Thoughts on the new AL East powerhouse, the Devil Rays

I have come here to declare that the DRays look like a contender. It starts with pitching and they have some young studs in that rotation and pen that can really hurl the pill. Hector is very happy about his Rays. He's suffered through enough losing seasons (though he's also a Tribe and Cleveland Browns fan - ouch).

So yes people, while we will always hate the Skankees (you can never count them out) the DRays are now the hated rival in the east. I must admit, I haven't been bleeding Red Sox colors recently because I'm still swooning from the Celtics 17th World Championship and very interested in what they are going to do in free agency (SIGN JAMES POSEY) and in the draft.

Regardless, it's cool to see a team like Tampa put together a young, competitive team that's pretty much farm-built, i.e. like the Sox have done over recent years (Youk, Pedrioa, Ellsbury - and even going back to Nomar and Trot Nixon). It's also cool to have what will appear to be a three legged race to the finish of the AL East between the Sox, DRays and the Skankees. In the past 10 or so years, we've yet to see any formidable opponent in the division (with the exception of Toronto who has their ups and downs).

So, go DRays. Keep winning. Keep it competitive. If we lose to them in the playoffs, I'll root for 'em. Gotta love an underdog. They remind me of the 2004 team a bit. You remember that right? Down 0-2 to Oakland. Down 0-3 to the Skankees. Sweeping the Cards. It was stuff legends are made from.

Let's just hope the writers for the DRays have to wait to finish their 2008 Season book with a loss to the oh so powerful and now hated Red Sox in the playoffs or maybe even a September crushing-under-pressure slide to second or third place. Let's give them props now, but the road is long.
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Celtics #17: Final thoughts

Now that the finals are over, the trophy secured, the parade all done, the visit to Fenway completed, it's time to have some final thoughts on the Celtics playoff run.

- Please sign James Posey
- Rondo is going to get better
- I really hope Perk practices his jump hook
- KG, Allen & Pierce have tasted success. My guess is that they are still thirsty
- PJ Brown was HUGE for us. Please bring HIM back
- Not really feeling Sam Cassell. Let's look at Gabe Pruitt next year.
- Powe...keep doing what you were doing. You'll be just fine.
- It would be great if Eddie came back too
- What happened to LA's big trade? Gasol who?
- Sasha Beingabitch, or whatever his name was, cried more than he played
- I want to go to the home opener next year. I'm going to make that happen

In the words of the immortal Donnie Marshall....C's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more!

Celtics #17: Congrats from the Krafts!

Very classy move by the Kraft family to salute the Celtics.



Nicely done. Read more!

Celtics #17: Parades never get old

I think I've lived long enough where I can honestly say that this sort of stuff doesn't happen all the time. By stuff I mean championships and parades. We've been blessed in Boston since the Pats kicked off the Title Town frenzy in 2001.

I am very much looking forward to snapping pics today with my Canon 30D. I am also looking forward to being in the crowd with thousands upon thousands of Celtics fans and screaming my head off in jubilation.

I know what it's like to go through long droughts in sports championships. I will soak this one in and hope that we can repeat next year or keep our competitive nature for all teams at a high level. We have great owners for each of our teams. They see it as a money generator (which it is). We, the fans, see it as a steady diet of potential parades.

C's!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more!

Celtics #17: Parade Media

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Got Celtics gear?

Got Celtics gear?
Originally uploaded by bigguyd

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Celtics #17: Parade Route, Google Maps style

Little fun with Google Maps and the Celtics Parade route.


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Celtics #17: Gmail status updates

Just a sampling of some of the status updates that my peeps are sporting today on Google Talk:

- World Championship
- It's Official: Boston is where championship teams are born
- sleepyyyyy
- BEATEN LA!!!
- #17
- Celtics are World Champs!
- Thank you Celtics
- #18?
- Tired, but well worth #17
- Danny Ainge is a genius
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Celtics #17: One email I'll save

Right after the game, my Blackberry beeped that I had an email. I'm thinking that it's from some folks I work with, have worked with, etc. who have been sending me stuff all game long. Emails like:

"Can you believe this?"

"We're 2 quarters away!"

"17 is coming baby!"

This next email, however, was the simplest, yet the best:

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 -- 11:55 PM ET
-----

Boston Celtics Win N.B.A. Championship

The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the
N.B.A. championship.

HELL YEA!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more!

Celtics #17: Let's celebrate, Duck Boat style

I am absolutely stoked for the parade tomorrow. I'm bringing my high end camera with some fast and long lenses so I can capture some crisp shots of the players. I don't want the celebration to end. I want it to roll along just like those duck tour parades. At some point, however, we'll have to start talking about next year.

Not yet though. Let's sit on this one for a while. When I grab some pics tomorrow, I'll be sure to post some here and link back to a gallery on Flickr or something.

C's!!!!!!!!!!!!! Read more!

Celtics #17: World Champion Desktop Wallpaper

For those that are interested, here's a new desktop wallpaper for your World Champion Boston Celtics!

Here's what it looks like (photos courtesy of the Boston Globe):


Download it here. Read more!

Celtics #17: The truth about The Truth

If anyone has earned this championship, it's Paul Pierce. He was the most consistent player on the team all year and busted his behind all playoffs long. Yea, he had a few duds, but when it was time to step up he did it. Just think where we were last year. Was Paul even going to be on the team? Where would he be traded to? Who would we get in return?

It's such a great story, one that will be woven into the fabric that will make-up the #17 banner that's to be hung in the rafters.

As they say, what a difference a year makes. Let's hope that this time next year, we're doing it all over again. Die hard C's fans would love nothing better than to see more pictures like this in the coming years:

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Celtics #17: My desktop wallpaper superstition

Those who know me will tell you that there are basically three things in life that are important to me: One, my family; Two, my sports teams; Three, good food.

In keeping #1 in mind, you'll always find my desktop wallpaper to be a picture of my kids. That's how I roll. However, since the start of the Celtic's season, I decided to go with a different look. I never changed it throughout the season, but I might just have to make a switch today.

Here's what I've had as my desktop for months now:



Looks like I can finally change it. Maybe this will work:

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Celtics #17: TOP OF THE WORLD!!!

I sit at my desk this morning exhausted. I'm working on about 3.5 hours of sleep still jacked up from the Celtics CRUSHING the Lakers in game 6 to claim their 17th World Championship. What a performance by the entire team and coaching staff. What a season. Three other championship moments rank up there with this emotional win.

They are:

- Doug Flutie's hail mary in the orange bowl
- Patriots winning their first superbowl
- Red Sox coming back from 0-3 to beat the Yankees.

I was in good company last night, hanging out with friends and family. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. We were glue to the TV from start to finish. Since I recorded it via Tivo, I'll probably watch the game again just because it's one of those moments you never want to forget.

Some highlights that will stick with me:

- Pierce's determination all game long
- Rondo's sticky fingers
- Garnett's aggressiveness in driving to the hoop
- Ray Allen jacking up seven threes
- Posey SHUTTING DOWN Kobe
- Big Baby man-handling Gasol
- The look on Kobe's face as the clock ticked down
- Pierce holding the MVP trophey
- KG talking about what it felt like - "finally beating up a bully"
- Doc Rivers taking the "Big Three" out of the game at the same time at the end to a huge standing O
- Pierce dousing Doc with gatorade

I could go on and on, but the person who sums it up the best is Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe.

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