What About Joe?

Watching football highlights yesterday and seeing boxing legend Muhammad Ali in the stands at the St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals game brought to mind the recent tragic news of another boxing great, Joe Frazier.  It was recently reported that Frazier, who is battling liver cancer, is currently under hospice care.

Nobody knows who Joe Frazier is, and how good he once was.  Of course that is a false statement, but is it really a stretch of the imagination to think that most people under 30 don't know too much about Frazier.  Everyone and their grandmother knows who Ali is, based mostly on his place as a political and social figure mixed with his athletic greatness.  Were at a point where UFC has overtaken boxing, and the only two stars left - Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather - can't even agree to a fight date.

Ali, Tyson, Sugar Ray (both of them), Marciano, Foreman.  All names that resonate with people for whatever reason.  Frazier unthoughtfully does not get mentioned in the same class.

After winning Olympic gold in 1964, Frazier became heavyweight champion after Ali was stripped off his belt for refusing entry into the Vietnam War.  Frazier had actually petitioned President Nixon at the time to reinstate Ali.

In what was dubbed, "The Fight of the Century", Frazier would go on to fight Ali in 1971 at Madison Square Garden, nearly four years after Ali was ostracized.  Frazier, the short bruising menace wrongly nicknamed an "Uncle Tom" by Ali, proved to be quite the anecdote to the latter boxer.  Frazier used his lack of height to bob and weave against opponents, on top of a terrifying left hook that knocked out numerous adversaries.  Ali, the popular choice among blacks as well as the growing younger generation in the country, rooted for an eloquent yet powerful athlete whose moves in the ring may never be seen again.  Perhaps that's another reason for Frazier's lack of acknowledgement; his style was not flashy.  (For lack of a better corollary, think of Pete Sampras' no-nonsense style to that of Andre Agassi's theatrical performances on the tennis court)

In a grueling match that went 15 rounds, the 27-year old Frazier beat the 29-year old Ali.  Ali was certainly at a disadvantage, considering he was still coming back after being away from the sport for three years.  Nevertheless, Frazier became the first person to beat the then undefeated Ali, all the while remaining undefeated himself. 

Frazier would go on to lose his first match against George Foreman, and after two losses to Muhammad Ali (the final one in the Philippines was tagged the "Thrilla in Manila"), and another to Foreman, Frazier retired in 1976 with a final record of 32 wins, four losses, and one draw.

Perhaps it's the fact that Frazier remains vastly under recognized compared to boxers like Ali, Foreman, Tyson, and Holmes.  Maybe his lack of recognition goes hand-in-hand with the downfall of boxing.  Or maybe it's a little bit of both.

When his time comes (unfortunately sooner than later), Frazier should be recognized more than being Ali's villain, or simply as a sideshow.  He should be distinguished as one of the all-time greats, and as someone who helped carry the sport at a time when boxing meant something more than shady dealings and outrageous pay-per-view prices.

Worst Season Ever?

If one play can sum up an entire season, then the sinking liner to left off of Red Sox killer and Oriole Robert Andino did just that. Carl Crawford, much maligned for his subpar play this season and failure to live up to his multi-million dollar contract, had an opportunity to snag the sinking rope and bring the season’s most important game to extra innings. As a symbol of collective failure and futility in the season’s final month, Crawford let the ball hit the webbing of his glove and bounce out. It was a hard play no doubt, but a play that championship and mentally tough teams make.


That was Wednesday. Two days later instead of fan’s gearing up for a matchup with the Texas Rangers, Red Sox fans are left to think of what went wrong and who will fill the void left by the franchise’s best manager of all time? Terry Francona was let go by the team, and General Manager Theo Epstein may be next.

Although Boston’s collective eyes are still hazy after a 7-20 finish in the month of September, it is somewhat easy to see how things went wrong when it mattered most. This was a team with a payroll for 2011 at $166 million and a team that had overspent on near useless free agents for the last five years. Worst, this was a team that felt entitled.

Their neighbors, the Boston Celtics, had high expectations in 2008 as Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen brought loads of talent and experience to a championship starved franchise. Despite being labeled “the big three”, the Celtics knew all of the hoopla meant little if they didn’t win the prize at the end. The Red Sox acted similar to the Miami Heat this past season; acting spoiled and entitled, but ultimately wilting under pressure when it mattered the most. They had turned into a New York Yankees team of overpriced and underperforming stars.

Josh Beckett was talking about what it would be like to win 100 games in a season, and talk show pundits were calling this the “best team ever” before the season even began. During the season, Jon Lackey routinely showed up his teammates with his on field demeanor, all the while sporting the league’s worst ERA. David Ortiz, one of the clubhouse glue guys, showed up his manager late in the year by suggesting that he start Alfredo Aceves, a key bullpen cog and friend of Ortiz.

J.D. Drew took his usual summer vacation, and actually managed to extend it, blaming his hiatus on a hurt finger of all things. Kevin Youkilis, whose edgy and blunt personality was always tolerated because of his hustle and love for the game, reportedly couldn’t keep his nose out of other people’s business. As you may recall, Youkilis was the one who openly questioned Jacoby Ellsbury to the media last year about his toughness.

This brings us back to Crawford. Crawford never said anything bad this year, never failed to run out a ground ball, and never bad-mouthed his teammates or his manager. The problem with Crawford and so many other crucial components to this so-called championship contender was that they didn’t do much of anything.

Crawford had his worst year since his rookie year in 2002. Lackey, thought to be at least a solid No. 4 starter heading into the year, gave up 24 earned runs in the month of September alone. Mike Cameron was released early in the season, and Daisuke Matsuzaka and his awful pitching were lost to Tommy John Surgery early on as well.

Even the relief pitchers didn’t work out. Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler disappointed; Wheeler with his ineffective pitching, and Jenks with his ever ballooning weight. In fact, according to Epstein in his end of the year press conference, weight and perhaps not being in the best of shape was prevalent with this team. Overpaid, entitled, and not even in shape.

Tito is gone, the easy scapegoat after a roller coaster of a season that ended with a crash. Epstein, who has been rumored to have been flirting with the idea of joining the Chicago Cubs, is left to fix this mess. The pieces are there. On paper this team is a championship caliber squad. The Red Sox, however, learned the hard way that championships are not won on paper.

Epstein, once revered as a boy genius after taking over as GM in 2002 as a 28 year old stats wiz, has slipped in his approach the past few years. Instead of hitting on smart acquisitions like Bill Mueller, David Ortiz, and Curt Schilling that helped win World Series, Epstein missed on too many big contracts like Daisuke Matsuzaka, J.D. Drew, and Edgar Renteria. Unfortunately for Epstein, the list goes on.

When constructing the 2011 team, Epstein failed to recognize the need for depth, both in the field and on the mound. Right field, shortstop, and third base were never solidified throughout the season. Josh Reddick and Jed Lowrie certainly filled in admirably, but neither is ready nor may never be ready to be full time players.

To begin the season, the rotation seemed to be overstocked with talent, yet by the month of September, the team was forced to start career minor leaguer Kyle Weiland. Injuries cost Clay Buckholz and Daisuke Matsuzaka the majority of their seasons. Tim Wakefield’s age was evident down the stretch, and Andrew Miller’s inconsistency was maddening. Important deadline acquisition Erik Bedard’s frailness followed him from Seattle to Boston. Down the stretch when supposed aces Jon Lester and Josh Beckett were called upon to stop the bleeding, they failed to do so.

By season’s end the bullpen had two guys it could rely on, Alfredo Aceves and Jonathan Paplebon. Young stud Daniel Bard lost his way in September, and the rest of the unit seemed to follow suit.

Francona tried his hardest turn the ship around, changing up the lineup, all the while protecting prima-donnas like Jon Lackey from the media. Dustin Pedroia kept imploring his battery mates to fight in the face of adversity. Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez, although quiet influences, played MVP-like throughout the entire season. And David Ortiz, one of the few members of both championship teams, looked as if someone had run over his dog during Wednesday’s waning moments.

The fact is, too many guys failed to step up, appealing to the next guy in line to make a play. From ineffective pitching, to untimely outs, to little league like errors, to just plain bad chemistry, the Red Sox season was lost from the get go, not from a sinking line drive in late September.

Moss Retires After 13 Year Show

It's amazing how one star can fall so fast. Randy Moss, in many circles considered the second greatest wideout of all time next to Jerry Rice, retired from the NFL on Monday, August 1. With the image of Moss talking his way out of New England, and his dreadful performances in Minnesota and Tennessee in 2010, teams weren't exactly lining up at his doorstep with a long term contract. In fact, his inability to find anything past a one year deal reportedly pushed Moss to hang up his cleats.


Perhaps the league's best ever deep threats, Moss' tenure in the league came and went like a whirlwind. After sliding in the draft due to a slew of non-football related issues, Moss tore the league up as a rookie with 17 receiving TD's. Following seven standout seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, Moss was jettisoned to the "black-hole", also known as Oakland.

Looking as disinterested as one professional athlete could get, Moss lasted two forgettable seasons for the Raiders, before a bold and well respected coach took a chance on Moss for a measly fourth-round draft pick.

Bill Belichick, who was noted to having taken a liking to Moss' no nonsense attitude, knew he could motivate the talented yet complex wideout from Rand, WV. Judging from that season's statistics, Belichick must have been on to something. Having Tom Brady didn't hurt the Patriots campaign to being the best offense in NFL history. Brady threw for a record 50 TD passes, while Moss hauled in an NFL record 23 of them. There were certainly other pieces to the puzzle, but the main attraction was Moss.

Watching Brady, who had never had nearly the talented receiver Moss was on his team in his six seasons prior, bomb balls deep to Moss was like watching poetry in motion - Brady's perfect motion and arm strength, coupled with Moss' freakish stride and ability to catch everything and anything thrown in his direction.

We will never see anything quite like what happened with Brady and Moss, particularly in that 2007 season. That is why Moss' retirement is so disheartening. If he had chosen to, Moss could be hauling in training camp gems this season for the Patriots.

Instead, he's out of the game, unable to accept that teams may not be able to deal with the other side of Randy Moss. Despite his charitable ways, his caring for children, and his laid back roots in rural West Virginia, Moss will be remembered most for his temper tantrums, his water bottle squirt at a referee, and his infamous fake moon of the Green Bay crowd (which wasn't that bad at all).

In spite of all his faults and negative attributes, Moss should be remembered by the word associated with the way he played football: "Wow!"

Ocho Cinco, Haynesworth Create Buzz

Similar to draft day deals for former maligned stars Corey Dillon and Randy Moss, the New England Patriots on Thursday gave an already deep roster even more depth to play with. In two separate blockbuster deals, the Patriots acquired Albert Haynesworth from the Washington Redskins and Chad Ocho Cinco from the Cincinnati Bengals, two stars with limitless ability on the field, as well as a whole excess of baggage to derail a team. For any other team, deals for Haynesworth and Ocho Cinco would present a calculated risk. For the Patriots, however, the deals for the two castoffs is simply business as usual.


The motto, "buy low, sell high", has done wonders for the New England Patriots. Players have seen their careers revived and rewritten, from Bryan Cox, Rodney Harrison, and Mike Vrabel, to the aforementioned Dillon and Moss. Wes Welker was tossed aside by the Miami Dolphins, and even Tom Brady was picked at the bottom of the pile as a skinny sixth round pick from Michigan.

Bringing in Haynesworth and Ocho Cinco obviously has the chance to turn sour. After receiving the then largest contract ever, Haynesworth struggled in his first season in Washington. After tough skinned head coach Mike Shanahan took over in 2010, his decision to move Haynesworth to nose tackle didn't sit well with the former Tennessee Vol. Haynesworth's legal troubles also piled up, and by the end of last season, it was clear he was going to be moved.

In what was supposed to take the NFL by storm last season, Ocho Cinco and Terrell Owens' partnership never materialized to any sort of success. Along with the fact that Carson Palmer lost a considerable amount of skill, and the defense lacked any sort of pass rush, the Bengals struggled to the tune of 4-12. It wasn't Ocho Cinco's finest season to say the least. His numbers have declined slowly the past three seasons, and he has consistently been outlandish in a league full of outlandish players.

Both players were traded for late round picks, so the upside is enormous. It also helps to have the league's most heralded head coach in Bill Belichick, someone who turned out record producing years for Dillon and Moss, and even turned Troy Brown into a successful defensive back after injuries in the secondary mounted up. He also cut ties with Moss after four sub par games and a host of diva-ish behavior. Ocho Cinco has certainly had his fair share of whacky behavior since his introduction to the league a decade ago, but it's no secret that him and Belichick share a mutual respect. Belichick and Ocho Cinco bonded at the Pro Bowl a few seasons ago, and Belichick has always admired his passion for the game. In return, Ocho Cinco has always looked up to Belichick as if he were his own head coach.

Now, both players have a chance to revive their careers in the best possible situation. Haynesworth has the opportunity to play defensive end in a 3-4 alignment next to all-pro Vince Wilfork, and perhaps assume the role that Richard Seymour left in 2009. Ocho Cinco is given new life with all-time great Tom Brady as his quarterback. The Patriots lacked a vertical threat by season's end, given the departure of Moss earlier in the season, and Ocho Cinco still has the skills to excel down the field, as well as over the middle.

We shall see what happens this season in Foxborough. Whether you like them or hate them, you have to admit the Patriots sure know how to make a trade.

As if the Media wasn't Already Slime

When I first heard briefly of Rupert Murdoch's troubles in Great Britain, I paid little attention to it. While this may have been the man who spearheaded Fox News, gave Glen Beck a voice, and anointed Roger Ailes as the mastermind behind the scenes at Fox News, his troubles were across the pond. Why should I care about what is happening on the land of fish & chips, and extreme politeness? 
Watching The Daily Show last night (a more common theme for me these days), John Oliver joined host Jon Stewart to ease Stewart's disgust in regards to American news. While America's plight in overall decency and well-to-do-ness is dramatically low, Oliver highlighted the English media and it's future descent into the depths below:

- America = Funded/Glamorized the Casey Anthony trial
- England = News of the World (owned by Murdoch) accused of hacking voicemails of Britain soldiers killed in Iraq/Afghanistan, as well as victims of 9-11.
- England = Discovered that journalists and private investigator from News of the World had hacked into Milly Dowler's voicemail (Dowler had missing since 2002). Discovered that some messages - potential evidence - in Dowler's voicemail box had been deleted because it was full, freeing up space for new messages for them to listen to. Deletions misled family into believing she was still alive. She was later found murdered.
- England = Scotland Yard, the lead investigator in the case, had members routinely paid off by members of News of the World.
- England = Prime Minister David Cameron appointed former News of the World Editor Andy Coulson in 2007 as his Director of Communications. The same Andy Coulson in trouble for phone hacking. Coulson resigned from his position in January due to the controversy surrounding him.
- England = Hugh Grant (that Hugh Grant) brought justice by wearing a wire while conversing with a journalist at News of the World in regards to phone hacking.

So if I count that right (at least in the realm of The Daily Show), that's England: 4; America: 1; Hugh Grant:   -1; we're playing golf.

The steady decline in the media is nothing new. It has been slowly occurring and evolving as the technology has advanced. While it is true that complete and utter objectivity in the news has never, and will never exist, as long as there are people involved, an emotional tie will be evident.
On top of emotional partialness, exists a fiscal bond; politicians being swayed by money in favor of policies. There is a lot to be said and researched as far as that goes, but the fact that politicians from both sides have been "endorsed" by networks such as Fox and MSNBC ilegitimises what is taking place in the U.S. I just never noticed it growing up, partially because all I cared about was riding my bike, and partially because the 90's were pure gravy.

Now, former Britain Prime Minister Gordon Brown is among the latest to accuse Murdoch's News International Corp. of hacking into his phone. Among Brown's accusations includes private information concerning his bank account, as well as his terminally ill son.

Nothing is sacred and everything is wrong in today's society. People act like zombies, immersed in their iPhone and Facebook status', while the scum of the earth continues to act in accordance. In a society in which politicians can't settle a simple debt, a country takes a day off for a wedding, and a child murderer is given fame, at least the NFL and NBA will have an upcoming season...Shit!

Football Nation

Proving the critics wrong once again, the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick finished the 2010-11 NFL season a league-best 14-2. Behind Tom Brady's MVP season, a cast of rookies and unknown players, and a patch-it-up defense, the Patriots had its best regular season since its 16-0 feat in 2007. Although the playoff loss to the rival New York Jets still undoubtedly stings, the Patriots have a star quarterback, along with a talented core of young players that can rival with any other personnel in the league.


In the wake of an uncertain offseason due to the lockout, as of now, the Patriots may lose Matt Light, Gerard Warren, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor and Shayne Graham to free agency. Stephen Neal, riddled by injuries the last few years, has opted to retire.

The league's highest scoring offense is set to bring back it's key contributors. Brady will be under center, with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead splitting time in the backfield. Rookies Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are expected to receive playing time this year. Kevin Faulk, who is trying to return from injury for his 13th season, may have difficulty making the final roster.

Flanking Brady as his primary wideouts are diminutive but skilled Deion Branch and Wes Welker. Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, and second year pro Taylor Price round out the top five. In what was perhaps the team's most improved position last season - tight end - is entirely back. Veteran Alge Crumpler is slated as the No. 1 tight end as of now, but talented second year players, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, appear poised to do great things in the NFL.

New England used a first round pick on talented but raw offensive tackle Nate Solder to perhaps replace free agent Matt Light. Other than the potential departure of Light, the line appears largely intact from the previous season, including all-pro guard Logan Mankins.

On the other side of the ball, although much maligned throughout the year, the Patriots defense improved itself as the year wore on, allowing just under 20 points per game, good for eighth best in the league. Despite having a unit which saw 29 year old Vince Wilfork as its elder statesmen, the defense showed glimpses of a potential wrecking ball in the NFL for years to come.

Pro bowler Wilfork returns to the defensive line along with Mike Wright and Ty Warren, who are both returning from injury. Wright appeared in 10 games, while Warren missed the entire season. Although Gerard Warren, a pleasant surprise last season, appears to be gone from the team due to free agency, the Patriots added veteran Marcus Stroud to the line. A first round pick by the Jaguars in 2001, Stroud spent the previous three seasons in Buffalo.

Jerod Mayo will look to improve upon an outstanding season in which he amassed 174 total tackles. Second year players Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes are back as the team's starting right outside and left inside linebacker. While both performed admirably after being thrown in the fire by Bill Belichick, Spikes had a somewhat disappointing end to the season. After being suspended for the final four games of the regular season for using a banned substance, Spikes played sparingly in the loss versus the Jets. Rob Ninkonvich rounds out the starting unit. Gary Guyton, Tully Banta-Cain, and Dane Fletcher return as key subs.

A unit with an ample amount of talent, lots of competition, and a lot to prove in the upcoming season, the secondary unit currently has 16 players listed on the depth chart. Rookie of the year candidate, Devin McCourtey returns as the Patriots top cornerback, as does the once undrafted Kyle Arrington. After being signed to a long term deal following a stellar 2009 season, Leigh Bodden missed all of last year due to injury. He will be under pressure to return to top form. Darius Butler seems to have gone from first round prodigy to bust in the matter of two seasons. His third season will be huge as he tries to prove himself in the league. New England stuck to its beliefs and drafted another cornerback, selecting Ras-I Dowling with the first pick of the second round.

Patrick Chung and Brandon Meriweather form a talented, but raw starting safety tandem. The scorn of some fans for the last few years, Meriweather is blessed with god-given talent that only a handful of safeties can match. Unfortunately, the mental aspect of playing has yet to surface itself completely. A second year man from Oregon, Chung improved dramatically in his second season, accumulating 96 tackles and three interceptions, including nine passes defended. James Sanders returns as a safety net in case Meriweather needs to return to reserve action.

After an excellent rookie year, punter Zoltan Mesko is back, as is kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Gostkowski missed the final eight games of the season, while Shayne Graham filled in admirably. Edelman and Tate appear to be slated in as the starting punt returner and kick returner, respectively.

NBA Lockout Nearing Crucial Point

Seemingly overshadowed by the NFL lockout, the NBA lockout is nearing a critical point for players and owners alike. The collective bargaining agreement is set to expire by Thursday's end, and both sides seem far apart.

The players and owners are far apart on issues such as players salaries, how to put forth the league's mandated salary cap, and how to divide revenue. When both sides appear unmoving, it leaves little hope for resolution.

Again, nobody seems to notice that the NBA is squandering one of it's better seasons in the last 15 years. Not when the NFL is going through a similar lockout, or that the NFL is making what looks as progress between the two sides. When people are struggling to find jobs, or to make an income, or to avoid foreclosure on their homes, it is hard to sympathize with a professional athlete making multi-millions of dollars to play a game.

Owners are proposing a "Flex Cap," where a $62 million cap would be in place and teams would be forced to pay a sum if they exceed it. A minimum and maximum amount would be put on both ends of the proposed "Flex Cap." Players are still calling it a "Hard Cap," since there is a specified amount that cannot be exceeded.

It doesn't matter what kind of cap the proposed deal is going to be called. What matters is the percentage of basketball related revenue goes to each side.

Only die-hard fans seem to care about the lockout, and even they are getting turned off by the reluctance to compromise. Isn't that how deals are made?

Sports Capitol of the World

Is there any doubt that Boston is the best sports town in the entire world. The New England Patriots are in a drought for championships when compared to Boston's other teams.

BOOYAH!

Bears Do Bite Back

Perhaps in a slight coincidence to the freak accident where a bear flew through a car window and killed two Canadians, the Boston Bruins took back the Stanley Cup Finals series against Vancouver with a 12-1 trouncing of the Vancouver Canucks. Wait. That wasn't the final score? Oh, it was 8-1 on Monday and 4-0 on Wednesday. My bad Canucks fans.

As if the Garden crowd needed extra reason to cheer, Bobby Orr's flag waving for the befallen Nathan Horton before the game pumped up a crowd already thirsty for blood.

Coming into this season it was clear that should the Bruins advance far into the playoffs, it would be from a total team effort. In other words, this is a team devoid of "big stars". Although David Krejci's playoff leading 22 points and Tim Thomas' godly play has the feel of stellar individual play, the performances from the last guys on the bench have been just as important.

Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell's penalty killing efforts have stifled one of Vancouver's strong points. Paille in particular has been the pest the Bruins have needed on the penalty kill, providing an endless fore checking effort.

On the wimpier side of things, things couldn't have gone any worse than they did in the two games at Boston. Sure, Nathan Horton is now out of the series, but they also severely woke up a team that plays it's best hockey after they get a kick in the butt.

Roberto Luongo has reverted back to the Luongo Canucks fans have come to know; great regular season followed by steep fall in playoffs. Ryan Kessler has been taken out of the series and is probably hurt. So has that finger biting SOB Alexandre Burrows. Same with Thelma and Louise [cough], I mean the Sedin brothers (thank you Mike Milbury).

Ryder and Marchand scored a goal apiece, while Peverley chipped in with two.

Two of the more underrated moments of the night: Brad Marchand taking out two Canucks and dropping the gloves in the span of five seconds, and Tim Thomas' slashing of Burrows to close out the game.

Can't wait for Game 5.

They Got The Look Back

Whatever you want to call it - "Switch", "Look" - the Celtics turned the volume to 11 last night at Madison Square Garden and looked like the title contender we had all grown accustomed to as Celtics fans.

Now, no one could ever confuse this years Knicks team with even the late 90's early 00's New York teams (they were always profusely overrated by Knicks fans). This years team has two superstars (Amare, Melo), one good veteran who's slowly fading (Billups), and a whole cast of scrubs, castoffs, and raw players.

With that said, the Celtics efforts last night reminded fans of Miami and Chicago that this team wasn't last years Eastern Conference champs for nothing. While pundits and critics may favor those other two teams, the Celtics should be feared going forward (yes, even without Kendrick Perkins).

Why you may ask? Two reasons come to mind: Defense and Rajon Rondo.

The Celtics have held the Knicks to 43, 35, and 42% from the field in the three games. Last night's 43% easily could have been worse had the Knicks not improved it with a lot of fourth quarter garbage points.

Hounding the Knicks and making every shot difficult is so important against them, especially considering New York's 106.5 ppg were second in the NBA this season. They like to get out, run, and bomb three's. Seemingly unnoticed in last nights game, Boston shut down Carmelo Anthony by throwing double teams at him, squaring up bodies, and fouling Melo hard anytime he had a clear two points. Boston played with the mindset that nothing was going to come easy, and that's the way things seemed to turn out.

The second factor in why teams should fear the green often times comes from the smallest guy on the court, Rondo. Rondo's 20 assists last night tied Magic Johnson's playoff record for most assists in a single game (Johnson did it twice), and Rondo's sixth career playoff triple double tied him with LeBron James. Rondo finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 20 assists, executing the offense to utter perfection. His ability to get his teammates great looks, as well as penetrate the paint with ease makes this Boston offense nearly unstoppable. This is on top of his ability to play shut down defense, create havoc with steals in the passing lanes, and seemingly create one-man fast breaks.

If I were a Knicks fan I would have not only been pissed at my team's effort in its first playoff home game in seven years, but also with the fact that they failed to knock down Rondo even once. At times, Rondo looked like he was just playing around on the school yard, hop-stepping and playing with the ball like a yp-yo on a string.

Rondo's 20 assists can largely be attributed to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen firing on all cylinders from downtown, but somebody has to give them the ball in position to score.

The Celtics have been here and done it before, and what's so scary for other teams is the fact that you may shut down one or two of the big four, but the other two are capable of carrying the team to victory. It's almost a pick your poison proposition. If I were an opposing coach I would focus on the maestro Rondo. Easier said than done.

The Knicks aren't a difficult playoff match up, that's why we're in the first round. The bench, particularly Glen Davis and Delonte West's play have been troubling. They also still need to rebound better as a team.

The Celtics know how to win. They know the difficult road to June. They know that defense comes first. They also know that Chicago and Miami haven't proven anything.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion.

The Inconsistency is Killing Me

I had really meant to post something following the win at New York from Monday with the emphasis that this was in fact a season turning win from the C's. I waited, and instead decided to sit down and watch Wednesday's match up versus the Grizzlies at home. I'm glad I didn't rush to any notions, because judging from last night's game against Memphis, the Celtics inconsistent play at both ends of the court is preventing them from being where they want to be.

The Good

In Monday's win at New York, Boston came out in the first half flat, playing "soft" as Doc Rivers would later tell his squad at halftime. Down 14 at halftime, the Celtics eventually cut the deficit to two with 10 minutes left to play. A few "New York" style calls and a Chauncey Billups four-point play pushed the Knicks lead to nine with seven minutes remaining.

With Paul Pierce at the foul line, the New York faithful decided now would be a good time to let out a "Boston sucks" chant. I know it's not smart to piss against the wind, or to challenge a bear to a wrestling match, but New York fans should realize it's not wise to disparage a championship caliber team with more mental toughness than Knicks teams have had combined in the last decade. It's like egging on Kobe Bryant down the stretch of a close game. Not something you should do.

Pierce's free throws sparked a 13-0 run, which saw Kevin Garnett go all out for a loose ball, giving fans a glimpse of Celtics playoff basketball. Pierce absolutely dominated Carmelo Anthony and Landry Fields in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of his 21 points in the final quarter, and showing fans why he is dubbed "The Truth".

If fans were excited by Boston's fourth quarter execution against the Knicks on Monday, Wednesday's final quarter against the Grizzlies was hardly anything to write home about.

The Bad

The Celtics could have actually used old friends Tony Allen and Leon Powe against Memphis. Both on the Grizzlies this season (Powe was just recently signed by Memphis. Boston had interest, but opted instead for Troy Murphy), Allen's play right now is what Boston envisioned when they held on to him over the years. Averaging 12.6ppg and 2.1spg on over 50% from the field this month, T.A. is playing like a seasoned vet in place of injured star Rudy Gay. Signed by the Grizzlies around two weeks ago after being released by Cleveland, Powe saved his best game thus far with Memphis for his former teammates in Boston, scoring 13 points in 17 minutes of action and getting to the line four times. Powe and Allen also helped key a pivotal 8-0 run late in the game, combining for six of those points.

After a sluggish first, Boston would go on to score 30 points in the second and hold a 45-44 advantage at halftime. Despite the edge at the half, the Celtics play appeared sluggish and uneven.

It was clear before the game that Memphis liked to pound the ball inside and force turnovers on the defensive end. Everyone knew that's how they've won ball games this season. The Grizzlies bested the Celtics in both of those categories, outscoring them a staggering 52-26 in the paint, and forcing 18 turnovers. The Grizzlies also held a 43-37 advantage on the glass.

Rondo poured in great assists, rebounds, and steals, but couldn't throw a rock into the ocean, shooting 2-12. Since the March 13 win against Milwaukee, Rondo has shot 16-64 from the field. Randolph seemed to outplay Garnett down low, and Kristic was absolutely dreadful, getting more turnovers (4) than rebounds (2). If not for Pierce's late game buckets, the game would not have been as close.

In opposition of what happened in New York, Boston failed to execute with the game on the line. Instead of regrouping or calling for a timeout down one with 20 seconds remaining, Rondo went for a floater that was too strong. Down three with ten seconds left, the Celtics failed to execute the play Doc Rivers drew up. For some reason Glen Davis took a contested three that obviously missed. Grizzlies center Marc Gasol helped out the Celtics by missing both free throws and keeping the score at three points. An off balance three from Pierce at the buzzer clanged off the front of the rim, and Memphis had taken one in Boston.

It's clear that the Celtics look sluggish on both ends of the court from time to time, a far cry from earlier in the season when the team was firing on all cylinders on both ends of the court. Rondo's confidence in his offensive game appears shot, and the new guys still need to figure things out. Now a full game by Chicago for the top spot in the east, one has to wonder whether Doc will opt to rest his key players more or stick with the plan from the get-go that the number one seed and home court advantage was the most important part to this season.

Maine Hockey Journal

In what possibly could have been my last weekend writing for the Maine Hockey Journal, here is a culmination of all my stories. It's been a very welcoming experience, and I am thankful for the opportunity that was given to me.

http://mainehockeyjournal.com/author/cprescott/

Questions Continued: Western Conference

Western Conference *Note that I wrote this piece a day after the trade deadline, which saw a number of key players moved.

San Antonio 47-10: Can their success continue through the postseason? An amazing start from one of sports best franchises, I can see the Spurs running the table, but I can also imagine a scenario in which they fail to make it past the second round. Leading scorer Manu Ginobili is shooting 36% this month, Tony Parker can get abused on the defensive end, and Tim Duncan is having his worst season ever (albeit in 28mpg). This may be picking nits, but Dallas, LA, and OK City are all contenders.

Dallas 41-16: Are they really for real? We've been duped before. They're balanced and grittier than they have been in the past. They are also a balanced team, going ten deep every game now (add one more when Caron Butler gets back) Too bad for the Mavs that the Western Conference is going to be a dogfight this postseason.

L.A.L. 40-19: Have they peaked? Kobe has turned into late-career MJ, picking his spots and using his back down/fade away jumper to perfection. Pau Gasol is turning in another solid season, but needs to pushed and prodded every now and then to keep from becoming truly soft. Lamar Odom is having a career year, and outside of Kobe, might be this team's most important player. Their pg situation remains a killer weakness, and Andrew Bynum has the knee's of a forty-year old YMCA player. The Lakers are still an elite team, their path to the finals has only gotten harder.

OK City 36-20: Did they become legitimate contenders? With the additions of Kendrick Perkins/Nate Robinson and subtractions of Jeff Green/Nenad Kristic, the Thunder added size and brute force to go along with Durant and Westbrook. A frontline of Perkins, Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant is pretty intimidating. James Harden now has the opportunity for more minutes and shots.

New Orleans 34-25: Where will Chris Paul wind up next season? Despite the Hornets great start to the season, the team has fizzled somewhat of late in large part to Emeka Okafor's absence. The Hornets have the ability to upset in round one, but will go no further. With what might actually mark the end of professional basketball in New Orleans, Chris Paul will wind up elsewhere next season -mark it down. The question is, where? Obviously New York appears to be the front runner, but don't count out a team like the Lakers or Magic.

Denver 34-25: Can they still make the playoffs? The Nuggets somehow escaped the all of the Melo drama in relatively good shape. Settled in at sixth in the West with a good chance of taking the Hornets fifth spot. This team can flat out run, and should look to do that in order to win games, particularly at home with the high altitude. While they may not have a superstar such as Melo, they have a smorgesbord of players that can score: Nene, Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, J.R. Smith, and the two UNC point guards; Felton and Lawson. I think they could be a scary team to face come playoff time.

Portland 32-25: How crazy has this trading bonanza been on a scale from 1- 10? An emphatic 11. No doubt. The Trail Blazers stole the anti-Vince Carter from the Charlotte Bobcats, getting Gerald Wallace. In return, Portland gave up Joel Pryzbilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, and a pair of future first round picks. The first rounders could come back to bite the Trail Blazers, but Wallace is a more than deserving investment. He's not a smooth offensive player, but gets his points the hard way. At 6'7 and chiseled like stone, Wallace is also one of the game's top rebounders, a defensive force, and gives an all-out effort every game. A front line of Wallace, Aldridge, and Camby with Niclas Batum at the two-guard should be able to pound teams on the boards.

Memphis 32-27: Did Chris Wallace make a good move? For once Wallace pulled off a logical move that should help the Grizzlies down the stretch. Shane Battier will help fill the void left by Rudy Gay's injury. He's also the ultimate glue guy that every good playoff team needs. A lot of athletes on this Grizzlies team could make for an interesting playoff series against a top-seeded team.

Utah 31-27: Has basketball in Utah been destroyed forever? No, it's barely hanging on, but Jazz fans won't quit. Who knows if Deron Williams would have left after this season (probably would have), and it was time for Jerry Sloan to go. I know that Sloan is one of the all-time greats, but the Jazz looked listless and lost the past two seasons. Change is not always bad. A core of Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Paul Milsap, and Al Jefferson is certainly nothing to scofe at.

Phoenix 28-27: When will Steve Nash ask out? Instead of re-signing Amare Stoudemire to a long-term deal, cheapstake Robert Sarver opted instead to go with a pu pu platter of Hedo Turkoglu, Hakim Warrick, and Channing Frye. They also gave up promising point guard and potential Nash replacement Goran Dragic (plus lottery protected first rounder) for shoot-first point guard Aaron Brooks, who may or may not be a locker room problem.

Houston 28-31: What went wrong? They had little wiggle room this year, getting rid of Trevor Ariza's large contract, while at the same time re-upping underated Luis Scola. The Rockets are unathletic and in need of some more scoring options. Fortunately, they will shed more than half of their salary this offseason.

Golden State 26-30: Why didn't they push for the playoffs? Because their the Warriors, that's why. With a host of expiring contracts and a chance to get to the playoffs, the Warriors stood pat when they could have added additional size to help David Lee (Andris Biedrins is a waste case). They did add Troy Murphy, a former Warrior, but have no plans to keep the forward. Golden State has an opportunity to make the playoffs, a feat they haven't accomplished since 2007.

L.A.C. 21-37: When will the Clippers stop being a joke? That won't happen until creepy racicst owner Donald Sterling is escorted out of his position by David Stern. It really is unfortunate considering all of the potential this squad has now, not only as a team, but also as a draw around the league. For the first time ever, perhaps, the Clippers have building blocks for a successful future.

Sacramento 14-41: Has DeMarcus Cousins dissapointed us? I say no. He came into the league as a well-heralded head case with maturity issues. He also came into the league as a bona-fide center, and someone who should be a 20-10 guy by his third or fourth season. He has produced as a head case (being kicked off the team's charter), as well as on the court (he's averaging 15-10 this month). The mix isn't there right now. Everyone seems to dislike playing with Tyreke Evans, and Paul Westphal has no control over this young team.

Minnesota 13-45: True or False: Are Michael Beasely, Eddy Curry, Darko Milicic, and Anthony Randolph currently residing on the same team? Yes. Minnesota Timberwolves fans may be hurting this winter, but there are potential signs for improvement. Beasely can score in droves, and Kevin Love is a beast and one of the most under heralded exciting players to watch. Milicic, and Randolph more so, still have loads of potential. Randolph is an interesting case. Already on his third team in four years, he is an uber-athletic power forward with the psyche of a twelve year old. Plus, his face always makes it look like he is crying.

NBA's All Star Break Question Style: Eastern Conference

the league having played more than half of its games since the end of October, it is getting easier to discern which teams are contenders and which ones are pretenders, or just flat out jokes (here's looking at you Cleveland). Teams are in descending order:

Eastern Conference

Boston 40-14: Can they stay healthy? If healthy they are the favorite to come out of the east. Thankfully the Big 3 + Rondo are mostly healthy (Pierce has been banged up). It's everyone else who seems to be finding a way to the infirmary. Shaq is out past the break, Delonte West has been out since Nov. 24 but is coming back on Tuesday, Marquis Daniels is out for at least a month and possibly more, Semih Erden has been hurt and will need surgery in the off season, and Jermaine O'Neal has been in hibernation. Also keep in mind that Kendrick Perkins is averaging 27mpg while still recovering from ACL surgery.

Miami 41-15: Can Wade and James both play effectively against the elite teams? It took a while but the Heat have recovered from their early season slump to become the legit contenders everyone predicted they would become. They have struggled against the teams considered contenders, and it is easy to see what ails them; lack of a good point guard and inside presence. On top of being forced to start Mario Chalmers at point and an over the hill Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center, it remains to be seen whether Wade can play well off of LeBron James. During the three games against Boston Wade has shot 12/45.

Chicago 38-16: Will their weakness at shooting guard hurt them in the end? With Noah and Boozer missing significant time, Derrick Rose has stepped up as the team's alpha dog and a legit MVP contender. On top of the team still having to gel (a lot of new pieces on the Bulls this season) Chicago has one pee stain on an otherwise impeccable sofa. I guess the front office believed one of the three (Korver, Brewer, Bogans) could become a starter, yet each has struggled with something different this season.

Orlando 36-21: Has the big trade made them that much better? A trade was certainly needed. Having Vince Carter loaf or Rashard Lewis play like he's 6 feet tall would keep them behind the top three for good. Yet it remains to be seen whether this team is really that much better. Turkoglu's play is maddening, Arenas is more concerned with his pet sharks than his dreadful performance, and Jason Richardson is the definition of a high volume streak shooter.

Atlanta 34-21: Have they peaked? Josh Smith is going to become a free agent for next season, and it is looking like the Hawks may be stuck in no man's land. They are clearly good, but they are also not going to beat any of the top teams in a seven game series. Joe Johnson needs to become more consistent.

New York 28-26: Which team will show up for the rest of the season? A team full of streaks (both good and bad) this year, the Knicks lack depth and another big man to complement Amare. Raymond Felton is having a career year, but his shooting has been too streaky.

Philadelphia 27-29: Will they trade Andre Iguodala? AI 2 is still owed a significant amount through the 2013-14 season. His numbers are down from the past few seasons, but from what everyone saw with Team USA, Iggy can lock down opposing guards on the defensive end. He is also a fantastic fast break player and would be a great fit for a team such as the Spurs or even Golden State. Philly is an underrated team to watch. They have a lot of young athletic players.

Indiana 24-30: What is their identity? In the West Indiana would be behind 12th place Houston. Thankfully for new coach Frank Vogel, the Pacers can sneak into the Eastern Conference playoffs. Danny Granger is merely a scorer (nothing else), Darren Collison has been average at point guard, and which Roy Hibbert is the real one? The one who averaged 15 and 9 in November, or the one who averaged 9 and 7 in January. After these three, only Brandon Rush and Paul George intrigue me.

Charlotte 24-32: How much more exciting would they be if MJ came back for them? Anything can help this offensively challenged team. Seriously, I think the Airness could come back and be very effective playing 15 minutes per game. At 47, you know MJ was still bringing his "A" game when he practiced with the Bobcats earlier in the season.

Milwaukee 21-34: What went wrong? Perhaps the most disappointing season so far, I had the Bucks slotted in at the four or five spot in the East. Scott Skiles' voice can tend to fall on deaf ears after some time, but one year? Their best player - Brandon Jennings - is an erratic shooter and porous defender, and John Salmons is inconsistent from one year to the next. I also should of seen this one coming. Corey Maggette (a career gunner and nothing else) and Drew Gooden (a career knucklehead who has played for nine teams since 2002) were their big acquisitions.

Detroit 21-36: Is Joe Dumars still alive? Joe Dumars is never blasted by anyone for his bone headed moves over the years, particularly with signing Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to crippling deals. Both have underperformed, but the writing was already on the wall. Villanueva is an outside shooter, best suited coming off the bench. Guess what? So is Gordon. Meanwhile, Rip Hamilton was literally shipped to the dog house a few weeks ago, diminishing his trade value in the process. They have no inside scoring besides underrated rookie Greg Monroe, and are a squad full of 2's and 3's and nothing else.

New Jersey 17-40: Is it worth trading the house for Melo? I say yes. The roster is a mess already. Brook Lopez seems broken down already, Devin Harris is up and down, and Morrow, Outlaw, Vujacic, and Farmar are too similar. Derrick Favors plays like a 19 year old with raw talent. Why not go for it and pair Lopez with Anthony; maybe try and lure Chris Paul or Dwight Howard for next season.

Washington 15-39: How relieved are they to be done with Gilbert Arenas? The Wiz can thank Orlando GM Otis Smith for taking the headache off their hands. Although they still have to pay the man, getting Arenas away from talented rookie John Wall and away from a young team was priceless.

Toronto 15-41: Can this team play less defense? They are ranked eighth worst in points allowed but are the worst in opponents field goal percentage at 48.4. After relying on much travelled goon Reggie Evans to shore up their front court defense, Evans was lost to injury after 15 games. Star center Andrea Bargaini can score a lot, but does little else, and that includes defense. Three key players - Derozan, Barbosa, Calderon - play "O-Lay!" on the defensive side of the ball.

I'm Sorry

Haven't posted in a long time. Busy with jobs + hockey games leaves little time for blogging unfortunately.