General: Boston sports are back, and better than ever

When the Patriots won the Super Bowl, they were the first Boston franchise to win a championship since the 1985-86 season, when the Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets.

The Patriots beating the Rams kicked off the start for the Boston sport scene.

Does anybody remember the last time when all four major Boston sport franchises were all successful?

The last time the Patriots, Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox all made the playoffs was the 1994-1995 season.

The Bruins lost in the first round to New Jersey, the Patriots lost to Cleveland, the Red Sox lost to Cleveland, and the Celtics lost to the Magic. But the 2001-2002 Boston Sport scene now looks better than ever.

Before the 2001-2002 Patriots season, the team had only made it to the Super Bowl twice and to the playoffs a total of eight times.

Everyone remembers Super Bowl XXXI losing to the Packers 35-21 and then in 1985 being crushed in Super Bowl XX 46-10 by the Bears.

Football has never seemed to be one of Boston's best sport franchises, but now with the Patriots winning the Super Bowl, that nametag is dwindling, as the Red Sox (1918), and the Bruins (1971-72) haven't won a championship in a long time compared to the Celtics (1985-86).

The Bruins don't seem to be so far away from winning a championship as they were successful in the 2001-02 season also.

With a tight budget and cheap owner the Bruins showed sometimes money doesn't matter as they had the best record in their conference, and getting a No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Though their playoff experience isn't one to remember (losing to eighth seeded Montreal) they faired better than last season when they didn't make the playoffs at all.

One of the bigger surprises for this sports year was the Celtics.

Coming off a five-year period with no playoffs the Celtics finish with a record of 49-33 and a third round seed in the playoffs.

Led by Paul Pierce (first ever Celtic to lead the NBA in total points scored) and Antoine Walker, the Celtics defeated last years Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia 76ers in the first round 3-2.

Then the Celtics knocked off the second seeded Detroit Pistons blowing them out 4-1.

And even after losing to top seeded New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Celtics have a very bright future.

The Red Sox, without a championship since 1918, started the 2002 with some new players, new owners, a new coach, and higher hopes.

With the addition of players like Johnny Damon, John Burkett, Dustin Hermanson, and Tony Clark, Red Sox nation was in the best shape in a long time.

The Red Sox got off to their best start since 1946, when they were arguably the best team in baseball, only to lose the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Then Derek Lowe threw the first no-hitter in Fenway Park since Dave Morehead in 1965.

With one championship under its belt, the Celtics in the running for one next season, and the Red Sox hoping to bring down the "Curse of the Bambino," Boston sports are at an all time high.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that the best is yet to come.