Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

 I am guessing the timeline was roughly the mid-1950's. The place was the Old Boston Garden. I was there with my family for a circus, and being around nine years old at the time, my father antagonized me, "I'm going to have it come over here" is what he said to me. The "IT" he referred to was a live monkey - across the arena - l eaping wildly from seat to seat - sometimes landing on the scared-or-delighted attendees. That's all I needed. I have not liked monkeys since that moment. When I related this story to others, I was usually met with skepticism. That was until the remains of (what I believe) that same monkey was found in 1998.   The Boston Garden monkey, photographed while taken out of hiding in 1998. If you hit on the above link, you will learn that the demolition crew taking down the old Garden had some fun with the mummified remains of the creature, apparently hiding the grisly find from superiors. Thus, the legend of the "rogue pri...

 A couple of years ago, I did an ode to the legendary Bill Russell based on Tom Meschery's poem portraying the menacing defensive ace as An Eagle With a Beard .  Well, in a way, "the Eagle" will be back covering the lanes on the parquet at TD Garden - as his Number-6 will adorn both lanes at opposite ends of the court. A magnificent tribute to the man who revolutionized the game of basketball and led The Green to multiple Titles over the years. Or, as Meschery wrote, we will remember: "Bill with slightly stooped shoulders, long feathery arms and talons hovering above the paint protecting it like his nest intruders entered at their peril." And I will add that TD Garden patrons can look forward to watching as Celtics center, Rob Williams, follows Bill's lead in "hovering above the paint, protecting it" . I would have loved to have seen Russ mentor the supremely-athletic Williams III, but the #6 icons may be enough . 

      While this season hasn't started the way Celtic fans expected, there is light at the end of the Garden tunnel . If last night's any indication, Jayson Tatum seems to be picking up his stride. In 38 minutes last night, he shot 54.5 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three . He scored 34 points, had 9 rebounds, and 5 assists . He even had a nice block, overall defensively he was hustling. One things for certain he needs help - cue JB on Friday .             JT has deserved the criticism he's received this year, but not to the extent in the media. From this writers perspective, he's still growing and learning as a player. He's only 23! Let's give this young man a chance. He will lead this team to glory once again. I know we all expect a leader who is loud and looks the part. JT is a different style of leader and player.       Watch him as he talks to his teammates in his own subtle way, working with them...

 When his body was still in Boston (but most-likely not his spirit), Kyrie Irving stated that he experienced no racism in Boston . Now, prior to his return to TD Garden on Friday night for Game 3, we hear differently. Which is it bud pic.twitter.com/gmVRrIttGv — Jayson Tatum’s Advocate. (@HoopsWLegend) May 26, 2021 Yes, Which is it, Bud? This is a mindless, desperate attempt by Kyrie Irving to divert attention from his unwelcome return to a TD Garden venue (almost) filled with fans I hope will not abandon their own team, but will loudly - and peacefully - voice their displeasure at his abrupt departure. Irving is telling Celtics fans not to boo him, or he will be labeling the crowd reaction as racism. I personally don't care if a player is purple with diagonal clashing stripes. If they play hard & can be placed into a shrinking population of decent individuals, I love them. Kyrie checked the first box. Maybe not the second. Attention-diverting tactic. https://t.co/cakJlmp7S3...

Things are so vastly different in the NBA today than they were in 1956. Making comparisons between General Managers in that era and those in the modern League is difficult, but here we go. Red is listed as both Coach and Executive in 1956. He was basically the Front Office. The 2020 list goes well over 100 names. There were only eight teams in the League in the mid-50's. There are 30 now. Simplicity reigned in the 50's. Auerbach made virtually all of the decisions, from determining substitutions during games to scouting potential draft picks and negotiating player contracts. Players generally hung around on the same team for their entire careers. But today, Danny Ainge has employees to handle most of the tasks, and the game of "Musical Players" has become an epidemic. So, who has had it tougher, Red or Danny? Red worked his butt off, but the daily process was not complicated. Auerbach was in charge, and the Celtics organization was as close to a dictatorship as existe...