As die hard fans of the Celtics, when we go to the games we can tend to pick out those people in the crowd who "shouldn't be there". They are out of place, dressed in their shirt and tie, and in no mood to do anything other than golf clap. Lets face it, that is going to happen no matter where you go. Even in the college game, look around. Men with button up shirts and ties are sitting down the entire game. You can't do anything about it.
So when we go to games we pick out those people and we point at them and make one person into a hundred. Suddenly we look at "Him" and say "We need the better fans here". Allbeit true (for those individuals), it can't be helped and is nothing to rate an entire fanbase upon.
You rate a fanbase on the vast majority, and the goofballs (and I mean that in a good way) who paint their faces and color their hair. At last nights game I saw more fans with their faces painted than you would ever see in 10 games combined at Staples Center. There was a guy with a Celtics tatoo draped down his entire back. Then you have Aztec Gino, Jack Black, Grampa KG etc. etc. etc... All the normals.
More fans than not who are at the Garden ARE there to root on the Celtics and ARE there to be loud in an attempt to intimidate the opponent. If there wasn't, there is no way a "Lets Go Celtics" or a "Bull Sqash" (censored) or an "Over Rated" chant would start without a nudge from the jumbotron which is where many fanbases get their motivation.
At several points in last nights game, you may have heard the Garden getting loud. It was NOT brought on by the Jumbotron. It was already in the process of getting loud and they put the meter up for extra measure. I was extremely impressed.
As for the chants.. How fun is that? I have absolutely no problem with the chant of "Over Rated" in last nights game. I did think the first one came a little early (with a little over 3 minutes left), but it is worth it. The Jungle is no place to make opponents feel at home. No one west of Boston thought the Celtics could take opening night against the Heat, even with the game at home. I say let it rip. Why hold back on any chant until the playoffs? Thats boring. Although we are spoiled with playoff appearances, its time to start (as fans) approaching regular season games with a little more meaning. We are shooting for the 1 seed for home court advantage throughout the playoffs.. These games DO mean something.
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