Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Why are we even going back to Boston to play?



The Boston Celtics were supposed to be resting up by now, getting ready for the next round of the playoffs. Instead, they're headed back to Beantown all tied up with the lowly Atlanta Hawks, who are starting to believe -- really believe -- they can shock the world.

Joe Johnson scored 35 points, 20 in the fourth quarter, and Josh Smith added 28 points and seven blocks for Atlanta, which surprised the Celtics again 97-92 on Monday night to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. "We took care of our home court," Johnson said. "Now we've got to go up to Boston and somehow steal one."

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Boston. No one could have seen that coming.

The Hawks had the worst record (37-45) of any playoff team, and they certainly played like it in the first two games at Boston, losing them by an average of 21 points. The Celtics, who won an NBA-leading 66 games during the regular season, came South looking to wrap it up.

Now, it's a best-of-three.

"We've got to find ourselves real quick," Boston's Sam Cassell said. "We've got to find our team identity, our team chemistry, we've got to find all that real quick."

The credit for this Atlanta stunner goes largely to Johnson, who took control in the final quarter. After Smith's jumper put the Hawks ahead to stay 81-79, Johnson scored nine straight points to keep the Celtics on the ropes.

The knockout came when Paul Pierce drove to the hoop and left it short, then tumbled over a cameraman alongside the basket. When the Boston star finally climbed back to his feet, he had a look of disbelief -- which pretty much sums up the way the Celtics are feeling about this series.

Smith went to the other end and made two free throws with 26 seconds remaining for 93-87 lead. Johnson -- appropriately enough -- finished off the Celtics by making two more foul shots with 14 seconds left.

"Basketball is a strange thing," Cassell said. "Strange things happen."

Johnson, who shot just 36 percent in the first three games, finally stepped up to claim his rightful place as Atlanta's go-to player. With the Celtics trapping on the pick-and-roll, he went to coach Mike Woodson with a suggestion. "I asked him to space the floor and let me go," Johnson said. "It worked." Added Cassell, "He's their franchise ballplayer, and he showed people why."

After the blowouts in Boston, the Hawks turned feisty on their home court. Rookie Al Horford taunted Pierce after putting the Celtics away in Game 3, prompting the Boston forward to flash a menacing gesture that drew a $25,000 fine from the NBA shortly before Monday's game.

In the second quarter of Game 4, things really got testy. Kevin Garnett threw an elbow at Zaza Pachulia while going for a loose ball. The rugged Pachulia got right in Garnett's face, going forehead to forehead with the Boston star.

"We all know he's a great player," Pachulia said. "He's done a lot of good things for the league. He's a future Hall of Famer. But it doesn't matter when we're on the court."

The officials stepped in quickly and Woodson charged onto the court to pull his players away. No punches were thrown and no one was ejected, though the officials did call offsetting technical fouls -- two on each team -- after looking at a replay.

"I don't take anything from anybody," Pachulia said. "The message was, 'We're right here. Even if we lose, it's not going to be easy.'"

Ray Allen led Boston with 21 points, and Garnett added 20. But, after playing with so much confidence during the regular season, the Celtics must fight off the inevitable worries about a monumental playoff flop.

"Give the Hawks credit," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "This series hasn't started yet, because no one has won a road game. It's a tough loss for us, but we get a chance to take it back to Boston and see what we can do."

Smith set an Atlanta playoff record with seven blocks, the last a key swat on Garnett after he backed down in the lane, looking for the easy shot, with just over 3 minutes left.

"It's time to shock the world," the public address announcer screamed to the sellout crowd of 20,016. Boston started like it was going to be a blowout.

The Hawks missed four shots and turned it over three times before finally hitting their first field goal of the game, Smith's 20-foot jumper with just under 7 minutes left in the first. Boston, on the other hand, hit six of its first seven shots -- four from outside the 3-point arc -- and built a 16-3 lead before the Hawks knew what hit them.

The NBA's youngest playoff team was on the ropes, but it didn't fold. Atlanta closed the period on a 20-3 run, taking a 29-24 lead to the second quarter.

The Hawks led 51-48 at halftime, only to put themselves in another hole with a dismal third quarter. Standing around on offense and doing little to create shots, Atlanta was 6-of-17 from the field, missed all seven of its 3-point attempts and turned it over seven times, giving Boston plenty of easy baskets.

Garnett scored nine points in the period to lead the Celtics, who went to the fourth with a 75-65 lead.

But the Hawks bounced back again. Johnson shot 7-of-10, including a couple of 3s, and Smith scored 12 points in the final period. Boston missed nine of its first 10 shots in the final period. "We had too many breakdowns," Rivers said. "But give them credit. They're athletic, and they're good."

Coming off an unexpected 102-93 win on Saturday, the city was fired up about its long-ignored NBA team. Woodson said he noticed some motorists flying Hawks flags on their cars as he drove to Philips Arena, something he hadn't seen in his four years as coach.

Former owner Ted Turner even showed up for the first time in years, sitting at courtside and waving a white Hawks towel.

Maybe he'll be back on Friday.

Yep, there will be a Game 6 in Atlanta.

This series should not have gone this far. Boston should have taken both games in Atlanta and swept the series 4-0. They need to finish games now. They lost the game in the 4th quarter in both games and are giving up too many points, especially for having the best defensive team this year. Well now we have to head back to Boston for a game 5, the Atlanta for game six.

Hopefully, we won't have to come back to Boston for 7, but in the playoffs anything can happen. This series isn't looking to good for the season's best team, but let's hope we can get the nerves out now and step it up like we have been. Let's stop the baby fights and take it out on them by winning the next 2 games.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

David Ortiz Jersey Nets $175K for Jimmy Fund



The Boston Red Sox jersey secretly buried under the new Yankee Stadium in a failed curse attempt sold Thursday for $175,100 in a charity auction. The bid was the highest of 282 for the battered No. 34 David Ortiz jersey, which the Yankees jackhammered out from under two feet of concrete earlier this month.

The Jimmy Fund, the cancer charity that sold the shirt, did not immediately reveal the name of the winning bidder after the weeklong eBay auction ended at 12:30 p.m.
That person, whose screen name is 2004carman, did not immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment. The winner will also receive a new Ortiz jersey and two tickets to a Red Sox game.

Mike Andrews, The Jimmy Fund chairman and former Red Sox second baseman, said the charity was "absolutely thrilled." "We are grateful for the generous bid and extend our deep gratitude to the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox for coming together again in the fight against cancer," he said in a statement.

Construction worker Gino Castignoli, a Red Sox fan from the Bronx, dropped the jersey in wet concrete, hoping to hex the Yankees. New York found the jersey after receiving information from anonymous tipsters. The Yankees then decided to donate it to the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox's official charity that is affiliated with Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

It is nice to see that two rival teams can come together to do such a great thing for charity. They may have disputes on the field, but they work together when push comes to shove and they benefit the world in other ways than hitting home runs and striking out the side. This will help with Cancer research and was a great idea implemented by both teams, yet too bad the jersey was found because I personally would like to curse those Yankees as well. I hope they don't find Manny's bat that I placed under home plat. GO REDSOX!!!!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Martinez optimistic about return



Pedro Martinez of the New York Mets hopes to return to the lineup before the end of April after injuring his left hamstring on April 1st. This expectation is shocking since his expected return was mid-May to early June.

"I feel a lot better than before. I'm very happy to have spent a few days with Nao and I made the most of my time here working," Martinez said. Ángel "Nao" Presinal is Pedro's trainer in the Dominican Republic. Personal trainers such as Presinal are banned from MLB clubhouses after being allegedly linked to the players' use of performance-enhancing drugs. However, major league players are allowed to work with personal trainers outside the ballpark.

Martinez has spent great time on the DL in the past few seasons and is considering retirement at the end of the season if he suffers another injury. It is certain that his Boston days are over in terms of his success and health, but let's pray for him to get back on top.

Review the full story by clicking on the blog title.

Check out what Jason Varitek says about Pedro. Varitek used to catch Pedro in Boston before he signed with the Mets.

Offense sizzles, pitchers fizzle for the Sox


It started out with the two American League East heavyweights taking that distinction literally, trading offensive haymakers as if this were some sort of slow-pitch softball game.

There was no reason to think that trend would stop at any point in Wednesday's night's game, not when the Red Sox and Yankees -- rivals always -- had combined for 20 runs over the first five innings.

But when the scoring finally slowed down for a while, it was the Yankees who had the lead, and they held it. In fact, they added on, downing the Sox by a score of 15-9 in the opener of this two-game series.

With Chien-Ming Wang firing a two-hitter against the Sox five days earlier in Boston and Clay Buchholz also reeling off a strong performance in that one, there was no reason to believe the rematch would go like this. But both starters were gone early this time, victims to the heavy hitters on both sides.

Buchholz didn't have much, giving up eight hits and seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. The Red Sox were able to stay in it only because Wang, the Yankees' ace, was equally shaky, allowing nine hits and eight runs over four-plus innings.

With the game locked in a 3-3 tie, the Yankees jumped all over Buchholz in the fourth. Chad Moeller was fortuitous, dropping a broken-bat bloop double down the line in left to get a run home. Derek Jeter knocked Buchholz out of the game, rifling a line single to right to make it 6-3. On came Julian Tavarez, and the Yankees made it a four-run lead on a wild pitch.

But on a night like this, a four-run deficit was nothing. The Red Sox certainly made it look like nothing when they again got to Wang in the fifth. With two on and none out, Manny Ramirez roped an RBI single up the middle. Kevin Youkilis loaded the bases with a single and J.D. Drew got the Sox within one on a two-run single to center that knocked Wang out. Sean Casey tied it up at 7 with an RBI single to center against Ross Ohlendorf. Jacoby Ellsbury kept the rally alive with a two-out walk, setting up Dustin Pedroia's second hit of the inning, a two-run single that gave the Red Sox their first lead since the top of the first.

But Boston's lead was gone in a hurry as Tavarez couldn't hold down the Yankees. Jorge Posada got New York within one on an RBI double and Robinson Cano tied it up yet again on an RBI single. The Red Sox tried to get out of the inning on a grounder to first by Melky Cabrera. Casey fired to second for the force, but Julio Lugo made a wild throw to first for an error that allowed two runs to score on the play and give the Yankees an 11-9 lead. In all, the teams scored 10 runs in that one inning.

It's still early in the season and the teams are tied in the Division now with both teams posting a 9-7 record. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night with a 7:05 start. The Red Sox will have their ace, Josh Beckett on the hill while the Yankees, Mike Mussina with have the start. Beckett looked like he was back from his back problems he was facing in the Spring and at the beginning of the season. The Sox got the best of Mussina in his first outing against them earlier this month, so let's see what the game stores for the Red Sox.

NBA's Top ten plays from April 15th



These dunks were absolutely sick! From Outlaw to Carter to Wright, these dunks were true NBA style. Dwight Howard is insane! His presence on the court is noticed when he's blocking shots or jumping through the rim. Check out the top ten and let me know what you think!

How to Snag a Major League Baseball



Wow! Talk about an absolute loser. haha This is hilarious, I had no idea there was a story on this guy. This is worth watching if you are a baseball fan. I'm taking a wild guess, but I'm assuming this guy has no life. He gets so upset when someone gets in his way of a ball. Check out this video and you will see!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Carmello Anthony apologizes for DUI arrest


NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony apologized for his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Denver Nuggets forward spoke for about two minutes Tuesday at the Pepsi Center, reading from a prepared statement (probably written by his attorney).

Police say Anthony was pulled over for weaving and failing to dim his lights at about 4 a.m. Monday on Interstate 25. He was alone in the car. His arrest came hours after his worst game of the season, when he scored 11 points in a 111-94 victory over Houston on Sunday night. Detective Sharon Hahn said Anthony failed a series of sobriety tests. He was charged with DUI, then taken to police headquarters before being released to a "sober responsible party," Hahn said. Anthony is due in court May 14. Meanwhile, a Denver television station is reporting that the city's police department is looking into the possibility some of its officers gave Anthony preferential treatment during his arrest.

According to KWGN-TV, when a person is arrested for DUI in the city, he must be taken to Denver Health Medical Center's detoxification area, or released to someone who is sober and can take responsibility for the driver.

The television station reported that Anthony's fiancee was called, but she refused to pick him up, and a Denver police sergeant ended up driving Anthony to the hotel where he and his fiancee were staying. That's pretty funny when your own fiancee wouldn't pick you up from the police station. That's what I call LOVE!!!

Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson responded to KWGN's report, saying, "The fact is, Anthony was charged with a crime. He went through all procedures he was supposed to go through by the letter of the law. If that sergeant decided to go above and beyond through a personal relationship, that's his decision. I can't say there was anything wrong in the officer's actions."

KWGN also reported that a second officer drove Anthony's car to a parking lot at the Denver police department's' traffic bureau. "While it may appear strange, the bottom line is, I'm not answering questions as to why his car was vandalized because we put it in an unsafe place where it could be," Jackson said. So does this mean the police purposely placed Carmello's car in a designated area where it could be vandalized. It was even placed in an area used by the Denver Police Department. Denver Police must really be able to Protect and Serve, huh?

I've had enough of these professional athletes being arrested for felonies. Why do they get special treatment? I feel like they are immune to Federal Laws and this needs to be looked upon. These athletes need to set examples for today's youth since they are looked upon as role models. How do you feel about these athletes getting special treatment for the same crimes you and me might serve time for?