A Boston Celtics fan that got a tattoo saying '2022 World Champions' claims it will not be removed, despite his basketball team losing in the NBA Finals.
The Celtics lost the championship to the Golden State Warriors on Friday morning, after superstar Steph Curry exploded for 34 points in a 103-90 win.
Among those watching on in TD Garden, Boston's home arena, was 18-year-old Jack Bienvenue.
Rather presumptively, the High School graduate had 'Boston Celtics NBA 2022 World Champions' inked on his arm back in March of this year.
At the time of the tattoo, the Celtics were rank outsiders to reach the NBA Finals, as the season ending playoffs hadn't even gotten underway yet.
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However, as he explains, after beating pre-season title favourites the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, confidence began to grow that his prediction might come true after all.
“I said, ‘I’m so confident the Celtics will win it, I’ll get a tattoo of the (2022 banner)',” Bienvenue told The Athletic.
“My friend said, ‘No you wouldn’t'. So I was like, ‘Screw you guys, I’m getting it done'.”
“I don’t think I’d get it lasered off because it’s part of me...If they end up losing and then they win like next year, after they win I could get it corrected. Get the 'two' lasered off and get a 'three'.”
He doubled down on this statement in personal Instagram story, noting how the tattoo would serve as a reminder for what was an extraordinary season.
"This has been the best season of Celtics basketball I've seen in my life," Bienvenue wrote on Friday.
"And I know everyone is wondering about the tattoo, I'm honestly not thinking much about it right now, and its not a huge deal to me.
"This year has given me some of the worst and some of the best moments of my life, and a lot of those best moments involve the tattoo. So it will not be removed."
"It's something that will always remind me of this amazing season of ups and downs for me, and this Celtics team," he added.
The man who gave Bienvenue the tattoo, Taylor Lindley of 'Hotline Tattoo', told The Athletic how taken aback he was when the youngster came into the shop and asked for it.
“I’ve been tattooing almost 20 years, so I’ve seen a lot of weird stuff come through, but this one really stood out," he joked.
While the Celtics ultimately fell short of title number 18 on this occasion [which would move them one ahead of the LA Lakers], there's always next year for the team from New England...and Bienvenue.
Topics: Sport, Basketball, US News, Social Media, Instagram
Tom Fenton