[Note by Jeff Clark, 11/03/08 6:26 PM PST: Another FanPost promoted to the front page ]

After reading some unflattering articles about Paul Pierce's speech on opening night it made me wonder how some people in this city could be upset with him.

I was there that unforgettable night and I will admit that when he took the mic and addressed the crowd I didn't think it was going to be similar to that of an Oscar speech. 

Pierce thanked the crowd and then thanked everyone he could remember that helped him attain his status as a world champion in the greatest sports town around.

He thanked his mother, his brothers, his high school coach, and numerous other people along the way.  I will admit that it was long and drawn out but how anyone could fault Paul Pierce for what he said on one of the greatest nights of his life is beyond me.  He was giving back to the people who supported him through the bad times he had here.

Do people forget that he was the talk of trade rumors since 2004 when he and Doc didn't see eye to eye?  I remember sitting in my car in January of 2004 and listening to WEEI trash Pierce out for being selfish, unruly at times, and wanting to be traded.  I was one of the ones who agreed with those thoughts and wanted him gone too.  One game Pierce didn't hustle back on defense and Doc screamed at him, and told him to sit down. After that I said to myself that he has to go now.  Boy was I wrong!  Not only did Pierce conform to Doc's way of playing but he also stepped up to the plate to help the younger guys before the BIG 3 era began.  It took him some time to figure out how you should act and present yourself but ultimately he did it on his own with support from those close to him.

So after the stabbing, the unruly behavior on the court, the selfishness, stating he was the ultimate team superstar on a bad team, and all the other negative nuances he brought to the Celtics, the one thing that erases all of that especially in Boston, is another world championship with MVP honors.  (Hence Manny)  After the road that Pierce took to get to where he is today no one should have faulted him for taking the time that he needed for his thank you speech.

I love Bob Ryan but if you look at the rollercoaster ride Paul Pierce has had in Boston I can't figure out why he took a shot at Pierce for being selfish in his speech.  In not so many words what Pierce was saying to us was that he knows his actions during some of his career was problematic and at one point was a selfish player.  If you were there for the speech you could decipher that Paul knew who he was in the past was not necessarily who he truly is today. 

We have seen this guy grow up in front of our eyes so if it took all those people he thanked tearfully to help himself shape him to who and what he is now, how is that selfish?  He was dealing in complete emotion and nothing he said was scripted.  So he got caught up in the moment and it was a little long but if I have listen to that speech on opening night every time they raise a banner for the rest of his career I will enjoy it no matter how long it is.  We at least owe him that.  And to the people who were looking at their watches while he was making the speech, and I saw many of you, shame on you.  If he wanted to do a question and answer period before the game started they should have allowed it.  So thank you Paul Pierce for turning into the person we all wanted you to be, a winner.