If there's one thing I know about Curt Schilling, it's the fact that he's consistent.  No, I'm not talking about the fact that he's won at least 15 games 8 times in his career. Or the fact that he's walked 50 or fewer batters in 19 of his 21 seasons.  What I'm talking about is the fact that since he's been a member of the Red Sox, he's rolled into spring training with more than a few extra Schillings...and we're not talking about British pounds here!

 In my opinion it looks like he's been spending the off-season eating dozens of chocolate covered baseballs and washing them down with pitchers of beer. The good thing for him is that he doesn't even have to waddle down to the bullpen, he's got the pitcher's mound right under his shirt.

Continue reading "Spring Training is Spring Gaining for Schilling"

Like the rest of Red Sox Nation, I really like what I saw in Jacoby Ellsbury's play last season and think he's the one to roam Fenway's center stage in 2008. But was it enough to turn Coco Crisp into Coco Crust?  I'm not sure about that yet.  Jacoby's a speedster with pretty good defensive skills, a so so arm, and an exciting bat, but did we see enough to anoint him to your everyday center fielder?

I know Coco Crisp has something to say about that and he's been saying it.  "I don't want to sit on the bench, I could cheerlead with the best of them, but that's not where I want to be."  Coco knows his situation and I think it's safe to say that he's going to battle his butt off this spring to make Terry's decision a tough one. 

Continue reading "Coco vs Ellsbury: The Center Fielders of Attention"

Losing back-to-back games in the NBA is not a big deal, it happens to the best of teams.  You play 82 games and it's bound to happen here and there.  Last year it happened here, there, then, now, yesterday, and tomorrow for the Boston Celtics.  But that was last year.

For only the second time all season the Celtics dropped two in a row after Baron Davis canned a last second fall away jumper.  The Golden State Warriors defeated the men in Green, 119-117, in front of 20,711 people, the largest crowd in franchise history, and largest crowd to ever watch a basketball game in the state of California.  That's great.  We lost!

Painfully, I watched the entire game, just like the night before when the Denver Nuggets and their hand picked referees, beat up the Celts, 124-118.  But last night, I was convinced that the Celtic pride would will their way to a win.  They had a chance to steal one and probably would have if they listened to me in their final timeout.  Instead, they did what the Doc ordered, like he's the coach or something, and lost.  At least with my plan, even if they didn't win, they couldn't have done any worse.

Continue reading "Celtics Western Trip Heading South"

I'm not one to get carried away with facts and figures. But believe it or not, Manny arrived at camp on time (fact) and he showed up looking to be in great shape (figure). I love Manny Ramirez for many reasons, aside from that dreadlock tangled mane thing that he somehow stuffs under his hat.  But other than that, there's nothing else about Manny Ramirez that bothers me or ever has.

Well...check that. Endless people saying "Manny being Manny" when he says or does something out of the ordinary, bothers me.  It's not his fault; it's just a stupid saying that boring people like to say over and over because they can't come up with anything on their own.  I, on the other hand, happen to see eye to eye...with Mr. RBI.

Continue reading "Manny May Be Out in Left Field...But Well Worth The Catch"

After what seemed like 40 years of bad basketball for the Boston Celtics, the boys are back in town.  You all know the story. The new Big Three, some exciting youngsters, a couple of cagey vets, a coach who finally has a chance, and the best record in the NBA.

It all sounds so good, doesn't it?  Well, it is.  But there is one problem that's getting under my skin that must be digging at others too.  I've been watching just about all of the games this year, something I haven't been able to say since the original Big Three dominated the parquet back in the 80's.  I have no problem watching us lose or play badly, but I never realized that these days there's another element in the game that is out of the player's control.  Sometimes it snatches games away from teams at the most unexpected moments.  Other times it happens over and over again throughout the game. What am I talking about?  I'm talking about the inconsistent and terrible, referees.

Continue reading "Do NBA Referees Really Blow?"

Even though us Celtic fans have suffered through years of the Danny days, you have to give Mr. Ainge a lot of credit for this year's magic act.  With Houdini retired, it didn't look like the 2006-07 Celtics team would just disappear. There was no way.  But Danny Did It.  Not "Flutie Did It"  Danny Did It.  The young and up and going nowheres were gone and replaced by a couple of Hall of Famers, Garnett and Allen, and a couple of cagey vets, House and Posey.  Add the Hungry Man, Paul Pierce to the mix, and Danny's got a pretty tasty TV dinner on the table.

But winning an NBA Championship this year still seemed like it would take a minor miracle for the Boston Celtics. Compete?  Obviously. Win 50 plus games?  Highly likely. Win the Eastern Conference?  Very possible.  But knock off a powerful Western team and bring the Title back to Boston?  Hmmm.  If we had a leprechaun on our side, I'd say maybe?

Continue reading "Celtics' Guard Rondo Getting The Point"