During the Celtics’ domination of the Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a photo featuring a Celtics fan talking to journalist Taylor Rooks at TD Garden went viral.
While many believed the photo was from the recent game, it was actually a snapshot taken last March by former Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson when the Celtics hosted the Nets.
This image resurfaced and quickly became part of the “Guys Explaining Things To Women In A Public Setting” meme category, gaining traction just before the game started. Curious about the context of this photo, Brobible tracked the man down for an exclusive interview.
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The man, a 25-year-old teacher from New England, shared his side of the story.
He became a Celtics fan during the 2007-08 season and occasionally attends games. The particular game last March was a gift from his girlfriend, and through a series of seat changes, he ended up next to Taylor Rooks without knowing who she was.
The conversation between them, he recalls, was brief and casual. He didn’t realize who she was until after the game when the image started circulating online, intensified by Hollis-Jefferson’s tweet. The photo resurfaced a year later, causing even more of a stir, with the teacher finding himself a meme subject.
Despite the online attention, which included being featured in memes and tweets—even one by Barstool’s Big Cat—he takes it all in stride. He appreciates the humor in the situation, having even received custom t-shirts from a friend that poke fun at the viral moment.
The teacher maintains a good-natured outlook about the entire experience, acknowledging it’s “pretty cool and also not that cool at the same time.” As for the ongoing NBA Finals, his spirits are high, confidently predicting, “Celtics in 4.”
