Summer Boredcast - What made you become a fan of the Boston Celtics?

Finishing up the Boredcast series. This is the last one folks. Tomorrow we start something new to count down the days till training camp. Are you excited yet?

Where will this team be in the rebuilding process in 3 years?

Kevin O'Connor - CelticsBlog

It's hard to remember the exact day I became a true fan of the Boston Celtics, but two memories pop up in my head. First, in either 1998 or 1999 and the Boston Celtics came to visit my hometown's high school to hold a practice. I went with my dad and had an amazing time watching the team in person. All the players signed autographs after practice, and like any kid under the age of 10, I was excited to get something signed even if I didn't know exactly who they were. This was probably the day I became a "fan" but it's easy to call yourself a fan or supporter of something when you're amidst a great moment. I think the moments that really prove you are a fan come in the dark times. For me, those came in the mid 2000's, especially during the 2006-2007 season, when the Celtics lost 18-games in a row. I never stopped watching. I loved that season. I enjoyed every minute of it, win or lose, I loved watching the Boston Celtics play despite how horrible they were. I remember going out to eat with my parents, telling them "I have to be home by 7:30 before the Celtics start!" My dad and I watched almost every single game that season, probably missing only parts of one or two of them. Even though I had watched almost every single game from 2001 to 2006, I think the fact I stuck through such a terrible season proved that I will forever bleed green. It's almost like that was my graduation from "fan" to "fanatic." I love basketball, but more than that, I love the Boston Celtics.

Josh Zavadil - CelticsBlog

I wrote about it for CelticsBlog (see here), but it began in 2002. Eastern Conference Finals. If you know anything about the Celtics, you know exactly what game and series did it for me.

FLCeltsFan - CelticsBlog

I was a senior in high school in Pennsylvania. I loved basketball but didn't really have a favorite team. It was the year 1969 and that Celtics team showed so much grit and heart and determination that they just captivated me. I started reading about the Celtics and following them and I was hooked. My love for this team has never waivered, even through the lean years.

Tim MacLean - Celtics Spot / CLNS Radio

As a kid growing up just a few miles outside of Boston, I learned to love the Celtics at a very young age. I remember watching games with my grandfather as he told me stories about Bill Russell's playing days. He would say things like "there wasn't a single player out there that wanted it more than Bill." My father also told me stories about the "Big Three," a trio headlined by Larry Bird. Whenever I would talk to him about one of the better players in the league today, he would always make sure to say, "if you think these guys are good, you should have seen Bird. Wow could he play."

The stories were fascinating and with each one my love for the Celtics grew stronger. I realized players that special only come around every so often and I wondered if I would ever be lucky enough to see one first hand.

Luckily, I grew up watching Paul Pierce torch opposing defenses night in and night out.

Paul Pierce will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest Celtics of all time. His number is sure to be retired, joining the likes of the 21 Celtics legends that came before him.

And I get to carry on my own family tradition. One day I see myself watching a Celtics game with my son. He'll say, "Dad, this guy is unbelievable!" I'll smile, proudly shake my head and say to him, "If you think that guy's good, you should've seen Paul Pierce play."

Mike Dyer - Celtics Life

Wish I had a cooler story, but I actually became a fan of the Celtics during the 1996-97 season, when I was 9, despite the fact that neither of my parents were big Celtics fans. In my formative years I watched them win 15 games, lose out on Duncan, and then struggle through the Pitino error (see what I did there? I wrote error instead of era! Crazy). I'd say it's amazing that I stuck around, but watching Pierce and Antoine seemingly made it all worth it. The 2001-02 team that lost in the Conference Finals was really when I fully fell in love with the team, realizing how much fun watching playoff basketball could be. I also think that Mike and Tommy played a big role in my fandom, as they do an amazing job of making a November game against the Raptors seem like the most important thing in the world. Some people find the homerism annoying, but I love it.

Mark Vandeusen - Celtics Life

I've always been a fan from growing up just outside of Boston in the 1980's. But the transcending moment for me came on a ferry boat ride to Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 2007. In an attempt to regain fans after a dismal '06-'07 season, the Celtics were offering season tickets for 50% off. My buddy and I spent the 45 minute trip debating whether or not it was worth it. They had just traded for Ray Allen, and we figured that a squad featuring Ray, Pierce, and "Big Al" Jefferson would be good enough to make the playoffs. We decided to plunk down $1,500 each in order to get a pair of great seats in the lower level; just $35 per game. A few days later they traded for Garnett, and the rest is history.

HeisenCelts - Truth On Causeway

I have no clue, honestly. I like to say many games were televised in my country during that 07-08 season and I fell in love with Ubuntu materialized. Still, I can't say with certainty why I developed this inexplicable passion for the team, but to just give you something, Rajon Rondo was a BIG part of it.

GeeZeeCelts - Truth on Causeway

Kevin Garnett has been my favorite player ever since I knew anything at all about the NBA, so when I heard that he got traded to the Celtics, I decided to start actively following. But what kept me watching and turned me into a diehard fan was the whole Ubuntu thing and how the team taught me even more about life than basketball. For a young fan (13 at the time, I think), it was very necessary. Truth be told, Kevin and Paul changed who I am and turned my life around for the better. They fascinated me, so I became dedicated to them. But being dedicated to them was synonymous with being dedicated to the Celtics. So here I am.

Shawn Cassidy - Celtics Title Town

I wasn't born, and raised in Boston. I'm from Canton Ohio. Even though I was born in Ohio, I was raised to love the Celtics early on. I'm an early 80's baby, so I barley remember the 86 title team. I really became a die hard fan towards the end of Bird's career. I stuck with the C's through the Eric Montross days, and Rick Fox days.

I was heartbroken when the Celtics missed out on Duncan, and I cried when Lewis died. My older brother lives in Boston who got me into the Celtics early on. I currently live in California, and I deal with Laker fans daily.

I fell in love with the lore, and history like so many.

Jeff's Take:

Well, 1986 was a really, really good year. Not just for the Celtics, but for Boston sports in general. The Bruins were in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Patriots were in the Super Bowl, and the Red Sox were in the World Series. Of course all of them lost in varying degrees of gutpunch levels. Not the Celtics though. The Celtics had lost the previous year with a gut-punch running hook shot. But in 1986 they were just flat out dominant. Locked in. Three steps ahead of everyone else and destined for greatness.

I was just turning 11 years old about the time they were wrapping up their series with the Rockets. I can still remember how the carpet felt under my elbows as I sat too close to the TV. Of course the broadcast was muted so that I could listen to Johnny Most on the radio.

Larry, Kevin, Chief, DJ, Walton, and that upstart Danny Boy. These were my superheroes. These were my action figures. They made me fall in love with the sport and with the green and white and I will treasure those memories always.

Your turn. Tell us your story.

More from CelticsBlog:

• *Reggie Jackson, Rodney Stuckey, & Anderson Varejao will be Celtics in 2015
• Summertime Blues Edition of the CelticsBlog Mailbag
• Summer Boredcast - Where will this team be in the rebuilding process in 3 years?
• Was Doc wrong about offensive rebounding and transition defense?
• 98.5 The Sports Hub is finalizing a broadcast deal with the Boston Celtics