My City

This weekend marks the opening of the NBA playoffs, with eight games spanning over the course of two days. For NBA junkies, it’s the best time of year. For me, I’m looking forward to watching my Boston Celtics take on the New York Knicks in the first round. With some of the tensions that have mounted both on and off the court between these two teams this season, it has all the makings of a great series.

As fans, we are lucky to have sports in our lives and events as simple as a basketball game to look forward to. They are a form of entertainment, providing a distraction and relief from some of the regular stresses of our everyday lives. Fitting into this mold, the Boston Marathon is an annual event that many anticipate every year. Growing up close to the city and going to college in Boston, I have been part of the masses on many Marathon Mondays, either in attendance at the 11 a.m. Red Sox game or watching runners as they make their way up Beacon Street. Even the day itself, Patriot’s Day, is a revered holiday to many Bostonians, like others might perceive the Fourth of July or even Christmas. This is why it’s unfathomable and infuriating that someone would turn one of the most beloved days of the year into one of horror and chaos.

The events that occurred in Boston this past Monday are unspeakable, and I can’t even begin to imagine what the victims and the people that were there are going through. One thing I do know is that my city will not be broken, beaten or defeated. In the wake of this tragedy, the humanity of the people of Boston has been brought to the forefront, and it will only grow stronger. The spirit of Boston and its citizens cannot be matched. It was evident during thenational anthem at the Bruins game on Wednesday night, and it will continue to show as the city heals and regains its sense of normalcy.

As I write this, the manhunt for the suspects is continuing, and we will all be able to breathe a sigh of relief when it is over. But there are still many people that will forever be haunted by this tragedy. We are fortunate to have outlets that allow us to take a break from the continuous news coverage and images from this past week. One of those diversions is the fans of Boston being able to watch the Celtics take the court on Saturday. The game will provide a couple hours to take our minds off of what happened, but we will never forget the events that happened on Patriot’s Day. Boston is strong and will recover, and the marathon will return next year greater than ever.