Do the Celtics still matter in Boston?

[CantBeRight]

We have Molly McGrath...

[gpap]

They still matter however nowhere near the level of the Patriots, Red Sox and I dare say even the Bruins.

There are two main reasons for this as other fans have astutely pointed out in this thread (good topic by the way)

1.) Boston has never been a basketball city. Not sure why, but for some reason the sport has always played fourth banana to football, baseball and hockey

2.) Right now, the Celtics just aren't an exciting team. To avid fans like us on Celtics Blog, it's easy to rally behind and/or pick apart everything about the team because we are true fans. But to the casual fan, right now the Celtics just aren't floating anyone's boat and I really don't blame them. Like another fan said, I watch every game and admittedly get bored watching them sometimes.

How could this be remedied?

Well, not much can be done about Beantown not digging hoops BUT if the Celtics acquire another "sexy" name/s (similar to when we got KG/Ray back in '07) and/or draft a projected franchise player, certainly interest will increase.

Unfortunately, right now the "casual" fan plays a vital role in a team's following and for whatever reason the Bruins have become the new "pink hat destination."

But remember, if the Bruins and/or Patriots start losing and the Celts win championships again, that all changes.

As for the Red Sox, let's not forget their popularity has died down alot since 2007 (it doesn't help when they give up a 9 game wildcard lead in September and follow that with a 69 win season.)

For the record, I am a basketball guy all the way

[crownsy]

I'm surprised to hear that the Bruins are trouncing the Celtics in ratings.  I know that the Sox and the Pats are more popular, but, really?  Losing to hockey?

Bruins are a young, exciting team whose fanbase has been starving for a good team for about 25 years.

Their main core (segin, lucic, berg, rask, noseface, hamilton, david kreci) are all under 28 I believe, with some being under 24.

They play tough, exciting hockey, and they are very, very good and trending "up". Not surprising to me the pink hats jumped off the Celtics band wagon and onto theirs when they won the cup.

[Lightskinsmurf]

They still matter however nowhere near the level of the Patriots, Red Sox and I dare say even the Bruins.

There are two main reasons for this as other fans have astutely pointed out in this thread (good topic by the way)

1.) Boston has never been a basketball city. Not sure why, but for some reason the sport has always played fourth banana to football, baseball and hockey

2.) Right now, the Celtics just aren't an exciting team. To avid fans like us on Celtics Blog, it's easy to rally behind and/or pick apart everything about the team because we are true fans. But to the casual fan, right now the Celtics just aren't floating anyone's boat and I really don't blame them. Like another fan said, I watch every game and admittedly get bored watching them sometimes.

How could this be remedied?

Well, not much can be done about Beantown not digging hoops BUT if the Celtics acquire another "sexy" name/s (similar to when we got KG/Ray back in '07) and/or draft a projected franchise player, certainly interest will increase.

Unfortunately, right now the "casual" fan plays a vital role in a team's following and for whatever reason the Bruins have become the new "pink hat destination."

But remember, if the Bruins and/or Patriots start losing and the Celts win championships again, that all changes.

As for the Red Sox, let's not forget their popularity has died down alot since 2007 (it doesn't help when they give up a 9 game wildcard lead in September and follow that with a 69 win season.)

For the record, I am a basketball guy all the way

Same here, I never get bored watching the patriots tho. Basketball doesn't reach the same excitement level of football to me until the playoffs start.

[CelticConcourse]

The Celtics might not be so important in Boston (I don't really know, I'm not from Boston) but they have one of the biggest international/national followings.

When the Celtics are on the road, especially in rival cities like Atlanta, New York or Los Angeles, they get a lot of support. And in littler areas like New Orleans or Charlotte, they also get support. Then, around the world they have backing like in the Netherlands or the Philippines.

But maybe not Boston.

[gpap]

We have Molly McGrath...

Yup, and man she is fine

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, send em' to Virginia, then.

We'd LOOOOVVEE them here..

[TitleMaster]

Well, if it helps, I only watch basketball. I only watch the other sports with friends, to socialize a bit. Otherwise, I could care less.

[Smokeeye123]

I'm surprised to hear that the Bruins are trouncing the Celtics in ratings.  I know that the Sox and the Pats are more popular, but, really?  Losing to hockey?

Bruins are a young, exciting team whose fanbase has been starving for a good team for about 25 years.

Their main core (segin, lucic, berg, rask, noseface, hamilton, david kreci) are all under 28 I believe, with some being under 24.

They play tough, exciting hockey, and they are very, very good and trending "up". Not surprising to me the pink hats jumped off the Celtics band wagon and onto theirs when they won the cup.

Exactly, Bruins are young exciting and good. Should be cup contenders for at least the next 5 years.

Boston in general though is more of a gritty brotherly love city like Philly. That's why Hockey and Baseball are the most popular there. Would LOVE to see the Penguins and Bruins face in the playoffs.

[KGs Knee]

I don't know why people get defensive about Felger mocking the NBA   Holley used to mock Hockey all the time.

Basketball is good.  Hockey sucks.  It's okay to mock hockey.

I can could just as easily say hockey is king, basketball sucks.  Neither one is any more right than the other, except in our own minds.  That's how opinions work.

Personally, I pretty much equally love basketball and hockey.  Both are second to football though.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

The Celtics might not be so important in Boston (I don't really know, I'm not from Boston) but they have one of the biggest international/national followings.

When the Celtics are on the road, especially in rival cities like Atlanta, New York or Los Angeles, they get a lot of support. And in littler areas like New Orleans or Charlotte, they also get support. Then, around the world they have backing like in the Netherlands or the Philippines.

But maybe not Boston.

The NEW ORLEANS ARENA last night was filled with celtics fans including myself. tons of us here.

[CelticConcourse]

The Celtics might not be so important in Boston (I don't really know, I'm not from Boston) but they have one of the biggest international/national followings.

When the Celtics are on the road, especially in rival cities like Atlanta, New York or Los Angeles, they get a lot of support. And in littler areas like New Orleans or Charlotte, they also get support. Then, around the world they have backing like in the Netherlands or the Philippines.

But maybe not Boston.

The NEW ORLEANS ARENA last night was filled with celtics fans including myself. tons of us here.

Every arena is filled with Celtics fans. Gotta love that! I bet most of us here aren't even from Boston. (POLL TIME!)

[D.o.s.]

Because the rubes prefer other sports, and they've got us outnumbered. 

[Eja117]

The Bruins are doing awesome. The Pats just went through some major Welker drama and did some other notable stuff, and the Sox just started playing again for the first time in a while with a new manager. The Celts lost three guys to injury. This is exactly as I would expect right now.

[dark_lord]

i could care less what other people watch. i watch the celts, period.