Bedard's Daily Briefing 02.06.19: Mammoth turnout for Patriots parade, B's and C's sweep, Gretzky's impact

Good morning!

A few random thoughts while I wonder how many New England businesses were able to function since it seemed everyone was at the Patriots parade...

• Didn't watch any of the parade coverage yesterday but I was just scrolling through the Getty Images from the event and, holy cow, that was a great turnout.


• It was just extremely impressive. I think it was just a testament to the sustained success of the organization, the popularity of the NFL with its once-a-week schedule and, also, I think it had something to do with the almost unexpected nature of this title campaign.


• We've seen the Patriots roll to some titles. This was different. I think if you gave most Patriots fans truth serum after the Steelers loss, they would have said another title probably wasn't in the cards. And then they went on a ridiculous run.


• Whatever the reason — and it doesn't really matter — just a great turnout by the fans for New England's most popular team.


• Good story by Price on what I think could be a realistic outcome to keep Rob Gronkowski in uniform — putting him on the Mark Bavaro Plan that Bill Belichick for him in Cleveland. Would you take what Gronk did this past season again in 2019? I would. Seems like it makes a lot of sense. Bavaro agrees too.


• Was so impressed by Joakim Nordstrom in the third period last night of a good Bruins win. Glad Conor captured it.


• A good look at Jayson Tatum's impressive night by B-Robb in Cleveland.


• We were asked by Felger yesterday to rank in order: Tom Brady, Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky.


• I put Gretzky at No. 1, which I was surprised shocked them so much. To be honest, I didn't give it much thought and there was no criteria given. So I went with who meant the most to the success of their sport.


• To me, there's little doubt that's Gretzky. Not only did he have the titles (four in his final five Oilers seasons before the trade to LA, which had huge ramifications beyond the ice), but he won eight-straight MVPs and still holds 60 NHL records (he's only lost two in the 20 years since he retired), including 23 that will never be broken. Then there's the fact that he's personally responsible for the game rising to another level in the United States with his trade to the Kings. If Gretzky stayed in Edmonton for the rest of the career, you could make the argument the NHL has no national TV contract and no NHL teams south of Denver and St. Louis. And maybe there are no stars from the south like Auston Matthews (Arizona), Nic Dowd (Alabama), Books Orpik (California) and Shayne Gostisbehere (Florida). Not sure you can say that about any of the other players on the list.