Report from Los Angeles on "Victory Parade"

by socal celt on Jun 24, 2009 6:46 PM EDT

In the Los Angeles Times' Special Section "NBA Champs," a photo showed fans separated by what appeared to be a medieval, concrete moat with police motorcycles streaming past. The whole scene reminds of times past when the king would pacify and distract the Common Man with a yearly gift. Where were the Hollywood Stars, the ones with the floor level seats? Certainly not out there among the Hoi Polloi.

Later, thousands of screaming fans in the Los Angeles Coliseum were separated from their distant, comfortable heroes by a security force and well-set apart stage. A television commentator oddly said of these fans, "Isn't it great...just to think that most of these people will never even see a game (in Staples Center)."

I have always believed that the Celtics and its fans enjoy a closer, less fanciful relationship than the Lakers to its fans. At least that's how it began for me in the late 1950s when I established my fan loyalty to the Celtics--long before the Lakers arrived in Los Angeles. Truly, many of us enjoy a vicarious relationship while never getting to a game. I am certainly among them for geographic reasons. However, if I ever get to a victory parade in Boston, I'm hopeful it wouldn't mirror that described above. I like my parades unmedieval.

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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Jealous much?

by lrh86 on Jun 25, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

Boston Journalists and Boston........

It’s funny to hear the Boston media claim no respect for the Laker championship this past season. Funny to hear how “only if KG” this and “only if KG” that. Really? Not so far off from hearing last season “only if Bynum and Ariza” this. The Lakers handled business like they were supposed to and everyone else in the league was trying to do.

The Journalists (Bob Ryan, Jackie MacMullian and Shaun Hagnessy) sound like regular fans claiming that this year’s finals were really a joke. “Dwight Howard isn’t good enough yet to be dominant…..If Garnett was healthy, then the Celtics would have been there……” Please stop your own embarrassment.

I don’t want to hear anything else about how the Celtic fans are way better than the Laker fans. In all honesty, if the Lakers had Bill Russel in the 17th century where there were no other good players in the league, then the Lakers would have the most championships in the history of the NBA. The Celtics essetnially had two (and a half) eras: The Bill Russell days, the Bird days, and the 2008 championship. The Lakers have done it over five: George Mikan, Jerry West/Wilt Chamberlain, Showtime, Kobe/Shaq, and now, Kobe and Co. And I’m not going to call this year’s championship a half-era like I dubbed last year’s Boston’s championship. The difference being Mitch Kupchak set up a team for the long haul. Danny Ainge made a desperate plea to keep his job.

by pharoah on Jun 27, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions

Russell 17th Century thru 22nd Century

Bill Russell would play today and win. He wasn’t the most dominate player even in his own day. He was the most intelligent. Not to say he wasn’t a great defensive player. Russell is the NBA’s all-time most valuable player. Solely the myopic revisionist believes otherwise.

by socal celt on Jul 2, 2009 4:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Parade

There were 95,000 people in the Coliseum and untold amounts of fans all along the parade route. Correct me if I’m wrong but that was the most fans anyone has ever seen at a parade victory for a championship trophy. At least in this great country. The Lakers won and the Celtics didn’t, get over it and stop making up excuses to bash the Lakers.

by Chick H on Jul 1, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions