EDITOR’S HOPE: Please do not boo Manny tonight, Fenway Park.
It was right there for the taking.
For 43 (or so) out of 48 minutes, the Celtics outplayed the Lakers. Their defense was stifling and caused LA’s two best players to have horrible shooting nights. I didn’t have a good feeling going into the game (or the playoffs, for that matter), but the Celtics won me over.
The well-known reality is that in basketball (as in life), it is not how you start but how you finish. The Celtics did not finish the game in the manner in which they played for most of the night. Some folks are blaming the officials, but it is not their fault. The Lakers manned up and grabbed the trophy last night. Don’t get me wrong, NBA officiating sucks (and I often question if it is on the level), but the refs are not the reason a parade will be held out west rather than out east.
I am not sad that they lost. I am sad for three other reasons. The first reason is that our 18th NBA Championship was right there for the taking and they let it slip away. Secondly, I am sad because last night was the last time that Celtic team will take the floor. The team will look very different next season. Kendrick Perkins said it himself in one of the pregame interviews, we may never see them back in the Finals. You just never know. Most importantly (and this feeling intensifies with every tough loss), I’m sad because a loss like this disappoints so many people I know and love.
Here’s where I am with sports right now: Save for a Stanley Cup, I’ve seen it all. Other than that, if I never see another Boston championship, I’m good. The best part about sports for me these days is sharing the experience with the people that mean the most to me. When you look at sports this way, the best days are even better; Unfortunately, the worst days are even worse. Today is a “worse” day. I hate hearing, seeing, reading, and feeling the disappointment my loved ones feel as a result of sports. It hurts me more than anything I can ever see in a game.
All that said…
If you’ve been a fan of Boston sports over the past decade, you have no right to complain about sports. We’ve been on an unprecedented run. Many fans would kill for one championship. I thank my lucky stars every day that I am not a fan from a place like Cleveland. It is bad enough you have to live there, but those fans haven’t experienced the joy of their teams winning anything since 1948.
Here in Boston, we’ve been fortunate enough to see six championships in the past eight years. The fact of the matter is that the 2010 Celtics exceeded expectations. This is all we can ever ask of the teams we follow.
1) I simply cannot believe the Boston Celtics are one win away from winning their 18th NBA Championship. Everyone counted this team out, yet here we are. After Game 3, I tweeted that the Celtics will win the next two games. When the Boston Celtics are up 3-2 in the NBA Finals, they are 11-0 in those series. Come Wednesday morning, they will be 12-0.
2) Almost as important: I sold my house. Finally!!! When I close on July 19th, it will be exactly thirteen months and two days from when I put it on the market. Everyone has been asking what the plan is, but I’m not exactly sure just yet. The house inspection was last Wednesday and I’ve been pretty much in shock since then. I can’t believe this wicked long process is finally coming to an end. I’m happy, relieved, hopeful, nervous, unsure, and most of all excited that the next chapter in my life is about to begin.
This should provide some good blog entry material, especially if a cross-country drive is involved. As some of you know, the job in Santa Monica fell through. Maybe this is a sign that I should head where I’ve wanted to go all along.
Two years ago, I wrote a primer for the NBA Finals. With the NBA Finals starting again tonight, I thought it would only be appropriate that I write a 2010 edition. It has been two whole years since a Boston team has made the final round of the playoffs. Lately, we haven’t been used to these kind of championship droughts and a refresher might be helpful.
Bill Simmons can write for hours on this, but I’ll try and keep it shorter….
“No Means No!” – Kobe Bryant’s least favorite words. We all learned who this was during the last Primer. Kobe has moves Ben Roethlisberger can only dream of. And just when you thought the Lakers couldn’t get more thuggish…
“Crazy, Volume 1″ -Ron Artest, or as he shall be known from this point forward, Ron Arrest. The only active NBA player to ever apply for a job at Circuit City just to get a discount (Arrest did this during his rookie year). Many basketball players have gotten into fights on the court. Ron Arrest has actually fought fans at the game. Exhibit A is the youtube above (which I’ve watched too many times), Your Honor.
“Crazy, Volume 2″ – Rasheed Wallace. Interestingly enough, ‘Sheed was also a participant in than infamous brawl with Ron Arrest. Simmons actually nailed it with ‘Sheed earlier this year.
“Nate Robinson” – Acquired at the trading deadline, Robinson provided a huge boost to the C’s in their last game. He helped shut the door on the Orlando Magic. He is all over…
“Twitter” – has blown up since the last time the Celtics were in the Finals. It is the quickest source for information/instant reaction on pretty much everything. #nojoke
“#wordaapp” – The signature Nate Robinson Twitter hash tag and a Seattle clothing line. I still don’t know what the hell it means when Nate says it.
“The Master Plan” – What Doc Rivers did to get the Celtics to this point. He punted the regular season and rested his guys for the playoffs. This is not a common course of action to reach the NBA Finals, but it worked. In fact, Doc has been money all season.
“9-2″ – The Celtics all-time record against the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
“The Birthday Boy” – Mr. Baseball. Happy birthday, dude.
“Gary Coleman” – His death, while tragic, is the best harbinger of a Celtics victory in the Finals. Coleman was the exact height (4′ 8″) of the average leprechaun. Whatchu talkin’ bout, Celtics Pride?
“LeBron James” – One of the many NBA players who have the same view of the Finals that I do – from the couch. Cleveland still sucks.
“Technical Fouls” – What Kendrick Perkins likes to collect. One more and he will be forced to sit out a game.
“Rajon Rondo” – In the last primer, I wrote this about Rondo: “point guard that LA has no answer for, a.k.a. the ankle-breaker.” The funny (well, not for Lakers fans) thing is that Rondo has gotten even better. He is one of the best point guards in the league and provides an even bigger matchup problem for the Lakers this time around.
“The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” – ran from June 1, 2009 to January 22, 2010. This really has nothing to do with the NBA Finals, but I find it quite remarkable. It lasted almost as long as the Lakers reign as NBA Champions will last.
“2010 World Cup Preview” – The Celtics have become known at the team that likes to embellish their injuries. However, I think they’ve gotten a bad rap (as shown here by Big Baby Davis). All the C’s are really doing is previewing all of the flopping that will go on during the World Cup starting next week. The ESPN/ABC connection strikes again.
“2-0″ – The Celtics record when I attend NBA Finals games. Hopefully after Game 4, it will be 3-0.
“Wes Welker” – Just when I thought this was my favorite Wes Welker rehab moment, he goes and tops it. Practicing four months after ACL surgery is nothing short of remarkable (smallest video ever).
“6/17/2010″ – The two year anniversary of Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals (the game in which the Celtics clinched). Interestingly enough, it is the same day that Game 7 of this year’s Finals.
“Titletown again” – Boston, MA.Banner #18 on June 17th.C’s in 7.
“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.”
I have used that Dickens quote a bunch of times on this site, but it has never felt more appropriate than right now.
Sports-wise, Thursday night was the best of times. I’ve often blogged about my disdain for the city of Cleveland. Watching the Celtics eliminate the Cavs was the next best thing (for me) other than winning a championship. All year, we heard about how this was their year and that the city of Cleveland was finally going to win a championship for the first time since 1964. This was supposed to be the year in which the King finally got his crown.
A funny thing happened on the way to the coronation. What mostly everyone (including me) forgot, is that basketball is a team sport. While Cleveland had the best player in the series, they didn’t have the best team in the series. Somehow, the 2010 Celtics found a way to “flip the switch” and take their game to another level in the playoffs. It the best of times because I watched the game up in Maine with my brother. We went to a sports bar and (despite my best efforts to stay toned down), he said I was the loudest guy in the place. Along with my feelings for Cleveland, I’m blaming the Shipyard Summer Ale.
Sports-wise, Friday night was the worst of times. Watching the Bruins blow a 3-0 series lead to the Flyers was the worst feeling I’ve had watching sports since Super Bowl XLII. This one hurt and it was 2003 ALCS level hurt. It hurt even considering the Bruins have always been an afterthought for me when it came to Boston sports. There simply isn’t enough time in the day to follow all four teams as closely as I would like. To me, the Bruins became a victim of this time constraint. After the Olympics, however, things changed. For the first time since high school, I followed the Bruins closer than I followed the Celtics.
Ever since the NBA referee scandal, I’ve watched less and less of NBA basketball. Even in 2008, I almost stopped watching because the officiating was so bad. I lost my faith in the game. Seeing the Celtics go on that magical run that year put my concerns on the backburner. The great hockey during the Olympic games reminded me of how much I loved the sport. It reminded me of high school, when I watched almost every Bruins game. The Bruins are the only team I have ever skipped school for.
Even though the Bruins won the first three games of the Flyers series, I don’t see it as a choke (like the 2004 Yankees). The 2010 Flyers and the 2010 Bruins are two very evenly matched teams. The Bruins won Game 1 on an overtime goal. They won Game 2 on a Milan Lucic goal with three minutes left in the game. The Bruins were very fortunate to be up 3-0 in the series. In 2004 ALCS, the Yankees thoroughly outplayed the Red Sox during the first three games. There was no 19-8 blowout in the Bruins/Flyers series.
If you asked me before the Celtics and Bruins series which one I wanted more, without hesitation my answer would have been shaded green. Even with the immense enjoyment I got out of seeing Cleveland lose, I’m still pretty bummed out over the Bruins loss. Yesterday, the Celtics continued their inspired play by beating the Magic in Orlando. Even as the Celtics sit seven wins away from the NBA Championship, I still can’t get over the Bruins loss. It will probably take me a while before I do.
A few minutes ago, I begun the healing process. I logged on to the Bruins website and bought a brand new Bruins shirt. As soon as it arrives, I am going to wear the hell out of that shirt until September. It is going to be my reminder that the future is bright for the Bruins. In a little over a month, they will be selecting second in the NHL draft. With that pick, the Bruins will either select Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin.
Tuukka (along with Taylor or Tyler) and the rest of the Bruins will be back.
Last summer, I auctioned off the right for someone to write an entry on my blog. The winner of that auction has asked that instead of writing something, that I link this column.
After reading it, I couldn’t get it posted fast enough. I really can’t figure out this series. Both teams have been so Jekyll and Hyde. I predicted “Cavs in 7″ at the start of the series, but at this point nothing would surprise me. Also, while it sucks to admit this, the officiating during these NBA playoffs has really left a bad taste in my mouth regarding NBA basketball. If the Celtics aren’t playing, I’m not watching. This isn’t the case for the NHL playoffs.
While I dislike the city of Cleveland with the intensity of 1,000 (los) suns, I have always respected LeBron. I thought he was the best player in the NBA. Last night, I lost some respect for him. He quit on his team and looked like he would have rather been anywhere else but in Quicken Loans Arena last night.
Even with that awesome win last night, I still think this series goes seven games. I really, really, really, hope I am wrong. Every series this round was a sweep. The NBA needs a game seven on Sunday and my fear is that they will make sure they get it.
I might have to rethink my “favorite time of the year” when it comes to sports. When the Celtics and Bruins are the in the playoffs, spring is a great time to be a Boston sports fan. Adding in the new, three night format of the NFL Draft has only exacerbated this fact. Right now, Boston is the only city with both a basketball team and a hockey team still alive in the playoffs.
Hub of the Universe, indeed.
Saturday is a perfect example of how this may be the most wonderful time of year. I started the day at Jerry Remy’s new sports bar (which might be my new favorite bar in Boston, btw) for the early start of the Bruins game, continued the day at an LSU alumni crawfish boil at the Baseball Tavern with some friends (where I met New England Patriot, Eric Alexander), headed to Devid’s house for the Celtics game and then ended the day at home watching the Mayweather/Mosley fight on illegal internet feeds. It was a perfect storm of fun, friends, family, and sports.
Let’s take a quick snapshot of the local teams, shall we?
RED SOX: This team is in trouble, folks. Even as the eternal optimist, I am struggling to find a silver lining to the start of this season. However, I can’t help but laugh when I think about this weekend’s irony of the Aquapocolypse.
If you don’t know, after every home Red Sox win they play “Dirty Water” by the Standells over the Fenway Park speaker system. It is also a rallying cry for circle-jerking (myself included) Red Sox fans after a win. The irony is even though the Red Sox got swept by the worst team in baseball, dirty water was literally prevalent in the lives of many Red Sox fans. H2OMG!
CELTICS: The youtube above is dedicated to the huge challenge the Celtics are facing right now. There is no doubt that LeBron James will be wearing multiple championship rings on his fingers when he retires. I only hope that the C’s can delay the coronation for at least a year.
BRUINS: This is the feel good story in Boston sports right now. All season they have dealt with a myriad of injuries, swine flu and even an injustice from the league regarding a cheap shot on Marc Savard. The best part about rooting for the Bruins is that we aren’t the 17-time NBA World Champions or the “Team of the Decade” football team or even the big market, recent two-time winning World Series baseball team. We’re just fans of a team that hasn’t won anything since 1972 and has been hit with a ton of bad luck this season. Furthermore, if you told me that Savard was going to score a playoff overtime game-winner in his first game back, I would have said you were crazy.
The Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox all play again tonight.
At least to me it is. I’ve been looking forward to this weekend since about Memorial Day.
Let me count the ways (all times EST):
FRIDAY:
8:00pm: Hawks at Celtics – The best team in the Association against a team from the worst sports city in America. The Hawks are off to a nice 6-2 start, but it will be no match for what they will face in the Jungle.
SATURDAY
3:30pm: #10 Iowa at #11 Ohio State – My alma mater against the Hawkeyes of Iowa. This game is essentially for the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth. Iowa’s starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi is injured and will not be playing. I don’t think it matters, though. The Bucks will win this one going away in the ‘Shoe.
7:00pm: Celtics at Indiana Pacers – This is an appetizer for the battle royal occuring just 25.5 hours later in the same city.
7:30pm: Bruins at Penguins – This is an appetizer for the battle royal occuring just 17.5 hours later in the same city.
Approx 11:30pm: Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto – I’ve written before about the Pride of the Philippines. This is probably going to be one of Manny’s toughest fights and it is being held at the MGM Grand. My brother said it best, “Every time Pac fights, it is like the Super Bowl.”
To Filipinos, John is exactly right. He literally is the only thing Filipinos have to boast about.
SUNDAY
1:00pm: Bengals at Steelers – As many of you may or may not know, the Bengals are my second favorite NFL team. The reason for this is because I spent my college years in Ohio and the Bengals and Browns were always on. As many of you should know, I would never root for any team from the hellhole otherwise known as Cleveland (I really need to write a blog entry about Cleveland). Since the Patriots were hardly ever on in Ohio, I watched the Bengals.
Anyhoo, the 6-2 Bengals are the best story in the NFL this year. They have a rejuvenated running game with Cedric Benson and also the best personality in sports, Chad Ochocinco (who also happens to be back in fine form). The perennial doormat Bengals are actually doing really well and a win in Pittsburgh would probably lock up a division title.
4:07pm: Mike’s organs vs Mike’s brain – This is just about the time when my body will start rebelling against me. You’ll see why in the final paragraph.
8:30pm: Patriots at Colts – The game of the year in the NFL. It is the most-hyped and most-awaited game. It is NFL equivalent of the Celtics/Lakers. A win here and the Patriots can put themselves in good position for a first round bye. I just hope the Pats don’t eat the food at Lucas Oil Stadium.
There has been some great media attention on the Pats and Colts this week. Sports radio 98.5 has been previewing it all week. Gerry Callahan (I know, I know – his politics suck) had a great column this week comparing Tom Brady and Peyton Manning to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Michael Felger called this clip of Belichick Patriot porn (keep refreshing if the clip doesn’t play). Also, Peter King wrote a solid piece on Manning.
Where will I be for this potpourri of sports goodness?
Vegas, baby.
Vegas.
The Flamingo, to be exact. It is the only place to be on a sports weekend of this magnitude. We’re not going to the fight, but will be watching closed circuit at the MGM Grand. If I happen to hit it big at the tables tomorrow (yeah right), all bets are off on me being ringside.
Have a great weekend everyone! Make the most of every day.
