Celtics #17: One email I'll save

Right after the game, my Blackberry beeped that I had an email. I'm thinking that it's from some folks I work with, have worked with, etc. who have been sending me stuff all game long. Emails like:

"Can you believe this?"

"We're 2 quarters away!"

"17 is coming baby!"

This next email, however, was the simplest, yet the best:

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 -- 11:55 PM ET
-----

Boston Celtics Win N.B.A. Championship

The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the
N.B.A. championship.

HELL YEA!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more!

Celtics #17: The truth about The Truth

If anyone has earned this championship, it's Paul Pierce. He was the most consistent player on the team all year and busted his behind all playoffs long. Yea, he had a few duds, but when it was time to step up he did it. Just think where we were last year. Was Paul even going to be on the team? Where would he be traded to? Who would we get in return?

It's such a great story, one that will be woven into the fabric that will make-up the #17 banner that's to be hung in the rafters.

As they say, what a difference a year makes. Let's hope that this time next year, we're doing it all over again. Die hard C's fans would love nothing better than to see more pictures like this in the coming years:

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Celtics #17: My desktop wallpaper superstition

Those who know me will tell you that there are basically three things in life that are important to me: One, my family; Two, my sports teams; Three, good food.

In keeping #1 in mind, you'll always find my desktop wallpaper to be a picture of my kids. That's how I roll. However, since the start of the Celtic's season, I decided to go with a different look. I never changed it throughout the season, but I might just have to make a switch today.

Here's what I've had as my desktop for months now:



Looks like I can finally change it. Maybe this will work:

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Celtics #17: TOP OF THE WORLD!!!

I sit at my desk this morning exhausted. I'm working on about 3.5 hours of sleep still jacked up from the Celtics CRUSHING the Lakers in game 6 to claim their 17th World Championship. What a performance by the entire team and coaching staff. What a season. Three other championship moments rank up there with this emotional win.

They are:

- Doug Flutie's hail mary in the orange bowl
- Patriots winning their first superbowl
- Red Sox coming back from 0-3 to beat the Yankees.

I was in good company last night, hanging out with friends and family. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. We were glue to the TV from start to finish. Since I recorded it via Tivo, I'll probably watch the game again just because it's one of those moments you never want to forget.

Some highlights that will stick with me:

- Pierce's determination all game long
- Rondo's sticky fingers
- Garnett's aggressiveness in driving to the hoop
- Ray Allen jacking up seven threes
- Posey SHUTTING DOWN Kobe
- Big Baby man-handling Gasol
- The look on Kobe's face as the clock ticked down
- Pierce holding the MVP trophey
- KG talking about what it felt like - "finally beating up a bully"
- Doc Rivers taking the "Big Three" out of the game at the same time at the end to a huge standing O
- Pierce dousing Doc with gatorade

I could go on and on, but the person who sums it up the best is Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe.

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Looking back at ESPN expert pics for Celtics Lakers series

The Celtics are on the verge of claiming their 17th championship. I've been around for five of them, I really only remember two of them though (early 80s). So it's been a long drought since then and it makes me smile when I look back at "expert" picks before this series started.

All but one of the ESPN "experts" picked the Lakers. Goes to show you that no one is really an expert at sports. Yea, maybe these folks have a little more inside knowledge about the players and the game, but at the end of the day, the players still have to PLAY the game. What we see on TV is what they see in person. That's what we judge our opinions on.

People who know me will tell you that I've said Celtics in 6. I've predicted each outcome of the series (not the huge come back win, but a win nonetheless in game 4).

Maybe ESPN should hire me.

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Simmons finally comes around

I've been hating on Bill Simmons for a bit now because he picked the Lakers in 7. He basically crapped himself during game 5, like we all did. He has one line in his most recent column that is perfect and squashes all the Kobe talk.

The Kobe-MJ thing ... done. Over. Jordan never would have let that happen in the Finals. Ever. Under any circumstances. Nobody is ever allowed to bring this up again.

I couldn't agree more. One win away from greatness. I can't believe it.

C's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more!

Dan Shaughnessy vs Bob Ryan, Pt 2.

Yet again, a little more passion and game knowledge shown by Ryan vs. Mr. Dan.




You can tell Ryan is pumped about the win. I bet Shaughnessy would love to see the Celtics lose game 5 and 6 so we'd have a game 7 Death match. Read more!

Difference between Bob Ryan and Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe

As the NBA Finals roll on, you folks will start to see my dislike for Dan Shaughnessy and why Bob Ryan "gets it." Check out the recaps of last nights game three loss to the Lakers from each.


Yea, Bob is a homer. He loves the Celtics, but he tells it like it is. Basically that the Lakers should have beaten us by more points last night and that the C's were very close to stealing this game.


Danny boy basically takes the angle of we blew it. Our best chance of stomping the Lakers was with a game three win to go up 3-0. But no, they couldn't pull it off. God knows what's going to happen now - is the message I'm getting from him.

I wish Danny boy would take a buy-out and start writing for the NY Post or something. Moron. Read more!

Celtics fan jumped in LA

See this crap? LA opens the stadium for fans so they can watch games 1 an 2 on the jumbotron. One Celtics fan got jumped by moronic LA Laker fans.

Now I really hope we sweep these $#@%&#.



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Win it for Tommy

Tommy Heinsohn IS the quintessential Celtics fan. The dudes over at PIAB have a great post about winning game three for Tommy. I couldn't agree more.

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Celtics and Red Sox dilemna

This picture shows exactly how most of Boston sports fans feel right now. Yea, I know there are die hard Sox fans, but who living in Greater Boston isn't gripped by the Celtic's championship run?

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Tonight's Officiating Crew

Listen up Celtics fans. Here are the three stooges that will give the game to Kobe tonight.

It amazes me how officiating can control a game. It's great when calls are going our way, but horrible when they aren't. If most of the Boston sports world is talking about how the refs will hose them tonight, I wonder what Doc and Co. are thinking as it relates to "the calls" for tonight's game. Read more!

For the most part, Dan Shaughnessy pisses me off, but today he got it right

Sports columnists are the worst type of journalist. They can have you carrying the rally cry one day and ripping your heart out in pain the next. For me, Dan Shaughnessy typically is a half empty sort of columnist. He's the, "now that I've read this, I want to jump off the Tobin Bridge" type of columnist. I am convinced that he coined the terms, "It's over," and "Wait 'till next year" as they relate to the Red Sox (prior to 2004 of

I swore I saw some pigs flying this morning or heard a report that hell froze over because in today's paper, Mr. Dan has a column that's right on the money. It's a great piece of writing and is one of those stories that encapsulates a big sporting event like the NBA Finals without actually talking about the details of a game or player profiles.

I must admit, I do question whether or not he was actually in Faneuil Hall that late at night/early in the a.m. (never mind talking to the ghost of Red Auerbach).

There would be less people jumping off the Tobin and having mental breakdowns if Mr. Dan conjure up more of these types of stories where he truly showcases his writing talents.



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Bob Ryan and I finally agree

For the first time in quite some time, Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe and I finally agree. I've been stating since the start of this series how things would flow.

The Celtics would win games one and two, lose three, win four, lose five, and wrap it up in game six.

Bob's column today talks about how the Lakers will get all the calls tonight and it'll be a Kobe Charity Stripe Parade. I, though I hate to, agree.

However, if the Celtics do win tonight, it'll be the biggest shocker of the NBA Playoffs IMHO. Going up 3-0 would be HUGE and just about solidify the parade (not quite, as we've seen in the past with the Red Sox).
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Thanks for the bulletin material Lamar Odom

Haven't opponents learned not to create bulletin board material for Boston sports teams? Well, Lamar Odom apparently didn't get the memo.

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What you hear courtside during the NBA Finals

Want to know what you can hear and see on the court during the NBA Finals? Wander over to the Curt Schilling's blog. Here was there, basically sitting on Phil Jackson's lap.

All I'm saying is that can the big guy get seats like that? Can a life-long Celtics fan get those seats? Can I javascript:void(0)get any seats? Nope.

Only the privileged or those whose gut told them to buy season tickets prior to the KG/Allen trades, are lucky enough to witness the NBA Finals.

Curt is in that privileged bracket. Lucky bastard.
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Rajan Rondo's blog: insight into the NBA Finals

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has a blog. He's not the best writer in the world, but I love the fact that he's posting frequently during the playoffs. You talk about a first person reading experience. He's there. On the floor. Running the offense. Driving the paint. Dishing the ball.

He's no Jesus Shuttlesworth, but "he got insight."

That's what is so cool about blogging. Anyone can do it.

All within a short time frame, I read Curt Schillings post about being at the game, courtside, and all the things he heard and saw up close and personal during the game. Then I read Rondo's post about how the crowd kept the team in the game and what his mental state is being up 2-0, taking that long flight to LA.

Add to all this my own viewing of the game at home on the high def 42" plasma and it has provided a 360 degree type of fan experience.
Read more!

Is sleep deprivation worth an NBA title?

These 9pm starts to the NBA finals are killing me. I'm so jacked up from the game that it takes me about an hour to calm down - that's when the Celtics win. When they've lost in the playoffs, it takes longer for my blood to stop boiling.

So I pose this question....is an NBA championship worth sleep deprivation and bad health?

HELL YEA!!!

I don't mind the bags under my eyes. I don't mind the groggy state I'm in the morning after. I don't mind living and dying on each shot attempt. I don't mind my blood pressure boiling to the point where I start to sweat. I don't mind any of it. Not for one bit.

Think about it. How long will this Boston sports ride last? The Patriots superbowls. The Red Sox world series. The Bruins making a resurgence (sorta). Now the Celtics. We are two wins away from adding one more banner to the rafters.

I'm not planning the parade, but our chances are looking great. I know that we'll probably lose game three. Kobe will not be denied after returning home down 2-0. The Lakers will get a majority of the calls and Kobe will drop in about 50. I predict that the Lakers will take game three, we'll take game four, they will take game five and we'll get number 17 in game six - at home.

I just hope my physical and mental health can withstand the intensity over the next week or so. If you happen to run into me on the street and I'm jacked up like Leon Powe was last night, just go to the other side of the street please - for both of our safety. Read more!

Celtics grab game 1; Tampa the new Yankees?

Boston was witness to a great sport day yesterday. First there was a baseball game played between fisticuffs and secondly, we witnessed a Bird-like performance from Paul Pierce as the Celtics beat the Lakers in game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Getting home slightly after six from work, I had about three hours to kill before the game started at nine. I could barely contain myself. I was so jacked for the Celtics game that I didn't want to waste time online, didn't want to read anything, didn't want to blog, didn't want to twit. I didn't want to do anything. I just wanted the damn game to start. In the meantime, I watched the Red Sox Tampa game.

Glad I do. Hold drama.

Tempers were boiling before the start of yesterday's game as there was a heated exchange between Coco Crisp and the manager of the Rays over what was called a dirty play by Coco in the previous game. Basically, Crisp was blocked from sliding into second on a play and he jammed his finger. The next time Coco slide into second, he came in high, legs and arms flailing in order to take out the Tampa second baseman. I don't think it was a bush league play as some have called it. I've seen worse incidents at second.

Fast forward to last night and when Coco gets up for the first time, he gets drilled in the ribs. He starts to trot up to first, then drops the helmet and blasts to the pitchers mound. What I thought was interesting in this fight was that Coco was clearly outmatched. Sheilds, the Tampa pitcher, is a much bigger guy. As Coco arrives to greet Sheids, the pitcher unloads a haymaker similar to what Marvin Hagglar would have. However, Coco dipped out of the way, making Sheilds fan on the punch. Then Coco connects with a left jab to the side of Sheilds head/shoulder area (Coco was just too short to connect squarely to the face. Then the catcher jumps on Coco. After that, it was your typical baseball fight where both sides are clawing at each other, etc. The one difference was that three other players - yea, three - jumped in on the Coco scrum and started to take punches at Coco while he was at the bottom of the pile. Now that was REALLY bushleague stuff.

Needless to say, I'll be paying closer attention to the Sox Tampa games this year. It'll be interesting next time they face them or if they face them in the playoffs imagine that, Tampa in the playoffs).

So finally, finally, the Celtics Lakers game starts and the introductions get me so amped I'm ready to suit up and do battle with Kobe. I'll give him six hard fouls. That would be my job. Defensive bull. Foul giver. Hack-a-Kobe. Just put me in coach.

Well, my dream didn't happen. I watched it on the plasma and man, I wasn't dissapointed.

The collective Celtics world was in shock as we saw Pierce being helped off the court and then in a wheel chair with an apparent knee injury. But in pure Bird fashion, Pierce emerges from the lockeroom, gets back into the game and proceeds to nail two back to back three pointers that absolutely ignite the crowd. We didn't look back from there. The Celtics, with some clutch free-throws and fantastic team defense, held off Mr. MVP and Co.

Game two Sunday. I'm already started to feel the blood pressure rise and my jacked-up-o-meter started to move.

Maybe a few Sox Tampa games will keep me at bay until then. Read more!

What if the Celtics were a hip-hop album?

What if the Celtics team collectively was a hip hop album? What would the track listing look like?

Here's what I and my bro (the walking hip-hop encyclopedia) think:

- Rondo: Focused Daily, Defari
- Allen: It Ain't Hard to Tell, Nas
- Pierce: Tha Game, Pete Rock
- Perkins: Cold as Ice, M.O.P.
- KG: Above the Clouds, Gangstarr
- House: Pain I Feel, Blahzay Blahzay
- Posey: I Got Cha Opin, Blackmoon
- Powe: Crush, Big Shug
- Davis: Whoo Ha, Busta Rhymes
- Brown: Mellow My Man, The Roots
- Pollard: Walk This Way, Run DMC/Aeorsmith
- Pruitt: We Can Make It Better, Kayne West
- Doc: Follow the Leader, Eric B. & Rakim

* Team Bonus Track: I Gotta Have It, Edo G & Da Bulldogs (local flava):


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