John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, February 09, 2013
Thinking out loud…and wondering if I can take back all those prayers for snow when I was a kid…
• Rajon Rondo’s time as a Celtic is shrinking by the minute…or at least by the game. Are the C’s “better” without him? Not talent-wise. But team-wise?
• Oh-and-six in the last six games with Rondo…now six-and-oh without him. Hmmm…
• Not for nuthin’…but Doc Rivers’ winning his 400th game as head coach this week clearly shows that he’s still at the top of his game, and that the job should remain in his possession until he’s ready to give it back. Rivers is 3rd all-time in Celtics’ coaching history, behind two guys named Auerbach and Heinsohn…
• And Kevin Garnett became the 16th player in NBA history to score 25,000 career points, reaching the mark in the 2nd quarter of Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Garden…
• Danny Ainge added that despite rumors to the contrary, there won’t be any trading of Garnett or Paul Pierce. Garnett also sounded off by saying he wants to retire a Celtic. Six wins in a row will do that for you…
• Speaking of the Lakers…who else is reveling in their sudden fall from the NBA’s pedestal? Me, too…
• Clearly, Curt Schilling craves the spotlight…or the red light, take your pick. When the light went on for him this week while on ESPN Radio, Schilling was spilling again…this time telling the audience he was told by the team PED’s were an option for him as he worked his way back from shoulder surgery in 2008. But if it wasn’t management, wasn’t someone in uniform, but was someone involved in the “day-to-days,” as he put it…
• Why do I get the feeling here that Schilling is just like the kid you hated in elementary school, squealing on you to the teacher when you stole a kiss from a pretty girl. C’mon Curt, you’re kissing…but you’re not telling?
• Does anyone doubt – for a minute – that Schilling is just holding back his bombs from his time in Boston, so he can instead lay them out like land mines around the upcoming season?
• The off-season has arrived for the Patriots, but that doesn’t mean that there’s some financial wrangling already going on behind the scenes. As CSNNE’s Tom Curran pointed out this week, Tom Brady’s salary cap hit to the team is a heavy one this year - $21.8 million – up from $8 million this past year. Keep this in mind when you scream “pay him!” in reference to Wes Welker…
• And while it appears the Pats could have some room to wiggle out a new deal for Welker – if they choose to do so – don’t be so certain it will (or should) happen. Between Brady, Vince Wilfork and Logan Mankins, those three players’ salaries will comprise a whopping 35% of the next season’s total salary cap. And that doesn’t count freshly-signed and anointed superstar Rob Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez with their deals…
• Maybe Gronk could offer to take a pay cut of, oh, I don’t know…$3.75 million next year? I know where he can make up the diff. Just sayin’…
• You thought the Summer of Gronk last year was something? If he actually decides to take up a website on their offer to pay him his 2014 base salary for a film scene with an adult film star…you’ll feel the ground shake where you are, emanating from ground zero in Foxboro…
• Tweet of the Week – from Patriots running back @StevanRidley: “When I hear blizzard I think Dairy Queen (fat kid problems)…But nah today this is real! Let it snow let it snow!”
• My buddy Statbeast sez winter blizzards are good for three things – staying indoors, drinking hot chocolate and blowing off deadlines…
• Field Yates from ESPNBoston wrote this week that for those of you who crave a “big-time” receiver that might stretch the field, or go up and get a few deep from Tom Brady…keep Baltimore’s Anquan Boldin in mind. Even though Boldin told NBC Sports Radio he’ll retire rather than play somewhere else…you-know-what talks. He’s not a free-agent, but the Ravens may not be able to keep him next year, since they’ll be paying through the nose (or is it beak?) for Joe Flacco…
• Looking ahead already? The Patriots’ strength of schedule next year has already been calculated as tied for 12th toughest in the league. In case you’re wondering, Miami’s is 7th, the Jets 19th, the Bills 26th…
• The biggest upset in college basketball over the past 20 years occurred this week, and Ed Cooley killed me for mentioning it during his coaches’ show on 103.7 FM this week. TCU beat #5 Kansas – their first EVER win over a Top 5 team, and Kansas lost a 2nd straight game for the first time in seven years. And the Frogs were winless in the Big 12…
• The price for success? TCU coach Trent Johnson had to deal with a few players skipping class Thursday, and a few more having their cars towed from “no parking” zones around campus. These kids today…right Coach Cooley? Stupid is as stupid does…
• Saw this great question posted by my man Friarblog this week – when was the last time the Friars won two straight Big East games without scoring 60 points?
• The defensive effort has stepped up unquestionably over the last couple of weeks, and the results have finally come in with wins at Villanova and against Cincinnati. Can it continue? Certainly, and there isn’t a team on the schedule PC cannot beat – even though playing at Syracuse is daunting. But if James Southerland remains ineligible, it’s still possible…as long as the defense played against the Bearcats remains in place…
• The improvement shown by 6-9 junior Lee Goldsbrough is one of the reasons I love my job. Getting the chance to see young players grow – and begin to excel – is rewarding as a fan, and doubly rewarding as a broadcaster…
• Goldsbrough’s opportunity comes at a most, well, opportune time with Sidiki Johnson’s departure. His on-the-ball defense is solid, he takes the charge, he keeps a lot of loose balls and rebounds alive. One door closes, another one opens…
• Vincent Council is nearing hallowed ground. 11 more assists, and he passes the legendary Ernie DiGregorio for all-time dimes at Providence…
• And congrats to junior guard Bryce Cotton, who officially surpassed 1000 career points at PC (the 45th Friar to do it) against Villanova. How many minutes per game did Cotton play as a freshman two years ago? About 15. Averaged four points. Now? He hardly ever comes out, and is the #1 scorer in the Big East…
• Tweet of the Week II – from PC junior @tbancs22 (Ted Bancroft): “Yes I'm 20 years old and still play in the snow.”
• Great Ted. Come play in my driveway, will ya?
• Another former Friar has moved on up…Blake James has been named the new Athletic Director at the “U” in Miami. He spent the past five years as the AD at Maine, and was previously an assistant AD at Providence, where he helped establish the “Friars Forever” campaign and Friar Athletic Fund…
• Let me get this straight…James is the AD at the “U,” while former Friar great Jim Larranaga is the head basketball coach, with his team in first place in the ACC. Another example of the coaching/administration cradle that exists at PC…
• In case you haven’t heard…the three finalists for the new Lays’ Potato Chip flavor are Cheesy Garlic Bread…Chicken and Waffles…and Sriracha. What the **** is that?
• Sriracha is made from sun-ripened chilies, which are ground into a smooth paste along with garlic and packaged in a squeeze bottle. You usually see it on tables as a condiment in your favorite Chinese restaurants. But they had better come up with another name for it…can’t imagine THAT will fly off the shelves…
• Finding Nemo? Uh, yeah. I think we found him…
• Notre Dame head basketball coach Mike Brey said Friday the Fighting Irish plan to stay in the Big East for one more season before moving onto the ACC. The main reason? He says the “Catholic 7” will also remain for one more year…
• A telling line from Coach Brey – “I've had a little buyer's remorse on this ACC and going through the league and playing in these different buildings and wondering if it's going to be the last…”
• ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick also mentioned, however, that he believes it’s in everyone’s best interest to move on as quickly as possible, with 10 teams presently scheduled to depart the league. That’s fine, Mr. Swarbrick…but no one made you do it. You’re fine as you are. Don’t throw the “Hoop Seven” into your Irish stew, ‘cuz there ain’t no comparison. Except for the Catholic thing. That’s about it…
• The most unusual tale to come from college football’s national signing day this week was RB Alex Collins having to get his father to sign his paperwork to attend Arkansas. Why? Because his mother refused to do it…she didn’t want him to become a Razorback. Collins is from Florida, but no definitive word on what team his mom supports…but Miami was supposedly in the mix…
• Did anyone notice that Tim Thomas was traded to the New York Islanders this week? Moved for a conditional 2nd round pick in 2014 or 15…Thomas hasn’t played yet this season for the Bruins. And isn’t expected to…he announced in June he was taking a year off to be with his family…
• Besides, Stanley Cup or no Stanley Cup, it would be pretty hard to move Tuukka Rask out from between the pipes right now…
• Ever pray for snow when you were a kid? Prayed for snow recently? Ok. Please stop the snow prayers now. That is all…
• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from Tony (@riyankeefan) via Twitter – “Hey John haven’t been to a Bryant game yet. Good basketball? Also looks like Friars getting it together. Big East tourney run?” Tony: On Bryant – absolutely. Consider the level of competition in the Northeast Conference, of course. It’s not the Big East, or the Atlantic-10. But it is pretty good, there are some solid players and it seems the Bulldogs have their fair share – Frankie Dobbs, Dyami Starks and Alex Francis to name three. They’ve won 16 games thus far, and will have a shot at the NCAA’s…but they have to win the NEC tournament to get there. What a story that would be. As for the Friars, if they keep up what they’ve done the past week or two, who knows? I don’t think they’ll roll over for anyone right now, certainly…
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to jrooke@golocalprov.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
• Apologies for the snow knocking us off the air this week…but we’ll return next week. Don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text 37937…and send email to the show - golocal@weei.com .
• The recently released “Rhode Island Radio” from Arcadia Publishing is available for sale, and the book tells the story of the 90-year history of radio in our state through photographs, clippings and memories from many of the personalities who have graced our airwaves. We’re postponed for Feb. 9th due to Nemo’s wrath, so mark your calendars, and join me for the book signing event re-scheduled for Saturday, March 2nd at Barnes & Noble on Route 2 in Warwick, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm! If you’re in search of the gift that says “Rhode Island,” you’ve found it. Or, find it in local bookstores and online right here…
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