(By Joe Kukura)

Congratulations, all of you Boston expats out there. As of this morning, your Celtics are the NBA’s newly-crowned 2008 World Champions. You represent yourselves disproportionately well in Bay Area sports bars and events, yet there is sometimes a perception that we f*cking hate you. That may be, but with last night’s 131-92 demolition of the Lakers, you have acquired another trophy for your impressive collection and did to Kobe Bryant what the Eagle County, Colorado court system couldn’t do.

It appeared to get easier for your Celtics as the playoffs went on. You had your doubts when the Hawks (!) and LeBron each took you to the brink… but the Pistons were misfiring, Ray-Ray found his groove with the addition of that funky-ass arm warmer device, and you have established Kobe as the "greatest Jordan fraud of all time". It was a testament to that storied New England perseverance, and your persistence of faith has paid off grandly.

Oh, and one additional word of encouragement for you, Boston fans… 18-1!