“It’s meant to be funny,” Konrad told The Crimson on Friday.

For many, Konrad’s decision was decidedly unfunny.

Richard A. Krezwik, the president and CEO of the FleetCenter, announced Friday that the name had been rejected, citing Red Sox fan protests by telephone, e-mail, and, potentially, vandalism.

Konrad, himself, received several nasty e-mails.

“I think people just have to lighten up,” he said. “It’s not a Holy War. It’s just baseball.”

Konrad handled the situation with class and good humor.

He reached a mutual agreement with the arena to convince his former Red Sox fan friends from Harvard—including Jerry Rappaport, Jr. ’79, who gave a “nice sum”—to buy out his offer, and then give the proceeds to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund, which will lend its name to the arena tonight.

Together, they raised $8,600.

“The story is,” Konrad said, “my friends and I worked it out.”

Konrad then hit the media circuit, appearing first on “Last Call with Carson Daly.”

The episode won’t air until next Wednesday.

He also granted interviews to ESPN Radio, the New York Times, and, most importantly, The Harvard Crimson.

“I have now experienced the full force of the 21st century hurricane,” he said.

Where to go now?

By the time you read this, that monstrosity downtown will have some name—something I am not prepared to predict—flashing on its LED display, beckoning spectators outside with electronic lights, and ricocheting off the walls from some nuclear sound system. And just in time to host the Lakers tonight.

Current bids for next week range from $920 to $4,000.

Are you prepared to bid? The name of the game, for a chunk of change, will literally be yours.

—Staff writer Alex McPhillips can be reached at rmcphill@fas.harvard.edu. His column appears on alternate Wednesdays.