series against the pacers and heat just to get to the third round against the all world Cavs who swept their way to the ECF. We barely grinded out wins in game 7 of each series. Most Raps fans expected nothing after that. We just wanted the raptors to have a respectable and competitive fight against them, we knew The Cavs were the much better team. We predictably lost the first two games in Cleveland but we came back to tie the series at 2-2 with the massive help of the big and strong starter Bismack biyombo. He gave the team energy and attitude. But the Cavs woke up, and came back to their senses as they destroyed us in the last two games of the series to finally win in 6 and advance to the finals.
2015-16 blue Jays
The manager in both years was John Gibbons
( I will always cherish and remember Jose « bats » Bautista, Edwin « parrot » encarnacion, Troy « tulo » tulowitzki, Russell Martin, Kevin pillar, Roberto ozuna, Josh Donaldson, Marcus stroman, etc)
I remember the 2015 MLB trade deadline, the trades that sent pitcher David price and
All star Shortstop Troy tulowitzki here. From now on, we were unstoppable and easily sworn the Al east division over the Yankees. After more than two decades of missing the playoffs, we were back in the playoffs at last for the first time since the 1993 championship seasin( that ended with Joe Carter walkoff homerun off Mitch Williams)
I’ve noticed that these type of teams were also beloved because they had a cast of entertaining, endearing, unique, charismatic and polarizing characters. They are also beloved because in that particular season, they embodied the cultural zeitgeist of the era and fit the identity, soul and spirit of their city. As a result, They were beloved because the fans saw themselves in the players. Some, but not all, of these teams were also beloved because of how dominant and talented they were compared to the rest of the league. But despite their overwhelming skill advantage over the rest of the other teams, they couldn’t win their championship.
Underdog teams who were short on skill and talent, but were still beloved because they had plenty of players with grit, heart, never say attitude, courage, clutch performances under pressure, determination, mental strength, resourcefulness, and poise all over the lineup.
Teams who were beloved because of the way they won games and in the particular Context they won.
My list from Toronto sports.
1992-93 Maple Leafs(Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Dave Andreychuk, Sylvain Lefebvre, Jamie macoun, Dave Ellett, Felix Potvin, coach Pat burns, etc )
2001-02 Maple Leafs( coach Pat Quinn, and Mats Sundin, Curtis Joseph , Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Alexander Mogilny, Shayne Corson, Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Tie Domi)
2000-01 Raptors
The peak of vinsanity, Vince Carter full of potential in his prime, it was also a big,veteran and gritty squad ( Charles Oakley, Mo pete, Alvin Williams, Jerome Williams, dell curry, Antonio Davis, Chris Childs) the first legit attempt at a playoff run, their first ever series win over the perennial contending New York Knicks, the epic battle with the iverson led Philadelphia 76ers in the 2nd round. That exciting, tense but heartbreaking game 7 loss. We all know about Vince Carter’s missed shot.
2015-16 Raptors. The starters were Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Bismack Biyombo, DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Patterson with Terrence Ross, Jonas Valanciunas, Luis Scola, Norm Powell, Jason Thompson, Cory Joseph, and Delon Wright on the bench. The city of Toromt hosted the All star game for the first time ever, the team clinched the Second seed in the east, overall the third season of the « we the north era » that started in the 2014 Brooklyn series was entertaining and satisfying despite the fact that we weren’t close to the Cavs and warriors that year.
In 2016, they played two very hard fought series against the pacers and heat just to get to the third round against the all world Cavs who swept their way to the ECF. We barely grinded out wins in game 7 of each series. Most Raps fans expected nothing after that. We just wanted the raptors to have a respectable and competitive fight against them, we knew The Cavs were the much better team. We predictably lost the first two games in Cleveland but we came back to tie the series at 2-2 with the massive help of the big and strong starter Bismack biyombo. He gave the team energy and attitude. But the Cavs woke up, and came back to their senses as they destroyed us in the last two games of the series to finally win in 6 and advance to the finals.
2015-16 blue Jays
The manager in both years was John Gibbons
( I will always cherish and remember Jose « bats » Bautista, Edwin « parrot » encarnacion, Troy « tulo » tulowitzki, Russell Martin, Kevin pillar, Roberto ozuna, Josh Donaldson, Marcus stroman, etc)
I remember the 2015 MLB trade deadline, the trades that sent pitcher David price and
All star Shortstop Troy tulowitzki here. From now on, we were unstoppable and easily sworn the Al east division over the Yankees. After more than two decades of missing the playoffs, we were back in the playoffs at last for the first time since the 1993 championship seasin( that ended with Joe Carter walkoff homerun off Mitch Williams)
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. Nash, Van Exel, Finley and Dirk versus Sacramento was pure piff. Crispy azz offense. Bobby Jackson used to give Nash fits. "Watch those dive cutters!" - Bob Ortegel. They had to let Nash go. He got abused on defense too often.
The Bearcats ain't really been the same since.