Two days after the Celtics’ landslide victory (131-92) in TD Banknorth Garden stadium, the familiar green and white jerseys could still be spotted all over Boston. For many, the Celtics’ advancement into the Final Four brought back memories of the notorious Red Sox victory in 2004. With these riots and the death of a college girl the night the Sox finally broke the curse and the streets were in chaos in the back of official’s minds, heavy precautions were set so an uprising of that magnitude would not occur again on Tuesday.
Before the game even began on TV, a special ad was aired starring members of the team urging Bostonians to party responsibly. Scott McKay, who lives in Dorchester, took the words of warning and precaution to heart while entertaining. “This win was all smooth sailing,” McKay said. “We all learned from the Sox victory to be more careful that night. When the Celtics won it was a lot of crying, hugging, confetti and partying but definitely no cars being flipped over, riot parades or helicopters like last time.”
Steven Richards, who traveled to Boston for the game with his wife, Brandon, flew in from Arkansas and bought his tickets the day of the game. “Section 328, row 14, up there in the balcony.” Richards said. “I’ve seen a lot of basketball in my day, and that was definitely one of the best games I’ve ever seen.”
Along with the countless police, SWAT teams wandered around Fanueil Hall keeping a watchful eye on fans before and after the game. “There was definitely a lot of manpower out and about. Even on the trolley, there was a team of police standing around – my wife wanted to take a picture.” Richards said. “This victory was one they were prepared for, everything was in order.”
From the perspective of those that worked in Fanueil Square on Tuesday night, events were noticeably different from any other normal day on the job but nearly not as crazy as the night the Red Sox won the World Series.
“Everything was obviously chaotic. Things got crazy even before the end of the game because you could tell we had won even as early as halftime.” Andrew Scully, who worked that night at the nearby Bostonian Hotel, said. “There were two times the amount of people usually around Fanueil; we couldn’t get cabs for anybody.”
The night the Celtics won the NBA championship for the first time in 22 years is a memory fans will remember; except for those fans like McKay who only “wish [they] could remember.”
