NBA Lottery: Paul Pierce over the Boston Celtics Organization
On May 22, more television sets in Boston will be tuned to NBA programming than at any other time during the 2006-07 Boston Celtics season. No, it will not be because of overwhelming local interest in the conference finals; it will be because on that afternoon, the NBA Draft Lottery will take place, determining the future of the league's lowliest franchise.
This leaves one important question (not who the Celtics should choose if they have the first pick; it's so obviously Greg Oden that the lottery should be renamed the Oden Sweepstakes). Who should the Celtics send to Secaucus, N.J., to represent the team at the lottery?
A year ago, the answer was obvious, but unfortunately, Red Auerbach, the face of the franchise who successfully brought Cousy, Russell, Bird, McHale and Parish to Boston, passed away last October. And while the seemingly appropriate choice to represent the C's might now be Lucky the Leprechaun, it might not be the best idea to send a mascot hated by approximately 100 percent of the fan base.
So who should go? Owner Wyc Grousbeck? GM Danny Ainge? "Coach" Doc Rivers? Stiff Brian Scalabrine?
Nay.
The only choice to represent the Celtics is Paul Pierce. In an age where it has become second-nature for stars to beg away from underperforming teams by demanding a trade (here's looking at you, Vince Carter and Allen Iverson), Pierce has been the good soldier in Boston, mentoring the Celtics' young players and helping them improve. Celtics fans would love to see Pierce win a title in Boston, and while that's looking less and less likely as he ages, the team should reward his years of service by sending him to New Jersey with the mission of bringing home an Oden. -by Andrew Silver
Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota twins
This weekend, the Chicago White Sox will take on the AL Central rival Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field. After trading away starting pitchers Freddy Garcia and Brandon McCarthy during the offseason to the Phillies and Rangers, respectively, the Southsiders have already seen a fair share of pitching woes. With the second pitch of the young season, Cleveland's Grady Sizemore launched a home run to right field off of opening day starter Jose Contreras en route to a 12-5 Indians shelling. The Sox staff gave up eight runs on Wednesday behind Jon Garland, who surrendered five in 5.1 innings, and the second inning of yesterday's game saw ace Mark Buehrle exit the game after being hit below his pitching elbow with a line drive off the bat of Cleveland's Ryan Garko.
"I've had one month already to get the response I wanted to get, and I haven't seen that," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said to MLB.com's Scott Merkin of his starting five. "At least that's the way I feel, the way I see stuff. I hope I'm wrong, but I might get an ulcer before the All-Star break."
The Twins, on the other hand, will be coming off a three-game winning streak. Minnesota swept Baltimore at the Metrodome this week, giving up just eight runs to the Orioles during the series. The Twins will likely be facing Chicago's fifth starter from 2006, Javier Vazquez, and this season's new fifth starter, John Danks, before last year's AL Cy Young Winner Johan Santana takes the mound against Contreras and his 63.00 ERA.
Prediction: White Sox sweep. Easily. -by Carly Helfand
