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5 hours ago

5 Questions With Josh McRoberts

I talked to Los Angeles back up big man Josh McRoberts prior to the Celtics-Lakers game Thursday night at the Garden.  Here is what the former Duke Blue Devil, who is averaging 2.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in his first year in LA, had to say. 1. How have you guys been able to deal [...]

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7 hours ago

5-on-5: Predicting All-Star Reserves

I was a panelist on the 5-on-5 today at ESPN, choosing reserves for the Eastern and Western Conference all-star teams. I took two Celtics, as noted below. Hit the link to read the rest. 1. Which East and West point guards should be chosen as All-Star reserves? Ryan DeGama, CelticsHub: East: Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo [...]

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2 days ago

Greg Stiemsma’s Contract To Become Fully Guaranteed

The C’s gave their 26-year-old rookie a vote of confidence before Tuesday’s game. By not waiving the seven-footer, Stiemsma’s contract will become fully guaranteed on Friday, allowing the shot blocker to breath a little bit and perhaps unpack some boxes for good in Beantown. Here’s Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston with some reaction from Stiemsma and [...]

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2 days ago

5 Questions With Kemba Walker

I had a chance to talk with Bobcats rookie Kemba Walker prior to the Celtics game against Charlotte on Tuesday night.  Here is what the UConn star, who is averaging 12.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game had to say. 1. How much communication have you had with Michael Jordan this year? Walker: [...]

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3 days ago

I Am Awesome!

Yes. This is a “pat myself on the back” post because a) I’m a jackass and b) I predicted something correctly. Back on January 8th, I predicted that the next ten games will tell us everything we need to know about this Celtics’ team. If they struggled, it was time to blow it up. If [...]

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3 days ago

Pierce Wins Eastern Conference Player Of Week

One day before he’s scheduled to pass Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list, Paul Pierce won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Pierce averaged 22 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in four Boston wins, playing point forward in Rajon Rondo’s absence. Pierce is only 9 points behind Bird [...]

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Just Sayin’: Mike Bibby, Bandwagon Fans, and Booin’

I’m not sure how I missed this little ditty from WEEI’s Jessica Camerato yesterday, but I did.  Apparently, Mike Bibby has noticed the chorus of “boos” his mere touching of the ball illicits from Celtics fans:

“I don’t even care,” Bibby said of the jeers. “It doesn’t really matter to me, you know what I mean? We’re winning. We’re 3-0 on them, that’s all that matters.”

He definitely has a point. The Hawks are 3-0 against the Celtics and at the end of the day, no one talks about officials or injuries, they talk about W’s and L’s.

On the flipside, what he said to spark such animosity from Bostonians is just as deserving as Bibby’s underwhelming response.  I know you haven’t forgotten, but just in case you’re a Laker fan checking out the site, here it is:

“A lot of these fans are bandwagon jumpers trying to get on this now,” he said during the first round of the 2008 postseason. “I played here last year, too, and I didn’t see three-fourths of them. They’re for the team now and they might get a little rowdy, but that’s about it.”

Those a strong words, and are just wrong.  Since when does game attendance constitute true fandom?  I know the economic situations of the everyman Celtics’ fan isn’t on Bibby’s radar, let alone NBA ticket prices, but he should think before he says Celtics fans are bandwagon fans for just being more visible at games. Tickets are expensive, and I’d rather buy another grown man’s jersey and wear while I pantomime plays in my living room than go to one game.  A lifetime family heirloom (like say, a Celtics’ no. 20 jersey with “Shuttlesworth” on the back) is worth far more than one night at the Garden (depending on the night, of course).

Call it old news, call it gamesmanship, or call it just dumb.  Whatever you call it, you can end it with, “Oh and it’s just blatantly wrong.”

I’d love to have Bibby come into any of our houses and see us screaming at the TV and ask himself, “hmmm, are these guys really bandwagon fans, or am I a fading NBA player?”

Given his ego, I think he would surprise even himself with his answer.

In his bulletted recap of the Hawks game, Zach Lowe suggested, “It’s time to stop booing Mike Bibby in Boston. He played just 17:55 tonight and does not merit such attention.”

I disagree.  If Bibby’s making no apologies for his actions, why, as fans, should we?

The bottom line is, we shouldn’t.  If someone’s booing Mike Bibby, the casual fan attending the game will ask why such a mutually agreed upon response occurs.  The Diehard will explain the significance, and now Diehard and Casual can revel in indignation. 

To recap: Diehard boos Mike Bibby, Casual fan boos Mike Bibby, Casual fan becomes Diehard fan vowing to prove Mike Bibby wrong.

In conclusion:  Support the habit by booing Mike Bibby.

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