By Craig Kwasniewski
Do Celtics fans even watch the games at TD Banknorth Garden?
Well based on their team marketing, I'm not sure.
While flipping through ESPN - The Magazine I found this little nugget:
Looks like Celtics officials have stopped thinking Paul Pierce alone can keep the crowd in the game. A while back, they announced they'd be introducing the Celtics Dancers during home games. Now, they've also unveiled plans to reserve 16 courtside seats for celebs.
So I checked out the C's website and stumbled upon their Boston Celtics Game Experience page describing itself as "more than just great NBA basketball. It's family fun at the Garden with all kinds of perks for the fans. This is the place to find all the excitement of the Celtics games in the form of photos and information on Lucky, the Slamrocks, the Green Team and a whole lot more."
HUH? Call me old school, but I go to NBA games to WATCH basketball.
Look I understand why less traditional franchises have to offer "more than just great NBA basketball" but the Celtics should never have to stoop so low. If I want to see male cheerleaders dunking off trampolines, pedophilic mascots groping children or catch a tee-shirt fired from air gun I'll go watch Cirque du Soleil.
Even when I was a kid, I hated mascots. They always had this, "I was doing Shakespeare in College now I'm getting punched in the nads my some ADD kid on a sugar high with an asshole parent" look on their face. I actually felt sorry for them.
And now the Celtics marketing department think that spotting Ben Affleck sitting courtside will draw more fans? "Yo, there's a wicked pahty to the Gahden, Ben Affleck's there!!!!" Please.
(Check out past "celebrities" who went to see the C's like Steve Sweeney, Donnie Wahlberg and Bill Bellamy (He's a celebrity???): Celebrity Sightings Gallery)
I've ripped on the C's front office before, (Celtics Strapped for Cash), but I have nothing against the Celtics, I just look so fondly back on the 1980's Bird-led teams that it kills me to see this franchise fall into the hands of marketing chicanery. I know the Lakers started the whole celebrity experience at NBA games, but it was to add a "big event" feel to the game. Do other big events like the Oscars, Grammys and Nobel Prize Awards have mascots flying down the aisle during commercials?
I'm just so glad that I don't have to put up with that crap at my games.
Could Lucky POSSIBLY look like a bigger douche? Seriously, he's the douchiest douche in Doucheonia.
Posted by: basketbawful | September 05, 2006 at 12:08 PM
HI-LARIOUS!!!
I'm stealing that line for future fantasy football smack.
Posted by: Craig | September 05, 2006 at 03:59 PM
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