Boston is, has been, and will continue to be a different type of sports culture than the rest. Full disclosure: this is not implying that Boston is better, this is simply what sets it apart.
The culture surrounding the major franchises in Boston rarely likes to put a magnifying glass on one outspoken superstar. What separates Boston sports franchises from the rest is that they don’t typically tolerate controversy. If there’s toxicity in the locker room or a negative presence in the media, that athlete might be packing their bags sooner rather than later for a franchise that will pay them absurd amounts of money and put up with the demeanor that comes with them.
Don’t believe me? Here’s some examples of the recent past: Celtics—Kyrie Irving, gone in two years. Patriots—Antonio Brown, gone in a week. Red Sox— Jacoby Ellsbury, gone the moment he thought he was worth more. Bruins— Phil Kessel, gone once they realized he tried to put the ‘I’ in team.
Boston doesn’t tolerate attitude. Boston won’t tolerate individualism. There’s almost an unspoken understanding between all of the major franchises which is to say, support one another, buy into the system, and do your job. The success will come afterwards. Boston sports have not done well when not everyone buys in to a particular system, when someone becomes an outspoken critic, or demands an excessive lump sum of cash.
Boston sports have, will, and should continue to be a team-first city, because athletes alone don’t win championships, teams do. One athlete can’t win a franchise a title, but it can certainly lose one.

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