US – Tuesday, March 16
The Word
Today’s celebrity babies and breakups
It seems like a stork (probably an arrogant, drunk, yet hilarious, stork) stopped by Paddy’s Bar and knocked up Sweet Dee with Mac’s baby.
 
New York Sports
Jets Lose more than a coin toss
It’s tempting to say only the Jets could sign a future Hall of Fame running back and leave everyone talking about the coin toss they lost. This isn’t the time, though, for a same joke about the Jets.

 
Philly
The police will be out in full force — so be careful! On patrol, but not in 'Paddy wagon'
   PHILADELPHIA. A roving crew of police officers will be scouring Northeast Philadelphia — and likely other areas as well — this evening in search of drunk-driving revelers who may have celebrated St. Patrick's Day a little bit too much.
 
My Money
How to spend your tax refund like a pro
Spring is in the air: It’s time to hunt down the best deal on this season’s must-have sandals, indulge in one too many candy Easter eggs and, oh yeah, do your taxes.
 
New York Sports
Devils bust out early, beat Bruins
Clarkson's two points lead Devils to 3-0 first-period lead. Devils have chance at Atlantic division lead when they host Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
 
Boston
Twenty years without a clue
For the past twenty years officials at the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum have been working with FBI agents the U.S. Attorney’s office to bring back 13 stolen artifacts that were infamously stolen on March 18th, 1990.  
 
Boston Sports
No Dance, but they’re playing
Tommy Amaker was surely something just south of exhausted yesterday afternoon, but the Harvard men’s basketball coach was still smiling. 
 
Updated 21:46, November the 19th, 2007
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Clark: Time to give thanks, hoop fans

Celtics fans have a lot to be thankful for this year. Of course, there’s Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, but there’s a lot more than that. Here’s a quick list of items that you might bring up before carving the turkey this Thursday.

The trades that didn’t happen: Red Auerbach liked to say that some of the best trades are the ones you don’t make. We can all be thankful that rumored trades for Ron Artest, Allen Iverson, Carlos Boozer and others never happened.

The 101 combined losses for the T’Wolves and Sonics last year: If Minnesota and Seattle didn’t decide to blow it all up, the Celtics wouldn’t have been able to make the trades that they did. If they didn’t make those trades, the C’s might have been the team blowing it up by trading Pierce.

Danny’s drafting: Rajon Rondo was the 21st pick in the draft in ’06. Kendrick Perkins was the 27th pick in ’03. Both are starters now. Ainge took several non-lottery picks (Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Delonte West, Ryan Gomes) and turned them into trade chips.

 Wyc’s checkbook: Those who remember the days of “Thanksdad” Gaston know how valuable it is to have an ownership group that isn’t too worried about the bottom line to go for the finish line. Wyc Grousbeck and the rest of the owners have committed to winning a title by pushing the payroll up to and probably past the dreaded Luxury Tax threshold. While the Knicks spend hand over fist for overpaid egos, the Celtics have spent wisely on three stars and a strong cast of supporting characters. You can also bet that if the team needs to make a basketball move at mid-season, the ownership group won’t let financial concerns block it.

Tom Thibodeau, Clifford Ray, Kevin Eastman, Armond Hill: Head Coach Doc Rivers deserves a good deal of credit for leading this group to eight straight wins to start the season. However, let’s give some credit and thanks to the men backing him up. If you don’t know them by name, Thibodeau is a defensive guru who has the team holding opponents to one of the lowest field goal percentages in the league. He’s a future head coaching candidate. Clifford Ray is a big-man coach who’s working with Perkins and others. Eastman and Hill have less defined roles, but both have been credited for working with younger players.

Jeff Clark is the founder and lead writer of Celticsblog.com.

 
 
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