So Long Scal

[wazutruth20]

I wrote this on an ESPN blog site and got laughed at. Thought I'd try my luck here on a blog site where real CELTIC fans talk about their team.

So Long Scal:

Six years ago, following a first-round elimination to the Indiana Pacers, the Boston Celtics signed forward Brian Scalabrine from the New Jersey Nets. That signing was taken as another non-meaningful addition to the Boston squad. But, over the next five seasons, Scal became one of Bean Town's favorites.


Now sure, we can simply joke about Scalabrine's 2.7 points and 1.5 rebounds over his five seasons with Boston. However, (besides the Will Ferrell resemblence) Scal will be loved by Celtic fans because of his love for the organization and his willingness to always be ready when he's called upon.


I was recently back in Boston visiting and I couldn't believe how much people idolized Scalabrine. One night after going to a Sox game, there was a merchandise stand that sold unique Celtic shirts. One of those shirts displayed a picture resembling an Obama "Hope" photo, only showing a headshot of Scalabrine with "Hope" on the bottom. It turned out that particular shirt company held rallies to hopefully persuade the Celtics to re-sign Scal. Even customers shopping were raving about how much they wanted Scal back with the Celtics. So of course, I got a shirt, and will ever cherish it.


Even with his small numbers, Scalabrine did whatever he could to help the Celtics succeed. When the C's were without Kevin Garnett in the 2009 playoffs, Scalabrine was called upon by Doc Rivers to help the Celtics fend off the Chicago Bulls. In game six, he scored 7 points, and in the crucial game seven, he scored 8 points in 25 minutes (his playoff high). Sure, he didn't score 20 or 30 a night, but in that historic Chicago series, every point counted, and Scalabrine definitely came through.


So, I bid you a farewell Brian. You don't know how much we love you in Boston and how much we want you back. But I personally wish you the very best in Chicago.


Hopefully, you will come back to Boston one day and be the next Celtics color commentator after Tom Heinsohn retires.

[fairweatherfan]

TP.  Scal was probably one of the least talented players in Celtics history, but he never lacked for effort.  He languished on the bench for months at a time, but more often than not made a positive contribution when called upon in key moments.  I'll never forget him completely befuddling Amare Stoudemire a couple years ago, or battling on the boards against far bigger, more athletic opponents during that injury-ravaged '09 playoff run.

I can't say I'll miss seeing Scal on the court, but he was a meaningful part of the team and deserves our thanks.

[ACF]

Thank you Scal and good luck (We'll beat you, though).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UUBC8NoQgA

[Prof. Clutch]

TP to the OP.  Very well said.


Someday, when I'm old and gray, I'll tell my grandkids (with a tear hanging in my eye) about the days of Scalabrine...and they'll whip out their personal mobile computer holographic devices which tap directly and instantly into their brains and search on googahoo or yagoogle (or whatever it's called after google and yahoo merge in 2024) for Brian Scalabrine.  And when images like this pop up, they'll never quite be able to grasp why their grandfather loved this man:





In fact, I'm sure just seeing these photos will probably tips the scale and ends up getting me put in a nursing home.

[Andy Jick]

good riddance...maybe he and fred roberts can go hang out in a cave together.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

I saw a few of those Utube videos of our boy scal there....Some where very funny.....One however showed scally using some of his hidden talents. It must have been when we first got him. He was playing vs his old team NJ. He was shown rolling to the hoop dunking two times.....So, if he could do that..where was it all the rest of the time.....

[wazutruth20]

My favorite Scalabrine moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2DNwraFQBQ&feature=related

Most Embarrassing Moment (What made it worse was that I was sitting 10 feet behind Scalabrine when he inbounded the ball):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zzOfsTZEVg

[Andy Jick]

yep...scal's pass in that bottom video pretty much sums it up.  what a goober...

[Mike-Dub]

Great thread.  TP.  Scal you will be forever missed.

[zerophase]

Too early for the bring Scal back threads?

Favorite Scal moment:

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

I remember an announcer saying "and the defender ACTUALLY bought the up fake."

[SamuelAdams]

When the players were allowed to stand more while on the bench, Scal was one of the ones who would stand the longest and block the view of play.  This was every game when he was NJ Net. You may recall the mini rivalry at that time. We would yell at him non stop to sit the bloody heck down. He would turn and mock the fans and keep standing. He was soooooo punk like about NOT sitting.

Then he gets traded to us and we love him for his role here.  If nothing else he taught me to always keep in mind that the player I hate today could be wearing Green tomorrow and then how would I feel about him?

[GreenFaith1819]

Wish you the best in CHI, Scal.

ESPN can stick their "least productive" analysis somewhere else - right next to "The Decision".....

I guess Chicago and Tibs don't look at ESPN, huh?

[GreenFaith1819]

good riddance...maybe he and fred roberts can go hang out in a cave together.

LOL! C'mon Man you don't mean this...

[Andy Jick]

good riddance...maybe he and fred roberts can go hang out in a cave together.

LOL! C'mon Man you don't mean this...

No...  I actually forgot to mention Mark Acres as well.

[mmbaby]

TP, OP, I feel the same way. Scal will really be missed. He had those head injuries which really effected his game for a long time and I remember when he first came back after that and how he looked so different. It was terrible, especially considering what a good mind he has and one of the things I always respected about him was his ability to speak his mind in such an articulate manner and not be intimidated. Now, he seems completely recovered and I hope he gets a lot of minutes on his new team. I think he'd make a great coach too.