So, let’s talk about Brett Favre.

Favre has recently been wanting to be reinstated to the NFL to play with the Packers, only if he can be the starting quarterback, but they will only welcome him back to the organization if he’ll be a back-up to his successor, Aaron Rodgers. As a result, Favre has been whining and complaining and whining and camplaining and whining and complaining and whining and complaining.

So, let’s talk about Brett Favre? Let’s not. If you want to hear my opinion on Favre, then brace yourself — it’s an ugly one. Every summer we have to hear these bogus stories about players getting in trouble or doing something moronic. In 2005 it was Terrell Owens. 2006 it was — I think? — Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson. 2007 it was Michael Vick’s dogfighting case. 2008 is Brett Favre. There’s thousands of people out there posting opinions on this. If you want to read them, go search ‘em up.

What I really wanted to talk about is a subject that only Rams fans can truly delve into. A write-up on Torry Holt and how he will fare this season. In February ‘07, Holt had knee surgery. Now, non-Rams fans will tell you that he’s washed up and isn’t the same player. However, he IS the same player.

Holt had the surgery following the 2006 season (93 catches, 1,188 yards, 12.8 YPC, 10 touchdowns). In 2007, he virtually matched those stats (93 catches, 1,189 yards, 12.8 YPC, 7 touchdowns). Sure, he only had seven touchdowns, but you can’t fault him there. If you were even the least bit cognitive during the 2007 NFL season, you would know that the St. Louis Rams were a mecca for injured players, especially the offensive line. The o-line played musical chairs, Marc Bulger got banged up, Steven Jackson was banged up because defensive lineman and linebackers were getting clear, easy shots at him due to the lack of o-line protection, and Gus Frerotte and Brock Berlin platooned each other in different weeks to see who would be the starting QB, even after Ferotte was injured!

Holt’s clearly unhappy with the Rams’ front office. Or, well, it seems like it (I can’t blame him one bit). His brother Terrence signed with the Carolina Panthers (Torry and Terrence grew up in North Carolina) earlier in the off-season, and Torry, while playing at a golf event, was asked if he’d ever leave the Rams. He didn’t say he would, but he did mention that he would enjoy playing in his home state with his brother on the Panthers, but left his comments with a simple, “We’ll see what happens in two years” (when his contract runs up).

The IF factor is again the Rams’ fate predictor for the 2008 season. IF the Rams o-line can stay reasonable healthy, Marc Bulger will be able to EASILY deliver the ball to Holt and other receivers (Drew Bennett, Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Reche Caldwell, Dante Hall, and, if needed, Dane Looker) with precision. However, the ability for the o-line to allow Bulger time in the back field to scan the receivers is insufficient, thus rendering Holt’s receiving services useless.

In case you never figured it out: the three teams I root for in the NFL are the St. Louis Rams (obviously), Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons. No, it has nothing to do with any kind of that bandwagon crap (the three teams finished with the worst records in the league last season!) or the ‘better chance of having a team win the Super Bowl’ BS theory. As explained a LONG time ago (I’m sure I have, but to the new readers out there, I’ll explain again), I’ve always been a Rams fan, my father was a Phins fan (made for some great football arguments that were incredibly comical), and my father and I — both Virginia Tech Hokies fans — were Michael Vick fans; so, when Vick joined the Falcons, we took a big interest in the Falcons. He passed away in December 2003 (as I’ve mentioned many times on here), so he didn’t witness the Vick debacle. Anyhow, I still follow the Falcons and keep up with them, which I will continue doing.

For my NFL viewing, mediocrity rules, and I don’t seem to mind it.

Since the new season is a little over two months away, I’m going to do what I did last off-season, but this time a little bit simpler. In a four-part series, I’m going to break down the St. Louis Rams’ schedule and make quick, witty — yes, on the whim — predictions about the Rams’ 2008 schedule. No biased, prejudice writing here. It’s going to be all objective, yet will have a spice of flavor that will make you intermittently chortle as you read on. I’m going to roll with four games in each part, which will cover the first four here. The rest of the first half of the season in the second. In the next section (the other eight), I’ll sift through the first half of the second half of the season. Then, in part 4, I’ll end my ‘predictions’ with the last four games.

I think we can all agree that the Rams have alot of unanswered questions going into the 2008 season. I also think we can all agree that most of those questions are health related. I also feel that “potential” is another area full of questions. Are players like Alex Barron, Richie Incognito, Tye Hill and the rookies they drafted going to live up to whatever potential they supposedly have? What about Drew Bennett and Randy McMichael? Are they going to make the splash on our offense that we have been expecting? Now in his third season in St. Louis, will Jim Haslett be able to get the Rams’ defense straightened out?

As we all know the Rams finished the 2007 season with a (3-13) record. We can only guess what their won/loss record would have been if they could have stayed reasonably (NFL) healthy. My guess is that they would have been at least (7-9), but really, I was expecting (9-7). So for arguments sake or lack thereof, let’s say the Rams stayed reasonably healthy and finished the 2007 season at (8-8).

@ Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have as many questions concerning their team as we do. Donovan McNabb has already been shut down to rest his tendinitis shoulder. Although they have one of the most versatile runningbacks in the NFL, their wide receivers don’t scare me one iota. Though, with the Rams’ corners on a questionable perch, those receivers might look like pro bowl players in the first week of the season. Rams shoot out to a 10-0 lead early, a 13-7 halftime lead, but are — as tradional for the Ramsa — stifled in the second half, as a 7-minute drive for the Eagles in the fourth quarter delivers a 14-13 victory for Philly. Rams start the season 0-1.

New York Giants

Their cinderella run is over (Thanks a ton for beating the Pats!) It’s a new season. Michael Strahan is gone. I’m giving the Rams a 50/50 chance to come away with something special here. Steven Jackson concocts a 2-touchdown first half, as Josh Brown connects on his third field goal of the season; the Rams lead 17-6 at halftime. In the second half, with the Rams’ woes being expected, Marc Bulger opens up the third quarter with a 51 yard strike to Torry Holt. The Rams 24-6 lead looks improbable for most teams to come back against this late in the game, but for the Rams, the whole game’s a test. The Rams manage to hold on to an ‘upset’ victory, winning 27-13, as [Josh] Brown hits a field goal to open the 4th, and Eli Manning’s 13-yard pass to Kevin Boss remains the only touchdown of the day for the Giants.

@ Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks will find a way to win this game. They always do against the Rams. Or, maybe, just maybe, I can dream that Josh Brown could kick a field goal at the end of the game to give the Rams a victory (how bittersweet would that be?!) However, I’m going to go with another twist here, something that has only about a 5 percent chance of likely happening. (BUT THESE ARE MY PREDICTIONS, so yo, let me write as I please — I know I’m going to be completely wrong anyway.) The Seahawks crack open the game by scoring on a Matt Hasselbeck pass to Bobby Engram late in the first quarter (3:02 left). A Marc Bulger fumble — coerced by Darryl Tapp — in the second quarter sets up the ‘Hawks in field goal range. Deion Branch rolls out on a post pattern and catches the Rams’ secondary asleep. After figuring out the Seahawks’ offensive jives from the first quarter, the Rams’ d throws multiple blitzes at Hasselbeck and Co., upending their new-for-2008 running game duo of T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones, and sacking Hasselbeck four times. Torry Holt catches a receiving touchdown to end the first half. 14-7 Seahawks at halftime. Five minutes into the second half, Steven Jackson roars down the field, bowling over multiple Seahawks in the backfield, on his way to a 39-yard touchdown. However, Seattle regains the lead off the foot of new kicker Brandon Coutu. 17-14 Seahawks. Josh Brown hits two field goals as the game ensues. With 3 minutes left in the game, the Rams leading 20-17, backed up on their own 15 yard line after a huge defensive stop for the Seahawks, has Donnie Jones punt the ball. Nate Burrleson receives the punt, but, unfortunately for the Rams, takes it to the house. Seahawks win 24-20 in usual heartbreaking fashion for the Rams.

Buffalo Bills

I feel this is going to be a tight game. The Bills’ special teams is very good, which is a weak spot for the Rams. The game opens, and, what do y’know, Terrence McGee returns the kick off. 7-0 Bills. Eventually trailing 7-3 with 4 minutes to go in the first half (a Josh Brown field goal, of course), Steven Jackson runs 62 yards down the field for a touchdown, giving the Rams a 10-7 lead at the half. The third quarter leaves the game with the same score as it was at halftime. A Marc Bulger interception — his first of the year — to open the third quarter is returned by none other than Terrence McGee (two touchdowns for the man — a punt return and an interception return; not too shabby). With the Bills leading 14-10, run after run by Steven Jackson. With Jackson not slowing down or the Bills making any smart adjustments with their front four to better protect their lead, the Rams make a questionable move by passing the ball. However, Marc Bulger completes a 22-yard touchdown strike to rookie Donnie Avery (his first career reception). The Rams lead 17-14 with 7:23 to go in the fourth, Trent Edwards completes multiple passes over the middle to Roscoe Parrish, Lee Evans and Josh Reed. With the Rams looking to make a stop on a long 3rd and 14 play, a swing pass to Marshawn Lynch is completed for 12 yards. 4th and 2; with the ball on the Rams’ 39, Rian Lindell nails a long, long field goal to tie the game up at 17. The Rams are given 3:24 to work with. The offense starts to show bouts of life like they did in the previous drive. Stop-and-go plays to Torry Holt, corner routes to Drew Bennett gives the Rams the ball at the Bills’ 47. The Rams allow the clock to elapse to the 2 minute warning. Steven Jackson takes two consecutive handoffs and moves the ball to the Bills’ 38. 3rd and 1 to go. Bulger tosses the ball to Jackson in the far flats, and Jackson busts a spin move and runs forward, evading two Bills in the backfield. A first down is ensconced, and Jackson gains 8 yards out of the play. The Bills are without any timeouts. Jackson takes another handoff for a solid three yards. From the Bills’ 27, three seconds left in the game, Josh Brown hits a game winner for the Rams. 20-17.

And so the Rams split the first four games and stand at 2-2 on the young season.

For some teams, there is no hope. None. Zip. Nada.

The Dolphins? No freakin’ way.

The Falcons? Not this year.

The Jets? Not gonna happen.

The Chiefs. Don’t think so.

But the Rams at least have a chance. There is talent on the roster that, if the stars align and the creek don’t rise, could come together and make some noise in the NFC.

We still have a QB who has played in two Pro Bowls and is hardly too old to play at a high level.

We have one of the top RBs in football.

Our receiving corps has promise. Holt still has some mileage left, Bennett has to play better than last year, McMichael has has success in this league, and we finally have an infusion of young, fast, talented WRs to keep defenses honest.

The O-line, if healthy, can be effective. Pace isn’t done. Bell will help a lot. Incognito and Barron have talent, though it they have lacked consistency. Romberg, Setterstom, Greco and Schuening can all contribute.

The defense also has promise. Sophs Carriker and Ryan and rookie Long add young, hungry talent. They could energize vets like Glover, Hall and Little.

There are playmakers on defense. Witherspoon, Atogwe and, if healthy, even Tinoisamoa and Hill can impact games. Culberson, Bartell, King and Wade all bring youth and athleticism.

We have a good punter, a great kicker and a lot of candidates for the return game even if Dante Hall is not able to hold the spot.

We play in a division with a team that has likely already peaked, and two who have struggled to get to the next level.

I’m not saying it WILL Happen.

But it COULD.

So, everyone’s favorite idiot, Bernie Miklasz, from STLToday, must have given some tips to Evan Weiner of the New York Sun, because rumor has it that the Rams are probably heading back to Los Angeles in 2015, after the 7-year owners agreement is up. It’s all purely speculation.

It’s funny that these are the things we worry about now, when the rest of the foreign world is buying our country for under us, and the politicians seem to be good with it. And all we can worry about is a stupid rumor that someone writes (Evan Weiner is the assailaint in this case) so they can feel like someone listens to them. How much are we gonna love the Rams and the NFL for that matter when the Bills move to Canada and the Jaguars move to Mexico, as the Arabs buy the Rams and move them there. Start focusing on the big picture of a small fortune that is quickly turning into a global nightmare.

The mind-numbing ennui of this argument is reaching Warner/Bulger status.

Once again, the lease is air-tight until 2015, regardless of owner. Might they move then? Might.

Would Los Angeles be the destination? Might be.
Would some place else be the destination? Might be.
Would the team stay in Missouri after working out a new agreement? Might be.

Does this story bring any new information to this discussion? Absolutely not.

What do LA fans have in common with Popeye after he quit smoking?

Pipe dreams.

Truth — not rumor — has it that Tony La Russa is about to pop more boners than Hugh Heffner has had lifetime, for the chance to sign Barry Bonds to a contract to play for the St. Louis Cardinals. The solution here is to play Bonds behind Pujols in the lineup. After watching the Cardinals choke a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 9th earlier tonight, I had thoughts on the potential signing.

Don’t get me wrong. Barry Bonds is a huge risk to sign. You don’t know what you’re going to get out of him, he could ruin the potency of this St. Louis team (10 games over .500 at the moment — top 5 record in the league, or were), and, worst of all, the media could be terrorizing.

The fact is, the Cardinals need more boom in the bats. The pitching has been nothing less than stellar this season. Especially having eight (was nine) guys on the DL, with five being pitchers. The reasonable balance is this: if Barry Bonds reaches a deal to become a Cardinal, the offense is instantly added more power.

Now, I hate Bonds, and will forever hate Bonds, but this could be a good thing given that La Russa would keep him on a very short leash, that he would know his role on the team.

When I wrote “Rams fans” in the blog title, I’m not talking about Rams fans like myself, who follow the team and can write biased AND objective posts with deft, dexterity and intelligence every time they post about the team on a message board forum or sports blog, I’m talking about the fans in St. Louis, the ones who sell their tickets to other teams fans throughout the season.

Steven Jackson hates ‘em, too.

If you think this is a fool who pops off on ill-advised, selfish rants like Terrell Owens, you don’t know Jackson. He’s an intelligent man who knows the weight of every one of his potent words. When you hear him ripping on fans, it’s a rant with a purpose. It’s his way of letting them know that they have to play a part
in this Rams revival, too. The Dome has to return to those Sundays when it was one of the most imposing home-field advantages in the NFL.

When the Rams’ all-pro running back talks, the truth tends to come out of his mouth in all of its unfiltered, sometimes uncomfortable glory. I happen to like that about him, for what his unsettling words usually lack in diplomacy, they more than make up for with disturbing spot-on honesty.

Since arriving in town four years ago, the man with the flowing dreadlocks has readily spoken his mind about his playing time, his uneasy coexistence with Marshall Faulk, his public image, his desire for greatness and his underachieving teammates. Much to the mortification of the team’s always anxious public relations staff, Jackson has even dared to tread on the ultra-sensitive subject of the fickle St. Louis fan base.

In a Yahoo! interview with Michael Silver, Jackson brought it hard, chiding Rams fans for selling their tickets to Packers and Steelers fans last season. (”It was like playing road games,” he said. “We ran out of the tunnel and got booed. It was ridiculous. I was livid.”) If you want to characterize that as controversial, feel free. The truth is, what he told Silver is nothing we haven’t already here from Jackson over in St. Louis.

If you think Steven Jackson is a fool who pops off on ill-advised, selfish rants like T.O., you don’t know Jackson. He’s an intelligent man who knows the weight of every one of his potent words. When you hear him ripping on fans, it’s a rant with a purpose. It’s his way of letting them know that they have to play a part
in this Rams revival, too. The Dome has to return to those Sundays when it was one of the most imposing home-field advantages in the NFL.

When he stomped off the field during games last year and screamed at teammates and coaches, that was purposeful, too. Too many dumb play calls and undisciplined penalties. If he’s one of the main cogs on this team, it’s his job to open his mouth and get on underachieving teammates. That’s what team leaders are supposed to do (except for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant).

If you think it was a careless error for him to criticize his wide receivers for not blocking for him in the Yahoo.com interview, you’re missing the point. I think it was a well-thought-out surgical strike and a loaded message aimed directly at some veterans who had off years last season and are being expected
to be more ferocious downfield blockers in Al Saunders’ new system.

Jackson basically said there are plenty of reasons why the 2008 season should be worth the price of admission. He said because he’s in a contract year, he has to produce. He said because the team is coming off a disastrous 3-13 season, coach Scott Linehan has to produce. He said because the team’s ownership future is unclear, even the franchise’s future in St. Louis is unclear. All of those factors are reasons why the Rams should be plenty motivated to go from worst to first.

Since the ‘07 season ended, Linehan has repeatedly said that he expects his veterans to be more vocal and exert more leadership than any of them displayed during the train wreck of last season. By simply telling the truth — no matter how uneasy that truth might be — Jackson is doing just that.

Steven ‘Action’ Jackson spoke the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The St. Louis Cardinals have, what, nine players on the Disabled List at the moment? That’s my current calculations. After nearly sweeping the Boston Red Sox (lost the third game in 13 innings — hello Kevin Youkilis!), I’ve picked up on a couple of notes on the Cards:

1.) Kyle Lohse is going to be grossly overpaid this off-season. Sure, you probably knew that. But did you know that his record is 9-2 right now? Come on. I know he’s actually not that good, since his ability to exert effort on a consistent basis, like most players, is only shown in the money year, as we’re seeing now. Some team is going to be grinning in the off-season, and they’ll bust out their wallets and lick their palms after dinner.

2.) The team can score and balance close games at the same time. I’ve noticed that a lot this season. The lack of that balance in 2007 became obvious during the opening month of the season when, sadly, Josh Hancock decided to drive while under the heavy influence. The Cardinals didn’t have a balance before then, and didn’t afterwards. By the time the ‘07 Cards got hot, it was August. And by the time their run started to plateau, they dropped, because the New York Daily News reported some unwanted dirt on Rick Ankiel’s HGH using days of when they were not illegal yet. The difference between the 2008 Cards and 2007 Cards is simple. The 2008 team can score and pitch consistently, even with the team banged up, looking like their counterpart St. Louis football team (except the Cards actually care about winning).

The sad moment in all of this lies in one region in the United States of America. Northern Chicago. The Cubs have the best record in baseball in the 100th year since they won their last World Series (1908). The hype that’s been appended to the Cubs is ridiculous. I don’t think they’ll win the World Series, and I truly hope they don’t. I’m speaking on a purely biased fan’s perspective, but it’s true. I do believe that if the Cubs manage to SOMEHOW win the World Series on the 100th year since they last won it, that Major League Baseball is fluked. Let’s say the Red Sox and Cubs were playing in this World Series. Let’s also say the Sox never won the two World Series (2004 and 2007). The Cubs would be trying to win the World Series on the 100th anniversary of their pseudo-curse, and the Sox would be trying to erase their respective pseudo-curse on the 90th anniversary. Jeez, if that would’ve happened this year, with all the things of the past being different, I would have probably lost my mind. I still might lose it, especially if the Cubs manage to pull off something like this in an unlikely way. My baseball following days would possibly be over. That’s my own Cardinal Rule.

NBC Sports golf analyst Johnny Miller apologized for his description of U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate , saying the comments had “absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity.”

Mediate, a 45-year-old Pennsylvanian of Italian heritage, held a one-stroke lead over Tiger Woods during the fourth round Sunday. Miller said Mediate “looks like the guy who cleans Tiger’s swimming pool.” He also said, “Guys with the name ‘Rocco’ don’t get on the trophy, do they?”

“I apologize to anyone who was offended by my remarks,” Miller said in a statement Friday through NBC. “My intention was to convey my affection and admiration for Rocco’s everyman qualities and had absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity. I chose my words poorly and in the future will be more careful.”

I’m a moderate follower of golf. I could knock down a logical 400-word piece about why Phil Mickelson is overrated anytime. With that said, the comments that Miller made about Mediate don’t make sense to me. I’ve talked to many of my closest friends about this, and they are in disagreeance with me, saying, “Oh, how can Miller say it wasn’t anything racist? We all know what he was talking about.”

What a ridiculous, over-the-top, over-sensitive, insane PC world we live in. Anyone offended by these most benign comments really needs to re-evaluate things. There is a lot going on the world to be legitimately bothered about. Choosing to take offense at these very innocent words spoken during a golf telecast (which clearly were not meant to focus on race or insult anyone) is just ludicrous.

Have we lost our sense of humor or what? I mean, holy crap! It is getting so that every time ANYONE starts to say something ‘off color’ they spend five minutes setting it up so as not to offend anyone. The world is going to hell in a hand basket. Oil prices are out of control, terrorism is rampant, drugs are killing kids, Hillary Clinton almost got into the White House, Al Gore is still spewing his phony science and gaining weight, Big Brown had a bad shoe, and Tiger Woods is out for the year. AND we are worried about something Johnny Miller said about Rocco Mediate? Rocco is a laugh a minute guy and probably thought Miller was nice enough to mention his name. Give me a freakin’ break! I love Miller’s honesty.

You bleed for your team, follow them through thick and thin, monitor every free-agent signing, immerse yourself in Basketball Draft Day, purchase the jerseys and caps, plan your days around the games. . . and there’s a little rainbow waiting at the end. You can’t see it, but you know it’s there. It’s there. It has to be there. So you believe.

Of course there’s one catch: You may never get there. Every fan’s worst fear. All that energy over the years just getting displaced, no release, no satisfaction, nothing. Season after season, no championship. . . and then you die. I mean, isn’t that what this is all about? Isn’t that the nagging fear? That those little moral victories over the years won’t pay off in the end — that one moment when everything comes together, when your team keeps winning, when you keep getting the breaks and you just can’t lose?

And if none of this makes sense, well. . . it does to me. My favorite basketball team just won the NBA Finals, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers (my most hated team in the league).

The Boston Celtics have just won their 17th NBA championship. Check out the strange odds of tonight:

– It’s June 17
– John Havlicek is in attendance — he wore number 17 during his Boston days
– My Dad was 32 when the Celtics last won in ‘86. He died 17 years later.

Troy Sparks Sr., Red Auerbach and Dennis Johnson are smiling from Heaven right now. (How many times have I said that in 2008?)

It’s been a joy. Watching these Boston Celtics throughout the whole season has. Last year at this time, I was writing on my Celtics blog (from Basketball World) about how awry the NBA Draft was going to go and lamenting my uncertainty of the Celtics’ future, while my two loyal Celtics fan readers continued to read. Now? I’m celebrating a very special championship, as it’s going back to where it’s visited the most — Boston, MA.

I always said the Celtics would be a huge failure if they didn’t win the championship. I wrote time and time again about how big of an Al Jefferson fan I was (now a T’Wolve). I wrote about how Ray Allen was too old to be legitimately effective (when the Celtics traded for him; fortuantely, I was wrong). I questioned Danny Ainge and the whole organization’s rote.

But they proved me wrong. I watched 95% of the games last season and the same amount this regular season. Most of them through the internet by downloading archived games. I studied everything they did that was effective. I wrote about it, I inquired about it, I analyzed it to its thorough fullest.

I have to hand some props over Doc Rivers — he’s outcoached Phil “Zenhead” Jackson this whole series. While Rivers still made many, many questionable moves throughout this series (not giving Kevin Garnett sufficient shots in the second half of game one; not playing Leon Powe enough in game five), his head has been in tact while Jackson intermittently drank Jack and Coke while on the sidelines during these games. The Lakers’ adjustments were neglected, and the Celtics took advantage of that. But give the popcorn and soda to Tom Thibodeau, the guy that was instrumental behind the scenes for the Celtics this past season.

Paul Pierce deserves the most respect of any current Celtic (with all-due respect to Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, of course). He was stabbed 11 times in October 2000, a couple of weeks later he played the first exhibiton game and was the only Celtic to play all 82 games that year. In 2002, he was slammed onto the court by Amare Stoudemire. He had to have dental procedures taken a day later to have his teeth brought back into place. A couple of days later, he stated the very next game and hit the game winner against Portland. He’s had ups-and-downs, and so has the Celtics — consider this a trinity. Paul Pierce is my second favorite player in the league (Tim Duncan being the first), but I could easily make a case for him being the first. His work ethic, determination and perseverance came alive. And now he’s a champion. Congratulations, Paul, you are indeed The Truth.

Kevin Garnett has been my second favorite power forward in the league for years and years now. He’s always befuddled me with a lot of his gametime decisions, but he worked his ass off this year, and was the key to the puzzle in the regular season that made this team the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. He didn’t play all too well throughout the playoffs, but he played one hell of a game in the championship game tonight. For a guy that’s a future hall of famer, it’s only fitting that he’s winning a championship in a year where he finished in the top 5 of MVP voting.

Ray Allen always gave me psychological problems when he played for the Seattle Supersonics. It seemed like every time he and the Sonics played the Spurs, he would quarrel with Bruce Bowen, then whine about it after the game. Sure, he’s a guy of justice, but he’s also one hell of a basketball player. I doubted him before the season and he proved me wrong. He looked like a old geezer in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but came alive in the Eastern Conference Championship against the Pistons, and turned on the ’shoot button’ in the Finals. Now he’s a champion, along with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

Rajon Rondo, a second year player out of the University of Kentucky, was the starter for the 24-wins-to-66-wins Celtics this year. Many people said he wouldn’t be able to lead the team because of his youth. I negated those comments and defended Rondo. He has shooting woes, but he runs the floor of the Celtics offense with precision, and plays some of the best rotational defense I’ve seen in a while. His peek-a-boo (as Marc Jackson calls it) stealing  is preeminent to other ‘peek-a-boo stealers’ (if there was such a thing). To win the NBA title, as a starter, as a point guard, as a 22-year-old second year player, that’s amazing.

Additionally, the entire Celtics bench was doubted the whole season. Guys like James Posey and Eddie House were hotshot role players who came over during the off-season to be apart of a system that was used to spread the court. They hit 3’s all season long. Key 3’s, too. P.J. Brown was brought over to provide a tough body in the paint. And that tough body was what he did inflict his will upon to teams in the post season. Tough rebounds, a preemptive skill to clog the paint, and resiliency to not be flustered.

This Celtics team was full of veterans.
And those veterans are the 2008 NBA champions.

It’s going to take me a week or two to take this all in. I haven’t truly felt like this since the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 2006. I’m in euphoria.

The Boston Celtics are the NBA champions.

After wasting an exhilarating game five performance by Paul Pierce on a rotten loss that was contributed by Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Sam Cassell, Eddie House, and other Celtics players that could have made a bigger difference in the final minutes.

Coming back from big leads in two separate games is a big deal, especially if you can do it in two games that are three days apart from each other (Thursday’s game four; Friday’s game five). The Lakers yet again enjoyed a big lead in the first quarter of game five. Kobe was swishing 3s, and the rest of the team was hitting shots at will.

The Celtics D looked more soporific than Doris Roberts at a film festival, as the Lakers nearly dropped 40 in the first quarter. Yet the outcome still looked as equivocal as the ending of No Country For Old Men.

But the Celtics treaded to do the same thing they did on Thursday night. They wielded a comeback and whittled the Lakers’ lead to a marginal 55-52 deficit at halftime.

The Celtics took a brief lead in the third quarter but couldn’t tenaciously ensconce the game in their favor. The Lakers, albeit more rotten than a staled caramel-candy apple, were relentless and kept the game in control. The Lakers fans continued to show their ignorance by chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” every time Kobe, the NBA’s favorite wonder-rapist, was given a free-paid expense trip to the foul line.

The Celtic shooters missed bucket after bucket. Garnett stunk so badly you would’ve figured that Magic Johnson lurked inside the Celtics’ locker room prior to the game and took the biggest shit in the world, and Garnett took a big whiff if it that distorted his game into an awry convolution.

The Lakers managed to lead by double digits again, this time by 14, but guess what? The Celtics managed to come back and take control of a lead in the 4th quarter 92-90. But that was the last Boston lead, as Kobe pulled a cavalcade of cheap dunks off of a couple of fast breaks, and was fouled a time or two from the referees who were down on their knees vying for Kobe the whole night. On one of the last possessions of the game, Paul Pierce was completely mugged after grabbing a hard fought rebound away from the Lakers. No foul was called, and Pierce managed to get up the court, had the ball stolen after being slapped in the forehand multiple times by Mr. Kobe Bryant, and the game was virtually over.

Number 17 will be awaiting its destiny tonight. Celtics fans alike me have been waiting for this moment forever. We want to see the boys in green and white receive their dues for their tedious and strenuous season. They have played 107 games (not counting pre-season or the trip to Italy) this year, and are bit by it on their way to becoming depleted. Paul Pierce’s possibly-damaged knee, Ray Allen’s personal problems (his unfortunate situation of his son being ill), Kevin Garnett’s prominent intimidation, Rajon Rondo’s ailments and sloppy play, and Kendrick Perkins’ doubtfulness of playing in tonight’s game (well, it’s a game-time decision).

Let’s go Celtics! Please elucidate number Seventeen for us!