Quincy — It was a hot and humid night at the Fowler House Café and the regulars had already shuffled in.
Then at 5:30 p.m. the front door swung open and the patrons saw a flash of gold, followed by some beefy security guards, Celtics equipment manager Andy Mannix, and a waving Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and his wife Camai.
That’s when the place started rocking. The Larry O’Brien Trophy for the world champion Boston Celtics was in the house. Yesterday it was the North End, today it was Quincy.
“When they first came in that door and they were carrying the trophy and the place started playing ‘We are the Champions’ and everybody was singing, cheering, screaming ‘thank you!’ Oh my God, it was quite a scene,” says Margaret Fitz of Quincy. “I said, ‘Can I ask you a question?’ And he said ‘sure.’
“He thought I was going to ask him about the team but I said, ‘Why did you pick this place?’ and he said, ‘It’s [Mannix’s] favorite bar’ and I said, ‘Well you just made my life.’ ”
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Mannix credited Mazzulla with the idea.
“He said I want to take the trophy around the city, take it to the streets and show it to the fans,” Mannix said. “So here we are. Joe’s the best.”
Mazzulla, wearing a Boston Celtics ninja turtle shirt, obliged every fan with selfies and photos of the trophy.
Once the word got out, a steady stream of fans came rolling in. But they all were respectful of the coach’s space and let him enjoy a beverage with his wife at the bar. She also got advice from a local who warned her about flying beer cans at the parade.
The Celtics contingent then went to the dining room where they ordered bar pizza and wings.
Wendy Collins, the hostess, was still in shock 90 minutes after Mazzulla left.
“It was a total surprise, nobody knew about it, it was a total surprise for everyone,” Collins said. “What a great guy.”
He even made at least one new friend.
“I didn’t use to like him but he won me over,” says Tommy Largey of Quincy. “You bring the World Championship trophy to Quincy, you’ve got a new fan.”
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Mazzulla and the Celtics will be feted with a championship parade on Friday.
Gotta love Celtics Championship Coach Joe Mazzulla coming and celebrating with the people of Quincy! Coach asked for the table in front of the President’s Hat is what I’m hearing! pic.twitter.com/FutGzawMo0
— Coach PJ Carson (@carson_pj) June 20, 2024
The wonderful Coach of the 18 time Workd Champion @celtics, Joe Mazzulla came to Quincy tonight for dinner… ohh and he brought a golden guest! @ButchStearns pic.twitter.com/EAeJuacTe1
— Jeff Sullivan (@Peacefield02169) June 20, 2024
Stan Grossfeld can be reached at stanley.grossfeld@globe.com.