Starting this season, the green looked poised to turn heads, sure they didn't pull the trigger on the AI deal, instead we made other deals that seemed resemblant of the 2003 Red Sox. There is one exception, the Sox signings were smart and worked out, adding the likes of Bill Mueller, David Ortiz, and Kevin Millar. The Celtics didn't get that memo pulling off their blockbuster draft day trade of Bassy Telfair for Randy Foye. Oddly enough this deal would have been smart. It relieved cap space with other players leaving (LaFrentz), Bassy's younger, cheaper, has more NBA playing experience, and it fills the dire need at PG the Celtics were searching.
Ainge however, missed a couple of key aspects of Telfair's game, first and foremost he sucks. He's a shoot first point guard with a bad shot. He was a high school sensation that should have gone to college or joined the And 1 Street Ball Tour. They could have called him Da Phailure.
(Note from the editor: I thought this was saved, but it wasn't so this section is rewritten)
(Another note from the editor: I don't have an editor, it just sounds cooler)
Anyways, the Celtics luck immediately took a turn for the worse when numerous starters went down to injury including Pierce, Wally, Delonte. Figures. This is when they became the NBA's lovable losers. They fought hard night in and night out with little success. The young athletes didn't have the experience to step up and lead the team except for a couple players. These players were the same leading pack as the team improved. Al Jefferson progressed nicely and is now looking to be a star in the making, the same could be said about Tony Allen. When the injures ravaged the starting 5, he seemed ready and willing to step in and carry the team. He was a spark plug, defensively and the offensively. Since the day Pierce went out Allen stepped in to average 19 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3 apg, and 2.7 spg in 36 min per game over a 10 game span. This is a small sampling but watching the games, you could see the players respond to him and lead the charge with him, although they were all still young. Then on that fateful night of January 10, God decided to kick the Celtics when they were all ready down and thinking of the draft. Tony Allen was fouled at the top of the key then decided to do a throw a dunk, he lands awkwardly and long story short his knee blew up like Hiroshima. So if you're keeping track FSN was wrong, God isn't a Celtics fan.
Or is he? The team who is all ready thinking about the draft plays hard ball but are losing at a near historic pace, dropping 22 of 23 contests jolting the club to the front of the lottery with Memphis (remember when they were from Vancouver?). Yes times were great, the team was fun to watch and knowing that they would likely be the front runners for either Oden or Durant excited all 12 of us Celtics fans.
As of late however, with Pierce and Wally back (the Wally thing wouldn't last very long as he is out for the season with ankle troubles) the Green have played .500 ball over their last 14 including a win at San Antonio. So again, God has gone from not being a Celtics fan, to being a Celtics fan in disguise, to a non-fan. Sounds to me he is the biggest bandwagon jumper of them all. If this is my last post its because I have been smote (smited?). To make matters worse, the way our team is playing there are 5 games that are definitely wins, add the "hot night" games of 2, not too high it is the Celtics, that means they should go anywhere from 5-8 to 7-6 in their final 13. Yikes. Can they play themselves out of the top spots, yes, especially with teams tanking right and left, and Ray Allen (Seattle's only real threat) out for the season. Will they? No because we forget a key ingredient, Doc Rivers.
A new hope finally spurns for the lovable losers, like a college guy sizing up a hookup and planning for his KOBE! moment later that night. Doc Rivers is turning into being a bargain coach for the 2006-2007 season and you know he can't wait to be the coach that returned the Celtics to glory unleashing his own KOBE! on draft night. The Celtics looked poised for their second victory of the year, the NBA draft, the first being the jaw-dropping artistic display by Gerald Green, returning dunk glory reminiscent of the Dee Brown days. Doc, in a sure-win against Charlotte, sat his starters as Charlotte came back from 18 down to win. When asked if he tanked the game to remain the second worse team in the NBA, he insisted he was teaching his complaining bench players a lesson leaving the game in their hands. Doc, thank you. After this game he also stated that he wants an extension to coach this team. Although I was never a supporter of him, what the hell? He is actively helping the team lose, which is a win. We're only three and a half games back of last place and if Doc has shown me anything, he's going for it all.
Is this extremely biased writer supporting his team's tank job, absolutely, sue me. Since Pierce came back I have been offering money to anyone that will give him the Tonya Harding treatment, thinking about it I should have just gave her a ring. Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't shelved him yet like the Red Sox did when they forced Jeremy Giambi to have shoulder surgery when they found out Ortiz was nasty during the 2003 season. I'm sure Pierce is banged up why wouldn't he go for free medical treatment. Just let him know O.J. is just a call away. In summary, this draft is stacked, especially in the 1 and 2 spots, and I will do and wish anything to ensure the completion of this season long mission, (if you are not from Boston or don't follow the NBA there are 82 games in a season and Celtics fans have pleaded for the tank since game 20-ish). The Celts will rise again in what I call the summer of the Green.
Quick note, if you watch the Celtics you might be able to help me out. At what time in the fourth does Heinsohn start comparing the Celtics to whatever team they're playing and calling both of them up and coming and future contenders. Tommy, buddy, I have confidence in the Celtics too, but is every other team going to be a contender? And do we really need to hear about it every night? Do us a favor have someone type it out before hand and have it scrolling along the bottom, save us the time, and then it will open up time for interesting conversation. Or at least it opens up time for you to get angry and throw those awesome hissy fits you throw. Moreover, whatever happened to the "I LOVE WALTA!"? I know he's not on the team, but there isn't another bench guy you can adopt as your own so you can keep yelling that magical phrase. Last thing Tommy, because I am writing this as if you are reading this, cool it on the Tommy Point. It used to be a special occurrence that would happen once in a while, but you've turned it into a cruel drinking game. I decided to play one game and had to be carted off the hospital by the end of the half, don't do this to me anymore.
Now, onto the draft. The Oden-Durant debate has escalated to the Tiger or the field status. Since everyone else has given their two cents on who should be the number 1 pick (or as I call it the Glory Pick) I figured I could take a crack at the million dollar question. Assuming it is the Celtics that are to pick, they have to take Oden. He's a solid big man. He's better defensively than offensively, which is important in basketball, it is much easier to teach the offensive game then the defensive instinct (3.3 blocks per game). You can't pass up the opportunity to draft a seven-footer that looks like he's all ready an NBA player; by the way, he's 19. If you could draft either Shaq or Kobe (as rookies) which do you take; Shaq because star shooting guards are easier to find then dominant centers, and that's what Oden is. Watch him play, and he is still playing, he doesn't even look like he is out of second gear, which could be a knock at him, but it personally scares me. I think he is waiting for the competition to come and knows he shouldn't be playing with children. My only question about him is, 19? Really? I have a feeling that is his kid's age, he looks more like Mutumbo then Howard. 19? But that's it, he's as close to a sure thing as you can get these days.
This draft however has two sure things, the other being Durant, who along with Oden would look great in Green. He's a great player, Gaudy numbers, AP All-American (along with Oden), easily the anchor on his squad. My beef with Durant is his size. Right now he is a SG/SF, even at 6'10". He needs to bulk up and that isn't an easy task, many careers have fizzled because of an inability to bulk up. Durant will shine but unless he puts on weight and becomes the Kevin Garnett player he should become I don't see him as much use to the Celtics who have a log jam at the SG and SF positions. If he bulks up though, watch out, we may be seeing one of the best modern players we have ever seen. And like Oden, he's young, 18. To have either kid at this point that's simply frightening. Either way, if the Celts have this opportunity to steal either of these, they have to take it, I just would say Oden has less risk where Durant, if you're looking at him to be a potential PF (which his size suggests), possesses slightly higher risk. Either way, the Celtics can't screw up the sure thing and must make up some ground on Memphis. Worst team or Bust!
Side note: Celtics beat the Raptors, and they say Pierce will not sit out the rest of the season, they really want half our fan base, 6, to have heart attacks before this season ends. Tonya we may need you.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Hot Hot Heat
Ok, so I know I told you if I had time I would give you some quick posts and updates. I had time, tough luck, for you. To my defense there were only two computers, they were often slow and they had a ten minute limit with at least five other 'campers' hovering around like gnats so they can get on and check the ever precious facebook. So I limited my computer usage to Email and ESPN only.
With that said, let me recap the trip a little bit. Before I said that New Orleans would need help for many years to come, that was quite a naive statement to make at the time. Years wouldn't be enough,it may take decades. Sure the downtown area is still bustling because it was never devastatingly affected by Katrina. The rest of the greater Nawlins area is a ghost town. No one has returned. It doesn't just need aid from organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, as well as its own residents to return and rebuild, It needs hope, something to believe in. Now I finally understand the importance of the Saints historic run at home in the Superdome (which if you don't remember is the same place the Pats shocked the Rams YEA!!!). Their run brought a little spirit back to this troubled city, but it's a long way to go.
Where was the country's support? Sure some colleges send students down for a week, but where is the rest of us? Sure we are all too self-absorbed to really care about anyone else, so you all get a pass. But c'mon shape up a bit. My beef is the government (sorry I have to). Where the hell were you? You have soldiers with AK's protecting the airport but no officials rebuilding one of the most historic and cultural cities in the United States. I'm not done, there are articles being constantly published stating the discrepancies of the new levees and flood walls. Do you guys even care, shame on you. Your job is to serve the people of this country and you don't want to put the money in to keep it safe. Wow! No wonder no one comes back, would you get back into a plane that crashed because they patched it up? No,no one would, but you decided to do that to the peoplein the greater NOLA area. Good for you, you must be proud of yourself. Just spend the money you're wasting in the Middle East, and don't worry it doesn't have to be all of it, you can still fight your wars, and spend it to secure the safety of the vibrant citizens of Louisiana.
(Gratuitous Political Rant Over)
The trip itself was awesome, or sweetawesome, a newly acquired phrase from the area, I got to know a bunch of people,but most of all I got to do manual labor, which I discovered is quite redeeming. But I quickly dicovered it would be a lot more so if you could crack open a beer after, thanks sober trip. I have never craved a drink so badly. Bourbon street? Come on,it isn't even fair.
What elsecan I tell you. Well, I guess I should mention the cots since I promised to talk about them. Ok so imagine a beach, full-length, canvas, okay. Now imagine that canvas sagging so you can feel the aluminum supporting beams. Last thing picture that same lawn chair about 18 inches wide. Yea, that was our bed, I wish I had better words for it but I don't it was horrible and I really want one. Ok sure, it was uncomfortable, unrestful, and simply an all around debacle, but it was heinously awesome. Ok that didn't go very well and I thought that would be a joke, it wasn't please don't, just wallow in my shame. Well I have a lot more but that's all for now.
With that said, let me recap the trip a little bit. Before I said that New Orleans would need help for many years to come, that was quite a naive statement to make at the time. Years wouldn't be enough,it may take decades. Sure the downtown area is still bustling because it was never devastatingly affected by Katrina. The rest of the greater Nawlins area is a ghost town. No one has returned. It doesn't just need aid from organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, as well as its own residents to return and rebuild, It needs hope, something to believe in. Now I finally understand the importance of the Saints historic run at home in the Superdome (which if you don't remember is the same place the Pats shocked the Rams YEA!!!). Their run brought a little spirit back to this troubled city, but it's a long way to go.
Where was the country's support? Sure some colleges send students down for a week, but where is the rest of us? Sure we are all too self-absorbed to really care about anyone else, so you all get a pass. But c'mon shape up a bit. My beef is the government (sorry I have to). Where the hell were you? You have soldiers with AK's protecting the airport but no officials rebuilding one of the most historic and cultural cities in the United States. I'm not done, there are articles being constantly published stating the discrepancies of the new levees and flood walls. Do you guys even care, shame on you. Your job is to serve the people of this country and you don't want to put the money in to keep it safe. Wow! No wonder no one comes back, would you get back into a plane that crashed because they patched it up? No,no one would, but you decided to do that to the peoplein the greater NOLA area. Good for you, you must be proud of yourself. Just spend the money you're wasting in the Middle East, and don't worry it doesn't have to be all of it, you can still fight your wars, and spend it to secure the safety of the vibrant citizens of Louisiana.
(Gratuitous Political Rant Over)
The trip itself was awesome, or sweetawesome, a newly acquired phrase from the area, I got to know a bunch of people,but most of all I got to do manual labor, which I discovered is quite redeeming. But I quickly dicovered it would be a lot more so if you could crack open a beer after, thanks sober trip. I have never craved a drink so badly. Bourbon street? Come on,it isn't even fair.
What elsecan I tell you. Well, I guess I should mention the cots since I promised to talk about them. Ok so imagine a beach, full-length, canvas, okay. Now imagine that canvas sagging so you can feel the aluminum supporting beams. Last thing picture that same lawn chair about 18 inches wide. Yea, that was our bed, I wish I had better words for it but I don't it was horrible and I really want one. Ok sure, it was uncomfortable, unrestful, and simply an all around debacle, but it was heinously awesome. Ok that didn't go very well and I thought that would be a joke, it wasn't please don't, just wallow in my shame. Well I have a lot more but that's all for now.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
On That First Night
Well, I am in New Orleans, staying at Camp Hope, with UVM Alternative Spring Break. This is an amazing place, the camp is plastered with murals of schools and groups that have come before use. Many of the messages are inspiring, while others are for people that didn't try. Camp Hope is an old school building that is right near the levees when they broke, and unfortunately children were inside when the disaster happened. Its eerie in some senses but redeeming in others. We haven't gotten out to work yet, however driving through the city was enough to show me and everyone I'm with why we came, this place is still a mess and will be for a long time. We sleep in cots, which I just wanted to get out there because I plan on sharing that experience as soon as the material has built itself into story length. I don't plan to document this whole trip, but if I do get the chance to submit some other quick posts, I will.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Good Nights and Rough Mornings
So usually every friday night, I look to my friends to get the party started. Once they get back from the liquor store I immediately start getting loose. I'm a big microbrew guy and so thats what I drink all the time. I don't drink shit from cans, get your cans out of here. Cans are only good for Beirut.
Well last night was no different, I got my sixer of Ridgerunner, which if you haven't had it go out right now and do yourself a favor. Beers similar to Ridgerunner, which include Double Bag and Mountain Ale are in my opinion the best beer to party with. All you need is a sixer of any of those and your set for the night. They are what we call in the business, strong, averaging probably 6.5% alcohol by volume. Of course they taste fantastic as well, microbrews always do. So I got some Ridgerunner, and with the thought of Beirut, the epitomy of college athletics, I pick up a twelve of Long Trail. Well I start drinking, just hanging out with the usually crew, shooting the breeze while sitting on a hookah. This is the typical low key party, key friends and thats it. Seemingly, everything gets a little louder and the urge to rage grows.
The table gets set up and the list is formulated. Of course HJ and Massive get on the list and would make an impact. Like Pippen and MJ, or Papi and Manram, we're clutch when we need it, hitting the last four cups consecutively to come from behind for the win. These guys were good too, it was no normal feat. Riding the wave, we roll over the next team, they really had no chance. All good things have to come to an end, the unflappable Mark Daly essentially called us his bitch.
At this point the party is really starting to wind down, people are passing out, the alcohol is catching up with all of us. I've had a splitting headache for an hour now, but who cares, PARTY. I take off, being the last man out, a soldier, a marathon rager. I stumble home and force myself to drink water thinking I was dehydrated, which I probably was. Minutes later I'm passed out in my bed. So far everything has been pretty good. So you know the classic alarm clock sound, you know the sound, it's the one sound that makes you want to get violent and maasacre a flcok of sheep. Or in then Kidd family it makes you want to abuse youe spouse, and you wonder why their so was born with a moustache. Well at quarter after 8 that sound starts going off, except its not my alarm clock, it my head. I wake up and my head is pounding, so hard that it is running through my entire body and causing physical pain. Great, I love being hung over. The I realize that im sweating and have a cough. Within minutes I realize the worst, not only did I drink too much but someone was nice enough to gove me their sickness. Awesome. So this is what I wake up to, being completely incapacitated until noon because the slightest movement pains me.
Then when I finally got up to flick on the TV, because there's no way in hell im getting my gym stuff and head to the gym, my day completely turns around. I still feel like shit but I remembered of a Sox game on, and later on the celtics were playing. You may be asking yourself why the hell a spring training game and a celtics game would turn my day around? I feel like Neil Peart is jamming in my head, my body aches, I can barely open my eyes, so get off my case they were both familiar (and I have a strange obsession for these things).
Well last night was no different, I got my sixer of Ridgerunner, which if you haven't had it go out right now and do yourself a favor. Beers similar to Ridgerunner, which include Double Bag and Mountain Ale are in my opinion the best beer to party with. All you need is a sixer of any of those and your set for the night. They are what we call in the business, strong, averaging probably 6.5% alcohol by volume. Of course they taste fantastic as well, microbrews always do. So I got some Ridgerunner, and with the thought of Beirut, the epitomy of college athletics, I pick up a twelve of Long Trail. Well I start drinking, just hanging out with the usually crew, shooting the breeze while sitting on a hookah. This is the typical low key party, key friends and thats it. Seemingly, everything gets a little louder and the urge to rage grows.
The table gets set up and the list is formulated. Of course HJ and Massive get on the list and would make an impact. Like Pippen and MJ, or Papi and Manram, we're clutch when we need it, hitting the last four cups consecutively to come from behind for the win. These guys were good too, it was no normal feat. Riding the wave, we roll over the next team, they really had no chance. All good things have to come to an end, the unflappable Mark Daly essentially called us his bitch.
At this point the party is really starting to wind down, people are passing out, the alcohol is catching up with all of us. I've had a splitting headache for an hour now, but who cares, PARTY. I take off, being the last man out, a soldier, a marathon rager. I stumble home and force myself to drink water thinking I was dehydrated, which I probably was. Minutes later I'm passed out in my bed. So far everything has been pretty good. So you know the classic alarm clock sound, you know the sound, it's the one sound that makes you want to get violent and maasacre a flcok of sheep. Or in then Kidd family it makes you want to abuse youe spouse, and you wonder why their so was born with a moustache. Well at quarter after 8 that sound starts going off, except its not my alarm clock, it my head. I wake up and my head is pounding, so hard that it is running through my entire body and causing physical pain. Great, I love being hung over. The I realize that im sweating and have a cough. Within minutes I realize the worst, not only did I drink too much but someone was nice enough to gove me their sickness. Awesome. So this is what I wake up to, being completely incapacitated until noon because the slightest movement pains me.
Then when I finally got up to flick on the TV, because there's no way in hell im getting my gym stuff and head to the gym, my day completely turns around. I still feel like shit but I remembered of a Sox game on, and later on the celtics were playing. You may be asking yourself why the hell a spring training game and a celtics game would turn my day around? I feel like Neil Peart is jamming in my head, my body aches, I can barely open my eyes, so get off my case they were both familiar (and I have a strange obsession for these things).
Thursday, March 1, 2007
A Journey Begun
You have entered into the vast library, well not vast yet, but we'll see. Most people perusing the semi-interesting articles and thoughts posted here, well I guess they would be blog posts, know who I am. To the others here's a quick recap.
My name is Jamie Russell, many people may know me as that given name, but others the name HJ (Hot Jamie) or JR may ring a familiar tune. I was born a canadian comedian, without the comedian, I just kinda hoped with the long line of canadian comedic genuises there would be some hope for me. I'd have a better chance out drinking John Daly. I am canadian, from the english part, though I do have french canadian blood, we can't be proud of everything about us. I moved to Boston at age five and over the years I have become enamered with everything about it. But thats a different post all together. I'm a sports nut, which will probably come out through future posts, just wait till I get to my celtics post. Yea thatll be fun. The is tons of other clues that I could fill you in on, but then again I refuse to let it all hang out where everyone can see. Wouldn't you agree with that sentiment Ms. Spears? Welp- have fun. I'll try to as well.
My name is Jamie Russell, many people may know me as that given name, but others the name HJ (Hot Jamie) or JR may ring a familiar tune. I was born a canadian comedian, without the comedian, I just kinda hoped with the long line of canadian comedic genuises there would be some hope for me. I'd have a better chance out drinking John Daly. I am canadian, from the english part, though I do have french canadian blood, we can't be proud of everything about us. I moved to Boston at age five and over the years I have become enamered with everything about it. But thats a different post all together. I'm a sports nut, which will probably come out through future posts, just wait till I get to my celtics post. Yea thatll be fun. The is tons of other clues that I could fill you in on, but then again I refuse to let it all hang out where everyone can see. Wouldn't you agree with that sentiment Ms. Spears? Welp- have fun. I'll try to as well.
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