Bird and gang brought a lot of smiles to Boston back in '86.
My good friend Josh wrote this post as a comment a few days ago, and with him attending the game tonight, and the Celtics on the brink of number 17 (knocking on wood), this seems more then fitting to make a proper post. It actually moved me quite a bit, and I'm hoping for him and all the rest out there who bleed green that, as Neil Young so aptly put, tonight's the night. Let's Go Celtics!
What this could mean... by Dr. J
Well I am 34 years old now. 86 was my parents divorce year and I spent a lot of my time with my Dad, his new girlfriend, and my little brother at the College Inn in South Hadley during those times. (since burnt down, but right in So Hadley Center)
My dad would hang out in the restaurant, my little bro would play video games, and I would sneak into the bar where the Celtics game was on. This is what I remembered from growing up, yes I loved the Sox and cried that night when the Red Sox blew it (it was not Buckner...it was a collection of bad plays). Also while I watched and rooted for the pats that year, the bears shuffled right over us. Yes I was sad, but it was the Celtics that year that brought this 13 year old kid through some rough times...
Not sure how many of you have parents that got divorced but it is not easy on a young teenager. Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ and that team kept me smiling. Kept me happy and even at such a young age allowed me to learn to focus on some of the smaller things in life to make you happy... Yes sports are the smaller things in life, but as a young unpolished little kid you don't know any better... of course as time moves on and you slowly get older, you realize good friends & family, that's the key to life, but Sports and special sports moments can and will always stay in your heart as a special moment. You will never forget where you were for these moments. Which friends or family was with you when you were jumpin' up and down and completely temporarily happy.
Anyways...moving on, I have probably watched almost every game since 86 (I did watch the 84 series with my dad and mom and of course watched the bruins back in the early 80's, but those memories are foggy...), what I do remember is the 86 finals. My dad was happy. My little brother was dominating in Mrs. Pac Man (I can still beat him. 3rd level baby board on on first life was easy for me.)
I made a lot of friends in that College Inn bar (even though I shouldn't have been allowed in) but in South Hadley growing up if you liked the sports teams, regardless of age, you are welcomed to enjoy the moments.
Ok, so where is this going, well the 2004 Red Sox win brought a lifelong generation of fans together, grandparents, fathers/mothers, sons daughters. But there is another portion of Boston sports fans that have had some more success. We know the taste of victory, however foggy and distant it may seem. The next few days this could be our moment again... I think speaking as a 34 year old.. there are a lot of people out there that have this foggy memory and seek to feel that euphoria again. I think back onto those days and think about the crap we went through. Yet there was my old man, happy again with his new girlfriend (now his wife and mother of my half brother.) There was my little brother happily playing video games until I forcefully removed him from the video game and dragged him into the bar to watch the last few minutes of the final game. And there was myself, starting to understand a few things about life. Things can suck, but we can take some momentary pride in our sports. It does bring friends, family and strangers together in a way that cannot be described in words. Hard work, friends, family. That is the key to being successful in life, but an amazing championship win can certainly make life sweeter.
I do hope that over the next 3 games I can cement some more lifelong memories with my current friends and family, and then one day look back upon this and cherish that memory. With that said. GO CELTS!!! BEAT LA.
