I’m already a big fan of Josh’s sports writing style and think you’ll like it too. But it raises a larger question. You see, since his great article after the first Patriots Super Bowl victory, the “Boston Sports Guy” Bill Simmons has been on a decline. That article was his peak, and though he maintained a high quality writing level for a few more, lately he’s really begun to dip. Once a Bill Simmons fanatic, I now don’t even bother reading his stories.

So, someone had to step up and fill in the gap left by Bill. Let’s take a look and see if Josh is up to the challenge. Without further ado, it’s time to see who comes out on top in the battle between Josh Gans and Bill Simmons.

Who is the Real Boston Sports Guy?

Hometown

Josh was born in Dorchester and raised in Charlestown, two real, actual Boston neighborhoods. Bill was born in Worcester. To his credit, Bill never claimed he was from Boston, but he does constantly imply it indirectly. Any true Bostonian will tell you, being born and raised in the City of Boston is an integral part of being a Bostonian.

While I respect Bill’s work in promoting the Boston sports scene, this point has to go to Josh.

Writing Quality

Bill has been writing about sports on the web for years (technically decades), while Josh just recently got into the game. Though I love Josh’s writing style and think he’s truly found his niche and passion, Bill is simply more experienced and it shows. When all else fails, the traditional standard of whose had more best selling books published is a great metric for this category. I think even Josh would agree that right now this point goes to Bill.

Career Curve

In my opinion, Bill’s best article ever was his post about the Patriots first Super Bowl victory. I cried, I laughed, I smiled, I read it again and again. But since that fateful day Bill’s writing has slowly but surely gotten worse, especially after Bill moved out to Los Angeles. There is simply something about Boston that imbibes one with a personality and perspective that cannot be replicated in other cities. I should know, after living in LA for a year I felt like a stranger upon returning to Boston. Josh has just started out and is nowhere near reaching his peak, while Bill has been steadily declining for years now. Plus, Josh is currently living in Boston and can feed off the city’s buzz while Bill relaxes out in sunny but always cloudy Los Angeles.

Point Josh.

Saturation of Boston Sports

Though his readers still complain about many of Bill’s articles focusing too much on Boston Sports, the past few years he’s written less and less about Boston Sports. At this point, I’d say it’s fair to call him simply the Sports Guy, leaving the title of Boston Sports Guy up for grabs. Josh also writes extensively about Syracuse University, due to his connection with them via graduating from their Utica campus. He’s also planning on writing about major national stories, but for now most of his posts are about Boston Sports.

Push.

Team Affiliation

Josh is Celtics season ticket holder while Bill is a Clippers season ticket holder. Not even close, point to Josh.

Effect on the Industry

Since Bill started writing about sports online, the web has taken off. Though he wasn’t the sole cataylst for it, I truly believe Bill’s skyrocketing career path greatly helped advance web writing and bring it respect and authority. Without Bill, perhaps there wouldn’t be so many sports bloggers, and even regular bloggers, earning a full time income online. Maybe there would be, but I really do believe that Bill helped all of us web workers legitimize the arena. Josh really can’t compare to Bill in this category, yet. Point Bill.

Promoting Boston

Bill writes for ESPN.com while Josh writes for SportsFan4.com. The national and international exposure Bill brings to Boston surely drives up tourism and helps make our city better. Also, his now stranger status means he has an outside perspective on Boston from which he can see our flaws better than we can. This one is not even close either, point Bill.

Intangibles

We can’t end this comparison without a look at the intangibles. Who has more upside? Who has a greater wing span? Who can rally the troops and lead them to victory?

Bill has a huge loyal following of thousands upon thousands of fans, while Josh has just a few so far. Bill pointed me towards the great works of Ronald Jenkees, while Josh’s enthusiasm for sports has led to guest writers already asking to write for Sports Fan 4 and even got me writing about sports again.

It’s a tough, close call but the fact that I’m actually reading Sports Fan 4 and even getting pumped for sports again sways this final category to Josh.

And the Winner is…

By the slimmest of margins, 4-3, Josh Gans wins the battle and claims the title from the reigning champion, Bill Simmons, of the real Boston Sports Guy.

Congratulations Josh! Don’t let the crown weigh you down.

You can barely see it but there’s a banner outside the arena too.

Once inside, the atmosphere was buzzing with Celtics fans ready to see another banner raised to the rafters. As if being at opening night for the World Champion Celtics against Lebron James and the Cavs wasn’t enough, they were also handing out free t-shirts! I love me some free t-shirts (who doesn’t) and the back is particularly sweet as it’s just a big ass banner.

If you weren't jealous of my tickets, check out this free shirt!

As we waited for the championship ceremony to begin, the crowd got very lively with the first wicked loud “Let’s Go Celtics” chant of the night and the season. My section (313, the best section in The Gahden) lit up with appreciative smiles at the decibel level of the chant. Our corner of the arena started it so we were proud that it got so loud.

The ceremony began with a video of last year’s highlights that got the crowd even more pumped (check in tomorrow or Friday for videos from last night). Then, NBA commissioner David Stern (who contrary to some reports did get booed as he was introduced) tried to give a speech, but the crowd got another wicked loud “Let’s Go Celtics” chant going that completely drowned out his words and forced Stern to simply sit down and shut up. It was one of the highlights of the nights.

This gap would be empty for only a few more minutes.

Then they began handing out championship rings to the Celtics staff. Danny Ainge got a big cheer and Doc Rivers got a huge, huge response from the crowd. Then, they started announcing the players. Huge responses for all the players but especially Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and last but certainly not least, Paul Pierce. After the rings were handed out, all the players walked over to the right side of the court, where a spotlight slowly illuminated a giant green and white championship banner. All the players grabbed a piece of rope and began lifting the banner in unison to the rafters.

The Celtics raise the banner the same way they earned it, with teamwork.

To the rafters!

Aaaah, now I can truly die a happy Bostonian sports fan!

After the ceremony, the starting lineups were announced, and then Paul Pierce came out onto the court for a special message. He began by telling the crowd that last season, up to tonight with the culmination of raising that championship has been a dream come true. With tears swelling in his eyes, Paul thanked the fans for sticking with him through the tough years and his friends and family for giving him support when he needed it most, and he ended it by thanking his mom and saying he loved her. Goosebumps traversed the entire arena and it got quite dusty all of a sudden.

Ahem.

Then there was a basketball game between the World Champion Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Lebron Jamesiers.

Tip-off.

Ray Allen shoots…

The Celtics dancers tearing up the court.

Paul Pierce wins the game and the match-up against Lebron James.

Overall, it was a great night. Paul Pierce scored 27 points, with Lebron scoring only 22 points, which proved to be the difference as the Celtics beat the Cavaliers 90 to 85. The C’s defense of the title started off great, hopefully it ends just as well! Check in either tomorrow or Friday as I post some videos from last night, including some of the introduction video and championship ceremony. In the meantime, you can check out all the pictures from last night in my photos section.

1. The team has something to prove, again.

I’ll let Rodney Harrison answer this one [via ESPN.com]:

To come in here, to this hostile environment, and win when everyone picked you to lose, is great,

Experts, media and even some fans doubting the team can do it without Tom Brady serves as a huge motivator for this group, who take any sleight, perceived or not, and turn it into a war.

2. Belichick will have to return to his roots and coach a simple but solid game-plan.

Now, I did not watch the game. OK, I lied, I watched one play (first play I’ve seen this year), which was the sole Jets touchdown, after which I promptly turned off the TV (not due to disgust, but due to the odd correlation between how many plays I saw and how many touchdowns the Jets scored, which again was 1 to 1) and checked the score every now and then via ESPN.com.

Still, judging from the box score and from what I’ve heard from people who did see the game, Bill has returned to his formula from the 2001-02 season and is calling a simple, fundamentally sound football game. Screen passes, screen passes, screen passes and short ins, outs, and slants that pick up a few yards consistently are crucial to any offense, especially one with a new quarterback.

3. The games will be closer, the crowd will be livelier.

Well, it was an away game but the game certainly was closer.

4. Everyone will try even harder.

Again, I did not watch the game so I can’t really comment here. Instead, here’s a quotation from Jets safety Kerry Rhodes [also via ESPN.com]:

They kept it simple…They didn’t want [Cassel] to lose the game, so they did a lot of screens and safe passes. They tried to keep it safe for him.

Note the emphasis on everyone around Cassel playing well so that he did not have to perform any heroics.

5. They will lose regular season games.

OK, so it’s only been one game so we can’t really judge this prediction but they will lose, especially as I keep jinxing myself by writing these post game analysis instead of keeping my mouth shut!

6. Matt Cassel will have a relatively easy schedule to ease himself into the starting role.

Well, their first two opponents are now a combined 1-3 and their next three opponents are a combined 1-5. Obviously they’re not playing the best of the league at the start of this season.

So far so good. The media acted shocked that the Patriots could win without Brady while Belichick reminded everyone how we won our first Super Bowl, with solid defense and basic, sound offense.

I’ll repeat it so you know it’s not a typo, the 2008-2009 New England Patriots will win Super Bowl XLIII.

They will not go undefeated, they might not even win the division, but they will win the biggest game of the year, unlike last year.

Here’s six reasons why.

1. The team has something to prove, again.

One of the biggest reasons the Patriots lost last year’s championship is they became comfortable and started believing the media, the fans, and the hype that they were the greatest team ever. I mean, did you see Brady’s press conference where he laughed at the Giants defense?

Let’s face it, he deserved the manhandling the Giants gave him (let me be clear, he did not deserve to get hurt). The almighty Brady really truly thought he was going to simply walk over the Giants. The young and humble Tom would have stayed home, away from the cameras, and healed his injuries over those two weeks. Instead he was galavanting about New York City (of all places) in the days before his team played the New York Giants.

Unbelievable.

2. Belichick will have to return to his roots and coach a simple but solid game-plan.

I don’t know how many people saw each play of each game of last year’s season but I did and many, many times it felt like Bill thought he was playing Madden as the Pats simply heaved the ball down-field to Randy Moss, again and again and again.

Now, it worked a heck of a lot of times, but the old Bill would have came out with a completely different strategy for the Super Bowl. Instead we saw Tom try to throw 10 TD’s in one game to Randy Moss.

3. The games will be closer, the crowd will be livelier.

Boy, that Gillette crowd has really fallen asleep the past couple of years. Here’s hoping they rise to their feet again instead of being awed to silence by the Brady-Moss show.

4. Everyone will try even harder.

Again, the team now has something to prove. Can they do it with Tom Brady, or was it all just Brady all along? Personally, I see the defense digging in and become a wall, especially as we hit the tail end of the regular season going into the playoffs. Knowing they can’t rely on the Brady-Moss show to put up 50+ points a game, everyone will have to give it their all for these Patriots to win the division and go deep into the playoffs. I for one think these Pats are up to the challenge.

5. They will lose regular season games.

Unlike last year, this year’s New England Patriots will lose a regular season game, more than once. It will be good though, as it’ll remind the players what it’s like to lose and that they are not invincible. For all the talk of staying grounded, last year’s team lost their grip and seemed to start believing they were unstoppable.

6. Matt Cassel will have a relatively easy schedule to ease himself into the starting role.

From the sound of the vulturous Boston sports media, you’d think it couldn’t get any worse for the Patriots and their fans. Well, actually it could have been much, much worse. This injury to Tom could have happened in week 15, 16, 17, or even later. At least now Matt Cassel gets to take his knocks early in the season against one of the NFL’s (apparently) easiest schedules and hopefully learn enough and grow enough to lead this team to and through the playoffs.

Go ahead, call me an overly optimistic homer but I’ve got a gut feeling all is not as dire as every media outlet makes it. When the 2008-09 New England Patriots are hoisting their fourth Lombardi trophy of this decade, just remember where you heard it first!

Half Season 22-Game Plan – Home Schedule

Game – Date – Opponent – Time

1. Friday, October 17 - New York Knicks – 7:30 p.m. [pre-season]
2. Tuesday, October 28 – Cleveland Cavaliers – 8:00 p.m.
3. Friday, November 7 – Milwaukee Bucks – 7:30 p.m.
4. Wednesday, November 12 – Atlanta Hawks – 7:30 p.m.
5. Tuesday, November 18 – New York Knicks 7:30 p.m.
6. Wednesday, November 26 – Golden State Warriors – 7:30 p.m.
7. Wednesday, December 3 – Indiana Pacers – 7:30 p.m.
8. Friday, December 5 – Portland TrailBlazers – 8:00 p.m.
9. Friday, December 19 – Chicago Bulls – 7:30 p.m.
10. Tuesday, December 23 – Philadelphia 76ers – 7:30 p.m.
11. Friday, January 2 – Washington Wizards – 7:30 p.m.
12. Monday, January 12 – Toronto Raptors – 7:30 p.m.
13. Monday, January 19 – Phoenix Suns – 8:00 p.m.
14. Wednesday, January 28 – Sacramento Kings – 7:30 p.m.
15. Thursday, February 5 – Los Angeles Lakers – 8:00 p.m.
16. Sunday, March 1 – Detroit Pistons – 1:00 p.m.
17. Sunday, March 8 – Orlando Magic – 1:00 p.m.
18. Monday, March 23 – Los Angeles Clippers – 7:30 p.m.
19. Sunday, March 29 – Oklahoma City – 7:00 p.m.
20. Wednesday, April 1 – Charlotte Bobcats – 7:30 p.m.
21. Wednesday, April 8 – New Jersey Nets – 7:30 p.m.
22. Friday, April 10 – Miami Heat – 7:30 p.m.

I didn’t get to see the Phoenix Suns last year so I’m also pumped to see them! Most importantly though, it’ll be great to see the Boston celtics raise up another NBA Championship Banner on opening night.

Here’s the full streaming video of Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers:

This championship still feels a little bit surreal.

Check it out, J.R. can fly!

Note the comment from DizZLEFosHiZZLE34 from a week ago ["the c's should pick this kid up with the last pick in the first round"] on that above video…looks like Dizzle either works for the C’s or is a serious draft prophet.

Here’s another sick dunk by J.R., this one being featured on ESPN’s top ten list (coming in at #7).

Nice! I’m getting pumped to see him in some Celtic green!

Not only can J.R. dunk, he’s got a nice shot too. He shot over 50% from the field and 33% from behind the arc. Here’s a nice three minute long montage of J.R.’s monster dunks and sweet shots.

The analysts are saying Mr. Giddens has “character issues” but with the ubuntu vibe around here I’m not too concerned. I’m going to trust Danny Ainge and if Danny thinks J.R. is good, then that’s good enough for me.

Here’s a final clip of J.R. and one of his Lobos teammates during midnight madness. A nice showcase of the skills he brings to the court.

Let’s go Celtics!

I’ll post some pictures, analysis of the game and series and my experience tomorrow. For now, I’ll let Mr. Brian Scalabrine break down why the Boston Celtics should have been the favorites all along.

You’re one of a kind Scal.