Celtics Media Game
Lights are shining, adrenaline is pumping, and I have unlimited energy on the Celtics’ parquet. For about 90 seconds.
Then zap. Lungs gasp for air, muscles turn to mush, and it’s a struggle to play defense at TD Garden.
That’s what it felt like to play basketball in the Celtics Media Game, which hopefully becomes an annual event. About 30 members of the media gathered for an afternoon pickup game prior to the C’s preseason tilt with the Knicks on Friday.
“You can’t leave the court now!” says teammate Ken Powtak, an AP freelance writer. Our team was listed as the “Knicks” on the scoreboard, and, officially, the “Celtics” won by at least a dozen points.
Butch Stearns of FOX 25 showed some athletic ability, and Chris Ryan of WKXL in Concord — my partner on the “The NBA Life with Matt Bonner” radio show — proved he’s purely a hockey player. (Though I appreciate your pass attempt on the fastbreak, Chris.)
The public address announcer feigned excitement when shouting our names, and for a nano-second, I wasn’t a reporter while jogging over the leprechaun at midcourt. I was a Celtic.
Naturally, I wore KG’s shirt (No. 5) and restrained myself from yelling, “Anything is possible!” when stepping onto the famed parquet. I posted up Jim Fenton of the Brockton Enterprise, crashed the boards over WEEI’s Jessica Camerato, and was nearly dunked on by the Boston Herald’s Dan Duggan.
While taking a break on the bench, my family sat next to Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who was one of the more interested spectators. My wife, instead of asking him about the upcoming season, told the massive Baby, “You know, my son’s middle name is Davis.”
Our 3-year-old daughter, Ella, had no issues sitting on Davis’ lap for photos. Normally, she’d be terrified by such a huge stranger.
However, Ella absolutely loves babies. And she met the biggest Baby of all!
Davis, eventually, had seen enough media mayhem. “I can’t even look at you guys anymore,” he said.
Thanks to Heather Walker of the Celtics for organizing this event, which included KG-approved Gatorade and “Play on the Parquet” T-shirts. Fortunately, nobody got hurt and Celtics trainer Ed Lacerte could focus on the real players that day. Photos by Kevin Littlefield of Capture the Moment Photography. http://www.ctmphotos.com
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Sometimes I swear you have the best job, ever!
Comment by Meridith — October 13, 2009 @ 4:36 pm
LOL, best job?
you can’t write, you can’t predict, you can’t judge baseball talent.
The only thing you are good at is not up dating this blog!
Comment by THE POPE — October 13, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
Bruce, once again thanks for the kind words. Keep reading.
Comment by Kevin Gray — October 13, 2009 @ 9:08 pm
That’s it dude? that is all you have to say?
You think I am this Bruce guy?
You are way out there jimmy.
say hi to mr. white. And you never got back to me about painting the church!
Comment by THE POPE — October 14, 2009 @ 12:07 pm
I’ll paint the church. Where do I send the bill?
Comment by Kevin Gray — October 14, 2009 @ 12:57 pm