A Few Random Thoughts on Opening Night
October 27, 2009 by Nick Gelso
I cannot stand the fall or winter seasons. I love when the sunshine stretches until 8:30. I don’t do well with the short day’s and miss the outdoor lounging by the pool with aromas of grilled steak hovering around.
Okay, let me raise my points before this post turns into something more fitting for the Food Network.
As the Finals winded down in June, I found myself already in basketball withdrawal. I was reminded all summer long of the unfinished business the Celtics closed with in May. Garnett’s injury, Rondo’s future, Big Baby’s final destination and bolstering the bench, all consumed my thoughts throughout my favorite season of the year. ESPN was off the tube as, to my disdain, baseball and the annual contemplations of Brett Favre dominated the air waves.
As to ease my basketball cravings, I watched the ever repeating previews, classics and rewinds on NBA TV– I now have them memorized. I even tuned into to some WNBA games and actually learned to appreciate the ladies talents.
One year earlier, I sat by the pool with family and friends, proudly wearing my Celtics championship gear. I needed no more basketball as my appetite had been satisfied by watching the various appearances by the newly crowned champs on talk shows, awards shows and ESPN. It seemed the Celtics, as most champions do, dominated the airwaves in the off-season of 2008.
This summer I wore the same shirt and hat , still reading 2008 champions, but felt a constant bite in my stomach over what we had lost in 2009.
I watched the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals with thoughts of what could have been, should have, but was not. The mounting frustration that our team was easily capable of beating the LeBrons and Lakers if (dare I say) they remained healthy.
Way back in July, I was actually praying that the time would fly and we would fast forward to late October for the start of the season.
And, four months later, here we are. Opening night! ESPN is back on the tube and (at least for now) still playing baseball highlights. That’s okay though, I know what’s coming– I can see “NBA Previews” in the SportsCenter sidebar. I still have that bite in my stomach. I still feel the pain of what could have been. I hope to satisfy my championship craving with a nice dish of pancakes this evening. As we crawl closer (this day may be the longest in history) to 7:30 pm… All I can say on October 27, 2009 is…
Payback is sweet! Go Celtics!
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