What’s In A Name?
by Jeff Clark on Oct 2, 2007 5:53 AM EDT
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintDoc was recently quoted as saying this about the nickname "the Big Three":
"Honestly, I don't like that," Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said at the team's media day on Friday. "Because [Kevin] McHale, [Robert] Parish and [Larry] Bird were 'The Big Three.' So come up with another one."
How many failed attempts have we already seen to rename the trio of Pierce, Garnett, and Ray Allen? Too many to count. Back in August, I posted a poll with a few selections to pick from. A few got some votes like "The Next Three" (a little too "We got next" for most people) and "The New Three" (they won’t be new for long). But can you guess what got 61% of the vote? "None of the above."
Marc Spears posted on his blog that he wanted to call them "the GAP Band" (Garnett-Allen-Pierce). I think that might be a little too obscure. Eric Weiss posted an article on this site calling them "GPA - 3.0." Clever, but just a B- average? At one point I came up with "Trio Grande," which is probably just a little too cutesy for most people. The Celtics Stuff Live guys tried "the Troika" but again, that seems unfamiliar and foreign to most.
No new names really seem to stick to these guys.
So why bother? Why not just call them Garnett, Pierce, and Allen? For one thing, that’s a lot to write out every time. For another, which Allen are we talking about? There’s Tony on the team too. So you have to write that out too. Maybe this isn’t a big deal for many readers, but for bloggers and forum posters, this is important, time saving stuff.
It is also important that these guys have an identity. All our hopes rest on their shoulders and they are bound together by common backgrounds (losing teams) and a common goal. This group screams out for a nickname. It just can’t and won’t be thrust upon them by a contrived nickname contest or a clever beat writer. It just won’t happen.
The way I see it, there’s only two ways this can go. Either we will have to see if something presents itself naturally over time (think "Cowboy Up" or "Miracle Mets"), or we’ll have to cave in and start calling them The Big Three, no matter what Doc says.
The way I see it, people all around the country are already calling them "The Big Three." I understand where Doc is comming from, but I'm starting to see the other side too.
If you flip it around in your mind, we are actually paying homage to Larry, Kevin, and Robert when we use that name. It takes nothing away from them because the three guys using the name now have a legit shot at the Hall of Fame. It’s not like we’re giving the name to Blount, LaFrentz, and Ricky Davis. If this new "Big Three" wins a championship, then they’ll prove that they are worthy of the name. If they don’t, we can always look back and laugh at ourselves and refer to Larry, Kevin, and Robert as "the real Big Three."
I think that unless something better evolves over the early season, I'm going to keep calling them the Big Three.
"That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet." -- Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet
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The thing here is, as far as nicnames are concerned, back in the day, you EARNED your nicname, nowadays everyone is annointed a nicname before they’ve ever done anything. Think about this, This trio, while future HOFers indeed, could have a nicname that we’ve never thought of and that’s “TripleFailure”. Point is, you aren’t given a nicname you earn it, let’s hope they earn the right kind of nicname, like “Champions.”
by celtickid on Oct 2, 2007 6:30 AM EDT reply actions
I think they will define themselves once they actually step on the court, but GPA has a nice ring to it. GPA 3.0 is backward and awkward unless you switch it to 3.0 GPA — then it’s just too long for a nickname. I like GPA best so far.
Frankly all this individual stuff takes away from TEAM. Those are the real initials. I know, I know, it’s not individual, it’s three. Fine, but it sure focuses on three stars instead of giving credit to all those who do the work. Getting off on stats and ignoring good basketball is as anti-Celtic as anything could be. Why, after all, is Luscatoff retired? Only the Celtics would have done it, and did.
by Hondo to Rondo on Oct 2, 2007 7:53 AM EDT reply actions
3.0 is a B minus? Jeff, where did you go to school? That was exactly a B in college, for me. Anyway – I’m just gonna call them the Big Three. Pretty sure no one will accidently think I’m talking about Robert Parish instead of Ray Allen
by Cullain on Oct 2, 2007 10:18 AM EDT reply actions
The Trinity works for me. Troika is awkward becausse it isn’t a word most people use much.
by TripleOT on Oct 2, 2007 10:40 AM EDT reply actions
I don’t see what’s wrong calling them the Big 3 if they perform like the Big 3. They’re calling the Shawmut/Fleet/Tweeter Center the “Insert Sponsor” GARDEN now and we all know the difference between this building and the old one. I think we’ll all know the difference between this Big 3 and the old one even if they share the same name, but first they need to earn it on the floor.
by redzdeadbabyredzdead on Oct 2, 2007 10:53 AM EDT reply actions
How about The Triple Threat, as in, Tonight Shaq and Wade have a tough matchup against the Celtics’ Triple Threat of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett…
by Michael Anthony on Oct 2, 2007 11:12 AM EDT reply actions
The Fellowship is pretty cool, especially since it can include the whole team in the quest for the ring.
I LOVE greenlove’s The Jesus Truth Ticket. Good one!
But I’m also fine with The Big Three because it puts pressure on them.
On the flip side, I think these guys should reject nicknames and say they don’t want to be called anything until they can be called champions. What could be a better nickname than that?
How about The Magi because they’re bringing magic back to Boston?
by Green Bear on Oct 2, 2007 11:38 AM EDT reply actions
I like that because all three are TripleThreats in the basketball term as well (Dribble Pass and Shoot)…..
TripleThreat, Pierce Allen and Garnett. Been pushing it HARD.
by celtpride34pp20ra5kg on Oct 2, 2007 12:20 PM EDT reply actions
RPG is real cool too, bout to blow up
by celtpride34pp20ra5kg on Oct 2, 2007 12:21 PM EDT reply actions
You can call what you want and call this and call them that but what have they done. Don’t Rush let time and events happen…………. and we will know when we hear it. Nothing is going tio stick until Banner #17 is at hand. All else is folly.
by Freeease1 on Oct 2, 2007 1:07 PM EDT reply actions
Three Amigos gets my vote. Just simple and rolls off the tongue.
Troika, Triumverate, Trinity are all REALLY lame. Like kids are going to be calling them that.
Or just Big Three.
by Mr Freeze on Oct 2, 2007 4:44 PM EDT reply actions
Call them the The Celtic Trinity or The Boston trinity.
by Meangreen Machine on Oct 2, 2007 7:31 PM EDT reply actions
Jeff – so true about how annoying referencing those “three” can be. As Doc indicated, it feels like blasphemy to use the term “The Big Three”, especially when Allen and Pierce aren’t even bigs to begin with (that made the original Big Three even more fitting – they were all tall!). Such a quandary we Celtics fans are in . . .
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