Comments on: The Celtics: and the last shall be first

By: Maurice Sonnenwirth

Maurice Sonnenwirth — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:46:02 +0000

It was one of the true “feel-good” sports stories, listening to the Celts all thank each other, the fans, Danny Ainge and the Celtic ownership, and neo, you are right, it was a wonderful change-of-pace to see a team that was about teamwork and subsuming their egos.

No team can win with one or two superstars. Even Michael Jordan’s Bulls had the crazy Rodman and Scottie Pippen et al. I usually don’t watch basketball anymore either, but was glad I saw that last game and the celebrations afterward.

I really enjoy the blog, btw, have been reading it for some time but don’t remember if I ever commented before.

By: douglas

douglas — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:03:31 +0000

I was a big Laker fan back in the “Showtime” days, but like you, drifted away from the whole sport, particularly after Shaq was traded. I thought keeping Kobe only was unwise- He was too keen on making himself into the next Michael Jordan, not realizing the importance of team in a team sport.

I didn’t even watch most of the finals this year, but what I did see (Mainly game 5) seemed SO rough, wild, and uncontrolled- it hardly resembled the game played twenty years ago. I guess that’s what you get when showing off gets rewarded, and you change the refereeing to allow palming and traveling.

The NBA hasn’t won me back, but it still sickens me to see Celtic jerseys and flags around L.A.- it’s just WRONG!

By: Bob Estes

Bob Estes — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:26:55 +0000

For the record, another Celtic played for two championship teams: Sam Cassell with the Rockets way back in 1994 and 1995.

Happy Juneteenth, everybody.

By: neo-neocon

neo-neocon — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:30:33 +0000

Gringo: I was relying on something I thought I heard the announcer say about the fact that none of them had been on a championship team before. I guess I either heard wrong, or maybe he was talking about certain players only. I stand corrected on that.

Great game, though.

By: Jimmy J.

Jimmy J. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:21:32 +0000

What I meant to say:

Glad to see Ray Allen on a championship team at last.

He was here with the Sonics for a couple of losing seasons, but he’s a great player and a total class act off the court.

By: Jimmy J.

Jimmy J. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:20:42 +0000

Glad to see Ray Allen on a championship team at last.

He was here with the Sonics for a couple of losing seasons, but he’s a great palyer and a total class act off the court.

By: FredHjr

FredHjr — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:01:00 +0000

s1c

I think I got a little teary-eyed watching Bill Russell and Kevin Garnett celebrating and talking. Since I was born in ’55, I was too young to appreciate Russell’s achievements and skills. I wish I could have seen him play. Instead, my first exposure to Celtic greatness live was Dave Cowens, Bill Havlichek, and Paul Silas. Later, The Chief (not the Bruins’ “Chief” Johnny Bucyk, who was one of my favorite Bruins), McHale, and The Hick From French Lick.

Don’t lose hope on the Bruins. Since I once played hockey at a fairly high level and now I coach in youth hockey, I’m a fairly good judge of talent. The Bruins have a core of really good young players, and a very deep defensive corps, anchored by Zdeno Chara. We have a ton of talent in the pipeline, in juniors and in college, and some in Providence (AHL). Our time is coming, and when it does this town will rock, because, much as we love the other teams, hockey really is the soul of the region. Although the Sox would contest that statement (and I love baseball).

Imagine the TD Bank North Garden with a powerful Celtics team and an up and coming Bruins…

By: s1c

s1c — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:43:07 +0000

For the last 15 years during the winter I have worn my old Celtics jacket (a birthday gift in ’86 from my wife) during my inspections in CT. This year, everyone asked me how I felt about this team and my response was always the same, “if I wore this when they were horrible, you can be damn sure I’m wearing it when they are good”, finally I get to wear it next winter knowing that they are champions. Now if only the Bruins would get their act together and win the cup.

By: Gringo

Gringo — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:20:50 +0000

I couldn’t watch the game. Too nervous. I say maybe five minutes of it, most at the end.

By: Gringo

Gringo — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:18:56 +0000

None of these team members, not even the older stars, had ever won an NBA championship before.

Super sixth man James Posey was a member of the Miami Heat when they won in 2006.

I remember seeing Russell and Cousy playing on black and white TV. The old Celtics were about teamwork ,defense, and a killer fast break. I wish I had tapes of those games.

When Danny Ainge made those trades last summer, some said that he had mortgaged the future by giving up so many players and draft choices. I don’t think Danny will worry too much right now about that. I certainly won’t.

Of the three stars from the Celtics teams of the 80s that became NBA general managers or VPs, along with Bird and McHale, he is the first one to win it all.

There will be several roster openings . It will be interesting to see what Ainge will do to fill them. One thing for sure, good veterans will accept less money to play for a champion or potential champion. If the Celts don’t win again with the new Big Three, so be it. We at least won this one.