John Wall's Very Emotional, Very Long Day

((HT: CSN Washington))

John Wall played with what seemed like an endless supply of energy in the Washington Wizards-Boston Celtics game last night.

The reason was that Wall lost a very close, personal friend and fan in 6-year-old Miyah Telemaque-Nelson. Miyah was one of the many victims to cancer these days- one of the too many, really. After dedicating a double-overtime victory to her, Chris Nelson talked to Wall afterwards.

Here's his postgame reaction


There are times when sports is reduced to its emotional core and support for everyone else around you is shown in a raw fashion.

It's sad that takes events like Wall's loss to remind us of what is important...

Brian Scalabrine: NBA Player and Comedy Genius

Look Familiar

((ht: csnne.com))

This folks, is one of the best pieces of Sports satire we may ever have read.

Brian Scalabrine, career 12th man for numerous NBA teams is returning to one of the teams he played for in years gone by: The Boston Celtics. Only this time it's as a broadcaster.

Ever the comedian and good-natured guy, Scalabrine decided to sit down with a writer--(ok, himself) and write a letter to the good people of Boston to explain his decision to come "home"....

Quoth the Scalabrine:

"I've learned a great deal in my time spent with four franchises...actually five if you count my stint in Italy because of the lockout. What was the purpose of the lockout again? I will always think of Chicago as my third home and Oakland probably as my fourth home...but not like downtown Oakland, more like the suburbs"

And yes, if you read the letter, which is too lengthy to post in it's entirety, you'll understand exactly who he is spoofing.

The "White Mamba" comes home--courtesy CSNNew England is RIGHT HERE\

Yes, he did...

We have nothing but respect for guys like this. Guys who are thankful for the opportunity to live out a dream and self-aware enough to have fun with it.

Can't wait to hear him call a game...

Check out the "Scallenge" a segment from a couple years ago when the "Mamba" took on the challenge of some smack talking fans:

Brian: A 30 for 30 Spoof for the Ages

((ht: sportingnews.com))

Oh, this is fantastic.

Most of us sports fans have seen at least one and in many cases quite a few of ESPN's lauded "30 for 30" series.

The promo--the deep, staccato bass voice, all too familiar: "What if..._____"

Well...what if someone wanted to do a "30 for 30" on former NBA role player Brian Scalabrine?

If you are unfamiliar, Scalabrine carved out a nice NBA career for himself as an occasional bench player and for the Boston Celtic, New Jersey Nets and others a fan favorite.

Check out the mock trailer created by Connor Hough, who we'd say is a pretty good editor...

This Is What Made Boston Cry Last Night...

((HT: Basketball Insiders/CSNNE))

A lot of people wondered why the return of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett meant so much to the people of Boston...


He didn't leave on his own...he helped bring a title to a team that he had been with in lean years...

And, in Adrian Wojnarowski's piece on Yahoo!Sports, we find out that he treated everyone equally in the Celtics organization:

He fought for the lowest of assistants and basketball staff to get playoff bonuses, and he used to give the team's traveling party $1,000 each to spend on the annual trip to the Nike employee store outside of Portland. Inside and outside the organization, Pierce was generous with commitments of time and resources, relentlessly championing children's causes and charities.

And Garnett wanted to know everything about every aspect of Celtics history...

The fact that the Brooklyn won 85-79 was lost on everyone for a Celtics team that was 15-30 going in...

The recap after the fact was a reinforcement of what the two meant...

Doc Rivers Return To Boston Goes Well...

((HT: CSNNE))

Doc Rivers admitted that he was a mess for the first 18 minutes of the game where the Clippers and Celtics played back in Boston for the first appearance for Rivers since he took the head coaching job with the Clips.

But the game couldn't have gone any better for him as the Clippers went to Boston and beat the Celtics 96-88...

Afterwards, Rivers was understandably emotional...


"It's harder to come back here," Rivers said postgame. "Playing against them -- it's just two guys that I love in a Brooklyn uniform. Coming back here, that's special for me. I get to walk under a banner that I helped get and see the fans and see a lot of my friends. This day and a half has been a lot of fun, but it's also been very emotional."

There was a 9-minute tribute video that Rivers made a point not to watch before the game to the tune of Dierks Bentley's "Home..."

DEVELOPING: Brad Stevens To Celtics

Well, now we know what it will take...

The last time that we saw Brad Stevens, he was encouraging a bulldog to get in shape for a conference move...
((HT: Butler Athletics))


And, now the school may have to edit this piece of video since head men's basketball coach Brad Stevens is leaving for the Boston Celtics- replacing Doc Rivers...

Stevens led the Bulldogs to back-to-back Final Fours and spent six seasons as Butler’s head coach. His first finals squad came a buzzer beater bouncing off the rim from being national champs in the game against Duke...
((HT: NCAA/CBS))


"We truly love Butler University and Indianapolis, and are very thankful to have had the opportunity to celebrate so many wonderful things together,” Stevens said in a statement released by the school. “What makes Butler truly unique is the people that we have been so blessed to work with. When it comes time for our kids to look at schools, we will start with Butler University."

Here's reaction from Indy...
((HT: WTHR-TV))
13 WTHR Indianapolis

And Pat Forde discusses...
((HT: Yahoo!Sports))

Report: Celtics/Clippers Trade for Doc Rivers is on (UPDATED)

((ht: espn.com))

**UPDATED**--Monday afternoon. It appears the league is giving their blessing to the deal. So it appears you will have a Doc on the sideline at Clipper games. Now the question is "Will this keep Chris Paul in the fold?"

ESPN is reporting the on again/off again trade between the Boson Celtics and LA Clippers is apparently about to be consummated.

Details are still being ironed out, but reports this afternoon say the Clips were offering 2 draft picks.

Update---The compensation appears to be a 2015 1st Round pick. In addition, the Clippers will match the 3-year, $21 million contract Rivers has with Boston.

The interesting part is yet to come: Will David Stern allow it? Stay tuned reader...
Boston discusses...
((HT: CSNNE.com))


There was talk that either Kevin Garnett and/or Paul Pierce would join Rivers in Los Angeles, but any deal involving Garnett is dead. Pierce could be easily amnestied and picked up as an outside, veteran shooter that the Clips could always use...

Report: Clippers and Celtics Looking at Trade For Doc Rivers: Is This Possible?

((ht: sports.yahoo.com))

Huh?

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports that a trade between the LA Clippers and Boston Celtics is in the deep in negotiations.

And get this: The trade would included draft picks and a couple of current Clippers for Celtics forward Kevin Garnett...and coach Doc Rivers.

Yes, for a coach.

Read the insightful report from Wojnarowski RIGHT HERE

Ok, yes, we think this is kind of weird too. But, Rivers did let it be known that perhaps it's time for a change of scenery for him. But he's got 3-years left on a hefty contract. Garnett still has some time left too, but would be willing to go, as long as it's with his coach.

There is another reason for the Clippers to do this. They want very much to keep free-agent to be Chris Paul in the fold and are fearful he's going to leave and turn down a max contract. Rivers would be an enticement to keep him around.

Nobody is sure how the NBA would react to this. The only parallel we can think of is Toronto getting a Mike Aviles in return for the Boston Red Sox hiring John Farrell. The Chicago White Sox got a couple of minor leaguers for Ozzie Guillen signing to manage the Florida Marlins is another one.

We're guessing the NBA's reaction if this were to happen would be interesting to say the least.

ICYMI: Carmelo Anthony being investigated for being stupid

The NBA is looking into a Monday night incident after the Boston Celtics/New York Knicks game involving Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett.

Anthony appears to have tracked Garnett down after the game and went screaming after him  underneath the stands, near the Celtics team bus at Madison Square Garden.

The act was said to be payback for a double tech called on the duo during the 4th quarter of the game won by the Celtics 102-96.

As the game ended, rather than take part in the post-game handshake, Anthony made a beeline for the locker room and waited to pounce.

The two were separated before any punches were thrown, but there was a bit of a chaotic scrum under the stands.

The NBA is investigating the incident and don't be surprised if more than one person loses a few dollars and maybe a game or two.

Your video from Comcast Sports New England:

ICYMI: Rondo vs. Humphries: Basketbrawl (UPDATED)

You know, basketball players don't fight much better than baseball players and we are about to link to some video that will show you why.

Wednesday night in the New Jersey vs. Boston game, things got a bit--Chippy-- when Nets forward Kris Humphries (yes, Mr. Kardashian) pushed Celtics center Kevin Garnett down. As soon as that happened 6-1 point guard Rajon Rondo jumped in to defend Garnett's honor.

And the melee ensued.

There really isn't much else to say other than Nets guard Gerald Wallace got involved too. All three primary participants got multiple technical fouls and were asked to leave the game. And we are pretty sure there will be some significant fines involved too, but they haven't been levied yet.

In the meantime, enjoy your Basketbrawl:



PM UPDATE: From the NBA its own self...

Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics has been suspended two games without pay for fighting with Brooklyn’s Kris Humphries during the second quarter of the Nets’ 95-83 victory over the Celtics at TD Garden on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Additionally, Brooklyn's Gerald Wallace has been fined $35,000 and Boston’s Kevin Garnett has been fined $25,000 for escalating the altercation. The penalties were announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Rondo will serve his suspension on Friday, Nov. 30 when the Celtics host the Portland Trail Blazers and Saturday, Dec. 1 when the Celtics play the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Jason Terry: "Can I pahk yah cah?"

What is that joke about giving up your day job or something?

It appears Celtics guard Jason Terry wants to do more to meet his new fans in Boston. So he appeared in a video as a parking attendant. A parking attendant charging $30 park. And wondering why nobody will park in his lot.

Duh!

Would you park for a basketball, baseball or football game for $30?

Wait...don't answer that.

In some corners of the world there are an awful lot of people who would.

And for those wondering...yeah, it's a sort of promotional video for Terry moving to Boston from a site that highlights athletes doing goofy things.

Like pahking cahs!

Miami's Big Three Comes Through In Game 7. Bring On The OKC Thunder

After falling 3-2 to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals Miami was feeling the, pardon the pun, heat. 

All the criticism seemed to tick off LeBron James, who came back with a career game for the NBA playoffs in Game six.

Saturday the Heat finished off the Celtics 101-88 in Game seven to advance to the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here are the highlights:


LeBron James didn’t disappear in this Game seven.  King James’ box score against the Celtics Saturday night reads 31 points and 12 rebounds. 

Dwayne Wade scored 23 points and Chris Bosh was feeling it from the perimeter.  Bosh nailed a career best three 3 point field goals finishing the game with 19.  Oh by the way Bosh’s third 3 pointer finished off the Celtics.

James, Wade and Bosh have been together for two years and Saturday they have never been any bigger.  Miami's big 3 finally came through when it counted.

"That's what we talk about," James said. "It has to be a collective group to win the championship. Everybody was in tune today."

Boston couldn’t get that elusive series clinching win after going up 3-2 in the series. In was a emotional post-game locker room last night for the Celtics as their season ended.  The prevailing question is will this be the end of the Kevin Garnett – Paul Pierce – Ray Allen era?

Watch the Celtic game story of Game 7 against the Heat from CSN New England.

The NBA must be thrilled with its NBA Finals match-up between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder as each game will be appointment TV.

OKC’s big three Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden going up against Miami’s for the NBA title.

The big three Heat vs the big three Thunder.

This match-up will be the topic of conversation on the blogs, sports radio and by just plain folks around the office break room. 

ABC might get some big ratings for this one.

NBA Commissioner David Stern loves it when a plan comes together.

LeBron Unstoppable. Heat Force Game 7 Vs Celtics

It appears putting a sheet over the Miami Heat was a bit premature.  LeBron James made sure of that.

James first half performance in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals was as dominant as it gets with 30 points.  James ended the game with 45 points.

It was a masterful performance by LeBron James.

Here are the highlights.

Of course a Celtic can shows his appreciation of James’ performance by dumping his beverage on him while heading to the locker room after the game.

Too little too late to cool off King James.

In some way Lebron James got a second chance to make an impression on the basketball world. 

The criticism of King James has been he has disappeared when a game or a series is on the line.  Defaulting to his team mates rather than taking the game over.  That didn’t happen Thursday night and there was not a damn thing the Boston Celtics could do about it.

“Well, it was a matter of too much LeBron,” Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said. “He was absolutely sensational, made every shot, set the tone for their whole team. I thought he gave them comfort in the way he played tonight.”

It was no garden party for the Celtics who had the opportunity to close out the series on their home court.  Now Boston must travel to Miami Saturday night for Game seven. 

Miami seems to have its mojo back.

Boston's Mayor isn't much of a Sports fan (video)

((ht: espnboston))

And we now have even further proof that politicians don't live in the same universe that the rest of us do.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is either really confused or doesn't have someone in his ear to tell him the proper names he is supposed to be talking about. And in a Sports crazed town like Boston, we are guessing that this isn't going to go over very well, though it is kind of funny.

In the video, Menino is asked about the Boston Celtics, in his answer, he talks about KJ and Hondo. And while Kevin Johnson and John Hondo Havlicek both did play in the NBA and Havlicek actually did play for the Celtics, we think he's trying to refer to Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo.

And according to ESPN Boston, this is nowhere near the 1st time he's butchered his local Sports heroes.

Read that story RIGHT HERE

Okay, yeah, the argument can be made we are all being too tough on the guy. But we don't think so. Sure, we know a "City Leader" is supposed to have a ton of things on his mind to deal with. And, no, we don't know Menino who may be a very sharp guy.

We don't buy that here.

Anyway, listen, watch...and revel...

Mystery: Masseuse dies at Chris Bosh's house

Cue the Who soundtrack and call David Caruso...

Chris bosh

According to multiple reports, a masseuse working on injured Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh at his Miami home, passed out and eventually died after working on him.

Bosh, who injured his abdominal muscles a couple of weeks ago had been vigorously rehabbing the injury and the hope is that he will return to the Heat for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals series. The Heat and Celtics are currently tied at 2 games each.

Bosh is apparently a game time decision for Game 5.

The reports say Miami Beach Police don't suspect foul play. They believe the masseuse was a recent cancer survivor who was already in bad health.

Really? Maine News Anchor calls Heat-Celtics game a tie

As a long-time former Sports Producer with a slew of awards, this is just painful to hear about, much less see.

It appears the TV News business again has been set back a few years (the count is around 1,456,312 about now) by an anchor at WMTW-TV in Portland, Maine.

And yes, we're going to name her.

We're only going to assume that Meghan Torjussen is a misplaced News Anchor forced to read a Sports score.

Because it's the only thing keeping us from screaming.

Torjussen reads a story about Sunday nights Boston Celtics-Miami Heat game which apparently ended about the time she went on.

She read the score and the director punches up a scoreboard saying 89-89 in the fourth. It gets ugly though, because Torjussen proceeds to say her producer told her the game ended up in a tie.

No really, watch the video...

The game went to overtime and was won by the Celtics...93-91.



In the issue of fairness, this may have happened because News Producers as a general rule, cower in the corner when the word "Sports" comes up. But still, there is no excuse for saying what was said.

Period.

Sorry Miss Torjussen, if you are forced to read the Sports, you need to have at least a minimal, basic working knowledge of them.

Celtics Still Have A Pulse, Win Game 3

That ole Celtic magic remains. After falling 2-0 to the mighty Miami Heat in their NBA Eastern Conference Finals series the Celtics roared back with a 101-91 win over the Heat in Game 3.

This time Rajon Rondo didn’t have to do it all. Oh Rondo contributed big time scoring 21 points with 10 assists and six rebounds but Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett pick it up.

Garnett had 24 points and 11 rebounds. Pierce 23 points, four rebounds and 4 assists.

Here’s the game story from CSN New England.

After taking a big lead in the 4th quarter the Heat went on a 14 to 2 run however, the Celtics had enough to hold off Miami’s attack.  Winning easy just doesn't seem to be in the Celtics DNA.  

Miami got a good game from LeBron James with 34 points and shooting 16-26 from the field. What hurt the Heat was a slow start by Dwayne Wade and James' supporting cast not contributing.

It seems like the Miami Heat picked the wrong night for a shooting slump. It also might have given the aging Celtics new life in the series.

Game four is Sunday, a Celtic win and the series is even and a lot more interesting.

In Case You Missed It: Heat survive Rondo up 2-0

It wasn't easy and it took withstanding a 44 point, 10 assist and 8 rebound effort by Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, but the Miami Heat won yet again, beating Boston 115-111 in overtime Wednesday night.

LeBron James dropped 34 including 18 of 24 free throws, Dwyane Wade had 23 and Mario Chalmers had 22 points to lead the Heat to their second straight win over a visibly upset Boston team.

The reason the Celtics were so upset ironically, the amount of fouls called against them. Boston coach Doc Rivers was really aggravated that James took 24 free throws himself, the C's had 29 free throws for the entire game. Apparently Celtic's GM Danny Ainge was berating the refs after the game because his team was called for almost twice as many fouls as the Heat.

It's funny, because most teams feel like the Celtics are the one's who get that kind of benefit during their games.

Rondo did all he could to keep his team in the game, playing the entire game. Paul Pierce, he fouled out late in the game.

The Heat took advantage of a big game by Chalmers and help from Udonis Haslem to grab the win and a steep advantage in the best of 7 Eastern Conference Finals.

Game 3 is Friday night in Boston.

NBA.com gives us your highlights.

Rajon Rondo Does Not Like Cameras In The Tunnel

((HT: NBA on TNT/youtube))

Just watch... and Charles is right...


Rondo should have been a little hot after his team's and his own performance losing to Atlanta by a point...

But to wear that jacket is a bit much...

Celtics lose their Rondo for Game 2

Not that anyone would want to kick them when they're down...but.

The Boston Celtics will be without their best player, Rajon Rondo for Game 2 of their NBA Playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks.

Rondo was suspended for his bump of referee Marc Davis late in Game 1 Sunday night while arguing a call.

For what its worth, the "C's" are already without Ray Allen who is nursing a bum ankle and most of the "So-Called" experts had already crowned the Celtics winners of the series.

By the way, the Hawks won game 1 93-84, Game 2 is Tuesday night.

Here's your video from NBA.com and TurnerSports: