Thank you to Celtics Ownership

[MrTripleDouble10]

Many times we as fans complain when ownership/management won't do enough to improve the team (well not in the last few years, however).

But with news of the Celtics ownership spending quite a bit in luxury tax fees to keep this team at a championship caliber level, I just wanted to say thank you for not only spending the extra $$$ but spending it on the right type of players (Sheed, possibly Grant Hill, and BBD).

As a season ticket holder (and even if I weren't) it means quite a bit, especially in this rough economy we're in.  The ownership and Danny have always said that they would spend extra money to keep the team in contention for another banner, and they back it up with their words.  It's refreshing since I grew up with those horrible 1990's teams and the Pitino era.

So thank you Wyc, Steve, and the rest of the ownership gorup!

[Kwhit10]

I concur, I applaud them in trying to keep this franchise at the top of the standings, and spending the money to do so.  I don't have season tickets but I go to 7-10 a year and I am glad I get to watch a very competitive team that I'm proud to root for.

[Surferdad]

Yup, they ponied up this year knowing the window of opportunity is closing.  What's even better is that they didn't wait, just jumped in right away and got the best player available and also got things set for training camp.  Sheed will have plenty of time to learn the plays and his teammates.

They tried to do it on the cheap last year with disapointing results.  M.Moore and Starbury never really got into the swing, and aren't even close to Wallace in talent.

[Drucci]

Thanks to the Celtics Ownership for their efforts and their investment to keep the team in contention for the championship. It's true that we usually get it for granted while it's not every team's ownership that accepts to pay the luxury tax to improve the roster talent level.

A big thanks, and especially for Wyc who is a frequent reader of CB!

[Who]

Yes, I fully agree, they've been excellent.

[Coach]

Yep, I agree.

But the key to spending money is to spend it wisely.  Not one owner in the league would be willing to go over the cap and be in the lotto.  In this business, wins = dollars.  A championship is worth a lot of dollars.

Spending is important, but not spending blindly.  That is why Danny's talent evaluation is so critical.  And this is why I still applaud the decision to hold off on a 4 year deal to James Posey.  If we signed him last year, there would be no signing or Rasheed this year.

In all of these off seasons, you have to be patient.

[cdif911]

Yep, I agree.

But the key to spending money is to spend it wisely.  Not one owner in the league would be willing to go over the cap and be in the lotto.  In this business, wins = dollars.  A championship is worth a lot of dollars.

yet the Knicks do it every year...

[wil]

I'm going to add on to this.  Thank you very much Wyc and company.  We really are very lucky to have an ownership group in place that takes the actions to win as much as they talk about wanting to win.  In this day and age that is not exactly a common thing.

I hope the bigwigs for the C's are reading this and understand just how much us diehards appreciate them.  

Keep it up and give me banner 20!

[guava_wrench]

I concur.

[incoherent]

NE sports teams can spend tons of money because the fans shell it out like no others

[Scalablob990]

It's sort of interesting how the top 3 elite teams (LA,CLE,BOS) are ALL in the luxury tax. Guess it shows that if your serious about winning, you also need to take the financial sacrifice as well.

[cdif911]

It's sort of interesting how the top 3 elite teams (LA,CLE,BOS) are ALL in the luxury tax. Guess it shows that if your serious about winning, you also need to take the financial sacrifice as well.

what would be really interesting would be a hard cap, like in the NFL... not sure if it would actually even the playing field in a sport like basketball though... I think everyone would go to NY, Chicago and LA for the extra exposure/endorsements

[Greeny]

Yes, the Celtics have locked me in for another year.
With 4 kids and the bad economy, I still made the choice to renew my season tickets since the Celtics have made a commitment to winning. Just like the Red Sox, the Celtics didnt raise season ticket prices.

Look at the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and now Bruins.
Winning sells tickets. No one wants to pay to watch a team that has no chance to win.
Winning cures all, fills the seats, pro shop, concessions, parking lots, and surrounding bars/restaurants. Everyone wins if the team wins. It is incredible how much this team has turned it around to be an annual contender for the title. Great job!

I didn't agree with letting Posey go, but by adding Sheed this year has locked up a date with the Eastern Conference Finals and maybe NBA Finals if everyone is healthy.(Old and fragile?)

Thanks to the real "Big Three"
Robert Epstein, Wycliffe "Wyc" Grousbeck, & Stephen Pagliuca

[mgent]

Many times we as fans complain when ownership/management won't do enough to improve the team (well not in the last few years, however).

But with news of the Celtics ownership spending quite a bit in luxury tax fees to keep this team at a championship caliber level, I just wanted to say thank you for not only spending the extra $$$ but spending it on the right type of players (Sheed, possibly Grant Hill, and BBD).

As a season ticket holder (and even if I weren't) it means quite a bit, especially in this rough economy we're in.  The ownership and Danny have always said that they would spend extra money to keep the team in contention for another banner, and they back it up with their words.  It's refreshing since I grew up with those horrible 1990's teams and the Pitino era.

So thank you Wyc, Steve, and the rest of the ownership gorup!

I'd like to thank the owners as much as the next guy for paying the tax, otherwise our team would suck.
But please don't say they spend it on the right type of players when you got Pruitt, Giddens, and Walker sitting on our bench doing nothing.  Yet they refuse to take a risk and 'spend extra money to keep the team in contention' by offering Powe the minimum to ensure he plays for us when he heals.

[Roy Hobbs]

Many times we as fans complain when ownership/management won't do enough to improve the team (well not in the last few years, however).

But with news of the Celtics ownership spending quite a bit in luxury tax fees to keep this team at a championship caliber level, I just wanted to say thank you for not only spending the extra $$$ but spending it on the right type of players (Sheed, possibly Grant Hill, and BBD).

As a season ticket holder (and even if I weren't) it means quite a bit, especially in this rough economy we're in.  The ownership and Danny have always said that they would spend extra money to keep the team in contention for another banner, and they back it up with their words.  It's refreshing since I grew up with those horrible 1990's teams and the Pitino era.

So thank you Wyc, Steve, and the rest of the ownership gorup!

I'd like to thank the owners as much as the next guy for paying the tax, otherwise our team would suck.
But please don't say they spend it on the right type of players when you got Pruitt, Giddens, and Walker sitting on our bench doing nothing.  Yet they refuse to take a risk and 'spend extra money to keep the team in contention' by offering Powe the minimum to ensure he plays for us when he heals.

And don't forget the $2.5 million we're wasting on Tony.   (Danny's mistake, not Wyc's.)

I agree with the OP:  the owners deserve major kudos for not only spending the full MLE in a down economy, but also potentially using the LLE and bringing back BBD.