Read this a few days ago, was really hoping the thread would die off, but since it didn't I'll give my contrary take:
1. The fact that this was in Boston or that "most of the people were white" are irrelevant, other than in the "man at my home town this happened?"
2. Honestly feel you are making waaaayyyyyy too big of a deal out of this. Most people who get MLK off probably just think of it as an extra holiday (before you complain about it, realize that more important days like Memorial Day and July 4th get the same treatment.) Secondly that guy had probably been drinking and was riled up for the game. Once somebody breaks decorum, the social pressure is gone to stay silent.
3. I think its a mistake to over react to these sort of things generally... one idiot in 20 thousand or so is actually pretty good odds.
So, the whole topic gets a yawn. If you go to the games, expect some people to drink too much and act boorish. And if they are really effecting your game experience tell the ushers and have them bounced. (And maybe the Garden should go ten or thirty seconds... much more realistic target than a full minute.)
I wasn't at that game, but I suspect that the whiteness of the crowd and the fact that the moment of silence was in honor of probably the single most important person in the advancement of racial equality in this country in the past decade played a major role in the embarrassment felt by Nick at the game. Heck, just reading his account of the event made me have a twinge of disgust and embarrassment.
Like it or not, deserved or not, Boston has a reputation as a racist sports town. As a Boston sports fan, in particular a Celtics fan, I'm not proud of our reputation. So an incident like this, however much some of you want to downplay it, can't help dispel the notion that Boston sports fans are a bunch of racist jerks. Even if it was only one obnoxious drunk who started it and a few other obnoxious drunks who chimed in, it reflects badly on all of us.
I share Nick's embarrassment and wish that everyone in attendance at that game could have observed the entire 60 seconds of silence dedicated to the great Dr. King, and then let out a raucous cheer upon it's completion for both the late American hero and our beloved basketball team. Then Nick and the rest of those in attendance could have enjoyed the game with pride and dignity for our city, our country . . . and our basketball team instead of having to sit there with a slightly icky feeling in their throats over what had occurred during the prelude.
Tommy point to Nick for sharing the story and sparking an interesting, useful and informative debate among CelticsBloggists.
Topic: Why I became embarrassed to be a Celtic fan for 15 seconds. (Read 37670 times)