Red’s Army presents Fan Friday #66: “Season Finale”

Before I get into this season’s final “Fan Friday”, I’d like to personally apologize to our readers for the lack of these posts this season. I had quite a busy year and simply did not have the time and energy it takes to seek out fans and interview them for this feature. This is disappointing to me, as I strive to bring you all the best Celtics content possible. I’m confident however that I’ll be able to deliver “Fan Friday” on a regular basis next year.

This week’s featured fan is 25 year old Paul from Melbourne, Australia. Here’s his take on how he became a fan of the 17-time world champion Boston Celtics:

Officially, I have only been a Celtics fan since 2010. Yes I’m new but don’t tune out just yet! I know my support is in it’s infancy, but my love for this team and the city of Boston is overwhelming. I bleed green. I am a Celtic.

Throughout the 90s, Australia had some very prolific basketball teams and being a fan of basketball in Melbourne was incredibly exciting. We had players like Andrew Gaze, Lanard Copeland and Daryl McDonald who were superstars here. Every Aussie basketball-loving fan was also intensely proud of Luc Longley who moved to the US and eventually won 3 championships.

By the time Space Jam rolled through theatres, every Target and K-Mart in Oz was stocking licensed NBA merchandise. As a 10 year old, I remember rotating a wardrobe consisting of a Minnesota Timberwolves t-shirt, a Milwaukee Bucks hat, a Michael Jordan Bulls jersey and a Muggsy Bogues Hornets jersey.

From 2007 onwards, I befriended an incredibly keen Dallas Mavericks fan who ensured I was kept up to date with all things NBA. Meanwhile, Andrew Bogut was reviving some Longley-esque Aussie NBA love and Melbourne was experiencing a brief spike in basketball quality that hadn’t been seen in a long time in our national competition, prompting me to take more interest in James Naismith’s magnificent creation.

In 2010, with a lot of post-break up (cliche, I know) time on my hands, I had to find new ways to occupy my time. With NBA basketball games being shown on free-to-air TV here in Australia, I was set. A number of friends were big NBA fans so there was never a shortage of eager pals who wanted to catch a game or three. With lines being drawn and rivalries emerging between us, it was time to pick a side. With an excess of Lakers fans around me, Kevin Garnett in green, a strong coach in Doc Rivers, a unique point guard in Rajon Rondo and one of the best big 3 lineups that I think this game will ever see, I was sold.

Paul lists Kevin “Anything is possibbbble” Garnett as his all-time favorite Boston Celtic:

In the modern era, I look at KG as the ultimate basketballer. A guy you want on your team but hate if he’s not. He is the ultimate vocal leader and was once a league-MVP. You rarely see a player with a greater level of passion and commitment – not to mention his “BAR FIGHT” tenacity. Yes, Kevin Garnett had a relatively underwhelming stint in Brooklyn and has since “gone home” to Minnesota, but I doubt that he’ll ever truly stop bleeding green.

As far as “Celtics moments” go, Paul doesn’t have one that is his particular favorite. His experience last year when he made the journey to Beantown is instead his most memorable memory involving the Celts:

My favourite Celtics moment is more of an experience than a single moment. Last April, I flew to the US purely to see a couple of Celtics games. After a couple of uncomfortably crowded and overwhelming days in New York, it only took until my Amtrak train reached Stamford, to feel more at ease. The family homes, the lack of fences on properties and the general friendliness of Connecticut and later, New England restored my warmth for a country I had been privileged enough to visit only once before.

My entire stay in Massachusetts was life-changing. In New York, my trip was made out to be odd, unnecessary, childish. In MA, people were engaging, warm and welcoming. From Harvard to The Book of Mormon to Cheers to the Sam Adams brewery to the TD Garden – I felt like a Bostonian. Maybe it was the lack of hard ‘r’s’ in my Australian accent or just something in the drinking watAH.

The amazing behind-the-bench seat I had at TD Garden paled in comparison to the love and warmth (not in the meteorological sense) I felt. Yes, I got to hear every word of Brad Steven’s huddles, yes I got to see Sully’s butt in all it’s glory and yes I got to see Kelly Olynyk be Milhouse Van Houten to Gerald Wallace’s Bart Simpson on the bench as they devilishly chuckled like a couple of kids with a pure-syrup squishy, it was Boston itself that I loved most.

Getting to see the C’s hold on in a tight game against Charlotte and then later that week seeing Rajon Rondo in action in Philadelphia was amazing but I mean it when I say that it’s Boston that I connect with. If American teachers ever get a significant pay rise, I’ll move there!

And finally, Paul tells us just what it is about the Boston Celtics that make them such an important part of his life:

In 2010 I learned of Ubuntu – the philosophy that won us a championship, introduced in the Doc Rivers-era. The Ubuntu philosophy is something I now live by. A Celtics logo, accompanied by ‘Ubuntu’ is now permanently inked on my left arm. Every year, my students adopt the Ubuntu philosophy as an integral part of our team success in my classroom. Post-Doc, Brad Stevens was obviously the best man for the job. His ability to get the best out of his players, regardless of an insane amount of trades, injuries and a couple of rebuilding years is incredible. His stoicism, his composure and his eloquence are things that I look up to. Even with an admiration of his poise, it was a little bit awesome to see him swear at a ref in Orlando!

My own Irish heritage, love for the city, the Ubuntu philosophy, an exciting roster (even in a rebuild year) and an incredible coach and front office – I know that the Celtics will be a significant part of my life forever.

I want to thank Paul for sharing his story with Red’s Army, and be sure to follow him on Twitter. As always, thank you all for reading, and if you’d like to be featured on Fan Friday next season, please email me via [email protected]. -KWAPT