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It must have been hard to be a Timberwolves fan and watch what Kevin Garnett did for the Celtics this year. I’ve read a few different fan perspectives. One of our most popular links over the past week was one fan’s less than enthusiastic reaction to KG becoming a champion.
But then there’s this from DeROK at Derok.net… which is a very well written, heartfelt take on what it was like to watch from Minnesota. From falling in love with a lanky high schooler… to the empty feeling of watching him in another uniform… to the moment he uttered “this is for Sota” in his now infamous postgame interview with Michelle Tafoya:
With those four words, Kevin Garnett changed everything. Suddenly the gates to the mansion were flung open, and all the outsiders, like myself, were allowed to come flooding in. After nearly a year of silence from him regarding his original fans, the ones who stood by him since his first game, who suffered through every disappointment he had to face, and who loved him unconditionally, Garnett finally shouted across the universe how much we really meant to him. He hadn’t forgotten us. He hadn’t abandoned us. Even though he followed through with his new responsibility – to bleed Celtic green and endear himself to the Boston fans, it didn’t mean he had tossed us aside.
The only thing I can compare this to is the Ray Bourque saga in Boston. It’s a tough comparison because I’m a much bigger hoops fan than I am a hockey fan… but Ray Bourque is one of my favorite athletes of all time. I was nothing but thrilled to see him win the Stanley Cup… even with someone else. And I was happy that he came back to Boston with it to recognize his fans. I remember not everyone was happy with that… and I assume that’s somewhat the feeling in Minnesota.
Anyway… it’s a very good read. I really do hope that Minnesota gets to celebrate a title of their own. Not only do their fans deserve it… but with guys like Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes on their squad… there is a bit of an attachment in Boston.
It’s always hard to see your guy go to make a stronger team. Thanks for sharing this because it endears me to KG even more. It’s what we would have all felt had Paul gone off to another team and kicked the kind of ass he’d always done here but with a better cast of characters. Plus your Bourque comparison is pretty good.
Yeah I couldn’t understand why anyone in Minny wouldn’t be happy for him. The very first thing he did when he won was to shout out to them. That was impressive.