manifold
Diamond Member
- Banned
- #1
The origins of 'Beat LA'
"Beat LA" is in. "Yankees Suck" is out. The chants, they are a changin' in Boston.
You'll be hearing the simple yet powerful "Beat LA!, Beat LA!, Beat LA!" battle cry all over New England now that the Celtics-Lakers rivalry has been renewed for the Finals.
For most fans, the chant is reminiscent of the playoff games in the old Boston Garden in the 1980s, when Magic Johnson squared off against Larry Bird and the Celtics and Lakers dominated the NBA.
But that's not when the chant took off in Boston. It actually started as a chant supporting the Philadelphia 76ers.
With 26 seconds to go in Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Conference finals at the old Garden and the Sixers pulling away from the soon-to-be ex-champs, the crowd began to chant the now-famous phrase. Philadelphia, after all, would be facing the hated Lakers in the NBA Finals.
"You hear what the crowd is chanting to the Sixers? 'Beat LA'" said CBS color commentator and Celtics legend Bill Russell during that game.
"Beat LA ... that's great," replied play-by-play man Dick Stockton.
The origins of 'Beat LA' - Celtics Blog - Boston.com
"Beat LA" is in. "Yankees Suck" is out. The chants, they are a changin' in Boston.
You'll be hearing the simple yet powerful "Beat LA!, Beat LA!, Beat LA!" battle cry all over New England now that the Celtics-Lakers rivalry has been renewed for the Finals.
For most fans, the chant is reminiscent of the playoff games in the old Boston Garden in the 1980s, when Magic Johnson squared off against Larry Bird and the Celtics and Lakers dominated the NBA.
But that's not when the chant took off in Boston. It actually started as a chant supporting the Philadelphia 76ers.
With 26 seconds to go in Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Conference finals at the old Garden and the Sixers pulling away from the soon-to-be ex-champs, the crowd began to chant the now-famous phrase. Philadelphia, after all, would be facing the hated Lakers in the NBA Finals.
"You hear what the crowd is chanting to the Sixers? 'Beat LA'" said CBS color commentator and Celtics legend Bill Russell during that game.
"Beat LA ... that's great," replied play-by-play man Dick Stockton.
The origins of 'Beat LA' - Celtics Blog - Boston.com
