It’s time for the latest edition Mazz’s Tiers! With the Boston Celtics getting set to take on former Celtic Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, Mazz decided it was a good time to rank the great villains in Boston sports history!
But before the Tiers, here’s a look at who could appear on the list….
Kyrie Irving spent two seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics after being traded to the team from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He left the team at the end of his contract to join the Brooklyn Nets in free agency prior to the 2019-20 NBA season. Prior to leaving the team Irving told fans that he would re-sign with the club following the end of his contract.
Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins concussed former Boston Bruin Marc Savard on March 7th, 2010 after a check to the head. That hit effectively kickstarted the end of Savard’s NHL career. Cooke was not suspended for the hit.
Bernard Pollard tore the ACL of Tom Brady in week 1 of the 2008 NFL season. Pollard, in an attempt to tackle Brady, ended up hitting him below the knee and tearing his ACL and ending his season in the season opener for the Patriots.
Alex Rodriguez spent 12 seasons as a member of the New York Yankees and won a World Series as a member of the team in 2009. Rodriguez famously slapped the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove in game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series.
Roger Goodell has been the commissioner of the National Football League since 2006. During that time frame Goodell has not been a fan favorite of New England Patriots fans, especially when he punished the Patriots for “Spygate” and suspended quarterback Tom Brady for “Deflategate” years later.
Tier 1
Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, right, strikes New York Yankees batter Alex Rodriguez at Fenway Park in Boston. The two fought after Rodriguez was hit by a pitch by Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo. The Red Sox won, 11-10, with a 9th-inning game winning home run by Bill Mueller. (Photo by J Rogash/Getty Images)
Kyrie Irving
Roger Clemens
Alex Rodriguez
Matt Cooke
Bernard Pollard
Ulf Samuelsson
Pat Riley
Jack Tatum
Tier 2
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors speaks at a press conference during media day prior to the start of the NBA Finals at Chase Center on June 01, 2022 in San Francisco, California. The Golden State Warriors will play the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 2, 2022. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Draymond Green
P.K. Subban
Don Shula
Wade Boggs
Bill Laimbeer
Bart Scott
Chris Nilan
Tier 3
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Bill Parcells
George Steinbrenner
Rex Ryan
Claude Lemieux
Dale Hunter
Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland (McFilthy and McNasty)
Chuck Person
Andrew Toney
Roger Goodell
Colin Montgomerie
