And How
Category Archives: Sports
Hoping For The Best
Pierce has jumped from good to great in Finals
BOSTON – Between the end of the worst season of his life, and the beginning of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, there had been a passage of time when Paul Pierce had word delivered to Danny Ainge: Get me help or get me out.
Pierce had waited for his chance to be one of those generational Boston sports icons, and the Celtics had stopped surrounding him with a fighting chance. It was getting late in his prime, late in his patience. He watched Tom Brady win his Super Bowls and David Ortiz his World Series, and he could take it no more. This town is the best in the world for winners, and just the worst for everyone else.
These forever New England stars are remembered for the most clutch championship performances. Pierce was the forgotten, dismissed talent, a victim of unfair circumstance when the city never had less tolerance for losing causes.
Suddenly now, Pierce returns for Game 6 in these NBA Finals on Tuesday within a victory of a championship, within a whisper of his wildest dreams. Maybe the regular season belonged to Kevin Garnett for the Celtics, but the playoffs belong to Pierce. History is closing fast.
Before the season, Boston debated on whether Pierce’s number would ever dangle in the Garden rafters. Only champions hang in the Garden. The Basketball Hall of Fame hung in doubt, too. Now, his decade in Boston is so close to its validation. One more victory, a Finals MVP over Kobe Bryant, and Pierce, in the minds of most, will have made the improbable thirtysomething NBA journey as a player from good to great.
Whatever is standing in New England, Pierce has transformed his standing in the sport. There was that Game 7 against LeBron James – the Bird-Dominique game – when his 41 points elevated the Celtics into the conference finals. James never acted like losing out to Pierce was shameful, an embarrassment. “I always say, second to Kobe Bryant, he has some of the best footwork I’ve ever seen in a player,” James said. “I love going against the best.”
Perhaps his peers have always appreciated Pierce better than the public. People had stopped paying attention to the Celtics. He was one more player throwing up big numbers on a bad team. Now, Pierce could be remembered as the most explosive offensive player in the Celtics’ history. Larry Bird was a better passer and shooter, but as a pure scorer, Pierce has no peer among the Celtics’ greats.
No one would take him over LeBron and Kobe, but he has outplayed them in this postseason. Yes, he has a superior supporting cast, but let’s face it: Few remembered that Pierce had so much game, with so much capacity for clutch. As much as anyone, Pierce won Game 1 and Game 4 of the Finals, and nearly stole Game 5 with 38 points and eight assists. He’s been fantastic. He has taken this stage and shown it all.
“There’s not a lot of players that have a well-rounded offensive game,” Bryant said. “What I mean by that, he’s got a good mid-range game, long ball, pull-up to the hoop, pull-up left, pull-up right. He has the whole package.
“Paul is one of my favorite players in the league.”
Rest assured, LeBron and Kobe don’t deliver false praise. Around the NBA, Pierce has never been so respected. Pierce has never had such presence, such game. The Celtics captain is on the cusp of a championship and a legacy looms in Boston. He goes in the rafters now, and maybe goes to Springfield, too. He’s been here a decade – longer than Brady and Ortiz – and Pierce creeps closer and closer to taking his place in the pantheon of a clutch champion.
One more night, one more victory and finally it all belongs to Paul Pierce, a forever Celtic.
All In Good Fun Of Course
This sign was over at Seaport Village in San Diego not all that long ago. I forgot about it until I started pulling all the pictures off the camera phone. Which you have to do when you end your service…
Bonus: Here’s one I took of Papelbon at one of the many Mariners/BoSox games I went to in Seattle:
On Skiing
Total, after this week, I have skied six or seven days in three places (Steamboat, Breckenridge, Park City) all in the last 5 years. I am therefore what you would consider an expert. So here’s a few observations I made:
- Falling is fun. It is rather hilarious to fall in snow. As long as you’re careful, you’re unlikely to get hurt. I managed to make it into a couple pretty great snow piles. For some reason, this makes me laugh so hard I forget about the achy legs. Everyone else seems to get a kick out of it too.
- Skiers are cute. There is some strong correlation between knowing how (or at least attempting) to get down a mountain and being gorgeous. Maybe it’s the physical ability required, maybe Chapstick has a secret ingredient. Either way, I’m sold.
- Utah > Colorado. I know that you might think I’m limited on experience, but I am sure Utah could beat up Colorado, make fun of its Dad, and take its lunch money. Often.
- Kids ski better. If I ever do accidentally get preggers, those little rats are getting tossed down the mountain before they can say ‘black diamond’. It’s easier when you can’t see past the end of your skis to not be afraid of falling down the whole run. I wish I hadn’t waited 23 years to learn.
- Achievement is funny. You know when you’ve turned in to a skier? When you have to look out for the slow ones, instead of being one of them!
Honorable Observation Mentionables: Nothing tastes as good after skiing as beer. Except for beer and homemade chili, or beer and homemade chicken legs. Or beer and spaghetti. The night of just beer wasn’t bad either…
Hook ‘Em
No matter what happens during the game – the before, after, and company make it the best ever. We’re having a beautiful Christmas in San Diego.
In Defense Of New England
There are some really really cute baby pictures from when my parents took me to New England Patriots Spring Training. Then there are some not so cute ones as I grew up. But the point is I was there. I didn’t buy a pink Patriots hat the first time they won a Super Bowl. I’ve been there, as has my family, through all the ups and downs. The late 80s/early 90s (1-15 in 1990, 2-14 in 1992) were less than glamorous.
Why are the Patriots the newest team to hate? Because they win games? At a restaurant last night I heard a guy say ‘Pats fans are the new Yanks fans’. If he knew anything he wouldn’t lump me with the team I hate (see here). But I’m a nice kid. Supporting a great team like I always have, through thick and thin no matter where I live. Whether we win by many points or just scrape by. A team that plays hard and just maybe has no match this year. A team that is doing what football teams are supposed to do. This same guy said nothing would make him happier than ‘the Pats making it to the Super Bowl unbeaten, then losing’. Why? ‘To shut up all the stupid fans’.
Maybe he’s a Dolphins fan. Maybe he kept betting against the Pats. I’m not stupid, I’m just like anyone else that’s seen the highs and lows of a franchise. I don’t rub it in your face, and I’ve never hated anyone because of their sports affiliation – besides the Yankees. But I feel like everyone’s out to get us, and I don’t even walk on to the field on Sundays. Can’t we all appreciate good football? That’s what it is. It’s that simple, and that hard.
Another thing I keep hearing: ‘It’s a great time to be a New England fan’. If you knew anything about us, you’d know timing has nothing to do with it. I’m never not a fan. That’s not an option.
Here’s a great blog: Evil Patriots
And another: Pats Pulpit
NANO TOTAL: 12614 words.
NaBlo Day 25: Check.
Celebration
Until I get you all the pictures and stories of my trip and my new home, my great view and all the general goodness, this should do:
www.graphics.com
I Don’t Believe
There’s this idea in my head that he’s not going to pass his drug test (again)…
Ricky Williams wants 6-7th shot at playing football
www.bustedplay.com
UPDATE: (28Nov) – That was quick. STORY.
Update: Branded Balls
The fate of the Bonds Ball has been decided.
As most of us talked about here:
these individual records are what baseball means to its players and fans. These stat books are tainted by what the individuals do to their bodies.
So I’m happy that Ecko bought the ball and caused the stir. And of course, that the option I picked won.
Some people make me laugh with the theory that letting them all take drugs and beat themselves silly would be fine because *quote* “It’s not like these guys are saving the planet”. I see the point, but as a chick that might accidentally have a baby someday, I wouldn’t want that to be the feat my son would be aspiring to…
This is funny, because don’t all men get fat as they age, but I bet someone finds this definitive:
www.tripod.com
Mark Ecko Makes Me Laugh
Here’s the story:
Ecko is Awesome – that’s right, it’s up to us to decide the fate of#756.
Bonds called him an idiot. Ouch. Now he has no team – bigger ouch!
I told you I was in the stands at the Mariners/Red Sox listening to him booed by thousands when he hit 755. (WTF is up with my Red Sox, btw?)
Here’s the site,
if you want to vote. I went for “Brand It” because that’s what I feel the situation deserves. It won’t be forgotten. But it could serve as a lesson.
No, snippy, it’s different than the Pats. Just because it is.
www.vote756.com
Cat Killfoil 