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July 5, 2009
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Yesterday afternoon (or more accurately, morning, afternoon and night), Brian Scalabrine and Bill Walker traveled to Washington D.C. with a group of eighth graders from Harbor Middle School in Dorchester, as part of the 10th annual Southwest ASSISTS Community Service Contest. The trip, sponsored by Southwest Airlines and the Celtics, was awarded to the Harbor students in recognition of the numerous of community service projects they took part in over the course of the year.
The Celtics were generous enough to invite me along for the ride, and what follows is a breakdown of the day’s itinerary… with a little enhanced commentary from Walker and Scal.
5:15 a.m. Bus departs Harbor school for T.F. Green Airport
"Who do you know that’s even up right now?"
It’s 5:15 am, but somehow Bill Walker is in rapid fire text mode. Scalabrine wants to know how and why.
"Man, I don’t know. A few of my cousins… a couple of friends… they’re all asking if I saw Kobe last night."
"I couldn’t watch," Scal replies. "I’d maybe switch back every once in a while to get the score, but I couldn’t bare to watch."
It takes very little to get Brian Scalabrine talking about the NBA. He’s a rabid fan. Just like you, except that he’s 6-8 and happens to live in the world that we all obsess over. And the mere mention of the Finals gets his wheels turning.
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If you were watching Sports Tonight at 10pm this evening then you already know that Felger heard a little rumble today. Apparently, this rumble was the low growl of Kendrick Perkins upon hearing his name surface in trade rumors. That rumble could become a full force tremor once the collective fanbase of Celtics internets catches on.
The rumored deal ain’t bad on the surface; Perkins and Bill Walker for Memphis’ pick at #2 in the upcoming draft. But considering the lack of depth and size in the frontcourt of this roster, Perk would be a huge loss. Anyone who listens to Celtics Stuff Live knows that Bill Walker is a unanimous pick for diamond in the rough on our show, and right now sits as the only viable option to back-up Paul Pierce next season barring an offseason move with some or all of the Mid Level Exception. However, Perkins is the defensive stud with the kick ass contract that kills this deal immediately. I have a hard time imagining how this team gets better for next season by dealing away Perkins for potential right at the time he finally begins to realize his own.
If this deal has any legs then the ankles are those of Ray Allen and the shoes are the other ones yet to drop.
Here’s the exact quote from Felger, "We heard a rumble today, just a little rumble. Danny’s throwing a bunch of stuff against the wall as he likes to do. Memphis sitting there at number two. Perk and was it JR Giddens?" (Tanguay clarifies it’s Bill Walker).
It’s been almost a month since the Celtics took the court. Combine that with the fact that Scowly Bryant and the Lakers are on the verge of title No. 15, and the Dino Radja Experience needed a distraction. Enter our newest game: Twittering with the Stars I selected eight random NBA twitterererers…
And then took one random tweet from each random guy…
A. Trying to learn spanish with rosetta stone—
B. Wit my bro’s at benihanna..again!!! And one of the best wrestlers of all time…The Undertaker, is sittin right across from us….starstruck
C. damn is it a J Lo marathon on movie channels not made at all like looking at that a$$$$$$ wow
D. What’s a good recommendation for red wine after having chardonay at dinner? Thoughts?
E. Nadal out? Federer is Runnin away with this one…
F. Heineken add crushes dos equis in my mind. Dos Equis is a great idea but juuuust missed the mark I think.
G. u guys remember the movie HOOK the peter pan movie? the cavs have what u call happy thoughts thats why they can fly the cavs are have n FUN
H. Writin my OTHER homey who locked up. I have NO respect for people who 4get about their people who get locked up! That makes you a sucka.
Quick question: Was your name mentioned on air during the Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals?
Oh really? Because Dino Radja’s was, and tonight Nick Altschuller and I are gonna celebrate!
And by celebrate, I mean "deliver 20 minutes worth of stone cold NBA love."
On tonight’s show, Nick and I consider the Cavs disappointing performance in the Eastern Conference Finals and wonder:
Despite our initial pessimism, did the Celtics have a decent shot at getting past Cleveland?
The answer, plus Howard’s hook, Lebron’s Legacy and Detlef Schrempf’s rat tail all lie ahead on the Dino Radja Experience.
As always, send your thoughts to dinoradjaexperience@gmail.com. You’re welcome in advance.
Much love, and Dino speed.
Michael Felger tried to take his anti-Celtics shots but is brought down to the earth by Celtics’ co-owner Wyc Grousbeck on this past weekend’s Sports Sunday. From the get-go, trouble was brewing for Felger as Wyc started in about his white socks.
As the converstaion turned series, Michael held his view that the Celtics quit while Wyc tries to point out the reasons behind that perception.
In case you missed it, here it is:
The season is over, and the DRE is upset… but we’re not dwelling on the past.
Instead, on tonight’s show, we jump right into the offseason:
All that, plus Johnny Cash, Nick sobbing in the nude and the NBA Finals, lies ahead on the Dino Radja Experience!
So listen away and send us an email—dinoradjaexperience@gmail.com. It’ll be fun.
The Dino Radja Experience: A weekly podcast dedicated to the Croatian prince and the team he left behind.
If you were interviewing candidates for a job opening, and came across a resume like this:
– Hasn’t worked in two years
– Mentally unstable
– Recovering coke fiend
There’s a decent chance that you’d accidentally drop it in the shredder. It’s probably something that you just wouldn’t want to deal with.
And for that reason, I can’t really second-guess Danny Ainge for not making a stronger push for Chris Andersen after the Birdman visited Waltham last summer. There were too many other factors in play—the layoff, the drugs, the personality, and most importantly, the fact that it was going to take a lot to persuade him away from Denver—for me to sit here now and say, "Danny, you blew that!" (Yeah, that’s really how I’d say it)
But what I will do is ask this: What if Danny HAD broken the bank (relative term there) for Andersen? Maybe given him Patrick O’Bryant’s money and then some…
Where would the Celtics be right now if the Birdman had been out there antagonizing Dwight Howard, devouring Rafer Alston floaters and breathing life into a dying team?
They’d definitely be playing in Cleveland tomorrow night, right?
The way I see it, there are two men in the NBA (Exhibit A, to your right) who fit this description in its entirety:
6-11, offensively limited, but energetic, shot-blocking veteran with gangly, tattooed arms, freakish hair and a look that’s more intramural ultimate frisbee than NBA center.
