I have to admit I'm a little curious how many fans here wouldn't go back in time to trade Bird for Jordan. I'd do it in a heartbeat.
I wonder how many fans that were fans during the Reggie Lewis years would trade being a Celtic fan and missing all the heartache and mourning after he died for being a Bulls fan and winning those championships.
Living through Reggie and Lenny Bias made me the Celtic fan I am today. Championships are fine things. Being a true fan of something and enjoying everything that being a fan of that thing or hobby or sport entails is what is truly important about being a fan.
Wait a second. Are you saying you're happy they died as opposed to winning championships? Because somehow it made you a better fan? I understand the whole Sisyphus was a winner bit but I'm not sure losing can make a fan base better. Or can make you a better fan or something. I mean I'll definitely take Cubs fans over Mets fans, but one of the top things Celts fans point out is the banners, not the 90s
Being a fan isn't about being a front runner eja. I've been a Celtic fan since '74. I love pointing at the championships, but that isn't what being a Celtic fan is all about. Its about tradition, and team, and the players, and the moments, both good and bad.
Did I want Bias and Lewis to die? Don't be ridiculous. Would I have rather been winning championships in the 90's? Sure.
But I am a Celtics fan and couldn't. So I embrace what did happen because its part of our legacy. And history and legacy are as important to being a fan of this team as any other.
I understand what you're saying, but is it really all about the tradition? About moments good and bad?
So what is the tradition? Is the tradition here ...winning?
Roy said in the OP being a fan is about more than championships.
So if Ainge came out and said tomorrow "Well. We have a trade or two on the table that would clearly lead us towards some championships but ...it's just about championships. We don't really aspire to that here. Here it's about tradition and moments good and bad. And it just didn't seem traditional to trade these guys at this time". that would be ok?
Because I wouldn't support a team I thought wasn't aspiring to winning championships. The Red Sox were dead to me last year because it was clear to me they were aspiring to getting their checks and their manager fired. If that makes me a bad fan then that's what I am.
It's interesting to me that Roy and a lot of others make the connection between Yankees fans and New England fans because I'm sure that for a long time whenever Sox fans mentioned Ted Williams as an all time great they must have rolled their eyes and I don't blame them at all.
My issue with them is that they have no shame about buying championships. If you have the highest payroll every year you should win every year.