Greg Cameron gave Boston a technical introduction to Wallace on Monday, but there’s no doubt all eyes will be watching this afternoon as the big man is formally introduced.

Press conferences have always been something of a spectacle, but Boston has seen its fair share of introductions that put others to shame. Bill Parcells warranted the governor’s attention back in 1993, and remember the time the Sox brought that Matsuzaka guy over from Japan?

Very few thought John Smoltz would ever be introduced to a city outside of Georgia, so seeing the Braves legend in a Sox cap in January was a headline-grabber to say the least.

But enough about the Pats and Red Sox, this day is about the Celtics, who have had plenty of big-time introductions of their own. Before getting to the one that brought banner 17 to Boston, who could forget Rick Pitino? With fresh, new banners made up for the FleetCenter hanging behind him, the local hero was all but sworn in as Mayor of Boston. Dan Shaughnessy used up an entire column back in ‘97 listing all of the things Pitino already knew about the town when he came here. By the time he left, he probably knew a few more things, including which retired players aren’t walking through a certain door.

The biggest non-international press conference in recent memory has to be the one that followed the Kevin Garnett acquisition. What made it so incredible was the way the Celtics went about it by re-introducing Paul Pierce and Ray Allen along with him. They weren’t pushing KG on Boston, they were pushing an idea, and one that the entire city believed in once they saw the new Big Three, Boston Three Party, or whatever else they wanted to be called.

The promotion of that idea continues as Wallace enters the fold. On Sunday Mike Mutnansky rightfully joked that the Celtics are borderline elderly these days, but thanks to what these three guys have done, nobody seems to care. Is there anybody left that still damns Ainge for giving up on Al Jefferson? Is anybody totally up in arms about letting Leon Powe go? The Celtics have placed an incredible emphasis on experience these last couple of years, and it’s led to fantastic results. And for those who do feel that old age will bite the Green in the you-know-what this season, Wallace at the very least can serve as tremendous insurance in case KG goes down again.

"I guess I hate the Yankees now."

Whether it’s the delayed signing of J.D. Drew, or the poor translating at the Matsuzaka introduction, Boston has never shied away from a good ol’ press conference. Even when the Sox brought on a former enemy in David Wells, there were smiles across New England, and the affinity for introductions doesn’t end there.

Tell me you weren’t watching, fists-clenched each time as the Yankees introduced Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Mark Teixeira, and I’ll kindly tell you to get your morning links and videos elsewhere. Likewise, the folks in New York couldn’t have exactly been thrilled when Curt Schilling dropped his famous quote after hitchhiking from Arizona.

There may be no politicians or Japanese media surrounding Wallace as he holds up his green No. 30 jersey today, but one thing is for sure: you, along with the rest of New England and NBA fans, will be watching.

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