Ron Artest Crazy Wins Championships

Last night I stayed up to watch the Boston Celtics… lose. It’s no secret that I’m a fair weather basketball fan. I only watch when the Celtics are in the playoffs. Even then, most nights I go bed by the half. Last night, though, I had to stay up. Because the Celtics were obviously going to win.

Right.

As was common all season, they blew it in the fourth. Some think that the Celts played hard and gave it their all, others think they pissed away the chance at another championship.

As for my glorious opinion, I think they gave it their all. The Lakers earned that win. They outplayed the Celtics, they outshot the Celtics, and they were more aggressive than the Celtics. More importantly, they out crazied the Celtics. I mean, come on. Did you hear Ron Artest after the game? The man thanked his shrink.

I have a theory that you can’t beat crazy. This series was all about proving that. Get the drool and Pixar character comparisons going, and you’re going to win the game. Bulge your eyes a bit more than normal, you’re going to win the game. Be Ron Artest crazy, you’re going to win the game.

I’ll leave you with Ron Artest’s post-game interview because just watching that is enough to amuse you for the rest of the day.

Samantha Lewis is a conference production assistant by day and a sports blogger by night. Seeing Ron Artest makes her feel better about her own wiring. You can read more from Samantha at Beantown Athletic Supporters and follow her on Twitter here.

The Celtics are Certifiably Insane

Fridays should be slow work days. Unfortunately, we can't always get what we want so I'm going to get right to the point today.

It’s no secret that I dislike basketball. But, let’s be honest, it’s impossible not to get into the Celtics-Lakers series. Especially us hockey fans. For Christ’s sake, we need SOMEONE from Boston to win.

Last night, the Celts tied the series 2-2. Interestingly enough, it was their bench players that did most of the work. Glen “Big Baby” Davis had 18 points and 4 offensive rebounds in 22 minutes. What? Yes. In his words, “I just felt like a beast. There’s not too many times you get to be part of something so great. I just couldn’t be denied.’’ Couldn’t be denied is an understatement. He looked like Mario after you grab one of those rainbow stars that allows you to plow through enemies like an enraged crack head. The man even drooled (it was disgusting). Davis’ performance came just in time, too. No NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the finals. Sorry Phil Jackson, you got denied.

So now what? Well, the Celtics have to win 2 of the next 3. That goes without saying. The question is whether or not they can do it. Their play has been erratic and unpredictable. Guys like Ray Allen goes from shooting 80% to 0% within the span of 1 game. The Big Three have yet to show up on the same night. But! Last night the Celtics looked legitimately insane. Big Baby was drooling, Sheed’s eye were bulging, victory cries (and foul cries) had to be dropped from the game. I think LA just realized they’re dealing with a bunch of insane bastards. Ron Artest can’t touch this crazy.

That said, the Celtics and their mental disorders are going to pull this off. Crazy aside, this team is built for victory. Game 6, LA, be ready.

Samantha Lewis is a conference production assistant by day and a sports blogger by night. In what little free time she has, she is a temporary basketball fan. You can (sometimes) read more from her at Beantown Athetic Supporters. You can also follow her on Twitter here.

The Best of the CMSB- Where Sasha Cries

Remember when Sasha got schooled by Ray Allen? Yeah, me too...

Even after last night's crap-storm in Golden St, I figured today would be a good day to drag this one back from the archives. This is from June 13th, 2008...

Historic franchises all have moments that everyone remembers, whether it is a home run from Carlton Fisk, Kirk Gibson, or Rick Monday; a dramatic save from Patrick Roy; a touchdown pass from Joe Montana; or John Havlicek stealing the ball. As a Celtics fan since 1986 (I was 8 yrs old), I had always felt a little shafted on my Celtics moments. I don't remember them winning game 6 against Houston, but I remember them losing to the Lakers in 1987. I remember Larry Bird's steal against Detroit, his comeback against the Pacers in Game 5 in 1991, and his last hurrah on a Sunday afternoon at home against the Blazers when he scored 49 points in a double OT Celtic win, but no titles, no victory cigars, no "World Champions" t-shirts, just deaths (Len Bias and Reggie Lewis) horrid draft picks (Eric Montross, Joe Forte, Michael Smith, Ron Mercer) and bad trades (Vin Baker, Rodney Rogers). When Red Auerbach passed away, there were so many tributes and talk of the old days, I felt like a fan of those teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have a storied history that is just that, a storied history with nothing recent to show for it (sadly, Sid Bream isn't recent anymore). Although the 2002 Celtics had a memorable comeback against New Jersey, it wasn't the same because they still lost the series. Thursday night, June 12, 2008 was my generation's signature Celtics Game.

At the end of the first quarter I was doing the podcast that I do along with the Celtics games because I hate the national announcers, the half-times and such. When the Celtics were down 35-14 at the end of the 1st quarter, visions of Game 3 against Cleveland were fresh in my mind. They were about to prove the "pundits" right, this series was going to be tied, Phil Jackson was going to break Red's record (against the Celtics no less), and the polar ice caps might as well have been melting before my eyes. I figured it was over, and I went back to watching the Phillies to relax a little. Jeff, my co-host, would keep me updated because he was still watching, and all I needed to hear from him was the groan or sigh to know I had made the right decision. I did not see Jordan Farmar's half-ending three pointer, and if I had I would be in the market for a brand new HDTV today. It was 58-40 at the half, the Celtics looked lost, the Lakers looked dominant, and I felt like a moron for thinking that the Celtics would actually win number 17 in my lifetime. In fact, halfway through the third, the Lakers still had a big lead at times, even up by 24 at one point. It was going to be a short night, but it turned out to be one of the longer ones in recent memory.

I was following the game through Jeff and online updates. I couldn't bring myself to watch for fear I would be the human jinx, and sure enough when I finally gave in at the beginning of the 4th quarter, Kobe Bryant scored right away and I figured I had soiled the whole thing just by changing the channel. I am glad I didn't turn the dial. It was the single greatest quarter of basketball I have ever seen a Celtics team play. Eddie House, Ray Allen, KevinGarnett, Paul Pierce, and James Posey just put on a show for the ages (sorry Jeff) that I will remember until I am on my deathbed. When that final gun sounded, I couldn't help but think of Johnny Most "fiddling and diddling" and his other famous calls, and realized that finally I had seen something I would be telling my grandkids about. The Boston Celtics had come back from 24 points down, on the road, in front of the biggest group of fair weather fans ever, against the Lakers , good had triumphed over evil, and Kobe Bryant needed a drink or two. You know what Kobe? I needed a drink too, to celebrate, to toast Celtics memories from the past, and the moments yet to come. Generation X finally got their Celtics moment.

Kobe Cherry-Picks His Way To 61

Watching Kobe Bryant's 61 point performance against the Knicks last night, I couldn't help but notice that he never seemed to get a rebound, or a loose ball. Well surprise, surprise, check out the box score. ZERO REBOUNDS! Zero. None. Even Michael Jordan had 4 rebounds and a game-winning assist in the famous "Double Nickel". People accidentally get rebounds, how can you not get one? So before people get all hot and bothered over this and give Kobe more verbal back-rubs, remember that stat. Zero rebounds. He is officially the equivalent of that guy in the weekend pick-up league who waits for the long outlet pass, who you never see inside the three point line on the defensive end.