Hey! Boston took 3 out of 4 from Los Angeles this week!

Alright fine. Even I would have taken 2 out of 3 from the Dodgers if it meant the Celtics would have beaten the Lakers.

But hey, the NBA season is over and if you hadn't noticed yet, the Red Sox are on a roll.

Buchholz has thrown his hat into the Cy Young race (despite a shaky first few innings) and will head off to Colorado tied with the Yankees with the most wins in baseball.

It's not a parade... but it isn't bad.

Anyway, let's update the tally.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 22

April 4 - 9-7 win against Yankees (On Opening Night, the Red Sox overcome a 5-1 Yankee lead with a game tying HR by Pedroia and a go ahead passed ball.)
April 10 - 8-3 win against Kansas City (Beckett out pitches Zack Greinke and nearly gets decapitated by a line drive.)
April 14 - 6-3 win in Minnesota. (Okajima gets Morneau to pop up with the bases loaded in the 7th and Papelbon wiggled out of a 9th inning jam.)
April 20 - 7-6 win against Texas. (Darnell McDonald introduces himself to Boston with an 8th inning game tying homer and a walk off hit in the 9th.)
April 21 - 8-7 win against Texas. (The Red Sox were down 4-0 early only to win it on Youk's 2 out 11th inning double.)
April 23 - 4-3 win against Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 3-0 lead but win it on Adrian Beltre's bases loaded walk.)

April 24 - 7-6 win against Baltimore. (The Red Sox score 6 in the 7th and hold off a late Baltimore comeback attempt.)
April 26 - 13-12 win at Toronto. (The Sox blow an early 5-0 lead but hang on for dear life in a slugfest.)
April 27 - 2-1 win at Toronto. (Buchholz holds the Jays down for 8 but it takes a bases loaded walk in the 8th to go ahead.)
April 28 - 2-0 win at Toronto. (Daniel Bard wiggles out of trouble in the 8th to help Lester shut down the Blue Jays and finish the sweep.)
May 4 - 5-1 win against the Angels. (Juan Rivera misplays Jeremy Hermedia's 2 out flyball into a 3 run game winning double)
May 5 - 3-1 win against the Angels. (Papi and Beltre homer and the Sox hang on despite squandering many potential rallies.)
May 6 - 11-6 win against the Angels. (Dice-K puts the Red Sox in a 4-0 hole before they even bat. The Sox bats respond.)
May 10 - 7-6 win against the Blue Jays. (Sox blow an early 2-0 lead, take advantage of some errors and hang on.)
May 18 - 7-5 win in New York. (Sox climb back from a 5-1 hole. A day after hitting a walk off homer, Marcus Thames drops a fly ball to start the winning rally for the Sox.)
May 25 - 2-0 win in Tampa. (Big Papi supplies all the offense as Papelbon wiggles out of a 9th inning jam.)
May 29 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Zack Greinke holds the Sox to one run, but they make it stick)

June 1 - 9-4 win against Oakland. (Lackey puts the Sox in a 4-0 hole but Victor Martinez goes 5-5 and the Sox score 9 runs late.)
June 2 - 6-4 win against Oakland. (Dice-K puts the Sox in a 3-0 hole before they come to bat, but come back thanks to Papi's homer.)

June 8 - 3-2 win at Cleveland. (With Papelbon unavailable, Okajima, Ramirez and Bard hang on to make a winner out of Wakefield.)

June 19 - 5-4 win against the Dodgers. (Sox make 4 errors, blow a late lead and let Manny homer, but they win it in the bottom of the 9th on a Pedroia single.)
June 20 - 2-0 win against the Dodgers. (Dodgers blow an early bases loaded scoring opportunity and allow Buchholz to settle down for the win.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 19

April 6 - 6-4 loss against the Yankees. (Scutaro's error leads to the winning run.)
April 7 - 3-1 loss against the Yankees. (Sox leave the winning run on in the 9th only to lose on Granderson's 10th inning homer)
April 9 - 4-3 loss in Kansas City. (Bard coughs up the lead, denying Wakefield a win.)
April 17 - 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Sox can't score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 11th... lost it in the 12th.)
April 17 - 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox comeback falls a run short, leaving two on in the 8th)
April 25 - 7-6 loss to Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 4-1 lead, leave the winning run on second in the 9th, let up 3 in the 10th and could only score 2 in the bottom of the 10th)
April 30 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (Tejada ties the game with a 2 out 8th inning homer and wins it with a bloop in the 10th)
May 1 - 12-9 loss in Baltimore. (Dice-K and Wakes get pounded, wasting 2 homers from Ortiz and an early 4-1 lead.)
May 2 - 3-2 loss in Baltimore. (Varitek is thrown at home trying to score with 2 outs in the 8th. Sox get swept in the 10th.
May 12 - 3-2 loss against the Blue Jays. (The Sox rally in the 9th comes up a run short and Kevin Gregg gets an ugly save.)
May 15 - 7-6 loss in Detroit. (The Sox blow a 6-1 lead and lose it on a 2 out bases loaded walk in the 12th.)
May 17 - 11-9 loss in New York. (The Sox come all the way back from a 5-0 first inning hole to take a 9-7 lead in the 9th... but Papelbon lets up a 2 run game tying shot to A-Rod and a 2 run walk off shot to Marcus Thames.)
May 21 - 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Big Papi's bid for a game tying 9th inning grand slam is caught at the warning track.)
May 27 - 4-3 loss to Kansas City. (Dice-K walks the go ahead run in and lets another score on a wild pitch as the Royals no name bullpen shut down the Hot Sox.)
May 28 - 12-5 loss to Kansas City. (Sox blow a 3-0 first inning lead to be blown out in Fenway.)
June 3 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox lose a slugfest where two Boston runners are thrown out at home.)

June 6 - 4-3 loss in Baltimore. (Sox rally to tie the game in the 9th only to lose it on a small ball rally in the 11th.)

June 10 - 8-7 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow an early 5-0 lead and then after rallying in the 9th to take the lead coughed it up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th)
June 13 - 5-3 loss to Philadelphia. (Sox 9th inning rally comes up short)


All the way up to +3.

Look, Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals is going to go down as one of those "haunt us for the rest of our lives" sporting events right there with the Aaron Boone homer and the Magic skyhook.

Accept that and cheer on the Sox who just might be on to something this year.

Hey! Boston took 3 out of 4 from Los Angeles this week!

Alright fine. Even I would have taken 2 out of 3 from the Dodgers if it meant the Celtics would have beaten the Lakers.

But hey, the NBA season is over and if you hadn't noticed yet, the Red Sox are on a roll.

Buchholz has thrown his hat into the Cy Young race (despite a shaky first few innings) and will head off to Colorado tied with the Yankees with the most wins in baseball.

It's not a parade... but it isn't bad.

Anyway, let's update the tally.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 22

April 4 - 9-7 win against Yankees (On Opening Night, the Red Sox overcome a 5-1 Yankee lead with a game tying HR by Pedroia and a go ahead passed ball.)
April 10 - 8-3 win against Kansas City (Beckett out pitches Zack Greinke and nearly gets decapitated by a line drive.)
April 14 - 6-3 win in Minnesota. (Okajima gets Morneau to pop up with the bases loaded in the 7th and Papelbon wiggled out of a 9th inning jam.)
April 20 - 7-6 win against Texas. (Darnell McDonald introduces himself to Boston with an 8th inning game tying homer and a walk off hit in the 9th.)
April 21 - 8-7 win against Texas. (The Red Sox were down 4-0 early only to win it on Youk's 2 out 11th inning double.)
April 23 - 4-3 win against Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 3-0 lead but win it on Adrian Beltre's bases loaded walk.)

April 24 - 7-6 win against Baltimore. (The Red Sox score 6 in the 7th and hold off a late Baltimore comeback attempt.)
April 26 - 13-12 win at Toronto. (The Sox blow an early 5-0 lead but hang on for dear life in a slugfest.)
April 27 - 2-1 win at Toronto. (Buchholz holds the Jays down for 8 but it takes a bases loaded walk in the 8th to go ahead.)
April 28 - 2-0 win at Toronto. (Daniel Bard wiggles out of trouble in the 8th to help Lester shut down the Blue Jays and finish the sweep.)
May 4 - 5-1 win against the Angels. (Juan Rivera misplays Jeremy Hermedia's 2 out flyball into a 3 run game winning double)
May 5 - 3-1 win against the Angels. (Papi and Beltre homer and the Sox hang on despite squandering many potential rallies.)
May 6 - 11-6 win against the Angels. (Dice-K puts the Red Sox in a 4-0 hole before they even bat. The Sox bats respond.)
May 10 - 7-6 win against the Blue Jays. (Sox blow an early 2-0 lead, take advantage of some errors and hang on.)
May 18 - 7-5 win in New York. (Sox climb back from a 5-1 hole. A day after hitting a walk off homer, Marcus Thames drops a fly ball to start the winning rally for the Sox.)
May 25 - 2-0 win in Tampa. (Big Papi supplies all the offense as Papelbon wiggles out of a 9th inning jam.)
May 29 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Zack Greinke holds the Sox to one run, but they make it stick)

June 1 - 9-4 win against Oakland. (Lackey puts the Sox in a 4-0 hole but Victor Martinez goes 5-5 and the Sox score 9 runs late.)
June 2 - 6-4 win against Oakland. (Dice-K puts the Sox in a 3-0 hole before they come to bat, but come back thanks to Papi's homer.)

June 8 - 3-2 win at Cleveland. (With Papelbon unavailable, Okajima, Ramirez and Bard hang on to make a winner out of Wakefield.)

June 19 - 5-4 win against the Dodgers. (Sox make 4 errors, blow a late lead and let Manny homer, but they win it in the bottom of the 9th on a Pedroia single.)
June 20 - 2-0 win against the Dodgers. (Dodgers blow an early bases loaded scoring opportunity and allow Buchholz to settle down for the win.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 19

April 6 - 6-4 loss against the Yankees. (Scutaro's error leads to the winning run.)
April 7 - 3-1 loss against the Yankees. (Sox leave the winning run on in the 9th only to lose on Granderson's 10th inning homer)
April 9 - 4-3 loss in Kansas City. (Bard coughs up the lead, denying Wakefield a win.)
April 17 - 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Sox can't score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 11th... lost it in the 12th.)
April 17 - 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox comeback falls a run short, leaving two on in the 8th)
April 25 - 7-6 loss to Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 4-1 lead, leave the winning run on second in the 9th, let up 3 in the 10th and could only score 2 in the bottom of the 10th)
April 30 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (Tejada ties the game with a 2 out 8th inning homer and wins it with a bloop in the 10th)
May 1 - 12-9 loss in Baltimore. (Dice-K and Wakes get pounded, wasting 2 homers from Ortiz and an early 4-1 lead.)
May 2 - 3-2 loss in Baltimore. (Varitek is thrown at home trying to score with 2 outs in the 8th. Sox get swept in the 10th.
May 12 - 3-2 loss against the Blue Jays. (The Sox rally in the 9th comes up a run short and Kevin Gregg gets an ugly save.)
May 15 - 7-6 loss in Detroit. (The Sox blow a 6-1 lead and lose it on a 2 out bases loaded walk in the 12th.)
May 17 - 11-9 loss in New York. (The Sox come all the way back from a 5-0 first inning hole to take a 9-7 lead in the 9th... but Papelbon lets up a 2 run game tying shot to A-Rod and a 2 run walk off shot to Marcus Thames.)
May 21 - 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Big Papi's bid for a game tying 9th inning grand slam is caught at the warning track.)
May 27 - 4-3 loss to Kansas City. (Dice-K walks the go ahead run in and lets another score on a wild pitch as the Royals no name bullpen shut down the Hot Sox.)
May 28 - 12-5 loss to Kansas City. (Sox blow a 3-0 first inning lead to be blown out in Fenway.)
June 3 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox lose a slugfest where two Boston runners are thrown out at home.)

June 6 - 4-3 loss in Baltimore. (Sox rally to tie the game in the 9th only to lose it on a small ball rally in the 11th.)

June 10 - 8-7 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow an early 5-0 lead and then after rallying in the 9th to take the lead coughed it up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th)
June 13 - 5-3 loss to Philadelphia. (Sox 9th inning rally comes up short)


All the way up to +3.

Look, Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals is going to go down as one of those "haunt us for the rest of our lives" sporting events right there with the Aaron Boone homer and the Magic skyhook.

Accept that and cheer on the Sox who just might be on to something this year.

Ooof

Someday I will appreciate that it was my great privilege to watch one of the great NBA games in history unfold tonight.

Someday I will look back and say "Wow... that was amazing. Even though the final outcome wasn't what I wanted, both teams showed so much heart."

That day is not today.

I am a Celtic fan living in Laker country. And my team had the lead in the 4th Quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals with under 6 minutes to play.

And they lost.
To the Lakers.

And the Lakers have are now just one title behind the Celtics.
And Kobe will now be discussed as one of the great players in NBA history.

And the Celtics are probably done with their title runs. The big 3 of Garnett, Pierce and Allen are past their primes and soon Rondo will need a new supporting cast.

The window is small... and if LeBron leaves for the West, we'll probably be seeing Orlando be the dominating team in the East.

And the Lakers will continue to win titles.

And typing that makes me physically ill.

Someday I'll see how cool this game was.

That day won't be coming soon.

Ooof

Someday I will appreciate that it was my great privilege to watch one of the great NBA games in history unfold tonight.

Someday I will look back and say "Wow... that was amazing. Even though the final outcome wasn't what I wanted, both teams showed so much heart."

That day is not today.

I am a Celtic fan living in Laker country. And my team had the lead in the 4th Quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals with under 6 minutes to play.

And they lost.
To the Lakers.

And the Lakers have are now just one title behind the Celtics.
And Kobe will now be discussed as one of the great players in NBA history.

And the Celtics are probably done with their title runs. The big 3 of Garnett, Pierce and Allen are past their primes and soon Rondo will need a new supporting cast.

The window is small... and if LeBron leaves for the West, we'll probably be seeing Orlando be the dominating team in the East.

And the Lakers will continue to win titles.

And typing that makes me physically ill.

Someday I'll see how cool this game was.

That day won't be coming soon.

Alright Celtics... Let's get it done

Not much more to say than that!

Alright Celtics... Let's get it done

Not much more to say than that!

The Red Sox held up THEIR end of the bargain!

The Red Sox had an uneventful win... just as I asked them to.
They didn't let up a base runner for the last three innings and it was never in doubt.

And frankly I was listening to the Red Sox game more than I was the Celtics game on my drive home.

Yeeeeesh.

A friend of mine (A Knicks fan) wrote to me and said "Isn't this what you want? Game 7, Lakers vs. Celtics?"

I said "NO! I wanted Game 4, Celtics sweeping the Suns!"

Ah well.

Buchholz is showing he is throwing like an ace and it is Lester's turn to regain his stuff.

And maybe the Celtics can regain some of THEIR magic.
Today was neither a teeth grinder nor a dodged bullet. I guess if you are going to lose... LOSE!

The Red Sox held up THEIR end of the bargain!

The Red Sox had an uneventful win... just as I asked them to.
They didn't let up a base runner for the last three innings and it was never in doubt.

And frankly I was listening to the Red Sox game more than I was the Celtics game on my drive home.

Yeeeeesh.

A friend of mine (A Knicks fan) wrote to me and said "Isn't this what you want? Game 7, Lakers vs. Celtics?"

I said "NO! I wanted Game 4, Celtics sweeping the Suns!"

Ah well.

Buchholz is showing he is throwing like an ace and it is Lester's turn to regain his stuff.

And maybe the Celtics can regain some of THEIR magic.
Today was neither a teeth grinder nor a dodged bullet. I guess if you are going to lose... LOSE!

In honor of Loscy and Cowens...

Jim Loscutoff was one of the stars of the first Celtics team to beat the Lakers in 1959 (when they were still in Minneapolis.) He helped the Celtics win seven (count 'em! SEVEN) NBA Titles including the L.A. Lakers twice.

He was a favorite in Boston but Loscy, a graduate of Palo Alto High School (where my brother went to high school), didn't want his number retired.

His number was picked up by Big Red, Dave Cowens, who took the baton from Russell and led the Celtics to two titles in the 1970s.

He also runs the Dave Cowens Basketball School, which when I was a kid was in my hometown of Weston Massachusetts. (I went there for a few summers and confirmed that I had ZERO basketball ability.)

Loscy and Cowens share a number... #18.

And now the Celtics are a win away from making 18 significant in yet another way.
There are 17 Celtic championship banners hanging from the rafters.

All the Celtics need is one win in Los Angeles and there would be #18... the Loscy and Cowens banner.

And oh yeah... it would keep the Lakers from gaining on the Celtics in total titles.

They have 15.

I want them at arm's length.

I am not going to gloat about tonight's game or talk about how much fun it will be listening to L.A. sports talk radio tomorrow (tee hee) or reading Bill Plaschke inevitable doom and gloom column tomorrow.

I just want one more win for the Celtics... in honor of Loscy and Cowens.

In honor of Loscy and Cowens...

Jim Loscutoff was one of the stars of the first Celtics team to beat the Lakers in 1959 (when they were still in Minneapolis.) He helped the Celtics win seven (count 'em! SEVEN) NBA Titles including the L.A. Lakers twice.

He was a favorite in Boston but Loscy, a graduate of Palo Alto High School (where my brother went to high school), didn't want his number retired.

His number was picked up by Big Red, Dave Cowens, who took the baton from Russell and led the Celtics to two titles in the 1970s.

He also runs the Dave Cowens Basketball School, which when I was a kid was in my hometown of Weston Massachusetts. (I went there for a few summers and confirmed that I had ZERO basketball ability.)

Loscy and Cowens share a number... #18.

And now the Celtics are a win away from making 18 significant in yet another way.
There are 17 Celtic championship banners hanging from the rafters.

All the Celtics need is one win in Los Angeles and there would be #18... the Loscy and Cowens banner.

And oh yeah... it would keep the Lakers from gaining on the Celtics in total titles.

They have 15.

I want them at arm's length.

I am not going to gloat about tonight's game or talk about how much fun it will be listening to L.A. sports talk radio tomorrow (tee hee) or reading Bill Plaschke inevitable doom and gloom column tomorrow.

I just want one more win for the Celtics... in honor of Loscy and Cowens.

We interrupt Sully Baseball to yell... BIG BABY!!!!

Huge win for the Celtics.

They withheld a bunch of Kobe charges and allowed guys like Robinson and Big Baby Davis to carry the day.

Can they go 2-1?

Can they put the Lakers in a situation where they can't get the miracle shot like they got against Oklahoma City or Phoenix?

Can I be loving this more living IN Los Angeles?

I don't think so.

LET'S GO CELTICS!

Now back to baseball.

We interrupt Sully Baseball to yell... BIG BABY!!!!

Huge win for the Celtics.

They withheld a bunch of Kobe charges and allowed guys like Robinson and Big Baby Davis to carry the day.

Can they go 2-1?

Can they put the Lakers in a situation where they can't get the miracle shot like they got against Oklahoma City or Phoenix?

Can I be loving this more living IN Los Angeles?

I don't think so.

LET'S GO CELTICS!

Now back to baseball.

In honor of Dennis Johnson!

In memory of the late and great D.J., the Magic Number for the Celtics is 3.

Let's Go Celtics!

In honor of Dennis Johnson!

In memory of the late and great D.J., the Magic Number for the Celtics is 3.

Let's Go Celtics!

Alright... buckle up!

Celtics vs. the Lakers.
I wouldn't want it any other way.

Actually that isn't true. I wanted it another way. I was rooting for the Suns tonight. I wanted that series to go seven games.

I wanted the Suns in the Finals.
Why?

Because I am a coward.

But none of that matters now... it is Boston vs. Los Angeles in the Finals. (The Lakers, NOT the Clippers.)

Let's hope the Celtics can party like it is 2008...
and 1984
and 1969
and 1968
and 1966
and 1965
and 1963
and 1962
and for good measure 1959 when the Lakers were in Minneapolis.

(Not so much like 1985 nor 1987.)

Celtic fans... don't buy these sweatshirts

Seriously… I’m not interested in flaunting a “Conference Champion” sweatshirt. They don’t hang Conference Championship banners hanging from the rafters.

Yankee fans don’t wear “Wild Card” hats. Duke fans don’t wear “Elite 8” t-shirts.

I am waiting for the big one.
Number 18.

Seriously, I expect the sales of these sweatshirts to be exactly zero.

Celtics Magic number is 4

Maybe it was appropriate that Nate Robinson was the hero for the Celtics tonight... a guy I forgot was even on the roster.

He's #4... which is exactly the number of wins I hope the Celtics have left in them to get banner #18.

After the hiccup of the Game 4 overtime and Game 5, they are back to being a team that doesn't look intimidated by anyone. Not Wade's Heat.. Not LeBron's Cavs... Not Howard's Magic...

Why should Kobe's Lakers be any different?

I talked to my friend Kenny Mack, the great writer for the Santa Monica Daily Press, who knows a crap load more than me about basketball, broke down the Celtics chances in the Finals.

"We are 4 wins away not only from raising banner #18 and our second in 3 years... but it will officially put an asterix next to the Lakers title last year. Garnett was hurt, otherwise we'd be talking three-peat."

Kenny began to breakdown the Lakers player by player to me showing why the Celtics have more than a punchers chance to win.

I stopped him. "There is one important thing that the Celtics have that the Lakers don't right now... they've already clinched a spot in the Finals!"

LET'S GO SUNS! LET'S GO SUNS!