The Patriots are No. 1 in popularity among the pro sports teams in New England, but there now is a question of whether or not the Celtics are the "No. 2 team in town," according to Dan Shaughnessy of the BOSTON GLOBE. Placing the Celtics above the Red Sox "may not sound like a big deal ... but it is." Shaughnessy: "I can’t remember a time when the Red Sox were not first or second in the market. ... I know everybody is down on baseball these days. ... But I can't think of another time when the Sox trailed two teams in our market." Boosted by a 16-game winning streak this season behind new G Kyrie Irving, "rising stars" Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and coach Brad Stevens, the Celtics "at this moment are a bigger deal than the Red Sox." Boston-based WBZ-FM's Michael Felger: "It’s the Celtics, absolutely. Hearts and minds. The Celtics have got the passion of the fans." WEEI-FM's Gerry Callahan said, "Celtics, no question. ... I don't sense a lot of interest in the Red Sox." Shaughnessy noted the Red Sox are "still slightly higher than the Celtics" in TV ratings, but the trends are "not good for Boston baseball." The Red Sox' local ratings were down 12% this past season, and as of Friday, Celtics ratings are up 165% from last year. But the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan said, "I find it difficult to believe it would ever happen. I know the Celtics are capturing imaginations, but I don’t have a sense of them ahead of the Red Sox yet. It’s possible I’m underestimating this. There is an entirely new generation of sports fans and it could be swaying the balance in a way I don’t anticipate. But that would shock me" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/26).
