Friday Boston Tidbits

Antoine Walker's suspension for Saturday night's game vs. Pacers could be the final blow to the Celtics' chances of beating Indiana and winning the series. His second technical foul was plain stupid for a seasoned veteran and, after having another bad playoff game, it's like things never change with him.

Bill Belichick's signing of local hero, Doug Flutie, as Tom Brady's backup for next year, is a win-win proposition for Doug, the fans and the Patriots. And if things go according to plan, he won't play once next year.

Celts-Pacers Observations

As the Celtics head back to Indiana for game 3 of their best of 7 series, all tied at 1, I couldn’t let it go by without a few observations from game 2.

Gary Payton reminded me of Dennis Johnson at the end of his career. Every time he was in the game he slowed the pace down to a crawl. Time for Marcus Banks and Delonte West to see more time.

As for Mark Blount; this guy got the big contract and literally has gone to sleep all year. Talk about someone just wasting space on the court. I say he stays out and Lafrenz or even Kendrick Perkins play center, at least they have a pulse.

Where was Al Jefferson in the second half? He’s arguably their best low post player and he didn’t see any time in the second half. Inexcusable!

And finally, watching Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker together as the rest of the team stood around and watched also, reminded me of the Celtic team of a few years back with these guys, which is a 2 on 5.

If the Celtics don’t get their act together from the coaching staff on down, they will lose this series very quickly to Indiana.

In Bill I Trust

When will local scribes ever learn to trust the greatest coach in NFL history - winner of three Super Bowls?

After completing the 2005 NFL draft, once again, Coach Belichick took a beating in the local press for drafting offensive guard/tackle, Logan Mankins out of Fresno State. Why? Because pigskin prognosticators had him going in the third round, but at least I know better.

As one football executive said to a local radio show here in Boston before the pick; "When the Patriots select number 32 in the first round you can be sure of two things. One, you've never heard of the guy and two, he'll be a huge contributor within 2 years." And that’s how I feel.

They needed depth on the front line with the departure of Joe Andruzzi, and Stephen Neal and Tom Ashworth entering the final year of their contracts. By drafting Mankins they picked up insurance on the line, a tenacious and "mean" lineman with great technique. And here’s the caveat: his college coach, Pat Hill, was Belichick’s line coach at Cleveland. It’s whom you know. And Belichick’s other college source, Coach Saban of LSU, is now running the Dolphins. I think it’s a win-win pick. Here’s Bill on his first selection, Logan Mankins: "He has played left tackle at Fresno. He played guard at the Senior Bowl. He definitely has some position flexibility. He is a smart guy that has been in a really good program. He has good fundamentals. He is a good technique player. He is pretty tough and that will give him some different options. We will see how it all works out for him." As for the other picks, they are all flexible athletes that Coach Belichick will give long looks too.

And, planning ahead to the 2006 draft, which is considered much deeper in talent than this year’s draft, Bill wheeled and dealed some of his picks this year and ended up accumulating 3 extra picks for next year. Again, when will people just go with what Coach Belichick does?

I don’t know about you, but three Super Bowls later, when Bill says this is the pick, then who am I to argue? In Bill I trust!

Opening Day 2005, Honoring The 2004 Red Sox

How was that for an opening day, Red Sox nation?! Yesterday’s 8-1 win over the Yanks was almost lost on the classy pre-game ceremonies honoring the 2004 Red Sox championship team. If you couldn’t afford baseball’s most expensive ticket, then the next best seat was in front of your television watching the proceedings. And if you’re a lifelong Red Sox fan, you even appreciated it more.

The festivities began with the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops playing as each World Series banner was unfurled over the Green Monster and culminating in the unfurling of the 2004 World Series banner. Then in the most emotional moment of the day, from beneath the Green Monster, the real heroes, American Veterans from the Iraq War, made their way across the field carrying the rings to be presented to the players accompanied by Boston’s own, James Taylor, performing “God Bless America”. There was not a dry eye in the house!

The players were brought up via their video on the Jumbotron, whereby they collected their rings. The most notable absence was Pedro Martinez. The most unexpected visitor with the largest ovation was ex-Sox, Dave Roberts. Derek Lowe also made the trip to a nice surprise ovation. Another kudo goes out to Yankee Manager, Joe Torre, who had his Yankees sit through the whole festivities and watch the whole proceedings. And when Sox Manager, Terry Francona, came out to collect his ring, he tipped his cap in respect to Yankee Manager, Joe Torre, who tipped his cap in respect...all so classy! Then some Red Sox old timers like Yaz, Fred Lynn, and Luis Tiant, heroes from my generation, came out and they all helped raise the 2004 Championship flag. Enough excitement for you yet? The old timers then surrounded the dugout as the Sox players were introduced after the Yankees were. By the way, how funny was it that Yankee closer, Mariano Rivera, who has blown 6 consecutive games to the Sox including the post-season , received a standing ovation from the Sox fans! And to his credit, after laughing, he tipped his cap to them. We then sat through a moment of silence for the Pope and the late ex-Sox reliever, Dick Radatz. And after the “Star Spangled Banner”, we had the ceremonial First Pitches thrown by Boston greats from each sport like Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, and the Patriots Richard Seymour (not quite a legend yet) and Tedi Bruschi, who is recovering from his small stroke and looked great.

And on to the game. Did I mention there was a game in which the Sox beat the Yankees 8-1 behind Tim Wakefield? But for one day, the rivalry took a back seat to something more special: a day to remember the 2004 Red Sox Championship Season one last time.

Complacent

It's only two games into the Sox season, both with losses to the Yankees and minus their number one starter, Curt Schilling, but for some reason I have a feeling it's a foreboding of things to come with this 2005 edition of the Red Sox. The word you'll hear to describe this team this year will be complacent.