“I think it is like a brotherhood, when you think about it, because it’s like every franchise out there is legendary.”
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It’s been five years since Julian Edelman last suited up for the Patriots, and a dozen years since the Celtics traded Paul Pierce.
But, the two athletes still feel connected to the city through what they call a “brotherhood” within Boston sports.
During a recent episode on Edelman’s Games With Names podcast, they reminisced about the golden age of Boston sports and what makes the city so special for pro athletes.
“I think it is like a brotherhood, when you think about it, because it’s like every franchise out there is legendary,” Pierce said. “I tell people that Boston is the best sports town in all of America. It’s not even close.”
“In that era that we played in, everybody won a championship,” Pierce said.
But, it was able more than just the winning. There was competitiveness that helped drive players from different Boston sports teams towards greatness, Edelman said.
“I tried to explain to people, like it was almost a competition with the other sports teams,” Edelman said. “Because everyone was winning so goddamn much. You see the Red Sox win something, and you’re like ‘oh man, we’ve got to get something’. Then the Celtics win something and you’re like oh [expletive]. And then the Bruins would go win.”
“That was a 20 year gap that will be remembered forever. It really is crazy.”
The competition also helped form camaraderie. Pierce said one of his favorite aspects of playing in Boston was going to see the other teams play.
“You go out when you’re young, and then you start having kids and stuff … my going out was going to y’all’s games or something like that, going to the Red Sox.
“We all supported each other, that’s what I loved about Boston. I’d go to Red Sox games, we’d go to [Patriots] games, [the Patriots] would come to our games. I remember being on the field before the game watching y’all warm up. I was like ‘damn’ that’s pretty dope. I liked the support y’all gave each other. That was fun times.”
Being a part of the Celtics was special, Pierce said. The Celtics have more championships than any other NBA franchise, and the link between generations of past and present players helps keep the tradition alive.
“I still stay in touch with the guys like Rondo. I just saw Rondo and [Kendrick Perkins] last week, watching their kids play AAU,” Pierce said. “Tony Allen is actually out here right now, me and him and KG had dinner the other day. I talk to Tatum and Brown, talked to them a few weeks ago. It’s different … it’s not like any other organization.”
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.