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.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Celtics Second Act Begins Tonight at the Garden
With a straight and vertical trajectory, the Celtics banner will take mere moments to find its way tonight from ground level to the ceiling. It was all most that quick in which the team’s fortune rose from that of an NBA lottery constant, to a playoff certainty, and finally to a champion.
But now as the Celtics embark on their second consecutive season of play back at the top of the NBA hierarchy, after over twenty years of being consistently removed from it, fans must recognize that much like the way in which cool fall temperatures are forcing us to close ours, the window of potential championship contention for the Celtics is not limitless and narrows more and more each season.
In fact, a poll of NBA general managers that came out this week may indicate that word around the league is that the Lakers, with the return of a healthy Andrew Bynum, have edged ahead of the Celtics in the race for the 2008 – 2009 crown. The same poll put the Celtics as favorites to come out of the east but trailing considerably in votes for the title behind Kobe’s squad.
What does all of this mean? Well nothing for certain accept that time moves on and with it past glories become just that, things in the past. So after a long awaited and well deserved ceremony takes place tonight on the Garden parquet around 7:38 PM the role of the Celtics turns from champions to defenders. The opportunity to defend is an awesome one and brings with it 82 unique and separate opportunities to prove that the Celtics are still a championship quality outfit while trying to fight off a nightly attempt by their opponent to knock the defending champion down a notch or two.
Rocker Warren Zevon once instructed us to “enjoy every sandwich.” Likewise, the Celtics and their fans should realize the fleeting nature of championship quality teams and enjoy each game that the C’s play at this level and try hard not too look too far ahead. Because as Patriots fans learned the hard way early last month, each team, no matter how dominant, is only one play away from having the script of their season thrown out and forced to be rewritten.
But now as the Celtics embark on their second consecutive season of play back at the top of the NBA hierarchy, after over twenty years of being consistently removed from it, fans must recognize that much like the way in which cool fall temperatures are forcing us to close ours, the window of potential championship contention for the Celtics is not limitless and narrows more and more each season.
In fact, a poll of NBA general managers that came out this week may indicate that word around the league is that the Lakers, with the return of a healthy Andrew Bynum, have edged ahead of the Celtics in the race for the 2008 – 2009 crown. The same poll put the Celtics as favorites to come out of the east but trailing considerably in votes for the title behind Kobe’s squad.
What does all of this mean? Well nothing for certain accept that time moves on and with it past glories become just that, things in the past. So after a long awaited and well deserved ceremony takes place tonight on the Garden parquet around 7:38 PM the role of the Celtics turns from champions to defenders. The opportunity to defend is an awesome one and brings with it 82 unique and separate opportunities to prove that the Celtics are still a championship quality outfit while trying to fight off a nightly attempt by their opponent to knock the defending champion down a notch or two.
Rocker Warren Zevon once instructed us to “enjoy every sandwich.” Likewise, the Celtics and their fans should realize the fleeting nature of championship quality teams and enjoy each game that the C’s play at this level and try hard not too look too far ahead. Because as Patriots fans learned the hard way early last month, each team, no matter how dominant, is only one play away from having the script of their season thrown out and forced to be rewritten.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Back to the Blogging!
I’ve been very neglectful of the blog recently so I’m going to do my best to pick up my posts once again.
I want to first do some catching up on my trip to New York a couple weeks back.
We arrived in New York on Friday afternoon, May 9. We had tickets to the Conan O’Brien Taping at NBC Studios so after a quick lunch at one of Manhattan’s countless diners we trudged through the pouring rain to Rockefeller Center.
This was my second Conan taping so the process was not new to me. You have to arrive by 4:15 PM where you are then given a wristband and told to hang around until 5:00 PM or so when you are let in.
Once in the studios, there is a ten minute highlight reel of Conan’s greatest hits followed by a warm up comedian who while repetitive on a second visit has to be given credit for affectively working the crowd. The highlight of his warm-up act is always when he is given the sign that Conan is ready, generally one of the producers pointing to his nose, the comedian replies “okay Conan has finished his coke lets get the show going.”
Conan then comes out and spends two or three minutes chatting with the crowd. What you immediately notice from O’Brien is his non-stop energy. Whether he is chatting with the crowd, chatting with guests, or watching his skits on the big screen, O’Brien is non-stop enthusiasm. Maybe the “coke” joke doesn’t fall too far from the truth.
But in all seriousness, O’Brien in both of my taping experiences has shown himself to be nothing less than a professional. Once the tape starts to roll there are no stops and starts. Conan’s years of experience have seemed to given him an ease on camera that few will ever achieve.
The guests on this particular episode were Saturday Night Live funnyman, Seth Myers, actress Becky Newton from TV’s “Ugly Betty,” and teen-rock-sensation “Tokyo Hotel.” The band ironically hail from Germany.
No matter what guests appear on the particular taping you are in attendance for, the price can’t be beat—tickets are free. And to add to this all audience members were given free tee-shirts too! If you are interested in tickets to a Conan O’Brien taping call 212.664-3056 for more information. Shows tape Monday through Friday and are generally booked four to six weeks ahead of time and I’d call daily to get the up-to-date info that can and will change at a moment’s notice.
I want to first do some catching up on my trip to New York a couple weeks back.
We arrived in New York on Friday afternoon, May 9. We had tickets to the Conan O’Brien Taping at NBC Studios so after a quick lunch at one of Manhattan’s countless diners we trudged through the pouring rain to Rockefeller Center.
This was my second Conan taping so the process was not new to me. You have to arrive by 4:15 PM where you are then given a wristband and told to hang around until 5:00 PM or so when you are let in.
Once in the studios, there is a ten minute highlight reel of Conan’s greatest hits followed by a warm up comedian who while repetitive on a second visit has to be given credit for affectively working the crowd. The highlight of his warm-up act is always when he is given the sign that Conan is ready, generally one of the producers pointing to his nose, the comedian replies “okay Conan has finished his coke lets get the show going.”
Conan then comes out and spends two or three minutes chatting with the crowd. What you immediately notice from O’Brien is his non-stop energy. Whether he is chatting with the crowd, chatting with guests, or watching his skits on the big screen, O’Brien is non-stop enthusiasm. Maybe the “coke” joke doesn’t fall too far from the truth.
But in all seriousness, O’Brien in both of my taping experiences has shown himself to be nothing less than a professional. Once the tape starts to roll there are no stops and starts. Conan’s years of experience have seemed to given him an ease on camera that few will ever achieve.
The guests on this particular episode were Saturday Night Live funnyman, Seth Myers, actress Becky Newton from TV’s “Ugly Betty,” and teen-rock-sensation “Tokyo Hotel.” The band ironically hail from Germany.
No matter what guests appear on the particular taping you are in attendance for, the price can’t be beat—tickets are free. And to add to this all audience members were given free tee-shirts too! If you are interested in tickets to a Conan O’Brien taping call 212.664-3056 for more information. Shows tape Monday through Friday and are generally booked four to six weeks ahead of time and I’d call daily to get the up-to-date info that can and will change at a moment’s notice.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A Forgettable Game Four
In an attempt to bolster the amount of posts on the blog here are some thoughts on the Celtics game last night:
-Paul Pierce needs to step up his play on the offensive end. Pierce’s defense on Lebron James has been tremendous but when everything else hits the fan offensively a captain must step up and keep his ship afloat. Obviously Pierce and Ray Allen can’t get their shots going against Cleveland but Pierce has the ability to take it to the hoop and at least draw some free throws. If the Celtics are to win this series Pierce must do more to stimulate the C’s offense.
-James Posey is a certified playoff performer. He won’t score twenty or dish off ten assists but Posey has made frequent and crucial contributions each time he’s taken the court. From his clutch 3-pointer in game one to his stingy defense on James throughout the series, Posey is proving his worth and then some; and to add to this he is doing it all in his hometown.
- Kendrick Perkins has miraculously turned himself into Mark Price at the free throw line. If anyone going into the playoffs said Perk would shoot around 90% from the line they would have been hauled off in a padded suit. But although his contributions from the charity stripe have been monumental Perkin’s ability to assert himself in the post hasn’t been as apparent to me as it was in the regular season.
- To me the Celtics consistent rotation or lack there of has been their greatest Achilles' heel in the post season. If I were Doc Rivers I would ensure that all players touch the hardwood in the opening quarter to gage what game they are sporting. Sam Cassell has shown the ability to at times take over games and at other times run, or maybe a better word would be walk, the offense into the ground. A quick insertion of Cassell, Leon Poe, P.J. Brown, and Glen Davis would let Rivers sense what player he can expect in a given game and adapt his rotation accordingly. Because if anything has proven consistent in the C’s post season it has been inconsistency amongst River’s bench support.
- If Ray Allen and Paul Pierce can’t hit a shot and if Sam Cassell has morphed into a John Starks-like hot-and-cold shooter—would it kill the C’s to start a quarter with Eddie House just to see what his outside shot could do to jump-start the C’s at times fledgling offense? Rivers opted to start game four’s final frame with the rebounding duo of Davis and Brown but imagine what an impact a couple of quick shots from House would have made on the team?
- Did anyone read about or see Lebron Jame’s yell at his Mother after Pierce fouled him going into the crowd last night? Apparently Lebron was upset his Mother tried to insert herself into the game by making such a visible display of emotion. I’m no marketing genius but I smell a Campbell’s Soup commercial with Lebron and his over-charged Mother trying to fend off those bullies from hurting her baby.
-Paul Pierce needs to step up his play on the offensive end. Pierce’s defense on Lebron James has been tremendous but when everything else hits the fan offensively a captain must step up and keep his ship afloat. Obviously Pierce and Ray Allen can’t get their shots going against Cleveland but Pierce has the ability to take it to the hoop and at least draw some free throws. If the Celtics are to win this series Pierce must do more to stimulate the C’s offense.
-James Posey is a certified playoff performer. He won’t score twenty or dish off ten assists but Posey has made frequent and crucial contributions each time he’s taken the court. From his clutch 3-pointer in game one to his stingy defense on James throughout the series, Posey is proving his worth and then some; and to add to this he is doing it all in his hometown.
- Kendrick Perkins has miraculously turned himself into Mark Price at the free throw line. If anyone going into the playoffs said Perk would shoot around 90% from the line they would have been hauled off in a padded suit. But although his contributions from the charity stripe have been monumental Perkin’s ability to assert himself in the post hasn’t been as apparent to me as it was in the regular season.
- To me the Celtics consistent rotation or lack there of has been their greatest Achilles' heel in the post season. If I were Doc Rivers I would ensure that all players touch the hardwood in the opening quarter to gage what game they are sporting. Sam Cassell has shown the ability to at times take over games and at other times run, or maybe a better word would be walk, the offense into the ground. A quick insertion of Cassell, Leon Poe, P.J. Brown, and Glen Davis would let Rivers sense what player he can expect in a given game and adapt his rotation accordingly. Because if anything has proven consistent in the C’s post season it has been inconsistency amongst River’s bench support.
- If Ray Allen and Paul Pierce can’t hit a shot and if Sam Cassell has morphed into a John Starks-like hot-and-cold shooter—would it kill the C’s to start a quarter with Eddie House just to see what his outside shot could do to jump-start the C’s at times fledgling offense? Rivers opted to start game four’s final frame with the rebounding duo of Davis and Brown but imagine what an impact a couple of quick shots from House would have made on the team?
- Did anyone read about or see Lebron Jame’s yell at his Mother after Pierce fouled him going into the crowd last night? Apparently Lebron was upset his Mother tried to insert herself into the game by making such a visible display of emotion. I’m no marketing genius but I smell a Campbell’s Soup commercial with Lebron and his over-charged Mother trying to fend off those bullies from hurting her baby.
Monday, May 5, 2008
C's Wait Until the Last Minute to Ace the Hawks
It was like going to a friend’s birthday party on December 24—you were required to go but your mind was firmly placed in the future. It was those emotions that summed up the feelings surrounding Boston Celtics fans after yesterday’s resounding game 7 victory by their team over the ever-feisty Atlanta Hawks.
Game 7s are usually occasions that are granted immediate and eternal resting places in our sports memory banks. But this will not be the case with the 2008 NBA First Round game 7 between a top ranked Celtics team striving to regain their perch as the most storied franchise in pro basketball history and an Atlanta Hawks squad who submitted a “present” when class began on Sunday but registered little more than a peep for the remainder of the afternoon. There is no room for celebrating what should have been inevitable —a series victory by a number one seed over an eight seed in an opening round playoff series.
This leaves us with the question of how to evaluate the Celtics victory Sunday. And it is my opinion that it was a case of a top-of-their-class student pulling an all-nighter before submitting an A plus power-point presentation in freshman history class. To be sure the passage of the course was necessary but the goal—that of a degree for the student and a championship for the Celtics—are still ahead and will require much work and increasing levels of performance as time goes on.
Sunday was a day of accomplishing a goal most believed would have been completed much earlier. It is now completed and even with a good deal of momentum moving forward. But looming in the immediate future lie tests that will demand greater and greater quality. And if the Celtics hope to ace the tests posed to them by the likes of those taught by Prof. James, Prof. Billups, or Dean Bryant it is clear that their performance must not only improve but become timelier.
Game 7s are usually occasions that are granted immediate and eternal resting places in our sports memory banks. But this will not be the case with the 2008 NBA First Round game 7 between a top ranked Celtics team striving to regain their perch as the most storied franchise in pro basketball history and an Atlanta Hawks squad who submitted a “present” when class began on Sunday but registered little more than a peep for the remainder of the afternoon. There is no room for celebrating what should have been inevitable —a series victory by a number one seed over an eight seed in an opening round playoff series.
This leaves us with the question of how to evaluate the Celtics victory Sunday. And it is my opinion that it was a case of a top-of-their-class student pulling an all-nighter before submitting an A plus power-point presentation in freshman history class. To be sure the passage of the course was necessary but the goal—that of a degree for the student and a championship for the Celtics—are still ahead and will require much work and increasing levels of performance as time goes on.
Sunday was a day of accomplishing a goal most believed would have been completed much earlier. It is now completed and even with a good deal of momentum moving forward. But looming in the immediate future lie tests that will demand greater and greater quality. And if the Celtics hope to ace the tests posed to them by the likes of those taught by Prof. James, Prof. Billups, or Dean Bryant it is clear that their performance must not only improve but become timelier.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Bruins Leave Fans with More Questions than Answers
I’ve always tried as hard as I can to subscribe to the notion of a game being a “good loss.” To me, sports are simple one team wins and another loses. Sports are cut and dry to me and if you are looking for “sentimental victories” your team is too far away from the championship level to be all that relevant. I realize such a stance is a somewhat harsh one so I try and try to look “for the bright side” in defeat and cling on to what might bring promise for the next game or season.
Which brings me to the 2007-2008 Bruins. Admittedly, I am not nor have I ever been the biggest hockey fan. Growing up in the hotbed of hockey that Massachusetts is and attending the college hockey power-house that Boston College has become I’ve always been at an arm’s length of being an avid hockey fan and at times a bit closer.
Saturday night’s game six victory over the Montreal Canadians was without a doubt the most exciting hockey game I’ve ever attended live. I’d even say it was one of the top two or three sports events I’ve attended at the new Boston Garden.
From the moment I arrived at North Station approximately one and a half hour before the game, Bruins fans and Canadians fans alike were packed into the area and carrying on with a game time-like-intensity. This intensity carried through the opening face-off and right through the end of the game.
The third period of Saturday’s game that saw the Bruins score four goals and battle back to hang on for victory was a thing of beauty to be a part of. With seemingly every fan on their feet for the duration of the last period the Garden was rocking and it brought up memories of hearing stories of when hockey ruled supreme in Beantown and the so-named “gallery Gods” ruled the Old Garden in a way that those of us growing up watching hockey in the past generation cannot relate to.
But on the heels of a crushing 5-0 defeat last night to the Canadians came the end to an exciting, albeit short, playoffs for the Bruins. And still there are many questions left unanswered by Boston’s NHL entry. Is this the start of a new generation of exciting new Bruins that will bring hart-stopping playoff action for years to come? Or is this a blip on a seemingly blank radar that the Bruins have not been able to register on since Raymond Bourque traded his Bruins uniform for Stanley Cup glory in Colorado?
All that is for certain now is that for one week the Bruins became more than just another tenant at the Boston Garden. They like the 2007 – 2008 Celtics dusted off years of mostly irrelevant play to grip the imagination of an oversaturated Boston sport’s scene. But if the Bruins hope to stay relevant they must do more than simply force a game seven opening round playoff. Their pivotal victories in the future must include not only games but series. If they accomplish this than maybe, just maybe, they can reclaim their stature as piers with the other professionals in town.
Which brings me to the 2007-2008 Bruins. Admittedly, I am not nor have I ever been the biggest hockey fan. Growing up in the hotbed of hockey that Massachusetts is and attending the college hockey power-house that Boston College has become I’ve always been at an arm’s length of being an avid hockey fan and at times a bit closer.
Saturday night’s game six victory over the Montreal Canadians was without a doubt the most exciting hockey game I’ve ever attended live. I’d even say it was one of the top two or three sports events I’ve attended at the new Boston Garden.
From the moment I arrived at North Station approximately one and a half hour before the game, Bruins fans and Canadians fans alike were packed into the area and carrying on with a game time-like-intensity. This intensity carried through the opening face-off and right through the end of the game.
The third period of Saturday’s game that saw the Bruins score four goals and battle back to hang on for victory was a thing of beauty to be a part of. With seemingly every fan on their feet for the duration of the last period the Garden was rocking and it brought up memories of hearing stories of when hockey ruled supreme in Beantown and the so-named “gallery Gods” ruled the Old Garden in a way that those of us growing up watching hockey in the past generation cannot relate to.
But on the heels of a crushing 5-0 defeat last night to the Canadians came the end to an exciting, albeit short, playoffs for the Bruins. And still there are many questions left unanswered by Boston’s NHL entry. Is this the start of a new generation of exciting new Bruins that will bring hart-stopping playoff action for years to come? Or is this a blip on a seemingly blank radar that the Bruins have not been able to register on since Raymond Bourque traded his Bruins uniform for Stanley Cup glory in Colorado?
All that is for certain now is that for one week the Bruins became more than just another tenant at the Boston Garden. They like the 2007 – 2008 Celtics dusted off years of mostly irrelevant play to grip the imagination of an oversaturated Boston sport’s scene. But if the Bruins hope to stay relevant they must do more than simply force a game seven opening round playoff. Their pivotal victories in the future must include not only games but series. If they accomplish this than maybe, just maybe, they can reclaim their stature as piers with the other professionals in town.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Face-to-Face with a Great Value
If you are one to buy tickets to concerts and sporting events a website worth saving on your favorites is www.fvtix.com. Fvtix.com attempts to be a central hub for on sale dates as well as presale ticket information for events going on sale nationally.
The site has recently offered presale codes for NBA and NHL playoff tickets, Pearl Jam, as well as many other exciting events.
If you are trying to land tickets to that “must see” event than www.fvtix.com is a good place to start your search.
The site has recently offered presale codes for NBA and NHL playoff tickets, Pearl Jam, as well as many other exciting events.
If you are trying to land tickets to that “must see” event than www.fvtix.com is a good place to start your search.
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