The Curse

I remember waking up every morning in 3rd grade and my first thought being, "I wonder if the Celtics won last night?" At that point in my life we didn't have cable, so I couldn't watch any Celtic home games just the away games on UPN and even then I wasn't usually allowed to stay up to watch them. So every morning I'd wake up and take a superstitious walk downstairs to the kitchen making sure to hit each step just right. I'd sit down at the kitchen table, yank out the Boston Globe sports section, and take a peek.

That year was their worst year in history I believe, 15-67. Their coach was ML Carr, starting center was Eric Montross, power forward was Dino Radja he led the team in scoring, small forward was Rick Fox (although it might have also been Eric Williams I think), shooting guard was usually Dee Brown, and the starting point was David Wesley. That was the team. It was before the antics of Antoine Walker, before Paul Pierce hogging the ball, before KG and Ray Allen made being a Celts fan cool again.

Yet, I also wonder if my undying faith in the Celtics was also related to their drought. The last championship the Celtics won was in 1986, the year I was born. I used to believe that I was going to be the savior for this historic team. They'd get continually farther away from their glorious past until David Wang brought them back towards the light. But now I'm wondering if perhaps it was the opposite. I was what brought the curse upon the Celts. In '87 they made it to the championship game again, but lost to the Lakers. And after that there was one anomalous appearance in the Eastern Championship, and a lot of painful playoff-less years. And now, I'm here in Beijing, and when I'm in the States I spend most of my time in LA (who took a turn for the worst after my arrival I might include), and those Celts are incredible. 19-2 and undefeated at home! I remember hating Jordan and the Bulls for having that kind of record.

So I wonder, am I the curse? Did my faith in the 15-62 team encourage that kind of performance? And upon my leave, the Celtics took their chance to regain glory? Aiya, I probably shouldn't go back after Beijing. But what a year to live in Boston. Red Sox have already won their championship, and the Celts and Pats are on their way. The last time things were like this was a long time ago, 1986.