Those of us who didn’t take to the streets following the Boston Celtics’ impressive NBA Championship victory last week apparently missed quite a celebration, as in riot-level rampaging through the streets in some areas.

Of course, this being the 21st century and all, complete with little things called video-sharing websites, lots of people memorialized lots of questionable behavior on camera. The fifteen-second YouTube video below shows a group of imbeciles, caught up in the rapture of “celebrating,” as they hurl three street signs through the ground-level glass windows of a business. I wonder how the criminals responsible for the damage feel their illegal actions relate to basketball and winning a championship because I fail to see the connection.

In any case, the business in question happens to be Greater Boston Legal Services, a commendable organization that provides non-criminal legal assistance to low-income local residents who would otherwise be unable to afford it. Note that this invaluable help comes free of charge.

Some writers who are outraged by the actions depicted in the video are encouraging others who share their disgust to consider making a contribution to Greater Boston Legal Services. I second that suggestion, and you can do so by visiting the organization’s donation webpage or by sending a check to 197 Friend Street in Boston, zip code 02114.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Three days later, the Boston Globe used the accurate description “a twisting river of emerald and white” to convey the scene in downtown Boston on Thursday, June 19, when ardent Celtics fans gathered along a parade route stretching from TD Banknorth Garden to Copley Square in order to celebrate the triumphant hometown team. As the following report clearly shows, there’s no prouder group of sports fans anywhere on Earth than those devoted to Boston athletic teams.

NOTE: If you require closed captions, you can enable that feature on the video player by clicking the CC symbol in the top right-hand corner.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

The team members received their shiny gold reward during an enthusiastic ceremony immediately after the game’s final moments, and 30-year-old Paul Pierce was named the MVP of the series, as well.

In the video of the Trophy Ceremony below, head coach Doc Rivers and shooting guard Ray Allen each have the chance to speak a little about the victory, in addition to Pierce.

Forty-six-year-old Rivers should be particularly proud since the finals represent both his first trip to the NBA Championship as a head coach and his first NBA Championship win as a head coach. Does it get any better for a head coach in the NBA?

NOTE: If you require closed captions, you can enable that feature on the video player by clicking the CC symbol in the top right-hand corner.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Toodle-loo, Kobe and Company!

What a nice way to cap off the night — with an eagerly anticipated NBA Championship Title like the one the Boston Celtics snatched from their playoff rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, just a few hours ago.

Before we get to the video of the rousing triumph — or bitter defeat, depending on your perspective — I list a few facts for Tuesday’s matchup:

• The game at Boston’s TD Banknorth Garden was the sixth of the best-of-seven series
• The final score was 131–92, meaning the Celtics clobbered the Lakers by an authoritative 39 points
• At halftime, the Celtics led the Lakers 58–35
• Celtic Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds
• Celtic Ray Allen scored 26 points, as well, and made 7 of 9 three-pointers, setting an NBA Finals Record with his total of 22 three-pointers for the series
• In comparison, Laker Kobe Bryant scored 22 points
• Celtic Paul Pierce, the series MVP, earned 17 points and 10 assists
• The Celtics managed to steal 18 times, yet another NBA Finals Record
• The current championship title is the first one the Celtics have won in 22 years
• The title is also the 17th in the Boston Celtics franchise history, the most of any NBA franchise, of course

A video of the final moments of Game Six follows the jump. You can also read more about the entire championship series at the Boston Globe’s Celtics Blog and the team’s Official Website.

NOTE: If you require closed captions, you can enable that feature on the video player by clicking the CC symbol in the top right-hand corner.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

The main focus of the weeklong event is the 50,000-Mile Commuter Challenge. Daunting as the name is, it’s a bit misleading, too, because the challenge is more of a call for collaboration than an actual invitation to compete.

How it works is simple. Participants each pledge to bike the number of miles they prefer, with the overall goal being to collectively cycle 50,000 miles instead of driving the same distance in a car. Hence, Bay State Bike Week’s motto Kick Gas! is both a play on words and a literal entreaty to help improve the environment.

As the website points out, the Commuter Challenge isn’t just a local project either. Those who decide to take part will join thousands of green-minded bike riders in Massachusetts and other communities across the United States.

To enliven the group event and make it worth riders’ time, organizers and sponsors also have plenty of relevant attractions planned, such as a Bike Buddy program, Breakfast Pit Stops, Goodie Zones, Safe-Rider Convoys, and easy alternatives for interested people who need to rent a bike to contribute.

Learn all you need to know about Bay State Bike Week at the official website, including how to register if the event sounds like something you’d enjoy experiencing.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Randy believes the Dallas Cowboys are the best NFL team because they’re America’s Team, while Mitch says almost the same about the Super Bowl-winning Giants, with the added observation that New York’s team colors are even red, white, and blue. As the responses to this giveaway demonstrate, it looks like America has lots of teams, as well as lots of diehard fans to support them.

Congratulations to the lucky winners and many thanks to all of the other people who stopped by to make the giveaway a success. I plan to host additional giveaways in the future, so I hope everyone will return to participate when I do.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Still, the most recent Super Bowl was one for the record books, and it will definitely be remembered forever as a formidable display of why so many find football *the* sport to follow.

In the next few days, I’m giving readers the opportunity to win one of two Official Super Bowl XLII Game Programs (Retail Value $15, if you can find one now, that is) to commemorate one of the greatest NFL championship games ever. The contest is offered in conjunction with the quarterly Bloggy Giveaways Carnival taking place this week all around the Web.

The magazine-sized game program contains 288 color pages of pure NFL goodness, ranging from informative articles to full-page photo rosters for each competing team. If you’re into football or know someone who is, the program is worth owning and keeping around far into the future. It’s truly a collector’s item.

To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post, using a valid email address, and state which NFL team is your favorite and why. You can leave a comment without those details, but keep in mind that only people who include the requested information will be eligible to win a game program.

The giveaway is open to residents of the United States only, and the entry deadline is Monday, April 28, at 6pm EST. Please, only one entry per person. I’ll contact the lucky winners after I chose them at random on April 28 in order to get their postal address. If I don’t receive a response within three days, a replacement will be chosen.

Visit the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival website to discover many additional items up for grabs during the event, and good luck to all the entrants here!

Post from: The Boston Traveler

As I’ve previously mentioned, the Boston Marathon will be run for the 112th time next Monday, April 21. When someone says they’re going to give a 26.2-mile marathon their best shot, the number slightly larger than 25 doesn’t quite do the actual length of the race justice. That’s why it helps a great deal to have a realistic image of what the Marathon Monday journey from Hopkinton to Boston proper is all about before the annual event begins.

If you’ve ever wondered what the Boston Marathon course is like, but have no desire whatsoever to run it yourself, a few tools are available right online to provide as close to a front-row seat to the event as you’ll get without showing up along the route on Monday.

Boston.com has an entire section devoted to the Boston Marathon, including a nifty interactive map and a high-speed video tour that shows the course in a speedy 4-plus minutes. Yet, my favorite Internet resource for getting the big picture of what completing the marathon entails is a 16½-minute video posted on YouTube with the utilitarian title Boston Marathon Course Video.

Check it out after the jump to see the Boston Marathon route as you’ve probably never seen it before unless you’ve completed it, and you don’t even have to worry about thousands of other participants and onlookers jockeying for a better position around you or watching you closely as you persevere through the grueling pain (that’s right — because they only make it look easy).

Post from: The Boston Traveler

The marathon also coincides with the holiday Patriots’ Day, observed in remembrance of the American Revolution and the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Patriots’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday of April in Massachusetts and Maine, where it’s a legal state holiday, and in Wisconsin.

To make the three-day weekend (for those who get that day off from work) even sweeter, the Boston Red Sox usually play a traditional home game at Fenway Park, as well. This year, the scheduled opposing team is the Texas Rangers.

Marathons, long weekends, and baseball — what more could you ask for to get in the mood for spring and the coming summer? If you plan to visit Boston on one of the biggest and busiest days of the year locally, make sure to set time aside to enjoy all the city has to offer.

Visit the websites for the Boston Marathon and the Boston Red Sox to learn more about what will be happening around town next Monday.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Red Sox Nation was a great place to be on Tuesday, April 8, as the 2007 World Series Champions celebrated past, present, and future excellence at Fenway Park with this year’s Home Opener, the 108th in team history. The Sox won the game against the Detroit Tigers, of course, managing a commanding final score of 5–0.

One of the day’s biggest stories, however, was reserved for a member of the team 22 years ago. On October 25, 1986, the Boston Red Sox led the New York Mets three games to two when the teams met for the sixth game of the best-of-7 championship.

Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson hit a ground ball to first base in the bottom of the 10th with the Mets just having tied the score, and Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner failed to stop it. Instead, the ball rolled right through his legs, an error that many directly attributed to the Mets’ eventual World Series win after the following required seventh game. Sports being sports, the backlash from both fans and the media was immediate, intense, and relentless.

Tuesday, Boston and Buckner seemed to finally overcome that painful incident when the retired player was feted as a champion as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game. The accompanying warm reception and lengthy standing ovation was a nice symbol of why Boston is a great place to live and visit.

Take a look at select local coverage of Tuesday’s Home Opener festivities after the jump.

NOTE: If you require closed captions, you can enable that feature on the video players by clicking the CC symbol in the top right-hand corner.

Post from: The Boston Traveler