All is not lost.

Maybe it's a cop out, but after the Celtics lost in Miami and the series was over, I felt an odd sense of relief. Make no mistake about it: for their fight, pride and bravery, I applaud them, but in the hours leading up to Game 5, I found myself encased in doubt. Not doubt about whether or not the Celtics possessed the talent to beat the Heat, because they certainly do- but doubt about if the fight was even with it anymore. I initially argued that, though overcoming a 3-1 deficit was unlikely, it was still worth it to go out and scrap. Miami would be inconvenienced because they'd have to come back to Boston and play again, and they'd be forced to put forth effort that they'd surely rather save up for the next round. But watching Rondo, his face usually a carefully measured mask of stoicism, breathless and overcome by pain, and looking down the rest of the roster and watching as the names of people injury ridden piled up to unbelievable, ridiculous levels, it all just seemed like too much. This team plays beautiful, fluid and hard fought basketball and watching them reduced to playing a cheap version of their real game became to much for me. But again- in playing to the tilt and in never giving up the fight, they displayed one of the things that I love most about them: a unified front, full of heart, dedicated to winning.

And I think they can still do it. Yes, I think there's hope for next year. As it became clearer that the Celtics were going to lose game 5, Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson dragged on and on, talking about how the torch of the Eastern Conference was being passed from Boston to Miami. I refuse to endorse that sentiment. I truly believe that this team, if properly tweaked, can win another championship. Properly tweaking this summer has to look drastically different than it has in any other summer during the Big Three era. Competition is so staunch at the top of the Eastern Conference that banding together a team of superstars in the twilight of their careers won't make the cut. It doesn't require bringing in superstar talent (which is way out of the Celtics price range anyway), but it does require that the management make shrewd, crafty decisions to bring in a fleet of athletic, young, consistent talent. I think that re-signing Jeff Green and Delonte West and even Nenad Krystic would be a great start, along with Glen Davis- provided it's at the right cost. While on the topic of Jeff Green- many fans are down on him, due to his mainly lackluster post season performance. Anyone brought to Boston under the guise of being the factor that made it okay to trade Kendrick Perkins had enormous shoes to fill. He certainly left himself a lot of room for improvement, but I think that he has tremendous potential and could become a valuable asset as a swing man off the bench. The most glaring need is in the middle. This team can not win without a physical, intimidating presence. They need, as my dad so aptly classified it, "a banger." Forces like Lebron James will always get their points- but they can't be allowed to so comfortably live in the paint the way Lebron did this past series.  

I garner even more hope about the future of this team from Doc Rivers re-signing a long term deal. He is the embodiment of all things Celtic, and his investment in the long term signifies that this team is still dedicated to winning in the immediate future, and is not going to plummet in to mediocrity while rebuilding. Doc Rivers is as valuable as any guy suiting up and playing, and with him already on the books, much of my uneasiness has been soothed.

Jackie MacMullan throws the ultimate gauntlet down on Jeff Green

For Celtics fans missing this scowl and all of its intensity:

Being asked to replace it with stoicism such as this has been a tough sell:

MacMullan eloquently presents the argument that the upcoming series against Miami will be Jeff Green's time to prove his worth on this team. She paints the picture of Boston fans impatiently waiting to see what made Green so valuable that he was worth trading Kendrick Perkins away for, "discerning New Englanders have stood stiffly with their arms folded and lips pursed waiting for proof that Green's presence enhances the Boston Celtics' chances of still being 'championship driven.'" 


It is indisputable that Jeff Green is in a tough place here. He is being asked to make himself over as a player, and do so in a drastic reduction of minutes from what he played in Oklahoma City. He's supposed to be the spark off the bench, to be offensively versatile, to maintain any lead compiled by the starters, to be comfortable playing in a myriad of different lineups at different positions- oh, and while he's doing all of this, he's supposed to be guarding the best player on the other team, so Paul Pierce and Ray Allen can catch their breath. And don't forget- we're supposed to be winning a championship here, so the margin for error is nonexistent and the pressure is off the charts. To expect him to be immediately effective is unrealistic, but in his short time here, he has displayed tremendous athletic ability and a willingness to try and morph in to the player the Celtics need him to be. He also played stints of successful defense against Carmelo Anthony during the first round of the playoffs, which is perhaps what prompted MacMullan to throw the gauntlet down on him. With Lebron James seemingly looming near in the Celtics future, expectations for Green will continue to rise, and, "If Jeff Green has anything to do with sending LeBron and the boys packing, the discerning fans' stiff arms won't be folded anymore. New England will embrace him as one of its own. But, if it goes the other way, the poker-faced forward better be ready. Those pursed lips know how to boo, too."

The case of Lebron

I first came upon this piece written by Ethan Strauss of ESPN on Reds Army. The writer at Reds Army highlighted this part of the article:

A title victory protects an athlete. Don’t have a ring? Likability is the next best defense. If fans identify with a star, they’re less inclined to impugn him. Steve Nash has eluded the cruel “choker” tag, despite many playoff exits. My assumption is that sportswriters and fans are more likely to empathize with someone who looks like them. It helps that Nash plays a beautiful game and exudes charisma. So, it makes sense that much of the media narrative surrounding him revolves around how the Suns have failed him -- not the other way around. 

LeBron James does not look like most media members, or a majority of the fans. He irritated significant numbers with the tone-deaf Decision and what many felt was a power play. The angry masses were further enraged by the local celebration of Miami’s free-agent haul. Should LeBron fail, should his team fail, mockery will write history. 


The implication here is clear: Mr. Strauss believes that much of the criticism Lebron received as a result of the soap opera that was, "The Decision," was because he was black and the majority of NBA fans and members of the media are white. The writer at Reds Army dismissed this argument as tired and disgusting. That writer argued Lebron was criticized because he acted obnoxiously and alienated his fan base by acting so pompously. 


I have to side with Mr. Strauss. He brings up a point that I should be more widely talked about, and that is the racial makeup of the majority of the fans verses the majority of the players. I'm actually not comfortable calling the majority of the fans white- I believe that the fan base is extremely diverse, but the exorbitant price of tickets causes the population in stadiums watching games live to be homogeneous, and unrepresentative of the heterogeneity of the actual fan population. There is no denying that at the game, there is a stark contrast in the makeup of the audience versus the makeup of the teams competing against each other. I'd be lying if I said that at times, the dynamic created by this difference hadn't made me uncomfortable. It most certainly has. The obsession of Brian Scalabrine made me extremely wary, just like the Boston crowds eager readiness to embrace Luke Harangody did. I mean- why Luke? Why were there chants of "Luuuuuke" for him, and why did everyone go crazy when, on the rare occasions he played, he scored? That same enthusiasm simply isn't there for Avery Bradley when he checks in to the game. 


Our country may be transforming in to an increasingly multicultural place, but a lot of us still exist in worlds where our neighbors look the same as us, our children attend schools where the majority of their peers look like them, and our circle of friends are made up of people who look like us. Professional sports do not exist in a vacuum. The prejudices and preconceived notions (conscious or not) that we all carry with us every day are not checked at the door. 


Lebron, in so openly (and yes, obnoxiously) abusing his power as a beloved figure in Ohio, disrupted the unspoken hegemonic code in our country. Would a white sports figure who committed similar transgressions and PR blunders be continually crucified as Lebron has been? It's an argument with no definitive answer, because the white equivalent to Lebron does not exist and because the amount of attention paid to free agency has increased heavily due to social media and a new emphasis on fan participation to increase viewership. In pondering the question in my own mind, I don't think the scrutiny would have been the same for a white player. We're told that we live in a "color blind world," but such a claim is insulting- racism is still very much alive in 2011. It is intricately sewn in to public policy and present in every facet of political discourse and determining who has clout and who does not. It is why so many balked at Lebron and the spectacle he created in exerting all of the power he held. 


My sister helped me with this article, and for that, she deserves this wonderful public recognition and lavish praise.

Lebron's mom got arrested in Miami last night.

Sorry, I had to use this picture. Remember? SIT YOUR A$$ DOWN!! Those were the good old days.

Apparently she was partying at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami and got in to a scuffle with a valet parking attendant. TMZ reports:

Hotel sources tell us ... Gloria was partying at LIV nightclub with some of her girlfriends earlier in the evening ... but when she tried to leave the hotel, she got into an altercation with one of the valet parking attendants.

We're told Gloria allegedly assaulted the valet. Cops received a call about the incident at 4:47 AM. Gloria was eventually arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor assault. The valet was not arrested.

We're told Gloria has been released from custody.

Gloria has been in trouble with the law before ... having been arrested in 2006 for DUI in Ohio. 

To be fair, we don't know what happened. The parking attendant could have done something to provoke Mrs. James to respond physically, but still. This is not a good look! Not at all. You know Lebron was double mad- the Heat lost to the Bucks and then his mother acts crazy and embarrasses him all over again.

The blogs don't know which way is up: Ciara reportedly dating Amare and Lebron.

On Lebron:

My people and I were at a lounge, feeling good and drinking. Sitting next to us was someone who was there with a friend. We all started chit chatting and I bought them each a shot. One of them told me that they worked at Mastro's. Later on, we were talking about NBA players and their significant others. Somewhere along the line we started talking about Beyonce and Jay Z. We were kind of tipsy and all over the place. Anyways, when we were talking about Camel and Bey, the employee told me that Ciara and Lebron had been at Mastro's like 3 months ago, alone, and Lebron's people had called up beforehand requesting that they eat in the private dining room. The employee also said that the only people who knew they were there were the employees because Ciara and Lebron came and left separately.

On Amare:

Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire has set his sights on Grammy-winning singer and model Ciara. New York’s hottest sports hero has been spotted dining out with the stunning songbird in recent weeks, and on Monday night, the pair shared dinner at STK with a group of 15, including fellow Knick Carmelo Anthony and his wife, LaLa Vazquez. But sources tell us Amar’e and Ciara have also been seen together alone at the restaurant and at other Meatpacking hot spots. One said, “Ciara is best friends with LaLa and has been attending Knicks games with her, including Monday’s game. Through Melo and LaLa, her friendship with Amar’e has developed. They have been seen out together on numerous occasions.”

One spy said Ciara and Amar’e had dinner at STK alone together two weeks ago, when Amar’e was overheard asking for a private table as they arrived. They’ve also been spotted at The Collective.

A rep for Stoudemire told us, “I know that they are friends,” but declined to comment further. But a source close to the team added, “Ciara is extremely close to LaLa and always sits with her in Carmelo’s seats at the games. Ciara has become friends with Amar’e because they are all spending time together.” Reps for Ciara didn’t get back to us.

Obviously it's all speculation and nobody really knows what's going on. It's my personal opinion that people should stop speculating about who she's dating and start paying more attention to her music. I love CiCi!

Chris Bosh had a really expensive 27th birthday party.

All images C/O the ever fabulous YBF.

I guess when you're really rich this is what invitations look like:

This might not be an invitation. I may just be too poor to even know what that is, but seeing as the party was called, "The Chris Bosh Distinguished Gentlemen Birthday Party Dinner," I'd say it's a safe guess. 

Chris posed with his fiance, Adrienne. Here's an astute observation: He is tall and she is short. I like her shoes. 

More pics of Chris and his teammates after the jump.

Mario Chalmers, Juwann Howard and Udonis Haslem all partied with Chris. 

I'm thinking Tameka Raymond wins best dressed at this party. Sorry Adrienne. Looove the ivory with the grey heel. 

Lebron, Dwyane Wade and Chris posed with the cake... Ridic. But cute. Is it just me or does D. Wade totally looks like he's biting Tiger Woods' style in this outfit?

Random odds and ends: Rondo on the Pre-Game meal with Shannon Allen, the Celtics get booed in LA.

Rondo and Shannon cooked up crispy unfried chicken, cornbread, green beans, AND some sweet tea... my favorite beverage eevveerrr. You can find the recipe for it all right here, should you be interested in making any of it at home.

Also, I watched a little bit of the All-Star game last night... As I'm sure everyone knows, Kobe won MVP. I can't stand the Lakers, but I will be completely honest: I don't hate Kobe. Besides that I'm a Celtics fan by the books: I can't stand Lebron, Chris Bosh is overrated, I'll never forgive Amare Stoudemire for bashing Paul Pierce's front teeth in all those years ago in Phoenix, I hate the Heat, etc. But for some reason, I just don't have that Kobe hate in me. Say what you will about his life off the court, but on the floor it's undeniable that the guy is one of the best of all time AND is a proven winner. So anyway, he was on a mission last night to win the MVP- because he had to best Lebron James, he hears everyone doubting the Lakers and he wanted to show everyone he's not old and done. I guess he successfully accomplished that mission. I'd rather Kobe win in this type of situation than Lebron any day. Maybe that's just me.

The 4 Celtics didn't play too much. That's cool with me. They all checked in together, and which was nice to see... And nobody got hurt! That was the best part. They also got booed a lot. Hilarious!

Poor Paul! Gets the loudest boos in his hometown. Sike! You know he loves it. 

Lebron parties with Drake for the debut of his new cartoon called... "The Lebrons."

Yes, Lebron really has a cartoon and it's really called "The Lebrons." It will air in four parts on You Tube, and will feature each of the four different versions of himself presented in the Nike commercials from last year. It's a must see if I've ever heard of one. Heeheehee...

(picture source)

While I generally enjoy fashion forward men, and while the one thing I actually like Lebron is his choice in clothing, I can't give this outfit a go. He's too big a guy to wear the fedora and cropped jacket. Everything looks squished in. I always love Drake. Rock that Jew-fro.

My favorite highlight from Celtics-Heat: Rondo invades the Heat huddle.

And why is Jeff Van Gundy so mad? There was no timeout called, so Rondo's allowed to be wherever he wants on the court. Plus, he was probably just dropping in to say what up! Lebron was laughing. I GUARANTEE it, that if D. Wade or Lebron nosed their way in to a Celtics huddle, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson would have all KINDS of praise, about how competitive they are and how hilarious they are. Wamp wamp.

If you were thinking about going to the game tomorrow and taunting Lebron about Delonte allegedly sleeping with his mother....

Think twice before you do it.

Not only is it trashy and unnecessary, but I really doubt any fan is ready for Lebron to punch them in the face. I know I'm not built for beef.

It's a conspiracy: The NBA banned Dwyane Wade's migraine goggles, Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz wore sparkly shoes and blinded D. Wade and Lebron... Heat lose.

Oh I'm on to them alright. D. Wade must be mad about this.

Nicely done, Alicia and Swizzy. Anyway, in all seriousness, the new couple looked cute and cuddly court side... And their shoes might or might not have blinded D. Wade and Lebron. I'm pretty sure Amare's goggles blocked at least some of the reflection out. (Amare's standard goggles, incase you're unfamiliar) 

More celebs court side after the jump.

Tracy Morgan enjoyed the cheerleaders

Kanye looked fly. J'adore, Mr. West. 

Elsewhere on the sidelines, Spike Lee was in uniform and amped about the win. 

Pictures jacked from The YBF.

Ciara already linked to another NBA baller. *Phew* So apparently there was no truth to the Lebron story!

Could there be truth to this one? She HAS been spotted courtside at several of his games, both on the road and at home...

Images C/O The YBF.

So who IS this esteemed baller?

Find out after the jump.

Mr. New York Knicks himself, Amare Stoudemire!

Apparently they've been dating for the past month or so. According to this rumor, Ciara got fed up with 50 Cent after he began hanging out with Chelsea Handler, and cut off contact with him. She apparently started hanging out with Amare when he was in LA for a game against the Lakers. Hmm. Only time will tell if there's any truth to this. I personally don't buy it that Chelsea Handler could drive such a wedge between Ciara and 50.... But hey, you never know. (source)

Girls talk sports: looking ahead to Celtics-Cavs.

Man. It's crazy how fast things can change.

Last year, Cleveland finished with the best record in the NBA and was considered a contender. Now? They're owners of the worst record in the NBA and they can't catch a break. First Lebron took his talents to South Beach. Then Mo Williams found himself sidelined indefinitely with a groin injury. And now, they'll have to go without Anderson Varejao for the rest of the season, after he tore a tendon in his right foot (and it happened during practice!! Doesn't that make it so much more depressing?). And just to make things worse, sharpshooter Anthony Parker has been sidelined with a lower back strain, so he probably won't go tonight.

The Cavs projected starting five is Antawn Jamison, Christian Eyenga, JJ Hickson, Daniel Gibson and Ramon Sessions. Sessions is questionable, with a strained abdominal muscle.

As is usual with Shaq sidelined, the Celtics projected starting five will be Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Semih Erden. The Celtics will also be playing shorthanded (no Kendrick Perkins, Delonte West, Jermaine O'Neal, or Shaq. Marquis Daniels is questionable).

Cleveland is on a 17 game losing streak, having not won a game since November.  So how do the Celtics keep the Cavs skid going?

Well. They don't score too much- they average around 93 points a game. Their main offensive threats are Jamison and Hickson. KG has always matched up well with Jamison, but Hickson is a little bit trickier. He's only averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds, but he's very capable of having a big game. He has started at center the past four games and has averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds. At 6'9" and 240, he's a pretty big body, but he's also surprisingly agile and can play away from the basket. The Celtics will want to keep Hickson out of the paint and force him to shoot jump shots. Glen Davis may be the best match up against him. With a thin front court, it's also a possibility that Luke Harangody could see some time guarding him.

More after the jump



With no Williams and an ailing Sessions, this is a good opportunity for Rondo to have a big game. Rondo has combined for 41 points in the last two match ups against Cleveland. After watching a 15 point lead waste away against Washington, Doc Rivers expressed anger that the Celtics became complacent and stopped taking the ball to the basket. Cleveland allows an average of 104 points per game, so scoring shouldn't be a problem for the Celtics. It will be important to get everyone involved early by keeping the ball moving, and to play physical basketball in the paint tonight.

I won't lie. I feel a little bit sad for the Cavs. That being said- these are the kinds of games the Celtics come out and lose. This season, the Green have beat the best and lost to the worst. Let's not forget that the Celtics lost to Cleveland this year, in the second game of the season. Four of the Celtics ten losses have come against some of the worst teams in the league (Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto, Washington). So while I feel sad for the Cavs rough times, I certainly hope the Celtics come out and take care of business tonight.

Does anyone know why Jamario Moon has been posting DNP's?

D. Wade kind of admits to what we all already knew: The Heat want to be the Celtics.

Miami is currently on a 4 game losing streak (*grinning*). Their last loss came in overtime, against Atlanta.  The Heat unraveled at the seams in crunch time- and when it was most critical to execute, they didn't (or rather, they couldn't, because they don't currently know how to). With 2:50 left on the clock in the 4th quarter, D. Wade connected on a jumper, putting the Heat up 72-67. It would be his last shot for the night. 


Lebron took over the show from there. Over the course of the last 2 minutes of the game and during the overtime period, when D. Wade went 0 for 0 from the field, Lebron shot 5-9. I won't lie- I didn't watch this game. But my dad did, and when we spoke about it the next day, he told me how badly the two of them meshed on the court together. He said what struck him the most was that they weren't playing together- they were playing alongside each other, with two separate agendas and no collaboration. 


In the aftermath of the latest loss, D. Wade had this to say: 


“We're not the Boston Celtics,” Wade said Thursday in comparing the Heat's star power to the chemistry and experience shared among Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. “We're not these kind of teams that need to play together. We have guys that have the individual talent, and sometimes the individual talent, one-on-one ability, is going to take over. Boston has guys that have great individual talent, but they feed off each other. We're a new team. We're still figuring that out.” 



Wait. What? You're not the kind of team that needs to play together? Did they not lose the game precisely because they were unable to play together? In that same article, Lebron goes on to say that the Heat don't need to learn how to win games by 5 or less points, because when they're playing good basketball they'll never be in that position- implying that they'll always win by blowout. That doesn't sound too realistic to me- and I certainly don't think it's a good game plan. Any team that wants to be successful needs to know how to work together. Duh. The Heat have a tremendous amount of talent and athleticism on their roster, that's undeniable. But D. Wade and Lebron might needa go back to kindergarten on this one, and re-learn the importance of a collaborative effort. All of that talent and athleticism will go for naught if they don't know how to properly utilize it. The Celtics are older, and D. Wade and Lebron might be better than anyone in Green one on one- but it won't matter, because the Celtics are a united and confident front. They are a team with a set game plan and a solid team identity. Everyone knows their role and is comfortable playing in it... Not to mention they're also extremely talented and feature much more depth on their roster than Miami. 

Dwyane Wade turned 30 and had a birthday party. Lebron was there.

Do I see champagne? And the night before a game? I'm telling. And apparently Lebron really likes whatever song was on. D. Wade not so much. 

This is obviously Lebron's signature dance move. And... Three snaps in a z-formation, D. Wade. Don't mess with him during this song.

L to R: 106&Park host Rocsi Diaz, one of my FAVE designers Rachel Roy (she's rumored to be collaborating on a clothing line with Amare Stoudemire)), and D. Wade's girlfriend, actress Gabrielle Union. She always looks flawless. Grrr. 

Ciara and Lebron James?

The blogs are all abuzz with the latest rumor that Ciara and Lebron James are having a secret love affair. Is this true? Lebron is a father of three and his loooong time girlfriend/mother of his children/alleged fiance, Savannah Brinson, is a highly visible figure oft photographed by his side.

Plus, I love Ciara and I don't love Lebron, so it would WAMP if this turned out to be true! After the video for ride came out, me and my friends were obsessed for months. She makes the dancing look so easy, but trust me.... After MANY attempts of trying to replicate it, it's not. You can check that out below.

The blogs often link Ciara to ballers (Amare Stoudemire, Brandon Jennings, Al Horford and Arron Afflalo, to name a few) and none of these relationships have ever turned out to be true (at least publicly), so I wouldn't be surprised if this was a lie. *Crossing my fingers* Personally, I think she and 50 Cent have had a long term discreet love affair for years. So cute!!