North Station Sports

I know pancakes are a traditional breakfast meal but I thought… “why not?”. I quickly whisked the ingredients together as the count down to game seven began. As I devoured the fluffy Frisbees the Celtics looked crisp. They eventually clinched the victory I picked up the empty plate and put it in the sink. I thought to myself “I would do pancakes for dinner again some time”.

I didn’t revisit Aunt Jamima until game 4 of the Orlando series. Big Baby came thru for us in the most improbable of ways that night. Two nights later, I had some badder left over in the fridge and decided to indulge in some breakfast cakes again. That night the Celtics came back from 14 points down in the 4th quarter. I was starting to think maybe the pancakes had something to do with these improbable victories.

I ran out of Aunt Jamima mix for game six and guess what? We blew a 10 point 4th quarter lead and the Magic held on for one more game. Strange…

Celtics Mystique is always a much discussed topic before game sevens. The Boston Celtics franchise are 20-5 all time in the deciding games. 

Thoughts of game sevens past come to mind… the “Duel” between Bird and Dominique, the 10 point comeback with 4 minutes left against the Bucks in 1987, Don Nelson’s shot that bounced 20 feet above the rim and fell straight in against the Lakers in 1969, Paul Pierce’s free throw that did the same thing in the last moments against the Cavs last year, Adrian Dantley and Vinnie Johnson colliding in 1987 with Dantley being carried out on a stretcher, Pierce and LeBron’s duel last year, “Havlicek stole the ball”, “They came from 3-1 down and they have won the series, it’s all over! It’s all over” – 1981 vs the 76ers, to name a few.

Most of these memories, though played in old Boston Garden, have been transplanted with the parquet floor and 17 Championship banners.

Tomorrow the Magic will have to contend with the Celtics legends in full attendance, the raucous Garden crowd and  the game seven experience of the current Celtics.

These current Celtics are 3-0 in game sevens and always rise to the challenge under pressure. Though no one will be critical if the Celtics lost tomorrow, I do not think anyone honestly thinks they will. The phrase “heart of a champion” is so over used but in the case of these title defender’s, I do not feel their is any other way to describe the way they have pulled out unlikely victories while facing such high adversity. Win or lose tomorrow, you made us proud to be Celtics fans.

I am off to the store now to pick up some more Aunt Jamima pancake mix so I can make my dinner tomorrow night. I think I am getting as superstitious as Ray Allen…