Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

While flicking through the channels in search of something worthwhile to watch on TV one night, I discovered two things; 1) I really miss ESPN Classic (thanks for taking it away Comcast!) and 2) a taped Democratic Presidential debate.

Now the concept of a debate taking place a full ten months before the first primary is ridiculous enough, but the brief time my clicker finger froze on C-Span provided an even more surreal moment. One of the candidates (I won’t say who, but she’s the one with as many name changes as favorite baseball teams) uttered the following; “If I knew then what I know now about Iraq, I wouldn’t have voted in favor of the war.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the point of being a “leader” to know then what you know now? Isn’t that what made George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and the rest of history’s great visionaries stand apart from the rest?

Before getting too far off track (and before alienating any more people than I already have), let’s get to the point; why do we hold our political leaders to a lower standard than our sports leaders? Mike O’Connell makes a bad decision trading Joe Thornton and he’s sent packing. Presidential candidates make bad decisions on matters of life and death and begin packing for Pennsylvania Avenue.

Which got me thinking; if our sports figures used similar logic, would we cut them the same slack voters cut their political figures? For example;

If he knew then that Roger Clemens would get better as his head grew to “Bondsian” proportions, would Dan Duquette still be Red Sox General Manager now?

If he knew then that starting rookie lefty Bobby Sprowl over Yankee killer Bill Lee in the middle of the Boston Massacre wouldn’t stop the slide, would Don Zimmer be the most beloved bald-headed manager in Red Sox history now?

If they knew then that Alex Rodriguez is the only Yanks veteran whose skills aren’t in decline, would those fraudulent New York fans have stopped booing him sooner so he wouldn’t be counting down the days till he can tell them what to do with their curtain calls now?

If he knew then that cotton uniforms shrink in the rain, would George Costanza be George Steinbrenner’s right-hand man now?

If he knew then that Chris Canty was a better dancer than cornerback, would Bobby Grier still be calling the shots for the Patriots now?

If he knew then that jury acquittals don’t necessarily allow a return to a celebrity lifestyle, would O.J. Simpson have just gone straight to the airport that night and not be such a public pariah now?

If Sebastian Telfair knew then that 3rd string point guards don’t get more than three strikes, would he possess a license to carry a gun now?

If he knew then that the NBA draft lottery wouldn’t produce Tim Duncan, would Rick Pitino have stayed at Kentucky and still be considered a coaching genius now?

If he knew then that Vin Baker hit the bottle harder than he hit the defensive glass, would Chris Wallace be running the Celtics now?

If Jim Campanini and Dennis Whitton knew then how sarcastic and abrasive my writing style was, would they allow me to pollute their newspaper and internet sites now?

What are some other bad judgment calls from the world of sports? Seeing as how they survived incompetence for what seems an eternity, should Matt Millen and Harry Sinden run for political office?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

A little role reversal this weekend as, for once, the Patriots steal the spotlight from the Red Sox…in the middle of a Yankees series, no less.

The Pats draft day maneuverings and trade for Randy Moss top the agenda on this week’s SunTalk Live. Lowell Sun Patriots writer David Pevear is my co-host for what promises to be an exciting hour of SportsTalk. Here’s your chance to sound off on the Moss acquisition and the rest of New England’s draft day dealings.

Do you like the trade? Should they start engraving the Lombardi Trophy now? Tell us what you think by dialing (978)364-TALK (8255) a little before 7pm.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

The world of fun and games takes a step back to reality this afternoon with news that Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident.

The St. Louis Cardinals pitcher died when the automobile he was driving struck a tow truck a little after 12:35am. The tow truck had stopped to assist another vehicle involved in a prior accident. The 29-year old Hancock was pronounced dead at the scene.

The death hits home around these parts, as Hancock began his minor league career with the Lowell Spinners in 1998. "The news is upsetting to me and a lot of people in baseball," said Spinners owner Drew Weber. "Josh was part of the Spinners family."

Hancock made his major league debut with Boston in September of 2002. Two months later, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jeremy Giambi. He also had a stop in Cincinnati before landing in St. Louis as a member of the Cards 2006 World Series champions. Hancock pitched 3-innings Saturday against Chicago, just hours before the tragic accident.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

When some people are wrong, they’re wrong. Boy was I ever WRONG about Randy Moss coming to the Patriots. Consider this hurried post your opportunity to remind me how WRONG I was.

If you missed it, the Pats gave up a 4th round pick (#110 overall) to the Raiders for the mercurial wide receiver. Left unsaid right now is whether New England renegotiated Moss’ very expensive contract, but I’m guessing that’s coming somewhere along the line.

Now then, you all know what I’ve said about Moss before...a malcontent, a quitter, the kind of guy Bill Belichick would never have on his roster. And with all that, I absolutely, positively love the deal, because it basically cost the Patriots nothing. They gave up a 4th round pick they didn’t even posses heading into the draft for one of the top talents in the history of the position, who may still have something left in the tank.

If he continues to be a problem child, he’ll be gone faster than you can say Terry Glenn. If his skills have completely deteriorated, then they basically have another lousy receiver, something Tom Brady is used to anyway.

But if there’s anything there at all, even 75% of what Moss used to be, Brady and the Patriots have a weapon the likes of which they’ve never seen. Think about it…if Tom Terrific can make competent contributors out of Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney, just imagine what he can do with a healthy, motivated Randy Moss.

This non-believer, for one, can’t wait to see!

OK folks…let’s hear the I told you so’s! Can you believe they got Moss so cheaply? Can he be rejuvenated in Foxboro? Will the Patriots lose a game this year?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

A loooooooooooooong afternoon finally ticks toward the moment we've all been waiting for. Here's how it unfolded for the local gridiron gang:

4:32pm NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the podium and announces; “With the 23rd pick in the first round, the Kansas City Chiefs select Dwayne Bowe, Wide Receiver, LSU.” And with that, the New England Patriots are on the clock.

The Brady Quinn saga has dominated the draft up to this point, but the Pats, the only team with two first rounders, take center stage now with two of the next five selections. As stated earlier, I’ll keel over in shock if they keep both.

4:35pm The ESPN crew begins what will soon become an intolerable discussion on what the Patriots need/want/should do. Don’t get me wrong. I love the draft. But this thing seems to get longer every year…no reason on god’s green earth why the first round should take so long.

4:38pm Conversation switches to Browns GM Phil Savage. Romeo Crennel’s boss had a good day today, snaring a stud O-Lineman at #3 and still getting Quinn at #22. Yes, they gave up a lot to the Cowboys, but they also saved a ton of money on what the Notre Dame QB would have cost them at the top of the draft. Still waiting for some serious discussion on names the Pats should consider at this point.

4:45pm Finally, a list of names to consider. So why do I get the feeling none of them is on the Belichick/Pioli board? Either that or I vote for the Miami TE.

4:47pm P.S. Jets fans booed the Commish as he walked to the podium to announce the Pats pick. Don’t hate on us folks. You know you want to be like us!

Brandon Meriweather, Safety, Miami: the fourth safety selected so far today. (Meriweather's profile on NFL.com)

The position is no surprise. The player perhaps is. To the non-draftknicks, Meriweather is best remembered for his role in the famous Miami-East Carolina brawl. He also has a gun issue in his background (oh no, not another Sebastian Telfair), though that had something to do with firing at a guy who killed his roommate.

I like Chris Mortenson’s point that the Bengals couldn’t have gotten away with that selection, but the Patriots could. That’s what happens when a strong leader builds a great environment. You can take a chance on a talent that’s slipped a bit in the draft because your veterans can probably keep him in line.

5:16pm Almost forgot the Sox-Yankees game is going on. Too lazy to change the channel, so a quick glance at StatTracker shows me a scoreless game in the 4th. My fantasy team, on the other hand, has a 7-3 advantage. Did I mention I love the internet?

5:21pm The Saints make their choice at #27, putting New England back on the clock. In the interim, I noticed Posada just homered. 2-0 Yanks. Did I mention how much I hate the internet? LOL!

5:30pm Restaurant is getting busy a bit earlier than usual. Either that, or this damn draft is really dragging. Gonna have to say buh-bye as soon as the Pats pick. Anyone expecting detailed analysis of what they do should tune elsewhere. Then again, they probably already have.

5:32pm There’s a shock! A trade. San Francisco gets the pick. Just as I (and everyone else) suspected, New England will not draft twice in the first round.

Pats get Niners first rounder in 2008, plus a 4th rounder this year. I think San Fran is on the right track, but I’m willing to bet next year’s pick will be better than #28, so it’s an apparent improvement for the locals, whose own pick next year could very well be #32. For you slow pokes out there, that’s the pick the Super Bowl winner is awarded.

Have a good night!

What are your thoughts on what the Patriots have done so far? Can Meriweather be kept under control? Was there a different player out there you'd rather have seen them grab? Should they have kept the second pick and grabbed more immediate help?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

You ever hear the saying; never miss an opportunity to keep your mouth shut? Doug Mirabelli might want to consider that next time he gets the urge to talk to Gary Thorne.

We don’t yet know exactly what Mirabelli told Thorne. I’m not sure we’ll ever really know. I’m willing to go out on a limb however and guess that the Red Sox backup catcher said SOMETHING to the Orioles play-by-play guy about the bloody sock, whether it was intended seriously, jokingly, or sarcastically. I can’t imagine a broadcaster of any reputation, let alone a national voice like Thorne’s, pulling a total lie out of you know where.

A lot of people have made sarcastic comments about Schilling faking the bloody sock thing to enhance his legend, including some former teammates with Arizona. So I’m not going to get on Thorne too much for going in that direction unless it was totally fabricated. However, for a teammate to say it, no matter what the intent, is capital S-T-U-P-I-D. We haven’t heard from Schilling yet (monitoring his blog constantly though), but he can’t be too pleased about Mirabelli engaging in such a discussion. Was it said as a joke or was it said out of jealousy/dislike for a teammate who tends to soak up the spotlight and might be rubbing some other folks in the clubhouse the wrong way because of it? I doubt we’ll ever know, but you can bet Curt Schilling and Doug Mirabelli do. And that’s an unnecessary dynamic to introduce into the clubhouse of a team with World Series aspirations.

To paraphrase Schilling’s WEEI comments to Butch Stearns: Doug, that’s a stupid, idiotic thing to say!

What do you think of the Thorne-Mirabelli-Schilling-bloody sock brouhaha? Will
it lead to clubhouse tension? Will Theo Epstein move quickly to get Mirabelli out of town?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Try saying that three times fast!

It’s time for our annual contest to see who can correctly predict the Patriots first selection in the 2007 NFL draft. This time, the winner(s) will get a pair of tickets to a Lowell Spinners game this summer. We tried this last year (with Lock Monsters tix as a prize), but to no one’s surprise, Bill Belichick outfoxed us all by taking Laurence Maroney with the first pick.

This time around, most people are guessing the Pats will select a LB or DB. Some think a WR, TE or RB to add depth. Perhaps even an OL or DL to groom for the future. It’s really not that complicated, to be honest. I may not know the player’s name, but I know exactly what position the Patriots will draft: BAP.

For those who haven’t figured it out yet, that’s Best Available Player, the one constant in Belichick and Scott Pioli’s draft strategy. They simply draft the best football player on their board when they decide it’s the right time/value to select him, regardless of how much depth they seemingly have at that particular position. That’s why, year after year, New England manages to survive and thrive despite a rash of injuries that cripple most other teams. They draft good players and find a role for them.

So hop to it all you Mel Kiper wannabes. Tell us who will be the first name called out by the Pats on draft day. To help us out, please include a college and position, and be sure to leave some way for me to identify you and contact you should your guess be correct. (If you don’t want that info public, drop me a note at tpanos@lowellsun.com)

Good luck!

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

If last year’s process that led to Houston drafting Mario Williams instead of presumed #1 pick Reggie Bush taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen at the top of the NFL draft.

Most people (including this fool) believed the Williams flirtation was just a way for the Texans to lower the cost of signing Bush. Then Houston went ahead and stunned everyone the day before the draft by announcing that they’d signed a contract agreement with the Defensive End. The Heisman Trophy winner went second to a very pleasantly surprised New Orleans team.

This year, the dynamic is even more intriguing, because there are now three guys in the mix. The belief over the past few months is that the Raiders would select LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. However, Al Davis and crew are reportedly negotiating with Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson and Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn as well. ProFootballTalk.com is even reporting the Silver and Black have gone so far as to make a lowball offer to Quinn.

Most every scout and analyst believes Johnson is the safest bet, the one player in this draft sure to be a stud. Can the Raiders, with such an obvious need at QB, afford to draft a WR at #1 and pay him #1 money? Then again, there’s also a belief they’ll be trading Randy Moss to Green Bay, opening up a slot at receiver, so who knows.

Smart money still says Oakland goes with Russell, but as we saw in ’06, teams sometimes aren’t very smart with the top overall pick.

What do you think the Raiders will do with the #1 pick…Russell, Quinn, Johnson or trade it? What should they do? How do you see the rest of the top-5 playing out? (We’ll get to the Patriots a little later)

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

OK all you aspiring Idols, the time is drawing near.

The Lowell Spinners, the team that brought you the “Yankees Elimination” uniform swap and “Kerouac Bobblehead Doll” giveaway, are hosting “Spinners Idol,” an opportunity for aspiring singers to belt out the national anthem at the June home opener and Futures at Fenway game in August. Open auditions take place Thursday May 3rd at Hookslide Kelly’s (sponsor of SportsTalk Live) in Lowell and Thursday May 10th at The Skybox Restaurant in Tewksbury. Deserving vocalists will get to sing the national anthem at LeLacheur Park during the 2007 season, but the grand prize winner gets the opener plus the August 11th game at Fenway Park, not to mention studio time to record a demo tape with MusicBall Entertainment in Boston. (More details and sign up sheets can be found at www.lowellspinners.com)

No word yet on whether Sanjaya Malakar participates in the contest, but I wouldn’t be at all shocked to see Taylor Hicks enter the fray. It’s not like last year’s “Idol” winner is doing much these days, and right now, even that Carnival Cruise Lines gig I was predicting looks mighty iffy for the glorified karaoke performer!

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

I know practically, if not everyone in New England was watching the Red Sox sweep the Yankees this weekend; but as a true hockey fan I was glued to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Here are some exerpts from the column I wrote in Sunday's Sun:

While the rest of New England was waiting to see if the Red Sox could come back from a four-run deficit in the eighth inning (which they did), I was watching Ryan Miller, the Buffalo Sabres netminder, stand on his head as the New York Islanders were throwing anything and everything at the net; desperately trying to keep themselves from being eliminated from the playoffs in game five (which they didn’t).

To this hockey fan, there is simply nothing better than the Stanley Cup playoffs, even without my favorite team (hint, they wear a spoked B on their jersey front).
And so far I have not been disappointed.
The hits are fiercer, the speed and tempo are at a max and suddenly goalies turn themselves into brick walls and are all over the nightly highlight reels.

I would rather watch hockey every night of the week and twice on Sunday than watch a pitcher stare at his catcher waiting for the right sign before delivering the actual pitch nearly two minutes later.
I would rather sit through two 20-minute intermissions watching highlights of the games than having stoppage in play after every pitch and a commercial break after every three outs.
I want the speed. I want the hits. I want the saves and I want the goals.
I know I’m greedy, but what other sport gives you all of that and then some?
Finally, you know you’re a hockey fan when you only consider two seasons throughout the year — hockey season and three months of bad skating.

Here are two of the emails I received in response to my column:

Hi Gayle,
Loved your article on hockey yesterday. Like you, I also love hockey, no matter who's playing. Especially during playoffs. Around here I am hardly satisfied with the attention/coverage given it. You're lucky if you get the scores, never mind any highlights or conversation about it.
I like it when the Sun gives the box scores, the easiest way to follow what's going on. I don't have cable or direct TV, so I sure am thankful for weekend games on channel 7.
I used to follow baseball, until big business sucked the fun out of it. Unlike you, that was always my favorite. Hockey was second. Basketball is boring to me. Football I like, but that doesn't conflict with playoff hockey.
My picks are Buffalo, with Ottawa the other major contender.
In the west I like Detroit. Like Edmonton last year, I thought Vancouver would be the sleeper in the west this year. But the Sedin guys so far aren't doing that voodoo that they do so well.
Keep up the good work!
Mark, Lowell

Hi Gayle,
My name is Al and I am a Dracut resident and I am thrilled when I can find some one else who agrees that there is no better sport to witness than PLAYOFF HOCKEY!!!!! The hits, the goals, the saves and yes the fights as well, there is nothing more exciting in sports.
Like you I like Buffalo in the East but think that the Senators should be watched closely. In the West I like the Sharks but think the Redwings are going to be tough to beat.
Anyway, just wanted to say I loved the article in Sunday's Sun.

So, Sports Talk readers, do you agree with me, Mark and Al? And for the record, yes I did see the four-straight home runs Manny, Drew, Lowell and Varitek hit - only because I was having dinner with my parents. As soon as I got home, I put on the deciding game between the Red Wings and Calgary. While most of you will be watching the Sox host Toronto tonight, I'll be watching the first Game 7 (Dallas/Vancouver) of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Drafting some blue-chip thoughts while wondering which windbag will be the first to burst; Chris Berman or Mel Kiper, Jr.:

I’d be shocked if the Patriots kept both the 24th and 28th picks Saturday. The pre-draft buzz has the bottom of the first round being second round quality. Translation; a lot of guys are going to be guaranteed salaries they may not deserve. That doesn’t sound like the Belichick/Pioli business plan, does it?

There’s an old gambling adage about never betting against a streak, so I’m still sticking with the Yankees as 2007 AL East champs. But Joe Torre having to use Andy Pettitte (the same Andy Pettitte with a history of elbow problems) in relief just two nights after the Yanks lefty tossed 100-pitches in a starting role has to be worrisome to the Evil Empire’s Stormtroopers. The pitching force is no longer with them.

Speaking of troubled New Yorkers, Sebastian Telfair is Exhibit A why forcing high schoolers to spend at least one year in college is a great idea. For every Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, there are at least ten Telfairs jumping to the NBA before they’re ready physically, or more importantly, emotionally. Placing millions of dollars in one’s bank account before they can properly handle it doesn’t help the growing up process, either.

On the other hand, I’m 100% behind Telfair’s request for a year of leniency on his promise of the Celtics making the playoffs. SunBloggers might recall a certain idiot blogger vowing to run through downtown Lowell in nothing but boxer shorts if the C’s finished with a worse record than the Knicks.

In a show of support for Bassy, I’m requesting a year of leniency, too. Plus, I think we’re doing enough to scare off new downtown residents as is!

Kudos to David Stern, who’s been knocked in this space before, for his tough stand with referee Joey Crawford. When an official gets to the point of ejecting quiet superstars like Tim Duncan simply for laughing, it’s time for the ref to say night-night.

Not just that, but he also challenged the 7-foot center to a fight. I’m not sure who wins megalomaniac of the week, Crawford or Alec Baldwin. Though I’m guessing the man in stripes at least knows how old Duncan is.

Hey Alec…didn’t you say you’d leave the country about 8-years ago? Now might be a good time to dig out the passport, don’t you think?

You can’t help but be happy for Micky Ward. Training old foe Arturo Gatti earns Irish Micky a pretty good payday and will soon lead him to the corner of more national fighters. The local legend has been trying to find a niche since his fight days ended, but more than a few folks who made promises when they wanted to bask in his spotlight seemed to disappear when it came time to return the favor.

The timing of the new gig works out pretty well, too. Filming for the Ward-Ecklund movie “The Fighter” has been delayed until at least September while the script is re-worked. Gatti fights July 14th, at which point Ward will return to the Mill City. That’s perfect timing for Mark Wahlberg, who plans a move to Lowell a couple of months before shooting begins, to follow The Mick and get into character. Yes, you read that correctly. Wahlberg will be spending time in the Mill City, shadowing Ward.

Ladies, start your engines!

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

OK all you media bashers out there. Here’s your chance to tell us what you think of us and how we do our jobs.

Bruce Allen joins us for this Monday night’s edition of SportsTalk. Bruce is a self-described “tech guy” who five years ago created the wildly popular web site Boston Sports Media Watch. The site provides comprehensive links to articles from all of New England’s major newspapers on a daily basis.

But the best part of the site is Allen’s willingness to tackle all aspects of the local media, particularly the way they cover the teams, calling out writers and broadcasters for inconsistencies in their stories and opinions, or in the “agendas” they promote. His no holds bar style has often earned him snide criticism on the WEEI airwaves.

Barry Scanlon of the Lowell Sun also joins in the discussion, and we’ll be having a guest from one of the local television stations with us as well to talk about all aspects of the media and how the added dynamic of the internet is changing the way we gather information about our favorite teams and athletes.

As always, showtime is 7-8pm. The number to participate or listen in is (978)364-TALK (8255). We hope to hear from you Monday night!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Boston Celtics did post a statement on the team website in response to the arrest of 21-year-old point guard Sebastian Telfair around 4 a.m. on Friday. He was pulled over for speeding in Yonkers, N.Y., and was found to have a loaded .45-caliber handgun in his car.

Telfair, who just completed his first season with the Celtics after two years in Portland, faces charges or second-degree possession of a weapon (a felony) and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Statement from Celtics Managing Partner and CEO Wyc Grousbeck:
We're very disappointed that Sebastian Telfair has put himself in this position. We are taking this situation very seriously and are continuing to gather information on the matter. Our players have been explicitly warned this season about the consequences of violating the law, as well as league and team policies regarding hand guns. There will be significant consequences for of any violation of these policies. We will closely monitor developments and take the appropriate action once we have all the facts.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Ohio State big man Greg Oden is expected to finally announce his entry into the NBA Draft through a statement to be released today. The freshman is expected by many to be one of the top two picks in the June 28 draft.

Oden, a 7-foot tall 280-pound center from Indianapolis, Indiana, was an Associated Press First Team All-American. He led the Buckeyes in scoring (15.4 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg) and blocks (3.33 bpg). The freshman big man was also a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award.

A right wrist injury kept Oden out for an early portion of Ohio State’s season, but he still managed to be named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year, the league's Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-Big Ten selection.

He set the Buckeyes' freshman record for blocks (100) and is second all-time among Ohio State rookies in rebounding average (9.5 rpg.), and field goal percentage (.616).

Telfair pulled over with a gun
According to the The Journal News out of New York, Boston Celtics guard Sebastian Telfair was pulled over for speeding early this morning in Yonkers, N.Y., and subsequently charged with second-degree possession of a weapon (a felony) and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Westchester County police spokesman Kieran O’Leary was quoted in the story as saying of Telfair, "He was very polite and cooperative with our officer.”

Telfair, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., was the subject or a robbery during the Celtics preseason visit to New York. He was the subject of much attention during that time period.

Keeping eyes and ears open
Don't get fired up behind those trade possibilities just yet. You never know what the off-season might bring.

Despite the dreadful performance of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett may not be up for grabs this off-season. Kevin McHale is apparently ready to take another crack at building around the nine-time NBA All-Star.

Click here for Minneapolis Star Tribune story (registration required).

Elsewhere, Memphis Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol, who reportedly requested a trade during the season, sounds to have softened his position at the end of the Grizzlies season. He spoke of being optimistic and chances of being a good team next year.

Click here to read the Memphis Commercial Appeal story.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

With all due respect to the Royals, Rangers, Mariners, Angels and Blue Jays, the first “real” game of the 2007 Red Sox season takes place tonight at Fenway Park.

The Evil Empire invades Beantown for a 3-game series which shapes up as a very important weekend for Boston’s Boys of Summer. Rest assured, the division won’t be decided over the next three days, but a tone might be set. The Yankees come to town beat up, especially in the starting rotation, while the Sox used a couple of rain days to perfectly set up their 3-aces…Shilling, Beckett and Dice-K for this series.

Can the Bronx Bombers survive losing 2-out-of-3 or even getting swept? Of course they can. They usually don’t make their move till August, anyway. Can the Red Sox survive a lost weekend? Mathematically, yes. Psychologically? Let’s just say the Yanks slapping around Schilling, Matsuzaka or the new and improved Beckett wouldn’t be a very good sign long-term. (P.S. Tell me you’re not at least getting some satisfaction out of watching A-Rod tear it up, knowing full well that just when those fraud Yankees fans start to love him, he’ll tell them where to stick it and walk at the end of the season!)

I agree with you patience preachers; it’s just three games, in April no less. But we all know any game against the Yankees is never just a game, is it?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Micky Ward is taking a major step up in class as a boxing trainer.

The former Lowell fighter has been tabbed to replace Buddy McGirt as Arturo Gatti’s head trainer for his upcoming bout. Gatti is scheduled to enter the ring July 14th in Atlantic City against a yet unnamed opponent.

“This came totally out of the blue” said Ward, who received a call from his one-time adversary a little after noon Thursday. “I’m surprised, but excited at the opportunity to train a 3-time World Champion.”

The legendary warriors became close friends after their epic three fight trilogy beginning in May of 2002. Ward retired after their last bout in June of 2003 and has been in the corner for all six of Gatti’s fights since, but in a largely ceremonial role. This marks the first time Ward will be calling all the shots at ringside and leading up to the fight. Besides studying tape and helping put together a game plan during training camp, Ward will also take an active role in sparring sessions.

Lowell’s 41-year old favorite son leaves April 29th for Gatti’s training camp in Vero Beach, Florida, where he’ll stay for the next nine weeks. “I was never gone that long even when I was fighting,” said Ward. “But I can’t wait. This could open up opportunities for me with other big name fighters.”

Ward also reports plans are progressing on the movie chronicling his and half-brother Dickie Ecklund’s lives. The original plan called for filming of “The Fighter” to begin this summer, but the time frame has been pushed back to the fall while the script is being re-worked.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

And so the 2006-07 season comes to an end with the Celtics finishing 24-58 (12-29 at home, 12-29 on the road). That was good enough for fifth place in the Atlantic Division, last in the Eastern Conference and second-worst in the NBA.

A two-year total of 57 wins is less than sparkling.

To put that in perspective, The Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs each won more than 57 games this season alone.

The 1987-88 Celtics won 57 games in that season alone. Back in the 1985-86 season, The Green won 40 home games. That's just home games mind you.

As far as bouncing back from a lackluster season like this one...

The example of the Chicago Bulls shows us that it’s not necessarily a one-year makeover from cellar to playoff contender.

The Bulls finished the 2001-02 season with a record of 21-61, worst in the Eastern Conference and tied with Golden State for the worst in the NBA.

They jumped up to 30 wins in 2002-03, but were back down to 23 wins in 2003-04 (second worst in the NBA).

In 2004-05 they improved to 47-35 despite losing their first nine game and finished with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. Ben Gordon was sixth man of the year. Luol Deng and Gordon were on the All-Rookie team.

The only carryovers from 2003-04 to 2004-05 were Jannero Pargo, Antonio Davis, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, and Kirk Hinrich.

Among the players who did not return was Jamal Crawford, a former eighth overall draft pick who had provided 17 points per game for Chicago and duplicated that output the following season in New York.

The Celtics can control the contracts of 14 players heading into the 2007-08 season. Vin Baker’s contract ($5.33 million in 2006-07) finally comes off the books and Michael Olowokandi played this season on a one-year deal.

The largest contracts, other than Paul Pierce’s, that could possibly be used in trade scenarios are Theo Ratliff’s ($11.66 million) and Wally Szczerbiak’s ($12 million).

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Don't cue up the music for Hail to the Chief. There's only one "Chief" as far as the Boston Celtics go, but RIch Gotham will be the President.

The Celtics announced today that Gotham has been promoted from Chief Operating Officer (COO) to team President. In his new role, Gotham will be responsible for all aspects of the Celtics business operations, reporting to CEO and Managing Partner Wyc Grousbeck. In addition, he will continue to work closely with Celtics Basketball Operations and the NBA on strategic initiatives and team-related matters.

Previous Boston Celtics Presidents include Arnold “Red” Auerbach and Rick Pitino.

“Under Rich’s guidance, the Boston Celtics organization has achieved great success in growing our business,” Grousbeck said in a press release. “This promotion recognizes Rich’s leadership in organizing and driving our business efforts and his commitment to excellence in all of the Celtics’ off-court charitable and community activities. I am very pleased that Rich will continue to lead the organization into the future.”

Gotham, a resident of Medfield, Mass., and Providence College alum, joined the Celtics as the Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Corporate Development in April 2003 and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in June of 2006.

Prior to working for the Celtics, he had a successful career in the online media and internet technology industries. He spent five years holding senior management positions with the global internet media company Lycos Inc, most recently as Vice President of Sales and Corporate Development. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Channel Sales and Market Development with FTP Software Inc.

Scal's surgery a success
The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Brian Scalabrine underwent successful right hand surgery this morning at New England Baptist Hospital. The surgery was performed by Dr. Hervey Kimball and was assisted by Celtics Team Physician, Dr. Brian McKeon.

Scalabrine appeared in 54 games this season for the Celtics, starting a career high 17. The sixth-year man averaged 4.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 19.0 minutes per game this season.

Gomes garners an honor
The Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation announced today that Celtics forward Ryan Gomes is the recipient of the First Annual Shamrock Foundation Community All-Star Award. Gomes will be presented the award at a pregame ceremony prior to tonight's Celtics game.

The Shamrock Foundation Community All-Star Award will be given annually at the end of each season to the player that best displays Celtic Pride through their work in the community.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Heard an interesting discussion on WEEI the other morning;

Dale and Holley were talking about the switch from Alex Gonzalez to Julio Lugo, and both were in agreement that the defensive downgrade wasn’t such a big deal. The question was asked (can’t remember by whom); how many games will be lost on plays Lugo failed to make that Gonzalez would have? The answer by both guys was; not many, if any at all.

Well, I’m counting one after Tuesday night in Toronto.

Daisuke Matsuzaka had one bad inning in his start against the Blue Jays (the 4th). Unfortunately, it cost the Red Sox the game as the offense couldn’t muster much against Gustavo “Cy Young against Boston” Chacin. But if Lugo makes a play I’m fairly certain Gonzalez does, the Sox very likely win 1-0 instead of losing 2-1.

If you don’t remember the situation, with men on first and second, Lyle Overbay lined a ball towards short that went right by the shortstop’s glove on a bounce. Granted, it was a very hard hit ball, but it took a true hop on the artificial turf. A very good (Gonzo was awesome) SS makes that play and turns it into a 6-4-3 double play, end of inning. Lugo didn’t make it, scoring one run and helping lead to the other when Matsuzaka temporarily lost his control. Not to mention, Dice-K threw 38-pitches in that one inning, leading to his removal after 6-frames.

Ultimately, it’s a forgettable play in a long season. However, it bears watching. Too many similar plays could come back to haunt the pitching staff and the team down the line.

Does anyone remember the play I’m talking about? Was it one Lugo should have made? Would A-Gone have made it? Did it cost the Sox the game or am I making a bigger deal out of it than I should have because it cost me the Dice-K win in my fantasy league? LOL!!!

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

*This is an extension of the end of season story I wrote for the Sun, these are some quotes that didn't make it in the paper* http://www.lowellsun.com/sports/ci_5695055

Goaltender Frank Doyle on not making the playoffs: "Obviously we're disappointed because we fell a few points shy for where we wanted to be. But, if you look aorund the league, our 88 points would have gotten us in the playoffs I think in every other division. We had a great year."

Veteran defenseman Dan McGillis on what it was like to be a leader on the team: "That's really nice for me to be able to help some guys because I was in the same situation as those guys a couple of years ago, (laughing) a few years ago. It's certainly nice to share some experiences that I've had in the NHL and with different leagues. I always tell the guys I've learned stuff from the young guys too and it's been a pleasure workign with a lot of the guys and playing with them. We just had a great group of guys here. There was always a big mixture of guys but I think everyone sincerely got along on our team which was great. We all came together as a team and that's very important. I'm sure that will carry on through into next year even if there are some personnel changing, they'll be a core of guys here that were here last year and they'll make sure it runs the same way."

Rookie goaltender Jordan Parise on his brother Zach's play in the playoffs: "He's playing well. This is a big year for him. He had a very good season and he seemed to carry it over into the playoffs. I think that's awesome. He's having a lot more fun. He's a lot more comfortable, a lot more confident in his game and it's definitely showing."

Coach Kurt Kleinendorst basically wrapping it up: "One of the reasons that we came here (to Lowell) is because this is such a promising place to play for an American Hockey League team. The location, the facility, the location versus travel; there's a lot of things here conducive to developing young players and I think we see the benefit of that."

"Keep in mind, we feel winning is important - but no question development comes first. How much of a gap is there between developing and winning, well in our eyes this really is a developmental issue but in our eyes you can do both. I think we've proven this year that you can do both."

"One of the words that we throw around here is entitlement and I just love that word because I really do believe whether you're a young kid or an older veteran or somebody in between, you should have to earn your ice time and you shouldn't be entitled to anything and I think that was one of the things that we were pretty good about this year. Guys had to earn their playing time and they weren't entitled to ice time whether they were a vet, whether they were a rookie."

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

The last time we heard from Robert Cheruiyot, he’d knocked himself silly after slipping and falling while crossing the finish line at the Chicago Marathon. Today, the Kenyan runner avoided any pratfalls while besting the field at a rain-soaked Boston Marathon.

Instead of emergency care for a concussion, Cheruiyot received the traditional victory wreath and the $100,000 check that goes with it at the post-race ceremony. It was the third time he’d won Boston. Joining Cheruiyot on the winner’s stand was Russia’s Lydia Grigoryeva.

Generally, I like to poke fun at marathoners for what they do, but I’ll try to be good about the fact thousands of people saw the need to run in such lousy weather conditions. I can see why the top runners do it. After all, 100-G’s is 100-G’s. And those running for charity are at least doing it for a noble cause. But what about the rest of them? What are they thinking?

Simply put, I don’t see the need to run 26-miles in this day and age of cars and bicycles. Please don’t hit me with the argument that it was my ancestors who are responsible for the whole concept of a marathon. I can assure you, Pheiddipides would have hitched a ride or hailed a cab had one been available from Marathon to Athens.

As it is, I think it was a very poor strategic decision by the Greek army general not to supply his warrior a horse for the long trek back. Sending someone on a 26-mile jaunt, immediately after a tough battle no less, can’t be good for troop morale. Spare a pony, for Pete’s sake! Show the boys some love for risking their lives and winning!

(Then again, a general dumb enough to make a guy hoof it all that distance probably had all the horses on the front lines where they’d be killed anyway.)

Robert Cheruiyot and Lydia Grigoryeva received international acclaim and a 6-figure paycheck for their troubles. Legend has it Pheiddipides dropped dead immediately after his journey to declare “Niki” (victory) to the queen. (I told you a horse would have helped!)

When you look at it that way, running through a Nor'Easter or Cheruiyot’s concussion in the Windy City doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?

By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Greg Oden still isn't ready to say he's declaring for the NBA Draft, according to The Indianapolis Star website today.

The Star is the same paper that reported yesterday that Oden's father, Greg Oden Sr., said his son had decided to enter the NBA Draft.

According to the story on the website, Mike Conley Sr. (family friend, father of Ohio State freshman Mike Conley Jr., and aspiring sports agent) says a decision has not been made and that Oden will meet with Ohio State coach Thad Motta on Monday.

Story link - Oden staying mum on plans for the NBA

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

It looks like we’ll see if Celtics basketball operations man Danny Ainge can do what Bryan Colangelo has done in Toronto since taking over last February.

The Toronto Raptors enter play today with a record of 46-33 and with the Atlantic Division crown wrapped up. They also currently hold the third playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Last year, the Raptors finished with a record of 27-55 which translates into a robust winning percentage of .329. In fact, they’ve had just one .500 season in their last five.

2004-05 season: 33-49 (.402)
2003-04: 33-49 (.402)
2002-03: 24-58 (.293)
2001-02: 42-40 (.512)

Before making the assumption that the Toronto roster was probably barren of legit talent, it should also be noted that Vince Carter didn’t get traded until during the 2004-05 season, and Chris Bosh was selected as a All-Star in 2005-06.

Still, Colangelo didn’t waste time shaking up the roster. Three of last year’s top five scorer’s no longer with the team (Mike James, Charlie Villanueva, and Matt Bonner).

Despite this fact, Toronto is the third-best scoring team in the Eastern Conference.

Colangelo’s off-season additions included signing Rasho Nesterovic, Jorge Garbojosa and Anthony Parker, acquiring point guard T.J. Ford, and drafting 7-foot tall Italian Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick. Raptors guard Juan Dixon was added in February.

Ford, Bargnani, and Dixon have all averaged 10 points per game or more since joining the team. Ford has also dished out a career-high 8.0 assists per game (sixth-best in the NBA).

This year it will be Ainge’s turn to engineer a similar turnaround.

Click the comments link below to share your thoughts, questions, or just sound off on the Celtics?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

A quick program reminder;

Lowell High Athletic Director Brian Martin joins us on SunTalk Live Monday night. Dennis Whitton and I will have the pleasure of questioning Martin on everything involving the school’s athletic program, but we want to hear from you as well. A lot of issues have come to the forefront in the last year, and there has been no shortage of opinions expressed about the direction Lowell High’s teams are heading in.

So here’s your chance to have your voice heard and your questions answered. Dial (978)364-TALK (8255) to participate or listen in. Showtime is 7-8pm…we recommend you dial in a few minutes early.

Talk to you soon!

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Mark the date on your calendar. Check it off. Circle it. Put a star on it. Highlight it. Whatever it is you do to mark a monumental day, do it for May 22, 2007.

That’s the date the future of the Boston Celtics will be decided.

On that Tuesday night, the NBA holds its annual draft lottery in New Jersey. As of Friday April 13, 2007, the ducks are all lined up in a row. Concluding a week that saw Freshman Kevin Durant declare for the draft, the C’s officially clinched the second worst record in the league and Greg Oden’s father announced his son will follow Durant’s lead on a very fortunate Friday the 13th for Lucky the Leprechaun.

There are two franchise players available in the draft held June 28, 2007…Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. The Celtics have a 40% chance of landing one of the top two picks. If the ping-pong balls bounce the right way, the C’s will be an instant contender with Oden or a contender in waiting with Durant. A Tim Duncan-type lottery bounce and Danny Ainge will have his work cut out for him turning the third pick (or lower) into a valuable enough veteran to return the Green to their glory days.

April 13, 2007 helped set up May 22, 2007…which will determine what the C’s do June 28, 2007…which will set in motion the future of the Boston Celtics. The numbers on the calendar are now in place.

Let’s hope the lottery numbers cooperate.

What about it gang…can the Celtics recover if they end up missing out on one of the top two picks? Will a bad bounce on lottery day doom the franchise to another decade of rebuilding, just like the Duncan disaster did? Can even an Oden or Durant be enough to transform them into a contender?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

I’ve been debating exactly how to weigh in on the Don Imus controversy all week. Like most everyone in the country, I certainly have my share of opinions, many of them conflicted. Was the matter overblown? Did he deserve to get fired? Will any good ultimately come from the episode?

I guess that all depends on which direction you approach it from. From my perspective and background, Imus’ words are stupid and totally inexcusable, especially for a radio host. Yes, I understand such talk goes on every day in society and generally goes unpunished. But those of us who’ve worked on the airwaves and in print understand the ground rules the second we get into the business; you say something so inflammatory and insensitive on TV, radio or in print, you pay with your job more often than not. When large corporations and big money are involved, the glare of the spotlight is intensified exponentially.

Which brings us to the use of such language in other forums, be it comedy, film or music. For some strange reason, the same people who express outrage over Imus’ idiocy remain silent when others become millionaires glorifying the exact same words. Sure, some lip service gets paid to using this incident to clean up society as a whole, but I’ll guarantee you the furor will die down in a few days without a single national protest against others profiting from using such words.

Because I doubt there are many out there willing to defend Imus’ words, this is the direction I was hoping to lead the discussion into. But as a white Greek-American, I was afraid my thoughts would seem hollow and self-serving. Besides, with a tendency to put my foot in my mouth, what I meant to say and what would end up on these pages might not be the same thing…or make any sense.

And that’s where Jason Whitlock, a columnist for the Kansas City Star, comes in with a piece eloquently stating exactly what I would have penned had I possessed his skill as a writer or his credibility as an African-American. I urge you to read Whitlock’s column and come back to tell us what you think.

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

... everyone else in New England was watching Dice-K's home debut and you were watching opening night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Versus.
And that's exactly what I was doing. As a hockey fan first there is no better playoffs than the quest for the Cup.

And so far I have not been disappointed.

First up was Ottawa and Pittsburg - what could be better than watching three of the best young players in the league (Crosby, Malkin and J. Staal) against some of the more seasoned players (Redden, Spezza, Alfredsson and Heatley). Even though the Sens blew out Pittsburg, the hitting alone was enough to get the blood pumping in this hockey fan. Do any Bruins fans remember when Sergei Gonchar played for the home team?

Then of course there was the game I fell asleep watching - it did go into four overtimes! Roberto Luongo made 72 saves for the Canucks win over the Dallas Stars - completely amazing! Can you imagine facing 76 shots in one game? Talk about getting your ice time.

Let's not forget Boston fans do have a team they can hope make it to the finals - Bruins-West; the San Jose Sharks...
With Jumbo Joe, Big Mac and Guerin in the line-up the Sharks took their first game against, Nashville, the team most think will come out of the west, in the second extra frame.

Even the Ducks had a hard time beating Minnesota in their first game - with another former Bruin - Brian Rolston - wearing a Wild uniform. I still wish the Bruins didn't let him walk before the lockout - they could've used him the past couple of seasons. Oh and for those keeping score, Anaheim's Sean O'Donnell also played for the Spoked-Bs at one point.

Tonight, my Stanley Cup pick, the Buffalo Sabres, dismantled the Islanders. Yes, yes I know Rick DiPietro wasn't in net - but I just think Buffalo is that good. By the way did you know that Chris Drury is a UFA at the end of the season? How good would he look in a Bruins sweater? He did play college hockey at BU, maybe he wants to come back... one can only hope. Let's not forget former Bs prospects Shawn Bates and Andy Hilbert are now in Isles sweaters.

The Devils also won their opening game against the Lightning, with Zach Parise, brother of Lowell Devil Jordan Parise, leading the way with two goals. What do you expect when you have a goaltender like Martin Brodeur in your net? Maybe Lou Lamoriello was right when he fired Claude Julien. For those keeping score, Lowell Devil Stephen Gionta's brother Brian also scored a goal in the Devils 5-3 win.

Detroit played to true fashion as they defeated Calgary 4-1 in their opening tilt. Again, Bruins fans should be rooting for the Flames with former Bs Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau in the line-up.

Yet another former Bruin's team won their opening game, Paul Mara and the NY Rangers beat Atlanta 4-3. Let's not forget Michael Nylander, another one to wear the hometown sweater at one point is also playing for the Broadway Blueshirts and he scored a goal in the win. Tough guy Colton Orr is also a Ranger.

Do we see a pattern here? A lot of former Bruins are playing in the post season... Hopefully Peter Chiarelli takes note. Anyone out there watching the playoffs? Who's your pick to win Lord Stanley? Let it be known I'm still not changing my pick from the beginning of the season - I still think the Sabres are going to hoist the Cup

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

Drew Bledsoe was supposed to be the center of attention that glorious February Sunday in New Orleans, the one getting mobbed by teammates, the one about to accept the MVP trophy on the podium, the one every media member wanted a piece of.

Instead, the player who helped save the Patriots a decade earlier was walking away from the celebration, heading to the sidelines to grab his son from the stands. At what was supposed to be the crowning moment of his career, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound man might as well have been invisible.

The only people who seemed to notice, or care, were a television reporter and cameraman looking for a player to talk to about the joyous celebration Adam Vinatieri’s 48-yard field goal had just unleashed. It didn’t matter who the player was. Any player would do, so long as he wasn’t surrounded by a mass of humanity that would block the camera and microphone.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

Bledsoe kept walking and answering questions. He wasn’t talking to one of the national network names. He wasn’t talking to any of the big city Boston media that had covered him since his Foxboro debut in 1992. His interviewers were a lowly TV reporter and his cameraman from a tiny station in Derry, New Hampshire.

It’s not that Bledsoe wasn’t eventually sought out by the big boys. He ended up doing more than his share of interviews, answering more than his share of questions. But instead of inquiries about this play or that play, the former number one overall draft pick was asked about his bittersweet plight.

Yes, he was finally a Super Bowl champion. But Drew Bledsoe was a backup quarterback on a Super Bowl champion, a backup who’d been stripped of his job and his day in the sun, first by injury, then by a superstar in the making named Tom Brady. If you looked above the forced smile, you could see the disappointment in this proud man’s eyes.

This was where he was supposed to be. But this wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

How things ended up this way was already the stuff of legend. The partnership of Parcells-Bledsoe-Kraft saving football in New England. The meteoric rise to record-setting quarterback. The steady regression after the Super Bowl loss to Green Bay. The toughness and leadership displayed while playing with pins sticking out of his fingers. The life-threatening hit delivered by Mo Lewis. The franchise’s rebirth during his absence. The anger at being denied his spot under center when he returned.

History has since vindicated Bill Belichick for that controversial decision. Though some stubbornly refused to admit the obvious at the time, the guess here is that had more to do with admiration for the man than faith in the football player. Regardless of his standing as quarterback, Bledsoe was always the person you hoped your son would grow up to be.

Drew Bledsoe politely answered every question I asked on the Superdome turf that February 3, 2002. His son even said a few words to the camera. I kept waiting for some other media type to cut in and “ruin” my one-on-one, but no one ever came. The New England Patriots had just won their first ever Super Bowl, and the quarterback expected to lead them there was walking back toward the celebration, son in arms, talking to a complete nobody.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be.

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

Lowell goaltender Jordan Parise does more than put on the pads and stop pucks; he has a musical talent.

"This is my fourth or fifth year (playing guitar)," Parise said. "Me and one of my buddies, we just decided that we were going to try to develop a band and we did.

"We were quite a hit in college. Never actaully played a live show but the word was out there that we were making an album and stuff, it was pretty funny."

Don't get too excited, Parise is not the Bronson Arroyo of the Lowell Devils.

"No, not at all. I just play guitar and I'm not even that good at that," Parise said when asked if he could sing as well. "But we did have a band. Me and Drew Stafford, he plays for the Buffalo Sabres, we had a band that the name in college was Red Seal Peach and then we decided we were going to change the name to Invisible Children so that's what it is right now."

Even with Stafford in Buffalo, Parise is still close with him.

"I talk to him quite a bit, maybe two to three times a week," Parise said of his bandmate. "We stay pretty close and he comes back to Faribault (Minnesota) in the summer. Where we are, we have quite a few guys in the general area of where we grew up and where we went to high school. We have a real close knit group of guys."

Along with Stafford, Parise said he maintains a strong relationship with his brother, especially in the offseason.

"Everyday we spend together either playing golf or working out or getting on the ice," Parise said. "We have a great relationship. We're brothers so obviously we're going to have our disagreements but the end result is we're best friends so it's awesome."

Parise has several tattoos including the one on his back. Sorry, no pictures of the tattoos.

"I remember when we were growing up my dad used to always have us draw this stupid thing like all the time and I didn't know what it was," Parise said with a laugh. "It was like two chain links together and he would show us how to draw it and we just thought it was the greatest thing ever. It's kind of like a family thing and I modified it a little bit to make it a little bit more tough I guess. But it's a family tattoo."

Parise also has a goalie tattoo on the inside of his bicep, paw prints on his leg and his high school crest on his arm.

"All of my tattoos that I have or will have in the future too, they all have some sort of special meaning," Parise explained. "I've heard some peopel say 'stay with a common theme' but I don't really agree with that, because the way I see tattoos is it's sort of a reflection of a certain point in your life.

"So, all of my tattoos have some sort of meaning. I can look at them and it was either a real low point in my life and I was able to persevere through it or that it was an awesome time in my life I never want to forget. Either way I don't want to forget either moment because it's help me kind of become a stronger person and a better person. It's sort of a reflection of what to do differently or what I can do the same. It's a very spiritual answer."

back to being one of the goalies for the Devils; Parise has a hard time pointing his finger at his best game.

"It's tough to say, there are some excellent games where I'll go in there and let in three or four goals and say 'I thought I played an excellent game.'," Parise explained. "There's one game we played against Hartford in Hartford that I think we won 2-1 or something like that and I didn't feel that I had to do all that much. I think I had maybe 26 saves or something like that and the goal that I let in wasn't a good goal and after the game I wasn't like; I mean we won the game and I was happy but personally I thought I could have done better.

"For example, the game we lost against Manchester in overtime 4-3, I thought I played an excellent game. I mean you look at the stats and I let in 4 goals on 27 shots and we lose in overtime so there's a lot of negatives there too, but I though I played well.

"I don't know, I can't really say there was one game that I felt was really complete or I felt was the best game I played even though I had a shutout in one."

Parise said he is looking forward to his next training camp.

"I'll know what to expect," Parise said. "When I came to this organization they didn't know me as a person and they just said 'this is a goalie.' But now, working with Chris Terreri everyday I think he's been able to give some feed back. I think coming here my first couple of days of training camp that I was just like everyother goalie and I kind of feel myself that I'm a little unique in a couple certain degrees.

"So, I think they'll know how to handle me a little bit better and I'll know how to handle them a little bit better. I think this coming training camp is going to be much more effective."

Parise said since he is not taking classes he tends to watch television shows that will teach him something.

"I watch a lot of Discovery Channel and National Geographic," Parise said. "I'm always trying to learn."

I had a blast talking with Parise about his life on and off the ice. I hope everyone enjoyed getting to know Parise through this blog.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

It was reported earlier this week that a deal is close to extend Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers beyond the 2007-08 season. Rivers’ contract is due to run out at the end of the 2007-08 season and he has stated that he would prefer not to go into next season as a so-called “lame duck” coach.

Danny Ainge, the Celtics executive director of basketball operations, said on sports radio WEEI this afternoon that he is happy with Rivers and that he thinks something will probably get done after the season.

While, he has had critics this season--at one point the fans at the TD Banknorth Garden started chanting “Fire Doc”--Ainge expressed confidence in his head coach's performance since taking the helm with the Celtics.

“I think Doc has done a good job,” Ainge said.

Ainge also credited Rivers with doing a good job developing players. He cited several examples including Al Jefferson, Delonte West, and Ryan Gomes.

The Celtics enter tonight’s game with the second-worst record in the NBA, and this year has gone a lot differently than hoped heading into the season.

“I think our team is much better than our record,” said Ainge who added that he feels that they have a chance to turn things around.

Injured swingman Tony Allen is on track to be playing basketball again by July and be ready for training camp, according to Ainge. Allen is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery.

Sound off with your thoughts and/or questions by clicking the comments link below.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Lowell High School’s athletic programs seem to be generating more headlines than Dannielynne Smith and Don Imus combined, so we thought this might be a nice time for SunTalk Live to catch up with the BMOC.

Athletic Director Brian Martin joins us this coming Monday for what promises to be a very interesting hour of SportsTalk. Lowell Sun Sports Editor Dennis Whitton and I will be sure to touch on all the important topics, but we’re really hoping to hear from you as well. Don’t miss out on your chance to question Martin and hear the reasoning behind some of the changes taking place in the athletic department.

As always, showtime is 7-8pm. Dial the phone early to get in line. The number: (978)364-TALK (8255).

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Here is the Patriots 2007 regular season schedule. Obviously all eyes are on the Colts matchup later in the year, but the one that really jumps out at me is the second week, when San Diego comes to town for a Sunday night rematch of a great playoff game. Tell me emotions won't be riding high in that one:

Sunday, Sept. 9 at New York Jets Giants Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, Sept. 16 San Diego Chargers Gillette Stadium 8:15 p.m. NBC
Sunday, Sept. 23 Buffalo Bills Gillette Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS
Monday, Oct. 1 at Cincinnati Bengals Paul Brown Stadium 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Sunday, Oct. 7 Cleveland Browns Gillette Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, Oct. 14 at Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium 4:15 p.m. CBS
Sunday, Oct. 21 at Miami Dolphins Dolphin Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, Oct. 28 Washington Redskins Gillette Stadium 4:15 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Nov. 4 at Indianapolis Colts RCA Dome 4:15 p.m. CBS
Sunday, Nov. 11 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Nov. 18 at Buffalo Bills R. Wilson Stadium 1:00 p.m.* CBS*
Sunday, Nov. 25 Philadelphia Eagles Gillette Stadium 8:15 p.m.* NBC*
Monday, Dec. 3 at Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Sunday, Dec. 9 Pittsburgh Steelers Gillette Stadium 1:00 p.m.* CBS*
Sunday, Dec. 16 New York Jets Gillette Stadium 1:00 p.m.* CBS*
Sunday, Dec. 23 Miami Dolphins Gillette Stadium 1:00 p.m.* CBS*
Saturday, Dec. 29 at New York Giants Giants Stadium 8:15 p.m. NFL Network

Bold indicates nationally televised game
* indicates game subject to time change

Posted By Lynn Worthy

University of Texas freshman swingman Kevin Durant officially announced on Tuesday that he will enter this June's NBA Draft.

"I just thought it was time to go," said the 6'9" 225-pound Durant.at a press conference to announce his decision. "It's been my dream for a while. I felt I was ready."

Durant was the 2007 John R. Wooden Award winner, the first freshman to win the honor since it was first presented in 1977. He joins T.J. Ford as the only Longhorns players ever to have win the award. He received 4,351 points in the voting to beat out Greg Oden of Ohio State (2,858 points).

He also captured the Naismith Trophy, the Oscar Robertson Trophy (U.S. Basketball Writers Association), the Adolph Rupp Trophy and was named Player of the Year by The Associated Press as well as the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

The freshman from Suitland, Maryland, led the Longhorns in scoring (25.8 ppg), rebounding (11.1 rpg), blocked shots (67), steals (66) and double-doubles (20). He was the only player to rank in the Top 10 nationally in both scoring (fourth) and rebounding (fourth).

Durant shared University of Texas MVP honors with freshmen D.J. Augustin.

Local basketball fans should note that the Boston Celtics currently have the secon-worst record in the NBA, and they would have the second-best chance at getting the top selection in the NBA Draft Lottery.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

News Flash: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspends Titans Cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones for the entire 2007 season. Goodell also suspends Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry for the first 8-games of the season.

Teddy’s Take: The most business savvy league in American sports is at it again.

Make no mistake. The suspensions were definitely warranted. Pacman has been involved in 10-incidents in which he was interviewed by police. The most recent involved an altercation with a stripper that resulted in a man getting shot and paralyzed. Henry has been arrested 4-times in the last 14-months. In a letter to both players, the Commish writes: