Get ready Boston, this is going to be a year where we very well could win a championship in all four major sports. This isn't the first encounter that we've had with bandwagon jumpers, after the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls in four years at the beginning of the decade, the birth of Red Sox Nation in 2004, Green 18 and the "We want it as bad as you do" era of the Bruins.

There's no need to get our boxers in knots, panties in bunches and start to get defensive. We know who we are and the fairweather fans may never have the intensity that we do, but the more noise that's made and the more support for our teams can't be hurtful in any way. So with open arms, come aboard the bandwagon ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the ride that we've been waiting for our whole lives and have had the opporunity to enjoy over the past decade.

After being named the best goalie in the NHL in 2008 and having the statistics and performances to back it up, Tim Thomas saw a huge decline in 2009. Without hesitation or setback, Tuukka Rask stepped in goal and continued to win games for the Bruins and bring Boston to the post season for another consecutive season. This season, Tim Thomas looks similar to his 2008 abilities and as of now has helped the Bruins win seven straight games and lead the league in GAA.

For a team that thought they were going to start Rask and have the highest paid backup in 2010, we now have a tandem of goalies that have both proven themselves in the regular and post season. Barring any major injuries, with Thomas playing at such a high level and Rask waiting to be given another shot, it looks as if the Bruins have found the formula to be a playoff contender every year and could possibly break through from last seasons semi-finals and make their way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010.

Thanks to rubyswoon for the picture of Tim Thomas.

More recently, Tom Brady's tuck rule that eventually led to Adam Vinatieri's legendary field goal in the snow against the Raiders to propel the New England Patriots to their first of three Super Bowl victories. David Ortiz single-handedly helping the Red Sox come back from a 3-0 deficit in 2004 to beat the New York Yankees and eventually win their first World Series in 86 years. The Celtics new Big 3 taking the team and fans on an extreme journey for Banner 17 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Although those moments haven't escaped our minds and for the true fans, never will, it has been a number of years since there have been any significant moments in Boston sports history. The big play, the instant classic and that moment that will be embedded in our memories forever are few and far between. Is that era of moments in Boston sports history gone forever, or do we just need to wait another few decades before our time comes again? Will our children be telling their children about curses and bad luck that has made it impossible for them to see their teams win their respective championships?

Don't take anything out of context. I'm not saying that I'm ungreatful in any way at all. In a matter of eight years, I've seen my teams win six championships and I don't expect the Red Sox, Patriots or Celtics to hit another drought before my time passes. I just haven't seen that magical moment take place for a few years and I'm not sure if there ever will be moments like that for us again. Just think of all the moments mentioned earlier and you tell me if you think that Tom Brady will ever benefit from throwing an incomplete pass again that would result in a playoff win. How many more times will a bench player steal a base and then come around to score a tying or winning run in an ALCS game against our rivals when we're all but counted out of the series? With the NBA conforming to the 2008 Boston Celtics formula, will we ever see a Big 3 in Boston better than Paul Pierce, KG and Ray Allen that can win Banner 18?

I live for and die by those moments. The times when your palms sweat, your heart races and you have no words when your friends start calling your phone off the hook other than, "I don't know what to say". So you tell me, where have all the moments gone and for God's sake, when will there be more?

Thanks to shriak for the photo of the New England Patriots v. Oakland Raiders Playoff game in the snow.

Photo credit: Lorianne DiSabato | NC-ND 2.0

For the entire two weeks prior to the rematch between the Penguins and the Bruins, everyone wanted Cooke's head on a platter. Right off the bat, just two minutes into the first period, here's what happened to Cooke, courtesy of Shawn Thornton.

Although Thornton did give Cooke a beating, that was it for the entire game. Cooke skated around freely for the entire game, minus the first two minutes of the first period. That is a goddamn joke! One of our players is out for the entire season on a dirty hit and all we did was give him a 30 second fight with a couple of punches to the head during and afterward. I admire Shawn Thornton for taking it upon himself to dish out that beating, but for the rest of the team, I am ashamed and embarrassed that we did not lay the wood for all three periods. Not to be forgotten, we also lost the game 3-0.

If it doesn't take one of your best players being blind sided and taken out for the remainder of the season to light a fire under your ass, I don't know if anything is going to get the Bruins back on track to make a post-season run. I wonder just how bad they actually want it.

Thanks to clydeorama for the photo of Matt Cooke.

Although we don't have the same young college kids from the 1980 USA Hockey roster, the 2010 USA team has great chemistry, the will to win and the opportunity to capture the gold. I don't think it would be as large as Al Michaels screaming, "Do you believe in miracles?, Yes!" But it would definitely bring back those feelings and memories of that historic game against the Russians en route to the gold medal winner over, none other than tomorrows opponent, Finland.

Hockey has never seemed more exciting to me than it does right now. The U-S-A chants will be ringing in Boston as I'm sure they will be throughout the country. I'm extremely pumped for tomorrows game and really hope that we can win the gold medal game on Sunday as well, whether it be against Canada or Slovakia. Nothing brings a nation together more than a major event like this.

Thanks to iceman9294 for the photo of the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team.

The Bruins and I aren't the only ones hopping on the Tuukka Rask bandwagon. As much love as I have for Tim Thomas, James Murphy agrees on Rask:

Goaltender Tuukka Rask has been one of the main reasons for the Bruins' recent resurgence. Rask started the last six games and won all four leading into the break. He entered the Olympic hiatus 14-7-4 with a 2.08 goals-against average and .928 save percentage after turning aside 188 of the 200 he faced in the last six games. He seems to have taken over the No. 1 goalie spot, and the Bruins may look to ride him as far as he'll take them in the final 22 games.

Rask has been exceptional. Thomas on the other hand has struggled, but a break could be enough to help him prepare for his next start if Tuukka begins to decline in play. Imagine that. Our back up goaltender is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. That says a lot for Rask getting the starts this time around.

Thanks to misconmike for the picture of the Boston Bruins 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park.

Injury Plagued Celtics

It's obvious that Kevin Garnett is not the player he was before his knee injury. Whether or not he has fully recovered or is playing scared, he isn't giving us his maximum effort. Not only is KG hurt, Glen "Big Baby" Davis can't stay healthy either. For a team that decided to trade away all of it's depth to Eastern Conference contenders, I'm pretty pissed that all we got in return was a run down, Rasheed Wallace.

Rajon Rondo has been stealing the spotlight and the fans hearts this season, making his first all-star appearance as a reserve, and Ray Allen has been something of a name from the past as it seems. We signed on for the Big 3 and now have just slightly less than a Big letdown for this season. So much for our 2010 predictions.

A Long Winter

The Bruins haven't done much to impress this season either after their playoff "run" last season. The B's are on a six game skid and have fallen to 12th overall in the Eastern Conference. So much for wanting it just as bad as we do. The off-season trades, injuries and lack of depth and dare I say, heart, is beginning to show for the Bruins.

Our teams need us now more than ever, and I vow to be standing by and supporting them through this time. Although my support comes as ripping them both apart, sometimes you just need some tough love to preform to your potential, just ask Laurence Maroney about that. Good Day!

Thanks to wallyg for the photo of the Boston Garden.

Tom Brady - New England Patriots

Tom Brady has brought three Super Bowl Championships to New England as well as the first 16-0 regular season in franchise history. Brady has won two Super Bowl MVP's as well as one NFL MVP award in 2007. Brady holds multiple single season NFL records for passing yards, touchdowns and completions. For a sixth round draft pick, Brady panned out pretty well for the Patriots.

Larry Bird - Boston Celtics

Larry legend won three NBA MVP awards and two NBA Finals MVP awards in his illustrious career while bringing three NBA Championships to Boston from 1981-1986. Bird was a 12 time all-star and was also named rookie of the year in 1980 as a sixth overall pick in that years draft. When people think of Boston Celtics basketball, Larry Bird is always the first name that comes out of anyones mouth.

Ted Williams - Boston Red Sox

Teddy Ballgame never won a world series in Boston but managed to make 17 all-star appearances and win two AL MVP awards. Ted Williams ended his career with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs and 1,839 RBI's. With such impressive numbers, it's hard to remember that Williams missed out on 5 seasons of baseball to serve in the US military during World War II. I can only imagine what those numbers would look like if he played in those five years during his prime.

Bobby Orr - Boston Bruins

Thanks to Willem van Bergen for the photo of Boston.