So Much for Celtic Pride
Posted by Blake Murphy on June 23, 2008
This article has been submitted by Chris Pope.
As I embark on writing my first hoops article since arriving here, I can openly admit that I am definitely a little less knowledgeable about the hard court then some of our prestigious writers. I would also like to apologize for the article being late. Work has been putting my opinion on hold.
However, that is not going to stop me from telling you exactly what I thought of the post game festivities in game six in Boston.
When the finals were set, I was one of the select few that were upset not to see a Pistons – Spurs finals. The main reason I was rooting for the Pistons and Spurs was basically because that was exactly the last thing David Stern wanted to happen. Not to mention, every year it seems most fans continue to hate on the Spurs and almost everyone outside of the ‘D’ always forget to mention the Pistons when talking about the leagues elite because of the lack of star power.
With the beloved Raps out of the playoffs long ago, I was left with having to choose to cheer for the Celtics or Lakers. The way that Chris Wallace basically handed Pau Gasol over to the Lakers like it was Christmas Eve in a soup kitchen hit me the wrong way. That along with Ray Allen, KG and Pierce all going for the first ring made me want the Celtics to win.
That is until it actually happened.
As the seconds fell off the clock in the fourth quarter and Boston was on the way to the largest margin of victory in a NBA championship deciding game, the bar started erupting in excitement with many Celtics fans clapping and chanting, “Na na na na hey hey hey…goodbye.” This led to many of the Lakers fans in fact, saying goodbye.
The clock reads zero, the ball is in the air, people are rushing onto the floor and then it happens. Kevin Garnett runs off the bench and drops at centre court to kiss the Celtics symbol as if he had been with the franchise since his first NBA game and been through the rough times, lived and breathed Celtic pride, as if he had never played for another franchise. But none of that is true. This was his first season in Boston. He was not standing next to Doc and P-squared last year through the death of the great Red Auerbach and the dismal 24-58 record.
Watching that made me think that I had seen something similar back in the day … say maybe around 1996. Wait. That was Michael Jordan after his first championship since the murder of his father.
Hey Kevin, you are no way near half of the basketball player Michael Jordan was and you never will be. Please never try and be Michael again, we already have Kobe trying to be like Mike.
The Big Ticket is then being interviewed by Michele Tafoya and decides that it’s necessary to not answer her question but scream at the top of his lungs with tears in his eyes that are hidden by his hat that looks to be 10 sizes too big, “Anything’s possiblllllllle” numerous times.
Then came the real shocker.
Bill Russell makes his way over to KG through the horde of people to congratulate Garnett on something Russell did 11 times (in 13 years). What does Garnett do? No, he doesn’t realize he is among a (in the best impression of WWE’s JBL) basketball god and thank Russell for everything he has done in his life but he hugs Russell and tells him, “I got one of my own now; I got one of my own baby.” Instead of gloating to one of the all-time greats, Garnett should have been humble enough to speak to Russell as the god his is.
Dare I say it again, hey Kevin, you are no way near half of the basketball player Bill Russell was and you never will be.
Then came the trophy ceremony when the trophy was being passed by the team, KG grabbed it with his two hands and held it high as he looked into the rafters hoarding it from the rest of his teammates instead of sharing in the glory.
In my mind, all of these things piled together in a matter of 15 minutes of selfishness by Kevin Garnett definitely made me wish that it was Kobe and the Lakers that had won the Championship. At least then we would be expecting the cockiness.
This article has been submitted by Chris Pope.
June 23, 2008 at 2:12 pm
“The way that Chris Wallace basically handed Pau Gasol over to the Lakers like it was Christmas Eve in a soup kitchen hit me the wrong way.”
Hahah, nothing sums up my feelings about this trade more than this.
June 23, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Chris, I have to say man, I really disagree with this piece. While it may have been over the top, it’s my opinion that all rules are out the window when you win a championship - you simply can’t expect these guys to keep their emotions in tact after 100+ games of working towards a goal and then achieving it. Yes, some level of conduct and decorum must be enforced, but I draw the line well after what the Celtics did last week.
June 23, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I can see where you are coming from Blake as I too welcome emotions after a championship but to be quite honest, KG didn’t really impress me that much in the playoffs and especially the finals. I love the intensity he brings and love the fact that he is actually passionate about the game. I just disagree with the way that he carried himself. Sure show emotion but show class! You didn’t see Nick Lidstrom push the little midget out of the way and steal the cup and scream “Tre kronor” and tell Yzerman that he was better then Stevey Y.
I was happy to see the Celts win, but look at Allen, he probably had a bigger impact in the finals and carried himself like a gentlemen. Was he just as psyched to win? For sure. Did he show that he is more mature then Garnett? Yes. KG needs to give up this whole I’m 14 and I need to be the centre of attention 24-7.
That’s all.
June 23, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I can definitely see where you’re coming from - Pierce and Allen should have been the focal point, and KG acted the part of middle child. THat much I agree with. I just have trouble calling it inappropriate when the guy just achieved a life-long dream.
June 23, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Agreed. Im over the crying, hell if I won a major championship I’d be crying more than Vince Carter after a foul! But the kissing of the symbol and the disrespect to Russell, I just don’t dig that part. But I guess the media is half to blame too with showing more attention to him then to Pierce and Allen.
June 27, 2008 at 12:00 am
Pope, you’ve done it again! Pretty much sums up my feelings about KG to a T. I wanted the Celtic to win, I honestly did. But once it all was said and done and instead of the spotlight being on a franchise that has been in the dumps for the past 20+ it was all about the camera’s running after Garnett throwing a tantrum by himself. I would have much rather seen the team celebrate together than him running around kissing the floor and crying like a baby to the camera. Go kiss your teammates, thank the fans and appreciate what you have just won with the guys that helped you win it.
The last time I looked basketball was a team sport and it required 5 guys on the floor at a time per team. It looks like in Garnett’s eyes it was him vs. the world… Maybe thats why he never won ANYTHING with the Timberwolves, he needed other superstars around him like Allen and Pierce. But by the looks of it he doesn’t appreciate them at all.