Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals: Win it For...

Back in 2004, on the morning of the seventh game of the Red Sox-Yankees American League Championship Series, a message was posted on the Red Sox fan Web site, Sons of Sam Horn, titled “Win it For.” The poster listed all the people and reasons he wanted the Red Sox to go out and win Game Seven for.

This one post grew into something special, and, ultimately, was featured in newspapers across the country, and then put into a book. I was honored to be one of those whose posting became part of the book.

With imitation being the highest form of flattery, and the Celtics getting ready to play in their first finals since 1987 (attempting to win their first title since 1986), I started thinking about who I’d like to see the Celtics win it for...

Win it for Paul Pierce.  This is Pierce's 10th season in Boston. He has been an All-Star, will go down as one of the greatest scorers in Boston history, and will someday have his number retired. But he also played on a lot of bad teams and went through many ups and downs with this franchise.

In a time when most players sign big contracts with teams and then, at the first sign of trouble, demand a trade, make public comments against the team, and sabotage the situation until they get what they want, Pierce never did those things.

He may have had some moments when he didn’t appear happy, but who could blame him? In the end, he stuck with the Celtics, and they stuck with him. You can tell from listening to Pierce he has a real sense of basketball history.  Maybe that is why he has been at his best this postseason at the most crucial moments (Game Seven against Cleveland, Game Six against Detroit). And, as much as anyone, I want to see him get that ring.

Win it for Mike and Tommy.  No one bleeds green more than current Celtics color analyst Tommy Heinsohn. He has been with the Celtics since 1956. As a player, he won eight championships, and then two more as a coach in the '70s. As a broadcaster, during all the tough years, Heinsohn never lost his love for the Celtics and never became negative because of the losses.  He loves this team, and has an unmatched passion for the Celtics. He epitomizes what Celtic Pride means.

Mike Gorman is one of the, if not the, best play-by-play announcers in the NBA. Similar to Heinsohn, it could not have been easy to see the Celtics struggle all these years. But he remained positive and never lost his love for the Celtics. I'm sure he could have found another team or another job, but he stayed with the Celtics.

Mike and Tommy have been calling games together for as long as I can remember. After years of calling games for a team that wasn’t going anywhere, they were rewarded with a great season this year.

Unfortunately, we won’t get to listen to Mike and Tommy call the games in the Finals, but they will be on my mind throughout.  

Win it for Danny Ainge.  Danny took a great deal of criticism over these last few years. At times I did not agree with some of his moves, in particular the first time he got rid of Antoine Walker.  But Ainge had a vision: He didn’t just want to reach the playoffs; he wanted to win a title. His plan was to stockpile talent and be in a position to make a move when the situation arose.

It may have taken longer than some expected, but last summer he had the pieces to go out and get Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Had he been shortsighted, or went after a quick fix, it is a guarantee the Celtics would not be in the position they are in now.

Win it for Wyc Grousbeck.  What a breath of fresh air as an owner. He is what I think every owner should be: a fan. When Danny made the moves to get Ray Allen and KG, Wyc didn’t hesitate to open the checkbook, knowing that there is nothing more important than a chance to win a championship.  

Win it for KG.  It has been written before, but I have never seen one player make such an impact on a team. From the moment he arrived, he changed everything about the Boston Celtics.  For whatever reason, people like to focus on what he doesn’t do. Sometimes the criticism may be justified, but he can dominate a game without scoring a point.

He may not be the best player in the NBA, but I can’t think of anyone who could have come to the Celtics last offseason and had such an impact.  

Win it for this team.  I could go player by player, but this has been a team effort from Day One.

Win it for Doc Rivers.  Doc receives a great deal of criticism. Many people thought he should have been fired a year ago. I will fully admit to being one of those people.  I think he might not have been the right coach for last year’s team (a young team trying to learn), but he has been a great fit for this year’s team. He still might do something I don’t understand or agree with, but it is clear the players like and respect him. 

Most people who received the amount of criticism he did would have been very bitter and had an “I told you so” attitude.  I haven’t heard or seen him do that at all. The organization has faith in Doc, the players have faith in Doc, and it long past time the fans have faith in Doc.

Win it for the fans.  The Celtics are 10-1 at home in the postseason. In 2002, when Boston went to the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics were 6-2 at home. The Celtics fans, just like Mike and Tommy, have stayed with this team and have been rewarded this season.

In the history of sports, I cannot recall a team going from maybe an all-time low on the night of the 2007 draft lottery to where the team is right now in such a short span.  We’ve been waiting for Title 17 for 21 years. For a long time, it seemed so far away, and now the team is four wins from reaching it.  

Win it for Red.  Red has been gone for almost two years. It may have been a good thing he didn’t live to see the Celtics with dancers, but he has been on every fan's mind this year because we all wish he could have watched this team play.  Paul Pierce mentioned Red after Game Seven against the Cavs, and, no matter what, Red will always be a part of what the Celtics strive to be about. 

I live in Washington, D.C. now, and every day I walk past the site where the China Doll Restaurant used to be. That is where Red went to eat every Tuesday, and it was torn down shortly after he passed. I can’t walk past that site and not think of him.  

Win it for the other Celtic Legends.  It is always great to see Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Jo Jo White and the others at the games. These are all legendary players who spent their careers winning titles for the Celtics, and then saw the next group of players win a few more.

It was great watching Havlicek in the middle of the Celtics’ celebration after Game Six versus Detroit, and you know all of the legends would love a chance to see Boston grab championship No. 17.  

Win it for K.J.  Of all my friends, he is the biggest Celtics fan I know. We are similar in that, while we love the Red Sox and Patriots (and wouldn’t watch the NHL if it was being played in our bathtub), the Celtics are our favorite team.  When we first met, we bonded over a mutual love of the C’s and Antoine Walker in particular. In 2002, we got tickets together for each of the playoff games and went crazy in Section 316 during the comeback in Game Three against the Nets.

Win it for Don Tomasso.  Don was a friend of mine, a friend to everyone who ever met him, who suddenly and shockingly passed away in April. Don, like so many New Englanders, was a huge Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox fan.  He also was as stuck in the 1980s as anyone I had ever met, and he would have loved the Celtics-Pistons, Celtics-Lakers series because it would have given him just another reason to think back to the those times.  

Win it for my girlfriend.  She is not really a basketball fan. Over the years, she has become used to my obsession with Boston sports. Until this year, though, she had been used to the Celtics' season being over in April.

As a boyfriend, I have been essentially missing in action since the playoffs began (which, thanks to TV, seems like about five months ago). So win it for her, because, even though a title likely won’t make her a basketball fan, at least these last few months would have been worth it.

Win it for my brother.  I don’t know anyone who stuck with the Celtics through some of these bad years like he has. In January, 2007, he became a father for the first time, and when I got to his home to see his new baby, she was sleeping with a Celtics blanket lying on top of her.

Unfortunately, I don’t live in Massachusetts anymore, so we don’t get to watch the games together like I wish we could. Thankfully, there is free long distance, and we get to talk repeatedly throughout each of these games.

Last night, I couldn’t wait to talk to you after the Celtics knocked out Detroit, and hopefully we get the chance to have a similar conversation at the end of the Finals.

Win it for my dad.  I love basketball and the Celtics because of my dad. I love the Patriots and Red Sox, but the Celtics are my first love because of my dad. I spent hours as a kid listening to his Celtic Pride records.

Basketball in general, and the Celtics specifically, was such a big part of our relationship.  My childhood is filled with memories of watching Celtics games on Friday nights, then spending Saturdays going to various games we (my brother and I) had in the different leagues we played in (at least two each winter). And I know that one of your favorite moments in your life, and one I will always cherish, was the summer we all played (myself, my brother, and my dad) in a basketball league together on the same team.

My dad took my brother to Game Six in 1986 and he took me to opening night the following season to see the players get their rings and the 16^th banner raised to the rafters. My dad had an amazing passion and knowledge for the game of basketball, and when it came to watching the sport, he was at his happiest when it was played well.

That's why he, like so many others, was such a fan of Larry Bird. That's why I wish he was still here now, because he would love this Celtics team the same way the rest of us do.