A Quick Thanks to the Captain

Gratitude is something that is often lost on us sports fans. Super Bowls meld quickly into March Madness which meld into Nba Finals and before we know it the leaves are falling and it is time for another World Series. With this seemingly never ending process of championships followed by parades, Sports Illustrated covers, and eventually ring and banner ceremonies it is easy to under estimate the importance that each title might have on a player, its fans, and its city.

Gratitude for a singular accomplishment has become even more difficult to put into context for us Boston fans when six championships, won in three separate sports, have been one in the past seven calendar years. This accomplishment is a remarkable one and when you stop to think that Philadelphia fans tonight are hoping to win their first professional crown in a quarter century in this evening’s World Series game 5, it is even more illuminating.

This brings us to last night at the TD Banknorth Garden where just for a moment the sports world stopped its fever-pitched, non-stop, forward motion for a few moments and we got to see the realization of a life long dream. Paul Pierce came into Boston with high expectations. A first round pick from a highly regarded Kansas program, Pierce seemed to fit nicely in the Celtic tradition of bringing in players with winning pedigrees. But while Pierce showed flashes of brilliance over his Celtic career, it wasn’t until the team finally made its mind to build around Pierce with the addition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen that we saw a fully happy Pierce who seemed to be for the first time in his NBA career comfortable in his role as leader of the Celtics.

Last night, we saw the ultimate sign of that comfort when Pierce, visibly overcome with tears moments earlier, made the decision to ask for the microphone and stand at midcourt and address the Garden crowd. And while the speech will never be confused with Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest man” speech or even confused with an above average high school graduation speech—it was undoubtedly heartfelt and spilling over with gratitude. And because it for a minute forced all of us to think about what we once dreamed of, or perhaps still do dream of, for all of those who saw it, it was something we all can be thankful for.