The first question asked when glancing at the title of this piece is “why in god’s name is r in royalty not capatilized?” “Since royalty is in the title shouldn’t the r be Capitalized (R)?” To answer this stupid staged hypothetical that most of you (the only six people that read my blog) could care less about because you couldn’t have cared less how the title was written, I give you the answer: The Sacramento Queens do not deserve capital letters or even to be the team that resides in our nation’s greatest state capitol. After seeing them in action for the first time this season at Arco Arena on Wednesday night, I witnessed a team without identity. On the other hand, I witnessed the identity of the newly assembled, finely tuned- oil machine, that is the Boston Celtics, and as they stripped the wheels off the makeshift, injury striken Sacramento kings squad who have been without the services of Kevin Martin and Mike Bibby, I realized at the sound of the twenty point blowout fourth quarter buzzer that the Celts are going to be putting up another banner this summer and for summers to come.
Everyone is waiting for just one of this amazing trio to get injured, because injury has plagued Allen and Pierce in the past. I will be one of the first to say that for atleast this season, and yes they might get nicked up and we all know they play through pain , the championship belongs to the celtics. Garnett will not let them lose. Garnett can and does do everything on the court, has the intensity of a raging bull, and the fact that he’s a fabulous defender when he needs to be, makes the claim that much greater. I left Arco last night feeling the same way I felt when I left Arco Arena February 2nd 1998 the last time Jordan and his Bulls met up with the Kings. I saw the heart of the champion that night, and Jordan only played 24 minutes!
How a team prepares for each and every game is important, but the approach a team has to a road game, any and all road games is by far the most difficult for any one team to grasp. It seems that in the NBA there is little time for preparation between games at home and definitely on the road, but a team that always plays without fear, with purpose, and devine focus will indeed wear the crown.
When Garnett played for the Wolves he averaged 22 and 12 with two blocks and two rips against the Kings. Last night Garnett played thirty six minutes and had 14 points and 10 boards. The stat sheet doesn’t say it all though. Garnett when in the game was involved in every play. You could probably tell this by seeing five offensive rebounds, two steals, and one block in the box score, but his presence on the court is Shaq-like. This is not just because he will step out and drain the three once and a while, or because he scares the daylights out of you with his best Shrek impression gone bitter beer face with a hint of alien proto-type Sam Cassell…….. and he does all this by just letting out a few dominating screams during each and every quarter.
Before his move to the Celtics we knew he was a fierce competitor and even though at the beginning of his career he took the years and the money (just as any of us would have done) he is just at the prime of his career and this champ will get what Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Shawn Kemp never got and that is the hardware of a champion more proof and protection for his heart. Everyone always said that if he had just a little bit of support behind him that banners would be raised in Minnesota. Well the depths of hell are behind him and he has entered the mecca of the sports world.
The energy at Arco Arena in Sacramento was at the highest I’ve witnessed in a very long time, but on this night I texted some friends and told them that AL Rookie of the year Dustin Pedroia a Sacramento Area native was greeted by Arco with a warm welcome and even was given a Kings jersey. I noted in my text that I was angry because Pedroia played the role of a politician and didn’t put on the jersey (even just to see if it fit okay!). The AP may have agreed with me because they added it to their notes of the game.
“AL Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia watched from courtside and was given a Kings jersey with his name. Pedroia, who grew up in nearby Woodland but plays for the Boston Red Sox, did not wear the jersey.” Josh Dubow AP Sports Writer
He should have put on the fricken’ Jersey!
December 28, 2007 at 10:32 am |
Amen.
That was by far your best posting of the season. I do not agree that the BoCelts will raise up another banner for their organizations glory but…they are on that pace. Sure, because they have a fabulous unhurt trio, but it is only 1/4 of the season through. They have won most of those games, and probably will go on to win 70 this season if they stay healthy, maybe 75. I do feel that the ability to win on the road shows championship power, even if it is against the Queens of Sactown, a name given by the Lakers fan base I must add.
As for your rookie of the year, Pedroia — what a fucking douchebag.
Was Arco sold out? I know it gets really loud there. If it was, does this mean even the shitty teams sell out to see the Boston Fucking Celtics? Goddamnit is that is true.
Why can’t you write about Andrew Bynum?
December 28, 2007 at 11:20 pm |
Adam,
First of all, thank you for your words of encouragement. Just for clarification, it was Shaq who coined the phrase “Sacramento Queens.”
Its interesting that you ask if Arco was sold out…….It happened to be Arco’s FIRST sellout of the season with over 17,000 fans in attendance.
My next comment may include how much it sucks that on Sunday the Celtics visit the Lakers and once can only watch the game if they live in LA or Boston or happen to have NBA TV……..THE LAKERS CELTICS GAME SHOULD BE ON ABC!