Personality Plus, Volume 3

Posted by Mike Giardi May 29, 2008 at 11:20 am

Today’s victim is Bruce Allen. He is the founder of the website, BostonSportsMedia.com. Bruce started this on his own, but it has grown leaps and bounds, and now there is plenty of original content and commentary to go along with a slew of the day’s best local sports links. Bruce also write a column once-a-week for the Metro. Without further adieu…here’s Bruce (I did that using my best Ed McMahon voice).

Is the Celtics season a success if it ends versus Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals?

We’d definitely have to place it in the “disappointment” category, especially after the way they romped through the regular season. At the beginning of the season there were a lot of unknowns, but they met every challenge and seemed to answer every question during the regular season. For them to now fall short of the finals, there’s no doubt there would be some major hand-wringing on the part of the sports media and fans around the region. That’s a little ironic given the hesitancy on the part of some prior to the season to even hand a playoff spot to the team after they acquired Garnett.

Is Doc a good coach?

Better than he’s given credit for. He can drive you nuts with his substitution patterns and he isn’t viewed as a strong X’s and O’s man, but earlier this season on an ABC game the analyst mentioned a strength of Rivers being that when the team comes out of a time out with a designed play, it almost always works. I initially dismissed that as just TV-speak, but I’ve been watching the rest of the season, and wouldn’t you know it, he usually does have the right play called coming out of a timeout. He’s shown himself to be flexible, the last few years he dealt with a kiddie corps roster and emphasized getting his guys experience in various situations, now with a grown up team, he’s changed his style to fit the team with good results.

Who’s better in the long run: Buchholz, Lester or Masterson?

They’ve all given us tantalizing glimpses of what they can be. It’s amazing that two of them have already pitched no-hitters in the majors. I’m going to go with Lester, even though his pitch counts can drive you nuts when he “nibbling” he showed in his no-hitter that he when he’s pounding the strike zone, he can literally be unhittable. He was hitting the mid 90’s on the gun - perhaps inflated - but that extra velocity made a big difference, hopefully his strength is only going to get better the further he gets away from his cancer treatment, and we know he’s tough sunofagun.

Is putting Joba Chamberlain into the rotation the right move for the Yankees?

It is if you’re a Red Sox fan. I really think there is no chance Joba is as good a starter as he is out of the bullpen for the Yankees. In the rotation he can only help them one out of every five days, and his stuff isn’t going to be as good as it is in the short, more frequent stints out of the bullpen.

Better job building a team: Pioli/Belichick or Theo and the Trio?

If we base it solely on championships, you gotta give it to the Patriots, three to two. The methods of the two franchises have actually been quite similar…identify and keep your core together…draft and develop young players, fill holes with free agents or trades and don’t overpay for anyone. They’ve both done an outstanding job of building solid rosters that are adaptable to different styles of play. They can beat you in many different ways.

If you could see one game, anywhere, who and where would it be?

1985-86 Celtics vs 1995-96 Bulls, at the old garden. Followed closely by the 2007 Patriots vs the 1972 Dolphins in Miami.

Should local sports anchors be unabashed homers?

I don’t see a problem with it. The majority of their audience is made up of fans of the local teams. I’ve never gotten the whole “we must remain objective” vow taken by some in the sports media. You can still point out the flaws and weaknesses of the local teams and remain a fan of them. When a sports anchor is showing highlights, I don’t mind some excitement at a great play or disappointment in failure. It connects them to their audience.

Best spot on Lake Winnipesaukee?

Haven’t been up there since I was a kid and my Aunt and Uncle had a summer place there. I was one of the youngest of 17 first cousins, so I really don’t have many good memories of those times. Perhaps that’s why I haven’t been back up there since I was 12. I’m just discovering this now. Thanks Mike Giardi, for unlocking painful childhood memories which apparently had been repressed all this time. I think I might need therapy now. I’ll send you the bill.

Best Flavor Ice Cream?

Edy’s Ice Cream Sandwich flavored ice cream. Trust me. It’s a seasonal flavor, but if you see it in your local freezer case, BUY IT. You won’t regret it.