There was only one television channel available when I grew up (we couldn't quite seem to get Jordan, for some reason), so there was very little NBA basketball available. Basically, we'd get some highlights during the year and digests of the finals. When I first started watching as a boy, I really only knew of two teams from two cities I wouldn't even visit for a couple of decades. It's not easy deciding who you're rooting for when your parents aren't quite sure what sport you're talking about and the biggest local aspiration is beating CSKA Moscow.
I remember asking my father who "we're" for, Los Angeles or Boston, and he said that he and my mother had met in Boston, so we must be for Boston. I've been a avid Celtics fan since, in the same way that people all over Asia are devout Manchester United or Juventus fans. It makes no sense, I've never been to the Garden, but I stuck through it for 21 years since their last finals appearance. This morning it paid off.
At about 11:00am Jakarta time, the Celtics finished demolishing the Lakers (!) in game 6 and took their first championship in 22 years. The most glorious NBA season I can recall ended in a perfectly scripted way. True, I would have preferred to do it over a beer in Menlo Park, with better viewing hours and expert analysis from a few Pistons, Jazz and Pacers fans, but I'll take Boston over L.A. by 38 points anywhere.
4 comments:
Congratulations man!
Since my parents haven't met in Boston, I was rooting for them just for your sake!
I'm a Celtics fan too, by association (although this is the first time I actually follow the NBA finals, except for those late 80s Pistons-fame years when I lived in Michigan and desperately tried to "assimilate")! And my favorite player is Leon Powe, whose story of growing up practically homeless and parent-less in Oakland brought tears to my eyes. Go Celtics!
Wow. I always thought that football pundits banter was ridiculously unfathomable. I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
ha, so *that's* why you're a die-hard celtics fan? i've never asked you why, what a great story. i watched them beat "los lackers" in game (4?) in a bar in costa rica and thought of you.
love!
~lil cuz
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