So by now, if you've read my column through most of the semester, you probably think that I don't have a very high opinion of Boston sports fans. That's not true. I believe they are ardent fans ... if they're watching the Red Sox.
The only problem is that there are three other professional sports teams in this town. The Red Sox have sold out every single game for almost three years now (over 200 consecutive games). The Patriots, who have won three out of the last four Super Bowls, are second fiddle to a team that took 86 years to win a title. The Bruins, who traded their only recognizable star (Joe Thornton) to the Sharks for Matt Sturm, are smothered by the other three teams in this city, which is understandable considering hockey didn't happen last season.
And then there are the Celtics. I went to see the Celtics play at the TD Banknorth Garden last week. I actually went to watch the Sixers play, and I wasn't the only one. We Philly fans stick together, and about ten of us met up for the game.
And it was a sight to see. I realize that it was a weeknight. I also realize that it is only November, so it's not exactly a playoff atmosphere right now. But the Banknorth Garden holds 18,624 people for NBA games, yet there were a paltry 14,027 people in town to watch two very exciting teams.
The Celtics are young, fast and sharp. Paul Pierce and his supporting cast will be fun to watch this season, as Ricky Davis, Delonte West, Kendrick Perkins, and Al Jefferson mature into a cohesive unit. Until that cohesion happens, fans get the privilege of watching Brian Scalabrine, Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz and Mark Blount make fools of themselves (and Danny Ainge) trying to play professional basketball.
The Sixers still have the best guard in the game in Allen Iverson, who is averaging an unreal 34.2 points per game. This season has also seen the resurgence of Chris Webber, who has meshed nicely this season as Iverson's complement, averaging 19.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Add high-flying forward Andre Iguodala to the mix and it's easy to see why the Sixers are in first place in the Atlantic, even if it is with an 8-10 record.
The Sixers are averaging 102.2 points and giving up 102.8 points per night. That's a lot of scoring. One would think that fans would like to go to basketball games where they see a lot of offense.
I guess that's not the case here in Boston. Even when we got there, the atmosphere was so dead that it was almost laughable. I kept trying to compare it to games I've seen in Philadelphia, where the seats are packed and the fans are having fun.
Granted, this year hasn't been the best for attendance for either the Sixers or the Celtics. The Celtics are No. 25 in the league in attendance out of 30 teams, while the Sixers are No. 26 - not exactly what you would expect from two playoff teams from last season.
But fans are still warming up to the new faces on these teams. I was surprised that the highlight package that the Celtics used to pump up the fans to start the game had video of only two players: Pierce and Davis. That's what happens when your team gets gutted in the offseason, as Boston lost GP, Antoine and Tony Allen.
One thing the team has invested in is more fan giveaways. There were gimmicks during every timeout and the team trotted out a dance team consisting of about three girls doing cartwheels. The halftime show was pathetic, with fans booing as the team tried to run a tic-tac-toe game that kept getting tied. And the team is still getting the hang of highlight reels, preferring to pump up the crowd using footage of the Pats and Red Sox rather than the Celtics.
It's surprising that the Celtics would fall so hard, especially since they've been consistently winning. This is the same team that sold out the Boston Garden for 15 straight years from 1980-1995. This is the same team who won the Atlantic Division title last season. This is the same team that has made the playoffs for the past four seasons.
What's wrong with you people? Just because Larry Legend isn't trotting out there every night to take on Magic, you can't go see the Celtics anymore? Is it because the Garden is gone? I don't get it.
And I don't think the rest of the country gets it either. Basketball is still popular around the country. Look at the New Orleans Hornets, who are playing 35 games this season in Oklahoma City. They are seventh in the league this season and the atmosphere has been compared to college games.
Charlotte, who lost the Hornets because of a lack of attendance, is now rallying around the Bobcats, who surprisingly have not been banished to the cellar in the Southeast Division and are 14th in attendance.
That should be embarrassing to a proud sports city like Boston. Charlotte and Oklahoma City appreciate their sports teams more than you fans do? This city needs to get its act together and start supporting its team.
