Text Me Never

I wrote an article early last week about how the 3 games coming up vs Orlando, Atlanta and Los Angeles had the potential to right the ship.  I said it'd be a real regular season statement and no one would question how good the Celtics are if they won all 3 in a row.  I asked in a poll what's the least number of wins Celtics fans could tolerate.  No one picked "zero" wins so I'm assuming everyone should be just about as pissed off as me.

But the real question is, are you as pissed off as me?  As today's disaster vs Los Angeles was coming to an end I knew Boston would find a way to lose it.  You see instead of having the championship poise that you'd expect from, well a team with a championship, most of this season has seen the Celtics play scared in games like this.  Like it's inevitable they won't be able to pull it out.  The game Thursday vs Orlando in blowing a 14 point early 4th quarter lead and today blowing an 11 point lead with about 9 minutes to go exemplify that.

So as my frustrations began to build and I watched this game unfold like I knew it would, something kicked in.  Sort of like it kicks in for Peter Gibbons in Office Space after he sees the hypnotist.  That is, I just don't fucking care anymore.

You see winning that title back in 2008 in the first season after acquiring KG and Ray was incredible.  I was there the entire way, just like I'd been during all of the lean years of the past.  However it was too short-lived and fleeting.  Watching the Flakers win it all last year was awful.  And frankly I'm sick and tired of sitting around vicariously living through people on my television screen (ya know guys like Eddie House, Bennett Salvatore, etc.) whom I frankly have no control of how the outcome unfolds.

I was thinking it may be more therapeutic to take the 2002 Celtics approach, where you go into the playoffs as underdogs and keep the faith until it ends.  But you can't do that with a team that's already won it just 2 seasons ago.  Ya just can't.

So I've decided, instead of fueling this thirst for sanity by watching more games that refs giftwrap for the Flakers & Cavs; for being incensed how those are the only teams to ever play on Fan Night; to incredulously losing sleep over why Paul Pierce can't seem to get the same foul calls as LeBron and Bean; to rationalizing the disgusting ESPN lovefest of the Flakers; to wondering why the Celtics can't be the team that it was 2 years ago on a consistent basis; to dealing with every god forsaken team broadcasting tandem that I'm suffered to listen to while watching NBA League Pass; to the granular discussion of who the Celts should acquire with their 15th roster spot; to hope that there's still a chance for this team to win this year and I don't have to wait 20 more seasons to see another title; and to watching idiotic puppet commercials, that it's time to call it quits.  That's right.

When I first thought of writing this article I was going to title it "Text Me When the Celtics Make a Trade" but that got me thinking that all of my frustrations that I have while watching this game that I'm supposed to love will just be reopened.  So the fact is please, Text Me Never.  I've had it with NBA basketball and the Celtics.  They'll always hold a special place in my heart and my years of adoring them will never be forgotten.  But for my own health and well-being, I need to find a new path.  One that I can be the person who can control the outcome of the situation.  So I don't become grumpy and am a malcontent with my everyday life.  Sure I may check the standings once in awhile.  Maybe I'll even tune into a game here or there.  But this "diehard" fan has gotten a reality check.  And it's time to walk away before I'm so angry where I no longer can control the frustration that's built up inside.