Share your encounter with a Celtic/Celtic great

[Rondo2Giddens]

KC Jones (not the guy from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) lives in my neighborhood, two houses down from me. He's always in the gym walking very slowly on the treadmill while wearing khakis. Always khakis. And he used to have a jazz group that would perform at a local restaurant, but they have since gone out of business.

I was in the gym with him on the day of the Sheed press conference and I got to ask him what he thought about the signing. He thought it could really help....of course. It was really cool.

[Hoops]

Let me tell you about one of the greatest days of my life - February 19, 1988:

I was 11 years old at the time. My family lived about 2 hours from Portland, Oregon. My dad would occasionally get tickets to Blazers games from work. My dad had gone to grad school at MIT and I was born in Boston - because of that, I've had a lifelong passion for Boston sports, especially the Celtics.

So anyhow, that year my dad got tickets to see the Blazers vs. Celtics. Rather than take my mom (which he normally did), he took me because of my love for the Celtics. We drove up to Portland and ate dinner at a restaurant (something I rarely ever did growing up). Just me and my dad.

Of course, for weeks leading up to the game, I told everyone that I was going to get Larry Bird's autograph. We showed up at the game like 2 hours early. I figured I could nab Bird during the early shooting warmups. Didn't happen. But in the meantime, I spotted Bob Cousy (doing tv/radio broadcast that night) and got his autograph.

The game itself was awesome. We were sitting in the 7th row behind the Celtics bench. I was half tempted to try and get Bird's autograph during the game - he was only a few feet away, after all! But of course, I didn't do that. Boston won by like 20 and Bird scored something like 40 points with 13 rebounds. It was amazing to watch.

After the game, my dad and I went out to the parking lot where the team bus was parked. Back in those days, you could totally mob the players when they came out of the building. There were several hundred people waiting outside. It really was like a mob. Eventually, some of the Blazer players started coming out and heading for their cars. I got Kevin Duckworth (RIP) and Sam Bowie to sign my piece of paper. I remember watching Bowie climb into this little sports car - he hardly fit - his knees were sticking up above the steering wheel.

So, the players kept coming out. I got Fred Roberts to sign. I got Brad Lohaus to sign. Those were easy because the mob didn't really care about those guys. Everyone was waiting for Bird. (Remember that I was 11 and I was really small as an 11 year old.) At some point, I saw the door open and a mob of people swarming around it. I knew it must be Bird. Because of my size, I knew there was no way I was going to bust through that mosh pit to get to Bird. So I quickly scanned the scene and came up with a plan. Rather than fight the crowd, I decided I would get on the Celtics' bus - Bird wouldn't be able to get on the bus without running directly into me. So that's what I did. Meanwhile, I'm sure my dad had no idea where I was due to all the people and commotion.

I remember standing next to the bus driver and watching the swarm around Bird move closer and closer to the bus. Next thing I knew, I was eye to eye with Larry - me about 3 steps up on the bus and Larry standing on the ground. I had him pinned. I looked at him and reached forward with my pen and paper - I don't remember whether I said anything to him, I was so nervous and excited. I think I must have said something. Anyhow, he signed the paper and I let him on the bus. By this time, a large group of police/security had formed a human fence to give the players a path to the bus without getting mobbed. But because I was on the bus, I was on the inside of this path. So I crawled under one of the cop's legs and emerged with my autographs held high, yelling "Dad, I got it! I got it!" When I found my dad, he was amazed and when other people around heard what I had done, they all started cheering and congratulating me.

Needless to say, it was one of the awesome-est experiences of my life.

[Emperor Young]

Eric Williams at the burlington mall.. Tony Battie at the movie theater in Woburn

[biggs]

Alright I had to share when I saw this topic.

Childhood memories- when I was about 11-12 years old, right after Bird had retired, my Father's friend got us the Press Passes, and it was crazy.

First we went into Red's office, where I sat at his desk and got a picture posing as the C's head man. 

Next I posed in front of Reggie's locker wearing his jersey.

Finally after the game I got every players autograph on my Reggie jersey except Reggie himself. Weird huh?  Guess he didn't like the media, but the funniest part of the night was easily McHale.

Like Reggie, Kevin knew there were tons of fans and press waiting for autographs, so he actually tried to dip out by running out a back door of the locker room and on to the parquet.  Well guess what?  We chased him, and caught him!  Running after Kevin, on the court we said "Hey Kevin where you going"?  To which he turned, caught like a misbehaving school boy, and gave us all the attention we could ever want.  Needless to say I got my picture taken with him, (on the center of the old garden's parquet) autograph, talked for a quick min, and Kevin was one of the nicest people I have ever met.  (except for running away at first)

Round 2-

If anyone has ever met KG please post about the encounter

That may be the ultimate

Although I'm afraid I would either pass-out, or look like I had just seen a ghost

Alright so in 2007, I worked for a residential program that works with troubled youths.  After hoping and praying to be the staff member to go to this event, I got extremely lucky and sent to the super private Celtic's winter shoot around at their facility in Waltham.

The event is really cool for everyone there.  The whole team was there, broken into four groups that would make ice cream sundae's, Christmas cookies, scrimmage with on their court and gave them all this nice C's swag for Christmas presents, (which some of the players paid for themselves I might add) 

Anyway I got lucky and got the group with KG!!!

So here's the funny stuff-

Sitting at the first table, it's me, two of my kids (residents) another staff with their kids and James Posey!  Funny thing was no one said a word for the first minute.  I couldn't believe it, so I just looked at the frosting I wanted for my cookie and said, "Hey Pose, can you pass the green"? To which the whole table started cracking up.  Guess it was a good ice breaker, because we got to talk to him for about 5-10 min about everything from former teams, to getting a ring, to being a good member of society.  Posey was mad cool to say the least.

Now the best thing about this story is that even at 27 I looked pretty young, so many times I was mistaken for a resident, and got a LOT of attention/interaction.

Doc came over and asked what my cookie was, so I showed him a little 34 I had made and said "It's Pierce" to which he got a chuckle.  Later I took a picture for Doc with some girl, and he was super nice.

Other notables- got to talk with Big Baby basically one on one for like 5 min with one of my better behaved residents,(as he chowed on some ice cream  ) and it was really cool.  Baby really connected with this kid, and turned him into an instant fan/believer.  Really inspirational, this Davis kid.  Talked to coach Cliff for a second while he bounced Ray's baby boy on his lap, (Ray's wife is HOT!)(went Cliff and Parish's camp as a kid), said hi to Ray real quick, then he remembered me when we got all the cool Celtics swag for the kids.  Ray was a class act.  Perk looks mean all the time!

Finally-...........(Drum roll)....... My interaction with KG-

So for the scrimmage part of the event- I was all over the place.  I couldn't help myself, it was just too crazy. So my residents got put into a team coached by Eddie and Baby vs. a team of other residents from other programs, coached by Posey and KG.  This was the time that I was a bit borderline with my professionalism, but hey this was a once in a lifetime opportunity!

So after running a few layup lines on the court, I realized I shouldn't be playing, (event is supposed to be for the kids) I just wanted to show off so bad, so when it came to be game time, Eddie and Baby look at me and say "Where you going"? and  sadly I said "I'm staff" to which they all ragged on me and yelled "What? He's staff? Get out of here"!  It was priceless.

On to KG!!!! (sorry I know this is getting long)

Finally after being kicked off the court by Big Baby and Eddie, I went across the court with the other staff in my appropriate place.  But after about 1 minute, I couldn't help myself and decided to sneak over to other side of the court, and guess what?  Nobody said a word.

So I inch myself over, in between Baby and Eddie, (that's when I took Doc's picture) and finally I'm standing right next to KG, rooting against him because he is coaching the other kids team.  Let me tell you KG is exactly like he is on Tv, he never stops talking trash.  That's all he did all day, was make fun of Baby, I swear.  So anyways I'm trying not to pass out from excitement as KG and I go back and forth rooting for our teams, I look over and Danny's right behind me (too much I know) and it comes down to the final play.  Anyway the gym was getting noisy, I'm screaming, KG's screaming back, and then all of the sudden he litterally gets an inch from my face, looking dead into my eyes, and goes "Naaaaaaaaah"!!! 
 
OMG!!!! KG yelling in my face! This is too much!! So of course I started laughing/lost my intensity because it was just too cool, I couldn't believe it.  It was an amazing experience, and I have to say that the C's are a wonderfully, family oriented, class act.  Great all around.  Welcome Rasheed!

The only bad part of the story was that my team beat KG's, and the next night they got their first loss to Detroit.  Shoot did I jinx the big man?

[Rondoholic]

Met Doc last season after a game in Philadelphia.  Went to the game with the daughter of one of his golfing buddies in Orlando and some other friends.  He got us the tickets and VIP passes after the game.  He is as nice as he seems in TV/radio interviews.  Very nice guy.

Funny story about Sam Cassell who was still on the roster at that time but didn't dress for games.  My friend said "hey Sam" to get his attention.  Sam turned around thinking that he was going to see someone he knew.  Instead he saw this random 24-year-old guy he had never seen before.  His face immediately turned from friendly into "I really want to punch this guy in the face for annoying me" while reluctantly shaking my friend's hand.

Also, ran into Antoine and girlfriend at the Shops at Sunset in Miami while he was playing for the Heat.  Told him I was a huge Celtics fan, he said thanks, and walked away with his girl, who honestly came up to his waist.

[ma11l]

Saw Wyc Grousbeck at the gym on the Vineyard yesterday.  He was there doing pilates with his wife.


I also caddied for Epstein a few years ago at the Vineyard Golf Club.  He is all of the crabby old man that he looks like on TV, his wife was very sweet though.

[ma11l]

If anyone has ever met KG please post about the encounter

That may be the ultimate

Although I'm afraid I would either pass-out, or look like I had just seen a ghost

I actually have a friend who just met KG on Martha's Vineyard.Maybe the big three hang out together in MV?

I spend my summers working out here and can say that they are out here quite a bit.  Ray Allen got married out here last summer, and he's been out here a lot so far this summer so I've heard.  Wyc has a house out here.  All of the owners are members at the Vineyard Golf Club. 

Last year Ray was in the Edgartown 4th of July Parade with the trophy.  I saw the trophy at Jimmy Sea's in Oak Bluffs, Wyc left it on the bar for people to take pictures with it while he was upstairs eating dinner in a private room.

I work at another golf course down here.  One of our members is a cop and said that KG was driving a car with Paul Pierce in it last summer and they got pulled over for going down the wrong way on a one way (every other street on this stupid island is a one way).  Needless to say after winning the championship they didn't get a ticket.  The guy said that KG was pretty funny about it.

[ToppersBsktball10]

I have two.

Almost 3 years ago, I went to my first Celtics game with my dad. His  hooked him up with floor seats, and before  we went by the tunnel where the players came out. This kid in front of me had a baseball shirt on and on the back it said 15. Some lady came out and saw the back of the shirt and said "#15 huh? My husband was number 15 I bet he'd want to see this." Then she went back into the tunnel. We had no clue who she was or what she talking about. 5 minutes later Tommy Heinsohn comes out with the lady. He signs my ticket and the kids shirt. Pretty cool moment. R.I.P. to his wife.

And then I went to my second game later that year. I think it was the second to last game of the year and the big anniversary of the Celtics first ever title. All the players on that team were there and there was a little ceremony for them at halftime. After the game my dad and I stayed after and walked towards the court and saw all the Celtics legends having a conversation. My dad took a few pictures of me with them in the back round. We decided to leave and we went a different way to leave the arena since the other exits were crowded. All of a sudden we walk through a door, and there's Bob Cousy and his wife alone just us 4 in the room. We didn't ask for a  or and  though seeing as he was with his wife which I kind of regret. But this was a pretty cool feeling since I play point guard.

[dannypanic]

Biggs, I'm excited for you with that story.  Great stuff all around

The day I saw Ray Allen in Stop and Stop was the 4th of July, but I definitely didn't know he was goignto be in the parade, so needless to say I'm kicking myself

I'm heading down there in a couple of weeks, hopefully I will bump into anyone from the organization

MV is a great place for anyone who hasn't been...One of the few places remaining that hasn't been tainted by large corporations, fast food joints, etc...It's a great place

[WBrownTrophy]

Finally-...........(Drum roll)....... My interaction with KG-

So for the scrimmage part of the event- I was all over the place.  I couldn't help myself, it was just too crazy. So my residents got put into a team coached by Eddie and Baby vs. a team of other residents from other programs, coached by Posey and KG.  This was the time that I was a bit borderline with my professionalism, but hey this was a once in a lifetime opportunity!

So after running a few layup lines on the court, I realized I shouldn't be playing, (event is supposed to be for the kids) I just wanted to show off so bad, so when it came to be game time, Eddie and Baby look at me and say "Where you going"? and  sadly I said "I'm staff" to which they all ragged on me and yelled "What? He's staff? Get out of here"!  It was priceless.

On to KG!!!! (sorry I know this is getting long)

Finally after being kicked off the court by Big Baby and Eddie, I went across the court with the other staff in my appropriate place.  But after about 1 minute, I couldn't help myself and decided to sneak over to other side of the court, and guess what?  Nobody said a word.

So I inch myself over, in between Baby and Eddie, (that's when I took Doc's picture) and finally I'm standing right next to KG, rooting against him because he is coaching the other kids team.  Let me tell you KG is exactly like he is on Tv, he never stops talking trash.  That's all he did all day, was make fun of Baby, I swear.  So anyways I'm trying not to pass out from excitement as KG and I go back and forth rooting for our teams, I look over and Danny's right behind me (too much I know) and it comes down to the final play.  Anyway the gym was getting noisy, I'm screaming, KG's screaming back, and then all of the sudden he litterally gets an inch from my face, looking dead into my eyes, and goes "Naaaaaaaaah"!!! 
 
OMG!!!! KG yelling in my face! This is too much!! So of course I started laughing/lost my intensity because it was just too cool, I couldn't believe it.  It was an amazing experience, and I have to say that the C's are a wonderfully, family oriented, class act.  Great all around.  Welcome Rasheed!

The only bad part of the story was that my team beat KG's, and the next night they got their first loss to Detroit.  Shoot did I jinx the big man?

just a great story...and that is exactly how I would picture KG to be up close and personal...

[dark_lord]

not to sound arrogant or pompous, but i have too many to list.  i am appreciative of them all and hope other fans are fortunate to have similar experiences.

[WBrownTrophy]

not to sound arrogant or pompous, but i have too many to list.  i am appreciative of them all and hope other fans are fortunate to have similar experiences.

Lets hear one of your favorites? These are all interesting.

[Chris]

I don't know if it's an "encounter" per se, but I was jammed into a greenline train with Cedric Maxwell on my way to a game last year.  Apparently he always takes the T to the games.  I've gotta give him credit for still doing that, because he looked mighty uncomfortable jammed in there among the rush hour traffic.  I couldn't even fight my way across the train to try to shake his hand (although its probably for the best, because no one really likes random people coming up to them on the T).

[FatKidsDad]

I've actually had a few good ones over the years.

Going way back, I was out with my family celebrating over pizza after listening to a C's win on the radio.  We were in the back room of the original Chateau in Waltham....the room with the long tables.  KC Jones was coaching the Brandies team at the time, and he was in celebrating a win with his boys.  He and my Mom, who would talk to anybody, were sitting back-to-back.  She turned around and started filling him in on the Celts' win that night.  He was very gracious...a real gentleman.  They exchanged some small-talk, and he went back to enjoying his time with the team. 

It's something she talked about for many years.

[Eja117]

I was driving taxi last summer and unknowingly took the band to Ray Allen's wedding. Huge drums. I was like "When do you need to be there" and they were like "About 2 hours ago". I was like "Ok I'll get you there"

Later that night I get called back to the same house still having no idea what is going on at this house. I get annoyed of waiting, so I walk into the house and the freaking 1986 NBA championship trophy is on the kitchen table and then Ray walks in.

My sister spotted him last week in a super market and he was annoyed she recognized him but still posed for a photo. Nice guy.