Main page | March 5, 2008 »

Division I girls basketball semifinals

La Salle 56, South Kingstown 51
Bay View 49, Coventry 39

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 9:17 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Division I boys basketball semifinals

Woonsocket 59, North Kingstown 52
Hendricken 73, Mount Pleasant 60

Posted by Chris Venditto  at 8:44 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Fans playoff predictions: Woonsocket, Hendricken, Bay View, La Salle

Readers on HSGametime have been picking the winners of the high school basketball playoff games this week, and although the polls continue to be live until game time, we're giving you a snapshot now of what the readers think.

Defending Division I boys champion Hendricken plays tonight against Mount Pleasant, and the Hawks are a strong favorite (113 votes to 56, or 67 percent to 33 percent) to get to the finals again this year. Hendricken's opponent, if the readers are right, will be Woonsocket, which has 64 out of 100 votes so far to win its game tonight against North Kingstown.

On the girls side, readers are predicting a rematch of last year's Division I final between Bay View and La Salle. The top-seeded Bengals (last year's runner-up) are heavy reader favorites to beat Coventry tonight (65 votes to 10, or 87 percent to 13 percent). Meanwhile, the defending champion Rams -- though seeded lower than opponent South Kingstown -- get 46 out of 74 votes to beat the Rebels tonight (that's a 62 percent to 38 percent ratio).

Click here to vote on these games and the lower-division games set for later on in the week. And check HSGametime tomorrow for photo galleries featuring all four of tonight's games.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:51 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

It's (almost) official: Celtics get Cassell

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) - The Boston Celtics hope they have the last piece of the championship puzzle with the expected signing of veteran Sam Cassell after he passes a physical Tuesday.

Cassell will attend the Celtics shootaround Wednesday morning, but isn't expected to play when they host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

"I'm in no hurry," coach Doc Rivers said after practice Tuesday. "We'll have some time to work on things in the next few days."

The 38-year-old Cassell averaged 12.8 points for the Los Angeles Clippers this season before negotiating his long-rumored exit. He is expected to back up starting point guard Rajon Rondo and play some off-guard.

"Since I got traded here last summer, Sam was excited about this team's potential," said guard Ray Allen, noting the deal will take pressure off Rondo.

"Sam will give Rondo another gear," Allen said.

Cassell is expected to take minutes from Eddie House, who has been backing up Rondo all season.

Rivers said he is still unsure when recently signed forward P.J. Brown will make his debut.
"Sam may play before P.J.," Rivers said.

The Celtics trail the Celtics by 31/2 games in the race for the NBA's best record.

Although Cassell couldn't wait to get out of Los Angeles, which is last in the Pacific Division, he will be missed.

"His loss takes away leadership to our team. He has been a class act to this team," Clippers forward Corey Maggette said. "He is an all-around good guy. He knows the game."
Maggette said Cassell's former teammates understood his desire to go to a contender.

"This is Sam's 15th season in the NBA and it is about business," Maggette said. "He put himself in position where he can go to a team that can win a championship. Boston is one of the elite teams in the league."

In a related move, the Celtics assigned rookie guard Gabe Pruitt to the Utah Flash in the NBA Developmental League.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Renner makes it a fivesome

The new year got off to an extremely slow start for area players on the PGA Tour, but it has picked up considerably in the last couple weeks.

Attleboro’s Jim Renner is the latest to join the fun.

He has earned a spot in this week’s PODS Championship at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Tampa Bay, Fla. The Johnson & Wales grad, who played the New England Pro Tour last summer, fired a 66 in Monday qualifying to earn a spot in the tournament that begins Thursday.

Renner gives the area a fivesome in the event.

Brett Quigley, who is recovering from knee surgery, squared away his position on tour for this year with a tie for 12th in last week’s Honda Classic at PGA National. Quigley had seven events in which to earn about $63,000 to secure full playing privileges for this year. He earned $115,000, so now can determine his schedule for the remainder of the year.

He is entered as are Patrick Sheehan, who had a top 10 in Cancun, two weeks ago; tour rookie Brad Adamonis, who has made the cut in all but one event; and Billy Andrade.

Renner has drawn an interesting pairing. As the new guy, he is last off the tee in the first round. His threesome includes rookie Matt Jones, who tied for fourth last week, and Nicholas Thompson.

Posted by Paul Kenyon  at 3:23 PM to Paul Kenyon on Golf | Permalink | Comments 0

Report: Patriots add CB Webster

The Patriots have bolstered their defensive backfield by signing cornerback Jason Webster, according to the Web site Rotoworld.

Webster, a 30-year-old from Texas A&M, has eight years of NFL experience with the 49ers, Falcons and Bills. Last year with Buffalo, he broke his arm in the first game of the season and missed the rest of the year.

Shalise Manza Young reported today that Webster had visited the Patriots last night.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:17 PM to Patriots | Permalink | Comments 0

Packers news conference: No live video

AP has just announced that it will not be carrying a live video of Green Bay's news conference to announce the retirement of Brett Favre, citing league rules.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Multimedia: Projo SoxTalk with Sean McAdam

Today, Sean discusses the competition for the fifth starter spot, Bartolo Colon's role in the rotation and Jonathan Papelbon's contract dispute. For a transcript of Sean's comments, head over to the SoxBlog.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 12:14 PM to Red Sox | Permalink | Comments 0

Today's Sox opponent is on the other side of the fence

Jim Salisbury of The Philadelphia Inquirer recently wrote about the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team that the Red Sox will meet today in spring training action. Pittsburgh, in case you didn't know, is one losing season away from tying a major-league record of 16 consecutive sub-.500 years. You can read the story by clicking the link below.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Remember last summer and how the Philadelphia Phillies constantly were reminded that they were approaching the ignominious distinction of becoming the first professional sports franchise to reach 10,000 losses?

Now it's the Pittsburgh Pirates' turn to deal with the friendly reminders that they have suffered more than a few losses, especially recently.

The Pirates are riding a streak of 15 consecutive losing seasons. One more and they will tie the major-league record set by, you guessed it, the Phillies from 1933 to 1948.

Last season, as the 10,000th loss approached, members of the Phillies organization, from the front office to the field, did their best to ignore all talk of the inglorious milestone. The loss came July 15 and quickly was forgotten as the team surged down the stretch to win the National League East for the first time in 14 years.

New Pirates president Frank Coonelly wants his team to take a similar approach in dealing with its streak of losing seasons.

"In my first meeting with the team, I told the players they don't own it, it's not their streak," Coonelly said last week. "They are the '08 Pittsburgh Pirates. The streak will be mentioned in newspapers, but they should not feel they are defined by it."

That said, breaking the streak of losing seasons is not necessarily the Pirates' goal this season.

"We want to build and sustain a championship-caliber team," Coonelly said Friday. "Winning 82 games is not going to make you a championship-caliber team. We're optimistic we can be a winning team this year, but our long-term goals are more important than simply snapping the streak this season."

Coonelly, 47, joined the Pirates late last season after nine years as Major League Baseball's senior vice president and general counsel of labor. From day one, the former high school hockey player has said he intends to change the culture of losing that has grabbed hold of one of baseball's oldest and most storied franchises.

It's a big job, and Coonelly intends to start at the bottom, by focusing on a farm system that was ranked 26th among 30 teams by Baseball America. Coonelly's seriousness about the farm system showed in his first hire. First-year general manager Neal Huntington has an extensive background in scouting and player development after spending a decade in the Cleveland Indians' front office.

"Building and sustaining a championship-caliber team starts with developing a broader and deeper farm system," he said. "There's no question it's not as broad as it needs to be."
Coonelly believes that his club can contend in the NL Central this season. If the Pirates don't, veterans such as outfielder Jason Bay could be dealt for young players who will help in the rebuilding. Otherwise, the Pirates will be reconstructed through the draft.

That raises a fascinating issue.

During his time in the commissioner's office, Coonelly regularly doled out economic advice to clubs, particularly when it came to player contracts and signing bonuses for drafted players.
Several years ago, in an effort to curb escalating draft costs, the commissioner's office instituted guidelines for signing bonuses. Each pick in the draft was assigned a value, and teams were encouraged to follow the guidelines, which became known as the slotting system. Coonelly and former MLB executive Sandy Alderson are the founding fathers of the slotting system.

While some teams, such as the Phillies, follow the slotting system religiously, others, such as the Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers, aren't afraid to bust slot if it means signing a premium talent.
It will be interesting to monitor the Pirates' economic approach to the draft under Coonelly. They have the second overall pick in June. Would they bust slot?

"We'll pay attention to the slot, but we'll take the best available player that we believe we have a chance to sign," Coonelly said. "If we think a player's value is over the slot, we'd certainly consider it."

Coonelly was such a star and important cog in the commissioner's office that he occasionally was mentioned as a possible successor to commissioner Bud Selig, when and if he ever retires.
Why would Coonelly leave such a high-ranking baseball position to run a team that hasn't had a winning season since 1992, Barry Bonds' last season with the club?

"With the commissioner's office, I advised and serviced 30 teams," he said. "I thought it was time to join one club and try to help the Pirates become a winner. Pittsburgh is a great sports town. It's a great opportunity to have a positive impact."

And after 15 straight losing seasons, the Pirates are ready for something positive.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:50 AM to Red Sox | Permalink | Comments 0

Brett Favre retiring

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Brett Favre has decided to retire from the NFL after 17 seasons.
FOX Sports first reported Tuesday that the Green Bay Packers quarterback informed the team in the last few days. ESPN.com said that according to Favre’s agent the quarterback told coach Mike McCarthy of his decision.

Only two years removed from perhaps his worst season, Favre had a resurgence in 2007. He broke several career records. Among them was Dan Marino’s career mark for career touchdown passes. He powered the Packers to an NFC North title and a 13-3 regular-season record. He was named to his ninth Pro Bowl.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Wife and baby of Glenn Ordway injured during childbirth

BOSTON (AP) - Sports talk show host Glenn Ordway has taken an extended leave of absence from his WEEI-AM program after his wife and newborn daughter both sustained injuries during childbirth.

Ordway called into "The Big Show" Monday to tell listeners that he would be devoting all his time to helping his wife and baby get healthy.

In a statement, Ordway said his daughter, Mia Grace Ordway, suffered a significant trauma injury as a result of complications during childbirth last Thursday. He said his wife, Sarah, also suffered an internal injury during the childbirth.

The longtime Boston sports personality said he would return to the air as soon as possible.
The station said Pete Sheppard would serve as host of the popular afternoon talk show during Ordway's absence.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments 0