Boston Sports Media Watch

Ken from Fang’s Bites here again. I figured I would give you a new post during the weekend. I listed this on my blog, but this applies more to BSMW.

The Boston/New England Emmy Awards were handed out Saturday night at the Marriot Copley Place Hotel in Boston.

I am going to list the winners in the sports category. For those who want to find the complete list of winners in Newscast, Spot News and other categories, you can go the Boston/New England Emmy website.

NESN won four Boston/New England Emmys, but Comcast SportsNet got the big prize of Best Live Sporting Event winning for its production of the Boston Celtics.

Here are the winners:

Sports Series - Sox Appeal - NESN (This I just don’t understand)
Sporting Event/Game-Live/Unedited - Boston Celtics Basketball - Comcast SportsNet
Sports One-Time Special - Champions Again: The Story of the 2007 Boston Red Sox - NESN/Major League Baseball Productions
Sports Feature/Segment - UConn’s Little Fan - WTNH, New Haven, CT
Editor Program - Red Sox Report Composite; 2007 Season in Review - NESN/Red Sox Productions
Graphic Arts Program - Boston Bruins Open 2007 - NESN
On Camera Talent Reporter-Sports - John Holt - WFSB, Hartford, CT (over Tina Cervasio???)
News Specialty Report Sports News - Street Stories: Backyard Wiffleball - WPRI, Providence, RI

Again, the entire list can be seen over at Boston Emmyonline.org.

Enjoy your Mother’s Day.

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Ken from the Fang’s Bites blog here once again with your Friday Media Megalinks. Unlike last week which focused on the Kentucky Derby, there isn’t much of an underlying theme in the links. So, let’s get to them. As usual, it’s another busy weekend for viewing.

Weekend Viewing Picks

The Celtics-Cavs series shifts to Cleveland this weekend. Game 3 is going to be in primetime on Saturday and ABC will pick it up. Locally, WCVB, WMUR and ABC6 in Providence will carry the game starting at 8. And the other Eastern Conference semifinals will be held on Saturday as Game 4 of the Detroit-Orlando series will be seen on ESPN at 5 p.m. On Sunday, both Western Confernce semifinals will be seen. ABC has Game 4 of the Lakers-Jazz series at 3:30 p.m. while TNT takes Game 4 of the Hornets-Spurs series Sunday night at 8.

The Red Sox travel to Central Division leading Minnesota this weekend for a four game weekend wraparound series. NESN has coverage of Friday, Saturday and Monday. Tonight’s game is at 8, Saturday’s will be on the air at 7, Sunday is an ESPN game at 8 and Monday, also on ESPN goes on at 7.

Fox Sports has its usual slate of three regional baseball games Saturday afternoon at 3:55 and none of them will have the team of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. The Yankees return to Fox as they travel to Detroit to challenge the Tigers, Milwaukee takes on St. Louis and the Cubs host Arizona. WGN will have the White Sox at Seattle Saturday at 10 p.m. and the D’backs-Cubs Sunday at 2:10 p.m. TBS will show Yankees-Detroit on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Over to the NHL, the Conference Finals will be in primetime. Versus and CBC have Game 2 of Dallas-Detroit on Saturday at 7, and both networks will carry Game 2 of Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Sunday at 7:30.

One of the bigger events for golf asides from the Majors is the Players Championship. Tiger Woods is not in the field and that could mean lower ratings for both the Golf Channel and NBC which are televising the tournament. The Golf Channel finishes its coverage on Friday, then NBC takes over Saturday and Sunday with coverage starting at 2 p.m. NBC Sports says it will have microphones placed around the famous 17th green at the TPC at Sawgrass to capture the splashes as the balls hit the water from the tee.

NASCAR has another Saturday night race. It’s at Darlington for the Dodge Challenger 500 at 7.

Qualifiying for the Indianapolis 500 takes place this weekend and ESPN2 and ABC will have coverage throughout the weekend.

Formula 1 travels to Istanbul, not Constantinople, for the Turkish Grand Prix and Speed will have the coverage, Sunday morning at 7:30.

And boxing fans can watch the fight for the WBC Super Lightweight title on Showtime at 10:45 p.m. Saturday.

The New England Revolution takes on CD Chivas on TV-38, Sunday at 3 p.m.

The entire slate of weekend sports coverage can be seen here.

To your links now.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand gives blog critics a lecture.

East and Mid-Atlantic

David Scott has an update on the Gordon Edes vs. Boston Globe buyout story.

Paul Flannery of Boston Magazine’s Boston Daily Blog reports that the Boston Globe’s Marc Spears will take over the NBA beat from Peter May who took a buyout this year.

The Boston Globe’s Nancy Marrapese-Burrell says NESN’s Heidi Watney jumped at the chance to work in Boston.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times previews the new book by YES analyst Bobby Murcer.

Neil Best’s Friday column focuses on Yankees manager Joe Girardi’s growing pains in dealing with the New York media. And Neil has Yankees beat reporters talking about Girardi’s relationship with the media in his blog. Neil has a little more about this subject.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post says WFAN’s Mike Francesca is no Oprah Winfrey.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News feels Mets manager Willie Randolph is being met with plenty of resistance from his players who have weekly radio interviews.

Ray Frager from the Baltimore Sun says NBC Sports will try to capture every splash at the 17th hole during the Players Championship this weekend.

West

John Maffei from the North County Times says Padres fans are venting about the team’s bad start on the radio postgame show.

The Ventura County Star’s Jim Carlisle is excited about HBO/NFL Films returning to nearby Oxnard to shoot this year’s Hard Knocks program at Dallas Cowboys training camp.

In the Sound and Vision column in today’s Los Angeles Times, Larry Stewart says the widow of the late Voice of the Lakers Chick Hearn says he would have loved to see his former team in the NBA playoffs this season.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has put his media column and notes on his Farther Off the Wall blog. And here are some additional notes from Hoffarth.

South

Doug Nye from The State in Columbia, SC says TV viewers don’t know how good they have things these days.

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reports that sports radio talker The Ticket beat rival WQAM in the winter Arbitron ratings.

Dave Darling of the Orlando Sentinel lists his favorite ten sports-themed Seinfeld episodes.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle writes that the Rockets are now on hunt for a new radio announcing team.

Ray Buck in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says the four overtime Game 6 between the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks this past Sunday night into Monday morning made for a long day for the FSN Southwest crew.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman has a bunch of stories today. He first writes that sportscaster and former Oklahoma U. QB (and New England Patriot) Jack Mildren is undergoing treatment for stomach cancer. Mel says sports radio talk show host Jim Traber is combative despite undergoing colon surgery two months ago. In his notebook, Mel writes about the ESPN documentary on former Mets manager Bobby Valentine. And finally, Mel has his viewing picks.

Canada

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says legendary Hockey Night in Canada voice Bob Cole plans to continue working even as he goes into his upper 70’s.

The Vancouver Sun has a blurb on Don Cherry’s appearance on NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s show on XM Satellite Radio yesterday.

Midwest

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune writes that Robin Ventura will pinch-hit for Steve Stone on the White Sox radio broadcasts this weekend. Teddy has his five weekend viewing picks.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that ratings for the NBA Playoffs could not be any better this season.

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press says a local radio station will air a local road race this weekend.

Judd Zulgad from the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that a local TV sports anchor (from a CBS-owned station) has no plans to leave despite seeing cutbacks all around his newsroom.

From the Rochester Post-Bulletin, Paul Christian writes that the island green at the TPC Sawgrass is one of the most famous golf holes in the world.

The Kansas City Star’s Jeffrey Flanagan says FSN had good ratings for the Royals even with a rainout (scroll down).

Blogs

Joe Favorito’s public relations and sports marketing blog says giving a reporter access is very important to brand imaging and bringing a story to a wider audience.

The 38Cliches blog feels Jon Rish did a good job filling in for Dave O’Brien on the Red Sox-Detroit game on Wednesday.

The Sports Media Watch says the Rangers-Penguins series ended too quickly for Versus and NBC.

Michael Senno of the Biz of Hockey reports that Don Cherry makes his ESPN debut tonight.

Awful Announcing has the full video of the Rangers-Mariners brawl last night including the section where FSN Southwest’s Tom Grieve blasts Richie Sexson for charging the mound.

If you’re a Lost fan like I am, the Big Lead has some good Easter Eggs from last night’s episode.

That’s it. Enjoy your weekend.

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You may have heard this article talked about on the Dale & Holley show this morning, but I think it’s worthy of mention and discussion here as well.

Dan Pompei in the Chicago Tribune tells readers it is time to forget Spygate and remember how good that Bill Belichick really is. He tells us that while the black hat does fit Belichick well, he adds:

On the day before the most recent Super Bowl, the Boston Herald ran a story stating a member of the team’s video department taped the Rams’ final walk-through on the day before the 2002 Super Bowl.

Matt Walsh, the former video assistant for the Patriots who was negotiating with the league about information he claimed to have regarding the tapings, did not deny the allegation. And the controversy was fueled by grandstanding U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.).

With the way it’s starting to look, that black hat fits Specter, Walsh and the Herald better than it fits Belichick.

After issuing criticism of Walsh and Specter, he then has the following to say about the Boston Herald:

The Herald meanwhile, bit on a story that more responsible media outlets did not. The Herald was not the only outlet that had the information it printed Feb. 2, the day before the Super Bowl, but they were the only outlet that deemed the story solid enough to print.

It’s now starting to filter out that other media outlets got the same information that John Tomase did, but they didn’t run with it.

They’re not absolved of blame, however, because as we know, they all certainly jumped on the story and ran with it once the Herald published it. They no longer had to worry about whether the information was shoddy or not, they could just state “The Boston Herald reports that…” and go merrily along their way of speculating that the tape of the Rams walkthrough might be out there and what it could mean if Walsh turned it in to the league.

Pompei closes by saying “Belichick’s reputation won’t be sullied by this affair as much as the reputations of some others.”

“Some others” includes not only Walsh, Specter and the Herald, but most of the sports media at large.

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Behnke is another relative newcomer on the Boston sports media scene, having joined NECN as a sports reporter in 2005. She does on-the-scene sports reporting for the station, as well as filling in as sports anchor.

She has a  journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin, and grew up a Packers fan in Eagan, Minnesota (making her also a Twins fan).

She also hosts the weekly Celtics magazine show Celtics Now alongside Donny Marshall on Comcast SportsNet.

Here is an interview she did with David Laurila for RedSoxNation.net.

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The Celtics took a 2-0 series lead on the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 89-73 win at the Garden last night.

Marc J. Spears has the Celtics putting the squeeze on LeBron James and the Cavs once again. Mark Murphy hopes that Celtics fans don’t get carried away by their team’s containment of LeBron in the first two games of the series. Kevin McNamara has the comforts of home once again leading the way to victory for Boston. Scott Souza has the Celtics overcoming a slow first quarter before charging back and coasting past the Cavs. Bill Doyle notes that by the end of the night Ben Wallace probably wasn’t the only Cav feeling dizzy. Mike Fine has the Celtics halfway to a series win. Jeff Howe has the Celtics bench helping them pull away from the Cavs.

Kevin Henkin on the BSMW Full Court Press has the Celtics gang defense once again smothering LeBron and the Cavs.

Dan Shaughnessy falls just short of calling LeBron James a playoff choker, comparing him to Ted Williams in the 1946 World Series and A-Rod in any postseason. Does Dan realize how foolish that is? Did he watch any of the playoffs last season? Of course he didn’t…OK, so the last line of Tony Massarotti’s column today was pretty clever, I’ll give him that. “Can all the King’s horses and all the King’s men put LeBron together again?” Jim Donaldson has LeBron appearing lost out on the court as the Celtics defense stifled him once again. Jeff Jacobs also chimes in on LeBron and the frustrating two nights he and his teammates have had in Boston. Jennifer Toland looks at another rough shooting night for James.

Bob Ryan looks at the contributions of the first four men off the Celtics bench - a group that turned the game around last night for Boston. Steve Bulpett says that the Celtics need to find a way to bottle their home brew intensity and take it on the road for games three and four. Lenny Megliola also looks at the challenge facing the Celtics now that they’ll be heading back out on the road for the next two games. Julian Benbow examines how the Celtics defense is frustrating LeBron. Robert Lee has more on the Celtics bench players stepping up big last night. Massarotti has Danny Ainge speaking on in defense of Doc Rivers and the playoff performance of his team, both at home and on the road.

Christopher L. Gasper has Ray Allen finally breaking out and exploding in the second half, scoring all 16 of his points in the third and fourth quarter. Jeff Horrigan has Allen and the basketball settling their differences and getting along nicely in the second half last night. Tim Weisberg also looks at Allen finding his way in the second half, and along with him, the rest of the Celtics as well. Bulpett has Kevin Garnett honored with a place on the All-NBA first team.

Michael Vega has the Cavs hoping to get back on track back in the comforts of home. Horrigan has former Celtics short-timer and current Cavs reserve Damon Jones speaking about the rise of the Celtics.

Spears’ notebook has more on Garnett being named to the first team All-NBA. Pierce is on the third team. Murphy’s notebook has Sam Cassell stepping up at point after Rajon Rondo struggled to begin the game. McNamara’s notebook has more on Ray Allen getting back on track in the second half last night. Doyle’s notebook has more on the first team honors for Garnett. Vega’s notebook has Cavs coach Mike Brown endorsing Rick Carlisle for the Dallas job.

Red Sox

Gordon Edes has Kevin Youkilis once again leading the Red Sox offense in a victory over the Tigers. Rob Bradford has Josh Beckett hitting his stride in last night’s win. Steven Krasner has a locked-in Youkilis leading the Sox once again. Jeff Goldberg and Bill Ballou have more on Youkilis and Beckett leading the way for the Sox.

Steve Buckley has Youkilis lighting up Comerica Park once again. Amalie Benjamin has Beckett firmly in control of this one. Buckley reports on Curt Schilling’s catch session. Bradford looks at Dustin Pedroia’s skills at pinch hitting, which have saved the Red Sox a few times already. Admit it, you’re impressed that Manny knew that Lenny Harris is the all time pinch hit leader…

Benjamin’s Minor League Notebook has Daniel Bard finding himself in Hawaii. Joe McDonald has Sean Casey and Alex Cora taking care of their temporary PawSox teammates.

Edes’ notebook observes that the centerfield platoon has pretty much been an even split. Krasner’s notebook has Beckett picking career strikeout number 1000 last night. Bradford’s notebook has David Ortiz and Mike Lowell showing signs of rounding into form. Goldberg’s notebook has Pedroia not faked out by Detroit third baseman Carlos Guillen on a popup last night. Ballou’s notebook has the play reminding Francona of a play in the 2003 postseason between the Red Sox and A’s.

Media/Other

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell chats with new NESN field reporter Heidi Watney.

David Scott has Gordon Edes filing an appeal with the New York Times Company’s ERISA Management Committee.

Some former Patriots were in town yesterday, and there’s still plenty of spygate talk out there, including from Arlen Specter. Check out all the coverage on the all new PatriotsLinks.com - now with videos and photos as well.

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No really, he was scheduled today in the approval ratings prior to the Matt Walsh statement from last night…

Tomase is the beat reporter covering the New England Patriots for the Boston Herald. He is a Tufts grad, and joined the Herald in 2005 after covering the Red Sox for the Lawrence Eagle Tribunefor a number of years. He is the main blogger for the Herald’s Point After Patriots blog, and makes appearances on Comcast SportsNet from time to time.

He is in the spotlight now, of course, for the article he wrote the day before this year’s Super Bowl, where a source in his article claimed that the Patriots had filmed the Rams walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI. The article brought Tomase national attention…whether that was his aim or not…and with yesterday’s revelation that Walsh has no such tape of the walkthrough and was not the source of Tomase’s article, speculation will likely renew as to who was that source.

Tomase is no stranger to controversy, having written a scathing piece in June 2005 on Manny Ramirez while working for the Eagle-Tribune. The piece claimed the the Red Sox themselves were sick of the slugger and that Ramirez was “robbing the Red Sox and more than indirectly contributing to the cost of baseball’s highest tickets.” He made the rounds of the radio stations after that article, getting his name out there, and possibly leading to his promotion to the Herald.

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A warning shot - take it easy in the comments, folks. Anything deemed inappropriate, offensive or overly personal is subject to removal.

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So after months and months of speculation that ex-Patriots employee Matt Walsh possessed damning evidence against the team above and beyond what they had already been punished for, Walsh revealed the goods yesterday, and surprise, surprise, there was no tape of the Rams walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI in his collection. What he did have was what we already knew - and what the Patriots had already admitted - tapes that showed they had been taping opposing signals since the start of the Belichick era.

As part of the release yesterday, Walsh’s attorneys also stated that he was not the source of John Tomase’s infamous story the day before this year’s Super Bowl that claimed that a tape of the Rams walkthrough exists.

What’s next? Is Arlen Specter or Roger Goodell going to demand to talk to Tomase and make him give up his source? (I’m only half kidding, folks) Will Peter King, Mike Florio and Gregg Easterbrook finally shut up? I doubt it.

It would seem that Walsh was simply out for his 15 minutes of fame, and he certainly got it, thanks to an overzealous media eager for anything new to pin on the Patriots.

Mike Reiss reports on the eight tapes that Walsh is returning, while John Tomase keeps it simple, and doesn’t elaborate on his February story of the walkthrough and how Walsh’s denial fits or does not fit into that. However, David Heuschkel claims that the tapes could be damaging to Belichick because at least two of the tapes show offensive signals being recorded as well as defensive.

David Scott looks at Boston.com jumping the gun a bit last night in breaking the story, and also wonders what’s next for John Tomase and the Herald in this saga.

Reiss also has an article on new Patriots linebacker Victor Hobson, who talks about being on the other side of the Patriots/Jets rivalry.

Check all the coverage on the all-new PatriotsLinks.com

Celtics

Steve Bulpett says that the Celtics need to make a return to the team offense, especially during crunch time. Bob Ryan looks at how Sam Cassell has completely replaced Eddie House in the Celtics rotation, and whether that is a good thing or not. Scott Souza has Rivers trying to get the point guard rotation just right. Bill Burt submits a feature on how Danny Ainge built this team, and that Red Auerbach would be proud of him. Burt also recollects how Auerbach brought Ainge to Boston from the Toronto Blue Jays.

 Matt Richardson on the BSMW Full Court Press has some thoughts on Mike Brown’s Color Coordinated Eyewear and Other Random Observations.

Mark Murphy looks at Kendrick Perkins’ contributions on defense, which do not go unnoticed by his teammates. Mike Fine has Paul Pierce as one of those teammates who appreciates what Perkins brings to the floor for the Celtics. Robert Lee has the Celtics thriving on their defense at home in the postseason. Christopher L. Gasper has Ray Allen and Paul Pierce looking to give Kevin Garnett some help on the offensive end tonight. Fine has Pierce acknowledging that he has to do a better job tonight.

Bill Doyle says that the Celtics can learn plenty from their game one victory. Bulpett looks at how Rajon Rondo has managed to handle the increased pressure of the postseason. Buddy Thomas doesn’t believe that the Celtics can beat the Pistons in a seven game series.

In the Metro, I point out how that if you listened to the radio this week, you’d be sure that the Celtics can’t win this series.

Jeff Horrigan has LeBron James confident that he’ll bounce back tonight after the poor game one. Michael Vega has more on James’ faith in his ability to come back strong tonight.

Murphy’s notebook has the Celtics trying to figure out what adjustments the Cavs will make for tonight. Gasper’s notebook has Cassell disagreeing with the flagrant foul call on his encounter with James in game one. Lee’s notebook has Doc Rivers wanting to get Ray Allen involved early tonight. Horrigan’s notebook has the Cavs trying to figure out what to do with Kevin Garnett.

Red Sox

The Red Sox lost a roller-coaster in Detroit last night, 10-9. Gordon Edes has this one pinned on Julio Lugo, who made a crucial error in this one, his 10th of the young season. Rob Bradford has the Lugo blunder costing the Sox a great comeback. Bill Ballou has a Lugo error finally costing the Red Sox a game. Steven Krasner has the Sox wasting a great rally. Jeff Goldberg has Jonathan Papelbon being hit with his first blown save of the season.

Amalie Benjamin has the afternoon rain messing with the pitchers’ routines. Buckley has Jed Lowrie sticking around in the big leagues even after Mike Lowell’s return. Bradford has Jacoby Ellsbury remaining perfect in his career in stolen bases. He is now 22 for 22.

Steve Buckley has Lugo reacting to questions from the media about his struggles in the field. Benjamin has more on the fielding woes for Lugo. Jim Donaldson catches up with Luis Tiant.

Edes’ notebook has Clay Buchholz breaking the streak of great starts by the Red Sox rotation. Bradford’s notebook has Julian Tavarez OK with the trade rumors that have been floating around about him. Ballou’s notebook has Lowrie sticking around until Alex Cora is reactivated. Krasner’s notebook has more on Buchholz breaking the streak of quality starts. Goldberg’s notebook has Kevin Youkilis submitting the second two homer game of his career at Comerica Park.

Media

Adam Reilly has a look at how the Herald is falling short of the Globe in almost all areas except sports coverage. He suggests that that might be the area that publisher Pat Purcell should really try and attack the Globe, especially with the recent cutbacks on Morrissey Blvd.

Lenny Megliola checks out NESN’s newest field reporter, Heidi Watney.

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Can you believe it?

Castiglione is in his 26th seasoncalling Red Sox games on the radio. Prior to coming to call the games here in Boston, he had done television broadcasts for the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers, but is now a fixture here in Boston.

He also did time as a sports anchor back in the Ohio in the 1970’s, after graduating from Colgate in 1968 and getting an M.S. in TV-Radio from Syracuse in 1970.

Castiglione has taught broadcasting courses at Northeastern University since 1985 and at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, New Hampshire since 1997.

He has also written a book, Broadcast Rites and Sites, Revised Edition: I Saw It on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox

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Well, hopefully at least we won’t be hearing all day long on WEEI how Kevin Garnett doesn’t want the ball late in games…we’ll hear a lot about how the Celtics were lucky to win despite the struggles of LeBron James, but probably not much about how the Celtics managed to get a win despite getting only four points from Paul Pierce and none from Ray Allen. WEEI has been brutal on the Celtics this week, and it’s likely to continue.

Marc J. Spears has Garnett comparing last night’s game to a heavyweight fight. Mark Murphy has the Celtics running the house at LeBron James in an effort to contain the Cavs star. Scott Souza has the Celtics forcing James into a nightmarish game of 2-for-18 shooting night with 10 turnovers. Bill Doyle notes that despite that accomplishment, last night was anything but an easy win for the Celtics. Tim Weisberg has the Celtics executing a revolt on The King last night. Jeff Howe has a couple of popular theories going by the boards last night.

 Kevin Henkin of the BSMW Full Court Press was at the game in the stands, and offers his thoughts from the night.

Bob Ryan says that the Garden will need a fumigator after this one. He adds, “No one actually won this game. Someone had to not lose it.” Steve Bulpett adds that we should all hope never to see a sequel to this horror show last night. Lenny Megliola is still trying to make sense of this one. Mike Fine says that it was an ugly night to be sure, but the Celtics will take this one.

Tony Massarotti examines the huge effort from Kevin Garnett last night, and adds that now the Cavs need to find someone to try and stop the Big Ticket. Peter May says that aggressiveness served Garnett well last night, especially down the stretch. Massarotti has KG finishing third in the MVP vote which was officially revealed yesterday.

Christopher L. Gasper has veterans James Posey and Sam Cassell coming up big down the stretch for the Celtics. Dan Ventura has Cassell showing his stuff by scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter to help the Celtics to the win. Bill Burt has Cassell doing what he does best…just making shots. Howe has more on the playoff proven Cassell. Robert Lee has Rajon Rondo getting off to a strong start last night for the Celtics. May has Doc Rivers getting the monkey off his back by finally winning a first round playoff series.

Spears’ notebook has Garnett coming in third in the MVP voting, behind the winner, Kobe Bryant and the runner-up, Chris Paul. Murphy’s notebook has Pierce taking satisfaction in the win despite his own personal struggles offensively last night. Kevin McNamara’s notebook examines the Celtics defensive strategy on James. Doyle’s notebook has Delonte West fitting in nicely with the Cavs. In Burt’s notebook, he eloquently tells us that James “really stunk” last night. Jim Fenton’s notebook has KG carrying the Celtics to the win last night.

Cavs

Dan Shaughnessy manages to compare LeBron to both Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain in separate passages of his column today on the struggles of the Cavs superstar last night. Jennifer Toland has LeBron missing in action last night, thanks to the Celtics defense.

Michael Vega has Zydrunas Ilgauskas coming up big for the Cavs last night with 22 points. Bulpett has a look at Wally Szczerbiak, who encouraged Danny Ainge to go after Garnett, and has nothing but good things to say about his time with the Celtics. Ventura similarly checks in with Delonte West about his time with Boston. Lee says that West might prove to be a hidden gem for the Cavs.

Vega’s notebook has a look at the adjustments Szczerbiak and West have made since joining the Cavs, and what returning to the Garden last night was like for them.

Other

For the second straight day my time is short this morning. The Red Sox shut out the Tigers last night 5-0 behind Tim Wakefield. Check the coverage at RedSoxLinks.com.

There are a few leftover Patriots stories out there from rookie minicamp. Check them out at PatriotsLinks.com.

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One of the new kids on the block here in Boston, Spears is in his first season covering the Celtics for The Boston Globe.

Spears came to the Globe from the Denver Post, where he covered the Nuggets. He also did work for ESPN.com and America Online. Spears is also the Vice-President of Print for the National Association of Black Journalists Sports Task Force, and thanks to an early encounter with Jason Whitlock (See the last question here) is committed to doing his best to be a mentor and answer questions for any aspiring journalists.

Spears attended San Jose State University. He spent eight years at the Post before coming to the Globe last summer. He arrived soon after Kevin Garnett, which seemed to signal the Globe’s increased commitment to Celtics and NBA coverage.

He is also perhaps one of the few writers who can look most NBA players in the eye when he talks to them.

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