- 12:10 PM
- 12/21/24
Howard must be on Cloud 10. He is going to float into the sanctuary tomorrow morning
With single-digit temperatures this morning, nothing was floating. I was running late due to forced participation in the sport of windshield scraping, so my arrival in the Sanctuary involved diving into a pew in order to get out of the way of the procession.
I am somewhat on cloud 10 with the Navy victory. My story is one of redemption from Army ROTC and 2 years of wearing a bar and running a desk on Okinawa to working most of the next 40+ years with the sea services. Add to this a wife whose father was an Annapolis graduate who achieved the grade of Captain, and you can understand my exit from the dark side. I fully agree with the assessment of Navy's win. The few wrinkles that they placed in the offense were enough to confuse Army long enough to give Navy the lead. It was a great game; somewhat of a throwback to days when the passing game was more of an afterthought.
posted by Howard_T at 01:06 PM on December 15, 2024
The notification for the latest NBA pick 'em just popped up in my email today. It was sent on Tuesday. Not your fault, rcade, but probably good old yahoo email. Another problem is that I spent about 7 or 8 hours in the emergency room on Monday. Nothing serious; I had a tooth pulled a couple of months ago, and it infected. My left jaw looks like I ran into a right hook. I might need surgery, but we'll see about that. Thus, I have missed the extra games in the pick 'em, so I will do my best to put on a late rally.
posted by Howard_T at 04:30 PM on December 13, 2024
My picks:
Magic by 7
Warriors by 4
Celtics by 6 (slam dunk)
Warriors by 12
posted by Howard_T at 02:46 PM on December 03, 2024
I've been in Connecticut for Thanksgiving, haven't looked at my phone much, so I missed the Wednesday and Thursday games.
posted by Howard_T at 03:06 PM on November 29, 2024
My picks:
Timberwolves by 8
Thunder by 11
I've been in Connecticut for Thanksgiving, haven't looked at my phone much, so I missed the Wednesday and Thursday games.
posted by Howard_T at 03:06 PM on November 29, 2024
My picks:
Celtics by 8
Thunder by 12 (slam dunk)
Bucks by 6
Suns by 9
Warriors by 5
Nuggets by 11
A fair week gets me out of the cellar. Now maybe I can walk up the standings a la Jason Tatum at the buzzer vs Raptors.
posted by Howard_T at 08:12 PM on November 18, 2024
My picks:
Knicks by 8
Warriors by 11
Thunder by 12 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 4
Rockets by 10
Warriors by 13 (slam dunk)
posted by Howard_T at 10:00 AM on November 12, 2024
Let me settle one important point first: I have never been in a hot tub with Matt Leinart. The rumors about me and a towel boy are nothing but vicious fabrication.
Matt Leinart is not even close to my age; actually he is about 1/2 my present 83 years. My son is only 6 years younger than Mr. Leinart. Could I be Matt Leinart? No! It's more likely that Matt Leinart is actually trying to impersonate me in an unsuccessful attempt to be associated with a championship team, even though it might be in another sport.
Howard the Hedonist? These days the only pleasures in life (other than the Celtics) come on the days that I am not scheduled to take my Furosemide (Lasix) medication. Those are the days that I can actually spend more than 2 consecutive hours without having to use the bathroom. While life at the age of 83 has its difficulties, I can look back and see that I more than made up for them in my youth. It's been a great ride, and it might go on for a while yet.
posted by Howard_T at 04:35 PM on November 09, 2024
My picks:
Celtics by 5
Clippers by 9
Mavericks by 6
Lakers by 10 (slam dunk)
We'll be in our usual seats in TD Garden tonight for Celtics vs Warriors. This is the 1st home game following a road trip for the Cs, and that often means a sub par performance. Add to the woes that Jaylen Brown is out, so life might not be great for the home team. I still pick them because they have threatened to lift my season tickets if I don't.
posted by Howard_T at 01:22 PM on November 06, 2024
I have watched the Celtics in person for 3 games (1 pre-season), and on TV for the other 2. They really are scary, but they can be beaten. It will take a mistake-free game by a team that shoots better than on an average night, and that might still not be enough unless at least one of the Celtics has a bad night. The first half against the Bucks serves as an example. Both Brown and Tatum were not shooting well, and all that kept Celtics in the game was rebounds and Peyton Pritchard. Bucks began to run out of gas in the latter part of the 3rd quarter, Brown decided to take over, and Mr. Pritchard did what he does so well, draining a 3 with 0.4 left in the period. After the game, Doc Rivers said that he had warned his players about Pritchard, and told them that he liked to come up the right side to shoot the late 3. There's a video of the play that shows Rivers standing bent over with his hands on his knees and head down in frustration.
Don't forget that this Celtics team remained almost entirely intact over the break, thus have no need to establish lineups and substitution patterns. In short, they hit the ground running. The latter part of the season will very likely see the better teams gel into more solid groups and become more competitive. Of course, the Celtics will have Porzingis returning, so they will be even more frightening. There's a better than even chance that I will see the final game for Banner 19, and watch it take its spot in the rafters.
posted by Howard_T at 03:25 PM on October 30, 2024
My picks:
Celtics by 11 (slam dunk)
Thunder by 15 (slam dunk)
Cavaliers by 6
Nuggets by 9
Missed yesterday's games. Right now have lots of things going on. Truck transmission shot, renovation work going on in the house, rounding up cats to go to the vet. Didn't look at email until late last night. Probably would have missed them anyway.
posted by Howard_T at 02:31 PM on October 30, 2024
...and so he did. Both Tomase and the AI bot were wrong in saying that 1944 was the answer. I didn't see Benders answer this morning before I posted. My apologies, but the circumstances in 1944 were nonetheless interesting.
posted by Howard_T at 04:23 PM on October 21, 2024
For those of you who have been waiting with 'bated breath for the answer to the question in yesterday's Huddle, here it is.
The Cardinals won the 1944 world series in 6 games. Their opponent was the St. Louis Browns who were the lease holders on Sportsmans Park. Since all of the series games were played at Sportsmans Park, and the Browns were leasing it, this was technically the Browns home field.
One interesting bit of trivia was that a Junior World Series was held in Baltimore in 1944, and it outdrew the St. Louis version. This aroused interest in locating a major league team in Baltimore. 10 years later the Browns became the Baltimore Orioles.
posted by Howard_T at 12:53 PM on October 21, 2024
John Tomase, a writer for the Boston Globe, recently posted on the NBC Sports Boston app that he asked a popular AI chatbot for a list of 10 difficult baseball trivia questions. The questions were good, and a few of them rather difficult, but with one exception the answers given were all wrong. So just for fun, I will give you the question it got right to see how you do.
What is the only team to win a world series without a single home victory?
Name the team and the year and the curious detail about the series.
posted by Howard_T at 01:03 PM on October 20, 2024
My picks:
Celtics by 3
Timberwolves by 7
76ers by 8
Clippers by 9
Mavericks by 11 (slam dunk)
Thunder by 4
Knicks by 6
Suns by 7
My wife and I will watch from our seats in section 316 as Banner 18 rises to the rafters on Tuesday. I've been a Celtics fan for all 18, but this will be the first time I've been there to see it. The deciding game of the Finals and the Duck Boat parade were unforgettable experiences, and we might have the chance to do it again.
posted by Howard_T at 12:27 PM on October 20, 2024
The new NWSL team in Boston has announced its new name and a slogan. There has been some criticism of both the name (it's an anagram), and the seemingly transphobic tone of the slogan. With the choice of the slogan comes the irony of holding the launch event at Dick's World of Sport.
posted by Howard_T at 03:14 PM on October 16, 2024
Luis Tiante, colorful Boston Red Sox pitcher has passed. El Tiante was known for his unusual delivery and unique personality. His passing leaves a hole in this BoSox fan's heart.
posted by Howard_T at 02:51 PM on October 08, 2024
Carrying on the great tradition of Donovan McNabb in Super Bowl XXXIX.
posted by Howard_T at 05:11 PM on September 16, 2024
We all ask why these things happen, and our search for an answer goes in many directions. All we can do is to appreciate their lives and honor the memories.
posted by Howard_T at 02:22 PM on August 30, 2024
South Sudan is impressive, but I think I know why they play hard and don't quit. Between 1990 and 1993 I lived in Cairo, Egypt, and worshiped at the Anglican Cathedral there. This was during the time of civil war between the Moslem North and the mainly Christian South. One of the priests from the cathedral would split his time between Cairo and Sudan trying to help out as he could. The undercroft of the cathedral was home to about 100 or so young Sudanese men who had fled in order to avoid being forced into the North Sudanese military, a fate that frequently meant being forced to convert to Islam or murdered. These men could not take a job other than whatever they could get on the sly. During my time there I was called upon to run the parish fair. The refugees became my principal source of labor, and I have never met a more willing and hard working group. Watching their Olympic basketball team reminded me of the way they worked in those days.
posted by Howard_T at 06:52 PM on July 31, 2024
Thanks for another fun post-season, rcade, and a well done, ic23b. Win lose or draw, it's always a good time. My Celtics fandom over the past few years has become a frequent topic of conversation at church. I was scheduled to preach the sermon on June 30, and of course I waited until late to write it. I couldn't resist working the Celtics into it. To my surprise it went well. It's on YouTube if anyone is bored enough to spend 12 1/2 minutes.
posted by Howard_T at 02:06 PM on July 10, 2024
About time this season ticket member weighed in on the pending sale of the Celtics. I'm on vacation (like I really need one since I'm retired) up here in the White Mountains of NH. We come up here often, and it's a very beautiful and peaceful spot.
Now, about the Celtics: First of all, Wyc (short for Wycliffe, if you must) Grousbeck is selling only the part of the Celtics that belongs directly to him and his father. The rest of the minority owners' shares are not being sold unless they want to opt in on the deal. Steve Pagliuca, the Managing General Partner and co-owner of the Celtics has said that he will retain his interest and along with some of the other owners will take an active part in the bidding for the Grousbeck shares. Pagliuca is the leader of a group of investors who purchased the Italian Serie A football club Atalanta. He has said that he shares Grousbeck's commitment to keeping the Celtics a winning and championship team.
A number of other possible buyers has been put forward. John Henry's Fenway Sports Group is one. This is the lest desirable among the fans, who look at Henry's recent penny-pinching ways with the Red Sox and fear what he might do to the Celtics. An intriguing possibility would have the Wynn Casino group purchasing the team and moving them to a proposed new arena located near the Wynn Encore Hotel and Casino. Encore is in Everett, MA, just 4 stops on the MBTA Orange Line from North Station and TD Garden. The Celtics lease with Delaware North, owned by the Jacobs family who also own the Boston Bruins of the NHL, was recently renewed to run through 2036. Having their own arena would contribute greatly to the financial health of the team. A few other names put forward were Robert Kraft of Patriots fame, and Tom Brady. Kraft could probably handle the deal financially, but he has made no public comment. Brady would have to come up with a group to handle something this big.
Grousbeck says that the sale would not be complete until 2028, and that it is being done for the purpose of estate planning. I can understand how that might take 4 years. Our family just went through the planning of our modest chunk of change, and the process with a good lawyer took about 4 months.
posted by Howard_T at 09:33 PM on July 03, 2024
I have just heard an announcement from San Francisco Giants that Willy Mays has passed away. I have no details. Say hey, Willy, you will never be duplicated. RIP.
posted by Howard_T at 09:30 PM on June 18, 2024
It's not "some folks have all the luck". It's "some folks have all the front office".
Many of the "experts" who give their opinions on the NBA give credit to Brad Stevens for assembling the team. He said during one of the post-game interviews that it was easy to build a championship team when you start with a core of Brown and Tatum. Stevens was hired as head coach by Danny Ainge, and ultimately promoted to his current position at the suggestion of Ainge. So give Ainge credit for the series of "thefts" that produced the core. Now consider that Ainge was with the Celtics as a player during the years of Red Auerbach's management. I am sure that much knowledge was passed along to Ainge during those years. Auerbach was no stranger to Machieavellian maneuvers. The 1956 draft was the most notable example. Through some trades, the Celtics turned Ed McCauley and the draft rights to Cliff Hagen into the 2nd pick. Rochester Royals had the first pick, but they liked Sihugo Green. To make sure that Rochester did indeed take Green, Walter Brown, owner of the Celtics and also of the Ice Capades, offered the Royals owner a 2-week appearance of the popular ice show as long as they took Green. The Celtics then took an athletic center from San Francisco by the name of Bill Russell. Having "all the front office" is a long tradition in Boston.
So, beaverboard, will we see you in Boston on Friday for the Duck Boat parade?
posted by Howard_T at 09:24 PM on June 18, 2024
In 1962 game 7 is on TV the night before an electrical engineering final. Does Howard study hard and go to bed early? No no no. It's Celtics vs Lakers, we have to conquer the evil forces of West and Robertson, so watch the game we do. After 62 years I still have the scene of Frank Selvey's shot floating toward the hoop. It's somehow fitting that West's image became the logo. It's a warning of sorts that personal greatness is not always rewarded with championships, but it will always be recognized and applauded. RIP, Jerry West.
posted by Howard_T at 01:36 PM on June 12, 2024
My picks:
Celtics in 6
Top point scorer: Doncic
Top rebounder: Gafford
Game 1 winner: Celtics
Team scoring most points in game: Celtics
Series MVP: Jrue Holiday
Top fouler: Jaylen Brown
Top three-point shooter: Kyrie Irving
Winning team points last game: 119
I'd love to have Boston win in 5 or 7 so I could be there to watch Celtics hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. No matter where they wrap it up, I will be in Boston for the Duck Boat parade.
posted by Howard_T at 05:37 PM on June 06, 2024
And who wins?
TBD (But it ain't looking too good for Stratomic)
posted by Howard_T at 03:34 AM on May 28, 2024
RIP Bill Walton, age 71. It is far too soon to lose one of the most entertaining and truly funny people ever to excel at the game of basketball.
posted by Howard_T at 05:29 PM on May 27, 2024
Congrats to Howard for being the only one to get all four Conference Finals teams correct!
At the beginning of the season the local sports network that broadcasts the Celtics did a Stratomatic simulation for the entire season. The result predicted a Minnesota vs Boston NBA finals. I have based most of my predictions on that.
posted by Howard_T at 06:08 PM on May 21, 2024
My picks:
Celtics in 5
Timberwolves in 7
Top point scorer: Doncic
Top rebounder: Gobert
Most points per game: Timberwolves
Team giving up fewest points: Celtics
I picked my Celtics in 5, but I am really worried about Pacers. They have too many players who can get hot, and Haliburton is fully capable of finding them. Transition defense is the key.
posted by Howard_T at 06:00 PM on May 21, 2024
Revised picks:
Mavericks in 6
Celtics in 5
Top point scorer: Brunson
Top rebounder: Gobert
Most points per game: Mavericks
Team scoring 130: Mavericks
Good idea to retire the 130 point pick. If I read it right, all the teams that remain are among the defensive leaders. While there likely will be some brilliant individual scoring performances, these will come at the expense of team scoring.
posted by Howard_T at 04:33 PM on May 04, 2024
Revised picks:
Pacers in 6
posted by Howard_T at 03:20 PM on May 03, 2024
My picks:
Timberwolves in 6
posted by Howard_T at 10:40 PM on May 02, 2024
I am old enough actually to have heard a Foster Hewitt hockey broadcast. I grew up in a town next door to Boston directly on the coast. When atmospheric conditions were just right, I could listen to the CBC hockey broadcast, usually from a station on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Boston Bruins have had a couple of very good radio broadcasters, Fred Cusick and Bob Wilson, but Hewitt was clearly better. I never heard a Bob Cole broadcast, but in listening to a YouTube memorial it is clear that Cole was a worthy successor to Foster Hewitt. Hewitt taught the young Bob Cole well. RIP, Bob Cole.
posted by Howard_T at 06:19 PM on April 30, 2024
My picks:
Magic in 5
Suns in 6
Knicks in 6
Nuggets in 5
Clippers in 5
Pacers in 7
Celtics in 5
Thunder in 5
Top point scorer: Doncic
Top rebounder: Jokic
Team scoring 130: Celtics
Most points in one game: Nuggets
Celtics vs Heat again. Let's just say that Celtics are not about to let Miami take them down again. I might be wrong about the number of games in each series, but I'm pretty sure of the winners.
posted by Howard_T at 11:36 PM on April 19, 2024
Revised picks:
Knicks by 4
Pelicans by 8 (slam dunk)
Just what I need -- more chances to enter wrong picks.
posted by Howard_T at 12:26 PM on April 11, 2024
My picks:
Celtics by 8
Lakers by 9
Heat by 6
Nuggets by 11 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 7
Kings by 5
posted by Howard_T at 04:49 PM on April 09, 2024
rcade, the pick 'em form is hosed. It shows only 2 games with no teams posted for either. Must be a problem caused by the eclipse. (There, I have given you an excuse.)
posted by Howard_T at 10:56 PM on April 08, 2024
My picks:
Thunder by 9
Warriors by 6
Celtics by 8
Suns by 12 (slam dunk)
Knicks by 7 (slam dunk)
posted by Howard_T at 10:57 PM on April 01, 2024
My picks:
76ers by 6
Nuggets by 11
Pelicans by 8
Lakers by 9
Mavericks by 4
Pelicans by 6
Bucks by 11 (slam dunk)
posted by Howard_T at 04:40 PM on March 27, 2024
My picks:
Knicks by 6
Clippers by 9
Nuggets by 8
Lakers by 8
Celtics by 13 (slam dunk)
Thunder by 12 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 5
Bucks by 7
Nuggets by 11 (slam dunk)
Heat by 3
Warriors by 13 (slam dunk)
'Tis the time in the roundball association when strange things become the norm. Starters are being rested (oops, recovering from injury), officials are getting a bit short tempered (and trying to get enough creds to get some playoff assignments), and everyone is a little tired of the game. I blew 3 slam dunks last week and still won the week. Ill winds blow in March.
posted by Howard_T at 01:15 PM on March 12, 2024
Celtics next 3:
Cleveland without Donovan Mitchell
Denver with no significant injuries
Phoenix possibly without Devin Booker
The Mean Green Team might have caught a break this week -- like we really need one.
posted by Howard_T at 06:35 PM on March 05, 2024
My picks:
Celtics by 14 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 10 (slam dunk)
Clippers by 16 (slam dunk)
Warriors by 9
Mavericks by 7
Nuggets by 8
Timberwolves by 11
Lakers by 9
Celtics by 15 (slam dunk)
Knicks by 6
Timberwolves by 5
posted by Howard_T at 06:24 PM on March 05, 2024
My picks:
Celtics by 11 (slam dunk)
Thunder by 9
Pelicans by 6
Clippers by 8
Warriors by 7
Nuggets by 13 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 9 (slam dunk)
Bucks by 11
Nuggets by 6
Mavericks by 13
Celtics by 5
Warriors by 6
Thunder by 4
posted by Howard_T at 11:56 PM on February 26, 2024
My picks:
Thunder by 7
Suns by 11 (slam dunk)
Cavaliers by 13 (slam dunk)
Warriors by 6
Grizzlies by 5
posted by Howard_T at 03:50 PM on February 12, 2024
R I P, MeatSabre, your teams are always winners in your new place. Add prayers for his family. May the Lord help them deal with their loss.
posted by Howard_T at 01:40 PM on February 06, 2024
My picks:
Mavericks by 9
Suns by 8
Warriors by 11
Clippers by 13 (slam dunk)
Knicks by 7 (slam dunk)
Nuggets by 4
Warriors by 3
Celtics by 9 (slam dunk)
posted by Howard_T at 11:41 AM on February 06, 2024
My picks:
Celtics by 6
76ers by 9
Suns by 11
Trail Blazers by 8
Celtics by 7
Jazz by 4
Knicks by 10
Clippers by 11
posted by Howard_T at 07:08 PM on January 29, 2024
My picks:
Suns by 8
Thunder by 11 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 9
Warriors by 5
Knicks by 6
Nuggets by 9
Lakers by 3
posted by Howard_T at 03:52 PM on January 24, 2024
My picks:
Bucks by 9
Mavericks by 6
Raptors by 11
Timberwolves by 10 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 6
Mavericks by 8
posted by Howard_T at 12:04 AM on January 17, 2024
My picks:
Warriors by 6
Nuggets by 11 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 8
Suns by 7
Kings by 9
Nuggets by 13 (slam dunk)
Hawks by 4
Warriors by 10
2 trips into Boston this week. Wednesday to take in Cs vs T-wolves and Thursday for a watch party for season ticket members Cs vs Bucks. Should be a fun time.
posted by Howard_T at 09:21 PM on January 09, 2024
My picks:
Knicks by 13 (slam dunk)
Lakers by 11 (slam dunk)
Bucks by 8
Nuggets by 9
76ers by 7
Lakers by 15 (slam dunk)
Per rcade's question: I don't see any difference in quality or intensity of play by the teams in nationally broadcast games. I do see that many such games tend to be closer than perhaps they should be. ESPN and TNT viewers will look for other things to watch if the game is a blowout early. Does the officiating have something to do with this?
posted by Howard_T at 03:03 PM on January 03, 2024
My picks:
Rockets by 7
Clippers by 13 (slam dunk)
Raptors by 15 (slam dunk)
Celtics by 16 (slam dunk)
Warriors by 9
Cavaliers by 4
Clippers by 6
How could I have confused Warriors with Kings? I am rather gratified for the Celtics very good play at both ends of the floor. Keep it up, Green.
posted by Howard_T at 04:00 PM on December 26, 2023
Eric Montross came to the Celtics at a bad time for both him and the Celtics. He came with high hopes from the fans, but the team at the end of the Bird era was not good. I wonder how his career might have gone with a better Celtics team around him. Still, he was able to put together a decent time in the NBA. He's gone far too soon.
posted by Howard_T at 03:12 PM on December 19, 2023
My picks:
Pelicans by 9
Celtics by 8 (slam dunk)
Timberwolves by 7 (slam dunk)
Kings by 6
Nuggets by 11 (slam dunk)
Warriors by 14 (slam dunk)
Celtics were nearly unstoppable in their 5 game homestand. Went to all 5, and enjoyed them thoroughly. I look for the W streak to continue tonight, but with a road back-to-back (no Al Horford on the 2nd night) and a travel disadvantage, they will probably drop one to the former Rochester Royals.
posted by Howard_T at 03:04 PM on December 19, 2023
Quite an interesting contract. The payments are to be made on July 1st of every year until 2043. In the mean time, Otani receives $2 million per year in salary, while the Dodgers are charged $46 million against the cap. MLB uses present value of money to calculate the cap hit in the case of deferred payments. It's the same concept that lotteries use when the payout for 20 annual payments is, for example, $100 million, but the lump sum payment is about $60 million. Even with all this money being spent, the Dodgers will still remain under the first level of luxury tax. Amazing!
posted by Howard_T at 03:39 PM on December 13, 2023
My picks:
Celtics by 8
Clippers by 11
Lakers by 10 (slam dunk)
Suns by 11 (slam dunk)
Missed Tuesday's games because I was doing 3 weeks worth of laundry and getting ready to go to Celtics vs Cavs. If there is such a thing as a defensive battle in the NBA, that was it. I'm looking forward to Thursday night.
posted by Howard_T at 03:11 PM on December 13, 2023
Revised picks:
Lakers by 8
posted by Howard_T at 12:10 AM on December 09, 2023
NBA Pickem Week 16:
My picks:
Thunder by 8
Thunder by 11 (slam dunk)
Timberwolves by 9
Cavaliers by 12
Pelicans by 4
I'm here. No worries; just hadn't checked my email Monday night. We shall see how it goes.