As you may know, the company I co-founded will be turning one on April 8th! It's been a long, tough year but we will survive. To celebrate this great occasion we're holding three contests, two of which we've already announced. The third contest will be announced soon but I can give you a small hint, it will involve twitter, so make sure you follow me! Note, Twitter contest is now live, scroll to the bottom for details.

The other two already announced contests are:

1. The Easiest $42 You’ll Ever Make

This contest is super easy. All you have to do is comment on the linked post (remember to leave your e-mail so we can contact you if you win - no spam, ever, we promise). That's it. No linking, tweeting or any other -ing required. Just write a simple comment on that post and you're automatically entered to win $42, sent via paypal. The contest ends on April 8th at noon (EST) so hurry up and write a comment!

2. Win a Pair of Boston Celtics Playoff Tickets

As The 42nd Estate is based in Boston, Massachusetts, we're obviously big fans of the Boston sports teams (heck, we even have a sports blog focused on Boston sports). Two of our members are also season ticket holders for the world champion Boston Celtics and we decided to giveaway our first pair of playoff tickets!

To enter, become our fan on The 42nd Estate's facebook® page. As soon as the playoff scenario for the Celtics is set in stone, we'll pick one fan at random and award them a pair of playoff tickets to either the first or second home playoff game.

There you have it, two super easy to enter contests and another prize to come that will be given out via twitter.

EDIT: The Twitter contest is now live. A free portable iPhone charger! Retweet this tweet to enter. Contest ends Monday, April 6, 2009 at 5PM.

As many of you already know, I'm a Boston Celtics season ticket holder; so, when I recently saw this video of a Celtics fan getting down to Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer I knew I had to share it with y'all!

Here's the video from another C's fan who was filming the Jumbotron at the time. The quality is not as great as the direct Jumbotron feed but you get to hear the fans cheering on this epic dance. Check it out:

Simply but awesomely epic, eh?

Here's a link to the direct jumbotron feed. By the way, the fan is a high schooler by the name of Jeremy Fry and apparently it's been verified by his friends that this epic dance was not a viral marketing scheme of some sorts but was just a spontaneous dance inspired by Bon Jovi's rhythms.

So last night was awesome. For a rare night, I left my bicycle at home and hopped on the red and green line to the Garden, sporting my vintage Paul Pierce jersey and my big ass banner ticket, with immense pride the whole ride. In a bit of a hurry from finishing up my John McCain review over at OTIBR, the red line and green line trains arrived relatively quickly (for once!) and I got to North Station with plenty of time to grab a brew at The Greatest Bar with my buddy Josh (who has the other half of my season tickets) before heading inside the arena.

You can barely see it but there's a banner outside the arena too.

Once inside, the atmosphere was buzzing with Celtics fans ready to see another banner raised to the rafters. As if being at opening night for the World Champion Celtics against Lebron James and the Cavs wasn't enough, they were also handing out free t-shirts! I love me some free t-shirts (who doesn't) and the back is particularly sweet as it's just a big ass banner.

If you weren't jealous of my tickets, check out this free shirt!

As we waited for the championship ceremony to begin, the crowd got very lively with the first wicked loud "Let's Go Celtics" chant of the night and the season. My section (313, the best section in The Gahden) lit up with appreciative smiles at the decibel level of the chant. Our corner of the arena started it so we were proud that it got so loud.

The ceremony began with a video of last year's highlights that got the crowd even more pumped (check in tomorrow or Friday for videos from last night). Then, NBA commissioner David Stern (who contrary to some reports did get booed as he was introduced) tried to give a speech, but the crowd got another wicked loud "Let's Go Celtics" chant going that completely drowned out his words and forced Stern to simply sit down and shut up. It was one of the highlights of the nights.

This gap would be empty for only a few more minutes.

Then they began handing out championship rings to the Celtics staff. Danny Ainge got a big cheer and Doc Rivers got a huge, huge response from the crowd. Then, they started announcing the players. Huge responses for all the players but especially Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and last but certainly not least, Paul Pierce. After the rings were handed out, all the players walked over to the right side of the court, where a spotlight slowly illuminated a giant green and white championship banner. All the players grabbed a piece of rope and began lifting the banner in unison to the rafters.

The Celtics raise the banner the same way they earned it, with teamwork.

To the rafters!

Aaaah, now I can truly die a happy Bostonian sports fan!

After the ceremony, the starting lineups were announced, and then Paul Pierce came out onto the court for a special message. He began by telling the crowd that last season, up to tonight with the culmination of raising that championship has been a dream come true. With tears swelling in his eyes, Paul thanked the fans for sticking with him through the tough years and his friends and family for giving him support when he needed it most, and he ended it by thanking his mom and saying he loved her. Goosebumps traversed the entire arena and it got quite dusty all of a sudden.

Ahem.

Then there was a basketball game between the World Champion Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Lebron Jamesiers.

Tip-off.

Ray Allen shoots...

The Celtics dancers tearing up the court.

Paul Pierce wins the game and the match-up against Lebron James.

Overall, it was a great night. Paul Pierce scored 27 points, with Lebron scoring only 22 points, which proved to be the difference as the Celtics beat the Cavaliers 90 to 85. The C's defense of the title started off great, hopefully it ends just as well! Check in either tomorrow or Friday as I post some videos from last night, including some of the introduction video and championship ceremony. In the meantime, you can check out all the pictures from last night in my photos section.

Guess whose going to opening night tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden for the World Champion Boston Celtics?

Here's a hint:

#17 will be unveiled

Yup, that ticket is awesome. Getting to see championship banner #17 hoisted up to the rafters almost makes up for not being there in person when they won it (I had tickets to Game 7). Yeah, that ticket is twice the size of a regular ticket (not counting the left side, which rips off). Normally I don't keep my tickets but this one will be preserved.

Gonna be a great night!

So to finish off the week of hand-written snail mail, check out what also arrived the old fashioned way this week.

2008-09 Celtics Season Tickets

Bam...those are some shiny tickets!

We season ticket holders certainly deserve some of our own bling for cheering the C's on to their 17th banner last year. Hopefully this year ends up in some more playoff tickets arriving at my door next year.

#18 coming soon?

A few days ago the Boston Celtics released their schedule for the upcoming 2008-2009 NBA season. Today an e-mail arrived in my inbox from the C's announcing the release of their half-season schedules. As a half-season ticket holder, I was obviously quite curious to see what games I'd be attending (especially since I thought I'd be going to the home opener). Well, here's my half of the schedule, and yes I will be attending the home opener!

Half Season 22-Game Plan - Home Schedule

Game - Date - Opponent - Time

1. Friday, October 17 - New York Knicks - 7:30 p.m. [pre-season]
2. Tuesday, October 28 - Cleveland Cavaliers - 8:00 p.m.
3. Friday, November 7 - Milwaukee Bucks - 7:30 p.m.
4. Wednesday, November 12 - Atlanta Hawks - 7:30 p.m.
5. Tuesday, November 18 - New York Knicks 7:30 p.m.
6. Wednesday, November 26 - Golden State Warriors - 7:30 p.m.
7. Wednesday, December 3 - Indiana Pacers - 7:30 p.m.
8. Friday, December 5 - Portland TrailBlazers - 8:00 p.m.
9. Friday, December 19 - Chicago Bulls - 7:30 p.m.
10. Tuesday, December 23 - Philadelphia 76ers - 7:30 p.m.
11. Friday, January 2 - Washington Wizards - 7:30 p.m.
12. Monday, January 12 - Toronto Raptors - 7:30 p.m.
13. Monday, January 19 - Phoenix Suns - 8:00 p.m.
14. Wednesday, January 28 - Sacramento Kings - 7:30 p.m.
15. Thursday, February 5 - Los Angeles Lakers - 8:00 p.m.
16. Sunday, March 1 - Detroit Pistons - 1:00 p.m.
17. Sunday, March 8 - Orlando Magic - 1:00 p.m.
18. Monday, March 23 - Los Angeles Clippers - 7:30 p.m.
19. Sunday, March 29 - Oklahoma City - 7:00 p.m.
20. Wednesday, April 1 - Charlotte Bobcats - 7:30 p.m.
21. Wednesday, April 8 - New Jersey Nets - 7:30 p.m.
22. Friday, April 10 - Miami Heat - 7:30 p.m.

I didn't get to see the Phoenix Suns last year so I'm also pumped to see them! Most importantly though, it'll be great to see the Boston celtics raise up another NBA Championship Banner on opening night.

Here's the full streaming video of Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers:

Here's the full streaming video of Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers:

Haha, excellent.

This championship still feels a little bit surreal.

With the last pick in the NBA draft, the Boston Celtics drafted J.R. Giddens, a New Mexico Lobo (and former Kansas Jayhawk). As I haven't been intensely watching college basketball the past few years I wasn't aware of this kid but from some of his youtube videos he's clearly a very diesel and athletic basketball player.

Check it out, J.R. can fly!

Note the comment from DizZLEFosHiZZLE34 from a week ago ["the c's should pick this kid up with the last pick in the first round"] on that above video...looks like Dizzle either works for the C's or is a serious draft prophet.

Here's another sick dunk by J.R., this one being featured on ESPN's top ten list (coming in at #7).

Nice! I'm getting pumped to see him in some Celtic green!

Not only can J.R. dunk, he's got a nice shot too. He shot over 50% from the field and 33% from behind the arc. Here's a nice three minute long montage of J.R.'s monster dunks and sweet shots.

The analysts are saying Mr. Giddens has "character issues" but with the ubuntu vibe around here I'm not too concerned. I'm going to trust Danny Ainge and if Danny thinks J.R. is good, then that's good enough for me.

Here's a final clip of J.R. and one of his Lobos teammates during midnight madness. A nice showcase of the skills he brings to the court.

Let's go Celtics!

I know I promised a post today with pictures and analysis but it'll have to wait, I simply need a break from all the Celtics excitement. Oh, and this blog was also on fark.com the other day bringing the first huge wave of traffic to this site, I'm glad it was able to withstand the flurry of people (over 7,000 visitors and nearly 44,000 pageviews in one day). I hope everyone out there has a great weekend (don't be surprised to see a post or two over the weekend...but don't hold your breath either).