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Beat L.A.! Beat L.A! From the replies people have sent me concerning my never-ending blogs, I presume a vast majority of you were born after the Magic-Bird showdowns petered out. I for one began my sports journey with the Bad Boys of Motown replacing the Celts and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar participating in his last Finals, invariably ending the Pat Riley Lake Show.Regardless of D-O-B, any respectable NBA fan has run across a ‘80s vintage clip of Boston Garden quaking with a simple and rhythmic chant that defined the league over two decades ago. Everyone seems to overlook the fact that Paul Pierce and the Celts were a couple of wins away from seeing the Lakers in the ‘02 Finals but with Shaq and Kobe firmly established in the midst of a dynasty, the viewing public remains grateful to the Nets for not tarnishing a Yankee-Sox caliber rivalry that crosses the heartlands of this country.

The Celts’ impressive fourth-quarter comeback victory in Detroit last night officially guaranteed the ideal match-up for all basketball, and probably, all sports fans. The aforementioned victory ended a combined drought of over 180 playoff games without a Finals appearance for the Celts’ new Big Three - as Ray Allen rejoined the triumvirate in this series. KG, Pierce and Allen leaned over the brink of anonymity and disappointment entering this season with all three set as the centerpiece for a lottery-bound team. Crafty trades and two Game Seven victories later and the ultimate prize now stands within sight. A treasure so elusive that a previous generation of greats, known solely by last name - Ewing, Malone, Stockton and Barkley, repeatedly failed to capture it as a paranormal athlete reigned over the land with utter disdain for all challengers. One time - that is all you need to eliminate regrets and attain a sterling legacy.

As three prominent All-Stars vie for a title in possibly their last voyage, a prince attempts to elevate to the throne by ascending atop the NBA’s Mount Olympus. He understands where he is but familiarity breeds immeasurable motivation as the past drives him further. Two syllables - one man - one more obstacle.

The past 12 months include a story dripping with intrigue and deception plucked from the Hollywood tabloids but for a less convoluted tale I look back to 2004 when Shaq cut ties with L.A., leaving Kobe’s status as poster child ensnared in doubt. I recall betting a friend that Kobe could overcome such unexpected turmoil and with his new cast mates - Lamar Odom and Caron Butler, return to glory. My foresight crashed on take off as new coach Rudy Tomjanovich ignominiously failed to bring the Lakers to the postseason. Phil Jackson returned but an inexcusable trade to acquire Kwame Brown for Butler ensured mediocrity. Another twisted array of subplots to match Boston’s ascension and the mere notion of the featured players dueling on the grandest of stages seems worthy of praise.

The two Conference title celebrations merited mention as former Laker great Jerry West doused Kobe with superlatives before handing over the trophy to a new breed of L.A. showmen with a jubilant crowd packed into the Staples Center. Boston one-upped their coastal rivals by pulling out John Havlicek, a.k.a. Hondo and incidentally Boston’s all-time leading scorer, did not have the NBA logo imaged after him like West, but while Mr. Clutch in L.A. won only a single title, Havlicek earned eight playing along the KG’s new mentor, Bill Russell. Hondo handed over the Eastern Conference trophy in a champagne-covered locker room before uttering my lead - Beat L.A.! igniting Pierce and company to echo the sentiment.

These two franchises suck up conference titles like Halliburton taking lobbyist contributions. The Superpowers sit on the precipice of total domination but not without a Lord of the Rings type battle lined up. Both teams have accomplished plenty. L.A. lost only three post-season games playing in arguably the toughest conference of all time. The Celts hiccupped six times on the road against inferior teams before slaying the Beast of the East on their opponents’ home court.

Now disputably there are times when teams appear overly appreciative for even reaching a title game or series and their overwhelmed sensation makes their demise expected. Spanning the three major sports over the years, one can find easy examples illustrating my statement. The Falcons upset the 16-1 Vikings with Randy Moss in the NFC title game before bowing over to the Broncos in John Elway’s last game. In a strike-shortened season, the eighth-seeded Knicks pulled off three upsets in the East before winning only one game against Duncan and the Spurs as San Antonio beat up on my boys in the Lone Star state. Last year’s World Series combined a team thinking dynasty against a team on an unfathomable run in an inferior league.

Without any ambiguity, the Lakers ARE the better team with the best player and a coach determined to combat his last Finals appearance, one in which his team finally lost after nine successful trips. The Celts owning home-court plays huge but with five days until tip-off, this underground columnist has time to weigh in on the series. A series with no winners. As far as these teams have come, history tells us runner up will not satisfy.

To go rather raunchy in tying a bow on this literary edifice of 21^st Century intellectualism, I quote the esteemed and proper James Hetfield of Metallica when he says:

And I’ve drunk that, I’ve drunk this I’ve spewed up on a pint of piss. So what, so what.
I’ve had skag, I’ve had speed, I’ve jacked up until I bleed.
So what, so what. So what, so what, you boring little cunt.

I’m thinking it’s a good thing I don’t write for an accredited site.