Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics open their pursuit of the 18th championship in franchise history as they host No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving and the rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers in the season opener on Wednesday night at TD Garden.
What's that? That game isn't going to be played? Why not?
Oh, yes, right. David Stern and his precious little NBA Lockout.
Well, today was supposed to be the beginning of a clean slate for the Celtics. After tonight, they could finally get the bitter taste of losing to the rival Miami Heat in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs out of their mouths and focus on bringing home the team's second title since 2008. Instead, they're sitting around eating leftover Halloween candy.
Unfortunately, the news doesn't get any better for Celtics or NBA fans. The league has cancelled all games through November 28, so we'll be waiting at least another month for NBA basketball to return. But we all know it'll be longer.
The fact of the matter is, David Stern and the millionaire/billionaire owners are spatting with a bunch of fellow millionaires over how to divide millions of dollars. Billionaires fighting with millionaires over revenue split. So pitying, isn't it?
But lost in the discussion is us, the fans. Without the NBA, we're left with about three free hours a few nights per week and are left without reading material in the morning newspapers and online. Some of us, myself included, are college basketball fans and will get our basketball fix through that. But others aren't, and they're left out in the cold.
Well, it's time that we speak up. It's clear that the owners and players don't have our interest in mind, instead focusing on how they can turn their millions into tens of millions when we work regular shifts every day. Take some time and email your team's owners, and even send an email or two the league's way.
Contact Billy Hunter and Derek Fisher. Picket outside of your local arena. Whatever you can do within reason (and let's use common sense here - I'm not trying to start a revolution), do it. Because in the end, all we want is our basketball.