Tim Whelan: The Celtics vs. Themselves
Okay, let's face this fact: The Boston Celtics will not win the NBA Title this year. Nor will they even make it to the Finals. Sorry I didn't warn you before I spouted my "glass is half empty" wisdom.
But our green team is definitely that, green behind the ears. As far as talent level goes, the Celts should be taking the Pacers lunch money right now. And for the most part, they have - save for a crucial fourth quarter stretch last game where the Pacers went off like Ralphie in "The Christmas Story", when he finally loses it on bully Scut Farkus (yeah, I IMDB'd that)
You just can't underestimate a team that has a vet supposedly on his way out like Reggie Miller. The Celts' only chance on that front is to leave some windows open in the arena, for the hope that a draft picks up and the paper thin Miller gets blown out the window.
But our team, and even Doc Rivers as a Celtics coach (it's his first year here folks, and he has an 0-3 career record in playoff series) do not have the guile to take out defending champ Detroit in the second round.
For the moment, though, having superior match-ups like Gary Payton on Anthony Johnson or Paul Pierce on anyone in Indiana should push Boston past an Indiana franchise that never got over the hump when it had the chance. And Reggie's leaving.
Bird won't be pleased.
Prediction: Celtics win first round, drop in second.
Tom Spera: Curt Schilling and the Red Sox vs. Lou Piniella
Following two bench-clearing fiascos in last Sunday's game between the Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays that resulted in six ejections, Boston ace Curt Schilling and Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella have engaged in their own battle off the field. For anyone who missed the game or hasn't seen John Kruk's "expert" analysis of the incident on Baseball Tonight, the controversy was the result of an exchange of inside "purpose" pitches from both teams throughout the game. What triggered the verbal lashings from Schilling came on a high and tight pitch from Lance Carter to David Ortiz that came within inches of beaming the slugger's head.
Earlier this week Schilling criticized Piniella's integrity as a manager, and referred to him as an "idiot" trying to make his team a bunch of "tough guys." Schilling also claimed Piniella had "forgotten" how to play the game. Piniella did not waste any time retaliating, questioning Schilling's character and knowledge of baseball.
No one really knows if Piniella ordered Carter to beam Ortiz in the head. And I think most Red Sox fans would agree that Schilling loves to voice his opinions in the media. So is this nothing more than two drama queens trying to get one up on each other?
Maybe, but I have to take the side of Schilling. It's one thing to send a message to the opposing team by beaming a player, but it's another thing to go after a guy's head.
Although the two teams have a history of bench clearing outbreaks over the last few seasons, there is no excuse for escalating the tension and potentially ending a player's career with an 80 mph slider to the dome.
Prediction: Lou, your team has the 4th worst record in baseball. The Rays haven't made the playoffs since you took over as manager in 2003. Right now your team is sitting dead last in the AL East, arguably the toughest division in the league. I know you're pissed and trying to gain some respect from the reigning champions, but your team is Bush League right now. Schilling has every right to shell you when you are sending pitchers out on the mound who are trying to beam the World Series and ALCS MVPs of last year, in Manny Ramirez and Ortiz. Schilling wins this battle hands down. But look for the battle to continue as these two teams match up again in mid-July, hopefully Schilling will be healthy by then.
