This wild ride is just beginning

WALTHAM - Apparently, being a Celtic is a joy again.

Ask Kevin Garnett. He'll talk your ear off about it.

He spent Friday lauding every aspect of his new team, including the uniforms.

"It's good material," he said in response to one of several "How does it feel?" questions directed at him.

Softballs aside, Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were all smiles as they shared the podium.

"This jersey feels much better than the last (teams') we played for," Allen said.

For the first time since trades brought them to Boston this summer, their union actually felt real.

"It feels good to have help," Garnett said.

For better or worse, the trio has high hopes for the season. So do fans, who are gobbling up season tickets - sales are up 40 percent, according to Celtics brass - like iPhones.

Media day, usually an innocuous event, felt more like the Democratic National Convention.

ESPN, The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated all had correspondents on hand. Each player had a personal public relations escort. As soon as players finished taking photos and recording interviews and promos for NBA TV, reporters converged like a flock of pigeons.

The most loquacious person in the room was, without question, Glen "Big Baby" Davis. He talked and talked and talked until there was nobody left around him. Then, he shuffled off the practice court with a smile on his face.

Predictably, one-on-one time with Garnett, Pierce and Allen was at a premium. One radio and TV interview into the next. It was probably a sign of things to come for this group, which spent part of the afternoon signing autographs on hundreds of items, including green guitars and green basketballs.

Whether it's feigned excitement or true feelings, all three seem to be saying the right things.

Allen spoke of the Celtics' great tradition, citing the fact that he probably could find green and white gear at sports stores in Australia.

And naturally, there was plenty of championship banner talk.

"It's the first thing you notice when you walk in (here)," Garnett said. "This organization has so much history. But the best part of us coming in here is the three of us having a chance of creating our own history."

Unlike past seasons, blind optimism ruled media day.

There was no Sebastian Telfair to foolishly fawn over this year; only new role players to meet like James Posey and hyper Grizzly Adams clone Scot Pollard, who displayed his, um, unique sense of style and humor.

It's unclear whether Garnett, Pierce and Allen will mesh with their new cast of role players. But "bonding," Paul Pierce said, will happen during their training camp stay in Europe.

For the first time in years, a Celtics team actually feels, well, fun.

Apparently, being a Celtic is a joy again. Thank goodness for that.