Player or Team?

[Bahku]

It's always about the team ... I love the Celtics, not just a faction of them. Doesn't matter who comes or who goes ... yes, I will continue watching and rooting for certain players I've acquired an affinity for, (except when they're playing against the C's), but my team, my heart, and my allegiance, belongs to the Boston Celtics, and always will.

[Celtics18]

Now that TA's bolted for Memphis, I think I'll be a Grizzlies fan.

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, for me, it all started back in 1981. To be honest, I had been only remotely fond of basketball at that age of 12, but Larry Bird drew me to the game like no other.

He played the game with such passion, and the matches between him and Magic Johnson revived the game like no other.

In what seemed like a Black Man's sport even back then, Larry Bird Transcended Race. He was simply the best player on the floor for a few years back in the 80's, with Magic (and then Jordan) maybe being his only equals.

I always laughed at the Spike Lee Movie, "She's Gotta Have It." I remember fondly the conversation between the two gentleman when they were on the basketball court, and one of them was talking up Larry's game.

As I watched him play, he simply made his teammates better...he demanded perfection, but yet he brought the team along for the ride.

And as I grew up throughout the years and learned more about the history of the Celtics, I appreciated them even more.

He taught me the meaning of Team....Larry and Magic. Even Jordan acquired that Gift as he played throughout the years.

Now as for player or Team? Wow - I must say Team, but Larry, McHale, Chief, (and eventually Danny and DJ) certainly helped.

As I grew up, I learned about Red, Bill, Cousy, Cowens, Hondo, Tommy, Sam Jones...and eventually learned about "Tommy Points" last Oct. when I joined the blog here.

What sealed the deal was those richly colored (and simple) Jerseys. Green has always been my favorite color.

Plus, I must post these. I am not sure when they were made, but I saw them several times during the Celtics' championship run in 07-08. Tommy Point(s) to Xiehaorong. These nicely done videos reminded me once again why I am a Celtic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m5nCwTLTqg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6ETAk4A6PE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVIqQfCuVbk&feature=related

[guava_wrench]

A team's essence is highly dependent on the makeup of players and coaches.

Why do any of us root for teams?

Why do we root for the Celtics?

Who made the Celtics, the Celtics?

The better question is Player or Franchise. A franchise does not have an essence. Its nature changes from year to year. A team (during a particular season) on the other hand is essentially just a collection of players and coaches.

To clarify, I am a fan of the Celtics franchise. If the Celtics are horrible, I will probably just follow another sport a little more or read more books during the NBA season. I have no #2 team. I am also not that attached to any players. I am fine with trading any Celtic if the deal is good, so long as it improves the franchise chances of success at winning.

The question of why people root for particular franchise is typically answered, "they just do".

I tend to feel that rooting for top players is a safe way to root because you know the top player will put up good stats no matter what. Rooting for a team can often be frustrating since half the teams in the league will head to the lottery.

[Assassin70]

This is a no brainier and shouldn't even be asked to Celtics fans.  You stay with the team!

It's about the name on the front of the jersey not the name on the back!

QFT

[Andy Jick]

This is a no brainier and shouldn't even be asked to Celtics fans.  You stay with the team!

It's about the name on the front of the jersey not the name on the back!

QFT

Makes one wonder if LeBron will start wearing his jersey backwards...

[Celtics4ever]

Team all the way.  If your not with us, your against us, lol.

[Roy Hobbs]

I'd do both.  I'd stay loyal to my team, but I'd also continue to follow and root for the player.

[ram]

It's always the team but when players leave, I follow them.

I hated when they traded Ainge but I rooted for him with Portland and Phoenix in the finals. Ditto for Paul Silas with the Supersonics.

These days a lot of players are only here for a short time so I'm not as attached but still followed Big Al and Gomes for a while.

[Scout200]

Yeah, personally speaking, I feel that the team is of more importance... A player doesn't make the team - they only contribute. Players come and go but a Team is forever!

-Scout

[LB3533]

What makes the "name on the front of the jersey" so special?

Answer: Player wearing the jersey.

[wdleehi]

What makes the "name on the front of the jersey" so special?

Answer: Player wearing the jersey.

I can tell you, in the lean years, Dino Radja did not make the jersey special.




But...




The Celtics were my team and I followed them. 


I stayed with the Giants when Dave Brown was the QB.


I stayed with the Phillies through the 80s, 90s up till today.


Players come and go.  The teams stays.   (unless you root for a small market team.  Sorry NO, Seattle, and Sac)

[LB3533]

What makes the "name on the front of the jersey" so special?

Answer: Player wearing the jersey.

I can tell you, in the lean years, Dino Radja did not make the jersey special.




But...




The Celtics were my team and I followed them. 


I stayed with the Giants when Dave Brown was the QB.


I stayed with the Phillies through the 80s, 90s up till today.


Players come and go.  The teams stays.   (unless you root for a small market team.  Sorry NO, Seattle, and Sac)

Dino Radja rules man! RULES!

But yeah he ain't know Bill Russell.

The Celtics wouldn't be the Celtics if we had the Sam Bowie of Russell's era instead of Bill Russell.

And if that had happened the franchise wouldn't have as many fans as it does today.

[nickagneta]

The Celtics wouldn't be the Celtics if we had the Sam Bowie of Russell's era instead of Bill Russell.

And if that had happened the franchise wouldn't have as many fans as it does today.

I doubt that. The Red Sox and Patriots were two franchises reknown for their losing ways for decades and decades. And yet, when they won it all recently, they had huge followings and today have fans across the nation, much like the Celtics do.

Boston is a parochial town when it comes to their sports teams and due to the large amount of college students that come in from across the nation into the city, Boston teams make new fans from outside the city every year that continue to be Boston fans after they leave the city. It's a phenomenom like no other.

Erase Russell from his Celtic existence and the 70's and 80's Celtics would still have created as huge a Celtic following as there is today. IMHO.

[Yakmanev]

As Jerry Seinfeld said, "We're really just rooting for the shirt. If the player goes to another team and wears a different shirt suddenly we don't like him anymore."