Author Topic: When does optimism meet reality?  (Read 18901 times)

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Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #60 on: April 07, 2010, 03:47:40 PM »

Offline FallGuy

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Speaking as a person who's usually labelled very optimistic by nature, I don't think there's any particular value in being optimistic in life, in terms of actual results. I know few will agree.

I see your point, but since in this case optimists and pessimists will wind up watching the exact same outcomes, I think optimism leads to a more satisfying experience as a fan, with no impact on what actually happens on the court.  So, better results in that sense. 

It hasn't made sense to me to be pessimistic about sports since I was a teenager, because I realized things work out the same either way, and all I can control is if I'm happy and hopeful or angry and miserable while I watch it play out.

I think it's as much a matter of nature as choice.

I'd argue once the tip goes up, EVERYONE is optimistic, including the most bleak-hearted pessimists on this site. It only takes a hot couple minutes, with Ray hitting jumpers, PP going to the hole, KG causing havoc on D and Rondo finding passing angles nobody else can to get people excited.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #61 on: April 07, 2010, 03:49:00 PM »

Offline nickagneta

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When any sports season starts, being a fan means hoping and dreaming that your team will win it all. Every new season brings that chance that every little thing could go right and the team could do this and that rookie could become this and that player could break out and all the stars will align and a championship will be celebrated at the end of the season. Hope is there and optimism abounds and cheering your team on becomes a joy .

But with the exception of championship years there always comes that point where optimism meets reality. The point where you realize that your team just isn't good enough to win the championship. For some fans that time comes in spring training or training camp or the pre-season. Some teams just aren't good enough from the get go. For others it comes early in the season. Still others that moment doesn't arrive until much later in the season, like maybe the playoffs. And yet, for others, the hopeless hopeful, that moment doesn't come until the final whistle, horn or out of the season.

But that moment always comes unless your team wins it all. So, regarding this Celtics team, has that moment come for you? If so when did it come for you? And for those where this moment hasn't arrived, when does it usually arrive for you?

For me, in 2007-08, it never arrived. I thought that team would win it all until the end and they did. It was the first time I felt like that about a Celtics team since the late 80's. Last year, it didn't arrive until the 4th quarter of game seven versus Orlando. Sure, in retrospect, I guess I should have known better seeing that KG was injured and that Leon was then injured. But I couldn't help myself. Until Orlando pulled away in the fourth in that game seven, I just was positive that team could win it all.

But this year, it's a different story. That moment arrived on February 10th, the day before the All-Star break. After watching Darren Collison do a number on the Celtics and watch the Hornets blitz the Celtics in the second half of that game, optimism met reality for me and I knew they couldn't win it all this year. That game is the perfect example of this Celtic season. Strong start, no excellent start. Horrible middle and weak ending with serious lack of effort and watching inferior players and teams do a number on them while this Celtics team whines to the refs and wonders how it all happened.

Now, just because your optimism has met your reality doesn't mean that you are any more or less of a fan or that you can't be proven wrong. As any Red Sox fan knows, your optimism can meet your reality and you can still win the championship. Need I say anything more than Games 4,5,6,and 7 of the 2004 ALCS. I think my optimism met my reality so much during those games that they became married.

And on the other side of the coin, just because your optimism doesn't meet your reality until that final buzzer or horn or whatever, it doesn't mean that you are any more or less of a fan. Your are the eternal optimist believing in something until the very end and that's okay, too. This world could use more people like you.

But in the end, unless your team wins it all, and let's face it, even with the success of the Celtics as a franchise, unless you are in your 60's or older, your optimism meets your reality way more often than that championship season. So tell me, do you really need for that final buzzer to sound or does it creep in earlier, even if it is a quarter or half or game or half a season earlier?
You gave up on your team half way through the season?
Who said I gave up on the team?

This is the one of two or three times I have read in this thread that thinking your team doesn't have what it takes to be a champion constitutes giving up on your team. I'm in the game threads all the time. I live on this blog in my spare time. I watch virtually every second of every Celtics game. Does that sound like I've given up on them?

This is not about giving up on the team or being a "blind optimist". Those are terms I was really hoping would stay out of this thread.

But the title was a play on words. When it comes to sports everyone is optimistic about their teams chances. But at some point the reality of the situation involved in a team that does not win it all hits all fans and the optimism for that particular team ends. Now sometimes that is early for people, like say Kansas City Royals fans or Los Angeles Clipper fans. other times that moment never comes. For instance for me that never happened to me in 2008 during the Celtics season.

But if your team does not win it all, eventually that time does come. Another for instance, it's kind of difficult for me to be optimistic about the 2009 New England Patriots. About the time Wes Welker blew out his knee, my optimism met my reality and I knew the Pats were not going to win the title last year. Since they didn't, it's impossible to still feel optimistic about that PARTICULAR team, not the franchise.

Now I think that there are those that will never stop being optimistic about there team as long as there is a second left on the clock or an out left in the game. I also think there are those that profess to be eternally optimistic but at some point DO come to a realization that the team isn't good enough but just don't want to admit it. Some, not all. On the reverse side, I think there are some people who follow teams that never feel optimistic about their teams chances, ever. And I think there are some people who will say, at some point in time during the season, that their team doesn't have what it takes to win it all but deep down really are optimistic about the team.

I don't think this is life philosophical thing or not or some existential concept. I think it's real easy. Only one team gets to win it all each year. During most years, your team isn't going to be the champion and at some point during that season every fan gives up their optimism and realizes what is happening, that being that their team isn't good enough to win it all. All I'm saying is that for me, that came on the day in February in New Orleans.

I'm not giving up on them. I'm still going to cheer them on forever until the end. I've just lower my expectations of what the final result of the season is going to be. And, if I am wrong, boy am I going to be the happiest wrong guy you will know.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #62 on: April 07, 2010, 03:52:21 PM »

Offline FallGuy

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But in the end, unless your team wins it all, and let's face it, even with the success of the Celtics as a franchise, unless you are in your 60's or older, your optimism meets your reality way more often than that championship season. So tell me, do you really need for that final buzzer to sound or does it creep in earlier, even if it is a quarter or half or game or half a season earlier?
You gave up on your team half way through the season?
Who said I gave up on the team?

This is the one of two or three times I have read in this thread that thinking your team doesn't have what it takes to be a champion constitutes giving up on your team. I'm in the game threads all the time. I live on this blog in my spare time. I watch virtually every second of every Celtics game. Does that sound like I've given up on them?

This is not about giving up on the team or being a "blind optimist". Those are terms I was really hoping would stay out of this thread.

But the title was a play on words. When it comes to sports everyone is optimistic about their teams chances. But at some point the reality of the situation involved in a team that does not win it all hits all fans and the optimism for that particular team ends. Now sometimes that is early for people, like say Kansas City Royals fans or Los Angeles Clipper fans. other times that moment never comes. For instance for me that never happened to me in 2008 during the Celtics season.

But if your team does not win it all, eventually that time does come. Another for instance, it's kind of difficult for me to be optimistic about the 2009 New England Patriots. About the time Wes Welker blew out his knee, my optimism met my reality and I knew the Pats were not going to win the title last year. Since they didn't, it's impossible to still feel optimistic about that PARTICULAR team, not the franchise.

Now I think that there are those that will never stop being optimistic about there team as long as there is a second left on the clock or an out left in the game. I also think there are those that profess to be eternally optimistic but at some point DO come to a realization that the team isn't good enough but just don't want to admit it. Some, not all. On the reverse side, I think there are some people who follow teams that never feel optimistic about their teams chances, ever. And I think there are some people who will say, at some point in time during the season, that their team doesn't have what it takes to win it all but deep down really are optimistic about the team.

I don't think this is life philosophical thing or not or some existential concept. I think it's real easy. Only one team gets to win it all each year. During most years, your team isn't going to be the champion and at some point during that season every fan gives up their optimism and realizes what is happening, that being that their team isn't good enough to win it all. All I'm saying is that for me, that came on the day in February in New Orleans.

I'm not giving up on them. I'm still going to cheer them on forever until the end. I've just lower my expectations of what the final result of the season is going to be. And, if I am wrong, boy am I going to be the happiest wrong guy you will know.


Nick -without pointing my finger at anyone in particular, you know as well as anyone that there's a certain breed of fan that  cannot handle rational discourse on their favorite team without resorting to calling people "not real fans" and "bandwagon fans" and so on. Your original post was pretty nuanced about your feelings. But I wouldn't expect any change in people's attitudes on this topic.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #63 on: April 07, 2010, 03:55:28 PM »

Offline fairweatherfan

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Speaking as a person who's usually labelled very optimistic by nature, I don't think there's any particular value in being optimistic in life, in terms of actual results. I know few will agree.

I see your point, but since in this case optimists and pessimists will wind up watching the exact same outcomes, I think optimism leads to a more satisfying experience as a fan, with no impact on what actually happens on the court.  So, better results in that sense. 

It hasn't made sense to me to be pessimistic about sports since I was a teenager, because I realized things work out the same either way, and all I can control is if I'm happy and hopeful or angry and miserable while I watch it play out.

I think it's as much a matter of nature as choice.

It was a choice for me that became a matter of nature once I got used to it.  I used to be a pessimistic fan - I'd get really upset and worked up, a bad loss would have me in a funk for days, and I always expected the worst to happen.  Then I realized that I was devoting hours and hours of free time to "entertainment" that mostly made me miserable, even when I wasn't watching, which kind of defeated the purpose. 

I agree that the inclination tends to be inborn, but it's definitely possible to control it.  It's one of the reasons why the dyed-in-the-wool pessimists here get under my skin at times - I don't want to get pulled back into that mindset.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #64 on: April 07, 2010, 03:59:13 PM »

Offline nickagneta

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Optimism meets reality when you choose to let it, no sooner, no later. Optimism is a conscious choice, and the point to which you carry it is completely up to you. I don't believe optimism is something that just happens, or something that we're born with to a certain limit, or that there's some quantifiable level to which it's taken or denied.

Yes, some people may be more predisposed to optimism than others, but the point at which you STOP being optimistic about something, is the point when you consciously decide to not be optimistic about it. Is there enough evidence to support no longer being optimistic about the Celtics? Absolutely, but because I choose to continue to be optimistic does NOT make me a "blind" optimist, because that requires no proof or sensibility to support it.

But I am optimistic because I believe in, and still see enough good in, this team to support being optimistic about it, and despite the negative that supports a pessimistic view, there is just as much positive to support an optimistic view. As I said, optimism meets reality when we as individuals decide it meets reality, no sooner, no later.

Just because someone else has decided that they don't have enough to hold onto to justify being optimistic, and that they have reached their point of "reality meeting optimism" or reality outweighing optimism, does NOT make it so for everyone else. I still see enough good things about this team to remain being optimistic, but only because that's MY view and my choice ... and that's as much reality as reality itself. ;)
Exactly, it's an individual thing and it doesn't make anyone better or smarter or more devoted to be one way or the other. It just makes us different individuals, different fans with different ways of seeing things.

Now with this team, Bahku and others will feel optimistic until the very end, the last buzzer. But if disaster were to strike next year and come late March this team is 22-45 come mid-March those same people are going to still be optimistic about the Celtics chances next season until the very last buzzer. My guess is that somewhere well before the last game of the season the optimism will have met the reality of the situation, that that team wasn't going to win it all.

For different teams it comes at different times, just like for different people it comes at different times. It's all individual and it doesn't make you good or bad or devoted or not devoted. It just makes you different and individual.

TP for seeing that my friend.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #65 on: April 07, 2010, 04:01:36 PM »

Offline FallGuy

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Speaking as a person who's usually labelled very optimistic by nature, I don't think there's any particular value in being optimistic in life, in terms of actual results. I know few will agree.

I see your point, but since in this case optimists and pessimists will wind up watching the exact same outcomes, I think optimism leads to a more satisfying experience as a fan, with no impact on what actually happens on the court.  So, better results in that sense. 

It hasn't made sense to me to be pessimistic about sports since I was a teenager, because I realized things work out the same either way, and all I can control is if I'm happy and hopeful or angry and miserable while I watch it play out.

I think it's as much a matter of nature as choice.

It was a choice for me that became a matter of nature once I got used to it.  I used to be a pessimistic fan - I'd get really upset and worked up, a bad loss would have me in a funk for days, and I always expected the worst to happen.  Then I realized that I was devoting hours and hours of free time to "entertainment" that mostly made me miserable, even when I wasn't watching, which kind of defeated the purpose. 

I agree that the inclination tends to be inborn, but it's definitely possible to control it.  It's one of the reasons why the dyed-in-the-wool pessimists here get under my skin at times - I don't want to get pulled back into that mindset.

Yeah, what you're describing sounds like it took a toll on "real life" (although I think sports and our following it is a pretty wonderful part of real life) in a way it shouldn't have.

That noted - if any team will give you reason to be angry and pessimistic - it's this year's Celtics!

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #66 on: April 07, 2010, 04:01:46 PM »

Offline nickagneta

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Speaking as a person who's usually labelled very optimistic by nature, I don't think there's any particular value in being optimistic in life, in terms of actual results. I know few will agree.

I see your point, but since in this case optimists and pessimists will wind up watching the exact same outcomes, I think optimism leads to a more satisfying experience as a fan, with no impact on what actually happens on the court.  So, better results in that sense. 

It hasn't made sense to me to be pessimistic about sports since I was a teenager, because I realized things work out the same either way, and all I can control is if I'm happy and hopeful or angry and miserable while I watch it play out.

I think it's as much a matter of nature as choice.

It was a choice for me that became a matter of nature once I got used to it.  I used to be a pessimistic fan - I'd get really upset and worked up, a bad loss would have me in a funk for days, and I always expected the worst to happen.  Then I realized that I was devoting hours and hours of free time to "entertainment" that mostly made me miserable, even when I wasn't watching, which kind of defeated the purpose. 

I agree that the inclination tends to be inborn, but it's definitely possible to control it.  It's one of the reasons why the dyed-in-the-wool pessimists here get under my skin at times - I don't want to get pulled back into that mindset.
For me that was called being a Red Sox fan, but I was cured of that in 2004. ;D

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #67 on: April 07, 2010, 04:04:34 PM »

Offline nickagneta

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But in the end, unless your team wins it all, and let's face it, even with the success of the Celtics as a franchise, unless you are in your 60's or older, your optimism meets your reality way more often than that championship season. So tell me, do you really need for that final buzzer to sound or does it creep in earlier, even if it is a quarter or half or game or half a season earlier?
You gave up on your team half way through the season?
Who said I gave up on the team?

This is the one of two or three times I have read in this thread that thinking your team doesn't have what it takes to be a champion constitutes giving up on your team. I'm in the game threads all the time. I live on this blog in my spare time. I watch virtually every second of every Celtics game. Does that sound like I've given up on them?

This is not about giving up on the team or being a "blind optimist". Those are terms I was really hoping would stay out of this thread.

But the title was a play on words. When it comes to sports everyone is optimistic about their teams chances. But at some point the reality of the situation involved in a team that does not win it all hits all fans and the optimism for that particular team ends. Now sometimes that is early for people, like say Kansas City Royals fans or Los Angeles Clipper fans. other times that moment never comes. For instance for me that never happened to me in 2008 during the Celtics season.

But if your team does not win it all, eventually that time does come. Another for instance, it's kind of difficult for me to be optimistic about the 2009 New England Patriots. About the time Wes Welker blew out his knee, my optimism met my reality and I knew the Pats were not going to win the title last year. Since they didn't, it's impossible to still feel optimistic about that PARTICULAR team, not the franchise.

Now I think that there are those that will never stop being optimistic about there team as long as there is a second left on the clock or an out left in the game. I also think there are those that profess to be eternally optimistic but at some point DO come to a realization that the team isn't good enough but just don't want to admit it. Some, not all. On the reverse side, I think there are some people who follow teams that never feel optimistic about their teams chances, ever. And I think there are some people who will say, at some point in time during the season, that their team doesn't have what it takes to win it all but deep down really are optimistic about the team.

I don't think this is life philosophical thing or not or some existential concept. I think it's real easy. Only one team gets to win it all each year. During most years, your team isn't going to be the champion and at some point during that season every fan gives up their optimism and realizes what is happening, that being that their team isn't good enough to win it all. All I'm saying is that for me, that came on the day in February in New Orleans.

I'm not giving up on them. I'm still going to cheer them on forever until the end. I've just lower my expectations of what the final result of the season is going to be. And, if I am wrong, boy am I going to be the happiest wrong guy you will know.


Nick -without pointing my finger at anyone in particular, you know as well as anyone that there's a certain breed of fan that  cannot handle rational discourse on their favorite team without resorting to calling people "not real fans" and "bandwagon fans" and so on. Your original post was pretty nuanced about your feelings. But I wouldn't expect any change in people's attitudes on this topic.
Yeah, I was really hoping to have a real good discussion here and guess what, I think we have. Sure, like you said there will always be those that want to brew up the pot and turn this particular subject sour, but I have to give a TP to everyone in this thread, it's been extremely well handled and quite enlightening.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #68 on: April 07, 2010, 04:05:01 PM »

Offline FallGuy

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Speaking as a person who's usually labelled very optimistic by nature, I don't think there's any particular value in being optimistic in life, in terms of actual results. I know few will agree.

I see your point, but since in this case optimists and pessimists will wind up watching the exact same outcomes, I think optimism leads to a more satisfying experience as a fan, with no impact on what actually happens on the court.  So, better results in that sense. 

It hasn't made sense to me to be pessimistic about sports since I was a teenager, because I realized things work out the same either way, and all I can control is if I'm happy and hopeful or angry and miserable while I watch it play out.

I think it's as much a matter of nature as choice.

It was a choice for me that became a matter of nature once I got used to it.  I used to be a pessimistic fan - I'd get really upset and worked up, a bad loss would have me in a funk for days, and I always expected the worst to happen.  Then I realized that I was devoting hours and hours of free time to "entertainment" that mostly made me miserable, even when I wasn't watching, which kind of defeated the purpose. 

I agree that the inclination tends to be inborn, but it's definitely possible to control it.  It's one of the reasons why the dyed-in-the-wool pessimists here get under my skin at times - I don't want to get pulled back into that mindset.
For me that was called being a Red Sox fan, but I was cured of that in 2004. ;D

It took me three days before I could talk to anyone after the 03 loss.

I remember one of my staff - a young girl, maybe 20 - looked at me as I came into work the next day and said, "are you okay?"

[dang] Aaron Boone.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #69 on: April 07, 2010, 04:50:28 PM »

Offline Mike-Dub

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No offense Nick but this thread is really depressing, well at least it is to me, but it is a very good discussion.

And here is my own take it others on the site may think I'm crazy and a blind optimist for saying this, but to be honest I don't care.

I'm not even going to think about the buzzer going off and the C's not winning the title!

I hope we win it! I believe we are going to win it!

And again no offense to people who don't believe the team can win it, but it is giving up.

 No, you are not giving up on the franchise and the team winning titles in the future seasons, but you are giving up on this team winning the title this year, but it does not mean I or any one else on here who still believes the team can win it are better fans then you guys because we are not!  That is just my personal opinion and everybody who blogs here and reads the site completely has the right to disagree.

And one last thing that, which is one thing we all agree on...

We are all blessed to be fans of the greatest basketball franchise ever!!!

GO C'S!!!

P.S. Sorry if anything I have just posted bothers any fellow bloggers and I was not intending for it to and for all the exclamation points and caps if it that also bothers anyone.
 

EDIT: And I have to say, that I am with some of you guys on believing that my favorite teams cannot win it, because in '08 when the Sox were getting crushed at home against the Rays, I honestly didn't believe and didn't feel like they were going to win that game and come back, like they did, but I still was praying,hoping, and rooting every at bat for them to just get on base and to find a way to win the game, which I know everybody on this site here will be doing with the C's and that everybody on this site does that every game just like I do.






« Last Edit: April 07, 2010, 05:00:09 PM by Mike-Dub »
"It's all about having the heart of a champion." - #34 Paul Pierce

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #70 on: April 07, 2010, 05:48:15 PM »

Offline nickagneta

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No offense Nick but this thread is really depressing, well at least it is to me, but it is a very good discussion.

And here is my own take it others on the site may think I'm crazy and a blind optimist for saying this, but to be honest I don't care.

I'm not even going to think about the buzzer going off and the C's not winning the title!

I hope we win it! I believe we are going to win it!

And again no offense to people who don't believe the team can win it, but it is giving up.

 No, you are not giving up on the franchise and the team winning titles in the future seasons, but you are giving up on this team winning the title this year, but it does not mean I or any one else on here who still believes the team can win it are better fans then you guys because we are not!  That is just my personal opinion and everybody who blogs here and reads the site completely has the right to disagree.

And one last thing that, which is one thing we all agree on...

We are all blessed to be fans of the greatest basketball franchise ever!!!

GO C'S!!!

P.S. Sorry if anything I have just posted bothers any fellow bloggers and I was not intending for it to and for all the exclamation points and caps if it that also bothers anyone.
 

EDIT: And I have to say, that I am with some of you guys on believing that my favorite teams cannot win it, because in '08 when the Sox were getting crushed at home against the Rays, I honestly didn't believe and didn't feel like they were going to win that game and come back, like they did, but I still was praying,hoping, and rooting every at bat for them to just get on base and to find a way to win the game, which I know everybody on this site here will be doing with the C's and that everybody on this site does that every game just like I do.







So in your opinion, you gave up on the 2008 Red Sox?

I think I've already made my point regarding your opinion and will leave it at that.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #71 on: April 07, 2010, 07:56:22 PM »

Offline CoachBo

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There are some fundamental traits that are systemic to a champion.

1. Multiple scoring threats.

2. Quality depth.

3. Defensive consistency.

4. Rebounding.

5. Absolute consistency of effort - the kind of effort that loses grudgingly, if at all. It's what we saw in 2008.

6. Health - often used as an alibi, but it's essential to win a title.

7. Chemistry.

It dawned on me in January that the health issue is just gone - we're too old to have the kind of consistent health necessary to win a title.

But more alarmingly, the defense disappeared, following the rebounding into oblivion.

And since then, there has been no professional consistency of effort. Whatsoever.

So yes, in late January it dawned on me that this team isn't going to get close to a title, let alone win one. There's just a plethora of systemic problems with this club, enough that I cannot be absolutely certain about winning a playoff series at all.

And several of those flaws appear permanent with this group.
Coined the CelticsBlog term, "Euromistake."

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #72 on: April 07, 2010, 08:27:53 PM »

Offline BballTim

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5. Absolute consistency of effort - the kind of effort that loses grudgingly, if at all. It's what we saw in 2008.


  It's what we saw in 2008, but that team set the bar way too high. It was the best team since the Bulls. No team since has had the effort, focus or concentration. No team now does.

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #73 on: April 07, 2010, 08:37:07 PM »

Offline Mike-Dub

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No offense Nick but this thread is really depressing, well at least it is to me, but it is a very good discussion.

And here is my own take it others on the site may think I'm crazy and a blind optimist for saying this, but to be honest I don't care.

I'm not even going to think about the buzzer going off and the C's not winning the title!

I hope we win it! I believe we are going to win it!

And again no offense to people who don't believe the team can win it, but it is giving up.

 No, you are not giving up on the franchise and the team winning titles in the future seasons, but you are giving up on this team winning the title this year, but it does not mean I or any one else on here who still believes the team can win it are better fans then you guys because we are not!  That is just my personal opinion and everybody who blogs here and reads the site completely has the right to disagree.

And one last thing that, which is one thing we all agree on...

We are all blessed to be fans of the greatest basketball franchise ever!!!

GO C'S!!!

P.S. Sorry if anything I have just posted bothers any fellow bloggers and I was not intending for it to and for all the exclamation points and caps if it that also bothers anyone.
 

EDIT: And I have to say, that I am with some of you guys on believing that my favorite teams cannot win it, because in '08 when the Sox were getting crushed at home against the Rays, I honestly didn't believe and didn't feel like they were going to win that game and come back, like they did, but I still was praying,hoping, and rooting every at bat for them to just get on base and to find a way to win the game, which I know everybody on this site here will be doing with the C's and that everybody on this site does that every game just like I do.







So in your opinion, you gave up on the 2008 Red Sox?

I think I've already made my point regarding your opinion and will leave it at that.

Yes, to be honest I did give up on the 2008 Red Sox. I'm sure you already know the details, but the game I was talking about was game 5 of the ALCS with the Sox being down 7-0 in the bottom of the Seventh with two outs with the Rays being up 3-1 in the series.  All throughout the seasons I thought that the Sox were going to win it up until that point. 

I feel like an idiot in not believing in the Sox and after the game was the happiest idiot ever.  I should have trusted the Sox with what happened in '04, but I happened to 11 years old and wasn't allowed to stay up for the games, and honestly only remember after game three praying that the Sox would win because I had tickets to game 5 and also obviously because I wanted the Sox to win so bad.  I also shouldn't have given up on them because of what happened that past June when the C's came back from the 24 point deficit against the Lakers that we all know about and should have known that anything is possible (no pun intended).

Also...


Quote

Now with this team, Bahku and others will feel optimistic until the very end, the last buzzer. But if disaster were to strike next year and come late March this team is 22-45 come mid-March those same people are going to still be optimistic about the Celtics chances next season until the very last buzzer.

I'm pretty sure you are exaggerating but I don't believe that any Celtics fan would be optimistic about the Celtics chances next season if their record was any where close to or around 22-45 in March or around .500 for that matter.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2010, 09:06:28 PM by Mike-Dub »
"It's all about having the heart of a champion." - #34 Paul Pierce

Re: When does optimism meet reality?
« Reply #74 on: April 07, 2010, 08:40:52 PM »

Offline CoachBo

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5. Absolute consistency of effort - the kind of effort that loses grudgingly, if at all. It's what we saw in 2008.


  It's what we saw in 2008, but that team set the bar way too high. It was the best team since the Bulls. No team since has had the effort, focus or concentration. No team now does.

Uh, no. Championship teams at every level have an uncommon dedication to effort and defense. Duke plays superior defense. The UConn women won a title last night because of consistent defensive effort.

This team's consistency of effort not only isn't championship quality; it's not remotely adequate. The defense alone, along with the related effort issues, is reason enough why this team won't survive long in the playoffs, let alone the multitude of other reasons. You need look no further than the total refusal of this club to rebound - against good teams, good players, bad teams and "Who's he?" Knicks. Not going to happen.

If I had to pick, perhaps we win one series. NO way right now we win two.
Coined the CelticsBlog term, "Euromistake."