Celtics fans are brutal

[Roy Hobbs]

The Los Angeles Lakers’ title hopes had disappeared with one last embarrassing loss in the NBA Finals, leaving those on board the team’s bus to sit in stunned silence. As the bus started to leave the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston on that night two years ago, chaos quickly broke out around the Lakers. Boston Celtics fans had filled the streets to celebrate the franchise’s 17th championship, not far from a statue of longtime patriarch Red Auerbach smoking a victory cigar.

“It was painful,” Lakers forward Pau Gasol(notes) said. “It is a feeling that I want to keep in my mind for every single minute that I’m out there playing them.”

“It’s a little more hostile in Boston,” Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. “I don’t know how my wife [reality star Khloe Kardashian] is going to be able to sit in the crowd.

“They gave it to my kids last time in Boston. I can’t repeat (what was said). It will be fun. The people were rude to my kids, but it was fun.”

Not everyone in Los Angeles was pining for the Lakers to meet the Celtics again. One fan, in fact, was disappointed to see the Lakers knock out the Suns to advance to the Finals.

Her name is Randy Auerbach, an independent film producer who also happens to be a daughter of the late Celtics coach. She has been living in Los Angeles for years, and it hasn’t kept her from cheering for her father’s old team.

“I would like to take all the Lakers flags off the cars and burn them,” Randy Auerbach said. “It’s really annoying. It doesn’t make sense to me. There is still a strong rivalry.

“How did my father feel about the Lakers? No comment. They’re a great franchise, clearly. I think the Celtics are more of a unique organization that attracted a certain player. We had so many players who started and finished their careers in Boston. We didn’t trade for the sake of exploiting a player in their last year. The times are different. The Celtics are a classy organization. My dad knew everyone’s kids, where they were [after retirement], where they were working. They mean a lot to him. They were a real sense of family.”

Like Gasol, Bryant hasn’t forgotten that miserable bus ride from the Garden.

“There are some [expletives] in Boston,” he said. “A lot of fans were celebrating. It got a little out of hand.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-lakersceltics053010

I think fans should make Boston a hostile place to play on the court, but I'd draw the line at hurling rocks and insulting family members.  That said, we need to have a strong home court advantage, because a 2-3-2 playoff series is brutal without one.

[Cman]

My impression of the Lakers after reading that article:





Ah, who am I kidding, that was my impression BEFORE reading the article.

[RebusRankin]

What a bunch of whining, little children.

[MattG12]

The Lakers are jealous because their "fans" wouldn't even know if they won because they wouldn't be at the game yet.

[bruinsandceltics]

The Lakers are jealous because their "fans" wouldn't even know if they won because they wouldn't be at the game yet.

No duh. Playing in the Staples Center is like playing in the city library. That place is by far the least intimidating arena in the league.

[GreenFaith1819]

Yeah, I'd draw the line at children or throwing rocks at buses, but Hey! This is Boston VS LA - Superman VS Lex - Dallas VS Washington - Good VS Evil kind of stuff.

It's funny, though - I remember the 80's, when the Lakers would fear coming to the Gaaaahhhhhden, because they claimed that the team turned the A.C. off, just for them.

Good Times, indeed. Grateful that that these two are meeting for the 2nd time in 3 years, now - with both teams healthy. This will certainly put to rest any "issues" about Bynum, Ariza or KG not being available.

May the Best Team (The Boston Celtics) win.

[indeedproceed]

2-3-2 is ridiculous. So ridiculous.

2-2-1-1-1 is way more fair I think.

EDIT: Well way more fair when you're not the home court team.

[Jeff]

Spears tweeted that Ainge remembered the LA fans doing the same thing to them in the 80's.

Not saying it is right, in fact I agree with Roy that it is pretty stupid and classless.  But I don't think we've really stooped lower than other fan bases.

You can't judge a fanbase by the lowest common denominators.

[butterbeanlove]

I hate to break it to Lamar Odumb....

but nobody in Boston remotely knows who his thrice-removed poor man's reality TV rent-a-bride is.

But if that's what he needs to motivate himself for the Finals, then knock yourself out big fella. 

[ibby]

So I'm listening to a sports radio show today.  I moved to Alabama from Boston about a year ago so it is a local show.  The DJ says that the Lakers vs. Celtics basically equates to Good vs. Evil. 

I turn up the dial because I had been waiting for this.  Our fans have a reputation of being, shall we say, unruly.  We have a team with Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, and Kevin Garnett who are all considered bullies or meanies.  Add in Rondo cold cocking Brad Miller and getting into it with Kirk Hinrich last year and if I hadn't been brought up in Dorchester I too might think they were evil.

As I listen further I discover that the host is calling the Celtics good, and the Lakers (mostly due to Odom marrying Kardashian [sp?], Bryant's Colorado ordeal, Gasol being a pansy, and Artest being crazy) evil.  Suddenly I started liking Alabama a whole lot better.

[butterbeanlove]

So I'm listening to a sports radio show today.  I moved to Alabama from Boston about a year ago so it is a local show.  The DJ says that the Lakers vs. Celtics basically equates to Good vs. Evil. 

I turn up the dial because I had been waiting for this.  Our fans have a reputation of being, shall we say, unruly.  We have a team with Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, and Kevin Garnett who are all considered bullies or meanies.  Add in Rondo cold cocking Brad Miller and getting into it with Kirk Hinrich last year and if I hadn't been brought up in Dorchester I too might think they were evil.

As I listen further I discover that the host is calling the Celtics good, and the Lakers (mostly due to Odom marrying Kardashian [sp?], Bryant's Colorado ordeal, Gasol being a pansy, and Artest being crazy) evil.  Suddenly I started liking Alabama a whole lot better.

That Alabama host is never going to get a job at ESPN. Probably just as well, as he won't have to live in Bristol, Conn.

[rjsuperfly66]

No matter the sport, or level of play (high school, college, professional), you are always going to have people who get loud and crazy when the stage is higher.  Now I don't condone hating on a persons family, but language will be harsher, as will fans behavior, because these games are for the NBA Championship.  Expect it and prepare for it.  Dont cry about it afterwards.

[hwangjini_1]

i grew up around boston fans....ok, ok...i grew up a boston fan.

to be honest, boston fan, relative to other fans, tend to be much more knowledgable and have long memories. they are passionate, but not ignorant. that impresses me about many of them. even when the other side makes a great play, they appreciate it.

however, there are many moments when boston fans can be down right mean and outrageous.

cases in point...i remember one game long, long ago when bad news barnes was on the court and was about to fight another player. a boston fan remembered a famous incident in which barnes used a tire iron to beat up a team mate.

so the boston fan shouts out to barnes on the court "marvin, dont forget your tire iron!"

hee, hee. that was a good one.

on the downside, most folks think we are total jerks, which at times some of us may be.

see...

http://www.city-data.com/forum/city-vs-city/781689-city-has-more-rude-sports-fans-2.html

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=10986

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34xMxHh6w-Y  (i admit, i liked this chant. )


but always keep in mind that boston fans are way way better than philly fans. (booing santa!?!? puhleez.)

[Roy Hobbs]

Spears tweeted that Ainge remembered the LA fans doing the same thing to them in the 80's.

Not saying it is right, in fact I agree with Roy that it is pretty stupid and classless.  But I don't think we've really stooped lower than other fan bases.

You can't judge a fanbase by the lowest common denominators.

True, we're not any better, and we're not any worse, than other fan bases in this regard.  However, for anybody who was criticizing Orlando fans as classless due to the stuff with Ray's mom (or the more vague stuff with Marquis' step-dad) this gives some perspective.

[GreenFaith1819]

Like Jeff said, I agree.

LA fans certainly can't point fingers, after that Christmas Day Debacle, against CLE..now that was Funny....And it was on National Television.

The article on the Front Page of CelticsBlog? While funny and thought-provoking - is it true?

As slanted as, IMO, some of our games haven been officiated this season, I have Never in my memory of being a Celtics Fan (29+ yrs) seen anything like that Christmas Day Game when LA played CLE.

But even with that, I can't classify every single LA fan off of that game. When I visit SS and R, they are very respectful of me.

Now I certainly Hope our Fans at the Games make it Very Uncomfortable for LA...after all, it IS LA....C'mon now . This is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Rivalry here.

Neither Boston or LA may make it back here next year, so let's make it fun while it lasts.