thePULSESHAUN CONNOLLY
This is not a declaration of war. I’m not trying to agitate anyone, I come in peace. Boston, we know, has a storied and celebrated sports history. It is part of the character of the city. There are entire swaths of people whose personalities are based off of Boston’s sports. I am just here to say that while Worcester’s athletics may not be as premier and revered, it’s legacy and accessibility are.
March 9th, 2000 is a day I talk about. The beauty of this is that days like this happen frequently in Worcester. I was freshly 14 years old and basketball crazed. This day specifically had a 3PM game between Clark University and Merchant Marine College playing in the third round of the Division 3 NCAA Tournament. Clark eked out a win to play in the Elite Eight. At 5PM Holy Cross was on ESPN for the Patriot League Finals against Navy. At 7PM Central MA high school boy’s basketball powerhouses Saint John’s of Shrewsbury was visiting the Napoleons of Holy Name up on Granite St. So from 3 to just after 9 I was able to watch high quality, competitive basketball. There was also a Worcester Ice Cats game happening at the Centrum that night where they tied with Lowell. That year the Ice Cats were 48-20-9-3 and lost in the Quarterfinals.
Worcester is a sports town.
Currently Worcester has a Red Sox affiliate baseball team that saw the likes of All-Star, award winning pitcher Chris Sale rehabilitate here. There is a minor league hockey team (Railers), a championship winning arena football team (Pirates), a college level summer baseball team (Bravehearts), a semi-professional women’s soccer team with the (Smiles), men’s and women’s nationally competitive rugby teams (WRFC and the Shamrocks), an ABA semi-professional basketball team (Majors), and a semi-professional football team (Wildcats). For a city that is usually chalked up as the place with a bunch of heavy metal shows, that’s a lot of sports.
Worcester is a sports town.
There are world renowned sporting events as well. Lake Quinsigamond is home to the New England Rowing Championships. Just over the Leicester line, Maple Hill Disc Golf Course hosts the world’s top players competing for one of the Grand Slam events. ESPN just signed a contract with the Pro Disc Golf Association to televise numerous tournaments, including that one. This year the DCU will present the NCAA Hockey tournament. Every year, without fail the cowboys, come to town with Pro Bull Riding at the DCU. And, who could forget that nearly every single Thursday Beyond Wrestling streams their matches at the White Eagle on Green St.?
Worcester is a Sports town.
Then there are all of the athletes to come out of Worcester. Baseball legends Rich Gedman and Mark Fidrych. Mark Johnson, Tim Collins and Tanyon Sturtze had sizable careers in the majors. Tyler Beede is currently pitching for the San Francisco Giants. Sean McNamara is a former pitcher and scout for the NY Mets. JP Ricciardi (who was coaching Holy Name in that fateful game in 2001) is an executive with the Giants. Obviously, Major Taylor, a championship winning cyclist is from Worcester. Basketball legend Bob Cousy has put down roots here. There are two title winning boxers in Jose Antonio Rivera and Edwin Rodriguez. Aaliyah Boston, who is on the #1 seeded South Carolina women’s basketball team, played over on Providence St. at Worcester Academy. Bill Guerin, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and current General Manager of the Minnesota Wild is from Worcester. And last but certainly not least, Carmella of the WWE is from the city of seven hills.
Worcester is definitely a sports town.
A thing I find so fascinating about this place is no matter what age, neighborhood, or background, everyone is always learning something new. I learned things while researching this article. You, kind reader, I’m sure learned something as well. My entire point being, Boston sucks, take all your championships and throw them in the Charles River, Tom Brady doesn’t care about you, plus he lived in Brookline and played in the South Shore. Worcester is a sports town!
