Reporting From ... Celtics Opening Night

An interview with Ray Allen.

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I'm the guy that does his job. You must be the other guy.

Reporting from the Celtics locker room as they get ready for opening night where the players will receive their 2007-08 NBA Championship rings and raise Boston's seventeenth banner to the rafters. Does life after winning a title change? How about life after winning a team's first title since the 1986? Ray Allen explains how, really, pretty much the same …

MAG.COM: Have you had to pay for a meal yet in Boston?
ALLEN: Yeah, the grocery store charges very expensive prices. We didn't spend a lot of time in Boston right after we won because I was traveling. There are a lot of people who have supported us whether or not we get a free meal. Still when you go into a restaurant, supporting a restaurant is an important thing.

Have you enjoyed good seats at Patriots or Red Sox since you won?
No, I haven't. We've been playing our preseason games. But I'm sorry the Red Sox didn't make it to the World Series because I would have definitely gone to some of the games.

Do fans treat you differently now?
Not really, not the Boston fans. The Boston fans since I've been here have been consistently wishing us well and, obviously, congratulating us. People are still in congratulatory mode. They're still celebrating us having won and they appreciate the season. I think people when they come across any one of us are happy that we did what we did and it's still fresh on everybody's minds.

How many people did you hear from after you won that you hadn't heard from in years?
Pretty much the same people. The same people in my speed dial are the same people who know not to bother you when you are in the playoffs. So my friends just waited to call until afterwards to wish me congratulations.

What new endorsement deals were offered to you?
Not really any. I've been in the league for a while. Everything has been pretty much consistent with the things I've had over my career. The companies that I work with are appreciative of us making it this far and me having worked with them. They are very generous.

What special events have you attended?
We went to the ESPYs. Everybody on the team went. That's pretty much it from a celebratory stand point. I actually went the year before too, but obviously the year before my seat wasn't as good. It was neat to be mentioned in the same breath as all the great teams and walk in there, especially with it being in L.A., a lot of people booed because they were from L.A., but we just had a sense of pride about us. It was a great feeling."

When you got fitted for your ring, how special was that?
It was definitely a new scenario for me and we were all appreciative when we did that. I think when you finally put them on and everyone has them, it's a great day.

Does being an NBA champion Celtics feel any different?
Whether we won a championship or not, it still felt just as special to be here. There is a great tradition here with the Celtics. All of us appreciated being here even before the championship."

There must be SOMETHING special about being a champion, take tonight, what are you most looking forward to on Opening Night?
The rings were special and seeing the banner go up in the Garden.

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