Random Thoughts (July 22, 2009)

There are too many times when athletes are in the news for all of the wrong reasons. The Pro Bowl quarterback funding an illegal dogfighting ring. The future Hall of Fame left fielder taking female hormones to improve his performance. The wide receiver who had one too many cocktails who got behind the wheel of his car and killed an innocent pedestrian. It is a list that just continues to get longer with each passing day. There are enough horror stories of athletes acting as if the law does not apply to them to make even the biggest sports fan reconsider the amount of time, effort, and money it takes to follow their favorite teams and athletes. Of course, whenever it looks like it is time to hit the brakes on investing oneself in sports, a story like this is written and it makes you realize that most athletes get how much good they can do and how great of a positive impact they can have on the lives of their biggest supporters - the children. Ciron Black and his LSU Tigers will be the team I am pulling for in 2009 and you should too. Black is the type of athlete that ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and everyone else needs to promote. He gets it. Good luck Mikey... Although there are still several teams interested in the services of restricted free agent Glen "Big Baby" Davis, it looks like the Celtics will match any offer that is made to him, keeping the forward in Boston. If the Celtics do keep Davis, it would give them a very good bench. Rasheed Wallace and Davis give coach Doc Rivers two fantastic options at forward, Marquis Daniels (who is probably going to cost Boston both Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen in a sign-and-trade with Indiana) provides depth on the wing, and Eddie House is a dead-eye shooter who provides instant offense. The C's also have youngsters Gabe Pruitt, Bill Walker, J.R. Giddens, and Lester Hudson who will compete to fill out the end of the bench. Free agent center Robert Swift - a long time favorite of GM Danny Ainge and a member of the Celtics summer league team - is expected to join the team as a reserve center. Finding a backup to Rajon Rondo at point guard is still an issue although one rumor finding its way around the internet last night hinted at Stephon Marbury's willingness to return to Boston. Earlier in the offseason Marbury said he would not come back to the Celtics. Garnett's good friend Tyronn Lue is another option to backup Rondo this winter. If Ainge does keep Big Baby and signs Marbury, the Celtics will have the most talented and deepest team in the NBA: 5: Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Robert Swift 4: Kevin Garnett, Wallace, Glen Davis 3: Paul Pierce, Marquis Daniels, Bill Walker 2: Ray Allen, Eddie House, J.R. Giddens 1: Rajon Rondo, Stephon Marbury, Gabe Pruitt In a summer that has seen the best teams get even stronger, the Celtics have positioned themselves to win a second championship in three years... I will never profess to be a hockey genius but the talk about trading Phil Kessel strikes a nerve with me. Kessel is a soon to be 22-year-old who is coming off a breakout 2008-2009 season in which he posted 36-goals and 24-assists. I understand the Bruins have other holes to fill (cue Michael Felger: "They need a puck carrying defenseman.") but I would hate to see the B's give up a potential 50-goal scorer to add a middle of the pack defenseman. Well, if Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is to be believed, I won't have to worry about Kessel leaving Boston anytime soon. It looks like a contract will be agreed upon, keeping Kessel in the Black and Gold this winter... There is no reason to panic - YET! - but the Red Sox hitters are looking an awful lot like the college All-Stars who travel to Cape Cod each summer and can't find a way to adjust to life without metal bats. Religious differences aside, it's time for Theo Epstein to play Santa and give Red Sox Nation a bat to ignite the slumping lineup... Enjoy Clay Buchholz tonight...