I Dig Paul Pierce
I am sick of Boston teams winning everything in sports.
That said, KU alumni Paul Pierce is such a stud and he played so amazingly well (MVP) over the NBA playoffs and championship (which I normally can't stand) that I overcame my distaste for big market purchased franchises and actually rooted for the Celtics. Then I remembered that I really like Kevin Garnett and discovered how much I like Doc Rivers and Ray Allen. As a result I might be forced to confess that if I were a fan of the NBA and had to pick a team to root for, I would probably pick the Celtics...
...but only because Paul Pierce was first a Jayhawk.
The Red Sox, the Patriots, and the Bruins can still go hang.
I of course share your Patriot Sentiments...but the Sox and the Celtics, hurtful. Just plain hurtful! But, when you're broken hearted from the Royals and Chiefs - understandable. It's been fun being on the winning side for once! Though, only three years living here, can't claim to be a real fan just yet.
Posted by: Ty | June 19, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Just think of the Red Sox as the un-Yankees and it won't hurt so bad.
Posted by: Larry | June 20, 2008 at 03:31 AM
truly, for a team of jigsawed superstars they really grasp what team is.. there is a really intense interview on the youtube between john thomspon (coach) and kevin garnett. He and Pierce especially have so much heart, passion, and pride. It's really inspiring.
Posted by: david | June 20, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Hey Ty - actually I am not heart-broken from the Royals and Chiefs.
I grew up at a time when the Royals were the model expansion franchise and competed in the AL every year from the mid-70s to the late-80s. When their owner died, the screwy succession plan combined with the emerging economics of baseball market size, doomed them for a long time. I give Boston a hard time, but they have actually done it right as it relates to building a program. It is true that they have purchased a lot of players, but they have also developed their farm teams and so have a system stocked with talent. Theo Epstein seems to be the paradigmatic GM for this age. That said, the economics of baseball are screwed and baseball will have to figure something out or face the consequences eventually.
I used to love the Chiefs. I am still a fan. I just don't like the organization that has developed over the twenty years. They are hard to like, if you ask me. Field a team and build an organization that you can actually care about and then the possibility of being heart-broken will exist. Heart-broken is the Royals losing to the Yankees in 1976 when Chris Chambliss hits a walk-off home-run to go the World Series.
I'll tell you what is hurtful. The greed of owners who look for short-term franchise success (and will empty their large-market pockets) against the long-term health and sustainability of they league in which they play.
Nevertheless, I dig Paul Pierce. ; )
Posted by: Tim | June 27, 2008 at 04:52 AM