Yesterday was an enormous day in the world of sports.
We had the final round at the U.S. Open. Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Sox and Cubs at Wrigley. Dale Jr. back in the winners circle. Ladainian Tomlinson calling it quits. Ronaldo on fire. Antonio Cromartie testing the limits of Fathers Day.
It was a trip.
But four years ago yesterday we witnessed an event that trumps all that. An event that locallysave for diehard Bruins fanstrumps every sports moment in the four years since: Celtics 131, Lakers 92
Banner 17.
Anythiiings Possiiiiblllllle!
Big Baby is George Constanza.
Boston Celtics
Oh what a night.
In so many ways, its hard to believe that its only been four years since the Celtics were on top of the world. In fact, I was one of the hordes of people who spent most of yesterday thinking it had been five years. But thats not how math works. It's four years. Four years since the Celtics came together like very few teams before them. Since they erased more than 20 years of pain. Since they did it at home, against their most bitter rival. Since the Big 3 era became a complete and unquestionable success.
As we sit here today, theres a general and overwhelming feeling that the Big 3 era is over. Who knows if KG will come back, but from everything we've heard and from everything we can infer, Ray Allen's done in Boston. In which case, thats it. And at that point, we'll continue to ask the question that we have for the last two weeks, and really, for the last four years: Was one title enough?
Answer: YES.
Could they have had more? Of course. And that would have been fantastic. But asking if one was "enough," is like asking a guy who spent 20 years walking five miles to work: "Hey, how many Ferraris would it take to make you happy?" Yes, one was enough. It was always enough.
The fact that the "one" happened so quickly certainly changed our perception of what this team was capable of, but it never altered our expectations. We always looked at a second andor third title as gravy, but nothing necessary. And thank God, because two never came. In fact, "two" was lost in a series of should-have-been soul-crushing defeats. There was KG's injury, and blowing a 3-2 lead to the Magic in 2009. There was blowing a 3-2 lead to the Lakers in 2010. There was Danny Ainge ripping the heart out of the team in 2011, followed by Rondo's elbow injury. There was blowing their third 3-2 lead in four years, two weeks ago in Miami.
That's not to say those losses were void of emotion. They all hurt in their own unique way and will continue to do so forever, but nothing that happened these last four seasons will sting as much as it should. None of it will stain the legacy of the Big 3 as deeply as it could have. That's all because of June 17, 2008. Four years ago yesterday.
It was the only title that this core brought to Boston, but the only one they ever had to.
Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine