Jumping on the Duck Boat

Celtics Woohoo!

I have to admit that I didn’t watch any of the playoff games all the way through — they were on too late. OK, now that you ask in that manner — I didn’t watch much more than bits and pieces and probably never finished a whole quarter all the way through. But go Celtics. NBA Champs. You rock!

Maybe it is more of a re boarding of the bandwagon. As I said the other day, I grew up in New England, so my natural sport team allegiances were to those from Boston. Growing up my mom would not spring for the more expensive Converse All-Stars (after all, I was just going to tear them up), so I always wore Bob Cousy sneakers from the local discount store (they did have a cool Celtic green sole though.) With the first paycheck from my first job I went out and spent $20 on a pair of high top black canvas Converse All-Star sneakers and tossed the nine dollar Cousy’s aside. But it was too late, some of the green of the soles from those discount sneakers through osmosis had entered into my bloodstream.

I bought one of those shiny Starter jackets, back when if you wore something like that gang members might rob you and take the coat, but leave your wallet (somewhere in the early eighties.) Celtic life was good then; Parish, Bird, Mchale, DJ and Danny Ainge. While living in New Orleans in 1985 we even went to a Celtics – Atlanta Hawk game at the then new Lakefront Arena to see those guys play. Larry Bird scored a team record 60 points (just nine days after Kevin Mchale scored 56 to take the record from Larry) that still stands 23 years later. The Glory Days.

When that core group hung up their short shorts and knees socks, the Celtics and my fanhood faded. I still kept my eye on the scores and standings, but couldn’t name a player. Last year they totally stunk up the league with a record of 24-58. Then a couple of guys from the old fab five, in the off-season, had a hand in forming this years championship team. Minnesota traded 2004 league MVP Kevin Garnett to Boston and things started to come together. Minnesota’s General Manager? Kevin Mchale. Boston’s GM? Danny Ainge. Thanks guys.