Friday, April 2, 2010

Celtic Pride

Wednesday night was a night 7 years in the making. I took my 7 year old son Tyler, to his first professional sporting event. We saw the Celtics vs. the Thunder. What a night. The only thing that could have made it better was if the Celtics had won. To start the day off, I was offered tickets by one of my friends, and thought that it might be a good idea to bring my son to his first Celtic's game. I called home and asked if he wanted to go. I got the twenty questions, how long would it be, would I have fun, and so on. He couldn't make up his mind, so, because I was given these only hours before game time, I needed to move quick, in order to get someone to go with me. So, I called Timmy to let him know that I wasn't going to be able to do the podcast, and to see if he would be able to go. While I was talking to him, my wife called me back and said he was crying and really wanted to go. It was set, he was going with me.

We headed into the game, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. A calm ride in, parked under the Garden, so we didn't have to carry our jackets. Took the elevator up paid for parking, then into the pro shop. I had to keep steering him away from the Bruins gear, and kept saying,"We are going to see the Celtic's not the Bruins." That game may come next year. I asked him what player shirt he wanted, he was locked on Ray Allen. He didn't even mention anyone else. I guess this is when I should mention that he has never watched a game on TV and only knows the players, because I point them out in highlights on TV. He seemed to have Ray as his favorite. So, a shirt, hat, foam finger and key chain later, we headed into the building and to our seats.

Still, everything was calm and quiet, the focus was on getting nachos. We enjoyed nachos and a diet coke, before the game started. We stood for the national anthem, then it was time for tip off. This is when the fun began. He was bouncing out of his seat for the whole game. At halftime when a bunch of people were leaving there seats, he said, should we be leaving now. I explained that is was halftime and that we would leave after the third quarter and I would be happy he made it that far. Well, the third quarter ended and he asked if we had to leave, I asked him why, he said I think I want to stay to the end. I couldn't have been a prouder Dad at that moment. Now, I was worried they would lose and blow the whole night. He was yelling, "DEFENSE" when on defense, and telling them to get a basket on offense. With less than a minute to go and they are down, four. It's going to be close. They just couldn't shut the Thunder down, and eventually lost 109 - 104. He accepted the defeat, and said,"The other team played really good and deserved to win." He was able to enjoy the game, cheer and root, like it was game seven of the NBA finals, and go home happy and so glad that he went.

It was a night I will cherish forever. Oh yeah, there was another kid I was impressed with, Kevin Durant. He scored so effortlessly. Ray Allen was on him most of the night, Pierce covered him the last five minutes or so, but the Celtics didn't have an answer for him. Even though the Celtics lost, it was the best game I have ever been too. Looking forward to doing this with the other majors sports, but for now I will have a big smile on my face, every time I talk about Tyler's first Celtic's game.

rubbashoes@wickedpisadude.com

Labels: Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Garden, diet coke, kevin durant, NBA, NBA Finals, oklahoma city thunder, Paul Pierce, podcast, Ray Allen, rubba shoes, timmy, tyler corey

Sunday, June 15, 2008

MVP! MVP! MVP! - HEY LA...We have one too!!

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Labels: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, MVP, NBA Finals, Paul Pierce MVP

Dear Dad - Happy Father's Day

Dear Dad,

I can still hear the pounding of the basketball on the pavement and the swish of the basket as my shot hit the bottom of the net at six in the morning before any other kid in the neighborhood was up. I wasn’t alone though as most kids who practiced that early in the morning were, you were there with me. Pushing me to work harder, to run faster, to dribble with my left hand and to always be the best I could be.

My dream was always to be a member of the Boston Celtics. I wanted to be the next Larry Bird and you always encouraged me and challenged me to be that player. You never doubted my abilities and you always taught me to reach for my goal no matter how hard it may seem to achieve. I didn’t make it to the NBA; in fact, I didn’t even play high school basketball. I did, however, learn a very valuable lesson out there during those early morning shoot arounds with you, I learned that no matter what obstacle stands in your way, no matter how hard a challenge may seem, there is always someone, standing by your side, cheering you on and for me dad, you were that someone.

The lessons I learned on the basketball court in my early years with you by my side, have carried over to my life today. I know, that if I work hard to achieve something I truly desire, I can make it happen. I also know that if I fail and fall flat on my face, there’ll always be someone there to pick me up, dust me off and say, go get ‘em next time. I have fallen down and I have gotten right back up, at six in the morning and hit that court again.

Through basketball you also taught me the spirit of competition. I remember sitting on the floor in our living room, watching as The Legend battled Bill Laimbeer and the hated Detroit Pistons. We would watch every game together and cheer on the good guys. I remember the song you used to sing when they would show Bill Laimbeer crying over a bad call, sarcastically you would sing, “Baby face, you got that cutest little baby face.” I still to this day sing that song whenever I see an opponent whining about a call.

I also remember though, the respect you showed “hated” rivals. When Magic Johnson helped beat the Celtics, I remember you saying what a great player he was and what a great series that it was. It was a respect that was shown because he was a real competitor, like Larry Bird was. He didn’t complain, he didn’t argue, as you said, he just played the game.

So, as I sit here on this Father’s Day gearing up to root on the Celtics to their 17th championship banner, I will be thinking about you. You are far away today, but in so many respects you’ll be sitting right next to me on the couch. They have made it back to the promised land Dad and they did it the way you taught me to, they worked hard and just played the game.

Happy Father’s Day Dad. Thanks for the lasting lessons. I love you.

Love,
Adam

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Labels: 17th Championship, Bill Laimbeer, Detroit Pistons, Father's Day, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, NBA Finals

Saturday, June 7, 2008

New Episode of Wicked Pissa Dude Radio

The Celts are up 1-0 and Game #2 is on Sunday night, so we had to hit the studio or a special NBA Finals edition of Wicked Pissa Dude Radio. Of course, we had to talk about the Sox brawl too.

NBA Guru Scotty Duque joins us for a Game #1 recap, adjustments and predictions for Game #2.

If you like what you hear, subscribe to the Podcast and e-mail the show, wickedpissadude@gmail.com

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Labels: Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Coco Crisp brawl, NBA, NBA Finals, Scotty Duque, Wicked Pissa Dude Radio

Monday, June 2, 2008

Locked Out Of Finals Tickets? Not So Fast

Well I spent all afternoon trying to get my hands on tickets to either Game 1 or Game 2 of the finals and I found myself SOL. Then I tried Stub Hub and found a bunch on there. Yes they are pricey, but the C's haven't been in the finals for 21 years and it's against the hated LAKERS!!! You want in? Pony up the cash, but get it done and you could be at the game.

Me? I won't be there because I am a broke Mofo!!

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Labels: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Finals, Stub Hub, Tickets

All Boston Sports. All Boston Attitude.