‘Hang it in the Louvre’: Boston’s most memorable sports quotes of 2024

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It was another dramatic year in Boston sports, highlighted here by a few of the standout soundbites.

Jayson Tatum readying himself to make a behind-the-back pass during the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers. Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Celtics star Jaylen Brown knows a masterpiece when he sees one.

Brown has created plenty, from dagger 3-pointers to his signature slashing drives to the basket, especially during the Celtics’ run to their 18th NBA championship in June, when he was the MVP of the Finals.

But when asked to comment on the beauty and artistry of teammate Jayson Tatum’s no-look, around-the-back pass to Al Horford for a crucial 3-point shot in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in May, Brown added a bit of spice to a popular meme.

“Hang it in the [expletive] Louvre.”

Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts had a bit of an issue with Brown’s comment. Not because of his use of a vulgar word, but because it believed Tatum’s play was better preserved on Huntington Avenue.

Here’s a look at some other memorable Boston sports quotes from 2024:

“This league took off and took off full throttle.”

– Courtney Kessel, coach of the Boston team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, reflecting on the league’s first season after it lost in Game 5 of the Walter Cup Finals in May. Kessel’s use of “full throttle” was a little more accurate than its usage by the person who made the phrase famous in Boston, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner.

“We have been poor clusterers or sequencers of performance.”

– Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who in September was clearly level-setting expectations. It was obvious the Sox didn’t have the bandwidth to make the playoffs and were facing a hard stop after the final regular-season game. It might have been wise for Breslow to take those comments offline and maybe circle back with his front office staff to find some low-hanging fruit to move the needle. Instead, it sometimes appeared as if the Sox front office was trying to boil the ocean.

“We’re a soft football team.”

– First-year Patriots coach Jerod Mayo risked losing his locker room with his assessment after a Week 7 loss to the Jaguars in London. Instead, players largely backed Mayo and viewed his comment as a motivator. “He kept it real with us,” safety Kyle Dugger said. “And I’m glad he did.”

“We like to think of it as putting the ‘boss’ back in Boston. BOS Nation FC is an identity that encompasses our community and represents our fan base.”

– Jennifer Epstein, controlling manager of the ownership group bringing a National Women’s Soccer League team to Boston in 2026, on the announcement of the team’s name in October. Reaction to the new name was not as favorable as Epstein had hoped, and in November the team said it was reconsidering.

“When I was younger, I always wanted to play a game in the snow. Then I play a game in the snow and was like, ‘That kind of sucked.’ ”

– Former Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott, after the 2023 season finale was played on Jan. 7, 2024, in a snowstorm. The Patriots lost what was Elliott’s final game for New England to the Jets.

Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott had 13 carries for 54 yards against the Jets on Jan. 7, 2024. – Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff

“I know I have 64 million reasons why I’d be playing right now.”

– Bruins president Cam Neely, when asked in late September about contract negotiations with goalie Jeremy Swayman, a restricted free agent who held out during training camp. In early October, the Bruins and Swayman agreed on an eight-year, $66 million deal.

“I feel that I can be a beast and play this very physical, aggressive sport while also keeping my femininity while doing it.”

Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher, who is from Vermont and captured attention during the Paris games not only with her on-field performance, but also her message of body positivity. Maher won a bronze medal with Team USA at the Olympics, then was a runner-up in the 2024 season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

“Zero, no pressure. We’re all going to be dead soon, and it really doesn’t matter anymore. So, there’s zero pressure.”

– Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, on the pressure facing his defending NBA champions.

“I’m so honored to be here for the roast of Tom Brady on Netflix. It’s not to be confused with the roast of Bill Belichick on the 10-part Apple TV series.”

– Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, referring to “The Dynasty” docuseries that many believe portrays Belichick in an unfair or negative way.

“It felt like what every night should feel like.”

– Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington, who scored 19 points in the Sun’s victory over the Sparks at a sold-out and electric TD Garden in August. It was the city’s first WNBA game.

The Connecticut Sun defeated the Los Angeles Sparks at TD Garden in August. – Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff

“He’s got a Ferrari of a team with high expectations in a city with high expectations whether or not the team is a Ferrari.”

– Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, referring to his Celtics counterpart Joe Mazzulla in April, when the Celtics demolished the Thunder, 135-100.

“Bring y’all popcorn. I make people in wheelchairs stand up.”

Patriots draft pick Javon Baker, a wide receiver from Central Florida who ended up barely seeing the field in his rookie season, recording just three kick returns for 79 yards. Baker spent considerable time on the injury list with a concussion.

“The NBA needs to drug test all of them. I ain’t never seen nothing like that before, man. I mean, you’ve got to give them credit.”

– New York Knicks player Josh Hart after the 2024-25 season opener vs. the Celtics. Boston won, 132-109, to begin its defense of the NBA championship.

“I mean, we’re two games from the Finals. So, honestly, I don’t got the time to give a [expletive].”

– Jaylen Brown, when asked, after a 40-point performance on the same day he was snubbed for the All-NBA teams, if the snub was a motivating factor.

“I believe I have the best hands in the league. So, I feel like my drops, that’s not an issue at all.”

– Patriots rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, after he had two drops and only one catch for four yards in a loss to the Texans in Week 6. At the time, that put Polk at 10 catches on 23 targets through 6 games. Through Week 17, Polk had 12 receptions (33 targets) for 87 yards in 15 games.

“My whole town raised me … and so they’re just so excited to see someone that they’ve known in diapers on the world stage now.”

– Cyclist Kristen Faulkner, a Harvard graduate from Homer, Alaska, who won the women’s road race and the team pursuit at the Paris Olympics.

“If [Dave Roberts] had been out, [Kevin Cash] would have been here giving Bobby Valentine the award.”

– Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona at The Tradition, where he was honored 20 years after leading the 2004 Sox to their curse-busting championship. Roberts’s steal in the ALCS was a crucial play in Boston’s comeback from three games down to defeat the Yankees and reach the World Series.

“You should feel like crap.”

– Patriots coach Jerod Mayo, taking his defense to task after it allowed 41 points in a loss to the Texans in Week 6, New England’s fifth straight loss.

“I’m 95 [expletive] years old with one foot in the grave and I can barely move. I know I’m in overtime. So everything in your life becomes more meaningful. And one of the last things I want to be able to see is for the Celtics to hang up banner No. 18.”

– Celtics legend Bob Cousy, speaking to the Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy during the 2024 NBA Finals. Cousy got his wish (and a championship ring from the team).

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