Yes, I am slacking

It's not my fault that I choose to slack but rather, I get busy often nowadays despite only working three days a week.

For users of Netflix, a baseball documentary is now available on streaming: Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story. I'll be viewing it tomorrow evening prior to the debut of Franklin and Bash.

I'm always saddened when I hear a Jewish day school is closing. This time, it is in Toledo, Ohio.

Over at JTA, Ron Kampeas spoke with four members of Congress following a joint session.

Mayim Bialik endorses a vegeterian place named Zen Garden in Louisville, KY.

In the meantime, let's go Mavericks!

Beshear didnt snubso

So here's what exactly happened Derby week. The event at Fort Campbell was not meant to be a political event. A source just informed The Kentucky Democrat events that took place behind the scenes...events that were not reported in the media or by the other blogs.

The media found out that Wednesday about President Obama making a visit. However, nobody from the White House bothered to contact the Governor to invite him to the event. When the microphone hit the Governor's face, he had no idea what was going on and contacted the White House shortly thereafter.

As such, the Governor went about his regular business.

Offseason speculation

As the Eastern and Western Conference Finals go on, there's the offseason talk of who stays and who goes for the Boston Celtics. One thing for sure, retooling for another run at the 18th championship is not going to be easy as Julian Benbow reports.

This year’s draft class isn’t overflowing with game-changers. And the free agent class isn’t flooded with stars. And even if it were, with some $56 million tied up in Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and Paul Pierce, the Celtics have only so much money to work with.

Retooling will take some creativity.

First, they’ll have to decide which of their seven free agents to bring back.

Jeff Green is the obvious investment. To get him, the team traded Kendrick Perkins, seeing value in the 24-year-old Green and his ability to play three positions, from the paint to the perimeter. But if anyone on the roster meets the job description in the Celtics’ current classified ad — young, athletic, salary negotiable — it’s Green, who was like a Christmas gift for Rondo, giving the point guard someone to run the floor with and throw lobs to.

Celtics president Danny Ainge said he intends to extend Green the $5.9 million qualifying offer before July 1.

I was impressed with Green when he was at Georgetown and even during the postseason this year. I hope Ainge does something with Green before the lockout starts. Get his contract in place ASAP.

There's also the Glen Davis factor. He wants to start. That's a problem. Right now, there are at least four starters, health pending, in Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett.

Glen Davis can test the waters as an unrestricted free agent. Ainge has said he wants to bring Davis back, and will judge him on his body of work over four years in Boston and not just a disappointing nine games this postseason.

Still, as soon as the Celtics were eliminated, Davis made it known he wants to be a starter (and haul in starter’s pay). Beyond that, his relationship with coach Doc Rivers is father-son at best and love-hate at worst. All those factors will play into his decision.

If Davis is a starter, it's because someone is injured. He likely won't start until someone retires.

Just look at the draft alone this summer. There are very few underclassmen in this year's draft that will have a nice NBA career. Enes Kanter and Brandon Knight are sure things. I don't know how Kyrie Irving will do. He only played in 11 games for Duke due to injury. Sure, he's a 6'2" point guard. But the number one prospect? I don't think so. In 3 games, he did score over 20 against solid opposition so maybe, there's a chance but I don't know. If Boston wants an NBA caliber player that will have a nice career, they ought to trade up or look to next year's draft when it is expected to be stacked.

It’s been a while since the Celtics have had to cash in with draft picks. Their starting lineup has been veterans-only territory since they assembled the Big Three. First-round picks Avery Bradley and J.R. Giddens have gotten their most minutes in the D-League.

When Ainge says that Bradley, the team’s first-round pick last season, would be a top-five pick this year, it’s a compliment, but it’s also a testament to the depth of this draft.

The Celtics have the 25th and 55th picks, and Ainge has been evaluating talent for weeks. With a 2012 lottery-protected pick from the Clippers, Ainge has a trade chip to work with should he decide to swing a deal.

The Boston Globe looks at Celtics players on the roster and what to do about the free agents. Personally I voted to keep Jeff Green, dump Carlos Arroyo, keep Glenn Davis, keep Nenad Krstic, dump Shaquille O'Neal, dump Troy Murphy, dump Sasha Pavlovic, keep Von Wafer, keep Delonte West, and not parting ways with the Big Four. Of the fans that have voted before me, what to do with Davis the most mixed emotions by far.

I liked Shaq in his prime, although it was hard on me as a Celtics fan to see him playing for the Lakers.

Tea Party Not Strong in Kentucky

Turns out that the Tea Party of Kentucky only cares for Rand Paul. If it was truly strong and enthused about anyone else, they sure didn't show it on Tuesday. Just about 10 percent of voters actually cared to show up to vote.

Even in the Democratic Party, the only actual race was that of the race for Secretary of State between Alison Lundergan Grimes and appointed Secretary of State Elaine Walker. This race was really one between Beshear and Lundergan when you get down to it. Voters overwhelmingly supported Alison Grimes.

CW announces 2011 schedule

The CW announced their schedule. Sarah Michell Gellar's new show, Ringer, will be airing on Tuesdays at 9.

MONDAY
8 pm Gossip Girl [new time slot]
9 pm HART OF DIXIE

TUESDAY
8 pm 90210 [new time slot]
9 pm RINGER

WEDNESDAY
8 pm H8R
9 pm America’s Next Top Model

THURSDAY
8 pm The Vampire Diaries
9 pm THE SECRET CIRCLE

FRIDAY
8 pm Nikita [new time slot]
9 pm Supernatural

CBS announces 2011 Schedule

CBS announced their schedule for the fall.

The huge changes are The Good Wife moves to Sunday and CSI moves to Wednesday. Outside of that, for the first time in years, a non-rerun airs new shows on Saturday night as Rules of Engagement starts off that block of mostly reruns and encores. With the renewal of Hawaii 5-0, Alex O'Loughlin has a show on CBS that lasts more than one season! Two Broke Girls has had a lot of online buzz.

MONDAY
8/7c How I Met Your Mother
8:30 pm: 2 BROKE GIRLS
9 pm: Two and a Half Men
9:30 pm: Mike & Molly
10 pm Hawaii Five-0


TUESDAY
8 pm NCIS
9 pm NCIS: LA
10 pm UNFORGETTABLE

WEDNESDAY
8 pm Survivor
9 pm Criminal Minds
10 pm CSI [new time slot]

THURSDAY
8 pm The Big Bang Theory
8:30 pm HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN
9 pm PERSON OF INTEREST
10 pm The Mentalist

FRIDAY
8 pm A GIFTED MAN
9 pm CSI: NY
10 pm Blue Bloods

SATURDAY
8 pm Rules of Engagement [new time slot]
8:30 pm Comedy Encores
9 pm Drama Encores
10 pm 48 Hours Mystery

SUNDAY
7 pm 60 Minutes
8 pm The Amazing Race
9 pm The Good Wife [new time slot]
10 pm CSI: Miami

ABC Fall 2011 Schedule

ABC announced their new fall schedule, including several shows that will debut during the midseason.

MONDAY
8/7c Dancing with the Stars
10 pm Castle

TUESDAY
8 pm LAST MAN STANDING
8:30 pm MAN UP
9 pm Dancing with the Stars Results Show
10 pm Body of Proof

WEDNESDAY
8 pm The Middle
8:30 pm SUBURGATORY
9 pm Modern Family
9:30 pm Happy Endings [new time slot]
10 pm REVENGE

THURSDAY
8 pm CHARLIE’S ANGELS
9 pm Grey’s Anatomy
10 pm Private Practice

FRIDAY
8 pm Extreme Makeover: Home Edition [new time slot]
9 pm Shark Tank [new time slot]
10 pm 20/20

SATURDAY
8 pm Saturday Night College Football

SUNDAY
7 pm America’s Funniest Home Videos
8 pm ONCE UPON A TIME
9 pm Desperate Housewives
10 pm PAN AM

NOT RETURNING NEXT SEASON: Better With You, Brothers & Sisters, Detroit 1-8-7, Mr. Sunshine, My Generation, No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, The Whole Truth and V.

FOX announces 2011-12 Schedule

FALL

MONDAY
8/7c TERRA NOVA
9 pm House

TUESDAY
8 pm Glee
9 pm NEW GIRL
9:30 pm Raising Hope

WEDNESDAY
8-9:30 pm THE X FACTOR
9:30 pm I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER

THURSDAY
8 pm THE X FACTOR (Results Show)
9 pm Bones

FRIDAY
8 pm Kitchen Nightmares
9 pm Fringe

SATURDAY
8 pm Cops
9 pm Encores/America’s Most Wanted (Specials)

SUNDAY
7:30 pm The Cleveland Show
8 pm The Simpsons
8:30 pm ALLEN GREGORY
9 pm Family Guy
9:30 pm American Dad

MIDSEASON
MONDAY
8/7c House
9 pm ALCATRAZ

TUESDAY
8 pm Glee
9 pm NEW GIRL
9:30 pm Raising Hope

WEDNESDAY
8-9:30 pm American Idol
9:30 pm I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER

THURSDAY
8 pm American Idol (Results Show)
9 pm FINDER/Bones (Returning in Spring)

FRIDAY
8 pm Kitchen Nightmares
9 pm Fringe

SATURDAY
8 pm Cops
9 pm Encores/America’s Most Wanted (Specials)

SUNDAY
7:30 pm The Cleveland Show
8 pm The Simpsons
8:30 pm NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
9 pm Family Guy
9:30 pm Bob’s Burgers

Thanks, Brett

Thanks, Brett Dawson, for the memories over the years that you provided as the Kentucky Wildcats beat reporter for The Courier-Journal.

I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity in front of me as I move to Rivals.com to be the publisher of its Kentucky site, CatsIllustrated.com. I start there on Monday, and we have big plans ahead.

Wildcats reach out to 5 star center

The Kentucky Wildcats, this past season, didn't really have a starter that could play the 5 spot. Had he been eligble, it would have likely been Enes Kanter playing the 5. Josh Harrelson is borderline 4/5. Media guides list him as a forward but he jumped center for Kentucky. Eloy Vargas is listed as a center but played as a backup.

Jody Demling notes that the Wildcats have shown an interest in Mitch McGary, a 6'10" kid out of Chesterton, Indiana.

Some of the top colleges in the country have taken notice and are now calling, including Kentucky and Louisville.

When asked for a list of schools showing interest, McGary reeled off: Duke, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Indiana, Purdue, West Virginia, Connecticut, Kentucky, Kansas, Memphis and Louisville.

"I’m really wide open," McGary said. "I probably won’t make a decision until late."

McGary said Indiana has shown interest but noted, "I don’t know if they have any scholarships?" He said the interest from UK and U of L has been recent and he has talked with assistant coaches from both schools.

"They both said they wanted to recruit me pretty hard, so we’ll see," he said.

Some of the schools he already has offers from include: Texas, Arizona, Oregon State, Texas A&M, Cincinnati, Purdue, Indiana, Florida, Miami, Maryland, Marquette and Illinois.

McGary is listed in the rankings anywhere from the 60-80 range but most analysts believe he’ll be a top-30ish kid by the end of the summer.

Jody has some notes from his performance at the Adidas May Classic on Friday night:

I had been hearing all spring that one of the most improved players on the AAU circuit was SYF Players center Mitch McGary and those evaluations were dead on. While he didn’t score a ton, the 6-foot-10 McGary did a little bit of everything. He hustles, he scores, he rebounds, he talks his team up. SYF Player edged the Michigan Mustangs by one point after lead by 21. McGary has turned into one of the top 30 or so players in the Class of 2012. The former Chesterton (Ind.) star is now at Brewster Academy and his stock continues to soar with colleges all over the country.

Nation of Blue offers more information.

McGary has bursted on the AAU scene this spring and summer. He was formerly rated in the bottom 100 prospects my most recruiting services. Scout.com now ranks McGary as a five star and the number six center in the class of 2012.

NBC 2011 Fall Schedule released

TVLine revealed the 2011 fall schedule for NBC. The thing that pisses me off the most is that Chuck is now on Friday nights and word has it that it won't get the back 9 ordered. NBC has done away with the three hour comedy block and placing two sitcoms on Wednesday night.

Midseason shows will be new cycles of Celebrity Apprentice and The Voice; the new comedies Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, Bent and Best Friends Forever; and the new dramas Awake, Smash (which will air Mondays at 10, after The Voice), and The Firm (based on the John Grisham novel, yet to be cast).

I will say that with a new cycle of Apprentice, Trump must have decided against running because of the whole equal air time rule.

Here's the schedule:
MONDAY
8 The Sing-Off
10 pm THE PLAYBOY CLUB

TUESDAY
8 pm The Biggest Loser
10 pm Parenthood

WEDNESDAY
8 pm UP ALL NIGHT
8:30 pm FREE AGENTS
9 pm Harry’s Law
10 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

THURSDAY
8 pm Community
8:30 pm Parks and Recreation
9 pm The Office
9:30 pm WHITNEY
10 pm PRIME SUSPECT

FRIDAY
8 pm Chuck
9 pm GRIMM
10 pm Dateline NBC

SATURDAY
Repeats “Encore programming”

SUNDAY
7 pm Football Night in America
8:15 pm NBC Sunday Night Football

Networks cancel numerous programs...

It's upfront season for the networks, which means that we are starting to hear what shows are being cancelled. I've heard some rumors regarding programming on CBS but nothing official. The Defenders could go either way to be honest. I'm not surprised at the cancellations on NBC but I'd go ahead and ax Outsourced if I were them.

That said, ABC has renewed Happy Endings, which I am very happy to hear. They also picked up 12 programs (five comedies, seven dramas). Some are likely to be midseason replacements. New ABC comedies will include Last Man Standing, Work It, and Apt. 23. The new dramas include Good Christian Belles, Charlie's Angels, Pan Am, Once Upon a Time, and Scandal.

New NBC comedies include Bent, BFFs, Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, Up All Night, Whitney, and Free Agents. Dramas include the Inception-esque Awake, The Playboy Club, Prime Suspect, and Grimm. They are also picking up the musical dramedy Smash.

New programs on FOX include Alcatraz, Terra Nova, The Finder, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, The New Girl

FOX
Human Target
Lie To Me
The Chicago Code
Traffic Light
Breaking In (there is a slim chance that they could escape death)

ABC
No Ordinary Family
Brothers and Sisters
Better With You
Off the Map
Detroit 187
Mr. Sunshine
V

NBC
Law and Order: Los Angeles
The Event

CBS
Mad Love
Shit My Dad Says
The Defenders

Rivers to coach Celtics for 5 more seasons

Blogger had issues this morning so I wrote this elsewhere on the computer and copied/pasted here. Before copying and pasting, the news broke that Coach Doc Rivers will remain on the bench for at least five more seasons.

The good news for fans of the Boston Celtics is that the contract to keep Doc Rivers on the bench as head coach for a few more years is "basically done." It's good news for Boston as a transitional period with rebuilding is most definitely something that will be happening in the next few seasons. While KG, Ray, and Paul Pierce will remain Celtics, they are aging, too.

Rivers, who had a one-year option to return next season, is expected to sign a multiyear contract as team president Danny Ainge envisions his coach leading the Celtics through an expected transition period.

"We have to figure out a couple of things,” he said. “But we’ll get it done relatively quickly. I wanted to get this out of the way so we can concentrate on the summer and free agency. Everything should be done soon. We want to get this done as soon as possible so we can move forward."[...]

“Well the good thing is KG gets an extra month to get some rest and get healthy because last year since we went to Game 7 (of the Finals), he had a short summer,” Rivers said. “We have to do what we have to do to preserve him.”

Rivers said he is convinced the Celtics are capable of another run, even if they won’t enter next season as the prohibitive favorites. And the coach said he would not be against making lineup changes that would actually bring one of the Big Three off the bench.

“I really believe that (we can compete for a title),” he said. “But we have to make the right moves. We have to get guys to surround the Big Three. And depending on what we can get, (making lineup chances) is something you would have to consider."

Meanwhile, speaking on WEEI, Celtics President Danny Ainge reflected on the past season. Ainge had this to say about the future of the team:

"We need to make changes for sure. I don’t think [the roster is good enough to compete for a title next year]. But having said that that’s my job is to evaluate the reasons why we didn’t play the way we’re capable of playing ... We do have a team that next year come playoff time will be a year older and a team like Miami will be in their prime years."

Jef Green is a free agent so assuming a decent contract offer is given, he could be playing a larger role with the Celtics next season. Green does want to stay in Boston. I liked his play when he was playing for Georgetown in college and in an expanded role, this guy is really good. He's only in his mid-20s so he's still in his prime. Or just getting to his prime.

Glen Davis is a free agent as well. He, too, wants to remain with the Boston Celtics and eventually become a starter. This was a guy that was dominant in SEC play while in college. With more playing time, he, too, can evolve as an NBA player. No doubt about it.

As Bob Ryan notes in his column, the core is getting older and they need to build around them with younger talent. Ryan seems to think that Davis' career with the Cs is finished. Ryan also endorsed the return of Green and Delonte West, who played great with an injured Rondo on the sideline.

Jermaine O'Neal's future, too, is an unknown. There's talk that he's considering retirement. If that's the case, one would think that Boston would have to trade up to draft a guy like Enes Kanter or make some trades for a big man or sign a free agent center that is in his prime and can start in the fall. That's all assuming that there won't be a lockout.

O’Neal wasn’t prepared to make a decision about his future immediately after the Celtics were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat on Wednesday. But O’Neal indicated the desire to spend more time with his family — he also has an 11-year-old daughter, Asjia — makes retirement a possibility.

"I have a little boy that’s a sponge right now and he’s looking for more and more time from me,” O’Neal said. “Fifteen years (in the NBA), I’m 32 years old. That’s half my life.

“The most important thing for me right now is my family and my kids. Basketball has dominated so much of my life for so long that I have to really take an honest look. Now, every time I leave the house my son is asking when I’m coming back. When I call home, it’s, ‘When am I coming back?’ My daughter has been forgiving of it, but it may be time. I don’t know. I don’t want to suffer when I’m 45.”[...]

“There’s a lot of things that have to play out,” he said. “Obviously, we may not even play next year. And if we play half a year, for sure I know everybody’s coming back here. It benefits us in a major, major way. But you can only take some time away. I don’t know what guys are planning on doing, but I need to get my head away from this. It’s time to get back with the family. We’ll see what happens.”

O’Neal has one year and $6.2 million remaining on his contract. That’s a lot of money to leave on the table, but he’s made almost $160 million in his career. The pull of his family may be stronger than that of one more contract and one more run at a championship.

“He wants to shoot 100 shots on the big goal to make one,” O’Neal said of the son who will keep him busy if he retires. “I was in the yard before we left just throwing the football with him. You don’t get those days back. As much as I want to win a championship and compete for a championship, it’s a difficult decision to make."

Who knows, maybe Boston does with they did in 1980, where they traded for Robert Parish and got Kevin McHale via the draft? Time will tell.

Boston can still win this thing...

The good news is that Rajon Rondo's MRI came back negative for any major damage to his left elbow as a result of a collision with Dwayne Wade last night.

If Kevin Garnett is dominant on Monday as he was last night and Chris Bosh is a non-factor as well, Boston has a really good chance of tying the series at two a piece. Granted, Rondo has to be Rondo and lead this Celtics team.

Jeff Green, Glen Davis, and Shaquille O'Neal have to have great performances coming off the bench. If someone on the Celtics has a performance like Jason Terry did against the Lakers today, they will be dominant.

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers did have some comments before the MRI results were revealed this afternoon.

"Right now we're going with they're all playing," said Rivers, who was including Shaquille O'Neal. "Hopefully we'll know something by the end of our film session. Obviously (Rondo's elbow) was far more painful today, a lot of swelling."

Rivers said the Rondo decision may carry into tomorrow night.

"If he can't help our team (Rondo won't play)," the coach said. "And if he can play, how well can he play and will he help or hurt our team? No. 1, we're not going to hurt the player and we're not going to do anything to hurt the team. It may not be until game time and the game until we find that out. Right now, that may be the case. I am optimistic about both, that they're going to play. I don't know why I am, but I am. I just don't know how well either one can play. But like I said, if they're on the floor, we're healthy."

Make no mistake about it. If Rondo is hurt and can't play, it would be the right call on Coach Rivers' part. Game time decision, no doubt there. The Celtics need a healthy Rajon Rondo on the court. Obviously, Delonte West has a sore shoulder and I'm not sure how great of a player he can be as Rondo's backup if he's playing hurt.

It's a miracle alone that Rondo came back to play the fourth quarter.

Rondo wasn't concerned after last night's game though.

After the game, Jeff Green spoke about Rondo returning in the fourth quarter and Boston's improved bench play during Game 3.

That said, Paul Pierce's defense did make a huge difference when it came to defending LeBron James.

"Anything under 25 points for LeBron, you're defending well," said Pierce. "You know what type of talent he is, and you know you're used to seeing him go out and get 25, 30. That's what you expect from him. When you can hold him down to under that it gets ourselves a better chance."

The Celtics gave better help on James in Game 3, double-teaming earlier and forcing him into more difficult decisions. James made the wrong decision at least four times in committing four turnovers. But Pierce also dug down deep on his own, getting up into James's body knowing that the help was there.

Similarly, as stated above, Chris Bosh was simply a non-factor during Game 3.

Just like with Saturday night, Boston is going to have to play with force if they want to head back to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Liggins going pro

Kentucky's DeAndre Liggins is remaining in this summer's NBA Draft. He will speak at a press conference tomorrow to talk about his decision.

While most had thought that he would return to Kentucky for his senior season, he had a really good workout in New Jersey.

With Liggins going pro, here is what the 2011-12 Kentucky Wildcats will look like as they bring in four McDonald's All-Americans. They aren't done yet as Trevor Lacey makes his decision on May 18th.

Seniors:
SF Darius Miller

Juniors:
SG Jon Hood
C Eloy Vargas

Sophomores:
SG Doron Lamb
PF Terrence Jones
SF Stacey Poole
PG Jarrod Polson
G Tawny Beckham*

Freshmen:
PG Marquis Teague
PF Anthony Davis
SF Michael Gilchrist
PF Kyle Wiltjer

* denotes current redshirt sophomore. Not eligible until December 2011.

Animal Kingdom wins 137th Kentucky Derby

Animal Kingdom has won the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby at historic Churchill Downs.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is getting slammed by critics for staying the course with gubernatorial traditions during Oaks Day. If the president wanted the governor there, he would have came to Fort Campbell on Wednesday instead of waiting until Friday.

Beshear made the right call in my opinion and I back him on this 100%.

Dude, WTF?

Over at KSR, BTI decided to post about the best players at each jersey number. It went well until you get to this line here.

44: Cotton Nash (Chuck Hayes)

All credibility lost at that line alone. Once you leave off the single most greatest player in Kentucky history, credibility is lost. How does one leave Dan Issel off a list like that? His all-time Kentucky scoring record is still intact. Hell, combine NBA and ABA stats, and he's still in the top ten all time in scoring!

Cetics great John Havlicek spoke with Glen Davis today during the afternoon practice session and it could inspire the team that is currently down 0-2 to the Miami Heat in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs.

This is the first time Boston has faced an 0-2 deficit since the current Big Three came together, and therefore they’ve never been afforded an opportunity to crawl back from this far behind. Doing so against the Heat will be incredibly difficult to accomplish, but just because this group hasn’t done it before doesn’t mean it’s an impossible feat.

Kevin Garnett’s famous words after his team took home the 2007-08 NBA title were, “Anything is possible!” John Havlicek is another Celtics legend who can attest to that statement, and he can apply it to the franchise’s current task at hand.

Havlicek, who played all 16 of his NBA seasons with the Celtics, was a part of an aging core group during the 1968-69 season that fought its way to the NBA Finals and lost its first two games on the road to the Los Angeles Lakers. Many compared last season’s title run by the Celtics to that ’69 squad, and the comparisons are returning again during the postseason.

There was no hoo-rah speech at this afternoon’s practice in Waltham, Mass., but Havlicek was present at the facility and one player was able to have a personal conversation with the franchise legend.

Glen Davis, who has not played to his capabilities during this series, took advantage of Havlicek’s presence and pinged him for some advice and story telling.

“I was talking to Havlicek today – Havlicek stole the ball – and I said, ‘Which one of these banners were you 0-2 (in a series)?’ “ recalled Davis. “And he said the one that stood out was ’69, 1969, when they were down 0-2 and they came back to win it in Game 7 against the Lakers.”

It was great to hear that another team in this historic franchise had accomplished the feat that this current Celtics team faces in the Conference Semifinals, but Davis wanted to learn more, and Havlicek gave it to him.

“He was just saying that it’s going to take everything in you to fight and crawl back to get back to the 2-2, to the even,” said Davis. “And then it’s going to take something special to finish them off.”[...]

Even with Shaq’s likely return, though, Boston has a difficult task at hand. It must defend its home court, or this series will be on the brink of completion. This Celtics team hasn’t been in this situation before, but Ray Allen, for one, is soaking it all in and is fully confident that he and his troops can pull off a comeback similar to Havlicek’s ’69 team.

“It’s fun to me,” said Allen. “Just look at the situation that we’re in. We’ve found different ways to rise from the ashes, so to speak, and winning championships, there’s never really a clear-cut formula on how there is to do it.

“We talk about having resolve all year, and we’ve proven that we have (it), we had it during the regular season. So now we’re just in a playoff situation where we have to prove it again.”

The tools are there to complete the task. The Celtics just have to use those tools in the correct manner. Boston has admittedly gotten away from its preferred style of play thus far in the series, but it can return in an instant, as we saw during the first-round series against the New York Knicks.[...]

Boston has shot nothing but blanks through the first two games of this series, but that’s exactly what happened to Havlicek and his teammates against the almighty Lakers back in ’69.

The table has been set for Boston to replicate such a comeback during this series. Now it’s time for the Celtics to serve.

Gary Williams to retire?

Jeff Goodman is reporting that Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams is retiring. It's huge news as it's come after the offseason coaching carousel was thought to be over.

Before starting his long run at his alma mater of Maryland during the 1989-90 season, Williams coached American (4 seasons), Boston College (4 seasons) and Ohio State (3 seasons).

He will end his career with a record of 668-380.

Gary Parrish at CBS Sports has a bit more.

“It’s the right time,” Williams said. “My entire career has been an unbelievable blessing. I am fiercely proud of the program we have built here. I couldn’t have asked any more from my players, my assistant coaches, the great Maryland fans and this great university. Together, we did something very special here."

Williams spent 22 seasons at Maryland and led the Terrapins to the 2002 national championship while making 14 NCAA tournament appearances, seven Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights and two Final Fours. In recent years, though, he struggled recruiting the Washington D.C./Baltimore area and had grown tired of the summer culture where most high-major recruiting now takes place, a source said. Williams had not made the Sweet Sixteen since 2003. The Terrapins were 19-14 overall, 7-9 in the ACC last season. Their best player, Jordan Williams, announced on Wednesday that he is hiring an agent and staying in the 2011 NBA Draft.

The Maryland job is now the biggest available job from this offseason.

Coaches widely consider it to be one of the nation's best jobs because of its natural recruiting base.

We'll see who takes his spot. These will be some huge shoes to fill.

Greenberg writing ABC pilot

According to Variety, Mike and Mike in the Morning co-host Mike Greenberg is working on developing a single-camera comedy based on his book, Why My Wife Thinks I'm an Idiot, with ABC Studios. I have had the chance to read it and I think any sitcom based on his life would be a success. If you listen to the morning show on ESPN with Greeny and Mike Golic, you know that this can be entertaining.

Producing the pilot with ABC Studios will be Lowell Mate and Mayhem Pictures. If it were not for Humanitas and their New Voices program, this project may have not happened.

The project was brought to ABC Studios through the Humanitas organization’s New Voices program, which nurtures projects from aspiring writers. Greenberg will write the pilot with aid from a trustee from Humanitas.