July 2007 Archives

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Boston Celtics have issued the following press release:

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have acquired 10-time All-Star and 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 first round draft pick (top three protected) and a return of Minnesota’s conditional first round draft pick previously obtained in the Ricky Davis-Wally Szczerbiak trade. Minnesota also receives cash considerations in the deal.

“Kevin Garnett is a great player in our league, with a fierce and competitive spirit, who brings offensive scoring prowess and a defensive presence to our team,” Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said. “The players we’re trading to Minnesota have bright futures in the NBA and we wish them well.”

The 12-year pro is one of just five players in NBA history to amass at least 19,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists joining Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. The 6’11” 253lb forward led the NBA in rebounding for the fourth consecutive season this past year and is just the fourth player in NBA history to do so. He joins Chamberlain, Moses Malone and Dennis Rodman as the only players to accomplish that feat. Garnett has been named to the All-NBA First Team three times (2000, 2003, 2004), the All-NBA Second Team three times (2001, 2002, 2005) and the All-NBA Third Team twice (1999, 2007). Garnett has also been named to the All-NBA Defensive First and Second Teams eight times. His NBA efficiency score of 29.2 was the highest rated of all NBA players in the 2006-2007 season.

“While it’s difficult to part ways with the young players we’ve worked hard to develop, Kevin has been the consummate professional player in the NBA and a player who I have marveled at over the years,” Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers said. “Kevin leaves everything he has out on the floor every game. He has drive, passion and a hunger to win that is unmatched across the league.”

The product of Farragut Academy High School in Illinois became the first player in more than 20 years to be drafted directly out of high school in 1995 when he was taken fifth overall by Minnesota. He currently has the longest active streak for scoring in double-figures with 398 straight games that dates back to the beginning of the 2002-03 season. That streak of 398 games is good for eighth best in NBA history. Garnett currently ranks 41st in scoring in League history, as well as 27th in rebounds.

“I am excited to become a Celtic,” Garnett said. “It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to play with players the quality of Paul (Pierce) and Ray (Allen). The Celtics have had a proud tradition and now I hope that we can add to the legacy.”

"As owners we are delighted to have a core of three All Star talents to anchor our team,” co-owner Wyc Grousbeck remarked. "Speaking for my partners, while we will miss the valuable players we have traded, we have assembled a group of veteran players who demonstrate Celtic Pride on the court and in the community and who will work hard to deliver a championship contender to the fans of New England.”

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

It is now official, the Boston Celtics have completed a trade to acquire Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Celtics have scheduled a press conference for this evening in Boston. Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are all scheduled to be present.

Rick Alonzo of the Pioneer Press, who was Teddy Panos’ guest on SportsTalk Live last night, is reporting that the deal will send Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes and two first-round draft picks to Minnesota.

We will have more throughout the day on what is probably the biggest move for the Celtics franchise in several decades.

You’ve read the thoughts of myself and Teddy in regard to this trade. Now let’s here from you out there in the blogosphere.

With the Folk Festival behind us (hope those Shish-ke-bob anxiety dreams stop soon!), I figured it might be a good time to sample a little something from each of the sports booths set up over the weekend:

Some people (Yes Nick, I’m talking about you!) have spent the last month questioning why Danny Ainge would trade young players and draft picks for an “old, washed-up” Ray Allen. You folks now have your answer.

As I write this, the Kevin Garnett trade hasn’t been finalized, though it appears imminent. A month ago, KG’s agent indicated his client didn’t want to come to Boston. What happened to change his mind? Well, promising youth has been exchanged for an established veteran. Suddenly, the C’s look mighty attractive to a guy who wants to win a ring. Just wait till you see how many veteran role players are willing take a cut in pay to wear Celtic green if they get to play alongside Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce.

While we’re at it, how about a round of applause for Ainge. Dealer Danny has taken an awful lot of guff around these parts for breaking up the 2002 Eastern Conference finalists, but people who understand the game knew that Pierce/Antoine entry was not a legitimate title contender. Even worse, from a stylistic standpoint, it was one of the most horrific teams ever assembled.

The final turn off for me was trading Joe Johnson for a 3-point shooting power forward (Rodney Rogers) who couldn’t rebound or block shots, and a 3-point shooting point guard (Tony Delk) with worse aim than the bad guys in a Schwarzenegger flick. Ainge was smart enough to tear that team down and start from scratch. In the process, he accumulated enough assets to trade for not one, but two all-stars. It took a while to make the Celtics relevant again, but Red Auerbach would be very proud of the feisty kid he coaxed out of a career in baseball.

Speaking of the diamond, I don’t want to echo Lou Gorman’s infamous “where would we play Willie McGee” quote, but where are we going to play Jermaine Dye? On the list of needs for 2007, corner outfielder/DH is not one of them, unless we’re ready to call the 5-year J.D. Drew contract a disaster after only 5-months.

It’s not so much the cost of acquiring the White Sox outfielder that scares me, but the thought of an unhappy veteran (Drew or Dye) sulking on the bench. If the 2004 Sox taught us anything, it’s that quality role players often make the difference in tight playoff contests. I’d rather see Theo Epstein acquire a Dave Roberts-type 4th outfielder who can come off the pine to provide speed and defense. If not, why not just stick Jacoby Ellsbury in that role when he comes off Pawtucket’s disabled list?

Michael Vick is about to find out how true the adage “if you lie down with dogs, you wake up with flees” really is. Tony Taylor, one of Vick’s co-defendants in the canine caper, has already copped a plea deal. Davon Boddie, the cousin who lived on Vick’s property where the alleged activities took place, was not indicted in the case, a pretty good indication he’s been cooperating with authorities all along. Dogs may be incredibly loyal, but friends and family aren’t necessarily so.

Unless of course, we’re talking about Greg Anderson, the Barry Bonds buddy who’s still rotting in jail while BALCO boy chases Hank Aaron.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Multiple reports out today have the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves nearing the completion of a major trade that could bring 10-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett to the Celtics.

Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes this morning that Celtics director of basketball operations has confirmed that the teams are in talks.

"I can confirm we're talking, sure," Ainge told the Pioneer Press. "We're in discussions about K.G."

ESPN.com is reporting that as of Sunday night the Celtics and Timberwolves had revived discussions on a deal that would bring Garnett to Boston. The story indicates that it is believed that the deal would send Al Jefferson and Theo Ratliff to Minnesota as well as Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, and future draft picks.

Foxsports.com is reporting that the two sides are getting close on a deal that could be wrapped up within 48 hours.

According to Fox Sports, the deal on the table included the Celtics shipping out Jefferson, Ratliff, Rajon Rondo, and possibly other players and draft picks.

Click on the Comments link below to weigh in with your thoughts on the potential trades. Do you think it will happen? What will it mean if it does go through? What if they can't get it done? Are you happy with what the Celtics may end up giving up?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

This is what the position-by-position breakdown looks like right now for the Celtics:

Guards (5)

Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Gabe Pruitt (R), Rajon Rondo, Sebastian Telfair

Forwards (7)

Glen Davis (R), Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Paul Pierce, Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine, Brandon Wallace (R)

Centers (2)

Kendrick Perkins, Theo Ratliff

(Michael Olowokandi is a free agent)

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Boston Celtics announced on Friday that the club has requested waivers on guard Allan Ray.

Ray, an undrafted free agent on July 6, 2006 out of Villanova University, averaged 6.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game during his rookie season. The 6’2” guard played for the Celtics squad in the NBA Summer League earlier this month.

Ray was tied for fourth in three-point field goal percentage by a rookie shooting at a clip of .414. He also spent time with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League this past season.

Seems like forever since the Patriots loss in the AFC Championship. In reality, it’s only been six months. But will all the off-season hype surrounding Bill Belichick’s boys, the buildup to opening day of training camp has been bigger than the buildup to the regular season on those Pats teams that nobody cared about in their lousy days.

David Pevear writes a fine column in today’s Lowell Sun about drinking the "high expectations" Kool-Aid. The comment I found most interesting from today’s media get-togethers involves Randy Moss, a formerly controversial player who obviously drank the Belichick brand of Kool-Aid in large quantities leading up to camp:

Q: When do you anticipate things really clicking with Brady? September maybe?

RM: We don’t really have to click as individuals. I think we have to click as a whole unit. You have 11 players on the field and if one of those 11 lets down, then anything can happen. It’s not just me and Tom who need to be on the same page. We need 11 guys on offense, 11 on defense and 11 on special teams and everybody needs to contribute. Everybody has a job to do. Hopefully we can all do that.

The coach couldn’t have said it better himself. And speaking of BB, here’s an early indication how he’s going to handle the hype surrounding his new receiver:

Q: How did Randy Moss do today in terms of his conditioning and just generally?

BB: I don’t know. We had about 70 players out there practicing today. I couldn’t give you a rundown on each guy.

Sure, coach. A few more days of answers like that, and the local media will stop asking specific questions about Moss.

Tom Glavine stands on the doorstep of history, and there’s a very good chance that once he’s in, the door will be locked tight behind him.

The pride of Billerica, MA earned career victory #299 last night in Pittsburgh. His first crack at 300 comes Tuesday night in Milwaukee. Even if he fails against the Brewers, Glavine is a lock to reach the milestone at some point this season, barring catastrophic injury, of course. When he does, there’s a very good chance he’ll likely go down in history as the last major league pitcher to do so.

Think of the factors working against pitchers in today’s game; 5-man rotations…liberal use of the bullpen…pitch counts…bulked up batters…scientific approaches to hitting…and of course, the dreaded arm injuries that seem to strike down any overworked hurler. Mommas, don’t let your babies grow up to be pitchers. The deck is stacked against them.

While most of the baseball world follows Barry Bonds’ quest to make home run history, wise fans of the game will keep their attention focused on the Mets rotation. I’ll guarantee you someone, probably A-Rod, will come along and top whatever number Bonds closes out his controversial career at.

Tom Glavine, on the other hand, will go down as the last of his kind!

What do you think? If you voted “No” in the poll, who do you think can win 300-games? Better yet, what fundamental change to the game do you think will occur that will allow that to happen?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The New England Riptide had won eight of their last nine games before last night’s loss to the Philadelphia Force.

At this time last year, New England was in the middle of a hot streak in which they won 10 of 11 games, but that fire was doused with ice water as the Riptide went 2-6 to finish the last eight games of the regular season.

Of course, they went on to win the NPF Championship despite being the fourth seed in the four-team playoffs.

“I think the difference is that last year we got on a roll and we were really really hot and gained a ton of momentum in July because we kept coming back from behind,” Riptide head coach Sharon Drysdale said. “It drained us, but it gave everybody a lot of confidence and everybody really worked as a team to generate those runs.”

Drysdale also pointed out that the stretch of winning took a lot out of the team last year as they played the final weeks of the regular season with a playoff spot virtually locked up. The big thing in the final weeks, according to Drysdale, was getting rested and being mentally prepared for the playoffs.

“This year has been much difference because we’re defending and it’s been much tougher from the get-go, and everything has been hard and every game is hard,” Drysdale said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. Whether it’s Michigan, Venezuela, these guys (Philadelphia), or Washington, the names of the opponent doesn’t matter. Every game has been hard, and that takes a lot out of you.”

The question: Is it better to end the season on a winning note, or can a team afford to do what the Riptide did last year and bank on the confidence they built throughout the year despite mounting losses down the stretch?

Drysdale’s answer: Both.

“I think the fundamentals are important at this point, and we need to sure up some things because we can‘t afford to have breakdowns in fundamental execution and that’s what we had (Wednesday night),” Drysdale said. “So, we need to address that, and if we do, the winning will take care of itself.”

Let the scoreboard watching begin
New England came into this week’s series with a record of 20-12 one game behind the Rockford Thunder (21-11) for third place in National Pro Fast pitch (NPF).

This week’s opponent, the Philadelphia Force, trail the Riptide in the standings and came in tied with Chicago for the worst mark in the league with a record of 13-15.

The Force and the Riptide split the previous eight games with New England winning 3 of 4 at Martin Field and Philadelphia taking 3 of 4 down at ECTB Stadium at Bicentennial Park.

Following this week's series with Philadelphia, the Riptide have a week with no games before hosting Akron in a four-game set. Then they'll tangle with the Force again in the regular season’s final series in Philadelphia on August 16-19.

Diversified attack
The Riptide have benefited from increases in speed and depth above all else this season.

New England had 27 stolen bases as a team last season. This year, rookie outfielder Shanel Scott already has 25 by herself, while Carri Leto Martin has nine and Lisa Modglin has swiped seven.

This season the pitching staff has been healthy and has been much more of a “staff” compared to last season when Jocelyn Forest got 15 of 24 Riptide wins. Eileen Canney (seven wins), Danielle Henderson (six wins) and Erica Beach (five wins) have all picked up the slack this season for Forest who is 2-4 so far this season.

Still, defense has not fell by the wayside.

The Riptide, who had the fewest number of errors in National Pro Fast pitch (NPF) last year, come into Thursday’s game having committed 23 errors. That is currently tied with Washington and Akron for the best in the league. While Akron has played just 25 games, Washington has played as many games (33) as the Riptide.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

I'm feeling very inquisitive this week, so here's another question for you. (I'm also up to my you-know-what in Folk Festival preparations, which is why you're getting polls instead of the well-thought out, well-written masterpieces I normally post...LOL!) As always, feel free to comment on why you voted the way you did.

(As always, feel free to leave your comments on why you voted as you did)

Lowell Sun Patriots writer, David Pevear, was our guest on last night's SportsTalk Live as we previewed the upcoming season and Friday's opening of training camp. Randy Moss, the Asante Samuel situation and the Pats role as pre-season NFL favorite were just three of the topics we touched on. (To hear the entire broadcast, click on the link below)

We also touched base on Micahel Vick and what the future holds in store for him, as well as the NBA point shaving scandal and whether such a disaster could potentially rock the football world.

Tell me you didn’t have one of these older relatives growing up;

You’d be sitting in front of the T.V., totally engrossed in a playoff game involving your favorite team, living and dying with every single play. In would walk your dad or uncle, glance at the television, smirk in your direction and say;

“I don’t know why you’re getting so worked up. You know the games are fixed. It’s all business.” (Bizzy-ness must be uttered in a thick accent to get the proper effect of growing up in a Greek household)

I can’t tell you how mad I used to get at them. How dare they insinuate the athletes I worshipped or people who ran the games I loved would do anything to undermine their integrity? Sports are business? HAH! Those guys were in it for the same reason we watched; love of the game.

Well, long before Mo Vaughn told us it wasn’t about the money, I’d realized it was ALL about the money. My father and uncles were right about sports being bizzy-ness. What I’m afraid of is they may have been on to something with the “fixed” part, too.

This NBA point shaving scandal has the potential for huge repercussions. Right now, only Tim Donaghy has been named, though authorities believe the former referee will cooperate with the investigation. A source close to the FBI told me “it’s a shame the news went public so soon because now they’ll have a chance to circle the wagons and cover up.” You know what that tells me? The feds believe this runs deeper than just one renegade ref.

I’m not trying to single out referees here. Being so close geographically to Boston College, we’re all well aware how simple it is for those with a financial stake to sink their claws into players naïve enough to fall into the trap. It’s the reason every organized sport warns its athletes against the dangers of gambling. Get too far in the hole, and your only choice is throw a game or watch yourself or a loved one suffer physical harm. (You Pete Rose supporters out there might want to think about that before hitting someone with the “he never bet against the Reds” argument!)

The glue that binds any game to its fans is the understood trust that the outcome on the playing field is genuine and dependant solely on the honest efforts of the competing athletes or lady luck. Lose that trust, and you might as well become roller derby, professional wrestling or a Don King production.

Tim Donaghy refereed 63-regular season games in the 2006-07 NBA season, including a February contest where the underdog Knicks were awarded 39-free throws to Miami’s 8 on the way to an upset victory. Donaghy was also on the court for 20-playoff matchups. In one of those, the atrociously officiated Game 3 of the Spurs-Suns series, Amare Stoudemire played only 21-foul plagued minutes while Tim Duncan exploded for 33-points and 19-rebounds. Were these games fixed?

Ask you father or uncles.

What do you think of this Tim Donaghy/point shaving situation? Does this run deeper than just Donaghy? Does it go on in other sports, too? Does it help explain why Major League Baseball's reaction to the Pete Rose scandal?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Celtics three-man answer at the point guard position is light on experience and heavy on uncertainty.

Even though he was a combination guard, Delonte West’s move to Seattle eliminates the one security blanket in Boston’s backcourt.

It says volumes that Danny Ainge asserted that Ray Allen became the team’s best option on a the pick-and-roll as soon as he arrived in Boston.

The trio:

Gabe Pruitt
Height: 6-4
Weight: 170 pounds
Age: 21
College: USC
Years Pro: 0

Rajon Rondo
Height: 6-1
Weight: 171 pounds
Age: 21
College: Kentucky
Years Pro: 1
2006-07 Stats: 6.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.6 spg, 41.8 FG %, 64.7 FT %, 20.7 3FG %, 23.5 mpg.

Sebastian Telfair
Height: 6-0
Weight: 160
Age: 22
College: None (Abraham Lincoln High School)
Years Pro: 3
2006-07 stats: 6.1 ppg, rpg 1.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 0.6 spg, 37.1 FG %, 81.8 FT %, 28.9 3FG %, 20.2 mpg.

Pruitt and Rondo both played in the summer league in Las Vegas. Telfair has reportedly been working out in Vegas and preparing for the upcoming season.

Combined, the trio has started a total of 111 NBA games and zero playoff games.

Of the eight Eastern Conference playoff teams, not one will come into the 2007-08 season with less starting experience--playoff or otherwise--at the point guard position than the Celtics.

In fact, each of the East’s playoff teams carries more experience in a single player.

Orlando has Jameer Nelson (131 starts/4 playoff starts). Washington’s Gilbert Arenas (397/16) qualifies in that category. New Jersey’s answer is Jason Kidd (933/100). In Chicago that’s Kirk Hinrich (304/22). Miami gets that from Jason Williams (596/53). Toronto’s spot is filled by T.J. Ford (196/10). Cleveland can go with either Larry Hughes (416/38) or Eric Snow (546/51), and Detroit re-upped with their NBA Championship-tested point guard Chauncey Billups (586/99) this off-season.

This post is in no way a call to push the panic button. I still feel very comfortable with the Red Sox lead over the Yankees and have no doubt Boston’s Boys of Summer will enter the playoffs as American League East champions. However, in the long-term interests of this team, a couple of adjustments need to be made soon so that everything is lined up for October.

First, it’s time for Jon Lester to be recalled from Pawtucket. Julian Tavarez held up pretty well much longer than any of us could have anticipated. That said, the last month has been atrocious. He needs to be placed back in the bullpen where he belongs, and we need to find out if all the fuss about Lester is warranted. I understand why management was cautious coming out of spring training (with the cancer recovery). I don’t understand why they’ve kept the kid in the minors this long. They think enough of the young lefty to not trade him for Roy Oswalt last July, so they obviously think he’s a big part of the future. Couple that with the fact bringing Lester up now wouldn’t constitute rushing him (they already did that last year) and the time is right for Lester to take his place alongside Beckett, Dice-K and the returning Curt Schilling for the stretch drive and playoffs. (Can we all agree Tim Wakefield shouldn’t be in a post-season rotation? Also, has anyone changed their mind on the value of Papelbon the closer vs. Papelbon the starter now that he’s pitching about once a week while Wake and Tavarez are pitching batting practice?)

The next change that needs to occur is getting Wily Mo Pena the heck out of here and calling Jacoby Ellsbury back up. The kid was a sparkplug in his brief Fenway stop. Right now this is a very flat team that could use a boost, something the top prospect’s speed can provide, even if only in a bench role. Plus if J.D. Drew is going to be nothing more than a slap hitter, Terry Francona might as well insert Ellsbury into that role full-time and take advantage of his speed and healthy hamstrings.

What do you think gang? Panic setting in? Will my changes help? What, if anything, would you change?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Not to ignore the Asante Samuel situation…feel free to chime in here, but at this point there’s really nothing new to report except the cornerback and the Patriots were unable to reach agreement on a long-term deal. No surprise there, as we’ve been discussing and predicting the situation will likely get ugly. The next step is seeing if Samuel will accept the franchise offer and show to camp Friday. The guessing here; don’t bet on it unless he gets a guarantee that he won’t be franchised again in 2008.

Now then, the real NFL drama of the day; a grand jury indicts Michael Vick on various conspiracy charges involving dog fighting. (Thanks to our friends over at Deadspin.com for the photo)

While ProFootballTalk.com (a great source to recap all the developments as they’ve unfolded) is reporting that Nike will eventually drop the Falcons Quarterback as a spokesman despite standing behind him not too long ago, the NFL and the Falcons have issued statements that basically say nothing except “we’re going to let the legal system play out before deciding what steps to take.” As we all know by now, everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty…everyone deserves a fair trial…yada-yada-yada….Can I just say something without sounding like the insensitive jerk I am?

WHAT A FREAKIN’ MORON!!!

You have to possess the IQ of a piece of luggage to be a multi-million dollar athlete with everything to lose and nothing to gain and still let yourself get involved in something like this. Even in the best case scenario where Vick has nothing to do with the dog fighting, how on earth can he be stupid enough to allow it to happen on his property? Even if he didn’t know what was going on, how on earth can he be stupid enough to let scumbags like the people involved in dog fighting live on his property?

Many people, yours truly included, believe he’s one of the most overrated players in the history of the league. The funny thing is, the inevitable pressure from animal right’s groups is what will finally do what so many pass rushers couldn’t; sack Michael Vick for good.

OK, enough from me. What do you think? Guilty or innocent? Done as an NFL player? Able to bounce back?

The New England Riptide took over the SunTalk Live phone lines last night...and Lowell's National Pro Fastpitch softball team did not disappoint!

Head coach Sharon Drysdale, along with star players Lindsey Angus and Jocelyn Forest stopped by the Lowell Sun offices, while team owner Joe Adlman joined in on the telephone. The discussion ranged from the team's championship run in 2006 and changes to this year's edition, to the challenges facing a small-market team in a fledgling league. (If you missed the show, you can hear it in its entirety at the SunTalk Live website)

The part I enjoyed most was listening to the players describe how much they enjoy the interaction with fans and the opportunities Riptide followers have to get close to them. Lyndsey and Jocelyn have been with the team since the beginning, and their character and personalities are clearly evident in the discussion.

If you haven't been out to see them before, listening to players talk will most certainly have you heading to Martin Field for some professional softball action in the very near future!

News Flash: In today’s Lowell Sun, Robert Mills reports on UMass-Lowell hockey coach Blaise MacDonald apparently saving his job behind the River Hawks bench. MacDonald entered a guilty plea to his Operating Under the Influence charge, issued apologies to the university and vowed to restore his reputation and that of the school.

Teddy’s Take: Much like the Dan Graham case at Lowell High, this is the only fair resolution.

MacDonald deserves a second chance. He’s accepting his punishment, will undergo counseling and seems sincere in his desire to put this behind him and learn from the mistake. Given that his previous record is exemplary, you have to take him at his word and trust he can move forward in a positive manner. From my own dealings with the coach and from discussions with others who know him even better, the episode was completely out of character. Only Blaise knows for certain why he showed such poor judgment that night, but now that Mother Theresa has passed away, I doubt there’s a person walking this earth that hasn’t screwed up at least once.

I’ve also heard criticism from some folks that centers around his record as coach. While we can debate how good the River Hawks should and shouldn’t be in Hockey East, there is no doubt the program faces unique challenges not seen at the BC’s, BU’s, Maine’s and UNH’s of the conference. What is not open for debate is the fact MacDonald’s kids do well in school and have a spotless discipline record. In the grand scheme of things, isn’t that the most important thing? Or at least, shouldn’t it be?

What do you think of the latest developments? Fair punishment and resolution? Can the program recover from this latest blow or is it another recruiting setback?

He never saw it coming.

As a veteran of 51-professional fights and countless amateur bouts, Micky Ward saw every possible punch. As a trainer, he has a good idea how opponents will attack his boxer. But the one thing Ward never anticipated was the body blow Father Time delivered to Arturo Gatti Saturday night in Atlantic City.

“There were no signs” said the 41-year old Lowell resident. “Arturo trained well. He was in fantastic shape. His legs felt great. He was motivated. Somewhere between the dressing room and the ring, age caught up to him, like it does all boxers. But before the fight, I didn’t think it was time yet.”

After a couple of rounds, Ward knew Gatti was done, though he couldn’t throw the towel in on his friend. “I kept saying I gotta stop it, I gotta stop it. But being a fighter myself, I knew he might not forgive me if I did. Maybe I should have, but at least he’s not hurt. It would have been hard on me if he got hurt.”

Though he considers Gatti’s 7th round knockout at the hands of Alfonso Gomez a “sad ending to a great career,” it isn’t the end of the line for Ward’s days as a trainer. Disappointment at the outcome aside, he’s slowly coming to grips with the helplessness that comes with not having a direct say in a fight’s outcome.

“I could see what was happening, what he was doing wrong,” said Micky. It’s frustrating because I don’t have any control anymore. When you fight, it’s all up to you. In the corner, you can only watch. But I still love to do this.”

Lowell’s favorite son will continue working with nephew Sean Ecklund and Haverhill’s Jeff Frazer, who appeared with Gomez on the original “Contender” TV reality show. Micky is also working on a few business propositions that will keep him heavily involved in the fight game as a trainer, though he’s reluctant to talk about them until everything is signed, sealed and delivered.

As for the movie based on his life, Ward hasn’t heard anything new about “The Fighter” since going away in early May to train Gatti. “Mark (Wahlberg) came to Atlantic City, but we didn’t get to talk because he took a quick flight out of town. I’ll get back into it now, but I want to relax a bit first. I was away for a long time, so it feels good to be home.”

The former Junior Welterweight champion still expects to host the Academy Award nominated actor when Wahlberg comes to the Mill City to shadow him in preparation for the role. The two are teaming up long before that, however, at the 2nd Annual Boston Labor’s Fight Night scheduled for July 25th at the Roxy. This year, the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation is a beneficiary of the event Micky helped raise nearly $80,000 for in 2006. Auction items include a round of golf with Ward and Wahlberg. (The event is private, but corporations and individuals can still contribute by contacting Courtney Church at 617-450-0600)

Between the business dealings and charity work, Ward jokes he’s busier in retirement than he was fighting. Two months of almost step-for-step training with Gatti have him in fantastic physical condition, though he harbors no illusions of stepping back into the ring. The epic Ward-Gatti trilogy took too much out of his body, something Micky knew when the final bell sounded that June night in 2003.

Ironically, it took Gatti four years to realize he’d suffered the same fate.

Grab those bats and get ready for some underhand heat as the New England Riptide take to the mounds on this week’s SportsTalk Live.

Lynn Worthy steps in the batter’s box with yours truly as we speak with team owner Joe Adlman, players and coaches. Here’s your chance to listen in, or ask questions of, the National Pro FastPitch League’s defending champions. Showtime is 7-8pm…the number to dial in; (978)364-TALK.

Play ball!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Lowell Spinners announced today that Red Sox No. 1 Draft Pick Nick Hagadone has had his debut moved up to tomorrow.

Hagadone is scheduled to start the 5:05 game against the Auburn Doubledays, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Red Sox selected Hagadone with the 55th overall selection in June's First Year Player Draft after going 6-1 with 11 saves and a 2.77 ERA this spring for the University of Washington.

Hopefully, his appearance will go a little better than Brendan Donnelly's rehab start last night. As Barry Scanlon reports in today's edition of The Sun, Donnelly's start was skipped over after he warmed up before last night's game.

How great has this baseball season been for Red Sox Nation so far? Not only do Boston’s Boys of Summer hold a double digit lead over the Evil Empire, but their nemesis from the Big Apple is awash in disharmony.

There are underachieving multi-millionaires everywhere in the lineup, most of them seemingly going through the motions. Meanwhile, Joe Torre and Brian Cashman are still allowed in the building, which is a total mystery to anyone who’s followed George Steinbrenner’s tenure as Yankees owner.

(While ESPN is running their “Bronx is Burning” saga depicting the incredible turmoil of those Steinbrenner-Billy Martin-Reggie Jackson teams, The Boss’ behavior more resembles the movie “Weekend at Bernie’s.” Honestly, are they just propping up George in the owner’s box from time to time so people think he still has a pulse? That’s the only explanation I can think of for why he hasn’t canned his manager and GM.)

Now the latest storm brewing; Alex Rodriguez, the player Yankees fans love to hate and the same player management shopped around last off-season, has basically told Georgie Porgie where to stick his millions. Since he’s about to win an MVP award while playing aboard an aging Titanic of a roster, the Yankees would like to sign A-Rod to an extension before he opts out of his contract. Too bad Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras are playing hardball and won’t negotiate during the season, or at least saying they won’t unless The Boss starts tossing around GNP of Third World Countries numbers.

How great is that? What we’ve previously discussed here is coming true…just when New Yorkers finally are warming to Rodriguez and realizing he’s the only one who’s skills aren’t eroding like The Old Man of the Mountain, he is either putting the screws to them or giving them the finger outright. YOU GOTTA LOVE IT!!!!

Even better, the reason the Yankees are now in a rush to do this and make it an extension of the current deal because the Rangers are still paying a good chunk of the existing salary. If A-Rod opts out, he signs a brand new deal and Texas pays none of it, meaning New York must pay the entire freight to retain the best player in the game. Naturally, the Yanks are saying they won’t do this, which is why they suddenly are willing to negotiate in-season. Of course, if I’m A-Rod and Boras, I’m asking where this sense of urgency and change in policy was when they were looking to trade the 3rd baseman. For his part, Rodriguez gave a great answer, saying it would be “selfish” to discuss a contract when the team is trying to win games. BODY BLOW! BODY BLOW!

Want more irony? You realize that $30-million dollar figure Boras is throwing around didn’t just come out of nowhere, don’t you? The ridiculous $28-mill they gave Clemens to beat the Pirates is the starting point for any new deal involving Rodriguez, so Steinbrenner and Cashman have already done Boras’ work for him by setting the starting point and making the demands seem reasonable in comparison.

I can see the MasterCard commercial now;

.500 record on July 13th? $200-million.

Soon-to-be 45-year old man who plays every 5th day? $28-million.

Best player in the game who now holds all the negotiating cards? $30-million minimum.

Seeing the New York Yankees and their supporters getting it put to them by someone they refused to accept into their fraternity? PRICELESS!!!

Do any of you think A-Rod will be playing for the Yankees in 2008? Should they have even bothered trying to sign him when it led to such a public slap in the face? How much do you love seeing this happen to the arrogant Evil Empire?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

A few notes from LeLacheur Park.

* Spinners right-hander Jimmy James was promoted to the Greenville Drive yesterday. He was leading the NY-Penn League with a miniscule ERA of 0.47 in 19 innings for the Spinners so far. He had a record of 2-0.

* Red Sox reliever Brendan Donnelly, on the 15-day disabled list since June 24, is expected to make a rehab appearance with the Spinners tonight at LeLacheur Park. Donnelly had an ERA of 3.05 and had given up 19 hits, eight runs (seven earned), and issued five walks in 20.2 innings of work with the Red Sox this season.

* Nick Hagadone, the Red Sox No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, is scheduled to make the first start of his professional career on Monday for the Spinners.

File this one under the “you can’t make this stuff up” category;

Radio Station WGR in Buffalo (I first found out about it on ProFootballTalk.com) is reporting that Ralph Wilson Stadium will host an outdoor hockey game this winter between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game, to be televised on NBC, will be dubbed “The Ice Bowl.” It's the first outdoor contest since the league ventured back to its roots with the 2004 Oilers-Canadiens roofless matchup.

“The Ice Bowl” name is pretty clever (though I’d bet NBC, not the NHL, came up with that one) and at first glance, it sounds like a great idea. Until you get to the date…Tuesday, January 1, 2008. As in New Year’s Day…the biggest college football day of the year.

Gary Bettman strikes again!

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Boston Celtics officially announced today that they have signed forward Brandon Wallace. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wallace, a 6’9” 203 lbs forward from the University of South Carolina, averaged 9.9 points and 9.4 rebounds last season when he was named Associated Press All-SEC Honorable Mention.

He set the school record for most games played with 135 and also set the record for blocks with 249. Wallace is also tied for ninth all-time in blocks in SEC history.

Wallace was among the rookies the Celtics brought in for pre-draft workouts\, and he is on the team's NBA Summer League roster.

Summer ball continues
The Celtics head into tonight's Summer League contest with China with a record of 1-1. Leon Powe (13ppg) and Gerald Green (12ppg) lead the squad in scoring through the first two games, while Glen Davis (7.5rpg) and Powe (7.0rpg) lead in the rebounding department.

Games are being televised on Fox Sports New England. Tonight's game against China takes place a 10 p.m.

The numbers are in
The National Basketball Association's salary cap for the 2007-08 season will be $55.6 million, the league announced on Tuesday.

Teams have been able to negotiate with free agents since July 1, but deals could not be officially completed until the new cap was established.

The tax threshold for the upcoming season will be $67.9 million, meaning any team whose salary exceeds that figure will have to pay a so-called luxury tax.

Teams whose salary exceeds $67.9 million will pay a $1 tax for each $1 it goes over the amount.

Last season the salary cap was set at $53.1 million and the tax level was $65.4 million.

The mid-level exception is rising from $5.2 million to $5.36 million. The minimum team salary is $41.72 million (75 percent of the salary cap).

The salary cap is calculated as a percentage of the NBA's revenue from the previous season.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Lowell Spinners announced yesterday that Red Sox pitcher Joel Piñeiro is scheduled to make a rehab appearance in Lowell on tonight.

The Spinners will face the Batavia Muckdogs for a 7:05 p.m. start, their first game back after a six-game road trip.

Piñeiro has been on the disabled list since June 30 with an ankle injury. He has pitched 30.2 innings with the Red Sox this year since signing with Boston as a free-agent before the season.

Piñeiro will be the 10th Red Sox to make a rehab appearance with the Spinners and the first since Keith Foulke and Wily Mo Pena made the trip last season.

The Spinners remind fans that although the game is technically sold out, there are always tickets available, whether it's groups downsizing, player tickets becoming available one hour before game-time.

What in the world has happened to Chris Berman?

Remember when ESPN first entered the public consciousness? This guy was entertaining and original…absolutely loved his nicknames (Dennis Upper-dEckersley is still my all-time favorite…what’s yours?) and his humorous take on the sports he covered. I even enjoyed his chicken-influenced “back-back-back” calls the first 2,976 times I heard them.

Now? Berman is about the most annoying thing on television this side of Rosie O’Donnell (come to think of it, has anyone ever seen the two of them in the same place at the same time? Hmmmmm), and the Home Run Derby is close to unwatchable because of his presence. Though the NFL Countdown show is still enjoyable, his voice at the outset of any other event ESPN covers is my cue to change the channel or hit the mute button. To me, Berman is basically Ron Burgundy doing sports, except that the Anchorman is supposed to be a caricature.

Then again, that’s exactly what Chris Berman has become.

Am I alone in this thinking? Those who agree with me; what do you think happened to Berman? Did he simply get all caught up and out of control in his celebrity?

When I think of the Ten Commandments, road rage isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind. Frankly, Charlton Heston, Mel Brooks and Edwin the Olympic hurdler rank higher on my Moses word association list than your average angry commuter.

Yet there it was on the front page of Monday’s Lowell Sun; the Vatican has issued its “Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road,” a top-10 list of do’s and don’ts presumably intended for all drivers, not just the Sunday kind. With the sex abuse scandal in their rear-view mirror now, they apparently don’t have enough work to keep them busy over at St. Peter’s Square.

(The other item of note in the article is that Bostonians rank third behind New York and Miami in the rudest motorist rankings. Come on folks! Where’s you sense of pride? Third? I’ll buy runner-up to those obnoxious New Yorkers, but to lag behind the Sunshine State’s senior citizens? We’re better than that. Let’s start honking!)

The news did get me thinking about the real Commandments, however. A Google search and quick refresher course led me to a scary conclusion; 99% of people associated with sports are going to hell. I include myself in that figure, though I’d realized that long before this topic came up. My qualifications are so good in fact, there’s an executive office with my nameplate on it somewhere down there.

The first Commandment tells us; thou shalt have no other gods before me, thou shalt not make thyself an idol. Sadly, more sports fans worship athletes than worship the Lord, though the players aid the process by conducting themselves as if the world begins and ends with them. Then again, if Sanjaya can try to make himself an Idol, why shouldn’t Johan Santana?

#2, thou shalt not make wrongful use of the Lord’s name, goes out the window every time a victorious competitor thanks The Almighty. If the man upstairs really chose sides, don’t you think the Saints and Cardinals would win every time? Michael Bishop probably would have beaten out Tom Brady as Drew Bledsoe’s backup, too.

Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy is the most violated Commandment of them all. Is there a busier sports day of the week than Sunday? Any priest knows exactly when NFL season begins and ends by his attendance figures. Even NASCAR holds its most important left-turn festivals on the day of rest, most of them right in the heart of the Bible belt.

The one athletes have the least trouble abiding by is the fourth, honor thy mother and father. The advent of television spawned a flood of “Hi Moms” from the sidelines, though I’m sure the Pope would prefer seeing both parents when the camera pans the stands. Far too many absentee fathers for the church’s liking.

I could go through the rest of the list, but you get the gist. Jocks are just as likely as their supporters to lie, commit murder and adultery or to covet thy neighbor’s wife and property. Suffice it to say the entire discussion can best be summarized by the 7th Commandment; thou shalt not steal. Name one team sport where stealing an object isn’t the main objective of playing defense. Since we applaud the other side of the ball almost as much as offensive excellence, we’ll all be joining our favorite athletes in hell.

Well, everyone except the Bruins. The way they’ve played defense over the last few years, they’re going straight to heaven!

Let me preface this by saying I believe Hideki Okajima, along with Mike Lowell, has been the Red Sox surprise hero over first half. He’s been invaluable bridging the gap to closer Jonathan Papelbon (a trouble spot for Boston over the years) and rock solid when called upon to finish games on the occasions where Little Papi has been unavailable. Without him, the Sox lead in the AL East would be nowhere near as big as it is today.

However, the reason he’s going to San Francisco isn't because he's one of the top pitchers in the American League, but because Red Sox fans traditionally turn out in droves on these post All-Star ballot internet ballots (think Johnny Damon and Jason Varitek). I’m sure the vote from Japan didn’t hurt Okajima’s case, either.

I actually voted for Jeremy Bonderman because he’s having a great year in a much more demanding role. An ace starting pitcher is so much more valuable than any set-up guy, and has always been treated as such in All-Star game selections. The mid-summer classic should be about rewarding the game’s best players and sending them to represent their league. So while most major league rosters are made up of 5-starting pitchers, 5-relievers and a closer, an All-Star squad traditionally consists of only 3 or 4 closers and the rest starting pitchers. Why? Because with the exception of your lights-out closers, baseball’s best pitchers are the elite starters. Jeremy Bonderman falls squarely into that category. Okajima, as good as he’s been, does not.

If you don’t agree, consider this; you’re the GM of a major league team and it’s your turn in the draft. Who do you select for your squad…Okajima or Bonderman?

Thought I’d throw a little shout-out to a frequent visitor to SportsTalk and multiple-time guest on SportsTalk Live.

Restricted free-agent Matt Bonner just signed a 3-year $9-million contract to stay with San Antonio. The former Concord (NH) High standout was a member of the Spurs 2006-07 championship squad, averaging 4.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He’d previously spent two years with the Toronto Raptors.

During his June 25th appearance on SunTalk Live, Bonner spoke about his desire to remain with San Antonio unless another team blew him out of the water with an offer. Apparently, the Spurs never let it get that far, offering their own big money deal.

File this one under; Good things happen to good people!

Before telling you the topic of our forthcoming SportsTalk Live show, let me remind you to step back a week and listen in to my interview with Drew Weber during our live broadcast from the Spinners game. Drew talks candidly about the reasons for his team’s success, what the future holds in store and what it’s been like this year without his wife Joann by his side at the ballpark.

As for this coming Monday, we’re taking the show on the road again to Hookslide Kelly’s. My guests and I will tackle all the hot sports topics of the day, especially the recent controversy surrounding UMass-Lowell Hockey coach Blaise MacDonald. Of course, we’ll also recap the 1st half of the Red Sox season and what, if any, changes we can expect post All-Star break.

You can participate in two ways; in person at Hookslide Kelly’s or by dialing in (978)364-8255 on your phone.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Boston Celtics officially announced their NBA Summer League roster. The Celtics will hold practice sessions on July 3 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, NV. The Celtics will also hold practices at the Desert Pines High School on July 4 at 11:00 a.m. and on July 5 at the Cox Pavilion.

The Celtics first game in the Summer League will be Friday, July 6. The Celtics five-game schedule in Las Vegas continues with match-ups against the San Antonio Spurs on July 9, the Chinese National Team on July 11, the Milwaukee Bucks on July 13 and will conclude with a game versus the Dallas Mavericks on July 14.

Celtics Summer League Roster
NO. PLAYER POS. HT. WT. COLLEGE/YEAR
57 Lance Allred C 6-11 270 Weber State
46 Pat Carroll G/F 6-5 190 St. Joseph’s
11 Glen Davis F 6-9 289 Louisiana State
59 Torin Francis F 6-11 252 Notre Dame
58 Andreas Glyniadakis C 7-1 280 Greece
5 Gerald Green G-F 6-8 200 Gulf Shores Academy
0 Leon Powe F 6-8 240 California
13 Gabe Pruitt G 6-4 170 Southern California
12 Allan Ray G 6-2 190 Villanova
9 Rajon Rondo G 6-1 171 Kentucky
36 Sergio Sanchez G 6-3 207 Spain
49 Brandon Wallace F 6-9 203 South Carolina

Blaise MacDonald’s arraignment on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol couldn’t come at a worse time for the UMass-Lowell Men’s Hockey program. The school was getting set to announce yet another step in making the team financially viable in Hockey East; beer sales at Tsongas Arena. UML has been a “dry” campus, but because the arena is technically not on campus grounds, they could sell beer at games without altering the overall alcohol policy.

The university has also sold 350 new season tickets as part of a drive headed by Mike Kuenzler. It remains to be seen whether MacDonald’s troubles affect the ticket drive or plan to sell alcohol at games. However the arrest is, at the very least, a serious public relations blow for a school that could use any good news after a lengthy battle to save the program.

Julio Lugo is a lucky man. The Fenway Faithful may have already soured on the $36-million shortstop, but it’s nothing compared to what they’d be doing to him if the Red Sox were battling tooth and nail for the division lead. There’s still plenty of time to turn things around, but the boneheaded baserunning blunder Saturday night is not a good sign. Any Little Leaguer knows you never make the final out at 3rd base. To do so on a steal attempt when you represent the tying run shows an IQ that would make Forrest Gump blush.

The only negative is the spaghetti arm. At least Lynn could reach home plate on the fly. I sometimes find myself wondering if Crisp would have a batter chance of nailing baserunners if he just ran the ball in instead of throwing it.

The Bruins newest netminder, Manny Fernandez, is reportedly a pain in the you-know-what off-ice. Perhaps the Black and Gold are looking to emulate the Red Sox success, but copying “Manny being Manny” isn’t exactly the best way to go about it.

In the second most ridiculous lawsuit of the year, Mark Cuban is suing former Dallas coach Don Nelson, claiming Nellie used “inside information” when the Warriors knocked off the top-seeded Mavericks in the NBA playoffs. If by “inside information” Cuban means that Nelson knows Dirk Nowitzki is a wimp who’ll settle for outside shots instead of taking it to the hoop for fear of getting hit, he may have a case.

In a related note, Cuban’s dry cleaner recently removed the “satisfaction guaranteed” sign from his store window.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

As part of continuing efforts to make the UMass-Lowell Men’s Hockey program more profitable, the University will allow the sale of beer at Tsongas Arena during games this season. The change in policy comes directly from the top, meaning new Chancellor Marty Meehan.

Alcohol sales had previously been prohibited at all River Hawks sporting events as UML is a “dry” campus. However, since Tsongas Arena is technically not a campus facility, it allows the overall policy to remain intact and alcohol will still be banned at other on-campus events. How this affects River Hawks baseball games at LeLacheur Park still remains to be seen.

We will continue to follow this story for you. Stay with the Lowell Sun and its internet sites for more details.

Will this change make it more likely for you to attend UML hockey games this winter? Do you think it will make the school's seniors and of-age students more likely to attend?

UPDATE (12:59pm): LowellSun.com is reporting that River Hawks head coach, Blaise MacDonald was arraigned in Lowell District Court this morning on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol. What, if any, affect this news has on the beer sales policy remains to be seen. But coming on the heels of the battle over the future of the school's hockey program, this is extremely poor timing and a terrible P.R. hit for the university.

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

Chris Drury and Scott Gomez will join Jaromir Jagr on Broadway this up coming season.
Drury signed a five-year deal with the Rangers worth $35.25 mil; while Gomez inked a deal worth $51.5 mil over seven-years.

The Maple Leafs signed Jason Blake to a five-year deal worth $20 mil and The Avalanche picked up defenseman Scott Hannan with an $18 mil, four-year deal.

The Flyers also made another move when they landed Jason Smith and Joffery Lupul via a trade from Edmonton. The Oilers acquired Joni Pitkanen, Geoff Sanderson and a third-round draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

The Bruins made a "whatever" move and signed Shawn Thornton to a multi-year deal. I wonder if Chiarelli knows this Thornton is not nearly as good as the one MOC traded away during the '05-'06 campaign.

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

July 1 is not only my mother's birthday, but for a die hard hockey fan, it's also Christmas in July. So, Happy Birthday Mom and Happy Canada/UFA Day to all the hockey fans out there.

I was already glued to my computer by 11 a.m. even though the market didn't open until noon - NHL.com had the live TSN feed so I got in three hours of live "Free Agent Frenzy" before they cut to NASCAR and killed the feed.

Not too worry though, TSN.ca has been running a Real Time UFA Singing Tracker. There were no, "STOP THE PRESSES" signings until 3:48 EST.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed Daniel Briere to a eight-year $52 mil contract - with the first year paying him $10 mil, the other seven years will be $6.5. Oh and there's a "no movement" clause in the contract. That's right, so even if he tanks after three seasons they still have to pay him $29 mil to buy him out. And to add to it, the Flyers were at $42.163 of the $50.3 salary cap before the deal - so they are done... no more signings for them. Unless of course, they dump some big time salaries via trades for prospects and picks. The 29-year-old center led Buffalo last season with 95 points and a team-leading 15 points in the playoffs.

Other notable signings during the first five hours were Brian Rafalski signing a five-year, $30 mil contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Rafalski scored a career-high 55 points last year in New Jersey. Rafalski had spent his entire career with the Devils, until now.

Former Bruin center Joe Thornton signed a three-year $21.6 mil extension with the San Jose Sharks locking up the 2006 MVP through the 2011 season. Thornton, set to become a UFA at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, said "Life is good out there. California Rocks." during a phone interview during the TSN live feed.

Mathieu Schnieder lands in Anaheim for two seasons after playing the last four years in Detroit. It's rumored that blueliner Scott Niedermayer is leaning towards retirement.

Still no news on highly sought after UFAs Chris Drury, Ryan Smyth and Scott Gomez - although rumors have Drury going to Colorado or to a team in the west; Smyth going to Colorado and Gomez ending up with the Rangers. Will New Jersey be in trouble next year without Gomez and Rafalski? What about Buffalo? They lost Briere already and they didn't even tender an offer to Drury.