Double post today to make up for my latest unexplained absence from the blog! Sorry for violating my own advice from Web Quotes and Counterpoints V about posting short notes to let everyone know the deal.
So contrary to what I wrote on the last day of May, I had tickets to Game 2 of the NBA Finals, not Game 1. It was a great game and Bill Simmons from ESPN.com made a few great points in his article, C’s and the city: Both looking very good.
First up, Bill offers up some advice to the Celtics owners:
(Here’s an idea before Game 6, should it happen: The Celtics send out a news release that, if they see anyone sitting in a season-ticket seat for Games 6 or 7 wearing a Lakers jersey, a Lakers T-shirt or a Lakers hat, then the person who owns those season tickets will lose them next season. Period. End of story. It’s not technically legal, but then again, a franchise should have the right to control who owns their season tickets, right? I like this idea.)
I like the idea too. As a half season ticket holder I received tickets to half the playoff games, getting games 2 and 7 of the Finals. I couldn’t think of selling my tickets, though I’d certainly entertain offers (from Celtic fans only though). I’m loyal but I’m also successfully unemployed. Still, the point Bill makes and I agree with is you shouldn’t be selling your tickets to Lakers fans if you’re a true fan, and if you’re not a true fan you shouldn’t have season tickets.
Bill goes on to list the huge, huge amount of current and former Boston sports stars at Game 2 which leads into his next point about how the current Big Three sports franchises here (Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots) all share similar traits, starting from smart ownership understanding the power of happy fans. When the times are good, there is no better place for an athlete to live than right here in Boston. We’re a small, tightly knit college-town city with big, big sports teams. Bill noticed the “…lively, joyous crowd that brought back memories of the old Garden and the Bird era.” that’s played a big role in the Celtics success all year long. It really, really gets wicked fracking loud in that building, trust me.
You know, I’m going to make this a Bill Simmons‘ only version of Web Quotes and Counterpoints and finish off with this last quote from Bill’s latest article:
But even Kobe can’t stop the sun from shining in Boston today. Everyone is wandering around a rejuvenated city with hoarse voices, talking about the game and trying to figure out what will happen in Game 3. There is nowhere I would rather be. The Celtics are back.
Truth.
