My Boston Sports DVD Wish List
I hate to admit it, but I’m a video junkie. I’ve got an ever expanding library of Boston Sports tapes that continue to clog my basement and make every move to a new home more difficult for friends who complain while carrying heavy boxes, “Why do you have so much crap?” To be honest I wish I knew. My personal collection of recorded-to-VHS-off-TV material dates back to the 1984 season when I learned how to work the VCR and Larry Bird led the Celtics to a championship over the hated Lakers. From then there are sportscasts, network specials, big-game preview shows and eBay purchased copies of hard to find games like Larry’s 60-point game against the Hawks and the Nomo No-No (of which I attended) in Baltimore a few years back. Another video obsession that continues to grow is an impressive amount of DVDs featuring stars of what used to be the World Wrestling Federation. You see a few years back the WWE purchased a huge library of wrestling history and has since put out hundreds of hours of classic matches as part of multi-disc sets that have wrestling fans like me lining up at my local store. Thankfully, the Red Sox have apparently taken notice of the success of these DVDs, as they have released, “Impossible to Forget: The Story of the ’67 Boston Red Sox.” The Two disc set includes documentaries on the Impossible Dream season, as well as the complete broadcast of the “Penultimate game of the season, September 30, 1967 which got them to the World Series.” Of course this got me thinking…If I could have any Boston Sports DVD set, what would it be? The latest title runs have been well documented, with three editions of “Three Games to Glory” as well as the 2004 World Series Collector’s Edition set that includes all 7 games of the ALCS and the four game sweep in the Series. After rattling my brain, here’s what I came up with:
The 1970 Bruins DVD Set: Stanley Cup Edition:
Sure, many of you have seen the half hour NHL Films Stanley Cup recap show, but imagine being able to see broadcast game footage of the great Bobby Orr in his prime as he becomes the first defenseman in history to win the league scoring title. Imagine watching the Bs blow past the Rangers and Blackhawks before crushing the St. Louis Blues in the finals, capped off with Orr’s Superman goal. Phil Esposito, Derek Sandersno, Gerry Cheevers…How could you not buy that set? (Well I guess the idea of giving any money over to the current ownership might sour the experience)
DVD Extras: An Orr Flying simulator and a Cheevers Stop-The-Shot with your Face feature
The 1984 Celtics DVD Set: Beat LA Edition:
Sure some of the games from the first Bird-Magic NBA Finals meeting can already be found in NBA DVD sets, but what about that 7 game series against Bernard King and the Knicks? Or the revenge series against the Bucks, who swept the Cs out of the playoffs the year before?
Special Features: The Bird-Magic Converse Shoes Ad and those great Miller Lite ads featuring former Celtics greats like Red, Tommy and Cowens.
The Ted Williams .406 Season DVD Set: Splendid Splinter Edition:
Okay, so this one might be a little tough to do video-wise, but if they got a quality documentary filmmaker to put together an hour long film, they could break down the last man hit .400 as he went head to head with Joe DiMaggio and the 56-game hitting streak, the game winning home run in the All Star game and the double header that Ted went 6 for 8 in to end the season and give him a .406 average for the season.
Special Features: Assassinate Hitler so Ted doesn’t have to spend prime years of his career fighting in World War II game.
The 1976 Patriots DVD Set: F*ck Ben Dreith Edition
There are some in New England who say this team was better than any in the history of the franchise. NFL Films has great film-captured footage of this season, but can someone dig up the broadcast tape from the 48-17 ass kicking they laid on the Raiders during the season? Maybe a breakdown of what made the Grogan, Cunningham, Hannah, Haynes, Nelson squad so freaking good.
Special Features: Roughing Ben Dreith game where you get to be Sugar Bear Hamilton and knock referee Dreith’s head off after his bogus call costs you a trip to the AFC Championship game.
The 1985 Patriots DVD Set: Squish the Fish Edition:
One of the great underdog stories in Boston Sports History. The Wild Card Pats clinch a playoff spot with a win over Cincinnati on the last day of the season, before marching through New Jersey, Los Angeles and Miami on their way to Super Bowl XX. The Raiders 27-20 win and the 31-14 destruction of the Dolphins would have to be complete on their own discs…
Special Features: The Squish the Fish song video, the Berry the Bears song video and they Mark Duper helmet throwing game (from the end of the AFC Championship).
The Ultimate Pedro Martinez DVD Set: Drill the Bambino in the Ass Edition:
Wouldn’t it be great to relive what might be the most dominant two years in the history of an American League Pitcher? Pedro in 1999 and 2000 was about as good as it gets, putting on some of his best performances against the Yankees, including the 17-strike out game and the 9 K game against Clemens in Yankee Stadium (still the best game I’ve even been to).
Special Features: Under The Mango Tree: Pedro’s Best Quotes, Pedro’s 2 All Star Game innings where he struck out 5 of the 6 he faced and everyone’s favorite Pedro on Vacation game: Guess Pedro’s Grandmother’s Illness
WBZ’s The Best of Sports Final DVD Set: Why Can’t We Get Players Like That Edition:
Actually, all this would have to be is the episode where Lobel interviews Bird, Orr and Williams at the same time. I still can’t come up with 3 more legendary, influential players in any one sports city representing three different sports. It is absolutely amazing that they had a producer who was able to put that together, but who was dumb enough to kill the final segment with an awkward birthday cake presentation to Larry. ‘
Special Features: Larry and Bobby saying they’d “Never actually seen Ted play” counter in the corner of the screen, as well as the phantom discussion regarding Bill Russell’s absence that Lobel teased in the A-Block but didn’t follow up with.
If you’ve got a Wish List DVD set, email it to Ub@barstoolsports.com and maybe we’ll use it in Part II.