Celtic pride reawakened

Published: 2007 - October, Sport

Celtic pride has reawakened – though it has never really been squashed in the course of these past 21 years of disappointments, defeats and tragedies. Hopes have been raised by a name, Kevin Garnett, and a jersey number, 5. The All-Star forward was acquired during the summer by the Boston Celtics. Executive Director Danny Ainge paid his weight in gold to Garnett’s former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, to get the 6’11” (2.11 m) player who’s considered one of the best in the world.
In a matter of days, Garnett has become Boston’s favorite son. Because now hopes are running high again among New Englanders. There are those who even call the revitalized team a likely NBA title contender already in this coming season. These expectations are actually quite realistic: Garnett has broken a long series of records so far in his career providing always a high scoring average (for 9 seasons over 20 points per game); voted ten times to the NBA All-Star team; and named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in the 2003-2004 season; and the list goes on. That explains the high price the Celtics paid to get him: giving up five players (Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff and Sebastian Telfair), two first round draft picks, as well as an undisclosed cash payment.
Now wearing the Celtics’ number 5 jersey, Garnett becomes part of a legend of a team that from the 1960s to the 1980s was hailed as the banner team of U.S. basketball, winning no less than 16 championships (the last on in 1986) out of the 19 finals series it participated in. Who can forget the series between the Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers which fired up a storybook rivalry. The legend was created back in the 1950s with the arrival of coach Arnold ‘Red’ Auerbach and continued with a long list of superhuman stars such as Bob Cousy, Bill Russel and Larry Bird.
Today, the dream of reviving the ‘green team’ legend is founded on two additional pillars beside Garnett: the great team player Paul Pierce and the other promising addition, guard Ray Allen.
After a summer under the shamrock banner, the 2007-2008 season – to open in late October – promises to deliver many surprises. So the San Antonio Spurs better not rest on their laurels – because Boston is dreaming again. And dreaming big.