There are moments that move us; Moments that outweigh our worries, our stresses and the bad things that happen to us.Last night I had one of those rare moments.I watched a Boston Celtics World Championship banner being raised to the rafters.
As a Celtics fan, you always wonder what it would be like to watch one of those banners go up.They always show the clips of the 1984 and 1986 banners being raised to the rafters.Those banners symbolize the greatness of the Celtics franchise.Whenever I think of Larry Bird, I think of the clip of him looking up at those banners.Whenever I’m in the Shamut/Fleet/TD Banknorth Garden/Jungle, for a concert, game or whatever, I catch myself staring up at those rafters.Before last season, I often wondered if I’d see a new banner added to the collection.
On October 28th 2006, Arnold “Red” Auerbach patriarch passed away.It marked the end of an era.Red built the Celtics and the great tradition of the franchise and had a part in the first 16 banners.It was a great loss for both Celtics fans and basketball fans alike.Team captain Paul Pierce always speaks very highly of Red and because he’s been with the team so long, has been the connection to Red.During his ten seasons with the Celtics, Pierce must have also often wondered if he’d ever see another NBA championship in Boston.
Yesterday, exactly two years later, the Celtics raised their 17th championship banner to the Garden rafters.I’ve seen the unveiling of three Patriots banners and two Red Sox ring ceremonies.Nothing compares to watching a Celtics banner go up.Like Pierce to Red, the banners are connections to past Boston Celtics glory.They all symbolize the common fabric of Celtics greatness and glory.This year a banner marked 2008 joined the ones marked 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984 and 1986.
My day began at 4:00am.I was visiting my mother in Ohio for the weekend for her birthday.On my connecting flight from rain-soaked, World Series suspended, Philadelphia, I noticed man in an old-school Celtics jacket.We traded smirks and after he noticed my Celtics shirt, he asked if I was going to the game.I learned that he and his wife were flying into Boston from their home in Tennessee for the game.At that point, the magnitude of the day hit me.I knew I was going to have one of those moments.
After a great dinner at the North End, my brother, his girlfriend Courtney and I headed into the Garden.The lines were unusually long for a Celtics game and they handed out t-shirts to all the fans to commemorate the occasion.The tickets for the game were different as well.They are about three times the size of a normal ticket and depicted a picture of Banner #17.The size of the ticket was a reminder that his was bigger than a normal game.It was great to be back in the Garden for the first time since last spring.The playoff run they celebrated last night was filled with so many memories.
The ceremony began with the presentation of the colors and Ayla Brown sung a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.Next, Queen’s “We are the Champions” was played over the arena sound system. I was immediately brought back to June 17th and pictured the confetti flying throughout the arena.Ohio State alum John Havlicek (who wore #17 for the C’s) carried out the championship trophy and lead a parade of past Celtics greats.Havlicek presented the trophy to Paul Pierce in what (to me) symbolized a passing of the torch and a bridge from past to present day franchise glory.They then passed out the rings and as U2’s “Beautiful Day” played, forever commemorated the 2008 Championship season by placing the 2008 banner in its rightful spot amongst the other 16 symbols of Celtics glory.
It wasn’t until I got home and re-watched the ceremony did I know how overcome with emotion Pierce was during the trophy exchange with Havlicek.As exchanged hugs and pleasantries with the present Celtics greats, Tommy Heinsohn told Pierce not to cry.After the banner was raised, Pierce addressed the Garden faithful. He has done this the past few years as team captain on opening night.Again, Pierce was overly emotional.He had tears in his eyes and thanked what seemed like everyone he’s ever met.I was fully expecting him to thank E-man and YD in Section 5, my friend Chris in Section 321 and my brother and Courtney as well.
This was a moment Pierce’s moment.He played through many losing seasons, endured a stabbing but never lost hope in Celtic Pride.He never asked to be traded.During his ten seasons in Boston, Pierce watched endless amounts of coaches and players “walk through that door.”Every year up until last year, the team came short of his goal.In his speech, what it meant to be a Celtic and what winning a title as a Celtic meant to Pierce was evident.
I had a great view of all this from Loge 12, Row 10, Seat 9.If I had to choose a place to sit, out of anywhere in the Garden, I probably would have chosen this seat.I was lucky on ticketmaster to get a seat in the lower bowl that literally straddled center court.It wasn’t until halftime when I realized who was sitting around me.NBA Commissioner David Stern sat in the row behind me.Walking out to the concourse at halftime, I walked by him and shook his hand. Ayla Brown was two rows behind me and I told her she did a great job on the anthem.Danny Ainge was sitting three rows behind me.After shaking Stern’s hand, I walked by Ainge and congratulated him on both the championship and his new promotion.
After all the emotion and hoopla of the banner ceremony, the game was an afterthought.Normally, a matchup between the Celtics and LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers would highlight any night of sports.The game was closely contested most of the way.After a 13-3 run to start the fourth quarter, the C’s pulled out a 90-85 win.Fittingly, Pierce led all scorers with 27 points.He was not only the high scorer, but the best player on the floor.Those two things don’t always go hand-in-hand.
Along with banner #17, Paul Pierce’s legacy was raised up amongst franchise greatness last night. Last June, he was named the MVP of the 2008 NBA Finals. His hard work and determination had finally paid off. From now on, whenever you think of Paul Pierce, two things will come to mind:
The Boston Celtics
NBA Champion
It took many moments, losses, missteps and ten years for Pierce to get to last night.It was the culmination of his basketball career to this point.
The Truth is, for Celtics fans, it was worth the wait.
Tonight, the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics will raise Banner #17 to the TD Banknorth Garden rafters. I’ll be in Loge Section 12 to see it go up, and I cannot wait.
Check back tomorrow for pictures and a full report.
My mother recommended a book to me yesterday. It is called “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. It is about a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In the book, Pausch writes about how he deals with his final days.
If there is anything you take from this blog, read this book. I started it yesterday and could not put it down until I finished it.
Buy it, read it, and pass it on to a friend. Do this yesterday.
All day Monday, I was bummed out about the Red Sox losing in the ALCS.I wasn’t disappointed at the result.I was sad that there are no more Red Sox games to watch this season.The team gave it everything it had and persevered through clubhouse issues, injuries and major personnel changes.The 2008 Red Sox have nothing to hang their heads in shame about.They had a great season.
Then, it happened.It always seems to happen.After every big Red Sox loss, the Patriots pull off a big win to pick me (and many other Boston sports fans) up.After the Aaron Boone debacle in 2003, the Pats pulled of a mini-miracle in Miami.Brady hit Troy Brown with a bomb to clinch the first New England win in Miami in what seemed like 20 years.After the infamous 19-8 Yankee ALCS thrashing of the Red Sox, the Pats went out the next day and beat a very good Seattle team.The Pats always seem to have the best timing in starting my Red Sox end-of-season recovery.
Monday, I was lamenting the Pats game.My brother texted me asking what I thought about the game.I told him I didn’t have good feelings.The Pats had a home record of 48-10 record at the Blade since it opened and two of those games losses were against the Broncos.The Broncos are one of those teams that always seem to have the Patriots number.I should have bet on the Pats because of course (yet again) they followed up a tough Red Sox defeat with a great win.They trounced the Broncos 41-7 in what was the most unlikely of scores during last weekend’s NFL slate. Wins like that remind me why I watch sports.
The only real negative out of Monday night’s game is the injury to Rodney Harrison.At his age and with his injury history, it looks like this was the last game he will ever play in the NFL.Some may say that it wasn’t the way he shouldn’t go out, but I disagree.Like a soldier dying in battle, I don’t think Harrison would have it any other way.He went out the way he came in, playing hard.
Even with his reputation as a dirty player, Harrison will go down as one of my favorite Patriots.He was a key member of the defense on the Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX championship teams.Love him or hate him, you can never accuse Rodney of not caring.One of the few requirements a fan should have of players on his/her team is to give a damn.We put so much time into watching these guys get paid exorbitant amounts of money to play games.The least they can do is look like they care.Nobody will ever, ever accuse #37 of not caring.
I guess the Rays weren’t Dennis the Manatee after all.They live to play another day.
Oh well.You can’t win ‘em all.
When I look back on the 2008 Red Sox, I’ll have nothing but admiration for their effort and heart.This team was battered, injured and bruised yet still fought back from 3-1 down to force a deciding Game 7.While I am disappointed, I also am proud of them. It was a great ride and making the ALCS 4 out of the past 6 years is nothing to sneeze at.
The last World Series champion to get back to the League Championship Series was the 2001 New York Yankees.Usually, the defending World Series champs don’t even make the playoffs.Boston fans really have nothing to complain about.The Sox won the World Series last year and NBA Championship Banner #17 gets raised to the rafters in 8 days.This is the golden age and a great time to be a Boston sports fan.
Congrats to the Rays.They really showed me a lot this series.They were the better team and earned the right to play for the championship.I hope they beat Philly and win the World Series.
I’m a Red Sox fan and I’m holding my head high today.
Due to a power outage in Atlanta, the first part of this blog entry is being preempted by:
and for those reasons the Red Sox have forced a “winner takes all” Game 7 later tonight. Jon Lester will be on the bump and there is nobody I’d rather have starting for my team.
EDITOR’S NOTE:Ehhh, forget about waiting until Sunday. Let’s go!
I must have caught postseason baseball fever!Six days in a row with a new entry, culminating with a special weekend edition of Truth About Mike.
On September 24th, a manatee was spotted off of the shore of Cape Cod in Sesuit Harbor.This is strange because a manatee or “sea cow” is a large mammal usually found off of the coasts of Florida and Georgia.They named the manatee Dennis because it was found near Dennis, MA.Dennis was determined to be a young manatee and was estimated to be about nine feet long.
Dennis caused quite a stir during his visit.The manatee drew crowds of 150-600 people at a time.People of all ages gathered to see a member of the endangered species.For many of those people, Dennis was the first manatee they had ever seen.After all, this is the furthest north a manatee has ever been spotted.
Animal rescue experts convened to decide what to do about the wandering manatee.Usually, manatees can only survive in water that is 68 degrees or warmer.With the temperatures dropping here in the Commonwealth, something had to be done or the young manatee would face certain death.He literally became a fish out of water.
I followed Dennis’ story with great interest.It actually reminds me of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.Like Dennis, the Rays are young, natives of Florida, and found in a position they have never been before.Joe Maddon’s (a.k.a. Mr. Magoo) baseball team is the “Dennis the Manatee” of the MLB playoffs.They were just the victim of one of the greatest comebacks in MLB playoff history.The last game must have been as much as a shock to their system as the cold New England waters were to Dennis. After all, this is the furthest north the Tampa team has ever been spotted in October.
To save Dennis, it was decided that he had to be moved to Florida. The plan was to bring him down to Sea World, rehabilitate him and then release him back into the wild.When they pulled him out of the water, his body temperature was about 24 degrees lower than what it should have been. On the 20+ hour drive down to Orlando, the rescuers fed the animal intravenously. They were able to raise his temperature about 17 degrees and stabilize the manatee’s condition.
Sadly, shortly after Dennis reached Sea World he died.Much like the Devil Rays, the young manatee was in over his head.Much like Dennis, the Devil Rays just made a long trip to Florida after some difficult circumstances.As we will see in two games, being young, displaced, and inexperienced is no way to survive in October (”There’s only one!“) for both manatees and baseball teams.
Hopefully, the Rays don’t meet the exact same fate as the manatee and are around to try to reach the playoffs again next season.
In the movie Back to the Future, Milton Baines asks Marty McFly:
“What’s a re-run?”
I’m starting to absolutely love re-runs.I’ve seen this one before.It’s the one where that team playing Boston wins three games and gets to the doorstep of the World Series, but then ultimately loses. Right?As Homer Simpson says, “I like stories” and especially like how this story is becoming an October tradition.
Move over 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2007.There’s a new chapter being written in the future novel titled, “Boston Red Sox Playoff Comebacks.”This one’s called “2008.”
I was stuck at work late tonight.I wanted to go to my brother’s for the game, but got out too late.Devid lives about 7 minutes from my office and leaving work, I decided to head over there so I wouldn’t miss a pitch.Maddy was there along with her parents, Michele and Sanjiv.The game was such a disappointment that I left after the 5th and headed home to change the karma.At that point, it looked like the season was going to end.The last thing I said to Devid as I left was, “I’ll be in touch about plans for Saturday’s game.”
And then amazing happened.
The Sox came back from a 7-0 deficit to win the game. It was the second greatest comeback in MLB playoff history and the biggest playoff comeback in 79 years.They were on the operating table, the paddles were on them, and the doctor was just about to call the time of death:
October 16, 2008
R.I.P.
2008 Boston Red Sox
A Pedroia hit, a Papi home run, J.D. Drew home run and a Coco RBIhappened.Then, exactly (per NESN) five years to the minute of the dreaded Aaron Boone 2003 season-ending home run, J.D. Drew ended the game with a walkoff ground rule double.Read that one again.These certainly aren’t my ex-Dad’s Red Sox.
Here’s a listing of my text messages from about 10pm on:
“So disappointed.What a letdown.Swept at Fenway.”
“Varitek is a disgrace!Absolute disgrace!”
“I’m not emotionally prepared for this”
“Zero fight in these guys.None.”
“This is insane!!!!”
“Also, I may rush the field and attack Mike Timlin if he gets brought in?”
“HOLY F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Double f*cking play!”
“Huge!”
“CRAZY”
“Zen baby!”
“This ab is great.”
“Alive!!!”
“Dude…unreal…they’re playing ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ here at Fenway”
“I believe if the Sox pull this off, they’re sweeping this weekend in Trampa”
“To be the champs, you gotta beat the champs!”
“W O W”
“Not in our house”
“Blog that!”
“Um, did that really happen?”
“Did that really just happen?”
“JD… That boy is good!”
“This comeback might be bigger than Game 4 of the NBA Finals because it was an elimination game.”
“Just wow!!”
“Sox in 7″
“Best part is you KNOW TB had the clubhouse all ready to celebrate! Put the t-shirts and the bubbly away and bring that sh*t back to FLA!!!”
This is what Red Sox baseball is today.It hasn’t always been this way.Now, it is never quit, never say die, and never give up until the very last out.They are battle-scarred, playoff-tested and an extremely tough out.Wednesday, I ended my blog entry with, “Don’t let us win Thursday, Tampa.”Momentum is a very powerful thing in the MLB playoffs.
Anyone who gave up on this team has not been watching closely enough over the past few years.This is why I stayed with the game.At 9:31, down 5-0, I changed my facebook status message to “Mike believes.” I never lost hope and never lost faith.Admittedly, I was discouraged. I began to think about how I was going to deal with the Red Sox elimination.It’s only natural.I should have known better.
As it was stated almost perfectly in the SoSH game thread:
“Boys, you just bought yourselves another 27 outs. Make the most of them…”
Yesterday, exactly two years later, the Celtics raised their 17th championship banner to the Garden rafters. I’ve seen the unveiling of three Patriots banners and two Red Sox ring ceremonies. Nothing compares to watching a Celtics banner go up. Like Pierce to Red, the banners are connections to past Boston Celtics glory. They all symbolize the common fabric of Celtics greatness and glory. This year a banner marked 2008 joined the ones marked 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984 and 1986.
After a great dinner at the North End, my brother, his girlfriend Courtney and I headed into the Garden. The lines were unusually long for a Celtics game and they handed out t-shirts to all the fans to commemorate the occasion. The tickets for the game were different as well. They are about three times the size of a normal ticket and depicted a picture of Banner #17. The size of the ticket was a reminder that his was bigger than a normal game. It was great to be back in the Garden for the first time since last spring. The playoff run they celebrated last night was filled with so many memories.
It wasn’t until I got home and re-watched the ceremony did I know how overcome with emotion Pierce was during the trophy exchange with Havlicek. As exchanged hugs and pleasantries with the present Celtics greats, Tommy Heinsohn told Pierce not to cry. After the banner was raised, Pierce addressed the Garden faithful. He has done this the past few years as team captain on opening night. Again, Pierce was overly emotional. He had tears in his eyes and thanked what seemed like everyone he’s ever met. I was fully expecting him to thank E-man and YD in Section 5, my friend Chris in Section 321 and my brother and Courtney as well. 
After all the emotion and hoopla of the banner ceremony, the game was an afterthought. Normally, a matchup between the Celtics and LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers would highlight any night of sports. The game was closely contested most of the way. After a 13-3 run to start the fourth quarter, the C’s pulled out a 90-85 win. Fittingly, Pierce led all scorers with 27 points. He was not only the high scorer, but the best player on the floor. Those two things don’t always go hand-in-hand.
Even with his reputation as a dirty player, Harrison will go down as one of my favorite Patriots.
On September 24th, a manatee was spotted off of the shore of Cape Cod in Sesuit Harbor.
To save Dennis, it was decided that he had to be moved to Florida. The plan was to bring him down to Sea World, rehabilitate him and then release him back into the wild.
In the movie Back to the Future, Milton Baines asks Marty McFly: