pierce's speech?

[Birdbrain]

TP for Jimmy as well.

Both Paul and I were a bit verklempt last night.  

Only Boston fans could find an issue with a speech to kick off a season made by a Basketball player..

 

[Ben Pepper]

I was lucky enough to be there last night, and I thought Pierce's speech was one of the nicest most heartfelt things I've ever seen at a sporting event.

Obviously, the C's wanted to give Pierce some time to say whatever he wanted, given that's he's been with the Celtics for so long.

It really was one of the nicer things I've seen.

[cdif911]

Okay, after listening to the speech I have to say.....I still feel the same way and I don't think it could be said any better than the way Roy said it above. So, as I always say, save me time writing, you get a TP.

And, as always, give me a TP and you get one back. 

is it really that easy? I just gave you 500 TPs =)

[Sweet17]

I know from first hand experience you can't always say exactly what you mean. I don't imagine he wanted his speech to come off as "selfish" or inwardly focused. You have to give the guy credit for not using a speechwriter.

And we need to recognize that his ego is part of the reason we won a championship. If he didn't believe his team was better and that he was better then the opposing players we wouldn't have won..

He gets a pass from me too. No one is perfect not even our sports heroes.

[Bankshot]

I know from first hand experience you can't always say exactly what you mean. I don't imagine he wanted his speech to come off as "selfish" or inwardly focused. You have to give the guy credit for not using a speechwriter.

And we need to recognize that his ego is part of the reason we won a championship. If he didn't believe his team was better and that he was better then the opposing players we wouldn't have won..

He gets a pass from me too. No one is perfect not even our sports heroes.

Agreed.  Don't know why people are making a big deal out of this.

[greengirl]

i was there as well....first you can tell he was kinda trying to push through the emotion, hey he didn't even mention his kid. not that she's supported him for very long (lol), but it just points to the "unscripted" point of it. i'm sure he kinda planned out the names or a point he wanted to make but either way, this was all heart.


i was also at last year's opener and that speech was perfectly placed as well.

instead of who he did or didn't acknowledge, or the fact that it was all *his* people mentioned or whatever, look at it as the point in the ceremony where they say "here's the team celebration for winning, now let's take a mo to honor our mvp"

in a way, it *was* an acceptance speech.

red is the everlasting heart and soul of the team, but paul is the face....this is his team. no offense to kg or anyone else, but this is where paul invested his life, his career, and at times his health. he may have had moments of weakness, and trade offers/rumors have been there every single year, but he *is* still human...so who can really fault that? the point is that he STAYED. he brought boston fans the continuation of an unprecedented and never-to-be-repeated dynasty, and did it with class.

he dealt with living in this horrible city and fighting through every adversity, trade, draft, coach, anything that was brought his way.  he kept the heart, and has been a true leader.

for that, give him a victory lap or two.

all he wanted to do was acknowledge the root of HIS strength....what got HIM there, which is what led to him getting US *here* .

i think if it had've been more planned out or scripted, it could have been included in the cue sheets for broadcasting, but at the same time, i like the idea that it was something between him and everyone of us in the building. it makes the night that much more magical.

so many little things don't make it to the broadcasts...the jumbo tron was exceptionally amusing-- pollard hamming it up with the ring, and the two weird baldheaded bearded guys everyone kept booing (sorry, don't know if they ever got the names--the guy lucky jumped over and the other guy higher up in the stands).....this was our party, and the fact that there was a game going on (with a win) was icing.

thanks, p2 

[Redz]

i was there as well....first you can tell he was kinda trying to push through the emotion, hey he didn't even mention his kid. not that she's supported him for very long (lol), but it just points to the "unscripted" point of it. i'm sure he kinda planned out the names or a point he wanted to make but either way, this was all heart.


i was also at last year's opener and that speech was perfectly placed as well.

instead of who he did or didn't acknowledge, or the fact that it was all *his* people mentioned or whatever, look at it as the point in the ceremony where they say "here's the team celebration for winning, now let's take a mo to honor our mvp"

in a way, it *was* an acceptance speech.

red is the everlasting heart and soul of the team, but paul is the face....this is his team. no offense to kg or anyone else, but this is where paul invested his life, his career, and at times his health. he may have had moments of weakness, and trade offers/rumors have been there every single year, but he *is* still human...so who can really fault that? the point is that he STAYED. he brought boston fans the continuation of an unprecedented and never-to-be-repeated dynasty, and did it with class.

he dealt with living in this horrible city and fighting through every adversity, trade, draft, coach, anything that was brought his way.  he kept the heart, and has been a true leader.

for that, give him a victory lap or two.

all he wanted to do was acknowledge the root of HIS strength....what got HIM there, which is what led to him getting US *here* .

i think if it had've been more planned out or scripted, it could have been included in the cue sheets for broadcasting, but at the same time, i like the idea that it was something between him and everyone of us in the building. it makes the night that much more magical.

so many little things don't make it to the broadcasts...the jumbo tron was exceptionally amusing-- pollard hamming it up with the ring, and the two weird baldheaded bearded guys everyone kept booing (sorry, don't know if they ever got the names--the guy lucky jumped over and the other guy higher up in the stands).....this was our party, and the fact that there was a game going on (with a win) was icing.

thanks, p2 

Not a Sox fan, huh

That was Kevin Youkilis and a guy had a similar hair/beard style.

I really felt like Pierce's speech was more of a retirement speech.  But whatever...It was a lovefest and Pierce was feeling it.

And then he went out and carried the team to an opening night win when they were not anywhere near their best.

[Roy Hobbs]

so many little things don't make it to the broadcasts...the jumbo tron was exceptionally amusing-- pollard hamming it up with the ring, and the two weird baldheaded bearded guys everyone kept booing (sorry, don't know if they ever got the names--the guy lucky jumped over and the other guy higher up in the stands).....this was our party, and the fact that there was a game going on (with a win) was icing.

thanks, p2 

Not a Sox fan, huh

That was Kevin Youkilis and a guy had a similar hair/beard style.

Yep.  And they weren't booing, they were saying "Youk".

[ma11l]

PP earned the right to make that speech.  He has been here his whole career and remembered the LEAN years. Just like we all did. This Championship also includes what it took to get there.

Agreed.  I think the owners probably told him he could have that stage for himself.  He has given more of himself to this team and us fans than anyone else in the organization, besides maybe Danny Ainge.  He's been around longer than anyone.  Last season guaranteed his number will go up to the rafters, and he cemented his name as one of the all-time Celtic greats.  The timing might have been a little off, but there still weren't many dry eyes in the building at that point, including his.

[sully00]

My feeling listening to his speech was that on perhaps the most emotional day of his professional life he had family and friends from LA that had never been at a game together in Boston and likely never would be again.

Was it self serving sure, but no more than fans or Bitter Bob expecting Pierce to please or satisfy them with his words.  While it was oddly placed for the rest of us it was perhaps the perfect time for Paul Pierce to thank all of the people who made it possible for him to be standing there that day in person.

Then again my perception may be blurred by my man going out there and owning jesus in sneakers and kicking our season off with a nice win.

[Redz]

so many little things don't make it to the broadcasts...the jumbo tron was exceptionally amusing-- pollard hamming it up with the ring, and the two weird baldheaded bearded guys everyone kept booing (sorry, don't know if they ever got the names--the guy lucky jumped over and the other guy higher up in the stands).....this was our party, and the fact that there was a game going on (with a win) was icing.

thanks, p2 

Not a Sox fan, huh

That was Kevin Youkilis and a guy had a similar hair/beard style.

Yep.  And they weren't booing, they were saying "Youk".

Nor were those boos for the trainer, Bryan Doo 

That was pretty funny actually.  Fans just can't help themselves with the joy of yelling out any name that rhymes with "oo" . 

The Doo calls made me yearn for a good Deurod catcall.  Nothing makes me think of the crowd at the Old garden more than a nice Deurod call from the cheap seats.

[PierceMVP08]

This is such a saddening topic.  Paul Pierce is the reason we were hanging number 17 up.  Not to take anything away from KG but without Pierce taking over in the playoffs, none of this would have happened.  Anyone who has a problem with what he said probably wasn't around for his whole career. I feel that anyone who watched him from his rookie year has developed a bond with Pierce and in a sense has felt the gratification and vindication that Pierce has.  I know I took a lot of crap from friends and family for following the team and being a huge pierce fan for the last 10 years.  And when they won I got a bunch of texts and voicemails congratulating me.  I had no problem with pierce being emmotional because I was feeling the same things he was although  Obviously not to the same extent.  There is nothing wrong with him thanking OTHER PEOPLE.  Nothing self-indulgent about it.  The true egotistical and self serving people are those who are upset with the speech and want Pierce to cater HIS moment to appease them.  That is very distasteful in my opinion.  who are you to judge?

[nickagneta]

This is such a saddening topic.  Paul Pierce is the reason we were hanging number 17 up.  Not to take anything away from KG but without Pierce taking over in the playoffs, none of this would have happened.  Anyone who has a problem with what he said probably wasn't around for his whole career. I feel that anyone who watched him from his rookie year has developed a bond with Pierce and in a sense has felt the gratification and vindication that Pierce has.  I know I took a lot of crap from friends and family for following the team and being a huge pierce fan for the last 10 years.  And when they won I got a bunch of texts and voicemails congratulating me.  I had no problem with pierce being emmotional because I was feeling the same things he was although  Obviously not to the same extent.  There is nothing wrong with him thanking OTHER PEOPLE.  Nothing self-indulgent about it.  The true egotistical and self serving people are those who are upset with the speech and want Pierce to cater HIS moment to appease them.  That is very distasteful in my opinion.  who are you to judge?

This post brought to mind a poster that was quite the regular here at Celticsblog for a while who absolutely despised Pierce and went way out of his way to bring up the craziest trade proposal and to get in a "this team will never win a title as long as Pierce is on this team". Does anyone remember who I'm talking about and whether he frequents here any longer? I wonder what he thought of the opening night speech?