I love the Cooz ...

... but hindsight does not cast him in a favorable light if you peruse this morning's edition of the Globe (boston.com):

It was one year ago on draft night that Ainge had us all scratching our heads when he traded the No. 5 pick for Ray Allen. At that hour, Ainge was Danny the Doofus, harpooned from baseline to baseline. We wondered why the Celtics were getting older. We wondered about Allen's double ankle surgery.

Ainge came away with Glen "Big Baby" Davis in the second round and said, "He has big upside."

Yeah, we snickered. Big backside, too.

I ripped Ainge and the owners for lying about holding onto the pick, then wrote, "If they don't get Garnett, if this really is it . . . the Celtics look ridiculous."

I also questioned the team for accommodating Paul Pierce, comparing the Celtics to Tom Yawkey's Country Club Red Sox.

Bob Cousy was no fan of the Ainge plan that night. The Cooz said, "I don't have that kind of confidence in aging free agents, especially guys like Garnett or Allen who haven't won anything. I would rather have seen them continue with the youth movement and take the kid from China [Yi Jianlian]."

Yikes ... Would it be safe to assume that Mr. Cousy wishes he could rethink taking that stance?

Victory: a Game Six collage

The World Wide Web has been abuzz since the end of the Finals ... Here's some snapshots of the various online reactions to Banner No. 17 (in previous collages I went with seventeen individual screengrabs, but - now that the symbolism no longer applies as a "good luck charm" - let's double that up to 34 in honor of our Finals MVP):

Click here for larger image (2.5 MB)

Screengrabs were taken from the following sources:

nba.com
comcastsportsnet.viewernetwork.net
foxsports.com
cafepress.com
sportingnews.com
dimemag.com
sports.aol.com
lakersground.net
sportsillustrated.cnn.com
en.wikipedia.org
yardbarker.com
thelakersnation.com
mvn.com
usatoday.com
deadspin.com
bostonherald.com
boston.com
the-w.com
bostonsportsmedia.com
ebay.com
sports.espn.go.com
sportsbybrooks.com
latimes.com
fark.com
tinypic.com
telegram.com
sports.yahoo.com
sports.yahoo.com (2)
dailynews.com
celticsblog.com
youtube.com
ocregister.com
redsarmy.wordpress.com
forumblueandgold.com

XVII

Okay, I just woke up (as you can imagine, it was pretty tough to get to bed last night), so I'll make this brief and somewhat coherent ...

I've been doing this online thing for about a dozen years now; I started up a rinky-dink little website dedicated to the team back when ML Carr was spouting off about leading a "championship-driven" ballclub. I've seen just about the worst this ballclub has had to offer in its storied history ... I would dream about the Celtics rising once again to the top of the mountain, hope for it, yearn for it.

Now that it's here, it's pretty much as good as I was hoping it would be.

Time to celebrate, Celtics fans, it's been a long time coming ... plus, it's time to prepare for the Drive to 18 (somebody better pounce on that URL right quick before I do)!

Hey, I'm from Worcester ...

Image from telegram.com

Nerves be damned, bring on Game Six!

So, it's back to Beantown then ...

The C's had their chances, as they were able to withstand another strong first-quarter performance by the Lakers (this time the early deficit only reached 19 points), but ultimately could not put this game to bed and wound up on the losing end of a 98-103 decision (sports.yahoo.com) ...

I suppose I could take a cue from the likes of Phil Jackson and Sasha Vujacic, bitching and whining about the non-call on Kobe Bryant's "steal" against Pierce in the closing moments ... And really, I feel I would be well within my rights, as our captain was playing the game of his life (he finished with 38 points on 10-for-22 shooting) and had the ball in his hands in the final minute with the C's only down two; however, the Black Mamba slithered his way in from behind - without even touching the ball once (youtube.com) - and caused Paul to lose control of the ball. Lamar Odom then picked it up and passed up ahead to a streaking Bryant for the two-hand slam that pretty much sealed the deal (95-99 :37.4).

However, it doesn't take a genius to realize that the refs aren't going to call those types of fouls in the closing moments of a pivotal playoff game. Besides, I refuse to sully the Celtics' magnificent postseason run by taking the cowards' way out and blaming the officials ... Donaghy or no Donaghy, there was no fix in on this night; as has been proven the case over and over during these Finals, the more aggressive team winds up victorious, and - sadly - the Lakers took that distinction last night.

So now, both teams are heading back to the East Coast with the title hanging in the balance, and maybe it's the old Boston paranoia rearing up within me, but I suddenly find myself very nervous about the prospects of the Lakers receiving new life and getting two more shots at pulling off the impossible (no NBA team has ever come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals before, with the superior team going a perfect 28-0 in such a situation thus far) ... Of course, the C's could do a lot to calm my nerves if they would just stop spotting the Lakers a huge lead at the start of the game; seriously guys, I know everyone's banged up - Perkins did not play due to his strained shoulder and may not play tomorrow (boston.com) - but please come out like gangbusters at the start of Game Six and just put these suckas out of their misery.

Doc Rivers demonstrating that Phil Jackson is, in fact, a jerk-off

I feel like, at this point in the "Drive for 17" (TM), I'm the little kid in the backseat who keeps repeating "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" ... It's been a fun ride, but I'm ready to pull into our parking spot and get this drive over with!

Three down, one to go.

Doc a member of the blogosphere?

Via the Boston Herald website:

Rondo, who has written a blog for yardbarker.com since at least his rookie year, and has blogged on his own Web site (rajonrondo9.com) since the conference finals, truly seems to be enjoying life on the blogosphere.

“I’ll do one after the game,” he said. “It’s just a way to reach out to my fans, that’s all. I’m not thrilled with writing - I was always more of a math student - but it’s good.

“I won’t get to Gilbert (Arenas’) level, though.”

Considering how the flamboyant Wizards guard has used his nba.com blog to, among other things, predict victories, that’s probably a good thing.

By the way, don’t expect to read a Rivers blog anytime soon.

“I have one, but no one knows about it,” he said. “Yeah, it’s definitely a matter of different generations with that. I don’t (interfere) with any of that with the guys, so long as what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas, if you know what I mean.”

The Lakers couldn't do that ...

The Lakers tried to come back from a 24-point deficit in Game Two - and almost succeeded - but the Celts were able to lock down in the closing moments and held onto their lead for the win.

That's the difference between them and these Celtics, who were down 21-to-45 at one point in the second quarter (on the road, mind you) but came roaring all the way back for the greatest comeback in recorded Finals history (sports.yahoo.com) to take a commanding 3-1 series lead ...

I don't even know where to begin ... Should I talk about the smothering defense the Celtics played in the second half (they finally answered my prayers and stopped giving the Lakers open three-point attempts)? How about old-man PJ Brown posterizing Kobe Bryant and dunking right in his face (okay, the dunk wasn't quite in Kobe's face, but close enough for me) to cap a 31-15 third quarter which sliced their 40-58 halftime deficit down to just two points (71-73)? Or should I mention Ray Allen simply blowing by Sasha Vujacic - with minimal effort - for an uncontested layup that gave Boston the five-point lead (96-91 :16.4) that pretty much sealed the win? Maybe I can pontificate upon the previously-mentioned Vujacic crying like a baby on the bench after making said defensive abortion (I could go on about that particular display [youtube.com] for hours on end)?

Seriously, this was such a statement game for the Celts (whom the media "experts" basically gave no shot at winning the title) that I can hardly contain myself ... I'm afraid that if I blink then this will all go away.

But it's not going away, not ever. Mark it in the record books, Boston rose to the occasion while the Lakers could do nothing but watch ... The "Drive to 17" (TM) isn't over yet, but it's oh so painfully close, I can see the parking spot.

Three down, one to go.

A little humor before Game Four ...

Space Jam Actor Larry Bird Spotted At Game 2 Of NBA Finals (theonion.com):

BOSTON—Actor Larry Bird, best known for his portrayal of Larry Bird in the 1996 film Space Jam, Larry Bird in the 1994 basketball drama Blue Chips, and Larry Bird in the 1996 comedy Celtic Pride, attended Game 2 of the NBA Finals Sunday night. "We were in the team huddle, and I look up, and there's Hollywood legend Larry Bird—the actor who played golf with basketball player Michael Jordan in Space Jam before Jordan got sucked into the hole that dropped him into Looneyland," said guard Ray Allen, adding that his teammates then began imitating Bird's delivery of the his signature "Where'd he go?" line from the film. "Of course, he got a huge standing ovation from the crowd when they announced his name. He was great in that movie." Bird had no comment when asked if he had any new projects in the works, only telling reporters that he was at the game to see if the actor from He Got Game was any good.

Beating on L.A. (boston.com):

Just sitting here, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the NBA Finals to depart Sodom and Gomorrah and get back here to Siddown and Begorrah.

How awful was that Tuesday night? You turn on the TV to watch some of the world's greatest athletes, and just as Kobe starts defying gravity and Ray Allen starts draining jumpers, the camera cuts away to . . .

Dyan Cannon!

Dyan Cannon? Not to be cruel, but I thought she died, like, 15 years ago.

The words "aging gracefully" and "Hollywood" have never appeared in the same sentence. They can do amazing stuff with makeup on the West Coast. But then so can my pal, the great Bill Lawler, a West Roxbury mortician.

Honest to God, when was the last time you saw Dyan Cannon in anything besides a Lakers game? I think she was in that movie, "Bob & Ted & Carol & Lakeesha," the publicity shots for which showed four people in bed together. The movie was made in 1969 and so that was considered risqué. Four people in a bed today is what BU and BC call off-campus housing in Brighton.

Watching a Lakers game on network television is like watching an old Pavarotti concert on PBS and just as the big guy hits the first of nine consecutive high C's in "La Fille du Regiment," the camera cuts away to . . .

Pauly Shore at Wolf Trap!

Opera singers often say "In boca del lupo," or, into the mouth of the wolf, to wish each other luck as they go onstage. The Celtics should say "In boca del pazzo" as they head up the tunnel in the Staples Center, because they are walking into a sea of lunatics. I can't take two more nights of this, but given that KG and Paul Pierce couldn't hit the side of a barn on Tuesday, there's no alternative.

I don't know about you, but I couldn't get enough of the plugs those paragons of sports journalism at ABC and ESPN gave that new movie, "Wall-E." I like money as much as the next guy, but those announcers and their shameless pitching and cringe-inducing segues reminded me of hookers who take cash from the wallets of sleeping clients and count it on the way out of the hotel room.

Speaking of hotels and hookers, the last time I was in L.A., I ordered room service and turned on the television. Over a lovely plate of huevos rancheros, I laughed hysterically at what I assumed was a comedy show until I realized it was . . .

THE LOCAL NEWS!

It was summer and the lead story was very original, a live remote about how hot it was outside. A "reporter" was shown dousing passersby with a hose. It was the kind of broadcast journalism that would have made Edward R. Murrow weep with pride. Or something.

Back in the studio, the weather lady was wearing an outfit normally worn by hookers in Chinatown. Her midriff was bare, so instead of paying attention to the area of high pressure moving in from the Rockies, I kept staring at her stomach, trying to determine if she had an innie or an outtie.

Back to the Staples Center, which, for all you hayseeds, does not refer to a store where you buy ink cartridges. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the arena where the Lakers play is actually named for a surgical device used to hold together the impossibly preserved faces of the people they keep showing on TV.

I know the celebrity cutaways at the Garden can't hold a candle to the Staples Center in terms of star power.

But you know what? I'd take that big lug Schilling and his wife, Shonda, over those Left Coast phonies in a heartbeat.

Besides, when's the last time Dyan Cannon pitched a World Series game with her ankle looking like an aging starlet's face before the plastic surgeon puts the staples in?

Disappointing, but not wholly unexpected ...

There's a reason that the Lakers have made it up to this point, as they haven't lost a game at home since March 28th ... That includes a perfect 9-0 during the postseason, as the Not Ready for Kobe Bryant Players took care of business in their return to the Staples Center and defeated the Celtics, 81 to 87 (sports.yahoo.com).

The Black Mamba finally contributed an MVP-type performance (36 PTS, 12-20 FG, 7 REB), including - surprise surprise - getting to the free throw line 18 times, eleven more than he had in Game Two (but he did miss seven of those freebies) ... Meanwhile, Garnett (13 PTS, 6-21 FG, 12 REB) and Pierce (6 PTS, 2-14 FG, 0-4 3PTers) did not exactly play the best games of their respective careers, and - as if we needed another injury - Rajon Rondo appeared to sprain his left ankle early in the third quarter and was largely ineffective (22 MIN, 8 PTS, 4-8 FG, 4 AST, 2 TO).

If you put all of those factors together, and combine it with the fact that the Lakers were simply the more aggressive team (despite my previous statments about Kobe at the line, I'm not going to pull a Phil Jackson and blame this loss on the officiating), then you wind up with LA getting themselves back into this series ... A shame too, as I must admit that I had visions dancing in my head of the C's starting these Finals up three games to none, thus erasing any doubt about who's going to wind up hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the end.

Still, if Eddie House had knocked down that jumper with about two and a half minutes left in the game, that would have tied the score at 78 apiece (and those visions might have turned into a reality) ... Instead, his attempt rimmed out, while at the other end the C's (suffering a confouding defensive breakdown) allowed Sasha Vujacic to have a wide-open three-point shot; it really turns my stomach to think about all these open looks that the Lakers have been getting behind the three-point line, and this one was no different, as Sasha knocked it down to give LA the lead for good (76-81 1:53).

So, I guess my hopes of a sweep were a tad unrealistic. However, it's not all doom and gloom from me in this blog post ... As aggressive as Kobe was taking the ball to the basket, if we saw the best that his supporting cast has to muster (Pau "Wipe My" Gasol and Victor Von Odom combined for just 13 points on 5-for-18 shooting) then Lakers fans should have no reason to believe that their team can win three straight at home.

Hey, I think the Pistons series proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the C's can take care of business on the road ... all that's left now is to start showing that on Thursday!

Despite what transpired last night, the goal remains the same: Two down. Two to go.

Are the Celtics TRYING to give me a heart attack?!?

Okay, first let's get to the good stuff: the C's took care of business and protected the home court, resulting in a 2-0 lead in these NBA Finals ... and a large part of last night's Game Two victory can be attributed to the hustle and determination of one Leon Powe, who seemingly came out of nowhere - at least according to Lakers fans - and contributed 21 points (6-7 FG, 9-13 FT) in only 15 minutes for the game of his career.

His great play - and LA's porous defense - can be encapsulated by a coast to coast dunk in the third quarter (youtube.com) ... A thing of beauty.

HOWEVER, I would be remiss if I did not mention the a-doings that transpired in the fourth quarter (painful though that may be) ... With the crowd enjoying themselves in the comfort of what seemed to be a win readily at hand (it was a 24-point Boston advantage with 7:55 remaining in the fourth quarter), the Celts decided to play with their fans' emotions and stopped doing, well, pretty much everything.

I guess Doc needed to remind the boys that the game isn't over until the clock reads "00:00", as they were leaving the Lakers' shooters wide open for three-pointer after three-pointer, and very nearly succumbed to an epic collapse, eerily similar to the Lakers' previous 20-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs earlier in these very playoffs (sports.yahoo.com) ... Luckily, it didn't come to that, as the Celts were able to catch themselves in the closing moments and eventually secure a six-point win, 108 to 102 (sports.yahoo.com).

Heart palpatations aside, you have to feel good if you're rooting on the Green and White ... The team is now just two wins away from (gasp!) Banner No. 17. So, let's leave that little nastiness at the end of Game Two behind us and steal a couple wins in La-La Land, shall we?!?

The Cooz, immortalized in bronze (with pics and video)

These words are written on the base of the bronze statue unveiled during yesterday's emotional ceremony (holycross.edu):

As a legendary athlete, his creative genius and skills catapulted the Crusaders to national prominence and transformed his beloved Boston Celtics into a celebrated professional basketball dynasty. A man respected for his commitment to assisting those in need and for his inspirational efforts to eradicate racism, Bob Cousy will forever reflect the values that the College of the Holy Cross endeavors to instill in its sons and daughters.

ROBERT J. COUSY, THE HUMANITARIAN

His actions have demonstrated time and again that he would fihgt for social justice, help the impoverished and put his arm around a young boy or girl in need. He emerged as a national leader in the Big Brother/Big Sister movement, bringing many youngsters into his home. Bob helped raise substantial funding for innumerable programs that benefit the disadvantaged. After his playing and coaching days, Bob remained in the limelight as a highly respected television commentator, an author of several books and a goodwill ambassador for basketball.

THE COOZ, AN ATHLETE WITH FLAIR

A standout on the Holy Cross 1947 NCAA Championship team.
A charter member of the Holy Cross Varsity Club's Hall of Fame.
A three-time All-American at Holy Cross.
The man who transformed basketball into an art form.
Inducted in 1971 into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Pioneer who ignited the NBA's international success.
Captain of the legendary Celtic dynasty.
"Mr. Basketball" sparked Boston to six NBA titles.
An NBA All-Star for all 13 seasons of his career.
All-Star game MVP in 1954 and 1957.
NBA Most Valuable Player in 1957.
In 1996 named one of the 50 best NBA players of all time.
Coached professional and collegiate basketball.

BY JOHN W. GEARAN '65

Mister Cousy adds a little levity to the festivities (there was one biting jab he made that I wish I had gotten on video, but instead I'll try to paraphrase it here for posterity's sake: I heard that they were originally going to put this statue in front of Dinand Library, but I nixed that idea quickly, or else I would've never been able to find the damn thing!)

Cousy acknowledges the sculptor of the statue

Cousy is humbled by the experience

Cousy applauds the Holy Cross athletics program ... just don't let Bill Simmons hear about this (sports.espn.go.com)

The actual unveiling, performed by Cousy, his wife, and two daughters

Cousy to be honored with statue at alma mater on Saturday

Interrupting my euphoria over last night's Game One victory, I found this message in my mailbox from Michael C. McFarland, president of the College of the Holy Cross (holycross.edu):

On Saturday morning, a life-sized bronze statue of basketball great Bob Cousy '50 --- commissioned and funded by a group of Bob Cousy's friends working with President Emeritus John E. Brooks, S.J. '49 --- will be unveiled on campus in front of the Hart Center on Saturday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m. during a brief ceremony.

The College has been supporting the work of the "Cousy Statue Committee," and we are pleased to see their work come to fruition. With this statue, Bob Cousy is recognized not only for his extraordinary basketball career at Holy Cross and with the Boston Celtics, but also for his generous and long-term commitment to the Worcester community (his adopted hometown), his efforts to integrate the NBA racially during its early years and other work for justice.

Although this ceremony may be overshadowed somewhat (what with all of the hooplah over the Finals taking place) I certainly plan on attending ... Hopefully, I'll have some photos of the event to share with all of you!

Nothing can stop The Truth (not even Perkins)

"Deflated" isn't a strong-enough word to describe my mood upon seeing our captain crumple into camera row after big Perk landed on his foot during the third quarter when attempting to block a shot.

After reading story (boston.com) upon story (telegram.com) applauding Pierce for sticking with this team and finally being rewarded with a chance to play in the Finals, it seemed as though that chance was going to be ripped away before he even had an opportunity to complete a single game in the series ... He had just caught on fire, too, scoring eight straight points in like a minute and a half (including a four-point play that was correctly called, imagine that!), but that elation quickly morphed into devastation as he needed the help of his teammates - and a wheelchair - in order to get to the locker room.

However, the bad times didn't last long, as Pierce almost immediately returned to the game - to the roar of the crowd - and knocked down consecutive three-point baskets as the C's were eventually able to secure a Game One victory, 98 to 88 (sports.yahoo.com); one down, three to go!

Of course, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Celtics fans can look upon this as a game-altering recovery from injury, while followers of the Purple and Gold will so easily dismiss it as shenanigans (latimes.com):

He lay in a heap on the parquet floor, visibly weeping into the silk-suited sleeve of his doctor.

He was pushed in a wheelchair down a narrow back hallway, head down, season over.

Paul Pierce, the Boston Celtics captain, was carried from the opening game of the NBA Finals in the third quarter Thursday with an apparent serious knee injury that momentarily deadened and distracted the Lakers.

At which point, Pierce came running back to finish them off.

To nearly 50 years of delicious Celtics-Lakers lore, add a new apparent bit of chicanery.

Call it the Fake N'Shake.

The Celtics won Game 1, 98-88, on the momentum of a recovery that smacked more of professional wrestling than professional basketball.

When Pierce crumpled on the floor after being apparently faked out of his kneecap by Kobe Bryant with 6:52 left in the third quarter, the Lakers led by four points.

When he returned after just 1:45 had ticked off the game clock, the Celtics led by one.

The "Rocky" theme played. The crowd roared. Pierce hobbled out with drama dripping from every step.

He was so hurt, he immediately began sprinting around the stunned Lakers defenders.

He was in such pain, he hit consecutive three pointers late in the period that gave the Celtics the lead for good.

At which point, a Lakers season filled with colorful adjectives had been reduced to one word.

C'mon!

Afterward, Pierce played the part of the resurrected hero, shaking his head at the wonder of it all.

"You know, I think God sent this angel down and said, 'Hey, you're going to be all right, you need to get back out there, show them what you've got,' " he said.

The Lakers, meanwhile, were just shaking their heads, period.

"You know, you don't know what happens," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said of Pierce. "Guys can break a shoelace and go out, the pants break down, a drawstring falls apart."

Whatever you say, Bill Plaschke, let me just bring up one point ... On SportsCenter this morning, Stuart Scott asked Laker legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson point-blank if Paul's return to the court was a "Willis Reed-esque moment" (en.wikipedia.org). Magic's one-word response? "Absolutely."

The Onion comments on the Finals ...

"Probably not a shot-for-shot remake of the classic 1980s Finals" (theonion.com):

BOSTON CELTICS

• The Lakers might have one of the deepest benches in the league, but that's nothing $1.87 million worth of thumbtacks can't take care of
• Take care of the ball, because it can turn on you in an instant
• Just win it in four straight games so we can get this shit over with
• Listen to coach Doc Rivers, then do the opposite
• Buy up every single hotel room in New England, forcing the Lakers to commute from Staten Island
• Kevin Garnett is the best big man on the floor, so the Celtics don't have to worry about game plans or execution or anything like that

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

• Though the Celtics' "Big Three" is certainly daunting, make sure not to ignore their "Little Three," because then they would have six men on the court
• Lamar Odom gotta do his thang
• Must make it clear to Sasa Vujacic that if he doesn't step up, they will send him back to wherever he goddam ned came from
• Just always have the ball
• Phil Jackson must not achieve oneness with the universe now, when his team needs his mortal body on the physical plane
• Attempt to contain Ray Allen by grabbing his arms and making him punch himself in the face while saying "stop fouling yourself"
  

Try to stay awake tonight ...

Image from telegram.com

Yes, we've got Amy Poehler in our corner!

The Lakers can have Jack Nicholson, I'll take Miss Poehler any day of the week (bostonherald.com) ...

Burlington homegal Amy Poehler is rooting for the Celtics [team stats], but she flat-out refuses to see her hometown hoopsters play in Los Angeles next week.

“I do not want to go anywhere near the Lakers’ home court,” the Green Team fan told the Track last night at the opening of the Kiehl’s store in her ol’ stomping grounds, the Burlington Mall. “But I looooooove watching Boston sports over the summer.”

I still think my favorite Poehler SNL moment was when she mentioned attending a Bon Jovi concert at the Worcester Centrum (snltranscripts.jt.org) ... She pronounced it "WUSS-tah" and everything. Nice.

Anyway, so that gives us Poehler and Donnie Wahlberg ... Uh, any other celebrity Celtics fans?

Ooh, how could I forget ... Barack Obama (sports.yahoo.com)!

Red versus the Zen Master

Phil Jackson has a chance to win the most titles of any coach in NBA history (foxsports.com) ... Help Mister Auerbach prevent that from happening by chucking his vast collection of Larry O'Brien Trophies right at Jackson's fat head!

INSTRUCTIONS
Move left and right using the mouse, and press the mouse button to shoot. Avoid the floating disembodied Jackson heads while collecting power-ups (the Celtics logo)!

Select "Full Screen" under "Menu" for best results ...

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Ray Allen

So Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant have a bit of a feud going (metrowestdailynews.com), eh? Well, help No. 20 work out some of that aggression upside the Black Mamba’s head!

INSTRUCTIONS
Use the A and S keys on your keyboard to punch, and your up and down arrow keys to move back and forth.

Why do players do this?

Image from sports.yahoo.com

Professional athletes have always been a superstitious and cowardly lot, so why on Earth would they potentially "jinx" themselves by posing with the NBA trophy before they've even played a single game of the Finals?

Seriously, even if you don't believe in hexes and curses, at the very least it makes the player look like they've somehow earned the right to place their grubby little mitts on the trophy just by making it to the Finals ... Hasn't everyone on both teams proclaimed that "they've achieved nothing" and that "the goal hasn't been reached yet"? If that's the case, then why be seen with the trophy when it's not yet in your possession?

So far, I haven't seen any photos of Celtics players posing with the Larry O'Brien trophy (but feel free to post links in the comments section below if you have) ... Something tells me that Ray and Paul and Kevin aren't willing to get within ten yards of the thing until they've actually EARNED the right to do so.

To be honest, I would have preferred playing the Spurs ...

Hey, I'll admit it, I was hoping that the Spurs would have been able to come back from their 3-1 deficit against Los Angeles (sports.yahoo.com) and advance to the Finals. However, it's not because I believed that San Antonio would have been an easier opponent for the Celtics to handle should they also advance (although that might have played a small role in it) ... Instead, this would have been the final nail in the coffin of the "Tim Duncan Era" that has plagued this franchise since '97.

Sure, there have been other (much more tragic) occurrences that have affected the C's since their last Finals appearance, but this one had its own special "sting" to it ... Duncan was supposed to be the knight in shining (green) armor that was going to swoop in and make Boston relevant in the playoff picture again.

Instead, the ping-pong balls betrayed us, and the Spurs became the beneficiary of his greatness ... Eleven seasons (and four rings) later, Celtics fans could do nothing but watch as their alleged "savior" secured championship after championship for another team.

If that wasn't enough, Duncan seemed to further rub it in our faces by going undefeated against the very club that had pegged him as the catalyst for their return to winning ways ... Of course, that dominance showed signs of breaking down even during last season, when the club shocked the Spurs in San Antonio and put an end to Duncan's personal 18-game winning streak over the Men In Green (sports.espn.go.com).

This season proved to supply the team with even more success against their former "golden boy", as the C's beat the Spurs in Boston for the first time since - you guessed it - 1997 (nba.com) ... As you can see, the psychological edge that Duncan held over the Celtics (and, by extension, their fanbase) was slowly fading away into nothing, and the perfect capper for this turn of events would have been to finally vanquish the big man in the one area where he still held the upper hand over this franchise: the NBA Finals.

Of course, that's not going to happen, and (with the Spurs showing their age and seemingly losing their place amongst the elite Western Conference teams) it may not ever happen ... On a personal level, I started this little Celtics website right before the '97 draft, and it would have been the perfect way to bookend my "online career": at one end, there was the disappointment of seeing Duncan slip out of our collective fingers, while on the other end there would have been the triumph of seeing him slink off the court in San Antonio black-and-white while the C's celebrated Banner No. 17 without him. Oh well.

"This one decides which team is the world's best ... "

Courtesy of Rob Peterson and his NBA Finals blog (nba.com); keep this one bookmarked, folks:

The Good New Days

Of the millions of words that will be typed, printed, blogged, texted, e-mailed and IMed about The 2008 Finals featuring the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers one word should stand out above all others to describe this matchup between these ancient foes: tradition.

All sports have their rivalries: Red Sox-Yankees in baseball, Bears-Packers in the NFL, Michigan-Ohio State in college football and Duke-UNC in college hoops. But those rivalries have matured over the decades because of frequent meetings and proximity. They began a regional tussles and thanks to TV, they grew into national spectacles.

Yet, what do those games decide? A conference title, a division championship, maybe a trip to the World Series?

While wild wins and memorable moments in those rivalries may be bragged about at the next kegger, tailgate or cocktail party, the NBA's greatest rivalry, the two teams with the most tradition -- the Lakers and the Celtics -- always has much more at stake. This one decides which team is the world's best.

It makes the others seem quaint, doesn't it? Few, if any, sports can say that a bulk of their league's tradition has been built on it's greatest stage. We can. These teams on opposite coasts are more than 2600 miles apart but no two NBA franchises are more closely tied together than the Celtics and the Lakers.

On Thursday, June 5 at 9 p.m. ET, the Celtics and the Lakers will be meeting in The Finals for the 11th time, with the Celtics owning the Lakers in eight of the 10 previous meetings. Celtics great Bill Russell earned seven of his 11 championship rings against the Lakers, whereas Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar helped the Lakers take the last two meetings between the two teams in 1985 and 1987.

What does this rivalry, this tradition represent in NBA history?

It's the first Finals sweep as Boston clobbered Minneapolis in 1959.

It's the Lakers' Frank Selvy missing a wide open jumper with the game tied at 100 in Game 7 of 1962.

It's Bob Cousy dribbling out the clock as Red lit his victory cigar.

It's Cousy and Auerbach getting their final titles at the Lakers' expense.

It's Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke putting balloons in the Forum's rafters in 1969 for Game 7 and workers having to pluck them out after, because Russell got No. 11 and the balloons never fell.

It's Russell after that 11th title failing to find the words in an interview with ABC, while Jerry West and Elgin Baylor probably could never find the words to describe why they couldn't beat the Celtics in six meetings in eight years.

It's because the NBA changed the way it did business in the Finals. We did away with the 2-2-1-1-1 format after 1984 when you had to fly 2,611 miles for Game 5, then back for Game 6, then back again for Game 7.

It's Finals at the Fabulous Forum and grimy, gritty games at the Garden.

In the '80s, it's "sissies" and "junior, junior" sky hooks, Memorial Day Massacres, clotheslines and towel waving.

It's Gerald Henderson's steal in '84 and Larry Bird finally getting the best of Magic.

One year later, it's Kareem's fountain of youth in '85 and the Lakers finally, FINALLY, beating the Celtics.

It's Magic making in Game 6 4 (thanks, Mitchellman, it was late) in '87 and Bird missing.

This is what it means when we talk about tradition. The passing of these memories from one generation to the next. You may remember them because of the frequency, but more important, you remember these matchups for the quality.

"That's pretty much what got me started watching basketball, growing up in Los Angeles, watching the Celtics and Lakers," Paul Pierce said. "I'm going back home to play against the team I grew up watching and it's a dream come true, man, just thinking about it. I think that rivalry pretty much revolutionized the game of basketball and now I'm part of it."

This year, the tradition begins anew. For the first time since 1998, the Finals won't feature a team with either Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan. This will be Kobe Bryant's first Finals as the Lakers' main man. For Boston's Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, this will be their first Finals.

This old rivalry is new again. The legends have moved to their rightful places in the Hall of Fame. The old Garden's gone. So is the Forum. There are new buildings in both cities with more seats and suites, but the tradition remains.

But it's time to add to this tradition. It's time to make new memories. We've got another generation right behind us.

Also, while I'm talking about the league's official website, be sure and check out their new nickname generator (nba.com) ... From now on, you guys can call me "The Rocksplitter" (wha??)!

This is probably a good time to remind LA fans ...

... that your team only has nine NBA championships, compared to Boston's sixteen (soon to be 17).EDIT: See, Bill Simmons agrees with me (proxy.espn.go.com) ...

Peter (Tarzana, CA): Hey Bill, In the back of your mind, are you worried at all about the Celtics potentially losing their lead in all-time championships? If the Lakers win this series, they'll only be one back.

Bill Simmons: (2:00 PM ET ) You're counting the four from Minneapolis? Really?

"Magic Johnson looks like he swallowed Queen Latifah"

A fun little article looking back at the 1987 NBA Finals (telegram.com):

The Forum at Inglewood is now owned by a church and used for Sunday morning services, where I understand James Worthy still seeks forgiveness for throwing the pass that Gerald Henderson stole in 1984.

The crusty old Boston Garden met up with a wrecking ball, only the parquet floor and a few resourceful rats surviving.


Members of Rambis Youth now need those horn-rimmed glasses just to see the numbers on the scoreboard.

And Magic Johnson looks like he swallowed Queen Latifah.

The names, places and faces have changed, and 21 long years have elapsed, but it’s the Celtics and the Lakers again in the NBA Finals starting Thursday night. And that alone makes it something special.

As special as in 1987, the Celtics’ last appearance there? Maybe not.

The dynamics are completely different. The 1987 NBA Finals was one of the last desperate gasps of a dying dynasty in Boston. This year’s series is the dawn of what Celtics fans fully expect to be a new era of greatness, even if there isn’t that much tread left on the tires of the new Big Three.

Another reason why Detroit didn't deserve to be in the Finals ...

Not only did Pistons fans abandon the Palace of Auburn Hills in droves when the outcome of Game Six was still up in the air, but it's obvious that Detroit television viewers weren't interested in sticking around either (nytimes.com) ...

The N.H.L. chalked up a small victory Wednesday night in its battle with the N.B.A. for the attention of sports viewers in Detroit.

NBC’s broadcast of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ victory over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals produced an 18.2 rating in the Detroit market, 14 percent above ESPN’s coverage of Game 5 of the N.B.A.’s Eastern Conference finals between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics.

Can you really blame David Stern for wanting to avoid the ratings poison that would have been another Pistons' Finals appearance?