One Man's Take by Kenny Masenda - http://www.kennymasenda.blogspot.com
Man, it’s been about three hours since the Celtics wrapped up the championship, and I can tell you that in all my years of watching NBA basketball, I have NEVER SEEN anyone team THIS LIVE, EVER. From the beginning, you could tell this team was starving for a championship. The players on the team who weren’t learned quick, and got on the ball immediately. For one in particular, watching him celebrate and go ballistic was something that brought joy, happiness, and any other positively-linked emotion to ANYONE who has followed his career, and I am speaking of The Great Kevin Garnett.
See, it all goes back to the 1995 Draft, when Joe Smith, Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse, and Rasheed Wallace were picked #1 through #4, respectively. Then, the Minnesota Timberwolves took KG at #5. Later on, he signed “The Contract,” and that’s when the craziest expectations known to man were placed on him. He didn’t have the help that others had, but damn that, since he got $126 million. That’s what the haters said. When he finally did get some help, in 2003-04, that team was blown up the very next year, and even then, he didn’t complain, whine, cry, or do any of that shit: he stayed loyal to his team, and tried to make it work. People were SCREAMING for him to get traded to a contender, and when he finally was moved, and the other pieces were in put in place…it was on.
So now, after 66 wins, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and re-energizing a basketball goldmine, Kevin Garnett has FINALLY got him a championship ring. Watching him celebrate was like seein’ a family member make it. I know I wasn’t the only one; people are genuinely happy to see this man get his rang, and to rightfully take his place among the greats (and his post-game interview with Michelle Tafoya was THE REALEST). We were all goin’ crazy and screaming at the same time!
So to the realest in it: congratulations. You’re a champ, you got the ring, f*ck alllllll the haters, and from this day forward, you’re officially…CERTIFIED.
Be easy.
Posts
It’s A Celebration!
1 week ago
6 comments:
Kenny,
That is exactly how I felt Tuesday night watching KG have his moment. He's definitely one the best BBall players of the past decade and deserves this. "This is for you momma, we made it!!!" Classic
Ken you put it down on this one fam, the SI cover of Kev is classic. I think my new x-factor player is Big Game James Posey, v2.0. They don't win the series without him, hell any of the playoff series without him. I might have to write up one on him...
-Ed.
Your take on Kevin Garnett is spot on! Thank you.
Boston is blessed to have this man, but not only for his basketball. Kevin Garnett’s heart is a big as the rest of him, believe me—he bought a home in support of a Katrina relief fund AND he gave $1.2 million dollars to an Oprah Winfrey funded charity, the Angel Fund, and he been involved in countless other charities that don’t make the media.
I’m a middle-aged White man, as far away from a professional Black athlete as you can imagine. But when I saw Kevin in his interview after the win, and witnessed the beautiful, honest, raw emotion come out of this young man, I got such a lump in my throat, then cried like a baby. In those wonderful moments, I felt connected to this man as a brother, with all the distinctions between us erased by some core feeling that can only be described as love. God love ya, Kevin Garnett…God love ya.
Boston is blessed to have this man, but not only for his basketball. Kevin Garnett’s heart is as big as the rest of him, believe me—he bought a home in support of a Katrina relief fund AND he gave $1.2 million dollars to an Oprah Winfrey funded charity, the Angel Fund, and he's been involved in countless other charities that don’t make the media.
I’m a middle-aged White man, as far away from a professional Black athlete as you can imagine. But when I saw Kevin in his interview after the win, and witnessed the beautiful, honest, raw emotion come out of this young man, I got such a lump in my throat, then cried like a baby. In those wonderful moments, I felt connected to this man as a brother, with all the distinctions between us erased by some core feeling that can only be described as love. God love ya, Kevin Garnett…God love ya.
You have to feel good for KG. He's a great player and a class act as well. He deserved it. And so glad Phil was denied his 10th title, he may be from my state but man he is a jackass
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