First Celtics Game, 1992

We left our 1990 Sable in the dingy garage across from the Boston
Garden.
My head buzzed.
We walked to the main entrance, past a man peddling yo-yos for three
dollars.
We entered the gates.
At the right Larry Bird's face stared out at me from a poster.
I smelled the scent of urine as I walked up the inclined hall.
All around, big fat guys swore about how Shaw always lost the ball.
I entered basketball's most cherished cathedral,
Sixteen World Championship banners hanging from the rafters, saying,
"We're number 1"
Below, on the immortal parquet, the players warmed up.
The buzzer sounded! Game time!
The greatest front-court trio ever to play the game stepped to the circle.
Boston controlled the tip!
Bird's steady shooting form kept pumping in jumpers.
Parish, his giraffe legs, shot the rainbow.
McHale's sense of humor psyched out the opponents.
The Celtics were off! They would take no prisoners.

by J. A., , Portland, ME