The Bloody Sock, Bassy, and other assorted BS

Check out this article on ESPN.com this morning:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2849747

First off, before even addressing this article (to which I admittedly have no personal knowledge), I like Gary Thorne. He is, I'm sure the remaining 17 hockey fans alive will attest, the best hockey announcer alive. He has been a fixture as ESPN and ABC for years, and also went to college in New England (which automatically makes my opinion of him more favorable). Now he has New England hating on him...again. Mind you, Gary Thorne is not new to controversey. Thorne caused a firestorm in New England by writing an article for the Bangor Daily News that described the NBA as "quickly becoming the nation's most expensive gang, if not the most dangerous."

What was the point of that comment about Schilling and his sock? Even if the sock was painted, which seemingly everyone in the Red Sox organization vehemently denies...because if they didn't, it would expose as a sham one of the signature (if not the signature) moments in their historic World Series run, where is the verification? Is he next going to tell us that Willis Reed didn't actually have a torn thigh muscle in 1970? That Emmitt Smith didn't really have a separated shoulder on the MNF against the Giants in 1993? If all those things are true, by all means disclose. But you better sure as hell that your source is not going to say that you are "f*&$ing lying" afterwards.

As for the Celtics, what an awful PR strategy regarding Sebastian Telfair. Here is a link to the article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2847755

First, I could not be happier that Telfair is gone (if, in fact, he is). Every day he remains a Celtic reminds me of one of the WORST moves in C's recent history - right up there with trading for Raef Lafrentz's albatross contract and trading Joe Johnson, Milt Palacio, Randy Brown and a 2002 first-round draft pick (Casey Jacobsen) for Rodney Rogers, Tony Delk, and a bag of onions. Telfair, according to 82games.com, was the worst Celtic this year outside of Brian Scalabrine (who at least tries hard), the Candy Man (who played 6% of the teams' minutes) and Theo Ratliff (who played 43 minutes all year). While the Celtics were finishing with the worst record in the East, Brandon Roy was busy winning Rookie of Year. Awesome.

It is the not the move I disagree with (two gun related incidents, one with likely charges to be brought certainly warrant his release), but the timing. Wyc Grousbeck's statements on removing his nameplate came waaaay too fast after the alleged incident. I'm with all of you - I find it hard to believe that a guy who was involved in (1) trying to carry a handgun on a plane; and (2) having $50,000.00 worth of jewelry allegedly stolen, has a solid explanation for this one. But if your Wyc Grousbeck, why not decline comment for a few weeks, and then release him after your team conducted an "internal investigation"? It is a substantially better PR move.

Finally, some random thoughts on this crappy morning in the Chi:

Jake Peavy is really, really good - the BoSox are going to be sorry they did not pony up more to get him when they could.

Any true sports fan will be watching the Mayweather, Jr.-De La Hoya Fight on May 5. I'm not a big boxing fan (the sport may have less fans now than hockey), but this fight, pitting possibly the best current pound for pound fighter against the De La Hoya institution, with both guys really hating each other, justifies the fanfare.

With news of Mark Prior's season ending surgery on Tuesday, I can't help but find it odd that the guy with "Perfect Mechanics", the player that had the pitching form to produce the least amount of stress on the elbow and shoulder, is now suffering his third consecutive year of assorted muscle injuries (Achilles tendon, tendinitis, rotator cuff). I know he took a 117 mph comebacker from Brad Hawpe in 2005 and that could happen to any pitcher, but the recurring muscle injuries are similar to the ones Nomar Garciaparra started suffering after he went from a scrawny 160 lbs. shortstop to a ripped megastar on the cover of SI with his shirt off. By the way, muscle tears are a common side effect of steroid use. Weird, huh?

Finally, in my braggadocious moment of the day, I can't wait to go 8-8 in my NBA series picks.....because, you know, it was so tough to pick the first round this year.