Calhoun, facing more skin cancer, will keep coaching

Posted by NECN - Sports May 30, 2008 at 2:17 pm

STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun says he is
being treated for his second bout of skin cancer in a year and says
he wants to keep coaching.

The 66-year-old Hall of Fame coach says a lump removed from his
neck on May 6 was malignant. His doctors told him that lymph nodes
and other surrounding tissue removed at the same time were free of
cancer. He is scheduled to undergo six weeks of radiation
treatments next month at the UConn Health Center. His doctors say
there should be no long-term effects from the radiation and expect

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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.

Adjust the Bass and let the Alpine Blast…

Posted by Mike Giardi May 25, 2008 at 11:37 am

23 points from the Celtics bench. Another 12 and 10 from Kendrick. My call to the bench boys was answered last night and, not surprisingly, the Celts are now at the wheel of that shiny Cadillac Escalade with the $50,000 rims. Or if you prefer, a big ole Benz. Me, I’ll take the family truckster, but that’s how I roll.

Anyway, hard to believe that was the same team we saw get abused by the Pistons on the previously pristine Garden floor, but I checked the tape, and the faces were the same. It was just the performances that changed.  The C’s supporting cast has been a question  mark in the second season, alternately shying away from, then embracing key moments. Last night, Posey, Cassell, P.J. and Big Baby hugged it out, and now the Green team has recaptured home court advantage.

You knew it was going to be different in the opening quarter. Both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen got hit with two quick fouls, and Doc had no choice but to rely on these guys. But unlike in Game 2, the bench responded quickly and productively. They helped answer a 13-0 run by Detroit with a 10-0 whitewashing themselves. Posey dropped in a  big 3 from the corner, then Cassell got an open look at the top of the key and softly coaxed it in. That didn’t happen Thursday, especially for Cassell, who was rooted to the floor with that awkward looking wrap engulfing his back and logged yet another DNP-CD.

Perkins deserves credit as well. “Molasses” may not be the most fluid athlete we’ve ever laid eyes on, but he’s a decent shooter, and we know he can rebound and supply a defensive presence in the paint. At least, we’ve seen him do those things for stretches during the regular season and even in the playoffs.

Last night was arguably his best performance in May. Perk went 6-of-7 from the floor, had 10 boards and made life difficult for anyone who dared venture into the paint. I’d like to see him do it again Monday, but I have to remind myself that the big fella is still young in experience, despite having several seasons of NBA life under his belt.

So now what lies ahead? A chance to stagger Detroit by taking another one at the Palace. As Paul Pierce and Garnett said following last night’s victory  - and I’m paraphrasing - why come here for just one win? That’s the right sentiment, now let’s see if the Green team and its bench boys deliver the same kind of 1-2 punch.

Schilling to throw tomorrow

Posted by Rob Bradford May 5, 2008 at 4:54 pm

Just before leaving Comercia Park Curt Schilling confirmed that he will be throwing for the first time since shutting his program down due to a biceps/shoulder injury, in January. Schilling will go through a weight program before playing catch with assistant trainer Mike Reinold.

“There’s a Christmas Day feeling to it,” he said. ”Considering where I was four months ago and what the options were … I guess if I was climbing a mountain this would be getting to the base of the mountain.”

Schilling has been undergoing a weight and conditioning program with Reinold after receiving a cortisone shot in early February. He had been at odds with the Red Sox over the approach to rehabbing the injury, with the pitcher hoping to initially undergo biceps tenodesis surgery, as was recommended by his longtime doctor, Dr. Craig Morgan.

Schilling reported in the past few weeks that he was optimistic about the progress being made under the guidance of Reinold, although still stating that the surgery will have to be performed at some point in the future.

“It’s a huge step,” Schilling said. “I hope that, well, I’m confident and comfortable where we’re at.”

Tomorrow’s schedule will be a “very, very heavy day,” with both pre and post-throwing exercises sandwiched around the game of catch with Reinold.

“We’ll go to the point where I’m pretty much exhausted, and then it’s just recovery,” he explained. “We’re finding the way I work in tests and everything that after the recovery day I’m immensely better. There’s a very short window, but there are tangible results.

“It’s been a long couple of months.”

Today’s medical report

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 1, 2008 at 5:48 pm

Terry Francona sounds as much like a doctor as the Red Sox manager in his pre-game press conferences these days. Today was a perfect example.

``Doctor’’ Francona had mostly good news to report on his ``patients.’’

Jacoby Ellsbury is not yet ready to start, but he is out on the field doing some work as we speak. He has had a groin problem.

``He feels it getting better. We’ll know more when he runs around,’’ Francona said.

J.D. Drew also was on the field testing his ailing quad.

``He’s doing some shagging,’’ Franconca said. ``We’ll see where that leads.’’

And then there is David Ortiz’ knee.

``He’s on the elliptical right,’’ Francona related. ``He’s OK. I think he’s just sore. He knows he can't just come and play the game any more. He doesn't have that freedom. He knows that.’’

Ortiz is learning, the manager said, that he has to do pre-game work to get himself ready. At his age and size, he is simply going to have to deal with some aches and pains in his knee.

``He can’t come and just play the game,’’ Franconca said of Ortiz putting in work before the game.

Coco Crisp, who also had knee concerns, will play.

``He’s a little sore,’’ Francona said. ``He’s OK to play or we wouldn’t play him. We would do something different.’’

Two lineup moves tonight are not medically related. Since Tim Wakefield is pitching (he was working on a crossword puzzle just now) Kevin Cash will catch. Also, Julio Lugo is 3-for-17 in his career against A.J. Burnett the Toronto starter. Jed Lowrie needs work, so Lowrie will play short.

``It just seemed like a good day to do it,'' Francona said, for once sounding more like a manager than a doctor.''

Playoff Basketball, Part Deux

Posted by Mike Giardi April 20, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Not a great first half from the Celtics. After a scintillating start, the C’s actually let the Hawks control the tempo and gain a measure of confidence. Of course, as I type this, the intensity has returned for KG and company, extending the lead back to double digits. I can sense the Garden faithful saying, “that’s more like it.”

Now while I expect the Hawks to go down quickly, I don’t expect it to happen quietly. I love Atlanta’s confidence, at their belief that they can “shock the world.” Celts fans get angry at the “gall” of the 8th seed, but what else do you expect? Are they suppose to kill the C’s with kindness? To genuflect at the Altar of Doc, Big Ticket, Ray Ray and “The Truth?’ You wouldn’t want your team to do that, so don’t expect the bad guys to, either.