When will we learn to enjoy this?

[nickagneta]

The Boston Celtics play tonight for the right to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals against their long time nemesis the Los Angeles Lakers. Things can't get any better in Celticsworld than this, right?

Or wrong?

Judging from the reaction on the threads, the discussion on sports radio, some of the articles in the local newspapers and from some of the discussion and articles at various national outlets(ESPN, ESPN.com, the other network sports sites), you would think that the Celtics season may or should have already ended. You might have thought that the Celtics didn't win game 5, had lost to Atlanta and had gotten beat up by the Cleveland Cavs.

So what gives?

Are we as Celtic fans so used to an empty glass that we can't enjoy a three quarters filled cup of a sweet nectar? Have we become so accustomed to losing over the years that we don't know how to enjoy it when our team wins?

After the Celtics won the last game, some of the discussion has been, deservedly so, about Perkins rise to clutch playoff performer, the reemergence of Ray Allen's shot, and what the Celtics may do at the next playoff level. But if you scan the threads and listen to the mood on sportradio and read the national and local articles you will find out that praise and celebration are not what the majority is talking about.

The Celtics just won the biggest, most important game they have played in in possibly the last 20 years and yet the discussion for many centers around:

- why can't the Celtics close out opponents and who is to blame
- why has Ray's shot disappeared and will it continue to be here and who's to blame
- why can't Rajon Rondo be more consistent
- why can't Perkins play like he has all the time
- why does KG disappear late in big games
- why are the Celtics having trouble with the press trap and who's to blame
- why hasn't Paul Pierce played and led like the leader he is supposed to be
- shouldn't Leon Powe be plying
- shouldn't Eddie House be playing
- why has the bench been so bad and unproductive
- how can the Celtics still continue to win with a coach as bad as Doc still coaching them
- should we still fire Doc even if we win it all
- who should we replace Doc with to get us over the hump
- why is this team so inconsistent

There is more. Much more.

What I don't understand is, as Rasheed Wallace so eloquently put it, this is bleeping entertainment. A diversion from the tediousness, ill times and general malaise that is everyday life. We look to the Celtics to bring joy and entertainment to our lives so that we can escape to someplace we would rather be for a while.

The place I choose to be is in a place where I love my Celtics and am overwhelmed with joy and pride for my hometown team.

Life throws so many bad things into our lives day in and day out. That's just the reality of life. Maybe that teaches us to become pesimistic, unfaithful, miserable people in general and to look at things critically and to question everything's goodness.

And if that's what most of us have become then I truly feel sorry for us all.

Look at all this in any manner you want, it is your right. Love this team to the point where you want only to have it cause negative, bad feelings in you because it is not perfect and that's the way you want it.

But then ask yourself:

Is your family, children, job, significant other, life, body, and life in general perfect? My guess is the answer to all of those things is no, they aren't perfect. Do you do nothing but complain and see the bad side of those things all the time? Another guess but the answer is probably no.

So why do we do that to the entertainment, supposedly joy enducing diversion in our lives that is the Boston Celtics.

Today let's try to be the cheerleaders at the pep rally forever happy and bursting with pride as our team goes forth to attempt to bring us the ultimate joy of a championship. Because if they do win it all are any of us really going to pleasure and enjoy it if all we know how to do is be hyper-critical, sour, and negative about the greatest basketball entity in these parts since 1986.

Over the last day or so reality slapped me in the face again with badnews. Something that is just a reality in life, that bad things happen to good people.

I am grateful that tonight I will be thinking of something else. Actually enjoying myself at a time when sometimes thinking about the bad things is all that is possible.

So remember, put what is happening to your favorite team into it's proper context and join along for the ride. The smiles and joy you receive may just carry over to a time that is not so bright and lighten your day.

I mean that's what the Celtics are there for, aren't they? To make us happy?

[DrD]

Nick:
i) Thanks for a real life perspective and a good post. A TP for you.
ii) Part of the Celtic fan's angst at times, is that we have a long and storied history which many of us grew up with. Certainly there are fans who were not even around to watch the original Big Three, but nonetheless, the history behind the franchise is evident anytime one looks up to the Garden's rafters. Those are indeed very high standards to live up to.
iii)Though it's been over 20 years since the last banner was hung, the opportunity to hang #17 is as close now as can possibly be. Perhaps that is the source of our unrest. Can't fault us for wanting it when it's so close to our grasp.
iV) What some may not acknowledge (myself included) is that nobody is perfect. When this team commits a foolish turnover, I too cringe. But we forget that Bird, Parrish and McHale had turnovers as well, as did Russell, Heinsohn and Cousy.
V) The bottom line is that we are on the verge of playing for a long awaited title opportunity. Key word here is opportunity. Let's be thankful for being where we are and having the chance to enjoy this long, roller coaster ride we've been on. Could it have been smoother? Of course. We could have swept the first two series and coasted into the ECF. But as you have pointed out, little is perfect. It is the journey as much as the destination that adds to the total package. And the highs and lows of following the Boston Celtics brings out the magnitude of emotion we feel, making the experience that much greater.

Yes, bad things do happen to good people; but good things happen to good people too. I'm so happy to have these Boston Celtics as one of our "good things".

[RockinRyA]

that which doesnt kill them makes them better.. enjoy the ride