The Gators today, but someday soon it'll be the Celtics.

[mark at 10thumbs.org]

I live in Gainesville, FL -- home of the NCAA Champ Gators and while i
used to be a big Gator fan, i don't really care that much anymore. 
(Especially since UF appropriated "nation" from the Sox (i.e. Red Sox
Nation) and manufactured the so-called "Gator Nation")

Anyways driving on the completely deserted streets last night during the
game, and having to listen to fireworks and have everyone from my mom to
random co-workers say "how about them gators?!?" got me thinking about why
I don't follow the Gators as passionately as i once did.

I realized that all that fan energy has gone into the Celtics. I love the
Red Sox (and Chargers too) but it's the C's who i can watch play
meaningless games against Cleveland w/o Pierce or James, who i chart draft
status of, subscribe to email lists for.

And I started to think that for as crazy and all-consumed as folks were
around here with the Gators, I can't wait for that feeling with the C's
being back on top.  Will it be in a couple years? couple decades?  Who
knows.

But believe me it's gonna be sweet for us -- the die hards, the folks who
argue over the merits of Leon Powe vs. Brandon Hunter.  Those of us who
stay awake wondering if the C's had just resigned Orien Greene would Ainge
have felt compelled to reach for Telfair (since an injured Delonte West
was our only PG) or would we be discussing the Brandon Roy AND Rondo era?

There will be johnny-come-latelys gaga over the stars (Pierce, Big Al,
whoever..) but we'll know how long a journey this has been:  Carr, Pitino,
ThanksDad, The BrainDead Trust; Lewis, Bias, Duncan; Thomas Hamilton, Acie
Earl, Brett Szabo; Veteran all-stars, Joe Johnson, Joe Forte, Kedrick
Brown. And on and on.

Overall I think Ainge has done a good job getting this team in a position
to make a leap. And having followed these Gators I want that leap to be
more than a one-year hop... i want it to be a Spurs/Pistons-like run of
being contenders.

Keep the faith! Go Celtics!
(the other) mark

ps. Bill Simmons was a guest on Chad Ford's podcast last Friday -- some
good Celtics talk. Link form his site
(http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/blog/archive?name=simmons&month=3&year=2007)

pps. havne't got to see them all yet but Pierce and Delonte are on
FSNNEWENGLAND.com in the video section.  Not as great as Delonte's "i'd
play with a sock, greg" or Tasmanian Devil bits, but they're both funny
guys.