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Hating on the Celtics: You Know How We Do
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Posted By:
cherokeeno1 at 06/19/2008 10:19:41 PM
Comment:
Gets really redundant. Does every darn su8bject in the root have to be critiqued with a racial undertone? Black, white indifferent. Every thing relates to color. Simply strikes me as an expression of an undeserved racial inferioity complex. . Love Kobe-- he's black, hate Larry Bird -- he's white. How about their abilities regardless of their race religion or origin? These silly inane comments only help to propagate racial hatred. -
Posted By:
chestervision at 06/19/2008 7:22:49 PM
Comment:
Kobie is not a leader and is not team oriented as the old Lakers. I stopped hating the Celtics aftter I first visited the old Boston Garden in 1974 and saw all the banners hanging from the ceiling. I thought to myself, this team is for real. I felt my spine tingle looking up in the rafters of the Garden.
Chestervision -
Posted By:
mmadden55 at 06/19/2008 6:49:22 PM
Comment:
I thought the celtics would win but I didn't expect them to take the last game by 39 points! They flat smoked the Lakers! -
Posted By:
delta at 06/18/2008 3:15:15 PM
Comment:
I suppose the item wouldn't have drawn much attention if it had simply focused on the success of the Boston Celtics as phenomenal playing strategists. Instead, it was imperative to add a racial focus in order to draw out both black and white racists..........and yes, black folk can be racists despite the common pretension that ONLY folks who hold power can be racists. A winning team is powerful and unless one has lived in Boston anything said about it or any other city can be based only in assumption. Like most cities Boston shares its positives and negatives, however; when it comes to fans, we are relatively loyal and supportive of our teams and, most significantly, we grow and learn. There weren't always large numbers of black basketball players vying for spots on these teams, but as the field grew, so did the late, great Red Auerbach recognize this talent and bring it aboard. There were often terrible incidents experienced by the likes of the brilliantly gifted Bill Russell. But you know what? Russell grew up and though I feel certain he hasn't forgotten, he certainly did not let it stop him from being an extraordinary player, father and human being. Boston as a City is also growing and those who would like to share in this celebration should know that you are welcomed and cherished; this is not a time to fan hatred, dissension - no, this " thrill of victory" must be shared by all. -
Posted By:
T.M-U at 06/18/2008 11:45:30 AM
Comment:
WORLD CHAMPS FOR ALL US BLACK C'S FANS....WATCHING OUR BLACK PLAYERS STOMP OUT the lakers by 40 POINTS! -
Posted By:
T.M-U at 06/18/2008 11:43:00 AM
Comment:
CELTS WORLD CHAMPS FOR ALL OF US BLACK FANS! WHO WANTS TO BE FANS OF LOSERS LIKE THE lakers? 40 POINT STOMP OUT BY THE BLACK C'S TEAM...not solo black player/mvp! -
Posted By:
Samantha T at 06/18/2008 9:51:52 AM
Comment:
"I've also heard the hatred stemmed from the fact that the city of Boston used to be filled with a fair number of working class whites who were...let's say..."less than racially sensitive." I'd love to hear if that changed as well."
Oh, don't worry. Working-class whites were priced out of Boston proper long ago, so it's now full of "racially sensitive" well-to-do white people who pat themselves on the back for being so "tolerant" yet wouldn't dream of living anywhere near black n'hoods.
Go, Celts. -
Posted By:
tyield at 06/18/2008 9:28:05 AM
Comment:
THIS VIEW IS NOT UNIVERSALLY HELD. I THINK YOU ARE WRONG. I KNOW MANY BLACK PEOPLE THAT LOVED THE CELTICS. I AM 50 AND HAD BEEN ROOTING FOR BOSTON SINCE AT LEAST THE AGE OF SIX. BILL RUSSELL CAME TO OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL. SAM JONES VS JERRY WEST ECT IT WAS GREAT -
Posted By:
charles836 at 06/18/2008 12:40:54 AM
Comment:
Can someone please explain this whole "race" thing to me. Is there some anthropologist or geneticist I can refer to? Are we inherently different from each other because of melanin and morphology? What does it mean to be "white?" Help me out here...... -
Posted By:
roy45 at 06/17/2008 10:59:13 PM
Comment:
I admired the way the Celtics played until they were playing my 76ers and McHale laid a foul on Darryl Dawkins that would have been unnecessary roughness in the NFL. THEN I hated the Celtics. Until this year. Hey, all is (mostly) forgiven. Besides, I still hate Kobe. -
Posted By:
creswell at 06/17/2008 8:36:51 PM
Comment:
Only Black Race Pimps hated the Celtics because of race and only White Race Pimps cheered for the Celtics because of race. I have been a Lakers fan since 1970 (12 years old) but I still cheered for BC when I had the chance. But it was never because of race, but because they were the better team, period. -
Posted By:
creswell at 06/17/2008 8:31:20 PM
Comment:
Only Black Race Pimps hated the Celtics because of race and only White Race Pimps cheered for the Celtics because of race. -
Posted By:
cy31b at 06/17/2008 8:10:23 PM
Comment:
If an all-star team fielded Jabbar, Jordan, Bird, Magic Johnson, and Havlijeck, would the haters have to be put in straightjackets because of their confused hatred? Some fans can be dumber than dirt. -
Posted By:
cy31b at 06/17/2008 8:02:06 PM
Comment:
How terribly sad that sport fans can love or hate a team, any team, just because of the color of the players. In reality, this is America, and race is paramount in American minds , and not the excellence of the players. -
Posted By:
cy31b at 06/17/2008 7:58:26 PM
Comment:
How terribly sad that sport fans can love or hate a team, any team, because of the racial makeup of the players. This is American reality, but it is still shameful. -
Posted By:
nsinny at 06/17/2008 7:08:46 PM
Comment:
I'm a dyed in the wool Celtics fan, but I think Aldridge could have done a better job explaining why the team hasn't been adored by African-Americans over time. The aura around a team is really what fans buy into, or what they reject, and if you read what Robert Parish and Bill Russell say about the racism of Boston fans back in the day, you start to understand the difficulty that came with wearing the green (it doesn't help that their very mascot is an Irish guy, a group notoriously hostile to minorities in Boston).
And, in response to Sam Scully, the issue is not that there were white players--it's that fans focused on those players to the exclusion of black players (Havlicek over Russell, McHale over Parish, etc.). Call it the Elvis effect. -
Posted By:
Libby at 06/17/2008 6:17:20 PM
Comment:
You don't explain WHY Blacks hated the Celtics in the past. -
Posted By:
Sean Scully at 06/17/2008 5:22:10 PM
Comment:
I've never really understood how the Boston franchise was viewed as racist. A good portion of the city's residents, yes, but the Boston Celtics? Come on! It's a ludicrous statement and even though it is widely believed doesn't make it true. The Celtics were the first team to ever draft a black player and of course that makes them racist. They were the first team to hire a black coach and that makes them racist. Boston has had five black coaches and that makes them racist. The Black Coaches coached over 19% of the Celtics games since their inception and that makes them racist. If you just look at the stats since Bill Russell was hired, a black has coached over 28% of their games and of course that makes them racist. They were the first team to send an all black starting five onto the floor and that makes them racist. The Celtics are now the only NBA team with a starting five that is all black and a black head coach and that makes them racist. Red Auerbach started the first all black line up, drafted the first black player, hired the first black head coach, and is responsible for the disproportionately white make up of the Celtics in the 80's and of course that makes him and the Celtics racist. The only people who believe the Boston Celtics are racist are those who are ignorant of history. Spike???s team has had 6 black coaches none of whom lasted more than 2 years, while the Celtics the average tenure for a black coach is over 3 years. Just because a portion of the population is racist doesn???t make the team racist and the Celtics have shown themselves time and time again, that they are not a racist team. -
Posted By:
greenie227 at 06/17/2008 5:02:28 PM
Comment:
Um, ok, so you're saying black people hated the Celtics because there was always a white Celtic that the white fans liked? So isn't that racist? To dislike someone because they're white? Please take a moment and explain this again -- 'cause I have no idea why you're saying black people haven't been fans of the Celtics. Especially given the civil rights history you related. Maybe I'm slow -- can you explain this again? Are you really saying black fans can only get behind the Celtics if all the Celtics are black? Black fans can't support a white player? -
Posted By:
Sean Scully at 06/17/2008 5:00:11 PM
Comment:
I've never really understood how the Boston franchise was viewed as racist. A good portion of the city's residents, yes, but the Boston Celtics? Come on! It's a ludicrous statement and even though it is widely believed doesn't make it true. The Celtics were the first team to ever draft a black player and of course that makes them racist. They were the first team to hire a black coach and that makes them racist. Boston has had five black coaches and that makes them racist. The Black Coaches coaced over 19% of the Celtics games since their inception and that makes them racist. If you just look at the years since Bill Russell was hired, a black coached over 28% of their games and of course that makes them racist. They were the first team to send an all black starting five onto the floor and that makes them racist. The Celtics are now the only NBA team with a starting five that is all black and a black head coach and that makes them racist. Red Auerbach started the first all black line up, drafted the first black player, hired the first black head coach, and is responsible for the disproportionately white make up of the Celtics in the 80's and of course that makes him and the Celtics racist. The only people who believe the Boston Celtics are racist are those who are ignorant of history. -
Posted By:
seadogpots at 06/17/2008 3:59:15 PM
Comment:
Boston is much different than it was 20 years ago. It's over 50% minorities and it's much more integrated. It's not perfect, but it's better. The most racist cities in the U.S. are also the most polarized - the glamour cities - NY and L.A. -
Posted By:
avo at 06/17/2008 3:56:21 PM
Comment:
"All of Boston's top players this season are African American" Correction: "All of Boston's players this season are African American" -
Posted By:
udeda at 06/17/2008 3:50:58 PM
Comment:
Black people can't be racists. -
Posted By:
Dizzo at 06/17/2008 3:03:39 PM
Comment:
I've also heard the hatred stemmed from the fact that the city of Boston used to be filled with a fair number of working class whites who were...let's say..."less than racially sensitive." I'd love to hear if that changed as well.
Also, how much of the lack of love stems from the mascot/colors? The Celtic and the Shamrock. They're all designed to appeal to the Boston Irish Americans. Being an Italian American....I'm waiting for an expansion team named the Marios to appeal to my unique demographic! -
Posted By:
karen71104 at 06/17/2008 2:40:51 PM
Comment:
There are few "die hard" Celtics fans. Die hard Sox fans, yes, we are all there for them hell or high water. For the Celtics this year, we (yes all of us who will admit to it) are all jumping on the bandwagon, since the Celtics were horrific and embarrassing last year, and now they have this banner winning year with the 3 stars. We all knew the year would be tremendous, how could it not be? The combination has made for a winning team, and everyone wants to root for a winning team. Just how many die hard Celtics fans were at all the games last year, buying green shirts and showing the world they were a Celtics fan? Few. I'm happy for them, they will win because they want it more than the Lakers, because all their new fans want it more. Put 'em away tonight guys, and Ray kill em with 3's! -
Posted By:
jmoneyc at 06/17/2008 2:36:23 PM
Comment:
I just found David Aldridge! -
Posted By:
scenebooster at 06/17/2008 2:35:15 PM
Comment:
What a bunch of bullshit. What you be saying if a white fan said the *** you just did - "I like 'em 'cause their main star players are white"? You'd be screaming racism for days. Jesus Christ! I'm white, and I grew up HATING the Celtics - I can't stand Larry Bird. But you better believe I'm rooting for them right now - all because of Paul Pierce, former Jayhawk. See, I'm even from Kansas, so I'm sure I'll get accused of the proper degree of cracker-dom, but this article is lame. -
Posted By:
dsholmes1 at 06/17/2008 12:15:50 PM
Comment:
HATER ALERT:
If Bah-stin was not such a wack city then maybe I would root for the Celtics. But, I will say I think the fact that they traded for players with huge followings such as Allen and Garnett has aided in bring more black fans to the team as well as more fans of other colors. -
Posted By:
Samantha T at 06/17/2008 11:54:43 AM
Comment:
There's actually quite a few black people in Boston - Dorchester, Roxbury, J.P., etc. were all pretty black n'hoods when I was growing up. Were black Bostonians Celtics fans, or not? Seems to me if they were there's a major flaw in the author's premise.
I never quite understood the animus toward Boston. Are people seriously maintaining that, say, New York or L.A. are less segregated than Boston (let's not even discuss Southern cities)? I know the city had its troubles with bussing and the rest in the 70s, but it never struck me as any worse than any other city.
Was it really that disturbing that they had so many of the best white players in history on the team? -
Posted By:
jbeez at 06/17/2008 11:52:22 AM
Comment:
With all due respect to Mr. Aldridge, you have it wrong....black folk aren't celtic fans, they are garnett, pierce, ray allen fans...they're rooting for the black players not the franchise...-
Posted By:
bhogan816 at 06/17/2008 12:47:43 PM
Comment:
Great point ! I care very little about "hanging another banner in the (Boston)Garden." And let's not forget about Doc Rivers.
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Posted By:
westminster at 06/17/2008 11:47:14 AM
Comment:
Can I back Boston? Hell yeah!!! WHATEVER team Kobe Bryant is on, I can easily back the opposite one. Oh, and the coach just happens to be Doc Rivers. What's there NOT to like? -
Posted By:
ChangeGonnaCome23 at 06/17/2008 11:45:44 AM
Comment:
So... Ray Allen starring in Spike Lee's "He Got Game" doesn't pose as a conflict of interest? -
Posted By:
ChangeGonnaCome23 at 06/17/2008 11:43:31 AM
Comment:
Wait... didn't Ray Allen star in Spike Lee's "He Got Game?"
That must be a conflict of interest... -
Posted By:
ch555x at 06/17/2008 10:44:29 AM
Comment:
Go Lakers!!! -
Posted By:
Here2talk at 06/17/2008 10:29:26 AM
Comment:
I, a black woman, have been a Celtics fan since I was first introduced to the NBA at about 12 or 13 years old. In the era of Ainge, D.J., McHale, Parish and Bird. How you gonna hate on that? -
Posted By:
dadk82 at 06/17/2008 8:59:55 AM
Comment:
I hate Boston, always have, always will, but I like Garnett and Allen(Jesus Shuttlesworth). It's the hardest thing in the world for someone who liked Dr. J and the sixers of the late 70' and early 80's, to root for them. I feel like I'm selling out Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones(who would shut Bird down consistently). I'm just conflicted, I wish they would win already!!! -
Posted By:
bhogan816 at 06/17/2008 8:50:01 AM
Comment:
Prediction (and perhaps a hope from someone who went to grad school in Boston): the Celtics win the championship and Boston becomes a hot destination for young black professionals.-
Posted By:
eysqueen at 06/17/2008 9:00:15 AM
Comment:
That will not happen because the rich white folks that run the place will never let it (coming from someone who spent the first 19 years of her life there).
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