Since I was 1 year old the last time these two teams met each other in the NBA Finals I will refrain from writing another boring rivalry-renewed piece. I admit it, I know very little about the history of NBA because I never cared to research it. Growing up in the 90’s I watched MJ and as far as I’m concerned that was the height of this league, until right now. If you read any of my columns over the past couple months you know that I was more excited about these NBA Playoffs then anyone and I have to admit, they have disappointed for the most part. Outside of a couple games and storylines (the Hawks taking the C’s to the brink in round 1, the Cavs-Celtics Game 7 in round 2, the Lakers-Jazz Game 6 in round 2 and the Lakers dominating the defending champs) these playoffs have gone by the books and have been far from memorable. Hopefully these NBA Finals can save the best NBA season Post-Mike.
I don’t root for either of these teams but I feel closer to the Lakers because I have rooted for them in the past. I am a huge Shaq fan and when he played out in Tinsletown I stayed awake until the early morning hours watching the Lakers. I remember Kobe as a young kid with tons of potential, Rick Fox when he was a solid role player, watching Big Shot Bob hit that game winner against the Kings in 2002, the 3-peat and of course, blowing up the team after the 2004 Finals. I rooted for the Heat when Shaq went to South beach but always had a soft spot for the Lake Show. I rooted for them to beat the Suns in the playoffs two straight seasons and always made sure I knew how Kobe was doing. Even when everyone hated Kobe, after the Colorado situation and helping to break up a dynasty, I stuck with him. He was too good to hate. So now, with the Lakers back in the NBA Finals it is hard not to be emotionally involved with them. My feelings from four years ago have come rushing back to me over the past week and the thought of the Purple and Gold atop the NBA again gets me excited.
Some of you may be asking yourself, isn’t this the same guy who openly hates all Boston teams? Isn’t that the reason he would be rooting for the Lakers? Well, kind of but not totally. I have never had much of a feeling on the Celtics because since I have watched the NBA, they have sucked. So, I don’t have a full on hatred for them as I do for the Patriots and Red Sox. But I do have a hatred for Kevin Garnett. Why, you ask? I have no reason behind it. I just never liked him, even when he played in Minnesota. I don’t mind Paul Pierce or Ray Allen but with Kevin Garnett being the fan favorite here in Boston and being the leader of this team, I hate them because of him. I can’t stand his “energy”, his yelling and screaming to the crowd, his punching himself in the head or punching the hoop and more then anything I hate when he pops his jersey out to show the Celtics across the chest. Remember Kevin, before Ray Allen was traded to Boston you wanted know part of the city, so let your jersey go and play basketball.
Then there is the aspect of my grandfather. He almost makes me root for the Celtics. Since I can remember my grandfather has watched every Celtics game, every year. Even when this team was pathetic, he was in his room, watching them. I kind of want to see the Celtics get this title because he is 86 years old and has been waiting for his Celtics to be relevant again. When they beat the Pistons I called to congratulate him and you could just hear the excitement in his voice. I remember calling him in 2004 when the Red Sox won a championship for the first time in his life. He wasn’t half as excited that night then he was last week when his Celtics made it back to the NBA Finals.
Do I root against my 86-year-old grandfather and root for one of my favorite players in the league and the one team I have some kind of history rooting for? Or do I root for the Celtics, a team from Boston with one of my most hated players in any sport just because I know how much a Celtics title would mean to my grandfather? For years I have wanted to feel apart of an NBA team and I know it’s bandwagon (much like all these Celtics fans) but I feel a little something with the Lakers because of Shaq and young Kobe. I don’t hate the Celtics as much as some people think I do, I just hate The Big Ticket. But I do love my grandfather and I don’t know how many more chances his Celtics will have to win the title. On the verge of Game 1, writing this column, I have made my choice of whom to root for. I have to go with the Lakers for selfish reasons. I like the Lakers and I love Kobe.
It might not make my grandfather happy but he doesn’t need to know. Tonight I will call and wish him luck and if the Lakers come out on top I’ll call and console him. I’ll tell him it was a magical season and one year ago no one could have thought the Celtics would have been this good. If the C’s win I’ll call my grandfather and congratulate him. I will be genuinely happy for him. I’ll make sure he enjoys every second of it, he deserves it. He has been one of the only true fans I know. He never stopped watching and he stopped rooting.
So tonight, the rivalry isn’t renewed, it’s just another series. I am plenty old enough to remember this one and good thing for me because no matter who wins this will definitely be a series to remember. But for the next two weeks and maybe longer I am a Lakers fan. So, GO LAKERS!!! And good luck Papa.
