Returning To Where We All Once Belonged

THIS IS DEDICATED TO MOM, DAD, RED, REGGIE, DJ, JOHNNY MOST, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO DID NOT LIVE TO SEE THE JOURNEY COMPLETED.

It was a warm Sunday in early June, 1986. The 15 year old kid gathered with his family in his parents room to watch another rite of spring in the 1980's, to bear witness to the Celtics being crowned king of the basketball world for the third time that decade. The Celtics defeated the Hoston Rockets in six games. Hoston hung in for awhile, and things got rough in game 5 with a brawl ensued. The fight was started by Ralph Sampson, and was ended when Bill Walton tackled the big Houston center from behind, after Sampson took a shot at Celtic guard Jerry Sichting. In terms of drama, that was pretty much all that the series provided, as the Celtics never lost their composure, as true champions rarely do in sports.

The young kid soaked it all in, as many children his age did all over New England in those heady days, some 20-plus years ago. It was June, school was out, the independence of high school awaited in September, and the Celtics had just done it again, dominating the league from start to finish in 1985-86, as few teams had in the history of the NBA. 67-13 was their regular season record. Only two losses in the playoffs . This was a team that lost one game at home the entire season, withstood a 63 point performance from Michael Jordan in the first round of the playoffs, and was never really challenged throughout the remainder of the tournament, save for that two game stretch in Houston during The Finals. If this were not enough, there was kid from Maryland on his way to town whom the experts were saying could very well be the bridge to numerous more titles in the ensuing years. It was all unfolding according to plan, as it often did for the Boston Celtics from the 1960's, through the 80's. Life was good indeed, and about to get better.

Then the 80's turned to the 90's, the kid grew up, went to college, got a job, and it all unraveled right before our eyes. The can't-miss phenom who was supposed to lead us through the next decade passed away from a drug overdose. Larry Bird retired after the 1991-92 season. Reggie Lewis, the team captain who took the torch from Bird, passed away in 1993. There were bad drafts. Bad trades. Dave Gavitt took over as General Manager and Head of Basketball Operations in 1990, (as the kid graduated high school), and promised a return to glory, but was no match for a changing NBA that the Celtics organization was not prepared for. Danny Ainge was traded in 1989. Kevin McHale retired in 1993. Eventually the Big Three was gone, and Robert Parish was off to Chicago Bulls, where he would win a few more titles.

Things would get worse. 1996-97. 15 wins. Enter Rick Pitino. M.L. went to New Jersey for the Lottery and...no Tim Duncan!!! More broken promises. By this time the kid was in his late 20's, and was giving up hope, as we all were. It was a long way from that Sunday in June of 1986, although only 10 years had gone by. Pitino would leave in four years. Another false prophet. Enter Jim O'Brien. New decade. 2000-01 ended on a bit of an upswing. They finished strong, but there still was much work to do. 2001-02. Celtic fan's hopes were rekindled with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. The team came from 20 points down in the fourth quarter against the New Jersey Nets. Sadly, the Nets would prevail in the series. Boston just did not have an answer for Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin. Hey, things were looking up. Kenny Anderson Played well, and this Rodney Rogers kid can really play defense. Enter Danny Ainge. Anderson and Rogers gone within a year. Vin Baker?? A couple more playoff appearances would follow.

By February of 2002, a new era had dawned in Boston sports, as the Patriots brought us out of the wilderness with their first Superbowl victory, and we were all reminded of what it was like in those heady days during the 1980's. The kid was now in his early 30's, and despite the Patriot's success, we could all not help but wonder if the Celtics would ever rise again. 2003 became 2004. The Red Sox shock the world, and erase 86 years of misery with a World Series title, while embarassing the hated Yankees along the way. Still the kid thought... "what about the Celtics?"

2004 became 2005. Two more Superbowls, a couple of more Celtic playoff appearances. A blown three games to one lead against the Indiana Pacers. 2005-06. Out of the playoffs. 2006-07. The kid was now in his mid-30's. 24 wins. An 18 game losing streak. Back to Secaucus for the Lottery, and the...NUMBER 5 PICK???!!! This can't be happening. Ok Danny Ainge, what now? Wait a minute, the Celtic brass is huddling...do they have a plan? Does anyone even care anymore?

The draft comes and goes. Ray Allen is brought on board, and the promise was that more moves would follow. How long have they been saying that? Who else could they possibly get to come to Boston? Kevin Garnett is out there but...no way!!! Won't happen. The brass huddles again. Proposals are thrown around. The story won't go away. Kevin McHale is the GM in Minnesota, do you think he could help us out? God, this has to end sometime! More huddling. More negotiating. A press conference is scheduled. He is coming. Kevin Garnett is coming to Boston!!! Garnett, Allen. Pierce. The New Big Three. Did they give up too much to get these guys? Are they deep enough for a title run?

2007-08. The kid is 36 when the season begins. Have we now finally turned the corner? A 45 win season would make us all happy. 19-0 to begin the year. Looks like we may have something. They sweep the Texas trip. They are dominant at home, just like the old days. Detroit will be the measuring stick. They handled them pretty good during the season. The Western road trips go well. Will they have what it takes come Springtime? " We will see", they said. Here come The Playoffs. Atlanta. Seven Games?? They survive. Clevland and Lebron James await in Round Two. Another seven games. Why are they having such trouble on the road? Next up... Detroit, and The Eastern Conference Finals. Tough. Physical. Still some problems on the road, but they come up big in Game 6, and go ...BACK TO THE FINALS!!!...AGAINST THE LAKERS!!! The 37 year old kid is 13, 14, or 15 again. The memories. Bird. Magic. McHale taking down Rambis. Jack Nicholson... Beat LA !!!

Four games to two. Celtics win. At The Garden. Just like the old days. Boston goes crazy. Banner number 17 at last. Some did not get to see it, but they are looking down and smiling. The Celtics have made it all the way back. The kid is grown up, but feels like a teenager again. It feels great. Let's hold onto this, and never let it slip away.