Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

Another shootout victory and another hero.

Tonight the game winner was courtesy of Rookie Phil Kessel.
After Sturm, Bergeron, Murray, Savard, Boyes and Tenkrat were all unsuccessful - Kessel made a great move and beat Tampa Bay goalieMarc Denis to give the Bs the 4-3 win.

Tim Thomas was outstanding stopping all seven of the Lightning's shootout attempts and made 31 saves during regulation and OT.

OK - if you didn't watch the game, you missed yet another good one.

Now, you all know I am not the biggest fan of Thomas' but he has been pretty solid in net for the Bs as of late, except for the Carolina game the day after Thanksgiving BUT no one on the Bruins showed up to play in that one.

The Bruins are now 12-9-2 on the season, winning eight of their last 10 - not too shabby for a club that started 4-7-2.

Now I don't expect all of you to jump on the bandwagon, in fact I think I have said it once or twice - I don't let people back on too quickly after they jump off.

I'm not saying this team is going to win the Stanley Cup, but they have proved when they come to play they can beat just about any other team.

Maybe my wish list of having a true, bonafide #1 netminder can be put on hold for the moment. Again I said MAYBE.

So, with the apparent turn around - anyone else out there going to start tuning in to more Bruins games? Do you think the club can make the playoffs if they keep playing this way? If not, what are they missing and how do they fix it?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Apologies for the late posting. I have a sneaking suspicion our friend, The Victim, is trying to hide on us and not risk his stellar record...much like a team running out the clock with a 3-TD lead in the 4th quarter.

Luckily, I found him just in time tonight and rest assured I'll track him down in time to pin down the picks for this weekend's NFL TV slate as well. For now, here's Thursday Night's prediction:

Cincinnati (-3) over Baltimore

Last week's record: 3-2
Season record: 37-22

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

When Horace Greeley implored young Americans to head west in search of riches (John B.L. Soule actually originated the saying. Greeley popularized it), I doubt he meant go so far west they’d actually end up in the east…the Far East. But that’s exactly where major league baseball executives are traveling these days in search of hardball’s most coveted commodity…pitching.

The Red Sox have signed Hideki Okajima, a left handed relief specialist from Japan to a contract. The move comes as the Yankees are about to ink lefty starter, Kei Igawa, and the Sox work to finalize a deal with another Japanese import, Daisuke Matsuzaka. Boston’s latest transaction fills a void left open since Mike Myers took his Halloween mask to New York.

Okajima posted a 2.14 ERA last season with the Nippon Ham Fighters (love the team name) after spending the prior 11-seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He reportedly has a high quality curveball that makes him tough on southpaw sticks. Ironically, he was a teammate of Hideki Matsui in Japan. If all goes as planned, Okajima will be called on to face Matsui several times over the next few years.

(While I have your attention here, please tell me you’re more intelligent than to believe this Jake Peavy-Manny Ramirez garbage being thrown around in a few media circles. 25-year old top of the rotation starters don’t get traded for 34-year old, cranky legged outfielders owed $34-million over the next two years.)

Now then, what do you think of the latest signing? Personally, I like it. It’s a better gamble than some of the retread middle relief alternatives available stateside. But do you think the Sox are spending too much money and effort on guys who’ve never tossed an inning in the major leagues?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Celtics are hardly jumping for joy over their perch atop the NBA’s Atlantic Division. At 5-8 they would be no higher than fourth place in any other Division.

Head coach Doc Rivers that “we earned it,� laughing as he said that the current standings indicate that a lot of teams have struggled and that they may have struggled the least at this point.

While recognizing that standings at this point aren’t a main concern, Rivers said he’ll take it. He also pointed out that this isn’t the first time the teams in the Atlantic has had such early struggles and it won’t be the last.

When asked when the last time he had been on a team that was in first place with a record under .500, Paul Pierce responded, “Probably never. But I don’t really look at it like that. We’re only 13 games into the season .We’re just trying to get better game-by-game. First place means nothing right now.

West Coast hangover
The Nets come having lost their last six games, including four games on the road against Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

“To a man everyone is very disappointed at where we’re at,� Nets head coach Lawrence Frank said.

The Nets, a preseason favorite of many to win the Atlantic Division, are currently behind the Celtics by half a game with a record of 5-9 coming into tonight.

Boone still mending
Nets rookie Josh Boone out of the University of Connecticut will miss tonight’s game, according to head coach Lawrence Frank. Boone (left shoulder injury) has worked out with the coaching staff and is expected to practice by Friday of this week. He has yet to play in a game for New Jersey.

The 23rd overall pick by the Nets in the 2006 NBA Draft, Boone averaged 10.3 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 2.0 blocks per game.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

One for the birds tonight at Stonehill as the River Hawks take on the Skyhawks. And yes, I did just drop the bird line.

UML Women vs. Stonehill
Stonehill enters tonight’s action after posting the second highest single-game scoring total in school history on Sunday, beating Concordia 108-38.

Stonehill and UMass Lowell split their two meetings last year. The River Hawks posted a 62-59 regular season triumph over the Skyhawks on Feb. 7. Stonehill came back with a 53-42 win over UMass Lowell in the 2006 Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinals on Feb. 28.

Senior Alisha Collins, the reigning Northeast-10 and ECAC Division II Player of the Year, leads Stonehill in scoring and rebounding at 16.3 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Junior Tonya Perry leads UMass Lowell in scoring at 10.7 ppg, while sophomore Antonnea Robinson follows at 8.7 ppg and paces the River Hawks on the boards at an even eight rebounds per game.

Game time is 5:30 p.m. at Merkert Gymasium, in Easton, Mass.

UMass Lowell women's basketball homepage

UML Men vs. Stonehill
Stonehill has been idle since posting a 72-55 non-league triumph over Mercy last Wednesday in Bridgeport, Conn.

Stonehill and UMass Lowell met a total of three times during the 2005-2006 season. The two split their regular season meetings, both of which took place at the Costello Gymnasium. The Skyhawks took an 80-68 non-league decision on December 12, 2005, but the River Hawks claimed a 59-55 Northeast-10 victory last Feb. 7. Stonehill won the third meeting in the 2006 NCAA Northeast Regional championship game at Merkert Gymnasium,

Stonehill freshman Randall Stallworth was named on Monday as the Northeast-10 Conference Co-Freshman of the Week this past week. Stallworth averaged 14 points and seven assists on the week.

Senior co-captain Soap Toun also averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists on the week.

Freshman Victor Colon leads UMass Lowell in scoring at 11.6 ppg, while junior Dashon Harper follows at 10.6 ppg. Junior Jerreh Saidybah is next at 10.2 ppg and paces the River Hawks on the boards at 5.6 caroms per contest.

Game time is 5:30 p.m. at Merkert Gymasium, in Easton, Mass.

UMass Lowell men's basketball homepage

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

News Flash: According to various reports, the Red Sox are closing in on a contract with free agent outfielder J.D. Drew. In a development that may or may not be related, trade talks involving Manny Ramirez are also heating up.

Teddy’s Take: I don’t like where this is headed!

Before you get all worked up and accuse me of Red Sox bashing again, hear me out. I don’t think signing Drew is as bad a move as others are making it out to be. Conversely, I’m not against trading Manny. I just hope doing one doesn’t mean you HAVE to do the other.

In a pefect world, I’d love to see a Sox batting order featuring both guys. How nice would it be to have Ramirez protecting David Ortiz and Drew protecting Manny? I don’t care how often Drew gets hurt…he won’t miss more time than Trot Nixon did and is a much better player than the Sox previous right fielder. Even the reported money ($14-15 million over 4-5 years) isn’t that unreasonable in this exploding marketplace. With a little tweaking to the rest of the lineup and a bullpen overhaul, you’ve got a title contender again.

What I fear is happening though, is that they’re going to use Drew as a replacement for Manny. In that case, you’ve got a downgrade in one spot, plus you’ve diminished what Big Papi will contribute because he’ll never get pitched to in any threatening circumstance. (Please, don’t ask me to get excited about the possibility of Julio Lugo being the other shoe to drop…I don’t want to barf on my keyboard!)

Again, I realize that a Ramirez trade might be a necessity now. I also understand you’re never going to get equal value and will probably have to settle for prospects. That’s fine. Do it and get it over with if you have to. Frankly, I’m tired of the annual soap opera.

But if that’s the case, why was Boston so silent when the big name free agents were dropping by the wayside? If you know you’re going to trade Manny and only going to get youngsters in return, why not make a run at Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee? Why settle for pennies on the dollar when you could have had the pennies plus maybe gotten the dollar elsewhere? The obvious answer, I'm afraid, is to save dollars.

I’ll be curious to see what else Theo Epstein has up his sleeve. All logic dictates another big bat besides Drew will arrive somehow, from somewhere, once Ramirez is traded. What worries me is the Red Sox GM hasn’t made many logical maneuvers since 2004.

That’s my take…what’s yours? Can the Sox return to the playoffs with J.D. Drew replacing Manny Ramirez in the lineup? Is there another available player out there that would help fill the void? Should Boston keep Manny, despite his many faults? What else does this team need to do at the winter meetings?

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

Peter Chiarelli was true to his word - Hannu Toivonen played all three games for Providence this past weekend and the young goaltender was recalled to Boston today.

Toivonen played a total of 5 games for the Baby Bs and compiled a 1-4-0 record - not that good IMO.

With the move, Philippe Sauve was assigned to Providence - looks like the Bs will carry 3 goalies for a bit since Brian Finley is still with the big club.
According to the Bs website, Tim Thomas should get the start tomorrow night when the Bruins take on Toronto.

Darcy Tucker has told reporters that he is ready and willing for a rematch with Paul Mara.

I give props to Mara for defending two of his teammates when he took on Tucker the other night.

Do you think Hannu spent enough time in Providence? Is he ready and back to form? Do you care?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

You better watch out. You better not cry. Better not give fans the bird. I’m telling you why. Santa Claus is coming, to town.

While Saint Nick files away those letters from boys and girls throughout the world, this jolly old fat guy is busy preparing his own shopping list for all the naughty and nice people who fill our sports pages. Here’s what I have so far;

For the aforementioned Michael Vick, a new position and a new home. 166-yards rushing and only 84-passing does not a winning quarterback make. When LaDainian Tomlinson is a more reliable passer than you, it’s time to re-think your game. Oh, and the only bird that should be flipped on Thanksgiving weekend is a turkey.

For Tom Brady…never mind, he already has everything. Young, rich, good looking, great at what he does, tremendous work ethic, humble…find me one flaw. Even that clef in his chin drives the girls wild.

For Bill Parcells, one last shot at what he calls “the tournament.� Now that the statue of Drew Bledsoe has been removed from behind center, the Cowboys are a legit Super Bowl threat. How insane would it be around here if Super Bowl XLI turned into a Battle of the Bills?

For the Red Sox, a closer, two good middle relievers, a middle infield not manned by Justin Pedroia or Alex Cora, a backup catcher with some upside and the ability to catch a knuckleball, and a potent bat to protect Papi and Manny.

For J.D. Drew, a thick skin. If the notoriously laid back Los Angeles fans start calling you Nancy, just imagine what the Fenway Faithful will do to you.

For Manny Ramirez and Theo Epstein, the common sense to realize the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Ramirez has it pretty good here in Boston, no matter how much pouting he does. And judging by what stiffs like Gary Matthews, Jr. are getting in free agency, Manny’s contract is a bargain for Epstein’s budget. Find a way to make it work, boys!

For Doc Rivers, a month with peace of mind. I’m far from convinced Rivers is a good coach, but the yahoos chanting for his firing the day after Turkey Day need to get in the holiday spirit. We can revisit this good man’s job status after the holidays. Till then, let’s lay off and give him a chance.

For the Lowell Devils, a fan base that cares. If not, a gift certificate from a moving company.

For the Spinners, a playoff season. They’ve had everything else.

For Lowell High football coach…make that “former� coach…Scott Boyle, one more coin flip. I’m not sure exactly what the “demands� are that make coaching football and basketball simultaneously such an impossible task, but until someone shows me teams that can’t compete or are filled with flunking student-athletes who make regular appearances on the police log, I don’t see the harm.

And finally, for O.J. Simpson, a time machine so he can go back and do things all over again, only this time do the right thing. Or he can use it to travel to another time and place far, far away. Don’t go away mad O.J. Just go away!

What gift would you suggest for that special someone on your sports list? How about me...what would you get me?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Kendrick Perkins was held out of practice today and will be held out tomorrow in order to keep him healthy for game night on Wednesday. He is still battling plantar fasciitis in his foot.

Paul Pierce practiced with his left wrist taped, saying that he had slightly sprained it against Milwaukee on Saturday. Neither Pierce or head coach Doc Rivers viewed it as anything serious. It didn’t appear to effect Pierce’s performance on Saturday as he scored a game-high 34 in the victory.

Following practice, Rivers talked at length about the importance of Sebastian Telfair’s play on Saturday night at both ends of the floor. Telfair played 36 minutes, including the entire second half, scoring 12 points and dishing out eight assists. His defense was one of the most impressive things to Rivers who pointed to comments made by Bucks head coach Terry Stotts about Telfair single-handily disrupting their offense.

The Celtics, who surprisingly are tied for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Nets and Philadelphia, take on New Jersey at the TD Banknorth Garden on Wednesday.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Just a quick reminder to dail in for tonight's SunTalk Live program between 7-8pm. David Pevear joins us to talk about the Patriots big win over Chicago yesterday, along with any other sports topic you'd like to discuss. The telephone number is (978)364-TALK.

Phones open at 6:45, and you're encouraged to dial in early to reserve your spot. Remember to stay on the line after you're finished so you can hear the rest of the program and perhaps even get back in on the discussion.

Talk to you in a bit!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Bentley appears to be the beasts of the Northeast-10 through the first week of league play. A 5-0 start is the best for the Falcons in more than 15 seasons, but head coach Jay Lawson isn’t concerning himself with history.

“We were 4-0 last year and lost the next five when we got the staph infection, so I don’t get caught up much in that stuff,� Lawson says.

The preseason No. 1 in the Northeast-10, Bentley has won their five games by an average of more than 20 points. The Falcons have also shot 42 percent from the field for the season (39 percent in 3-pointers) and out-rebound opponents by 11 boards per game. Seven different players are currently averaging six points per game or more.

Lawson also added that he feels his squad is a work in progress at this point in the season, not yet at their offensive potential, but ahead of last year in terms of defense, rebounding, and conditioning.

Going back to the subject of history, Bentley lost three senior guards and two of the top scorers in the history of the basketball program to graduation including Tim Forbes (third on the all-time scoring list).

Lawson admitted the early success has been somewhat of a pleasant surprise, but they knew the players coming back were talented. He also points out that there five seniors and a fourth-year junior in their top offensive player Nate Fritsch.

“We knew we had the frontcourt all returning,� Lawson says. “The depth and the talent. We knew we had some ability on the perimeter that just needed experience, some guys who sat on the bench last year and watched behind those guys.�

Sunday’s results from NE-10

Men
Franklin Pierce 71, Bryant 69
Merrimack 84, Southern Connecticut 77
Saint Michael’s 76, Pace 75
Assumption 65, Saint Anselm 62
Saint Rose 74, American International 59
Le Moyne 84, Southern Hampshire 69

Women
Franklin Pierce 75, Bryant 58
Southern Connecticut 81, Merrimack 52
Pace 63, Saint Michael’s 55
Assumption 75, Saint Anselm 71
Saint Rose 69, American International 63
Le Moyne 66, Southern New Hampshire 58
Stonehill 108, Concordia 38

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Final Score
Bears 13
Patriots 17

Teddy’s Take: Payoff football. That’s what this one felt like. A good, old fashioned football game with both teams playing like their season was on the line.

The hitting was intense, especially in the first half. You had to question whether there’d be enough healthy bodies standing to finish the game. I’ll be very curious to see how both sides respond next week and the rest of the way. A lot of guys got beat up out there and I wonder if this is the kind of game it takes a while to recover from. Obviously, the Junior Seau injury could have severe long-term implications.

Other than that, it was a great win for the Patriots. They really needed this one and overcame a very good team and five turnovers to get it. After losses at home to three quality opponents, it was important to finally win one and prove they could hang with the big boys.

One more thing; what’s with the Bears and that “Madden� offense? It was like playing a video game against my nephew and having him throw the ball deep every play hoping for a pass interference penalty. Yeah, Chicago has to be the favorite in the NFC right now, but unless they can do better than that on offense, I don’t see them scaring anyone in the playoffs. They simply can’t put enough points on the board to put teams away, and that will eventually come back to bite them.

Shining Stars: Make room for yet another star on the forehead of Tom Brady. The picks weren’t his fault, and other than that he was very good against a ferocious defense. That run late in the game where he eluded Brian Urlacher for the first down was the type of play only a winner makes…While we’re at it, let’s also pass stars out to the O-Line for not allowing a sack in 33-pass attempts.

Stephen Gostkowski’s 52-yard field goal was about as close as you’re going to get. Even the ref was laughing at how it hugged the upright and crossbar. But it was a huge kick in a game where you knew scoring was going to be scarce. The rook came through big time.

On the other side of the ball, Asante Samuel was the man. Three interceptions is a good season for most DB’s, never mind a game. And what a great play on the final drive, when the Bears had been so successful at getting pass interference calls before that. Jumping in front of the receiver to take the ball away showed guts. The 9-tackles also helped. We’ve said it before; when this kid is good, he’s good. He was real good on Sunday…Richard Seymour was only credited with four tackles, but a sack, fumble recovery and blocked field goal made him a disruptive force all game.

Finally, how about a star for the FieldTurf. Wasn’t it nice to see two very good teams play a big game in Foxboro without the field affecting the outcome? Kudos to the crew that had the playing surface ready in two weeks instead of the usual 5-6.

Quality Quote: “I’m probably better than he is. He made that move seven yards away from Urlacher and I don’t know how he got around him, but bless him he did and got the first down.�—Dan Koppen, discussing Tom Brady’s running skills.

That’s my take…what’s yours? Was this a Super Bowl preview or just two playoff teams going at it in a playoff type atmosphere?

Posted By Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

That's how many penalty minutes there were in Saturday's game between the Providence Bruins and Portland Pirates.

Now, who says the game of hockey isn't the same as it used to be???

Heres the Box Score:

Period 1 - PRO Glenn, 4:46 - Interference , 2 min (PP); POR Carter, 8:31 - Hooking , 2 min (PP); POR Rome, 12:56 - Charging , 2 min (PP) ; PRO Pelletier, 17:46 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

Period 2 - PRO Krejci, 2:10 - Hooking , 2 min (PP); PRO Lashoff, 6:51 - Cross-checking , 2 min (PP); PRO Reich, 10:38 - Fighting , 5 min ; POR Rome, 10:38 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Curry, 18:53 - Holding , 2 min (PP)

Period 3 - PRO Reich, 0:05 - Fighting , 5 min ;POR Konopka, 0:05 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Thompson, 2:52 - Fighting , 5 min; POR Glencross, 2:52 - Fighting , 5 min; POR Moran, 8:08 - Hooking , 2 min (PP); PRO Reich, 10:38 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Reich, 10:38 - Game misconduct - Third major (20.4), 10 min; POR Thornton, 10:38 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Brookbank, 10:52 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Brookbank, 10:52 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min; PRO Curry, 10:52 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Curry, 10:52 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min; PRO Glenn, 10:52 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Glenn, 10:52 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min; PRO Packard, 10:52 - Instigating , 2 min; PRO Packard, 10:52 - Fighting , 5 min (PP); PRO Packard, 10:52 - Misconduct - Instigating (47.10), 10 min; PRO Rabbit, 10:52 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Rabbit, 10:52 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min; POR Glencross, 10:52 - Fighting , 5 min; POR Glencross, 10:52 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min; POR Konopka, 10:52 - Fighting , 5 min; POR Konopka, 10:52 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min; POR Leighton, 10:52 - Leaving the crease , 2 min; POR Parenteau, 10:52 - Fighting , 5 min; POR Parenteau, 10:52 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min; POR Salcido, 10:52 - Game misconduct - Secondary altercation (47.6), 10 min; PRO Pelletier, 14:53 - Fighting , 5 min; POR Brent, 14:53 - Fighting , 5 min; POR St. Jacques, 15:50 - Slashing , 2 min (PP); POR Rome, 16:27 - Roughing , 2 min (PP); PRO Kalus, 19:06 - Instigating , 2 min; PRO Kalus, 19:06 - Fighting , 5 min ; PRO Kalus, 19:06 - Game misconduct - Instigator (last 5 min.) (47.11), 10 min; POR Miller, 19:06 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Leach, 19:14 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Zinger, 19:14 - Fighting , 5 min; POR Ferguson, 19:14 - Fighting , 5 min; POR Thornton, 19:14 - Fighting , 5 min; PRO Served By Thompson, 19:49 - Bench minor - Unsportsmanlike conduct , 2 min (PP); PRO Served By Thompson, 19:49 - Game misconduct - Obscenity (40.5 (ii)), 10 min

That's 161 PIM for the Baby Bs and 112 for the Pirates - by the way Obscenity? That's a new one.

The third period must have taken forever to play with all those infractions.

I guess whoever was at the game cam say "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out."

Ironically, there was only 2 ppg scored in the game, one for each team .

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Toooo morrow, toooo morrow, The Sun will come out tomorrow.

Okay, Doc Rivers ain't exactly little orphan Annie. That being said, he’ll take whatever rays of sunshine come with a win in Milwaukee last night, espeically after fans in the TD Banknorth Garden reportedly called for his job on Friday night.

Fans who were hoping to run the good Doc out may also want to give a read to a story by Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen who got Wyc Grousbeck, the managing partner of the Celtics ownership group, talking about the security of Rivers’ job. If you watched the Friday night game then you probably saw Thomsen talk with Greg Dickerson during the telecast.

Right off the bat, Grousbeck refuted that Rivers hasn’t been doing enough with the talent dealt to him, telling SI, "Doc is a very good coach for the team. Doc has done as well as he could be expected to do with the players that he's been given.''

Click here to read the SI.com story

So, what do you think? Is Grousbeck delusional? Is he just saying what he thinks he should say? Is he right on? Click the comments link below to post your thoughts.

Some of you chimed in on previous posts to tell me that I'm delusional. Of course, one anynomous commenter did tell me that Rivers has been doing the same thing for three years now with the Celtics (uh, he came to town in April of 2004), changes need to be made on the coaching staff (they made two changes in the off-season), and Danny Ainge should take over (Ainge claims he is not interested in coaching). What else you got?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Our special guest for Monday night’s SunTalk Live is none other than David Pevear.

Pevear is the Lowell Sun’s Patriots writer, having followed the team through the lean years and the mean years. David is in Foxboro every week and will be at Gillette Stadium for Sunday’s big matchup against the Bears. If anyone has a pulse on the team and what’s going on in the locker room, it’s David.

So be sure to dial in at (978)364-TALK to be a part of this week’s show. It promises to be fun and informative. We’ll be on from 7-8pm, taking your calls and answering questions about the Pats and anything else you want to talk about. As always, you’re encouraged to call in early to save a spot in line and to make sure you don’t miss anything. The phones open up at 6:45pm. Those of you brave enough to speak your voice should stay on the line after your comments as we may bring you back for a follow up conversation or even a little head-to-head with a caller who has a differing opinion.

Talk to you soon!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

UML Women vs. Bentley

The last time the River Hawks beat Bentley was 1994. Last year, the two teams tangled in Waltham and the Falcons came away with a 17-point victory. Bentley owned the glass, grabbing 31 rebounds to UML’s 13.

Sunday will be the first road game of the season for the Falcons (2-1) who fell 55-53 to Southern Connecticut State on Tuesday. Bentley will be led by Alvirne High School graduate Lauren Moore. The senior guard is averaging a team-high 16.3 points while grabbing 6.0 rebounds per game.

The underclassmen-laden River Hawks were tagged by St. Michael’s in their last game, losing to the NE-10 rival 57-37. UML was held to just 28 percent shooting from the field. Junior guard Tonya Perry and sophomore forward Bridgette Hooker both enter Sunday’s contest averaging 10 points per game.

Game time is 2 p.m. tomorrow at Costello Gymnasium

UMass Lowell women's basketball homepage

UML Men vs. Bentley

UML was standing on the train tracks when the Falcons rolled to the NE-10 title last season. Bentley dropped a 78-61 spanking on the River Hawks last season at the Dana Center as Bentley notched it‘s 13th straight victory. The Falcons were successful in disrupting the UML offensive attack, holding them to under 40 percent shooting from the field, and holding Stacey Moragne to just six points.

The defending Northeast-10 men’s basketball champions from Bentley come in with a record of 4-0 and ranked 20th in the nation. Junior forward Nate Fritsch comes in scoring 15.8 points per game and senior guard Dan Lawson, son of Bentley head coach Jay Lawson, is averaging 11.3 points per game and shooting 52 percent (13 of 25) from three-point range.

UML comes in with a record of 2-2, and freshman Victor Colon was named the Northeast-10 Conference Freshman of the Week. He averaged 15.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor.

Game time is set for 4 p.m. tomorrow at Costello.

UMass Lowell men's basketball homepage

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Those of you still holding out hope the law of averages catches up to The Victim need to realize your goose is cooked.

Rather than run out of steam, our pigskin prognosticator keeps adding more helpings of victory pie to his plate, stuffing the pockets of true believers in the process. A winning record on Turkey Day catapults our gridiron guru into another slate of televised games with an impressive 14-games over .500 spread, a better present for his following than anything Jolly Old Saint Nick promises to deliver a month from now.

So in the spirit of giving, here are this weekend’s picks:

Houston (+6) over NY Jets
New Orleans (+3) over Atlanta
New England (-3) over Chicago
Philadelphia (+9) over Indianapolis
Seattle (-9 ½) over Green Bay

Thanksgiving Day record: 2-1
Season Record: 34-20

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Wednesday night I was watching the Bruins game and as "The Edge" scrolled along the bottom it said that Hannu Toivonen would start all three games for Providence this weekend against Hartford, Portland and Lowell.

According to NESN, GM Peter Chiarelli said that if Toivonen playes well and his injured ankle holds up he will be recalled back to the big club.

I'm particularly excited about the game versus the Devils because I will be there covering the game.

Now, if he does play well, Brian Finley will be sent back down, but he will have to clear waivers, if I am not mistaken and I would hope that would mean that Hannu will be Tim Thomas' back-up and not the starter. Thomas has been playing pretty solid in net and the guys in front of him seem to have more confidence in him.

If Toivonen plays well and gets called back to the Bruins, do you think he deserves to take away the number one job away from Thomas who seems to have turned it around as of late?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

The school representing the Merrimack Valley Conference in the high school football playoffs will be decided by a coin flip.

Andover's 18-10 upset of Central Catholic opened the door for Lowell and Dracut to slide into a first place tie. Both squads took advantage of the opportunity, Lowell dismantling Haverhill 42-0 and Dracut thrashing Methuen 35-6.

Stay with TheSunBlog and LowellSun.com for updates. We'll have results of the coin flip as soon as it happens.

Update: Central Catholic won the 3-way coin toss and will advance to the playoffs. David Pevear has the story in today's Sun.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

On this holiday where we give thanks for all the wonderful things in our life, let us also pause for a moment and display gratitude for the person so desperately trying to put a little extra money in our pockets.

Long a lovable loser, The Victim has turned into the Santa Claus of pigskin prognosticators, unable to do wrong as he passes out winning selections to thankful gamblers everywhere. If the gridiron guru continues at his current rate (he's the most successful tout in the country), this will be a merry and prosperous holiday season for all of us.

And now, with a trifecta of Turkey Day games on the NFL slate, here's a special midweek edition of The Victim's Picks:

Detroit (+3) over Miami
Dallas (-11) over Tampa Bay
Kansas City (+1) over Denver

Last week's record: 4-1
Season record: 32-19

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

OK, so maybe the debut of SunTalk Live wasn’t as momentous an occasion as Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone, but it’s a start. And it’s only onward and upward from here!

We’ve just scheduled our second Sports Talk night for this coming Monday from 7-8pm. As always, the forum will be open to any and all topics you care to discuss, but we’re going to place a special emphasis on the Patriots this week. With the big matchup against the 9-1 Bears coming up, I imagine there’ll be plenty to talk about.

We’re still working on a guest for the show, which we’ll announce in the next day or so. With any luck, we may even have a surprise announcement or two regarding future shows and “name� guests…not that Teddy Panos or other members of the Lowell Sun staff aren’t big enough names!

So be sure to phone in Monday night to be a part of our next show, or to just listen in. The number is (978)364-TALK (8255). If you missed last week’s show, you can listen to it by visiting the SunTalk Live link at LowellSun.com.

Talk to you soon!

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

News Flash: Justin Morneau edges Derek Jeter to win the American League’s Most Valuable player award in an extremely close vote. The Red Sox David Ortiz finishes 3rd in the balloting.

Teddy’s Take: What’s the definition of valuable?

That’s the central argument that goes into almost every MVP ballot, and the reason we spend so much time debating these silly awards. There is no clear cut answer to that question, which is how I think Major League Baseball likes it. Rather than call it the Most Outstanding Player Award (that would be easier to agree on), they insert the word valuable and all hell breaks loose.

Red Sox fans were already up in arms knowing full well Big Papi was likely going to finish behind Jeter. Just imagine the reaction in New York now that Captain America’s been beaten out by a relative no-name. I love it! I think it was a great choice by the voters. My ballot would have read the same as the top three finishers; 1) Morneau 2)Jeter 3)Ortiz.

Forget Morneau’s gaudy 34-homers and 130-ribbies for a moment. Think back to July and August when the Twins made their improbable rise from below .500 to AL Central champs. Morneau supplied clutch hit after clutch hit, more than even our beloved Papi. For a while there, it seemed like every night featured a SportsCenter clip of Minnesota’s 1st basemen delivering a game winning blow.

Now ask yourself this; would the Twins have won their division without Morneau? The obvious answer to that is no. Would the Yankees have won the AL East without Jeter? Maybe, maybe not…lord knows there’s enough talent there anyway. Would the Sox have finished 3rd in the East without Ortiz? Of course they would have. That's my definition of valuable. As far as I’m concerned, end of discussion!

Now if you want to get me going on Jeter stealing the Gold Glove from Alex Gonzalez, be my guest!

What did you think of the MVP voting? Agree or disagree? How about the NL MVP (Ryan Howard), Cy Young (Johan Santana and Brandon Webb), and Rookie of the Year (Justin Verlander and Hanley Ramirez)?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Well, we held our first SunTalk Live session last night and things went pretty smoothly. Best we can tell we didn’t cause any car crashes with people holding on the cell phones for an hour, though the sound of my voice might be enough to shatter a few ear drums.

If you didn’t get to join in the fun, here’s an audio link to the show. We touched on a wide variety of topics and even had the first airing of Rick’s Picks for this Thanksgiving Day’s high school football matchups. We’ll soon be announcing future dates and times for Sports Talk shows. I’m thinking baseball’s winter meetings in early December might be a good time, especially if we can convince Chaz Scoggins to join us with his expert commentary.

A quick reminder; Sun Editor Jim Campanini takes to the phone lines tonight from 7-8pm for an open news and political forum. If you think I’m opinionated, wait till you get a load of Jim!

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Is Thanksgiving the best holiday of the year, or what?

Oh sure, you love Christmas when you’re a kid, but how much fun is it when you’re all grown up, in credit card debt up to your eyeballs, and frantically pacing the mall to cross those final names off your list. That’s before we even get into the newest shopping craze; video game violence. Junior’s has to have that Play Station 3, whether daddy spends X-Mas Eve in prison or not!

Not my cup of tea, thank you. I’ll take Thanksgiving any Thursday of the week and twice on Sunday. You just know the day was created by pilgrims and Native Americans with men in mind. Think about it; a festival of food, football and family (in that order)…what could be better?

So as turkey day approaches, here’s a list of things this sports scribe would like to give thanks for:

I’m thankful I grew up near Boston, where we have teams in every major sport. Even better, not a calendar cycle has gone by without at least one of the local squads in the title hunt. Not every year can match 1986 (3-of-4 teams competed in Finals) or the Red Sox-Patriots double of 2004, but we’ve been spoiled for a pretty long time around these parts. Try surviving those long Minnesota winters without the warmth of a championship glow.

Let me also give thanks to the five individuals most responsible for making football a passion around here. It may be difficult for you younger folk to remember, but there was a time when very few people cared if the Patriots left town or not. I was once part of a 17,000 person season ticket base. Now, that number is dwarfed by the waiting list alone. Take a bow Bill Parcells, Drew Bledsoe, Bob Kraft, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. (Chronological order, not order of importance, though I’d love to debate that with you sometime)

I’m thankful I get to see an athlete like LaDainian Tomlinson. In a sport filled with “me first� types who can’t wait to score a touchdown so they can unveil their new solo celebrations, LT2’s flip the ball to the ref and join your teammates routine is refreshing. Then again, if every trip to the end zone generated gyrations similar to some of these clowns with half his ability or track record, Tomlinson would be out of breath by halftime. There isn’t going to be a rushing or scoring record left standing by the time this great running back is through.

Let’s also give thanks for living in such a big market, therefore allowing our beloved Red Sox to compete every year if they want to. $51-million just for the right to negotiate with a Japanese pitcher whose name we can barely pronounce? There are teams whose entire payroll won’t come close to that number, but John Henry and friends might actually turn a profit from the investment. Just picture downtown Tokyo this summer; a sea of Sox jerseys and pink, not to mention ‘Suke Sushi on every menu.

In closing, thanks to the Bruins and Celtics for at least trying to matter again…thanks to the area high schools and colleges for generally putting sports in their proper perspective…thank you Tiger Woods for allowing me to unquestionably say I’ve seen the best in my lifetime…thank you NASCAR for providing endless comedic material…and thanks to the Lowell Sun giving this troubled mind a forum to vent.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers sees guys starting to buy into what he and the coaching staff have been preaching. As Rivers said after practice today, the “key guys� are beginning to head his messages about defense and taking care of the ball. One of the keys Rivers pointed to was the ability to keep teams from starting their offense until less than 14 seconds was left on the shot clock.

Prior to allowing the Knicks to score 118 points on Saturday night, the Celtics had held Orlando, Indiana, and Portland to an average of 90 points per game. Opponents have been turning the ball over 15.5 times per game in the last four games compared to 13.3 for the Celtics in that same stretch. For the season the Celtics have committed 16.7 turnovers per game while forcing just 13.6.

Three wins in a row is something the Celtics couldn’t get done all of last season, but at 4-6 there is still plenty of room for improvement. Aside from not putting together win streaks, one of the other big areas the Celtics struggled with last season was winning on the road. They have not gone on the road for any extended period of time yet this season, but four of their next six contests will be away from the TD Banknorth Garden starting with a trip to Charlotte on Wednesday night.

Gomes stepping up
Rivers said he believed that Ryan Gomes was not performing with the energy level that the coaching staff had come the expect from him. Gomes, who is averaging 9.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 28.6 minutes, has recorded a pair double-doubles in his last three games. Against New York he scored 22 points to go with 14 rebounds.

“He is so important to us even on nights when he doesn’t score,� Rivers said, adding that most of Gomes’ scoring does not come from designed offense.

Injuries to the Celtics frontcourt players have made Gomes play even more important as the Celtics have been forced to give significant minutes to Brian Scalabrine and Leon Powe.

Health updates
Theo Ratliff, Delonte West, Al Jefferson, Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and Kendrick Perkins did not practice today.

Ratliff remains sidelined by back problems. West has a sprained left big toe. Jefferson is still awaiting clearance after his appendectomy. Perkins sat do to plantar fasciitis (or tendinitis) in his left foot. Szczerbiak sat out do to soreness, taking the opportunity to rest with the Celtics not playing again until Wednesday.

Jefferson will be re-evaluated today by team physician Brian McKeon. Jefferson said he hopes to participate in practice tomorrow and see game time on Friday. Rivers said Wednesday was out of the question for Jefferson, but Jefferson hasn’t ruled out the possibility, though he insists he needs at least a full practice (not a game day shoot around) before he gets back in a game. If he is not cleared for full contact on Tuesday, he’ll most likely not see game time until next Wednesday.

Olowokandi remains out after suffering an abdominal tear in the game against the Indiana Pacers. He did ride the stationary bike during practice today, but he is expected to miss as much as four weeks.

Are Celtics fans encouraged about the recent run of success? Expecting more? Worried about the injury issues? Click the comments link below to give your two cents.

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

There are two local teams riding 4-game winning streaks at the moment - The Boston Bruins and the Lowell Devils.

The Bruins have beaten the Senators, the Capitals, the Maple Leafs and then the Caps again. The Devils had their victories over Hartford, Manchester (in OT), Portland and Worcester.

The Bruins have been doing it in dramatic fashion - all four of their games have gone to extra frames. Patrice Bergeron has three of the game winners, including the lone goal in the shoot out over the Caps, and Glen Murray had the other game winner in OT.

The Devils on the other hand have played solid all around, out scoring their opponents 19-8 in the past four games with the power play unit going 6 for 25 - good for 24 percent - not too shabby.

The Bruins currently sit 4th in the Northeast Division - one point in front of Ottawa. The Devils are a bit more comfortable in the standings. They're 3rd in the Atlantic - three points behind both Providence and Portland.

Both clubs didn't exactly have stellar starts to their 2006-07 campaigns.

The Bruins started the season 2-5-1 and since then have gone 6-2-1. The Devils went 3-4-1 in their first 8 games and have gone 6-2 since.

The Bruins get back to work tonight as they take on the Florida Panthers at the TD Banknorth Garden. The Devils will have to wait until Wednesday when they travel to Pennsylvania for a match-up with Hershey.

What do you think about the Bruins and Devils' turn arounds? Think they can keep it going?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Final Score
Patriots 35
Packers 0

Teddy’s Take: You think we could trade this one in for Super Bowl XXXI?

Needless to say, these aren’t the same Packers and Brett Favre is a shadow of his old self, even if his old self was overrated to begin with. Meanwhile, this is exactly how the Patriots needed to respond to their first two game losing streak in years. They were efficient. They were physical. And they were in control from the opening kickoff till the final gun sounded. They wanted the shutout as icing on the cake and made sure they got it. I got the feeling Green Bay wasn’t getting on the scoreboard if they played 24-quarters instead of four.

One more thing this win did. It put an end to the ridiculous “the division is up for grabs� talk we kept hearing all week. Look, these aren’t the “dynasty� Patriots, but they don’t need to be to win the AFC East. The Jets are an improved club that has a bright future and a long way to go to get into New England’s class. You don’t need to be making Super Bowl plans, but make sure to keep Saturdays and Sundays open in early January. The Pats will be playing playoff football.

Shining Stars: The much-maligned Reche Caldwell earns a star on the forehead for his 2nd consecutive strong performance. The 54-yard TD is New England’s longest play from scrimmage this year and the first sign of a deep threat since you-know-who departed…Laurence Maroney gets one as well. I’d love to see this kid get 25-carries a game for a prolonged period and see what he could do. All great running backs get better as the game goes on. I think Maroney would fall into the same class if given a chance. By the way, did anyone pick up Nick Barnett’s jock strap for him?

Ben Watson gets a gold star for a strong game and a great TD catch…Tom Brady adds to a star-filled forehead with a flawless 4-TD, 0-INT performance…We’ll also hand one out to every member of the Defense, as a shutout is a true team performance. Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi get an extra sticker for their work, however. The linebacker duo was all over the field.

Finally, a week after being put in detention, Bill Belichick earns one for getting his team back on track. He had the boys practicing in full pads this week in an effort to rediscover some intensity. I don’t care how bad Green Bay is…the move worked!

Quality Quotes: “I was trying to throw it away [laughter] and he jumped up and caught it.�—Tom Brady discussing a near-miss TD pass to Mike Vrabel

That’s my take…what’s yours? Are the Patriots back on track? Or did they beat up on an overachieving team that came back to earth?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

No need to thank me gang. It was my pleasure. Doc, Danny…you don't have to send a Christmas bonus or anything. Anytime the Celtics need a kick in the rear, I’ll be more than happy to make a fool of myself on record by criticizing your team’s play and coaching.

Talk about perfect timing, huh? I post my rip job on the Green, and all of a sudden they play their two best games of the year. In all seriousness, this is what I expected all along and why I was so frustrated over the first seven games.

Not that I think this team is ready to challenge for a title, but there is more than enough talent on the roster to be a better than .500 team and protect home court against mediocre and lousy opponents. What we’ve seen the last 2-games is evidence of that. Let’s hope it continues!

Now then, Mr. Belichick...about those last two games....

What do you think? Which Celtics teams is the real one…the one that started 1-6 or the one that’s destroyed Indiana and Portland?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

In a week where turkeys throughout the country are running for cover, The Victim is gearing up for another slaughter of the Vegas line.

Our pigskin prognosticator rebounded from a rare losing effort with an impressive mark in last week’s televised NFL action. While followers of the system are getting the stuffing beaten out of them, those who recognized the amazing dynamic at play here are thankful they have access to this gridiron guru heading into the holiday season.

So with the season of giving nearly upon us, I present to you The Victim’s picks:

Green Bay (+5 ½) over New England
Dallas (pick ‘em) over Indianapolis
San Francisco (+3) over Seattle
San Diego (+2 ½) over Denver
Jacksonville (-3 ½) over NY Giants

Last week’s record: 3-1
Season record: 28-18

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

So, I was covering the 13th Annual Festival of Trees in Methuen and let me tell you walking around looking at 205 decorated trees is actually pretty fun.

My friend Meaghan's aunt is a volunteer at the Festival so she was with me, she simply said to me "I just found your tree, it's behind you."

When I turned around, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a tree made completely out of hockey stick blades and nets... see for yourselves.

I thought it was pretty cool and wanted to share it with you.

On that note, just an FYI - I'm finally going back to the Tsongas after having a week off - I'll be covering the Devils/Sharks game on Sunday.

By the way, the Devils beat the Monarchs tonight 4-3 in OT with captain Dan McGillis getting the game winner. Read Dave Pevear's game story in the Sun tomorrow (http://www.lowellsun.com).

See you at the rink.

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

Yup, the Bruins are on a 3-game winning streak and one player that wears Black and Gold who deserves as much credit as the goal scorers and goalies is Wayne Primeau.

His play on the fore and backcheck has been phenominal and deserves a lot of the credit for the way this team has been playing defensively in the past handful of games.

Primeau has been outstanding on the PK and that is huge in this league.

Now, I'm not saying he's the best there ever was, but com'on you have to admit he has been amazing.

A standing ovation to Primeau from this Bruins Fan!

Oh and by the way, a big round of applause to the club for playing much more disciplined last night - only two infractions for the entire game!

On a side note: What is it with people saying the NHL game is not as physical - now before I get booed for that one; allow me to explain.

Yes, I know there isn't as much fighting.(I still miss PJ Stock).

But, no physical play? Com'on so not true! I remember Zdeno Chara depositing Michael Peca into the bench last night. How about the way Andrew Alberts has been hitting in general. There still is plenty of hitting in the games - but not as much fighting - big difference.

And to me there is nothing better than seeing an open ice hit at the blue line and watching the recipient go flying through the air.

I understand where some die hards say the game has lost a lot without the fighting; but I disagree - I love watching the speed and skill of the NHLers like Phil Kessel, Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby to name a few.

I would rather see Glen Murray, with blood dripping down his face, nail the one-timer for a victory in OT (think Tampa Bay two Saturdays ago), than to watch two enforcers dance on the ice - which by the way in today's game they more often than not end up in the AHL because they simply just can't keep up with the speed of the game or tend to be healthy scratches on any given night.

Now, don't get me wrong - I don't think fighting is all bad, but less is more because when a "good" fight does happen it is that much more exciting.

Hockey of the 70s and 80s; even the 90s is gone - the "so-called" die hard fans (present company excluded) left the building during the lockout and gave up on the Bruins when Ray Bourque won the Cup with Colorado.

One thing that is gone in the new NHL, that I applaud, is the clutching and grabbing and trapping - to me the pace of the game is better and the physical play has not been lacking.

What are your thoughts on fighting? Do you miss it? Do you think the game is lacking physical play? Or are you like me and say the hitting is still there?

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

It's official the boys in Black and Gold are on their first winning streak of the season after beating Toronto 2-1 in OT last night at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Your's truly was at the Garden cheering loud and proud for the Bruins as they skated against the Maple Leafs.

In case you missed it, Patrice Bergeron got the game winner just 34 seconds into OT. Bergy has been on fire - last night he beat Olaf Kolzig 5-hole for the only goal in the Shootout win against Washington. Not too mention he also had the game winner against Ottawa last Saturday night!

WHOO!

All three goals seemed to come fast - Phil Kessel scored just 6 seconds into the Bruins power play; Briyan McCabe returned the favor for Toronto just 2 seconds into their power play; then of course Bergy capping the night off 34 seconds into the extra period.

Tim Thomas was pretty solid in net getting the start after making 33 saves last night in Washington. He made another 24 tonight. Even though it doesn't count in the GAA his best save in the two nights was stopping the Shootout attempt by sophomore phenom Alexander Ovechkin.

Now, I'm not saying the Bruins are unbeatable or even great at this point, but they are definitely playing much better hockey as of late.

On a side note the Senators handed Buffalo their second loss in regulation on Wednesday night.

Can the Bruins make it four-in-a-row when the Caps come to town on Saturday? Anyone else starting to get excited about the club now that they are winning?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

When we began this venture back in January, we promised to add new features as technology became available. Well, we’re making good on that promise beginning Monday night with the debut of SunTalk Live!

Join us between 7-8pm for the debut our new community journalism feature that puts you directly in touch with us over the telephone. Just dial (978)364-TALK and become a part of our discussion.

Got something you want to say? Here’s your chance! Want to just listen in on the conversation and hear what others have to say? Be our guest. You might even learn a thing or two. Or better yet, we’ll push one of your buttons and get you to call in with your opinion. (Click here for more details on how to participate)

I’m proud to say the Lowell Sun is the first newspaper in the country to try this feature! Think of it as talk radio, only over the phone. Whereas most sports talk on the dial is driven by the hosts, this format is literally caller driven. Your thoughts matter to us, and you’ll get a fair chance to share them. And the best part is we’ll keep you on the line after your comments so you can listen in on the rest of the discussion or join back in to debate other callers and topics as time permits.

As we go along, this will develop into a regular happening, with us bringing you live guests and going out on location. We’ll start off with our topic of the night, yet always leave plenty of time for general discussion and whatever the big news of the day is. SunTalk Live will also feature news and entertainment nights with Jim Campanini and Lowellita, so be sure to check those out as well.

Joining me for the inaugural SportsTalk Live program will be Sun sportswriter Rick Harrison to discuss the upcoming Thanksgiving Day football matchups and what they’ll mean to the high school Super Bowl picture. Along the way, we’ll even trot out “Rick’s Picks� for Turkey Day. So here’s your chance to chat with the Merrimack Valley’s resident high school football expert and ask questions.

Following that, we’ll open up the forum to any sports discussion you’re interested in. Seeing as it’s a Monday night, I’m sure there’ll be no shortage of topics, ranging from the Patriots trying to get back on the winning track to the Red Sox pursuit of trades and free agents. If it’s happening in the world of sports, let’s talk about it!

So mark the date on your calendar; Monday November 20th, 7-8pm. (Dial in early to reserve your spot…phone lines open at 6:45) And don’t forget to bring your voice!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Emotional fans aside, here is some of what the Indiana Pacers had to say last night about the job Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers are doing with the Celtics.

Larry Bird, Celtics legend and Pacers director of basketball operations: “Danny (Ainge) has a vision, he knows what he wants. He wants to play up-tempo and move the ball up and down the court. It takes time. He came into a situation where (it’s been) a little rough at times, but he’ll get the job done.�

Jermain O'Neal, five-time NBA All-Star who was drafted out of high school: “I think Doc Rivers has been put in a tough position. I think Doc Rivers is one of the best coaches in the league. He’s been put in a position where he’s forced to play a lot of inexperienced players. The difference is with my situation I was drafted and was able to just sit back and learn from other people.�

We hit you up with more from O'Neal in today's edition of The Sun.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Al Jefferson was taking jump shots and strolling through the Celtics locker room in uniform prior to tonight’s game. This is one week after he underwent an emergency appendectomy.

Jefferson thinks he may be back participating fully in practice within another week or week and a half. He has lost 10 pounds since the procedure, dropping to 250 for the first time since he was a freshman in high school.

It was in practice last week when Jefferson first started feeling pain in his stomach, it wasn’t until he headed the urging of team trainer Ed Lacerte (a Westford resident) that Jefferson went to the hospital where he found out his situation might be serious.

“I just owe him everything,� Jefferson said of Lacerte. “If it was up to me I would just be like Ed give me some medicine, let the games go through with my little tummy ache.�

Jefferson also said he feels about 85 percent right now, and that the doctors were able to use a scope to operate on him instead of cutting him open. He also pointed out that Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice two weeks after having the same procedure done.

As far as bad luck, Jefferson said he wasn’t looking at the setback from that standpoint, saying he knows things could have been a lot worse.

Orien’s return
Former Celtics guard Orien Greene, a second round pick in 2005 out of the University of Louisian-Lafayette, is now a member of tonight’s opponent the Indiana Pacers.

So far with Indiana, a broken finger has sidelined him for 14 games over the course of the preseason and the regular season. He has returned to practice this week and is a candidate to be activated at any time.

Greene averaged 3.2 points per game and 1.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game in 80 games for the Celtics last season.

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said it was tough letting Greene go, but there simply wasn’t room for him after the draft day trades.

“I think he was great for us (as an on-the-ball defender),� Rivers said. “I mean that was the one area I thought he excelled in. He gambled at times a little too much, but he’s a solid defender. He’s strong. He has a great feel defensively as well, great hands. That’s what’s going to keep him in the league.�

Odds and ends
Theo Ratliff remains unavailable for tonight’s game. His back problems are to the point where sitting on the bench to watch games has become uncomfortable for him, according to Rivers.

Tony Allen will be distributing turkeys to approximately 75 families each at two locations in his hometown of Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 19. Each of the families resides in Chicago Housing Authority Developments.

Celtics captain Paul Pierce was honored on Tuesday night by Children’s Hospital Boston with the Champion Award at the hospital’s annual Champions for Children event. Pierce was recognized for his outstanding community contributions and dedication to Children’s Hospital Boston.