Many things in life come and go. Some things you miss for a little while, some you have a hard time letting go of, and the others, well you are glad they are gone. Don Imus being fired this month is something I and thousands of others never saw coming, and it is a void that will not soon be filled on the air airwaves. On Wednesday April 5th Don Imus reacted to producer Bernard Maguirk’s statement about the Rutgers Woman’s basketball players being tough hoes by saying “Those are some nappy headed hoes.” It was an off the cuff comment that was meant to get some chuckles and be forgotten, after all that is what Imus’ program has been successfully doing for years when it is not interviewing, debating or analyzing the days political, world and national news. It was definitely a poor choice of words unfortunately directed at a hard working group of female student athletes. Was Imus wrong? Definitely. Was this some pre-meditated racist rant that he came to work with that morning? No way. For all the good Don Imus has been doing for the last two decades he should have received better treatment than this. But when the bottom line is at stake the treatment of people, loyalty and appreciation seem to be forgotten about. Is Don Imus a controversial figure? Of course. That is why his show has worked for 30 years. However, when sponsors begin to get pressured by the likes of Al Sharpton, an influential leader in the African American community that their products and services will be essentially boycotted, well then you could see the writing on the wall.

Within 48 hours of the comments made by Imus it was a national news story that was receiving way too much coverage for all of the wrong reasons. Imus, to his credit took the heat right on the chin and even appeared to appear on Sharpton’s radio program. Sharpton declined to appear on Imus’ show however. What really gets me and many others here I am sure is this; unless you are very tight with Don Imus who cares what he says about you? Does it really matter? At the same time these college student athletes he insulted had no idea who he was. They were doing bigger things, like competing for a national championship. Yes, even though none of them listen to his show they were going to find out about it, but the way it was blown out of proportion and put all over every news telecast, morning show, sports network and all over the network was ridiculous.

Imus was immediately suspended for two weeks. I wonder what that conversation was like. “Don, listen, we have done some thinking and we feel the best thing to do is for you to be gone for a couple of weeks while this blows over.” I disagreed from the beginning. Both NBC and CBS knew there’d be consequences especially from sponsors; they should have had a better plan. Don Imus following the completion of his radiothon which ended up raising over a million dollars should have been put on indefinite leave of absence. During this time the networks, sponsors and communities could have gotten together and figured out a way to turn this into a positive by using Imus’ influence and ability to reach millions to assist in the way we view race and racism in this country. Not only could Imus meet with the Rutgers players and coaches which he did, he could have visited some African American communities in need and used his fund raising talents to assist them, just like he has done with other organizations like his ranch, SIDS and Fallen Heroes’. Instead of taking some heat and devising a plan that could help so many in the not so distant future NBC and CBS took the easy way out and fired Don Imus.

As much as I will miss the jokes, satire and humor of the show I have been waking up with since I was 8 years old it is the information, opinions and views in the world of politics that will prove to be what is really missing from my days.
I can honestly say I learned a lot and was able to stay in the loop in terms of what was going on in country and overseas weekly because of Imus and who he had on his show.

After Imus went off they had to plug the hole with someone immediately who could keep the listeners interested, who better then Mike and the Mad Dog. But in the morning I am generally delirious waking up for work so when you start hearing Chris Russo talking about racial issues in our country, analyzing the tragic events at Virginia Tech or talking about the NBA playoffs like he has a clue about basketball all first thing in the morning you are bound to be real confused, well at least I was. As I have been in and out of town lately the I did not realize that WFAN was going to be trying to fill the time slot with somebody else…I learned that the hard way this morning as Boomer Esiason and Chris Collingsworth were in my grill when I woke up after 7 hours of weed and Tylenol induced sleep as I am still mangled from my Vegas experience. Are you fucking kidding me?!?! Boomer and Collingsworth? Come on!!! What do people see/hear in Boomer’s media game? He knows his football no doubt, but for him to be the host during morning drive on WFAN in New York? No gonna do it. I will give Boomer props as he is a solid guest to give insight or be made fun of as well as a color commentator in the booth for an NFL game but not this, please no, not this. I am not even going to start on Collingsworth, but it is a bit odd that they are on the radio together being former teammates with the Bungles and all. Maybe I can do a pod cast with my bad ass QB one day, that’s if he and my boys don’t sell me down the river for Suzy Kolber’s Blog (which is real good by the way) I end this post with one question, what type of program and host should WFAN plug into the morning opening?

Anytime you have a team lose an unimaginable amount of consecutive games, like, lets say, 18 in a row, and you have the talk of the draft lottery you can not help but think this team has NOT been bringing it every night in hopes of landing that number one pick. I did not watch every game during the losing streak, it just got to difficult especially with the all the media coverage and commentary on how awful my team was. Then Pierce finally returned and after an ugly loss at home to New Jersey and a gut wrenching buzzer beating loss at the hands of the T-Wolves in Minnesota, the Celtics finally broke the streak at home against the Bucks going into the all-star break. Thank goodness they did, because they headed out west for a 5 game trip out of the break. I am not about to sit here and try to convince you that now that Pierce is back that the team will go on some rediculous role in the eastern conference or am I going to tell you that by adding Oden or Durrant in the draft is going to guarantee we are a playoff threat in 2007-2008, though it is nice to think about. What I will tell you is this; There is NO TANKING going on in Boston, none, zip, nada. (I am watching the second half of last night's Celtics/Suns game as I type this and Amare can not guard Al Jefferson one on one, just wanted to make that official) Some may disagree, some may call the Celtics stupid for not tanking because of the player that they could "potentially" have, others just look at the standings without having any clue about the level of injuries this team has sustained. (Nash slips it to Amare on the pick n roll, I love the way they play, time out Celtics) After watching more Celtics games than I can count since the Pierce Walker eastern conference finals team of 2002 I can say with full confidence that this team is playing its ass off and I am as proud as ever to be a Celtics fan. (Suns pulling away in the 4th despite AL taking to Amare again, yes Amare has plus 30 but AL is giving it to him, Barbosa is just hit his 6th 3 pointer, such a problem) While I am proud my patience is running thin, but I will give this project that Danny Ainge is heading one more off season to do what is necessary to get this thing on track. Keep playing hard guys. Celtic Pride.

I started this blog as an outlet for my thoughts on basketball both as a coach and as a life long Celtics fan but I am receiving demand to give more of myself. To really open up and grab the readers (well right now my friends) and share who I am besides a coach and a fan of the best game on earth. Maybe I have held back because I am afraid to committ (been guilty of that before) or maybe I am spread quite thin as it is as far as time goes that I do not want to disappoint people (guilty of that in the past as well) Well to those who want all of it here we go. (WHO ARE YOU by the WHO just came on in my office, I am in no way kidding, wow!)

In a two week span where my job has never felt more thankless, my ex-girlfriend made a strange appearance and my basketball team has become a possession by possession potential heart attack, it is those Boston Celtics that have lost now 18 straight games that are past testing my patience. That is 18 straight basketball games. 18, yes, 2 more games in a row than their 16 championship banners that hang from the rafters in Boston. It is surreal.

Yes, Paul Pierce did miss 24 games, Tony Allen did sustain a season ending knee injury and Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Kendrick Perkins and Brian Scalabrine have been in out of the lineup, but 18 games in a row as an eastern conference team?!?! (Drum and guitar solo! Unreal) Come on green where is the Celtic Pride? I wear two wrist bands every day on my right wrist. One is for my company, Fastbreak Kids. The other is GREEN and it says CELTIC PRIDE in white bold letters. The only time they come off is if I am getting dressed up to go out which is rare. (Besides coaching, 2 weddings and temple I have worn a button down shirt 5 times since I brought Jack Bauer back from China in August) But that is neither here nor there. I don't wear the Celtic Pride one for show or because I am just a fan. I wear it because it is something I really really believe in. It is something that I learned about when I was a kid growing up amongst tasteless Knick fans that I was proud of despite the Green's fall from glory following the retirement of the big three and the tragic death of Reggie Lewis. I never thought it would be gone forever, even when things got real bad both before and during Pitino. And from 2001-2003 it looked like it was in the process of returning when Pierce, Walker and a bunch of role players were within two wins of the NBA Finals. A few years ago it was part of the routine to throw on the Larry Legend DVD or a disc from the Celtic Dynasty set but now it is just flat out depresing. The last title came in 1986, I was 8, 8 years old!!! Bird's game against the Pacers after he hit his face on the floor and then made the all-time return to the court to a roaring Garden was when I was in the 7th grade. We have been thru the horrible drafts, aging free agents, ML Carr and then Pitino. Now we are currently in year 4 of the Danny Ainge project. Does the team have more talent on it then when Ainge took over? The answer is clearly yes, but where are the results and how much longer can we wait for the tradition to be restored? Or did Celtic Pride pass on along with Red Auerbach on the night of October 28, 2006?

There are many questions. I am trying to create some answers.

The Draft Lottery.
Right now the Celtics are in a dead heat with the Memphis Grizzlies for sole possession of the worst record in the league. Either way the Celtics, if the ping pong balls cooperate will have a shot at Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. Now there are many angles you can take here. The comparisons between Oden and Durrant have been going on for weeks and as a pretty good judge of talent I think they will both be terrific in the league. The question looming for the Green is who fits better, and by better you also have to heavily count IMMEDIATELY. As talented and special as Durrant will be, Greg Oden is exactly the type of player the Celtics need. A defensive force that will rebound, block shots and change the game by just his presence alone. As we know these players are few and far in between. Oden will give the Celtics that, but is another "young" talent what the C's need? I have been repeatedly asking myself the past few days if they would indeed consider trading the pick and trying to get a veteran star to team with Pierce and Co. and steer this ship back to immediate respectability. Could the pick, an expiring Theo Ratlif contract and a young player land Kevin Garnett? I asked myself that exact question this morning while showering, last week while driving to practice drinking a large mocha (Duke Carolina took a lot out of me Wednesday night) thursday night eating dinner while watching The Office and of course falling asleep last night after loosing to Garnett and the Wolves yesterday at the buzzer in Minnesota. When I mention Garnett instead of Oden or Durrant people look at me and say "Garnett is great but he is on the downside of his career." If you want to call last night's triple double on the decline then I am not sure we are watching the same thing. Garnett needs a new look, the Celtics need a veteran star to team with Pierce, who better then Garnett who brings it every single night. He talks the talk, he walks the walk and all he wants like Pierce is to win. I am not about to start breaking down trade scenarios right now but this is something the Celtics need to at least consider when this season finally ends. (Just so everyone knows the draft lottery is on May 22, two days before my birthday, if the Celtics win it there will be another Super Bowl like event in my apartment)

Back to the streak. The Celtics have lost 18 straight, 18 is as far as it will go as the Celtics will beat the Bucks on Wednesday at home. Mark it down right now. Pay the bill, hit the card, however you'd like me to spell it out there is no way they do not win that game. As I am single this will make for a very special Valentines Day evening. Last evening however in Minnesota one thing was made clear about the Celtics besides Pierce still being a clutch 4th quarter player, (13 of his 29 in the 4th) the Green are still soft. After Ricky Davis hit that shot and stood there rubbing it in the Celtics face directly infront of their bench with .2 seconds left someone needed to do something. Yeah, you still think you have a shot to tie it with .2 left on the clock but not with Garnett looming to break up any lob pass attempt. Even the Celtics of 2002 would have done something, whether it be Walker, Eric Williams or E Strickland. We know what the 80's and early 90's Celtics would have done. At worst Ricky Davis would have had someone in his face and in the world formly known as the glory days of the NBA he would have been on his back. But I guess when you loose 18 staight and a former teammate just tears your heart out with a jumper infront of your bench you may be stunned or numb at that point. But the Green need to get tougher and quick.

The streak will end soon, Wednesday is the target, but more importantly when will Celtic Pride return? I still bring it with me everyday, so does Pierce, so does Red wherever he is. When will we start to see it from all of the guys in Green? It needs to start soon because this season has turned from painful to unthinkable.

Maybe I have become to much of an optimist, perhaps I am taking my "Keep It Positive 07" montra a little to far or maybe I am just flat out derranged but I really think the Boston Celtics at 12-27 entering tonights game against the San Antonio Spurs who they have not beaten since Tim Duncan was playing for Wake Forest, are in a wonderful position for the future. Between Paul Pierce, Wally Szcerbiak, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine and Delonte West who returned this past weekend missing extended time with injuries the team has fallen fast in the standings. But with the increased playing time and production from Ryan Gomes, Rajon Rondo, Gerald Green and Al Jefferson the Celtics youth is getting plenty of game experience.

Then there is this years draft which promises to be one of the best we have seen in sometime headlined by big men Greg Oden from Ohio State and Kevin Durant from Texas. Now there is a long way to go in this season and Captain Pierce will be back at some point but if the Celtics can continue to develop their youth and get one of these bigs they are going to be a team on the rise in 07-08. Many speculated that unless Danny AInge A) Makes a deal to bring in a veteran BIG and B) Fires Doc Rivers that his days in Boston may be numbered. I strongly disagree. I am very hot and cold on Coach Rivers. I have called for his head in the past and I have given him the benefit of the doubt in the past. He does have a very challenging job in terms of developing all of the young talent as he has 4 players who did not go to college on his roster, a roster that has undergone a major overhaul over the last couple of seasons. Ainge has publicly said Rivers will not be dismissed this season and I think that is the right move on Danny's part. Doc really does like the team and while his in game management has been questioned appropriately I feel he is doing a solid job of developing the younger players. I also must give him a lot of credit for the emmergence of Tony Allen before Tony went down for the season. He believed in Tony after his slow start and placed him in the starting lineup next to Pierce before Paul went down. Allen flourished and his injury clearly shook up Doc and the rest of the green. That shows how close these guys have become. This is a close knit team that is growing and developing together.

We are not positive what the future will hold for the Green but these young Celtics are battling each and every night. If Red can assist us with some luck with the ping pong balls this spring, Tony Allen can recover and our youth can continue at its current pase then the Green, the Garden and Celtic Pride will be in good shape for years to come. Stayin Positive in 07.

Entering the new year I told myself to stay upbeat despite the struggles of the teams I both coach and pull for. Lets be honest winning as a fan and as a coach makes you very happy but you can not let that dictate your everyday mood and outlook but this was a strange week in the life of the coach, much of it good, but one event sad and bad.

Between my team returning from vacation in poor shape, somehow restraining myself from getting double T'd in last Thursdays game and watching Tony Allen possibly sustain a career ending injury it has been a bit of a heavy week on the basketball front. OK, real heavy, like the porterhouse for 3 and the rib eye for you and your buddy at Wolfgangs. But you gotta fight thru the crap, no matter how challenging things get. Over the last few years I have been knocked to the mat many times in a variety of ways and there is only one response for me, you and Tony Allen, get back up.

Tony's injury last week was downright horrible. The guy has been playing unbelievable basketball. Many say it started when Pierce went out of the lineup but those people were just not paying attention. Allen was actually starting next to Pierce and his play was improving on a nightly basis. Then Pierce went down with the foot injury. Many thought Allen's recent surge had to do with feeding off of Pierce (including myself) but then Tony stepped it up to another level without the Captain. Allen had scored double digits in his last 14 games, including over 20 in 7 of those outings. He had 3 or more steals 6 times and was playing with the pride and passion that every fan wants to see out of one of their own.

Then came January 10th at home against the Pacers. I was planning on watching the game on the DVR delay before I went to sleep. I was on the phone with my boy PR and asked him not to tell me the score if it came across his screen. A minute later he said "Yo, you do not want to see the game." Never did I think something like Allen's injury occurred, I thought the Green were just getting whipped at home again. When he told me what happened I just froze, I could not respond or even comprehend how this could happen to a guy like Allen. He just plays so hard and has a Superman mentality that makes him seems both fearless and indestructible. It was the 3rd quarter and Allen already had 19 points and 5 steals. He was simply just taking it to Steven Jackson and the Pacers. Then Allen was fouled on the perimeter on the right side. After the whistle blew he took another dribble and soared to the hoop to hammer in a dunk that would clearly not count but I guess he was sending another message to his opponent that his effort and hunger were far from fading. Next thing you know he comes down awkwardly his knee buckles and that was that. Tony Allen lost for the season with a torn ACL and two torn meniscus.

His teammates and coaches were stunned as Allen lay there grabbing his knee on the Garden floor. As they helped Allen to he locker room Tony, did not go quietly. As Allen was passing the Indiana bench he had a message to pass along to Steven Jackson who had attempted to match up with Allen that evening. "Tell Jack, I own him." Allen said. When I heard that it made me smile. Smile because I know that this will not be the last we hear out of Tony. Smile because this guy now knows how good he can be and he is going to rehab the hell out of that knee so he can get back onto the court.

In my coaching world the holiday break as expected took the wind and any momentum we had away from us. It was clear the first day back that many did not do anything over break to maintain the level we left off at which was discouraging. As a coach I am learning more and more that I can only do so much. That first Monday was very difficult on them which they handled pretty well. But between having no intensity on Tuesday and 3 sophomores showing up 15 minutes late on Wednesday made for a lot of unnecessary running and some not so nice verbal displays by yours truly last week. Wednesdays practice did end on a high note however and I felt confident going into Thursday's game that at least we would compete, which we did. We could never just get into a flow offensively as my 5 man struggled with foul trouble as did my point guard. Worse than that though my 2 guard went down with a knee injury (not quite as bad as Tony Allen's) and we may be without him for the remainder of the season.

Now I rarely put anything on the officials at this level but one of the guys working was one of the worst I have ever had. At one point we had a stare down and he was baiting me to cross that fine line, I thought about biting but I have grown up a bit on the sideline and chose to make him look like the idiot for getting into it with me instead of officiating the game. At one point I asked him if he was trying to be my father as he kept giving me these empty threats and staring at me. I told him to watch the game before he did something stupid, still no technical. The more I think about it the more evident this guy is a total pussy. Before the game the opposing coach whom I am friendly with told me this guy was bad news and he was right. The funny thing though was he did not have the balls to T me, not even one time.

Though we lost an ugly game we played hard and actually got a lot of good looks, many just did not go down. I was very happy I kept my cool and tried to communicate that to my kids in the post game. Some were listening, some were worried about the studying they had to go home and do. I hope some of them at the least understood my message.

Whether I am coaching, teaching, dealing with my fastbreak kids program or just dealing with everyday headaches and obstacles I have to stay upbeat. I am on the path I always wanted to be on, doing the things I have been wanting to do for the last few years. Well now they are finally here, it is all very exciting and I must keep moving forward.

Special shout outs: Todd (was Denver gorgous?) 15J deluxe, Team Fastbreak, Ross and Jared, Ithaca Crew, Eisenberg and Bell, Ninja, PR, Garbs and his Bears, and of course Jack Bauer.

Next Blog: MLK Day hoops and the return of Bauer and 24.

It has been almost a week since last week's disgraceful events at Madison Square Garden took place, I needed to let things sink in, read the quotes from the "experts" and hear the sound bites from all of those involved and let it marinate like a playoff steak. Now it is time to let loose on what took place last Saturday night at the Garden. In what seemed like the run of the mill New York Knicks performance we are used to these days, (well, prior to this 3 game winning streak they are currently on) which is getting their doors blown off at home the Knicks were trailing the Denver Nuggets by the score of 90-67 after Marcus Camby nailed a 20 foot jumper with 4:03 to play in the 3rd quarter. Now one thing the Knicks seem to do when down by 20 plus points at home is go on a run and really tease the fans. (The Celtics game on December 11th is a perfect example as the Knicks trimmed a 30 point lead to 9 in what seemed like 5 minutes) So the Nuggets lead begins to dwindle and before you know it at the end of the 3rd quarter this is a ten point game, 94-84, after a 16-4 Knicks run.

There is a lot to cover regarding both coaches here but first and foremost if I am George Karl whose team had lost two straight coming in and has blown second half double digit leads on more than one occassion, I am challenging the heck out of my guys in the huddle before the start of the fouth quarter. All the Knicks were starting to do was play hard and impose some of their will and Denver was wilting. You can not allow that as a coach, not as a coach of a team that wants to be a contender for a championship by the spring. You can also not allow a team like the Knicks who do not show up to play on many nights at home to get their crowd back into the game. That is a major no, no. And to the Nuggets and Coach Karl's credit Denver came out in the 4th quarter ready to put the Knicks away.

The 4th quarter started with a 16-6 Nuggets run over the first 5 minutes to build the lead back to 20 points. A comfortable lead with seven minutes to play? Yes. Game over? No way, you gotta keep playing ball. This is not middle school or some CYO s#*t, this is the NBA, where guys like it or not are getting paid millions of dollars to be out there on the court regardless of time and score.

With 4:13 to go in the game JR Smith throws down a reverse dunk on the break to make it 114-96. Do George Karl and the Nuggets taste Knickerbocker blood? I would think yes. Are the Knicks waiving a white towl? Not that I saw, so the game goes on. Mardy Collins, a Knick rookie point guard checks in the game for Stephon Marbury with two minutes to go following a Denver timeout and the score comfortably reading 117-100, in favor of Denver. That is 17 points not 30. Now where I have to do some speculating is here, what happened during this timeout? Was Collins put in the game to mop up or to put someone on their ass? Was Karl keeping his starters in so they could finish the game off strong and end their road trip on a positive note or did he really do it to stick it to the Knicks for how they treated his good friend Larry Brown?

Let me first comment on Karl. This guy really does not give a s#*t what people think of him and he is going to do what he is going to do to make his point and get his team to the next level. I will say this as clearly and as honestly as possible, I have NO issue with what Goerge Karl did regardless of his motive. You want to teach your team how to close out a road game? Then by all means do it. You want to stick it to the embarrassment of an organization that the Knicks under James Dolan and Isiah Thomas have become, because of what happened with regards to Larry Brown then go right ahead. The more wake up calls the Knicks get like that, the sooner someone will do something to right this ship.

The Knicks have become a disgrace to basketball, the NBA and the city of New York. I can't put into words how happy I am that I am not a Knicks fan. Those reading that know me, can you imagine if I cared about the Knicks like I care about the Celtics? I know, scary. Anyway, back to the coaches. What did Isiah say to Mardy Collins in that timeout? Did he invoke the no layup rule that his Bad Boys effectively used in Detroit when he was a well respected figure in this league? What was Thomas thinking when he warned Carmelo to stay out of the paint? If you were trying to send a message to the other team with physical play would you warn them first? I wouldn't. Red Auerbach wouldn't, Bob Knight wouldn't, Pat Riley wouldn't, would you? Isiah telling Carmelo that was almost as smart as the Steve Francis trade.

So with 1:15 to go in the game and Denver leading 119-100 Mardy Collins takes down JR Smith from behind on the break. Was it the most flagrant of fouls? No. But it was flagrant enough for Smith to react initially as he did. (He was taken down hard the night before in Boston by Al Jefferson so I am sure he did not appreciate it again the next night especially with the game in hand) Smith turned and got in Collins' face then all hell began to break loose thanks to Collins' mouth and Nate Robinson's "I wanna fight the world because I am small and made it to the league" complex. Nate, you should have been pulling your teammate away from Smith instead of antagonizing Smith. Robinson raised his hands right away like he wanted to throw down, and after David Lee lost hold of Smith that is exactly what happened with 8 other players and the referees watching as Robinson and Smith went at each other and it spilled into the first row. Nice look for Dolan and the Garden, I bet Red Holzman would have been thrilled as I am sure Walt Frasier was sitting courtside, no rhymes for this one Clyde.

Channing Frye, Jared Jeffries, and David Lee all come over to get them out of the crowd (I feel like Kevin Costner in JFK, "back and to the left, back and to the left") then Carmelo Anthony grabs Frye from behind and throws him in his ass back under the hoop. (At this point if you are in a Denver uniform you must get Melo off of the court) Melo then kind of glares down at Frye and gives him that "you better stay put if you know what is good for you" type of look and then makes a beline for the center of the storm, which is starting to calm, where he and Collins start to jaw at each other. They are briefly seperated but then Collins says something that triggers Anthony to lose all control of himself and unfortunately moments later his manhood. Melo takes two quick steps back towards Collins and catches him with a right hand across the face. But then Melo goes into this backwards retreat across the Garden floor like a frightened kid who just did something really bad and knows he is about get the belt or something. Jeffries then storms after Anthony as he is trying to get his teammate (Collins') back. And we all know what happened after that, the ten players on the floor are ejected, the game soon ends and the quotes start flying.

This was a bad night for the NBA. It was a reminder of what happned in the Palace in Detroit just over 2 years ago. You have one of your bright young stars throw a debatable sucker punch and then run away. You have what should be one of your flag ship franchises that has turned into a complete mockery in the greatest city in the world start this chaos, and worst of all you have young fans in the stands, many of whom think this kind of behavior is funny and cool. I have no issues with the suspensions the players received. I just have an ongoing major issue with the Coach who was not penalized at all.

Isiah Thomas, you were a great, great player but you haven't the clue how to coach in this league or be an executive. You talk about playing tough and you send a guy into the game to committ a hard foul because you feel your team is getting embarrassed by an opponent late in a game. What about about your team early in games? What about playing hard all of the time? Especially at home in front of your fans that are so fed up at this point I am shocked people still pay for tickets. Marbury could not stay in and committ the foul? It is one thing if your team regardless of record plays hard, is a class act and takes pride in defending its home court. But yours, Mr. Thomas does not. Your days in Detroit do not roll over to this team, you must earn the right to employ those tactics on your team. Just like Boston, Detroit, Chicago and even the Riley coached Knicks did when this league was in its hay day.

To the Knicks credit they have won three straight at home since this incident beating two teams on fire, Chicago and Utah and topping Charlotte in double overtime. Someone please take the time to explain to me why Charlotte did not have 4 guys in the paint to take away the lob pass with .1 seconds left in that one? I love some of the coaching and communication techniques in this league. The Knicks are benefiting from these suspensions right now I believe because it shortens their player rotation and guys like Frye and Lee play heavier minutes together on the floor. The Celtics experienced the same thing during their recent 5 game winning streak as Gomes, Szcerbiak and Perkins were all in and out of the lineup which provided Tony Allen and Al Jefferson major minutes along side Paul Pierce which was beneficial to everyone, especially Doc Rivers who had to play those guys and they gave him great results. But with Pierce now sidelined for 2-3 weeks with a foot injury the Green look to be in for a tough stretch thru new years. It starts of all places in Denver against the Nuggets and Allen Iverson Tuesday night. Happy Holidays to everyone, well everyone except Isiah...

Hello all,

I have been gone for a while, my apologies. Between Thanksgiving, both Basketball teams, Fastbreak kids, two creative projects and the rollercoaster which is the Celtics I have not had much time to write lately. I also had the flu for a week which was a ton of fun. But when there is a will there is a way. (And of course Larry Legend's 50th Birthday was December 7th, had to celebrate with lots of highlights on NBA TV)

Our Varsity has opened the season with a 3-2 record as we have been very up and down. After a thrilling 4th quarter on the road in our opener, which was a victory at Friends Seminary we have yet to consistently hit our stride. We split two games in the Scarsdale tourney falling to a very talented Ossining team and then defeating Clarkstown North. Then last Friday night we had our home opener in a packed gym against Trinity. After a slow first half where we trailed by as many as 14, and 8 at the half, we fell behind by 12 in the third quarter before we began to show glimpses of how strong we could be this season. Some strong defense got us running and the tempo of the game turned in our favor as we faught back and tied the game. The game eventually went to overtime and thanks to some clutch shots, big rebounds and energy from our crowd we hung on to win by 4 points. It was quite a scene at the end with the fans and players tasting this excitement in December. What is so crazy about coaching at this level is how quickly your team can win a game like that and then come out in your next game against a rival and not play well, and that is exactly what happened against Collegiate on Monday. Due to scheduling I was coaching my JV team at the same time as the Varsity, and we ran into the same problem. We did not play nearly well enough to win and yet we lost by 4 points. Kids are so erratic sometimes, my job is to get them to the point where they can not help but be consistent. When we are there I will let you know, as tonight we lost again at the Greenwich Country Day School by 9 points, this is going to be an uphill climb. Only thing to do is to get back to work at practice tomorrow.

Turning to a team I have no effect on but yet they are just as inconsistent as mine at times are the Boston Celtics. Tonight's 20 point victory in Philly over the ANSWERLESS 76ers is their 3rd straight, after Pierce's buzzer beater last Saturday in New Jersey and Monday's win at MSG which saw the green build a 30 point lead and then barely hang on to win. At this point as a fan you gotta take the wins anyway they come but if I am at the game does the second half have to be that gut wrenching? I was freaking out for a few minutes thinking that they were really going to give this one back to the Knicks. Speaking of the Knicks they finally kicked someone's ass tonight at home as they beat the Hawks. I love hating the Knicks.

But the real news remains all of the Allen Iverson trade talk. Will he go out West? Will KG get his wish? Will Danny Ainge offer enough to get him in green running and gunning with Paul Pierce? I am remaining optimistic but what price is reasonable for The Answer at this point since Philly must deal him? I am checking all the sites every 10 minutes for news, I really want him to go to Boston badly. This team needs to get back on the basketball map again, and putting Iverson with Pierce and Co. will do that. It also may help Doc Rivers enter mediocrity as a coach. Doc has been taking alot of heat, but at 8-13, with a bunch of close games squandered it is unavoidable right now. Danny Ainge listen closely, The East is wide open, GO GET ALLEN IVERSON, just don't trade Jefferson or Green. I know very easy for me to say.

Time to get some rest.

Lots of special shout outs to: Mom and Dad, Todd, #21, PR, Team Fastbreak, Lunar Sports Group, Doc Hagen, The Wolf, 15J deluxe (Happy Birthday Jessica), BD in the City, The Jab, Rebecca, and Brendan. Thanks for all of your support.