Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The New England Riptide softball team opens the 2007 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) season in Fairfax, Virginia, against the Washington Glory tonight at 7:05.

Starting pitchers are likely to be Jocelyn Forest and Sarah Pauly. Both pitchers were 15-5 last year and shared the league lead for victories with Radara McHugh. Forest and Pauly last pitched against each other in the NPF league championship game last August, with Forest and the Riptide winning 2-0 (Pauly played for the Connecticut Brakettes, the franchise which gave way to the Washington Glory).

This season the Riptide will be looking to become the first NPF team ever to win back-to-back championships.

The Riptide play four games with Washington before going to Illinois for a four-game series against the Rockford Thunder. New England returns home to Lowell for the home opener against the Venezuelan National Team on June 14.

2007 NEW ENGLAND RIPTIDE

Front office/coaching staff

Owners: Joe and Lauri Adlman
General Manager: Joe Adlman
Head Coach: Sharon Drysdale
Assistant coaches: Christy Hebert, Adrian Gregory, Lacy Gillotti

Players

Catchers
KJ Kelley (Bats-right/Throws-right)

Infielders
Tarrah Beyster (R/R), Lisa Iancin (R/R), Jackie Aquarelle (S/R), Jessica Merchant (R/R), Garland Cooper (L/R)*

Outfielders
Alex Sutton (L/R), Gina Carbonatto (L/R), Lisa Modglin (R/R), Carri Leto Martin (L/R), Shanel Scott (L/R)

Utility
Lyndsey Angus (R/R)

Pitchers
Erica Beach (L/L), Jocelyn Forest (R/R), Danielle Henderson (R/R), Eileen Canney (R/R)*

* Garland Cooper and Eileen Canney were drafted, but cannot officially sign until the conclusion of their college season with Northwestern University.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Kobe Bryant, arguably the best individual player in the NBA, has said repeatedly today that he would like to be traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, the organization he won three NBA championships.

Bryant has earned All-NBA honors in each of the last eight seasons, has been named to the NBA’s All Defensive six times, and he has been named a starter for the Western Conference All-Star Team in each of the last eight games.

Bryant expressed frustration this week in an interview with ESPN’s Ric Bucher with the Lakers organization and their inability to put a contending team on the court.

The Lakers star later denied Bucher’s report that he wanted to be traded, but he changed his tune today after an unnamed source told the LA Times that Bryant had pushed the organization to get rid of Shaquille O’Neal.

He told Stephen A. Smith that he now wants to be traded on the radio today and in a story in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer.

Bryant also told ESPN Radio’s Dan Patrick today that he was “disappointed more than anything” with the way things have gone.

He also said he came to find out after he re-signed with the Lakers that the organization told Phil Jackson that they were looking at a long-term plan, while Bryant was told they were planning to rebuild immediately and turn things around.

Bryant also reiterated that he had nothing to do with the trade of Shaq following the 2003-04 season.

“At this point I would play anywhere,” Bryant said in response to Patrick’s hypothetical of being traded to Atlanta. “I just want to play basketball.”

Dr. Jerry Buss, owner of the Lakers released a statement today stating: “We are aware of the media reports. However, Kobe has not told us directly that he wants to be traded. We have made it very clear that we are building our team around Kobe and that we intend for him to be a Laker his entire career. We will speak directly to Kobe and until we do that, we will not comment publicly about this.”

The Los Angeles Dailey News, one of our sister papers out west, has been all over the deteriorating situation (click here for their Lakers Blog).

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

American League East
1. Boston 36-15 --
5. New York 21-29 14 ½ GB

How nice does that look? Take a look at it once more. Doesn’t matter what’s in between (believe me, Baltimore, Toronto and Tampa Bay have no prayer of catching the Red Sox either), this is what the AL East standings look like on May 29th, 2007 and how the #1 spot will look come October.

The race, my friends, is over!

I specifically waited for this day to post a correction to my pre-season prediction of the Yankees winning the division and the Sox taking the Wild Card. The 14 ½ game deficit is significant to those of us who remember 1978 and Boston blowing a 14-game cushion to the Bronx Bombers. Until the miracle of 2004 wiped the slate clean, that collapse ranked right up there with 1986 and 2003 (no need to rehash the specifics) as the three most heartbreaking moments of this Sox fans existence.

Folks, the Yankees aren’t coming back this year. This isn’t 1978, even if many of the current New Yorkers are playing like they’re old enough to have been on that comeback team. The streak of consecutive division title will end at 9, and the wild-card is looking mighty iffy at this point. The Red Sox are far and away the class of major league baseball. Just ask the Tigers and Indians, each who entered Fenway as the 2nd best team in the American League, how good they are. Conversely, we’re too far into the season to expect the Evil Empire to merely snap their fingers and turn the losing around. Something’s missing there. You know it. I know it. And THEY know it.

Which is why they don’t have the “you know whats” to pitch Roger Clemens against Boston this weekend. Like the Wizard of Oz, the 2007 Yankees project a big bad image based solely on reputation. Had their final hope, Clemens, come into Fenway and been slapped around, the curtain would be drawn and they’d be exposed as the washed up old men they’ve become.

I was dead wrong in my pre-season prediction about the Yankees and the AL East. And I couldn’t be happier to admit it!

What do you think? Am I jumping the gun here in burying the Yankees? Do they even have a chance at the wild card, let alone the division?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Billerica native and New York Mets pitcher Tom Glavine, who is approaching 300 wins in his major league career, gave an interview in today’s New York Daily News in which he talked about Barry Bonds’s pursuit of the all-time home run record and his outlook on playing in the "Steroid Era."

Here’s a sneak peak (partial quote):

DN: Are you upset that your entire generation, including yourself, falls under a cloud of suspicion?

TG: No, honestly, because I know in my mind and in my heart I haven't done anything wrong. There's nothing for me to be all that (ticked) off about. I don't like the whole, 'You're guilty until you prove you're innocent.' Why we're all guilty by association - I don't like that aspect of it. But not to the point where it bothers me on a daily basis or anything like that.

Click here for the complete interview

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Since a lot of folks seem to have in their mind that the Celtics have to make some moves in the off-season, lets at least stick to what’s feasible.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement stipulates that a team at or over the salary cap MAY NOT replace a traded player with a player or players whose salaries exceed 125% of the traded player’s salary plus $100,000 (a team under the salary cap has more wiggle room, but that is not the case with the Cetlics).

In other words, the salaries have to be within 25% (plus $100,000) of each other.

That’s why any realistic trade scenario for a premier veteran would have to include Theo Ratliff and/or Wally Szczerbiak.

Ratliff has one year and $11.6 million remaining on his deal, while Szczerbiak’s price tag is $12 million in 2007-08.

Other than Paul Pierce, there isn’t another player on the roster slated to make more than $4.5 million in 2007-08.

So before you get too happy with potential trades in your mind, keep in mind big name players like Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal and Pau Gasol are well-paid.

Garnett in 2007-08: $22 million
O’Neal in 2007-08: $19.7 million
Gasol in 2007-08: $13.7 million

Without Szczerbiak, Ratliff or both involved, it becomes nearly unfeasible to come within 25% of a the money earned by a top-flight veteran.

Salary for this year’s No. 5…
The fifth pick will earn a salary around $2.548 according to the NBA Rookie salary scale for the 2007-08 season.

The last five No.5 picks…
2006 - Shelden Williams, Duke (drafted by Atlanta)
2005 - Raymond Felton, University of North Carolina (drafted by Charlotte)
2004 - Devin Harris, Wisconsin (drafted by Washington)
2003 - Dwyane Wade, Marquette (drafted by Miami)
2002 - Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Benetton Treviso, Italy (drafted by Denver)

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

If you haven't figured it out yet, I am a die hard hockey fan. You should also know by now that I'd rather watch hockey every day of the week and twice on Sunday than any other sport; in fact I'm watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals as I write this. But what you may not know is I am one of the biggest Michael Jordan fans ever!

Yes, I just wrote that. I do watch other sports besides hockey (even NASCAR and Formula 1 Racing)- I love all sports; I just prefer hockey over the others.

Although, I grew up a Celtics fan (because of my dad) I loved Jordan from the moment he hit the game-winning shot for UNC in the 1982 NCAA Championship game over Georgetown. I followed his entire career and have nearly every single article, magazine, book - basically anything and everything ever written about him. One of my all-time favorite presents I received is a framed black and white pic of Jordan guarding Larry Bird at the old Boston Garden (courtesy of my brother; thank you Ralph). I still think he is the best basketball player to lace up the sneakers (sorry to all the Bird fans out there).

The reason why I'm writing a blog about Jordan is because I recently found out my father's best friend Frank is attending Michael Jordan Flight School this August in Las Vegas - it was either a Christmas or birthday present from his wife Beth, I can't remember which one.

What I do know is that as a youngster I used to sit between my father, Frank and the rest of their friends watching basketball on most Saturdays and Sundays (which was my favorite sport at the time). I remember we were at Frank's old house in Methuen when Jordan scored 63-points in the double-overtime loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NBA Playoffs, among many other games.

When Frank confirmed that he was going to attend Flight School, I told him "That's even better than me being in the Bruins locker room for the first time." Needless to say he didn't believe me, but he did however remember how much I love Jordan and the smile on his face showed how much he was looking forward to playing one-on-one against Jordan on the last day of the "camp."

I asked him and Beth to make sure they sent me pictures of Frank's experience. Beth said she'd do better - she's going to make sure I get a copy of the DVD!

I wish I had the opportunity to attend Flight School myself. Would you if you could? Is there another athlete out there you wish would do something similar, or does do something similar you wish you could attend? Did I shock any of you with the knowledge that at one point in my life I actually lived for the NBA?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

On this Memorial Day, where we honor the dead, I thought I’d throw a quick little jab at our favorite hockey league. After all, it is amongst the deceased of major league sports in America.

It’s often been said the National Hockey League is its own worst enemy, hence the little play on words in the above title. I’ll assume the same geniuses who chose the league’s cable “network” are the same ones who decided to open the Stanley Cup Finals on Memorial Day, only one of the busiest travel nights of the year. Oh, and did I mention it’s been almost a week since the last game was played?

Help me out here someone. Where’s the logic in this? Gayle? The readers? Anyone?

To borrow from my analogy a few weeks back about the Lowell Devils being like that sickly relative in a hospital bed, the family and doctors agreed on a course of action to extend life by another year, but the patient is still terminal, and barring a miracle, will be gone in May of 2008.

In today’s Lowell Sun, Michael LaFleur reports on the deal struck by the city and the Devils to keep the team in the Mill City for the 2007-08 season. The agreement basically agrees to split the difference on the city’s $250k loss while avoiding a costly legal battle over a signed contract and Lowell’s right to refuse funding for the Tsongas Arena.

From here, it looks like a win-win situation for both sides, albeit a temporary victory. Lowell recoups $125k while not pulling the plug on a business. The Devils lose out on $125k, but will still operate for another year under a very favorable lease while assessing other options for where to play in the future. But when you get right down to it, nobody expects the Devils to be here beyond the upcoming season. If you thought attendance was horrible last year, wait till you see what happens now that the city and business community don’t get behind the team.

Here’s what I don’t get; why all the ominous sounding threats from Meehan and other political leaders? The college program has gone this long, it can’t wait one more year for the situation with the AHL team to play itself out naturally instead of going to court to fight the inevitable legal battles? Can’t Meehan, Sen. Panagiotakos and Rep. Murphy use their considerable clout to get the Board of Trustees off our back until the Devils are gone and a new, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL agreement is worked out between the city and the university?

Come on guys. Let’s get together on this and stop taking things public. Work out your differences, differences that can very easily be worked out if everyone is reasonable, behind closed doors. The taxpayers, who continue to get walloped in the wallet, deserve better than political posturing from the locals and threats from out of town Board of Trustees members who don’t have Lowell’s best interests at heart.

The movement to bring casino-style gambling to the Bay State is picking up steam, with State Treasurer Tim Cahill openly supporting a full-scale casino resort in Massachusetts.

Matt Murphy’s front page article in today’s Lowell Sun highlights the issue and the potential hurdles standing in the way. Granted, there’s still a long way to go and plenty of political opposition, but this is an idea whose time has come, and I believe it’s only a matter of time before Massachusetts residents won’t have to cross state lines to gamble in a casino.

For purely selfish reasons, I’d love to see a development at Fort Devens. Of all the potential sites, it’s the closest to Lowell, and could very well offer an offspring economic impact to the Mill City. (Wouldn’t it be even better if Lowell could sail in with a riverboat casino along the Merrimack?)

The newspaper article lays out the following facts: Massachusetts residents account for 35% of Foxwoods customers, 21% at Mohegan Sun and 42% at Rhode Island’s slot parlors, spending $1.1 billion at these sites. In case you didn’t catch that, that’s billions, as in BILLIONS! Not millions. BILLIONS!

Explain to me again why we’re even debating this?

What are your thoughts on the possibility of casino-style gambling coming to Mass? Are you in favor or opposed? What would be the best location? Should the state jump in with a private developer or let a Native American tribe run it?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Riptide announced this week that they’ve been busy making additions to bolster their outfield situation.

Alex Sutton from the University of California Berkeley, Lisa Modglin from California Polytechnic State University and Gina Carbonatto from the University of Pacific (not Pacific University) have all signed with the Riptide following their senior seasons.

Sutton was the 18th overall draft pick of the Riptide in this winter’s NPF draft. Modglin and Carbonatto were undrafted free agents.

Modglin, the Big West conference Field Player of the Year, batted an outrageous .476 for the season (54 games) with 16 home runs and 44 RBI out of the leadoff spot for Cal Poly (39-17). She also stole 10 bases for the Mustangs, double the total of her next closest teammate.

Carbonatto, last year’s Big West conference Field Player of the Year, started every game for the Tigers this season. She batted .400 and had a team-high 12 stolen bases. She recorded 45 RBI, scored 58 runs, and had an on base percentage of .473.

The Riptide will feature a retooled outfield this season as Lindy Winkler, Tiffany Stewart, Jen Scavone and Kristin Vesely have all chosen to pursue other education and employment options outside of playing.

Wildcats still rolling
Riptide draft picks Garland Cooper and Eileen Canney are still making the most of their college careers. The Northwestern University teammates will be competing this weekend for the right to play in Women’s College World Series.

Northwestern will play in the best two-of-three Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament. The second overall seed in the tournament, the Wildcats face South Carolina this weekend at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

The opening game of the series is scheduled for 3 p.m. (Central Time) on Friday, May 25. Game Two is slated for 1 p.m. (CT) Saturday, May 26. The "if necessary" game would begin immediately following Saturday's first contest.

Northwestern advanced to the Super Regional by virtue of a perfect 3-0 run through its own Evanston Regional. The Wildcats bested Wright State, 4-1, before knocking off Illinois State twice (5-2, 4-1) to win the title.

South Carolina topped No. 15 seed N.C. State in its opening game of the 2007 NCAA Tournament before falling to Oregon in the winner's bracket. The Gamecocks then eliminated N.C. State before twice defeating the Ducks on championship Sunday to advance.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

This afternoon on WEEI, Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge echoed his earlier comments that the Celtics believe they can get a potential All-Star with the fifth pick in the NBA Draft.

At the same time he on the idea that the Celtics may make a trade with the number 5 pick that was dealt to them in last night’s NBA Draft Lottery.

Ainge did express disappointment though, likening getting the fifth pick to losing in Game 7 of a playoff series.

Among the interesting tidbits that did come from his talk on WEEI was that right now Al Jefferson and Paul Pierce were the two guys he looks at a untouchable. Also, the Celtics will listen to all offers involving guys on their roster as well as the fifth pick.

He also said they won’t be looking at a point guard in this year’s draft because they believe Rajon Rondo is better than any of the point guards in this year’s draft.

Last night’s reaction from Celtics personnel (courtesy of the Celtics media relations staff):

Ainge:
“We’ve been saying all along that this is a good draft and there are good players. It’s more than a two player draft and I still believe that. I still believe that we are going to get a very good player and I think that we are going to get a player that has a chance to be All-Star caliber.”

“We’re going to get a good player and I really believe that. I mean these guys that are going to be available for us at the number five pick are going to be good, and this is the highest pick we’ve had for a long time. So there are other ways to get lucky and there’s other ways to get guys in the draft. Nobody thought Paul Pierce would be the player he’d turn out to be when he was selected 10. Nobody thought Al Jefferson would be as good as he’s become when we got him at 15 a few years ago. So we anticipate the same kind of luck. We think that there is going to be a very good player in this draft and our fans our going to love who we get, and I think Doc is going to love who we get. It’s just not as easy. We have some work to do this summer.”

Do you think you will trade this pick?
“I will look into that. We’ll have some discussion on that. I always go into the draft process of not anticipating that. Trades are tough and we want to get the best player. And if we can get a good veteran player with the draft pick in some kind of package then we will certainly explore that. And ideally that would be a good thing for us to do right now, but we don’t want to trade away a player that’s going to be a very good player for a veteran just because he’s a veteran. We want talent regardless of their age.”

Head coach Doc Rivers:
“Obviously it’s a good draft and I was disappointed like everyone else. You look at the odds and you thought that you’d be in the top one, two, or three and it didn’t work out. So I think we were all surprised when you saw him lift the envelope and you saw the Celtic name, and that’s not where you wanted to see the name.”

How do you expect the players to react?
“They are fine, players are players. Players are ready anyway and I don’t know what kind of reaction they would have either way. They still know we are going to add a very good player to our basketball team and that we’re going to improve. So I think they will be fine.”

“Danny’s done an amazing job with the draft. He’s been unbelievable. We usually go with the best player available. When that comes up, we look at the guys on the board and we are going to take the best player. We’re probably not going to look at position. We’re just going to take the best player.”

Managing partner Steve Pagliuca:
“The interest is very high. It was high last year. You have to remember we have a lot of great players coming back. We had a huge amount of injuries. As you all know the 19 year old rule came in last year so it kind of doubled up on the draft. And some of these players that are three, four, and five might have been in the top two last year. So there are going to be some All-Stars that are coming out of here, and Danny’s done a great job of finding those kinds of players. Five is a great pick and this is a great draft. The silver lining here is that getting five in one of the best drafts of the last 10 years is a great honor for the Celtics and we should improve the club.”

Remember that Beavis and Butthead episode? The one where Beavis, wanting to prove he was a man, told his friend Butthead to “kick me in the Jimmy!”

Well, that’s what I felt like screaming around 8:50 p.m. Tuesday night. Go ahead David Stern. Take another shot at me and the rest of Celtics Nation. We’ve already been booted so many times before. What’s one more? Kick me in the Jimmy!

Tell me you didn’t feel like you’d taken a shot to the groin when Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver flipped over that card to reveal the Celtics logo in the #5 slot? My immediate reaction was to jump out of my seat and scream out a four-letter expletive (hint: rhymes with the thing hockey players shoot at the goalie). My guess is I wasn’t alone. Heck, next time they run that video on a local newscast, take a look at Silver’s face as he pulls the card out of the envelope. You can clearly see him raise his eyebrows, as if he didn’t believe what he was seeing.

How come when the C’s are in the 7-13 bottom spots in terms of record, they never seem to jump up into a surprising top-3 pick? They always stay where they’re supposed to be, don’t they? Yet isn’t it funny how when the NBA has a direct benefit in a particular result, something wacky happens? Think I’m being paranoid? Consider:

Cleveland lands the #1 pick the year Akron, Ohio native LeBron James is available. Michael Jordan’s first year as Washington GM? Wouldn’t you know it, he gets #1. (Too bad for Stern MJ screwed it up by taking and destroying Kwame Brown) Great guy David Robinson needs someone to ride shotgun? Say hello to Tim Duncan, San Antonio. Orlando needs someone to pair up with Shaq, who they lucked into at #1 the year before? Lo and behold, they draw #1 (and Penny Hardaway) again the following year, even though they have the worst chance. Patrick Ewing coming out of college? You guessed it. Knicks win.

Look, I know lotteries have unpredictable results. (Just look at the draft simulator from yesterday) But you have to admit it seems odd how things just seem to work out predictably when a Hall of Fame Caliber player is coming out of school. How can a professional league run such a ridiculous system? (And yes, I know hockey does something similar, but we don’t exactly confuse the NHL for a professionally run league now, do we?) The NFL (the best run of all leagues) goes strictly by record (except for the two Super Bowl participants) and everything seems to work out just fine for that league, doesn’t it?

The NBA instituted this ridiculous lottery because a couple of teams were obviously tanking the year Ralph “Bow-Wow” Sampson was the top prize, so they gave every non-playoff team a chance at the top pick, to discourage the bottom few from tanking. Great logic, huh? Now you have a whole bunch of teams mailing it in instead of one or two, and more often than not, the teams that need the help the most get it the least. What a stupid, stupid system, and I thought that long before last night or 1997!

Then again, it’s a system that allows for a little manipulation, isn’t it?

What are your thoughts on last night’s lottery fiasco? How did you react? Am I being paranoid, or do all these “coincidences” mean something fishy is going on? Where do the Celtics go from here?

P.S. If you think I flew off the deep end on this post, you should have seen what I wanted to write last night! Thankfully, I gave myself a few hours to cool off, otherwise I would have written a slew of things about how it would be poetic justice if Oden goes to Portland only to have Darius Miles and Zach Randolph turn him into a crack head-malcontent!

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

The Stanley Cup Finals are finally set and allow me to get this out of the way right off the bat - dboisver you were right - Ottawa not only beat the Sabres but they man handled them. I really didn't expect the Sabres to go out like that - but hey, it takes a real woman to admit she was wrong and boy was I ever.

The Ottawa Senators will represent the Eastern Conference after defeating Buffalo 4 games to 1 in the Conference Finals.
The trio of Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza were simply phenomenal in the series as was goaltender Ray Emery to send the Senators to their first ever Stanley Cup appearance.

The Anaheim Ducks will represent the Western Conference after defeating Detroit 4 games to 2 in their Conference Finals.
The Ducks owe must of it to goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere who has posted a 1.78 GAA through the playoffs along with top point getters Chris Prongers, Temmu Selanne and Ryan Getzalf.
The Ducks went to the finals in 2003 (when they were still the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) and lost to the New Jersey Devils by a score of 3-0 in the seventh game.

Both teams will be seeking their first Cup when the series opens Monday night in Anaheim. Each team had to win 12 games thus far and have four more to go to capture the most coveted trophy in all of sports. The question is which of the two teams will come out victorious?

The Senators will win if the amazing trio of Alfredsson, Heatley and Spezza stays healthy and continues to score at will; they have combined for 58 points (23 goals, 35 assists) throughout the playoffs and Emery has posted a 1.95 GAA.

The Ducks will win if Pronger, Selanne and Getzlaf (35 points; 12 goals, 23 assists) get more offensive help from the rest of their team, especially Scott Niedermayer and Andy McDonald who only had 2 assists each against the Wings. Their defense also has to figure out how to stop the Senators who have scored 10 more goals than the Ducks in their run to the finals.

My prediction Ottawa in 5. I underestimated this team in the Eastern Conference Finals, I won't make that mistake again.

Either way I can not wait until Monday night. The latest date Lord Stanley can be hoisted is June 11 and that's only if the series goes the full seven games.

What do you think? Will Ottawa or Anaheim win? How many games will the series go? Will you tune in to watch some of the games?

Want to drive yourself insane? Try out ESPN.com's NBA Draft Lottery Generator. (When you get to the site, it has the picks based on probability...you have to click on "Play Lottery" to actually generate the simulation)

I tried the damn thing 5-times before quitting! Not once did the Celtics end up with the #1 OR #2 picks. They got #3 twice, #4 twice and #5 once. The #1 selection went to Seattle the first time, Memphis the second, and Minnesota the last three times.

Let me repeat that; Minnesota THE LAST THREE TIMES!!! Those are the same Timberwolves with the whopping 5.3% chance of getting the top overall pick, and they landed it THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES!!!

I'm telling you, if this is how I'm reacting with a "for fun purposes only" simulation, you don't want to be anywhere near me tonight if the C's do not end up with either the first or second pick in the real deal.

(Update: Just did it one more time, because I'll be damned if I quit before the C's get one of the top two spots. Sure enough, the sixth time was the charm. WE GOT #1!!! Now I can concentrate on work until later tonight)

Wanted to touch on the Patriots re-signing of Junior Seau for a bit;

The news became official yesterday, though the San Diego Tribune had reported it back on May 12th, around the same time reports surfaced that Seau still had a locker in the Pats dressing room during mini-camp. The 12-time Pro Bowler played 11-games for New England in 2006, amassing 70-tackles before suffering an arm injury against the Bears November 27th.

Obviously, the move is a positive development. Whatever the 17-year veteran has left in the tank should be good enough to contribute something in ’07. Sure the Pats could use some younger bodies at the position, but since I don’t really see anything better out there, it’s a no-lose signing, just as it was last year when they coaxed Seau out of retirement.

I do find the signing surprising, however, in light of reports that Seau and Assistant Coach Pepper Johnson had an altercation in the parking lot at Gillette Stadium the week before the injury. Unless this happens all the time and the Patriots are just good at keeping it under wraps, it doesn’t sound like the kind of situation Bill Belichick would want to involve himself in again. Of course, I said the same about Randy Moss, so it goes to show how much I know! The other possibility is that the report of the fight was greatly exaggerated or totally false.

Either way, the re-signing is a positive development on a team seeking to add quality depth for another Super Bowl run.

(Update: A tidbit in Reiss Pieces notes that Vinny Testaverde still has his locker intact at Gillette Stadium)

What do you think of Seau coming back for another year? Does the 38-year old have anything left in the tank? Good gamble or bad? Were both sides able to put the parking lot altercation behind them or did it never really happen as reported?

You know how we’re always telling you “this is one SportsTalk you won’t want to miss?” Well, last night was one SportsTalk you REALLY shouldn’t have missed.

Not only did Lowell legend Micky Ward hop on the phone line with us, he brought along his buddy Arturo Gatti for a surprise appearance as well. Ward & Gatti were in New Jersey, en route to New York for a Tuesday press conference about the July 14th fight against Contender contestant Alfonso Gomez, and were kind enough to chat with us for about 15-minutes before grabbing dinner and their connecting flight. Afterward, Barry Scanlon and I talked in depth about the fight, the upcoming Ward movie, the Lowell Devils situation, the Red Sox, the Patriots and the Celtics lottery prospects. Believe me when I tell you, the hour flew by!

If you missed the show, you can hear a recording on the SunTalk Live website. If you’re a local sports fan, you should definitely stop by and visit when you get a shot.

Luck. It’s a difficult concept to grasp.

Those who require an explanation for everything say luck is the place where preparation meets opportunity, as if only hard work leads to a positive outcome. Celtics fans know better though, don’t we? We’ve been on the good and bad side of luck enough times to understand how random it truly is.

For nearly 30-years, everything the Green touched turned to gold. We even named our mascot Lucky. We stood on the mountain top, smirking at the world below. When opportunity knocked, we were more prepared and, yes, luckier. Until one night, one cocaine induced night, the luck turned.

The Celtics have had three significant lottery moments, each coming about a decade apart. The first was in 1986, after another Red Auerbach swindle netted Seattle’s first round draft pick in exchange for Gerald Henderson, who was about to be replaced in the starting lineup by Danny Ainge anyway. While the C’s claimed their 3rd NBA title in 6-years, the Sonics tanked and the Commissioner drew the Celtics envelope in the #2 slot (that’s how they did it back then). The Leprechaun, it seemed, was rolling more 7’s and 11’s than a convenience store chain.

Soon thereafter, luck completely abandoned the Green. Bill Walton’s fragile feet shattered. Kevin McHale’s stress fracture reduced him to mortal status. Larry Bird’s body gave out. Auerbach thought Michael Smith was a better prospect than Shawn Kemp or Vlade Divac. Reggie Lewis died.

All of which led to significant lottery moment #2 in 1997, when with a 40% chance at landing Tim Duncan, Boston crashed into Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer. Throw in Rick Pitino’s impatience, Chris Wallace/Jim O’Brien’s incompetence, and a Danny Ainge rebuilding project that’s lasted longer than the reconstruction of post-WWII Europe, and we’ve arrived at significant lottery moment #3. A few short hours from now, the future of the Boston Celtics will be decided by the bounce of a little white ball. Forget Ping-Pong Diplomacy. This is Ping-Pong Urgency!

So break out those horseshoes. Dust off that rabbit’s foot. Go to church and light a candle if that’s your thing. The Celtics need all the help they can get. Bird, McHale and Parish aren’t walking through that door, but it’s not them we need right now.

If the doorbell rings Tuesday night, the only person I want to see out the peep hole is Lady Luck.

Where do you think the Celtics will end up in the lottery? Will they get shafted again? Will the league “fix” it to help this once proud franchise return to the top?

28-years and counting. That’s how long it’s been since horse racing has had a Triple Crown winner, though we came within a nose of heading to the Belmont Stakes with a good shot at breaking the drought.

Curlin nipped Street Sense in a photo finish at the 2007 Preakness, ending the Kentucky Derby winner’s chance at making history. Street Sense, ridden by Calvin Borel appeared to have the race in hand after passing Curlin on the final turn, only to have Robbie Albarado’s mount make an amazing recovery and win a head bob at the wire. If you follow thoroughbred racing, you know how rare it is to see a horse recover after being passed down the stretch, so what Curlin accomplished this afternoon was quite an athletic accomplishment.

In a broader sense, the race showed how thrilling horse racing can be. I watched it in a room full of casual fans who really got into it down the stretch, much like you’d see live at the track. You could almost feel the air being let out of the room when it became evident Street Sense had lost.

It’s often said horse racing needs a Triple Crown winner to recapture the public’s imagination and return to the forefront of American sporting life. While I believe there’s a lot of truth to that, I think a few more races like the ’07 Preakness might go a long way toward helping the cause.

Did anyone out there cash in a winning ticket? Will the excitement of the photo finish carry over into the Belmont? Or does not having a Triple Crown winner yet again doom horse racing to another year of looking forward to the Derby? What, if anything, can be done to return thoroughbred racing to the limelight?

Micky Ward steps into the SunTalk Live ring for Round 2 this coming Monday night.

“The Mick” dials in from sunny Florida, where he’s training Arturo Gatti for his upcoming fight in Atlantic City. Lowell Sun Assistant Sports Editor Barry Scanlon joins in on the fun as we jab away at details of Ward’s new endeavor and what the future holds in store.

We don’t want to make any promises, but there’s a chance we may get a couple of additional guests. Time Permitting, Gatti himself may dial in. Plus, we’re hoping to get Haverhill’s Jeff Fraser, the Ward protégé who took part in season one of The Contender, to chat as well. Fraser is in the Sunshine State to act as a sparring partner for “Thunder” Gatti.

This is one SportsTalk you won’t want to miss. Showtime is 7-8pm. The number to dial in is (978)364-TALK (8255). Call in a couple of minutes early to get your spot in line. Talk to you then!

This might be as good a time as ever to acknowledge the contributions of Julian Tavarez to the 2007 Boston Red Sox.

The Sox #5 starter hurled a gem this afternoon, leading the way to a 2-1 victory over the Tigers. The final line: 7-innings pitched, 1-Earned Run, 4-hits, 4-walks, 3-K’s. Hideki Okajima (what a find) and Jonathan Papelbon (still get nervous every pitch he throws) sealed the win with a pair of scoreless innings.

While Tavarez’ stats look poor (5.59 ERA even after today’s start), a closer look shows he’s done a good job giving his team a chance to win. The Sox were really only blown out of one of his starts (4/24 against Toronto), even though he’s had some tough matchups (Rangers, Jays twice, Yankees, Twins, Orioles & Tigers). That’s about all you can ask of your fifth starter.

So here’s to you, Julian Tavarez. You may not stay in this role much longer, but you’ve done your job very well!

What do you think of Tavarez’ performance this year? Should they keep him in the role, even after Jon Lester is healthy? Would Lester really be that much of an improvement?

News Flash: The NBA has suspended Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw one game, and Robert Horry two games for their actions in a scuffle at the end of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Stoudemire and Diaw fall victim to the league’s rule that any player leaving the bench during an altercation is automatically suspended for a game.

Teddy’s Take: Not one of David Stern’s finer moments!

I understand rules are rules, but at some point, common sense has to prevail. This decision suspends two of the Suns most vital pieces, basically handicapping them for the most important game in what is, in essence, the NBA’s championship series, all because of a cheap shot by Horry on the Suns best player, Steve Nash.

Stoudemire and Diaw didn’t start the confrontation. They simply reacted emotionally to an unnecessarily aggressive play against the leader, and smallest player, on their team. Nash has been on the receiving end of overly physical, sometimes dirty, play by a San Antonio team clearly trying to intimidate what many people think is a soft Phoenix squad. No problem with that. It’s been part of basketball since the day the sport was invented. What doesn’t have a place in the game is what Horry did in a game that was basically over. Stern knows this, or he wouldn’t have suspended “Big Game Bob” two games for something that normally earns a fine. It’s an obvious attempt to make up for the fact the Suns are getting screwed by a stupid rule. The problem is, San Antonio is being rewarded for Horry’s actions.

Unfortunately for fans of the NBA, David Stern didn’t use any in this instance!

What do you think of the suspensions? Warranted? Excessive? Will they ultimately decide this series?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Dirk Nowitzki was awarded the NBA’s Most Valuable Player trophy (the Podoloff Trophy) for the 2006-07 season.

The Dallas Mavericks ninth-year man averaged 24.6 points per game, 8.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 50.2 percent from the field (41.6 percent in 3-point attempts) and leading Dallas to the NBA’s best record (67-15).

Dallas was eliminated in the first round of the Western Conference finals by the Golden State Warriors.

The 7-foot tall German captain of the Mavs became the first European-born player in the history of the NBA to win the award.

Former Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria), Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash (Canada) and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (St. Croix, Virgin Islands) are the other international players to be awarded the MVP.

The voting was done by 129 sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada.

Players get 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote received.

Nowitzki received 1,138 points, including 83 first place votes. Rounding out the top five in voting for MVP were Nash (1,013 points, 44 first-place votes), the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (521 points, two first-place votes), Duncan (286 points) and Cleveland’s LeBron James (183 points).

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

While seeking to explain Josh Beckett’s struggles on the mound in 2006, people often turned to the old baseball axiom about pitchers with a “million dollar arm and 10-cent brain.”

Apparently, the focus was on the wrong body part. The first six weeks of ’07 prove that Beckett’s brain may also be worth seven digits. It’s the middle digit on his pitching hand that’s more worthless than a penny stock.

Beckett left his Mother’s Day start against the Orioles due to the mother of all finger injuries; an “avulsion” of the skin on his right middle finger. In doctor-speak, an avulsion is a “tearing away.” In normal people-speak, an avulsion is a blister. If you’re not familiar with the right-hander’s history of blister problems, here’s a brief recap;

The fickle finger of fate first turned on the then Florida Marlins hurler May 1, 2002, when a blister on his right middle finger landed him on the disabled list. That call for Mayday wasn’t enough to rescue Beckett, and the same ailment sent him back to the DL June 5th. The third time proved to be the charm, as a late August visit to Injuryland cured the rookie long enough to lead the fish to a World Series title with a complete game shutout of the Yankees in Game 6. Somewhere, Rollie Fingers was smiling.

Blisters never developed into a problem in 2003, probably because a two month stint on the DL with an elbow injury kept the calluses well-formed. However, smooth skin led to another hiatus on May 31st, 2004. Barely back from that dermatologists dream, a back strain (probably the strain of finding another blister) cost Beckett 15 more days of activity. Granted his freedom from the DL the day after Independence Day, Beckett was disabled again July 6th with…you guessed it; a skin tear to his right middle finger.

Baseball’s most famous finger incident of 2005 wasn’t Beckett’s 6th and final blister related trip to the injured list on June 5th. That honor belonged to Rafael Palmeiro’s pointed denials at the Congressional panel investigating steroid use in baseball. Apparently in Washington, a wagging finger coincides with a lying mouth, though best we can tell neither Palmeiro nor President Clinton developed blisters.

Beckett completed the 2006 season, his first in Boston, without a single skin issue landing him on the DL. It was also his worst season in the major leagues. Fast forward to 2007 and a pitcher who found himself at the top of his profession again, only to find his skin problems have returned. Coincidence? Not if you believe our potential Cy Young winner is caught in a Catch-22 of stinking out the joint or developing blisters in the finger joint.

Perhaps Red Sox Nation can offer suggestions to help alleviate the problem, much like Marlins fans used to. Skin experts say to stop throwing the minute you feel a problem developing, though Beckett is understandably hesitant to allow such an unmanly exit from a ballgame. Perhaps he should lie and say he’s suffering from one of those famous groin strains fellow Texan Roger Clemens develops. You know, the ones Rocket Roger never seems to get when tossing seven shutout frames, only when he’s chased from the mound after four and a third innings of 5-run, 11-hit ball.

Ultimately, there may be no cure for Beckett’s blister issue. But if the Red Sox don’t put a finger on the problem, it could very well cause an avulsion of their World Series aspirations.

If you have any home remedies for finger blisters, give them to us and we’ll be happy to pass them along to the Red Sox and Josh Beckett!

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

A friendly reminder to all you SportsTalk fans out there. The Godfather of Sports Radio, Eddie Andelman, is our special guest for tonight's SunTalk Live broadcast.

Eddie Andelman on SportsTalk

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

After everything seemingly going right during their blistering start, the Red Sox have hit the first real bump in the road of the 2007 season.

It appears Josh Beckett’s nagging blister issues are back in play. I realize it’s a bit early to speculate and we don’t have a definitive answer from the Sox as of now, but this is a blog after all, and what fun would it be if didn’t speculate. Besides, it's Mother's Day...it's crazy busy here at the restaurat, and I'm at least making an effort to throw fresh material at you instead of taking the day off!

“Irritation in his right middle finger” is currently being listed as the cause for Beckett’s early departure from Sunday’s game against the Orioles. So I think it’s fair to guess the blister problems that have plagued the talented young righty his entire career have resurfaced. We’ll have to wait and see if this leads to a shutdown period, or if it will continue to hamper him throughout the summer. However, this raises a red flag for me, one that’s been raised before in other places.

While a very effective starter for the Marlins, Beckett constantly battled blister problems. Last year, he came to Boston and stunk out the joint, but never missed any time with finger issues. He returns this year, better than ever, and suddenly the blister rears its ugly head again (if indeed that’s what it is). Which again raises the questions;

Did Beckett stop using a particular pitch or grip last year to avoid the problems? If so, did that contribute to his struggles on the mound? Is his dominance in ’07 due to the return of that particular pitch or grip? And if so, does this mean Boston’s young ace is caught in a catch-22 of being a potential Cy Young winner who constantly battles blisters or a disappointing starter who stays healthy the entire season?

I hope I’m wrong, but I think we already know the answers.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Rookie camp is underway at Gillette Stadium as the Patriots put their 2007 draft class and assorted rookie free agents through what Bill Belichick describes as more of an “orientation” camp than training camp. Predictably, not much exciting is coming out of Foxboro, particularly during the coach’s press conference. However, one interesting (at least I think it’s interesting) thing caught my eye.

Year after year, draft gurus never seem to be able to pinpoint exactly what the Patriots are going to do. Belichick and Scott Pioli can always be counted on to draft a player in a spot where most pundits don’t think he belongs. We tend to attributed that to Belichick ranking players according to the needs of his “system” as opposed to what other teams require them to do. However, the following exchange gives even more insight into why New England seems to “reach” for guys who aren’t ranked highly on other boards:

Q: Do you find that preparing for the combine affects their conditioning because they are preparing for bench presses and wind sprints? Do you find sometimes that they are not always in football shape?
BB: Definitely. Definitely.
Q: How does that kind of manifest itself?
BB: I think it's a poor decision by the player personally, but that's what they decide to do. We don't have control over that. But I think a football player should train to play football, not train for the broad jump. I understand teams come in to test them for broad jump, but if a guy jumps 9’4 or 9’6, I don't think that's going to affect his draft status, but I think his training and his conditioning, his strength, his explosion, the things that he does on the football field, in the long run will be a lot more beneficial to him than working on a 20-yard shuttle. It's not my decision, but I would never advise them to do that, no.
Q: So, are you saying it happens quite a bit?
BB: If you talk to the players, I'm sure it varies, but I know that some of them have been training for those certain testing things that the scouts and the combine do, but they’ve been doing a lot more of that than they have been training for football. The guys that we have here are training for football and they’re training for our system. I think they’re significantly ahead of the younger players that are coming in.

I believe the gist of that exchange is as follows; the Patriots value football players over workout warriors. Perhaps that’s why when grading the Pats drafts, most “experts” come away under whelmed by Belichick and Pioli’s selections. And perhaps that’s why, when it comes to winning football games as opposed to athletic competitions, New England always seem to score “A’s” while many of their competitors flunk out.

Like me, do you ever wonder why NFL teams put so much stock in workouts that don’t necessarily have anything to do with playing winning football? Don’t you think that instead of timing someone in a 40-yard dash while wearing sneakers and shorts, they should make them run in full equipment and see how fast they are when lugging the extra weight around?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Ryan! Oh Ryan! You still out there Ryan?

Upon hearing news that Ricky Williams “allegedly” flunked another marijuana test, I’m left wondering if my friend Ryan will be sending that apology anytime soon. If you don’t recall, on February 20, 2006, I wrote the following paragraph as part of a “thoughts” column called Trash Talking;

If what they say about marijuana not being addictive is true, then I’m left to believe Ricky Williams is just really, really stupid! You mean to tell me he can’t stay clean for a few years, make tons of money, and then toke himself into oblivion after he retires?

Apparently Ryan took offense, taking the time to visit TheSunBlog and tell me what he thinks of my “take:”

My take is that your (sic) a moron....I think you should do your research or at least wait a day to find out that Ricky didn't even fail his test for marijuana before you give us your "expert opinion". That's the problem with the press, you post a story you have no clue about before you get your facts straight.

I don’t believe we’ve heard from Ryan since, and we probably won’t hear from him again, even though I offered him a friendly little wager and promised to apologize if I was proven wrong. You see, despite the bad rep we often get, most of us in the media live in the real world. We report what we see and offer our honest opinions on it. When something walks like a duck and “tokes” like a duck, we call it a duck. And when we’re wrong, we stand up and admit it. However, when we're right, we'd like you to admit we were right, especially after calling us a "moron."

I was right then and I’m right now. Either marijuana is more addictive than they think, or Ricky Williams is really, really stupid. Apology accepted Ryan!

Is anyone out there surprised that Ricky Williams won’t be resuming his NFL career because he can’t stay clean? Is this something Patriots fans should worry about with Randy Moss and Dante Stallworth?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.

Monday night…7-8pm…SportsTalk Live…Pick up your phone. Dial (978)364-TALK (8255). You’ll call in a few minutes early. Our moderator will set you up on the phone line. You can listen in on the conversation. You can ask questions or state your opinion if you’d like. Just make sure you're there. Do as you’re told, and you won’t wake up with a horse head in your bed!

All kidding aside, here’s your chance to talk to a living legend. Long before WEEI dominated the airwaves, Eddie Andelman WAS sports talk radio. For nearly four decades, The Godfather of sports radio has shared his thoughts and opened up the lines for New Englanders to share theirs. And now he’s going to do the same for SunTalk Live.

Whether your sport is football, baseball, basketball, boxing…you name it…Eddie knows it. So join us for what promises to be a fascinating hour of SportsTalk. We’ll also talk about The Hot Dog Safari, Andelman’s fundraiser to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis and the Joey Fund. The 18th annual event takes place June 3rd at Suffolk Downs and we’ll tell you all about it and how to get involved. So get those phone batteries charged up and help us give Eddie a big Merrimack Valley welcome.

It’s an offer you can’t refuse!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

There will be no head coaching change this off-season for the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics announced on Thursday that they have extended the contract of head coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Doc is a leader and I have all the confidence in the world in Doc as coach of the Celtics. With Doc as our coach we have the continuity that is crucial in the development of the franchise.” Danny Ainge, Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations, said in a release from the team.

Rivers, who just completed his third season with the Celtics, has a record of 102-144 with Boston.

The Celtics were 24-58 this year in a season that featured a franchise-record 18-game losing streak. Boston finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the second worst in the NBA to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Celtics finished the 2005-06 season with a record of 33-49.

In his first season with the Celtics, Rivers led the Celtics to their first Atlantic Division title since the 1991-92 season. Boston finished the regular season with a record of 45-37. The Celtics were ultimately defeated in the seventh game of the first round by the Indiana Pacers.

“I am happy to be the Head Coach of the Boston Celtics. Moving forward I am more determined to move this franchise in the right direction and I believe that I can do that.” Rivers said.

What do you think? A mistake for the Celtics? Was it a good decision by Ainge and ownership? Lucky break for Rivers? Click the comments link below to weigh in with your thoughts.

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

The following appeared in the Lowell Sun today.

By Barry Scanlon, Sun Staff

The Lowell Devils' new executive director is nothing if not an optimist.

Asked what his ticket sales goal for the upcoming 2007-08 season are, Chris Ciceri didn't hesitate.

"Fill the building," Ciceri said yesterday from Tsongas Arena. "Sixty-four hundred. Climb to the top of the mountain. I don't know of any people who say, 'Why don't we climb halfway up Mt. Everest?' "

Those are bold words considering the Devils this past season averaged 2,801 fans -- the lowest in the American Hockey League and the lowest of Lowell's nine-year professional hockey history -- during their first year in Lowell, despite a 38-30-6-6 record.

Ciceri has held only two jobs since graduating from Providence College in 1972. He spent the previous 16 years for a marketing and services company in Michigan involved in the automotive trade.

Though he has lived the last 20 years in Detroit, Ciceri said he and his wife, Ann-Marie, are excited about moving to the Lowell area.

"We plan on getting involved in the community," said Ciceri, adding that he plans to participate in the Lowell General Hospital TeamWalk for CancerCare on May 20. "Rome wasn't built in a day, but I feel there's a great opportunity here. This is such a beautiful facility."

Ciceri, a Montreal native, played hockey at Providence (1968-72) under Lou Lamoriello, the CEO/president/general manager of the New Jersey Devils.

"We are fortunate to have someone of Chris' caliber join our organization," Lamoriello said. "He has both a hockey and business background. Chris' strong marketing experience will serve him well as we endeavor to grow fan support in the Lowell market."

Ciceri said the recent spate of "negative press" regarding the Devils' future in Lowell is an obstacle, but one he feels the franchise can overcome.

The Devils will be open for business during the 2007-08 season -- Ciceri is in the process of hiring a merchandise manager, a reception and a ticket sales representative. New Jersey's deal with Lowell expires after the 2007-08 campaign, but don't look for any doom and gloom proclamations about the future from Ciceri.

"I'm a very positive guy," said Ciceri.

After reading this today, I think the Devils are showing they want to make a go of it in Lowell and I personally hope it works.

What do you think of this move by the Devils? Can it help save hockey in Lowell? Or do you believe it's too little, too late?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

If a picture says a thousand words, what do you think Curt Schilling is saying in this one?

I actually admire the big guy for saying what he did about Barry Bonds on WEEI yesterday. (For those who missed it, Schilling accused Bonds of cheating on his wife, his taxes and in baseball) While I personally think he should have left the wife part out of the discussion and focused solely on the baseball part of it, it’s refreshing to hear an athlete speak what’s truly on his mind instead of circling the wagons and giving the usual, robotic answers to the media.

My only problem is this; where was this candor the day Schilling and the Juicers (sounds like a kiddie rock band, doesn’t it?) appeared before Congress? You can almost see the disbelief in Schilling’s face as Palmeiro wags his lying finger under oath. He’d previously spoken out about steroid use in a Sports Illustrated article, and he certainly didn’t mince words yesterday. So why not speak the truth when it could have possibly done some real good? For someone who knows what a fastball over the plate is, Schilling sure did pass up a golden opportunity to hit one out of the park that day.

Oh well, I guess better late than never!

What did you think of Schilling's comments about Bonds? Needed to be said? Went over the line? How about his disappearing act before Congress?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Not to pick on our friends over at the Lowell Devils, but this is the kind of thing you have to do to make your minor league team a big league attraction;

As part of New England Patriots Night, the Lowell Spinners have lined up Stephen Gostkowski to boot autographed footballs into the stands. The Pats sensational rookie kicker will take to the outfield between innings of the Sunday, June 24th game at LeLacheur Park against Vermont.

“While most fans feel lucky to leave the ballpark with a foul ball, Spinners fans will play the role of Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk by catching a kickoff from one of the NFL’s best place kickers,” said Lowell Spinners Vice President/General Manager, Tim Bawmann. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Actually, it’s really not Tim. With the Spinners, this kind of stuff is the norm. It’s just another example why Lowell is fortunate to host the best run minor league operation in the country.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Long-time New England fans who fondly recall the days of Mosi’s Mooses now have a chance to meet the former Patriots star.

Lowell Spinners Vice President of Corporate Communications, Jon Goode, has set up a Fans Press Conference at The Skybox Restaurant in Tewksbury this Saturday, featuring Mosi Tatupu. Tickets for the event, which runs from Noon-2pm, go for $15 ($5 of which goes to charity) and include an 8x10 glossy photo, autograph opportunity and chance to participate in a Q&A with the popular Pats fullback.

Goode and his wife formed the C2 Mission (www.c2mission.org) to benefit children and families affected by Cerebral Palsy and Cystic Fibrosis. They’ve held similar events family friendly events featuring New England sports heroes like Steve Grogan, so if you have some free time Saturday, gather up the clan and head on out to Tewksbury for the early afternoon.

You’ll have a great time and support a great cause in the process!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was named to the NBA All-Rookie second-team today.

The point guard was acquired through a draft night deal with the Phoenix Suns this past year. Rondo was an early entry in last year's draft out of the University of Kentucky.

Rondo averaged 6.4 points per game, 3.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in just 23.5 minutes per game. He led the entire league in steals per 48 minutes with 3.36. His 128 steals were 10th in the NBA.

Rondo received one first-team vote and eight second team votes (10 points) in the voting by NBA head coaches. The coaches were asked to select five players for both the first and second team, regardless of position. They were not alowed to vote for players on their own team.

Brandon Roy, Andrea Bargnani, Randy Foye, Rudy Gay, Jorge Garbajosa and LaMarcus Aldridge were all named to the NBA's All-Rookie first team, while Paul Millsap, Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Craig Smith, Walter Hermann and Marcus Williams joined Rondo on the second team.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The New England Riptide’s first round draft pick Garland Cooper continues to beat up opposing pitchers, hitting .379 with a team-high 21 home runs and 65 RBI in 53 games.

Cooper’s teammate Eileen Canney, New England's second pick, has been just as dominant on the mound for the Wildcats. Her record is currently 25-8 and she has allowed just 52 earned runs in 199 and 1/3 innings. Canney recorded 276 strikeouts in that same stretch.

The Wildcats enter this week’s Big Ten Tournament with a record of 43-10 and as the number two seed in the conference.

Also, the Big Ten has posted a feature on the history of Northwestern softball on its website as part of the 25th anniversary of women’s championships in the conference. Former Wildcats coach and current Riptide coach Sharon Drysdale is also quoted in the piece.

The Riptide’s third pick in this year’s draft Alex Sutton of the University of California is also having a very productive year for the Golden Bears. She leads the team with 43 RBI and is hitting just under .300 right now (.298). Sutton has also swatted 10 homers this season.

She is the subject of a feature appearing on