Playing and Rooting with Pride and Composure

[LarBrd33]

This is not the team that won a title last year.  We are a broken, wounded team without our best player... a once proud dog that is now in the back yard malnourished with it's two back legs broken... limping around with clumps of fur falling out while some cocky little house cat hops the fence, starts eating its food and tries clawing its eyes out.

I've hated watching all of these games, but I take them for what they are.  Maybe we can regather ourselves next year, but this year we just do not have it.  I haven't enjoyed this series.   I'm proud of the dog for doing the best it can under the circumstances... but I really don't like watching it get eaten by a kitten.

What I've enjoyed is watching the fight left in that dog.  And I've enjoyed watching the cat challenging the dog.


I've enjoyed the competition.

Death by kitten is pretty depressing, though.  I just wish the cocky little punk would wander in front of our teeth so we could bite its head off in game 7.

There's more than one way to skin a kitten...and, um , you can sometimes teach an old dog new tricks (like how to play without a bench)

The annoying thing is that it seems like everyone in the neighborhood hates the dog, because he's bit them at some point.  And they all seem to be ignoring the fact that he has tape worm and a flesh-eating disease that is making him rot from the inside out.   So the mailman is peaking over the fence and laughing about the Big Bad Dog getting eaten by Mittens and commenting, "Wow Mittens is really bringing the fight!".

Such is the burden of being the proud old dog.

Have we successfully maxed out the metaphor usage here?

No...

Most of our teeth are decaying, but we still have a few sharp chompers there... unfortunately we have no mobility and arthritis in our neck.   Sadly there is no defense against the punky little kitten as he stands on our back... scratching.... scratching.... SCRATCHING.... SCRATCHING.... SCRATCHING....    We are trying to shake it, but it just keeps SCRATCHING... AND SCRATCHING... AND SCRATCHING.... Grating those annoying little claws across our back with a big goofy smile and retarded pony-fro and its annoying little hand symbols...   if only kitty would slip off and fall in front of those chompers... just one bite... that's all it would take.

[Thruthelookingglass]

Haha, I love Jeff Clark too.  Maybe I should have started a "Support Jeff Clark" thread instead.

I'm sure that some of the harshest comments come from the most loyal fans.  I'm well aware of that.  I guess I was just trying to vent too: vent against the venters.  I guess I just need to do a better job of ignoring the negativity, or as you said, "Take it with a grain of salt."

No matter, Go Celts!  Can't wait for Game 7.  What other drama and amazing plays can we expect from the final game of the series?!  Perhaps we haven't seen anything yet.  Although, I don't know if my body and mind can take another game like that.  Let's just blow them out like we did in the first round series last year, even though a small part of me still craves the drama.

Absolutely nothing wrong with your reality check.  I'm getting my motor revved for #7 too!

[guava_wrench]

I said this last night, and I'm sure that people have probably relaxed a bit this morning from last night, but I wanted to share these thoughts again, because I think some pride and composure (just like Doc has been telling his players about) are very important for us fans to show this weekend.  I'm not calling anyone specific out, but it seems that there is so much negativity on this board after a loss.  To me, coming on this board after a loss is like listening to sad music after breaking up with a girl, or songs that remind you of her.  You think it might make you feel better and calmer, but it doesn't.  It just makes you angrier, or more sad, or whatever.  I know people care about this team so much, but sometimes I feel it goes over the top on this board, calling for the heads of certain players and the coach.

I'm a huge huge Celtics fan, but I don't live in Boston, nor have I ever, so maybe I can't relate, but I can never understand why fingers always need to be pointed.  I'm as frustrated as much as anyone, but I love these guys, including Doc, so much, that I could never point the finger at them.  I know that Boston fans have perhaps more passion in their sports than any other American city, but the way some fans try to tear down the players and coaching just doesn't seem fair.  I realize that everything is in the heat of the moment, but I think we forget sometimes that it is an honor and a privilege to be watching this amazing team play.  They don't just have hearts of champions, they are champions, and how soon we forget how much we praised everyone all summer.  I know that winning and losing changes everything, but is there any way that people can just appreciate this for everything that it is and stands for?  Or does too much passion get in the way of that?  Either way, I'm proud to be a Celtics fan, my favorite team ever, and in my own heart, I could never be that angry with any one of the coaches or players. 

But that's just me.  Anyway, I guess I feel calmer after writing that.  I can be negative too, but I have learned that nothing is gained by it.  It only helps to be positive, to stop listening to those sad songs over and over, and to move on.  I'm moving on from last night, from what felt like an awful, sad, heartbreaking, gut wrenching break up.  But we are still alive and still have Game 7 at home.  Who knows if this is our year, but I do know that this team has shown me so much this year, and I am proud of them regardless.  I honestly feel that they are playing with more heart this year than last, and I hope they keep going because it is a joy to watch them this year.

TP

People should understand that 'venting' perpetuates anger and frustration. It doesn't help manage anger. There are plenty of studies on this.

The main problem is everyone has an opinion. If the team loses when the coach didn't do what they wanted, they are often deluded into thinking that they 'knew' what should have been done. Predictably, when the coach does what they wanted him to do, they find something completely different to blame it on, instead of saying, 'gee, I was wrong about that'. Some get frustrated and are unable to manage their anger. They project their anger onto opposing players.

[JSD]

What team would a dog like this represent?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JntwF0SvcCA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fboston.barstoolsports.com%2F&feature=player_embedded

[guava_wrench]

This is not the team that won a title last year.  We are a broken, wounded team without our best player... a once proud dog that is now in the back yard malnourished with it's two back legs broken... limping around with clumps of fur falling out while some cocky little house cat hops the fence, starts eating its food and tries clawing its eyes out.

I've hated watching all of these games, but I take them for what they are.  Maybe we can regather ourselves next year, but this year we just do not have it.  I haven't enjoyed this series.   I'm proud of the dog for doing the best it can under the circumstances... but I really don't like watching it get eaten by a kitten.

The best way to be a disappointment is to overperform. Look at past coach of the year award winners. After they win, they usually end up disappointing because fan expectations were higher than they should be.

That's hedonic adaptation for you. Once you win a championship, the best you can hope for is doing as well as expected. There is no chance of being a pleasant surprise, and you will most likely be a disappointment.

I think this series has been great. We aren't going to win a championship without KG. But at least we have this incredible series to enjoy.

[guava_wrench]

What team would a dog like this represent?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JntwF0SvcCA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fboston.barstoolsports.com%2F&feature=player_embedded

She seems to be enjoying it quite a bit.

[LarBrd33]

What team would a dog like this represent?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JntwF0SvcCA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fboston.barstoolsports.com%2F&feature=player_embedded

That's clearly Denver vs New Orleans.  She's not even putting up a fight.

[Redz]

What team would a dog like this represent?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JntwF0SvcCA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fboston.barstoolsports.com%2F&feature=player_embedded

That's clearly Denver vs New Orleans.  She's not even putting up a fight.

That's called taking one for the team

[fairweatherfan]

This is not the team that won a title last year.  We are a broken, wounded team without our best player... a once proud dog that is now in the back yard malnourished with it's two back legs broken... limping around with clumps of fur falling out while some cocky little house cat hops the fence, starts eating its food and tries clawing its eyes out.

I've hated watching all of these games, but I take them for what they are.  Maybe we can regather ourselves next year, but this year we just do not have it.  I haven't enjoyed this series.   I'm proud of the dog for doing the best it can under the circumstances... but I really don't like watching it get eaten by a kitten.

The best way to be a disappointment is to overperform. Look at past coach of the year award winners. After they win, they usually end up disappointing because fan expectations were higher than they should be.

That's hedonic adaptation for you. Once you win a championship, the best you can hope for is doing as well as expected. There is no chance of being a pleasant surprise, and you will most likely be a disappointment.

I think this series has been great. We aren't going to win a championship without KG. But at least we have this incredible series to enjoy.

Don't forget regression to the mean!  A big reason for the "SI/Madden Jinx" and other sports phenomena.

And yeah, I have no illusions about winning the championship this year, but I am having a blast watching one of the great all-time series, and I will never count this team out until they're eliminated.  All this crunch time experience is going to be great for our young guys next year too.  Just gotta take care of business in Game 7 and they'll get even more.

[QuinielaBox]

This is not the team that won a title last year.  We are a broken, wounded team without our best player... a once proud dog that is now in the back yard malnourished with it's two back legs broken... limping around with clumps of fur falling out while some cocky little house cat hops the fence, starts eating its food and tries clawing its eyes out.

I've hated watching all of these games, but I take them for what they are.  Maybe we can regather ourselves next year, but this year we just do not have it.  I haven't enjoyed this series.   I'm proud of the dog for doing the best it can under the circumstances... but I really don't like watching it get eaten by a kitten.

I think the Celtic dog got gored by the Bulls. If we happen to score more points than our opponents, then we can enjoy a hard fought series victory for what it was. But while I think the damage has been done physically, there hasn't been any damage done to our psyche and we did climb that mountain for the 1st time in 22 years. For that I am eternally grateful that I got to smoke my victory cigar last June. Maybe I'll smoke one again after tomorrow nights game.

[cdif911]

a plea for rationality - its good to cheer for our guys; its good to be a good sport, recognize when the other team pulls out a classic; not feel the sky has fallen every time we come up a little short - not need to call bulls players names; yes classiness is a good thing, TP to the OP

[cornbreadsmart]

i get dissapointed and a little embarassed when true fans bash guys, especially pierce. it's one thing to say a guy plays badly but i just loathe that people have already gone back to questioning pierce's desire and accuse him of ridiculous things like being jealous of ray allen.  i agree that certain guys have'nt played their best-pierce comes first to mind but after all of last year, after the plays where he SET RAY UP on game winners. after pierce crying during the ceremony, uggh. it's just so dissapointing to see people bail on him. we really need to enjoy what we have while it's here. paul,kg and ray wont be here that long and you can guarantee most of boston will go back to laughing at us once our run is over." us" meaning the celtics. WE ARE PART OF THIS! the boston media will bash pierce in the end.we SHOULD'NT be a part of that. i don't care if it's cheesy. this is a celtics family. i choose to believe that.family won't bail when they struggle or fail. they're giving a great effort are'nt they? i love this team. if we lose game 7 i won't love them any less.

[greg683x]

i get dissapointed and a little embarassed when true fans bash guys, especially pierce. it's one thing to say a guy plays badly but i just loathe that people have already gone back to questioning pierce's desire and accuse him of ridiculous things like being jealous of ray allen.  i agree that certain guys have'nt played their best-pierce comes first to mind but after all of last year, after the plays where he SET RAY UP on game winners. after pierce crying during the ceremony, uggh. it's just so dissapointing to see people bail on him. we really need to enjoy what we have while it's here. paul,kg and ray wont be here that long and you can guarantee most of boston will go back to laughing at us once our run is over." us" meaning the celtics. WE ARE PART OF THIS! the boston media will bash pierce in the end.we SHOULD'NT be a part of that. i don't care if it's cheesy. this is a celtics family. i choose to believe that.family won't bail when they struggle or fail. they're giving a great effort are'nt they? i love this team. if we lose game 7 i won't love them any less.

+1.........well said.


.....though it was kind of funny in the game thread last night to see so many people hop on and off the bandwagon. 

[ma11l]

i get dissapointed and a little embarassed when true fans bash guys, especially pierce. it's one thing to say a guy plays badly but i just loathe that people have already gone back to questioning pierce's desire and accuse him of ridiculous things like being jealous of ray allen.  i agree that certain guys have'nt played their best-pierce comes first to mind but after all of last year, after the plays where he SET RAY UP on game winners. after pierce crying during the ceremony, uggh. it's just so dissapointing to see people bail on him. we really need to enjoy what we have while it's here. paul,kg and ray wont be here that long and you can guarantee most of boston will go back to laughing at us once our run is over." us" meaning the celtics. WE ARE PART OF THIS! the boston media will bash pierce in the end.we SHOULD'NT be a part of that. i don't care if it's cheesy. this is a celtics family. i choose to believe that.family won't bail when they struggle or fail. they're giving a great effort are'nt they? i love this team. if we lose game 7 i won't love them any less.

+1.........well said.


.....though it was kind of funny in the game thread last night to see so many people hop on and off the bandwagon. 

Rationality goes out the window during games around here.  From one play to the next the same guy can be the greatest or worst player of all time.  It's usually different people chiming in at different times.  We have positive people, negative people, and some realistic people.


You'll notice the names that you recognize as being on here all the time usually can somewhat keep a clear head and maybe come up with some rational comments.