Saturday, May 31, 2008

Lakers vs. Celtics

The NBA has gone back to the future. The Los Angeles Lakers will face off against the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, a rematch 21 years in the making since the Lakers topped the Celtics in 1987.

The last time these two storied franchises met for the NBA championship, Ronald Reagan was President of the United States, gas was under $1 per gallon, "Beverly Hills Cop II" dominated the summer box office, and Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" was the best-selling record (shudder).

ESPN has the top 10 most memorable moments in the L.A.-Boston rivalry, and ESPN Classic will be airing some standout games from the '80s leading up to Thursday's opener.

Go Lakers!

UPDATE, SUNDAY, JUNE 1: East Coast bias is alive and well in the media. :) The three journalists who gave predictions on ESPN's "Sports Reporters" this morning all picked the Celtics. Silly boys. Maybe the Lakers playoff games were just on too late -- past their bedtimes -- and these guys haven't seen them play. I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

2 comments:

John J said...

One of my favorite moments in the Boston/LA rivalry of the 80's involved the Celtics and the Sixers. The "Beat LA!" chant all started when Philly came to Boston for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals in 1982 and handily defeated the C's.

Here's a clip from the end of that game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksoRtL3rcts

I wish I was in LA to watch this upcoming series, just so I won't have to stay awake until midnight.

Go C's!

JJ

Bellingham View said...

John, thanks for visiting the blog and leaving a comment.

And thanks for the YouTube link.

Regarding being in L.A. to watch the series in a sleep-friendly time zone:

1. You're always welcome in the guest room here.

2. These games will be over by halftime, so -- failing a trip to the good Coast -- you'll be in bed by 11 pm ET, tops. :)

Bobby P.