Why I became embarrassed to be a Celtic fan for 15 seconds.

[Eja117]

It has nothing to do with the Celtics and the mandatory paying of respects at sporting events is annoying. Deep down 99% of people wish they didn't have to do it. You can be a hardcore patriot and respect something while not having to abide by corporate marketing campaigns. It's also disrespectful to force people who are out for a good time to keep their mouths shut because you're at a sporting event. I wouldn't have made a peep either but it'd be out of guilt that I wouldn't, my silence doesn't achieve anything, my thoughts and teachings to my children do.

My understanding is that it used to be a moment for prayer, then it became silent prayer, then it became silence with implication of prayer, then it became silence. 

In a manner of speaking people used to be more involved and were doing something perhaps more useful.

Now it's different.  I think Nick thought the silence was possibly doing some good.

I don't think telling you kids your thoughts that MLK was great and then screaming in front of them during a moment of silence to him would achieve much.

[Rondo9dunx]

There's always one in the crowd.

Though I always feel a little uneasy when the crowd starts cheering before the Star Spangled Banner is over too.

Moment of silence cheering is just ridiculous.

For the star spangled banner, however, I love when the roar starts during "home" and just builds until max roar as the singer is holding the last note.

Personally i've always loved the sound of a crowd cheering the moment the singers says the word "free" in the line "land of the free"

I think it's kind of touching, that word means everything to a lot of people.

[Rondo9dunx]

I think the whole "moment of silence" thing as opposed to a "moment of prayer" is just the result of a growing number of athiests who are also becoming more tired of having to hear about god everywhere they go. Its somewhat like (to a lesser degree) the same thing minorities, women, homosexuals etc have gone through.. As time goes by more and more people stand up and say ya know what, i'm tired of this, ackowledge my beliefs too, just like you do everyone else.

It's much like the whole "happy holidays" vs "merry christmas" thing you hear people complain about all the time.

More and more people are starting to believe in nothing, basically

[screwedupmaniac]

Monday  night I went to my first Celtics game this year courtesy of a Christmas present from my oldest son(if you are reading this, thank you) and have to say there was a time when for the first time in my life I was a bit embarrassed to be a Celtic fan. Well, for 15 seconds or so and then I got angry and the feeling passed. Let me explain.

So the pregame player introductions haven't started yet and the Star Spangled Banner hasn't been sung yet but a giant picture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is on the Jumbotron commemorating the holiday when the Garden announcer comes over the speaker system. He reads a little speech in honor of Dr. King and then asks for a 60 second moment of silence. It got deathly quiet. Even the people in the concessions area went quiet.

But the silence was broken after about 45 seconds when some bozo off to my left in the upper balcony screams out "Let's Go Celtics!Beat The Magic!". I was astonished at the lack of respect given but then got truly flabbergasted when similar chants and screams started breaking out throughout the Garden and continued on through the last part of the moment of silence.

Simply put, it was one of the more disrespectful things I had scene a group of Boston fans ever do. What's worse, is that it happened in Boston amongst a crowd that was 97%(estimate) white. I don't care what your race or color is but if you are American you have to acknowledge what a truly great American Dr. King was and the holiday is a very meaningful one paying tribute to a great man and American.

Have some gad dang respect and keep your mouths shut for one minute!!!!

Was that really asking too much.

Then to make matters worse, the place sounded like a museum the entire first half and was as quiet a crowd overall as I have heard there in the last few years.

The irony was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Could be worse...they could be Chicago Bears fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEruLtj7CuU

[jambr380]

I think the whole "moment of silence" thing as opposed to a "moment of prayer" is just the result of a growing number of athiests who are also becoming more tired of having to hear about god everywhere they go. Its somewhat like (to a lesser degree) the same thing minorities, women, homosexuals etc have gone through.. As time goes by more and more people stand up and say ya know what, i'm tired of this, ackowledge my beliefs too, just like you do everyone else.

It's much like the whole "happy holidays" vs "merry christmas" thing you hear people complain about all the time.

More and more people are starting to believe in nothing, basically

Uh oh, are we going to have to open up the 'Christianity' thread again?  

Personally, I believe Christmas has become less about Christ and more about presents and family, while prayer is pretty obviously about one thing. I definitely agree with what you said, though, and think that a moment of silence is a nice compromise for both sides.

I also agree with davemonsterband in that the whole thing is a little uncomfortable, especially in such a large/public arena. Making people give a moment of silence doesn't mean they respect the teachings of MLK any more or less. It is what is expected nowadays, though, and at least it is a way for everyone to 'think about' him in unity.

[incoherent]

Monday  night I went to my first Celtics game this year courtesy of a Christmas present from my oldest son(if you are reading this, thank you) and have to say there was a time when for the first time in my life I was a bit embarrassed to be a Celtic fan. Well, for 15 seconds or so and then I got angry and the feeling passed. Let me explain.

So the pregame player introductions haven't started yet and the Star Spangled Banner hasn't been sung yet but a giant picture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is on the Jumbotron commemorating the holiday when the Garden announcer comes over the speaker system. He reads a little speech in honor of Dr. King and then asks for a 60 second moment of silence. It got deathly quiet. Even the people in the concessions area went quiet.

But the silence was broken after about 45 seconds when some bozo off to my left in the upper balcony screams out "Let's Go Celtics!Beat The Magic!". I was astonished at the lack of respect given but then got truly flabbergasted when similar chants and screams started breaking out throughout the Garden and continued on through the last part of the moment of silence.

Simply put, it was one of the more disrespectful things I had scene a group of Boston fans ever do. What's worse, is that it happened in Boston amongst a crowd that was 97%(estimate) white. I don't care what your race or color is but if you are American you have to acknowledge what a truly great American Dr. King was and the holiday is a very meaningful one paying tribute to a great man and American.

Have some gad dang respect and keep your mouths shut for one minute!!!!

Was that really asking too much.

Then to make matters worse, the place sounded like a museum the entire first half and was as quiet a crowd overall as I have heard there in the last few years.

The irony was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Could be worse...they could be Chicago Bears fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEruLtj7CuU

I watched the clip and I don't really understand what is wrong with this. You mad cause the fans sang along with him? 

[vinnie]

Not sure why anyone is surprised. This is what our society has become. No one respects anyone or anything. Everyone is too caught up in their world, their drama, their music, their space, etc. It's all about me. Look at me on the Internet, listen to me talk loud on my cellphone so everyone knows how important I am, and so on. I am probably one of the older guys on the board, and it pains me when things like this happen. However, I have learned to let it roll off my back. If I didn't, I would be in an insane asylum.

[Rondo9dunx]

Me personally, i'm an athiest, but I dont have a problem with anyone having religious beliefs.

I try not to dwell on anything that doesnt directly affect my day 2 day.


I sleep well at night too

[JHTruth]

I think the whole "moment of silence" thing as opposed to a "moment of prayer" is just the result of a growing number of athiests who are also becoming more tired of having to hear about god everywhere they go. Its somewhat like (to a lesser degree) the same thing minorities, women, homosexuals etc have gone through.. As time goes by more and more people stand up and say ya know what, i'm tired of this, ackowledge my beliefs too, just like you do everyone else.

It's much like the whole "happy holidays" vs "merry christmas" thing you hear people complain about all the time.

More and more people are starting to believe in nothing, basically

LOL. Let's not get too crazy with this talk.

[slamtheking]

I don't think it's so much related to the Celtics as society and idiots in general.

In a crowd the size of the one that attends C's games, there's going to be idiots that cannot manage a minute's worth of self control.  It's sad and pathetic but unfortunately a fact of life today. 

The best option to honor MLK (and Christmas too) is to not play games on those days.  Failing that, asking the crowd for a minute of silence to honor the day isn't asking very much. 

[Fafnir]

Bears fans cheer throughout the anthem, its just what they've done every time I've seen it shown on TV or gone to a game. I'm not sure whats wrong with cheering during the song.

[Eja117]

Bears fans cheer throughout the anthem, its just what they've done every time I've seen it shown on TV or gone to a game. I'm not sure whats wrong with cheering during the song.

The anthem is a more cheerable song, because it's about kicking British wazzoo against all odds.

[dark_lord]

Could be worse...they could be Chicago Bears fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEruLtj7CuU

i think this is awesome!  gives me goosebumps watching. i can only image how it would feel in person.

[MBz]

Not sure why anyone is surprised. This is what our society has become. No one respects anyone or anything. Everyone is too caught up in their world, their drama, their music, their space, etc. It's all about me. Look at me on the Internet, listen to me talk loud on my cellphone so everyone knows how important I am, and so on. I am probably one of the older guys on the board, and it pains me when things like this happen. However, I have learned to let it roll off my back. If I didn't, I would be in an insane asylum.

It's not just your age, I'm 23 and I feel the same way.  It's a selfish world out there now.  No one cares about anyone else.  We just happen to be from a large drinking town which amplifies it by about 10.  The thing that really makes me mad is when older people do things like that.  So youre 18-21, maybe you don't know better. When I see a 40 year old get trashed and do something stupid such as scream during a moment of silence, I get legit embarrassed for them.  It's awful.

[ACF]

Not sure why anyone is surprised. This is what our society has become. No one respects anyone or anything. Everyone is too caught up in their world, their drama, their music, their space, etc. It's all about me. Look at me on the Internet, listen to me talk loud on my cellphone so everyone knows how important I am, and so on. I am probably one of the older guys on the board, and it pains me when things like this happen. However, I have learned to let it roll off my back. If I didn't, I would be in an insane asylum.

It's not just your age, I'm 23 and I feel the same way.  It's a selfish world out there now.  No one cares about anyone else.  We just happen to be from a large drinking town which amplifies it by about 10.  The thing that really makes me mad is when older people do things like that.  So youre 18-21, maybe you don't know better. When I see a 40 year old get trashed and do something stupid such as scream during a moment of silence, I get legit embarrassed for them.  It's awful.

Being drunk is never an excuse, just a cop-out. Chances are those idiots would do the same thing while being completely sober. Drinking doesn't help, though.