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NBA to Name NBA 75 on October 19-21

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NEW YORK – (Source: Official NBA News Release) – The National Basketball Association will unveil its 75th Anniversary Team, comprised of the 75 greatest players in league history, during special editions of TNT’s NBA Tip-Off, presented by CarMax and ESPN’s NBA Today from Tuesday, Oct. 19 through Thursday, Oct. 21.

Twenty-five members of the team, representing a cross section of positions and eras from throughout the NBA’s rich history, will be announced on each of the three days.  The team is being selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media and current and former players, coaches, general managers and team executives.

TNT will begin the unveiling of the 75th Anniversary Team on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. ET during an extended edition ofNBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax with the Sports Emmy Award-winning studio team of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.  The 90-minute pregame show will air prior to the network’s opening-night doubleheader featuring the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Brooklyn Nets (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Golden State Warriors visiting the Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET).

ESPN will take over the honors on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. ET when it announces 25 more members of the team duringNBA Today, the network’s new daily 60-minute NBA show hosted by Malika Andrews, ahead of its season-opening doubleheader with the Boston Celtics facing the New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Denver Nuggets taking on the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET).

The final 25 members of the team will be revealed on TNT’s NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. ET, in advance of the network’s presentation of the Dallas Mavericks vs. the Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET) and the LA Clippers vs. the Warriors (10 p.m. ET).

As part of “NBA 75,” the league’s celebration of its landmark 75th Anniversary Season, the NBA selected Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler, Magic Johnson, Bob Pettit and Oscar Robertson, as well as 14-time NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, to serve as ambassadors for the 2021-22 season.  Representing different eras of the league’s history, the ambassadors will make appearances throughout the 75th Anniversary Season and have a significant presence at NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland.

While We’re Young (Ideas) – October 10

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TL Sunday Sports Notes – NBA @ 75

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – Last weekend, I teased my personal NBA @ 75 list of the Greatest Players in NBA history. If you need a refresher, click HERE. In that column, I promised to reveal my Top 10 players and the Final 15 to go with the 60 players named in groups of 10 last weekend.

Here are my Top 10 (listed in ALPHABETICAL ORDER):

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Elgin Baylor

Larry Bird

Kobe Bryant

Wilt Chamberlain

LeBron James

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Michael Jordan

Oscar Robertson

Bill Russell

For my NBA @ 75, I don’t feel compelled to list the group in order (1-75). To make the NBA @ 75 is an honor in itself and it shouldn’t be tainted by being No. 74 or 75. In fact, in this column, I plan to list a bunch of players I considered for the final five spots. Please note this columnist is NOT on the NBA’s voting committee for the honors.

For continuity sake, I’ll now pick-up with the 60 players listed in groups of 10 last week:

NBA at 75: Next 10 or No. 11-20:

Rick Barry

Tim Duncan

Julius Erving

Karl Malone

Moses Malone

Dirk Nowitzki

Hakeem Olajuwon

Shaquille O’Neal

Bob Pettit

Jerry West

Next Ten: (21-30)

Charles Barkley

Steph Curry

Kevin Durant

John Havlicek

Allen Iverson

George Mikan

Scottie Pippen

David Robinson

John Stockton

Isiah Thomas

Next Ten: (31-40)

Bob Cousy

Walt Frazier

George Gervin

Dan Issel

Sam Jones

Bob McAdoo

Kevin McHale

Willis Reed

Dwayne Wade

Bill Walton

Next Ten (aka No. 41-50):

Ray Allen

Nate Archibald

Dave Bing

Dave Cowens

Artis Gilmore

Hal Greer

Elvin Hayes

Earl Monroe

Lenny Wilkens

James Worthy

Next Ten: (51-60)

Paul Arizon

Billy Cunningham

Clyde Drexler

Alex English

Patrick Ewing

Reggie Miller

Jason Kidd

Wes Unseld

Russell Westbrook

Dominique Wilkins

Now, the most difficult part! Here are my Final 15:

Vince Carter

Kevin Garnett

Connie Hawkins

Tommy Heinsohn

Bernard King

Pete Maravich

Steve Nash

Robert Parish

Nate Thurmond

Jamaal Wilkes

The Final 5:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

James Harden

Kawhi Leonard

Paul Pierce

David Thompson

Those highly considered but fell short on my list:

Carmelo Anthony

Zelmo Beaty

Walt Bellamy

Adrian Dantley

Dave DeBusschere

Luka Doncic

Joe Dumars

Joe Fulks

Pau Gasol

Tom Gola

Gail Goodrich

Spencer Haywood

Grant Hill

Dennis Johnson

Gus Johnson

Bobby Jones

Nikola Jokic

Damien Lillard

Bob Lanier

Jerry Lucas

George McGinnis

Tracy McGrady

Chris Mullin

Calvin Murphy

Tony Parker

Chris Paul

Gary Payton

Dennis Rodman

Arvydas Sabonis

Dolph Schayes

Bill Sharman

Klay Thompson

Andrew Toney

Yao Ming

CONSIDER: Many voters contemplated their votes with both the NBA at 50 and the league’s 25th Anniversary team in mind. Can you drop members voted for the NBA at 50 team? For the 25th Anniversary team, a panel framed nominees, and then a team (by position) was selected.

Here was the 25th Anniversary Team: (December 1971)

Name, Career Years

Forwards

Paul Arizin*, 1950-1962

Joe Fulks*, 1946-1954

Harry Gallatin*, 1948-1958

Tom Gola*, 1955-1966

Vern Mikkelsen*, 1949-1959

Bob Pettit*, 1954-1965

Jim Pollard*, 1947-1955

Tom Heinsohn*, 1956-1965

Dolph Schayes*, 1948-1964

George Yardley*, 1953-1960

Centers

Neil Johnston*, 1951-1959

Ed Macauley*, 1949-1959

George Mikan*, 1946-1954, 1955-1956

Bill Russell*, 1956-1969

Maurice Stokes*, 1955-1958

Guards

Richie Guerin*, 1956-1970

Bob Cousy*, 1950-1963, 1969-1970

Bob Davies*, 1946-1955

Bob Feerick, 1945-1950

Sam Jones*, 1957-1969

Slater Martin*, 1949-1960

Dick McGuire*, 1949-1960

Bill Sharman*, 1950-1961

Bobby Wanzer*, 1947-1957

Max Zaslofsky, 1946-1956

NBA 25th Anniversary Team

List of honored players, sorted by position

F Bob Pettit

F Dolph Schayes

F Paul Arizin

F Joe Fulks

C Bill Russell

C George Mikan

G Bob Cousy

G Bill Sharman

G Bob Davies

G Sam Jones

Coach: Red Auerbach

Bill Russell was the only unanimous selection to the team. Furthermore, all nominees of the 25th Anniversary Team besides Feerick and Zaslofky were inducted into Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. You might note, Wilt Chamberlain was left off the 25th Anniversary all-time team as only two centers (Russell and Mikan) were selected.

To further complicate the process, the NBA celebrated and selected a 35th Anniversary team in 1980-81 and only four players from the 25th Anniversary Team were selected into NBA 35th Anniversary Team (Pettit, Cousy, Russell, and Mikan). However, along with them, four other players of this team (Arizin, Jones, Schayes, Sharman) were selected into NBA 50 Greatest Players of All-Time in 1996. Here is the NBA @ 50 list.

FEEL FREE TO COMPLAIN, ARGUE … BUT: If you are going to complain about any player left off the list, you are required to name the player or players that must be removed.

There’s a slight chance I missed a player and will be mortified if it’s a player we all know merits Top 75 selection. If so, I apologize in advance and will own up to the mistake. I just ask, please also indicate the player to be removed.

LAST BIT: Last week, I noted that my beloved NBA seems to have a knack for ruining a great story in the making by having a terrible, and usually off-court issue, make headlines. The NBA players who are choosing to forego anti-COVID-19 vaccination(s) dominated the news just as training camp began. Instead of stories about the players, the contending teams and exciting changes, a story about COVID stole every headline. Since then, Andrew Wiggins of Golden State decided to get the vax. Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets did not and he plans to miss all the Nets home games and many others played in municipalities which require proof of vaccination for entry. Somehow, the Nets were able to clear Irving for practices in their state-of-the-art Brooklyn practice facility, as it is a private building. His decision remained the dominant story in the NBA preseason season of 2021 until this week when we learned of 18 former NBA players being indicted for an illegal health care scheme. The players were allegedly filing fraudulent health and dental claims to their retirement benefit plan to the tune of $3.9 million in false claims.

The saddest part of this indictment is the fact the players are allegedly stealing from their own – the NBA – and it truly upsets the very essence of what the NBA and its players try to instill in its member players.

The Highs and Lows of MLB Postseason

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Red Sox to Face Tough Tampa Bay Rays in ALDS

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – When it comes to postseason baseball, when they go low – WE GO HIGH!

Before the Boston Red Sox eliminated the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card game, you might’ve heard about the New York Post rattling their once mighty sabres to taunt all things Boston with a column listing dozens of suggestions why “Boston Sucks.”

The reasons included gems like:

  • Incapable of making a good pizza.
  • Use the word “wicked” to describe everything other than witches.
  • The accent.
  • The people with the accent.
  • Bill de Blasio roots for you.

Besides the fact we’ll put the North End’s Regina Pizzeria up against Patsy’s any day of the week, the focus today is more a call-out of the ill-fated column’s sophomoric content and the old-as-time, typical New York trash-talking before any major league playoff series. One might harken back to 1994 when the Houston Rockets met the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals and the New York Post and the Houston Chronicle got into a trash-talking match which was led by then-NYP columnist Wallace Matthews going so far as to describe America’s fourth most populous city as “a steamy, bug-infested nondescript prairie town.” Matthews’ editors and headline writers took it from there with the memorable “This place is a hellhole” banner.

When the Houston Rockets took Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Chronicle shot back with: HELLHOLE 1, N.Y. 0.

That brief history lesson brings us to the present day and the upcoming ALDS series pitting the Boston Red Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays which starts tonight in Florida.

The so-called New England elite might begin to compare the two cities by citing the differences between Harvard, MIT, Tufts and Boston College against Tampa’s University of South Florida (which is not even in South Florida), but let’s not go there. As it says, New York went low, so we’ll go HIGH.

How can you rip Tampa in 2021 when the Tampa Bay Bucs are the reigning NFL Super Bowl champions? The Buccaneers maneuvered their way to acquire New England treasure and greatest NFL quarterback of all-time Tom Brady, along with our favorite knucklehead tight end Rob Gronkowski to build a football team than might even repeat as NFL champions.

On the skating rink, you’d think the Northerners would have the advantage, but … No … the Tampa Bay Lightning are the class of the National Hockey League and have three Stanley Cup titles to prove it. Since 2003, they’ve made more trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs than Patriots’ team owner Robert Kraft has made to the Orchids of Asia spa. The Lightning are the defending Cup champions as the new NHL season begins and there’s nothing on paper to think they won’t be standing in front of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman for another presentation in 2022.

Thank goodness, Tampa-St. Pete doesn’t field a franchise in the NBA or the vaunted Boston Celtics might be in big trouble.

The subject of SPORTS is not the only distinguished merits of the City of Tampa, although you might note Mets fireballer Doc Gooden and LA Dodgers great Steve Garvey are both from Tampa, along with scores of major leaguers and even a few pro wrestling greats (Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, to name two).

Let’s discuss music, starting with the fact both the great Ray Charles and sax-man extraordinaire Cannonball Adderley hail from Tampa.

If you want to get real serious, the charming and amazing actress and model Lauren Hutton spent her formative years in Tampa and graduated from Chamberlain High School before attending UCF and later Tulane University.

Back on the music scene, you can’t overlook that alto saxophone superstar David Sanborn was born in Tampa and Ray Charles’ band played a huge influence on his life as one of the purest sax players in history. Do you like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young? If you want to *teach your children well, Stephen Stills – the genius songwriter, musician and voice of the ’60s – grew up in Tampa and Gainesville, Florida.

Tampa has enough history and success stories to continue, but we’ll conclude with the fact that the orchestrator of the “Evil Empire,” the late New York Yankees team owner George Steinbrenner was born in Ohio and bounced around until settling down in Tampa in 2006 until his death there at age 80 (2010). ‘Nuff said about that, right?

Remember, we’re going HIGH except for one last “Big Dig.” New York, you can have Bill de Blasio.

The prediction: Sadly, Tampa in four games.

Note: *Teach Your Children was written by Stills’ CSN sidekick Graham Nash.

Wild Card Could’ve Been an Ace

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Red Sox Host Yankees in AL “One & Done”

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – Oh what a difference eight games has made. Fresh in their minds, the Red Sox have the recent series loss of blowing two-of-three to Baltimore from September 28-30, but do you remember those three straight games lost to those same Orioles to start the season? Then there was the other recent would’a, could’a, should’a – the devastating three-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees September 24-28. That’s eight games in the loss column right there.

The 2021 Boston Red Sox rarely lost three games in a row during the season, but when they did, they were clinkers, for sure.

Three losses to the rival Yanks (August 17-18) cost them dearly, as did dropping 12-of-15 in a mid-summer swoon from July 28 to August 10th. That midseason debacle included five losses in six games against the 100-win Tampa Bay Rays, the champions of the American League East.

In Major League Baseball, it’s the price you pay for losing important games during the season while still managing to win an impressive 92 games. Both the Sox and the Yanks finished 92-70 and earned the right to play a single-elimination game on Bill James‘ birthday.

The 92 wins bounced the powerful Toronto Blue Jays (91-71) and the September red-hot Seattle Mariners (90-72) from wild card contention. Those two teams will be looking back at the 162-game schedule and lamenting opportunities lost and saves blown. It is not the last we will hear from the young, talented and offensive juggernaut Blue Jays, that is for sure.

It could be worse, as the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in this one-and-done Fall Foolishness after winning 106 regular season games, one shy of the 107-55 San Francisco Giants, the surprise team of this year of COVID-19+2. Can you imagine? winning 106 games, second-most in the majors and being subject to the one-game boot, depending on the performances of LA’s Max Scherzer and St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright.

While contemplating all the ‘game of inches’ aspects of Baseball, a thought made famous by Hyman Roth in The Godfather, Part II, and said to myself, “This is the business we’ve chosen.” The rules were written in plain English before the start of the season and the results are clear.

Playing in a Major League Baseball wild card game could be replaced by dozens of other mechanisms to determine a true postseason participant. “Spin-the-Bottle” might be appropriate and quite easy to orchestrate if you had 18 players stand in a circle, the starting nine for each team alternating one by one. A sponsor, such as Bud Light, would eat it up, if MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred chugged a beer, put down the long neck and gave it a spin to decide if the Red Sox or Yanks would advance to a “real series.” Winner plays on Thursday night on FS-1, if you can find it on your dial.

Maybe the Bruins and Rangers could settle the wild card, competing in an NHL-style shoot-out on behalf of their brethren. After all, one-on-one breakaways to settle a hockey game is even more ridiculous than spin-the-bottle or a one-game elimination after 162 game season, isn’t it?

How about jump shots from the top of the key? Boston would pick Larry Bird to represent the Red Sox and the Knicks? Well, Charles Oakley, or even better, Ken “The Animal” Bannister, might do well for Go New York, Go New York, Go!

The fact of the matter is that these “One-and-done-tobers” might go the way of the “No Pepper” signs, as MLB is contemplating a 16-team postseason to be enacted as early as 2022. The future first round would be best-of-three series which seems a bit more reasonable, although not great. The problem at hand for MLB, the season can’t begin any earlier in March nor end any later into November, unless Canada Goose becomes the official uniform supplier.

The club owners and the television networks want more programming. The players want more money. The fans will get what MLB serves up, and chances are, they’ll like it. After all, it can all boil down to one pitch, one blown save, one Baltimore chop single, or one Steve Bartman fan-interference fiasco.

Baseball. It’s a game of inches and first pitch is 8:09pm (EDT) tonight.

 

While We’re Young (Ideas) – October 3

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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The NBA began its 75th Anniversary celebration in typical NBA style, and that was to come out of the summertime hiatus and walk immediately into training camp with self-inflicted controversy. It happens more often than not. Instead of fans delving into the playoffs and NBA title contenders, the most promising rookies, blockbuster roster moves or coaching changes, the headlines go elsewhere. This season, instead of reminiscing about the league’s 75 best players of all-time, we’re talking the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Although some 90-95% of the NBA’s rank and file players, plus all of the coaches, assistant coaches and athletic training staff are all vaccinated against the coronavirus with hope of fighting off COVID-19 and its Delta variant, the remaining five percent grabbed every NBA headline as the league conducted Media Days in every franchise city.

From Andrew Wiggins in Golden State to Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn to Bradley Beal in Washington DC, the unvaccinated few became the story. So be it.

The NBA forewarned the fact certain state and local government jurisdictions will have their own say on the matter and players will not be able to enter the very arena where the games are to be played, one being the Barclays Center in Brooklyn which would cut Irving’s season in half, right off the bat.

The league made matters known about foregoing paychecks for those games, the NBA Players Association, in transition at both the President (Chris Paul to CJ McCollom) and Executive Director (Michelle Roberts to Tamika Tremaglio) levels, are encouraging vaccinations and pointing out their Union membership is vaccinated at a much higher rate than the American public rates. Joining the NBA players, the NFL, MLB and NHL unions are also encouraging vaccinations while the NBA league is requiring all personnel who interact with the players at practices and games be fully vaccinated by this past Friday, October 1.

Players who choose not to be vaccinated will undergo extensive testing procedures throughout the season and teams will go to the length of securing separate transportation and dressing facilities, as best they can arrange.

What is an amazing juxtaposition on the issue? The fact the NFL was lauded as its season kicked-off and to some 93.5% vaccination rate for the players, yet the few NBA players are being criticized despite the slightly higher (up to 95%) rate of vaccinated union members. Go figure?

The voice of reason this week was the point of view of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the retired NBA legend, Hall of Famer and very high on the short list of the NBA’s all-time greatest players.

“The NBA should insist that all players and staff are vaccinated or remove them from the team,” Abdul-Jabbar told Rolling Stone (magazine/online). “There is no room for players who are willing to risk the health and lives of their teammates, the staff and the fans simply because they are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation or do the necessary research. What I find especially disingenuous about the vaccine deniers is their arrogance at disbelieving immunology and other medical experts. Yet, if their child was sick or they themselves needed emergency medical treatment, how quickly would they do exactly what those same experts told them to do?

In its lengthy article (highly recommended by WWYI) Abdul-Jabbar said that players who remain silent about the (COVID-19) vaccine are no longer legitimate role models.

“They are failing to live up to the responsibilities that come with celebrity. Athletes are under no obligation to be spokespersons for the government, but this is a matter of public health,” Abdul-Jabbar detailed to Rolling Stone in an e-mail. The former LA Lakers’ team captain, Milwaukee Bucks superstar and UCLA all-time great remains especially disappointed in athletes of color: “By not encouraging their people to get the vaccine, they’re contributing to these deaths. I’m also concerned about how this perpetuates the stereotype of dumb jocks who are unable to look at verified scientific evidence and reach a rational conclusion.”

TO GET YOUR OWN FULL DOSE OF WHILE WE’RE YOUNG (Ideas): Click HERE.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As stated, short of the vaccination controversy, this column would’ve begun with my personal list of the 75 Greatest Players in NBA History. As the league prepares to unveil its official list, I’ll list mine but will do so in groups of 10, holding back my Top 10 and my choices for No. 60-75.

NBA AT 75: You can plan to read about my Top 10 NBA Players of the first 75 years in next Sunday’s column. This week, I’ll start with my “Next Ten,” listed in alphabetical order, you’ll notice) and move along until I hit No. 60.

NBA at 75: Next 10 or No. 11-20:

Rick Barry

Tim Duncan

Julius Erving

Karl Malone

Moses Malone

Dirk Nowitzki

Hakeem Olajuwon

Shaquille O’Neal

Bob Pettit

Jerry West

And, the Next Ten: (21-30)

Charles Barkley

Steph Curry

Kevin Durant

John Havlicek

Allen Iverson

George Mikan

Scottie Pippen

David Robinson

John Stockton

Isiah Thomas

And, the Next Ten: (31-40)

Bob Cousy

Walt Frazier

George Gervin

Dan Issel

Sam Jones

Bob McAdoo

Kevin McHale

Willis Reed

Dwayne Wade

Bill Walton

Next Ten (which is my No. 41-50):

Ray Allen

Nate Archibald

Dave Bing

Dave Cowens

Artis Gilmore

Hal Greer

Elvin Hayes

Earl Monroe

Lenny Wilkens

James Worthy

The Next Ten: (51-60)

Paul Arizon

Billy Cunningham

Clyde Drexler

Alex English

Patrick Ewing

Reggie Miller

Jason Kidd

Wes Unseld

Russell Westbrook

Dominique Wilkins

WHO’S GOT NEXT? That leaves the naming of a relatively easy Top 10 list of NBA players and then the more difficult (No. 61-75) to be named in this missive next week. Joining the final list, I’ll also name a small group of players who will remain “On the Bubble.” Although they remain worthy of consideration and would make almost anyone’s Top 100, the challenging aspect of this celebration is drawing a line at No. 75.

I chose to list in groups of ten for a strong method of easy organization and an attempt at some level of talent grouping, but, in reality, I ask: Can anyone say whether Nate “Tiny” Archibald is better or worse that Elvin Hayes? Or whether David Robinson was better than Dan Issel, Bob McAdoo or Wes Unseld?

It’s impossible to factor in the changes in the game over the years, the comparison of point guards to centers or power forwards or whether the players made their teammates better or those who might’ve been void of talented teammates? Would Utah’s John Stockton be a lock at an all-time great if he didn’t have Karl Malone finishing at his side?

At the “NBA@50” celebration with the late, great Wilt Chamberlain at his side, Bill Russell casually explained to the assembled media that there are simply a lot of “ties” for best, asking no one, “Can you say Oscar Robertson was better than Jerry West or Elgin Baylor?” No. They’re all in a tie for first.”

In the past, the NBA celebrated its history with an NBA 25th, 35th and 50th anniversary teams.

Boston’s Training Camp Roster

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BOSTON – (Source: Official Team News Release) – The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guards Ryan Arcidiacono, Garrison Mathews, and Theo Pinson, and forward Juwan Morgan, finalizing the team’s 20-player roster that includes nine returning players, three NBA All-Stars, and one first-year player.

Arcidiacono (6-3, 195), 27, joins the Celtics after previously spending his first four NBA seasons with the Bulls from 2017-18 to 2020-21. The four-year Villanova standout produced 4.8 points (43.1% FG, 37.3% 3-PT, 80.7% FT), 2.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 17.6 minutes in 207 games (36 starts) with Chicago, while shooting at least 37.0% from beyond the arc in each of his last three seasons. Arcidiacono has made at least three 3-point field goals in 14 games over the past three years, including a career-best five threes at Milwaukee on Nov. 28, 2018.

Mathews (6-5, 215), 24, has averaged 5.5 points (41.3% FG, 38.9% 3-PT, 89.1% FT), 1.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 15.4 minutes in 82 career games (24 starts) over two NBA seasons with the Wizards. The Franklin, Tennessee native played in 64 of the team’s 72 games in 2020-21, producing 5.5 points on 40.9% shooting (38.4% 3-PT). He notched five games of 15+ points, including a season-high 22-point performance on 6-of-12 shooting (4-7 3-PT) against Miami on Jan. 9.

Pinson (6-5, 212), 25, has played in parts of three NBA seasons with Brooklyn and New York from 2018-19 to 2020-21, averaging 3.0 points (30.0% FG, 89.5% FT), 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 9.0 minutes in 68 career games. Pinson also spent time in the G League with the Long Island Nets between 2018-19 and 2019-20, where he produced 19.6 points (44.2% FG, 38.4% 3-PT, 82.9% FT), 6.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 34.8 minutes in 43 games (all starts).

Morgan (6-7, 232), 24, has played in 50 games over two NBA seasons with the Jazz, shooting 51.8% on 56 field goal attempts (1.4 ppg), while averaging 1.1 rebounds. A native of Waynesville, Missouri, Morgan also played in 15 games with the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League in 2019-20, producing 14.3 points on 60.1% shooting, 7.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.7 blocked shots.

The Celtics’ current  20-player roster features nine returners from the 2020-21 season, including a pair of 2021 NBA All-Stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and the team’s longest-tenured player in guard Marcus Smart.

Five-time All-Star and 14-year NBA veteran Al Horford rejoins the Celtics, after having previously played in Boston from 2016-17 through 2018-19. He joins an experienced group of newcomers, which include veteran guards Josh Richardson and Dennis Schröder, forward Juancho Hernangomez and center Enes Kanter.

Boston opens preseason action against the Magic at TD Garden on Oct. 4, its first of four preseason contests.

While We’re Young (Ideas) – Sept. 26

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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes

BOSTON – Is there a chance this simple sports column can jinx the United States’ Ryder Cup team to go out this Sunday morning and lose to Europe despite owning an 11-5 lead after two days of foursomes and four-ball?

No Ryder Cup team has ever coughed-up this sizable lead and lost on the final day of the competition. Of the 12 singles matches played on Sundays in Ryder Cup tradition, the most points ever secured was 8.5 by the USA at the memorable 1999 event at The Country Club, here in Brookline.

Back then, Sting had just released “Brand New Day” and Enrique Iglesiastopped the charts with “Bailamos.” … Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam tennis title while Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The West Wing made their television debuts.

Like the Summer Olympic Games, the 2020 Ryder Cup was delayed a full year with a no-brainer decision by the PGA of America. This week, Whistling Straits has been a jewel for the sport with a gorgeous setting near Lake Michigan in Kohler, Wisconsin – not far from Sheboygan.

Here’s the singles line-up which will begin at 12:04pm (EDT):

Singles Matches: (USA 🇺🇸 vs. Europe 🇪🇺)

Xander Schauffele vs. Rory McIlroy

Patrick Cantlay vs. Shane Lowry

Scottie Scheffler vs. Jon Rahm

Bryson DeChambeau vs. Sergio Garcia

Collin Morikawa vs. Viktor Hovland

Dustin Johnson vs. Paul Casey

Brooks Koepka vs. Bernd Wiesberger

Tony Finau vs. Ian Poulter

Justin Thomas vs. Tyrrell Hatton

Harris English vs. Lee Westwood

Jordan Spieth vs. Tommy Fleetwood

Daniel Berger vs. Matt Fitzpatrick

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: On a picture-perfect Autumn afternoon in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, big-time College Football was put on display yesterday when Missouri visited Boston College. The Southeastern Conference versus the Atlantic Coast Conference in a game of huge importance to both teams with the Missouri Tigers 0-1 in SEC play and the Boston College Eagles starting their day 3-0, overall, but yet to play an ACC opponent.

Here’s a brief look at the day – as a fan not a reporter – attending the game on the bucolic campus of Boston College.

11am – No plans for a “major” tailgate but meeting time was 11:30 at the Merkert Building parking lot. Traffic in Newton and Chestnut Hill was plentiful and cars were parked about as far away from BC’s Alumni Stadium as one could remember.

11:30am – Easy meet up with my hosts who furnished a delicious “New England Style” Chicken Salad sandwich, complete with cranberries. Cold water was the beverage of choice, although the beers and Bloody Marys were flowing like Holy Water all across the campus.

12 Noon – With the game to be televised as the opener on ESPN2, kick-off was prompt and we were in our seats in ample time, a slight overcast blocking strong sun rays that would peek-out all afternoon.

Right from the opening drive, everyone in the building knew we were in for a high-scoring affair. In 10 plays, Missouri marched down the field against a formidable BC defense and scored first 7-0.

In only four plays, Boston College tied the game when RB Pat Garwo III marched 67 yards for the score, 7-7. About two minutes later, Missouri’s Tyler Badie plunged for a four-yard TD, 14-7 Missouri after the first quarter.

12:30pm – The student section, located in the end zone and behind the BC bench in Alumni Stadium filled-in nicely, as the tail-gate beverages were guzzled down and the Bud Lights began to flow inside.

Boston College quickly tied the game, 14-14, as Jaden Williams caught a seven-yard pass from the Eagles’ QB Dennis Grosel who was doing an admirable job filling in for the injured starter Phil Jurkovec, who was standing on the sidelines with a small cast covering his right (throwing hand) wrist.

The teams traded field goals with Missouri converting a 28-yard kick and Boston College scoring on a 49-yard boot by Connor Lytton who is kicking in place of the injured five-year PK Aaron Boumerhi, who injured his hip.

Halftime – 17-17 and a new ballgame, as the Boston College marching band did a rendition of “Rocky.”

1:30pm. – The start of the third quarter coincided with Boston College taking control of the game, scoring 10 points to take a 27-17 lead in impressive fashion. Lytton came through with a big boot, again, hitting a 31-yard kick after a 16-play drive which ended with only :40 seconds on the quarter clock.

Missouri struck back, however, scoring 14 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter on nine-play and 11-play drives which made the score 31-27, Tigers.

With 6:18 remaining, Boston College was in control of their own destiny as they began to “matriculate” down the field. Fifteen plays later, Travis Levyscored from the five yard line and Lytton pounded the all-important extra point through the uprights to put Boston College up 34-31 with only 0:25 remaining in the fourth.

Missouri wasted no time and quarterback Connor Bazelak coordinated a final drive, undaunted. Five plays later, with time expiring, PK Harrison Mevis hit a 56 yard field goal to put the game into overtime. Bazelak would end the day 30-for-41 with 303 yards.

On the first possession of overtime, Boston College scored in five plays as WR Zay Flowers, nursing an injured hamstring, scored on a 10-yard pass from Grosel.

3:34pm – Boston College’s Brandon Sebastian made a game-ending interception when Missouri’s Bazelak tried to score on his first pass attempt in overtime. Seconds later, the BC student section rushed the field to celebrate the victory over a respected SEC opponent.

Boston College will now await possible inclusion in the College Football Top 25 rankings, and in doing so, they must take notice that North Carolina State, their next home opponent, upset Clemson and the Wolfpack enjoyed a storming of the field of their own yesterday in Raleigh, NC.

RUSHING THE FIELD: Boston College caught a fair amount of shade on social media as their students flooded the Alumni Stadium field after the game-winning interception by Brandon Sebastian. … Field rush and storming the court in basketball can be dangerous affairs and the NCAA legislates again the practice. … It’s one thing when a school upsets a Top 10 opponent at home, but, in yesterday’s case, Missouri is considered a “middle of the road” contender in the SEC. … What was not factored in in most media or social media accounts was the fact that Boston College’s 41-34 victory capped an emotional day and highly entertaining college football game, complete with the ebbs and flows of a playoff game. … For BC, it was also parents weekend and the plague of the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to disappear for a few hours as the BC Alumni Stadium security staff double-checked for proof of vaccinations upon entrance. … It was the first time since March 2020 that the fans could let loose and it was the result of a win that might place the Eagles in the Top 25.

USA Strives for Historic Ryder Cup Day

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KOHLER – The last time the USA Ryder Cup team was in such control of a tournament, it was 1979 and The Knack’s “My Sharona” was the No. 1 hit in the country and USA team captain Billy Casper was treated to a 17-11 win at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. America’s Larry Nelson went 5-0 just as ESPN launched as a small cable network in Bristol, Connecticut.

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This Sunday morning, the United States leads Europe 11-5 as the singles portion of the 43rd Ryder Cup will soon begin. Twelve matches will commence and the USA will begin with a -5000 wagering advantage.

Tee Times range from 12:04pm to 2:05pm (EDT).

No team has ever come back to win from a six point Sunday morning deficit. But, 12 points are on the line today.

Sunday Morning Scoreboard: UNITED STATES 🇺🇸 11, EUROPE 🇪🇺 5

Ryder Cup Leaderboard (link)

Overall Scoring (RyderCupCom)

Singles Matches: (USA vs. Europe)

Xander Schauffele vs. Rory McIlroy

Patrick Cantlay vs. Shane Lowry

Scottie Scheffler vs. Jon Rahm

Bryson DeChambeau vs. Sergio Garcia

Collin Morikawa vs. Viktor Hovland

Dustin Johnson vs. Paul Casey

Brooks Koepka vs. Bernd Wiesberger

Tony Finau vs. Ian Poulter

Justin Thomas vs. Tyrrell Hatton

Harris English vs. Lee Westwood

Jordan Spieth vs. Tommy Fleetwood

Daniel Berger vs. Matt Fitzpatrick

USA Stays Hot at Ryder Cup Day 2

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KOHLER – At 9am (EDT) today, coverage of the 43rd Ryder Cup switched from Golf Channel to NBC and as they made the switch, the USA’s Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger were 3-up after three holes over Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, Europe and Spain’s very best.

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In the second match this morning, Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawabegan Saturday morning foursomes just as hot as their teammates, and lead (at 9am) 3-up through three against Europe’s Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton.

Europe’s Bernd Wiesberger and Viktor Hovland grabbed a 1-up lead over Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth while Lee Westwood & Matt Fitzpatrickwere just in progress against their American hosts, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele

It’s all in the start of Day 2 at Whistling Straits after the US staked the largest Day 1 lead in 46 years.

Ryder Cup Leaderboard (link)

Overall Scoring (RyderCupCom)

Friday’s Results

Afternoon Four-Ball

Europe’s Paul Casey & Bernd Wiesberger lost to

USA’s Dustin Johnson & Xander Schauffele, 2 & 1

Europe’s Tyrrell Hatton & Jon Rahm

Halved

USA’sScottie Scheffler & Bryson DeChambeau

Europe’s Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry lost to

USA’s Tony Finau & Harris English, 4 & 3

Europe’s Tommy Fleetwood & Viktor Hovland

Halved

Justin Thomas & Patrick Cantlay

Morning Round – Foursomes

USA’s Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas lost

3 & 1 > to

Europe’s Jon Rahm & Sergio Garcia

USA’s Dustin Johnson & Collin Morikawa

< 3 & 2

over Europe’s Viktor Hovland & Paul Casey

USA’s Daniel Berger & Brooks Koepka < 2 & 1

over Europe’s Matt Fitzpatrick & Lee Westwood

USA’s Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay

< 5 & 3

over Europe’s Rory McIlroy & Ian Poulter

The Basics

COURSE: Whistling Straits – (Kohler, Wisconsin)

ARCHITECT: Tom and Alice Dye

YARDS/PAR: 7,390 yards/Par 71

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Team Europe (17 1/2 to 10 1/2)

PAST RESULTS: Last Ryder Cup at Le Golf National – France (Link)

SOCIAL MEDIA: #RyderCup @PGA #RyderCupUSA #GoUSA @RyderCupEurope #TeamEurope

OFFICIAL SITE: (Ryder Cup)

BIG EAST Releases 2021-22 Schedule

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NEW YORK – (Source: Official News Release) – The BIG EAST Conference announced its 2021-22 men’s basketball schedule today with dates and matchups. Tipoff times and television designations will be announced at a later date. The conference will play a 110-game regular-season schedule with all 11 teams playing 20 league games in a double round-robin format. League play begins on Friday, December 17, with Villanova at Creighton. The Wildcats and Bluejays are the two BIG EAST teams that advanced the farthest in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Both squads advanced to the Sweet 16 round.

The regular season ends on Saturday, March 5, with 10 of the 11 teams in action. The matchups are: Villanova at Butler, DePaul at Connecticut, Seton Hall at Creighton, Georgetown at Xavier and St. John’s at Marquette.

The BIG EAST Tournament Presented by Jeep will be played in Madison Square Garden for the 40th consecutive year. It is the longest running postseason championship in college basketball at the same venue. The dates of the 2022 tourney are March 9-12.

2021-22 Conference Schedule

Friday, December 17
Villanova at Creighton

Saturday, December 18
Providence at Connecticut
Marquette at Xavier

Monday, December 20
St. John’s at Seton Hall
Creighton at DePaul

Tuesday, December 21
Xavier at Villanova
Connecticut at Marquette

Wednesday, December 22
Georgetown at Providence

Thursday, December 23
Butler at St. John’s
Seton Hall at DePaul

Tuesday, December 28
Connecticut at Xavier
Georgetown at Creighton

Wednesday, December 29
Marquette at St. John’s
Seton Hall at Providence
DePaul at Butler

Saturday, January 1
St. John’s at Georgetown
Villanova at Seton Hall
Butler at Connecticut
Providence at DePaul
Creighton at Marquette

Tuesday, January 4
Seton Hall at Butler
Xavier at Georgetown
Providence at Marquette

Wednesday, January 5
DePaul at St. John’s
Creighton at Villanova

Friday, January 7
Xavier at Butler
Marquette at Georgetown

Saturday, January 8
Villanova at DePaul
St. John’s at Providence
Connecticut at Seton Hall

Tuesday, January 11
Providence at Creighton
DePaul at Marquette

Wednesday, January 12
St. John’s at Connecticut
Villanova at Xavier

Thursday, January 13
Butler at Georgetown

Saturday, January 15
Creighton at Xavier
Connecticut at Providence
Seton Hall at Marquette

Sunday, January 16
Georgetown at St. John’s (MSG)
Butler at Villanova (WF)

Tuesday, January 18
Providence at Seton Hall

Wednesday, January 19
St. John’s at Creighton
Xavier at DePaul
Marquette at Villanova

Thursday, January 20
Connecticut at Butler

Saturday, January 22
Seton Hall at St. John’s (MSG)
Villanova at Georgetown
DePaul at Creighton

Sunday, January 23
Butler at Providence
Xavier at Marquette

Tuesday, January 25
DePaul at Villanova
Georgetown at Connecticut

Wednesday, January 26
Marquette at Seton Hall
Creighton at Butler
Providence at Xavier

Saturday, January 29
Georgetown at Butler
Marquette at Providence
Xavier at Creighton
Connecticut at DePaul
St. John’s at Villanova

Tuesday, February 1
Creighton at Connecticut
Seton Hall at Georgetown
Providence at St. John’s

Wednesday, February 2
Villanova at Marquette
Butler at Xavier

Friday, February 4
Creighton at Seton Hall

Saturday, February 5
Connecticut at Villanova (WF)
St. John’s at Butler
DePaul at Xavier

Sunday, February 6
Providence at Georgetown

Tuesday, February 8
Villanova at St. John’s (MSG)
Marquette at Connecticut
Butler at Creighton

Wednesday, February 9
Xavier at Seton Hall
Georgetown at DePaul

Saturday, February 12
Creighton at Georgetown
Seton Hall at Villanova (WF)
Marquette at Butler
DePaul at Providence

Sunday, February 13
Connecticut at St. John’s (MSG)

Tuesday, February 15
Villanova at Providence
Butler at DePaul

Wednesday, February 16
Seton Hall at Connecticut
St. John’s at Xavier
Georgetown at Marquette

Saturday, February 19
Xavier at Connecticut
DePaul at Seton Hall
Georgetown at Villanova

Sunday, February 20
Providence at Butler
Marquette at Creighton

Tuesday, February 22
Villanova at Connecticut

Wednesday, February 23
Xavier at Providence
Creighton at St. John’s
Butler at Seton Hall

Thursday, February 24
DePaul at Georgetown

Saturday, February 26
Creighton at Providence
Seton Hall at Xavier
Butler at Marquette

Sunday, February 27
Connecticut at Georgetown
St. John’s at DePaul

Tuesday, March 1
Providence at Villanova

Wednesday, March 2
Xavier at St. John’s
Georgetown at Seton Hall
Connecticut at Creighton
Marquette at DePaul

Saturday, March 5
Villanova at Butler
DePaul at Connecticut
Seton Hall at Creighton
Georgetown at Xavier
St. John’s at Marquette

CA – Carnesecca Arena, MSG – Madison Square Garden, WF – Wells Fargo Center

The BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden
March 9 First Round Tripleheader
March 10 Quarterfinal Doubleheader
Quarterfinal Doubleheader
March 11 Semifinal Doubleheader
March 12 Championship Game