Hockey players see Paul Pierce, and LAUGH

In the aftermath of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, it's beginning to leak out just how badly injured some of the Red Wings players were. According to the News' John Niyo, there were many Wings dealing with severe injuries...

Injuries? Yeah, they had a few. More than a few, actually. Talked to a champagne-soaked trainer, Piet van Zant, in the Zamboni entrance a couple hours ago and his initial response was, "Everybody was playing through something." But then he rattled off the abridged version:

Tomas Holmstrom was playing with a sports hernia (for a long time) and a torn hamstring.

Valtteri Filppula wasn't practicing because of a fairly significant knee injury.

Brad Stuart also was playing with a knee injury that would've had him sitting in the regular season. Darren Helm limped out of there tonight with a nasty Charley horse.

And, yes, there was more than just concussion-like symptoms plaguing Johan Franzen, but van Zant said the team and Franzen will wait a day or two before explaining what exactly went on with that whole saga.

There's more than that, obviously, but it gives you an idea of just why we call this the toughest trophy in sports to win.

Honestly, that's par for the NHL course. It's what they do.

From the Maple Leafs' Bobby Baun scoring the winning goal in game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup Finals while skating on a BROKEN LEG, to Steve Yzerman winning the '02 Cup despite a severe knee injury that required 3 surgeries after the season, playing 23 playoff games on essentially one leg, hockey players traditionally play through the worst of injuries. In fact, they may be the toughest athletes on earth. At the very least, hockey players are on par with football players when it comes to playing in pain.

Then last night, I was half watching the NBA Finals, and was witness to one of the most embarrassing displays of histrionics ever: Paul Pierce acting as if his leg had been amputated with a rusty cleaver after tweaking his knee.

Pierce was carried off the court, and taken to the locker room in a wheelchair. At first, you had to think Pierce, in going through such dramatics, must have blown out every ligament in his knee.

But wait! A few minutes later, after thinking Pierce had suffered a career ending injury if you go by his actions, is suddenly hale and hearty enough to come skipping out of the tunnel, and on the bench? Pierce played the rest of the game, looking none the worse for wear. Boston's fans were then chanting "Willis Reed!" Please...

Today, I hear the comparisons coming out of Boston and the national MSM that Pierce's re-entering the game was similar to the Willis Reed's? What an insult to Reed! Reed played in game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals for the Knicks on literally on one leg, thanks to a painfully torn thigh muscle. Pierce's tweaked/sprained knee does not come close to equaling what Reed went through.

Pierce = Pussy

Reed could have been a hockey player with that sort of pain tolerance. Paul Pierce has the pain tolerance of an infant with a slight case of diaper rash.

Before the series started, I wasn't all that excited by the NBA Finals, as I knew we were going to be inflicted with forced nostalgia, ABC/ESPN trying to invoke memories of the Lakers-Celtics battles of the 80's. In my mind, the finals were just a matchup between 2 loathsome teams, and 2 even more loathsome fanbases.

After last night's display of wussitude, I'm rooting for the Lakers to kick the collective asses of both the Celtics, and of their mangina, Paul Pierce.

After watching the Wings and Penguins leave body parts on the ice over 6 games, seeing Pierce cry his crocodile tears was nothing less than an embarrassment.

I HATE the Celtics! Always have, always will

Tonight, the Pistons take on the team that once filled me with dread. A team that gave me nightmares. A team I despised with my entire being. A team I hated HATED HATED!

The "Axis of EVIL!"

That team is the Boston Celtics.

Actually, I should change that to HATE the Celtics, as I never stopped. I no longer fear them, they don't give me nightmares, but I sure as all Hell will always despise them.

Back in the very early days of TWFE, in the first month of it's existence, I posted a list of Detroit's 10 most hated teams and players. The Celtics were high on that list.

3. The Boston Celtics starting lineup of the mid-late 80's - Was there a more hated bunch than that Celtics crew? The most unlikable team ever. They still stick in my craw. Danny Ainge might have been the most annoying player I've ever seen. Dennis Johnson might have been the ugliest player I've ever seen. Who can forget Robert Parrish sucker punching Bill Laimbeer with unmitigated malice? Larry Legend talking trash while draining circus shots. Kevin McHale looked like Lurch but his battles with Rick Mahorn were legendary. Every time the Bird steal gets replayed, I turn the channel. I still can't bear to watch... Both teams and their fans wished the depths of Hell upon each other. A honorable mention goes to the despicable Tommy Heinsohn, you could feel his love for the Celtics during those CBS broadcasts.

Yeah, I still hold a grudge.

I still refuse to watch Bird stealing that God damn pass. I still think Parrish should have gotten a long suspension rather than the 1 game hand slap the NBA gave him for his sucker punching Laimbeer (Could you see something so viciously blatant being swept under the rug today?). I still believe the Pistons would have beaten the Celtics in 1987 if Adrian Dantley and Vinnie Johnson don't knock each other silly diving for a loose ball.

I'm thrilled the rathole called the Boston Garden was demolished. I'm happy as Hell the Celtics have not won a thing since beating the Pistons in '87. They were as relevant as the Detroit Lions for the past 2 decades. I love the fact the Pistons were the team that finished that Celtics team for good.

I'm thrilled that Danny Ainge and Larry Bird have been utter failures as NBA GM's. (Though I will admit to having a soft spot for Ainge, as his incompetence allowed the Pistons to get Rasheed Wallace for next to nothing. Pistons fans are eternally grateful.)

We've been battered about the head and face for the entire NBA season with Celtics this, and Celtics that. Which is why it couldn't be more fitting for the Pistons to be the team that finishes off the NBA's designated "IT" team, ESPN's favored child, the MSM's flavor of the month, the '07-'08 Celtics. The Pistons win this series, all will be right in the world.

I have only this to say about the Eastern Conference finals...

Screw the fucking Celtics!

Once a Masshole, always a Masshole

Did you know the Celtics won the NBA Eastern Conference last night? Really, they did! I didn't think it was possible, as the playoffs are still a month or so out. But I saw all the crowing coming from the Massholes claiming the east has been won!

Well, damn. Who knew? I had no idea that last night's game was going to be winner take all as to who is the best team in the east.

As if you needed any more reason to despise Boston fans, this what's being spewed from your typical, annoying as all fuck, Masshole...

The Pistons are Pussies

Wow. One win over a tired Pistons team, and they are suddenly nothing but a bunch of whiny pushovers? (I'll give them the occasional whining) Talk about putting the cart in front of the pussy.

Wicked pissa! Or whatever the Hell they mumble in Beantown...

They're being awful presumptive about a Celtics team that had been totally irrelevant for 2 decades. Now they beat the Pistons, though that only makes the Celtics all of 1-1 this season at home against Detroit, and the season is over? Christ almighty, get off your God damn high horse.

The Celtics had been off since Sunday, and were calling this a "must win" game. The Pistons were in midst of a back to back, with screwy travel conditions thanks to weather, and have known for years that the regular season means jack shit.

Yet I see amazingly hyperbolic trash talk coming from Boston. Such as the following from the above linked Barstool Sports...

Any doubt now who the best team in the East is?

KG dominated. Maybe he got tired of all the media blowjobs given to LeBron and Kobe lately in the MVP debate.

Rondo had the best dunk I’ve ever seen live

So why am I a bit pissy this morning? No, it’s not the fact that I felt like I was raped after paying $28 to park. It’s because the Pistons are playing the “we were tired” card.

Pussy. You mean the players couldn’t sleep until noon? Spare me the whining, unless you play in the NFL.

Uh, who's the one giving the blow jobs here? Get off your knees, wipe your mouths, and hold off awarding the east to the Celtics for at least a couple of months.

Hell, I'm just fine and dandy with the Celtics keeping the number one playoff seed. Let them play the Cleveland LeBrons in the 2nd round. The Celtics can deal with stopping LeBron James over a 7 game series, wearing both teams out before the winner meets the Pistons in the east finals. I'm looking forward to watching a long, hard, difficult 7 game series, with the LeBrons and Celtics beating each other up. I'm sure the Pistons are too...

The Pistons are in fine shape just where they are. Leading the Central, with the 2nd seed, giving the young bench plenty of PT while giving the starters moderate minutes, getting Lindsey Hunter and Theo Ratliff up to speed, and saving their energy for games that really mean something.

That being the playoff games, not a meaningless one in early March.

Pistons trade deadline thoughts...

Some fans are upset the Pistons did next to nothing at the trade deadline. The only move being a trade of expiring contracts, sending the last big man on the bench, Primoz Brezec, to the Raptors in return for Juan Dixon, who will be the 2nd to last guard on the bench. In other words, a tall stiff was traded for a 3rd string guard.

OK, I might be exaggerating a tad, as Dixon can play a little, but he's the 5th guard in what is a 4 guard rotation. What purpose does he serve? How does this trade make much sense at all for the Pistons? If you have answer, let me know.

My biggest concern is the possibility of Dixon taking time away from Aaron Affalo and Rodney Stuckey. It best not happen, as the 2 young guards, despite the occasional mistake, have earned their PT. If anything, Flip Murray better start packing, as this trade marginalized him even more, if that's even possible.

For those who thought the Pistons should have made a bigger splash, whom do you suggest they trade? To get a big time player, it would have required giving up one of the big four, and that's not happening.

The Pistons were essentially handcuffed, as a trade of any importance would have come at too much of a cost. It would have been a lateral move, at best. Billups, 'Sheed, Hamilton and Prince are going nowhere. Not during the season, anyway. The Pistons are going into the playoffs with the roster that brought 'em, which should be plenty good enough to make the eastern conference finals.

On the flip side, we have the Cleveland Cavaliers, who blew up their roster in a wacky trade involving 3 teams. It's a great deal for the Cavs...If it was made in 2003.

Cleveland traded Drew Gooden, Donyell Marshall, Larry Hughes and a couple of warm bodies, and received 4 used-to-be's and never-were's. Namely former Pistons Ben Wallace and Joe Smith from the Bulls, along with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West from the Sonics.

If you ask me, the Cavs got worse, not better. This is not the sort of trade you make for the long term. Wallace is a shell of the player he was in Detroit. For the next 2+ seasons, the Cavs have a center who's no longer a game changing defender, and gives you absolutely nothing on offense. All for around $15 million a year? The Bulls are jumping for joy after unloading that contract. Their joy will be diminished when they realize they have to deal with Hughes for 2 years...

As for the rest of the deal, Gooden and Smith are basically a wash. Szczerbiak has been long overrated. He can shoot, but doesn't know what defense is, let alone play it. West is what he is, a backup point guard.

Other than ridding themselves of a headcase in Hughes, how are the Cavs that much better? They always have a chance to make playoff noise with LeBron James, but all Cleveland basically did was shuffle the cards surrounding him.

This trade is supposed to worry the Pistons and Celtics? Hardly...

Wake me up when the playoffs start

There are levels of boring. Todd Jones closing a game is far from boring. Sports talk radio is boring. Driving through Ohio is really damn boring. Watching paint dry is the gold standard for boring. Not anymore...

Next exit is the NBA regular season

There's nothing more boring than an a NBA game between a playoff team that is locked into their seed, playing out the string, and a team that is blatantly tanking their season, playing out the string.

Exhibit 1 is tonight's Pistons - Celtics non-game.

The Pistons are doing their damnedest to stay healthy for the playoffs. The Celtics are doing...Not much of anything, other than trying to lockup Greg Oden or Kevin Durant.

I feel sorry for the poor souls who actually paid money to watch this farce of a NBA game. Why should anyone want to witness this meaningless exercise? After tuning in for only a few minutes, with George Blaha doing his best to sound like this game actually means anything, watching lowest common denominator claptrap like "According to Jim" actually looked appealing.

Jim Belushi is more compelling than a late season NBA game? David Stern's league has major issues.

Referee's with their own agendas, and as we found out this week, vendettas. Top players sleepwalking through long parts of the schedule. Teams tanking their season hasn't been this overt since the pre-draft lottery days. Too many teams playing too many meaningless games with too few talented players adds up to one of the least entertaining regular seasons in memory.

Even the Pistons admitted that going all out to win in the regular season over taxed them as a team in 2006, and hurt their playoff chances. They'll win 11-12 games less this year, and yet they feel much better going into their coming playoff run. That tells you all you need to know about the NBA's joke of a regular season.

The 2 most entertaining things about the 2006-07 NBA season were Gilbert Arenas and his eccentricity, and Charles Barkley's footrace with a 67 year old referee. Unfortunately, Agent Zero is out till next season, and Barkley hasn't challenged anyone else...

The NBA playoffs can't start soon enough.

RIP Dennis Johnson

Any Detroit sports fan over 30, one that is truly worth their salt, will admit that they despised the Boston Celtics of the 80's. I'm not talking about a mere dislike, or finding them annoying, you out and out HATED the Celtics. Passionately. I'm sure if you ask any Celtics fan, and they would say the same about the Isiah Thomas led Pistons. (Just read any Bill Simmons column...)

I can still tell you the starting lineup. Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Danny Ainge, Kevin McHale, and Dennis Johnson. I doubt there was a team I hated with such fury as that group of players.

The Celtics didn't merely play games against the bad Boy Pistons, they were outright battles filled with hand to hand combat.

Life's funny though. As you mature, you begin to appreciate what once was, and will never be again. Which is why it really saddened me to hear of the passing Thursday of Dennis Johnson, at a much too young 52.

Everyone remembers Bird stealing Thomas' inbounds pass against the Pistons at the end of game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. But no one would remember Bird's steal if Johnson hadn't had the foresight to cut towards the basket, allowing Bird to make the pass for DJ's game winning lay up. It's a play only a heady ballplayer makes. Otherwise it's Bird heaving up a desperation shot, and odds are the Pistons make the finals. Thanks to Johnson, that didn't happen. It's one of the few plays that I still can't bear to watch again, even to this day.

DJ was a vastly underrated player, one you could argue was hall of fame worthy, and should be considered the glue to those great title winning Celtics teams. I'm just glad I was able to watch Johnson, and the rest of the Celtics of the 80's, at the peak of their considerable skills.

RIP Dennis Johnson, and thanks for the (Painful) memories.

Postscript: (The Worldwide Leader dot com's Simmons has a nice take on DJ from the perspective of a Celtics fan)