As you all know, this made me go berserk last night.

The Celtics have not been to the Finals since 1987.

They possess the greatest sports dynasty ever, having won the NBA championship 16 of the 19 times they have been to the Finals, including one stretch in which the banner was ours 11 in 13 straight seasons.

The Celtics don't hang banners from the rafters for conference titles or division titles like other teams... only championships.

There's a lot of pride for that organization, and a lot of history, and a lot of pain from the last few years. Last season... they only won 24 games. 24. Out of 82. So this season has been otherworldly.

You'll hear a lot about it being a Celts-Lakers series-- this is in reference to the ferocious match-ups of these two teams in the 1980s, pairing up Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. This is a throwback series, one between the two best teams in basketball this season, but two very different teams.

I could go into the details about the players on the Celtics this year---about how no matter how big they are, none of the "Boston Three Party" have ever been to the finals; about how Perk is a beast; about how I watched Paul Pierce develop from a rookie into a real leader and how he suffered during the last 10 years with this team---but it would be overkill, I suspect. So I will just leave you with this:

KG? HUGE Red Sox fan. HUGE. Geeked out when he threw the first pitch last season because Lucchino gave him Sox caps he didn't already have in his collection.

Also-- if you don't care about anything else-- these Celtics are some of the most passionate, most talented, most team-oriented athletes there are. They play beautifully.

And I can't thank them enough for getting us to where we are. As Sox fans, you'll understand this sense of awe and gratitude.

And to the others among us who bleed green: WE WON!

this is not at all related to the post above, but I felt like I had to tell the board and didn't know where else to put it: I tried the Youkilis Savignon Blanc last night. It is awful, My friend actually spat it out and said "echhh, it tastes like Youkilis!"

Lyndsay--

Ok, I don't know if you realize how inappropriate I just found your comment.

I know some people don't care about the Celtics or basketball, but consider how you'd feel if someone posted that kind of response to a similar thread about the Sox in 2004 after they won the ALCS. Yeah, it is that big for me. Not cool.

I know you didn't mean to offend or be rude, but please be more aware, and save it for tonight's game thread.

Thanks.

sorry, no offense intended.

I am so super proud of this team. I could not be more happy for Pierce. He has spent 10 years on a craptastic team, and now he is finally going to get to play in the finals.

I cried last night when they interviewed him. It is amazing to finally see this team doing well again, and to see him be such a huge part of it. He truly deserves(if any multi-million dollar athlete really deserves to win anything) to get a Championship with this franchise.

It is also great to see that Ray Allen has finally found his shot.

This should be a very entertaining finals, and I can't wait for it to start.

CO CELTICS!

Garnett is a Sox fan? Aw. I'd never really liked him before hearing that (besides the making-the-Celtics-good-again part).

I still like Kobe more, though.

I'm not much of a basketball person, but yay for the Celtics and yay for those who love them (MHC)!

Who knew Sean Casey was a Celts fan? Maybe the Mayor can bring over the lone Spurs hold out.

Anyways, amidst scoreless innings, our whole section was updating each other with the score. Chants of "Let's Go Red Sox!" were replaced with "Let's Go Celtics!" when the O's were at bat.

Hooray!

I haven't followed basketball over the past several years, but still want to post my heartiest congratulations to the Celtics. May they soon be hanging another banner from the rafters!

Go Celtics!

I'm not a huge basketball fan, but cheer for the my local team, the Sacramento Kings (I still miss Vlade). Therefore, I *loathe* the Lakers and will be wholeheartedly cheering for the Celtics.

Great photos, Texy. I really like those.

Congrats, Boston Celtics!

Now go annihilate the :: spits:: lakers.

PS: Could Big Papi be any more adorable? What a big teddy bear.

Jules, definitely adorable. I love the pic where he and Lowell and Pedie are all looking in different directions. He just looks like a big bucket of sunshine!

"Big Bucket of Sunshine"

That's perfect. I'd love to meet him someday.

Did you all hear that Buchholz was optioned to Pawtucket?

No, I hadn't heard that, Jules. :-(

Meeting Papi and getting a big hug would be the ultimate, wouldn't it?

Griffey hit #599 today. Hopefully it's catching.

I love the picture of AC with the beer. Didn't he get a DUI and get arrested back in the Dominican last year? Either way it was good unintentional comedy for me

Adam, that was in 1999, but it resurfaced in spring training.

No game day thread?

it appears that way. y'all can use my afternoon red sox post if you want.

MANNY!!!!!!!!!!!

MANNY!