Totally Random
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The Boston Celtics clearly reside on the ‘naughty list’ as far as the NBA scheduling czar is concerned. ‘They told me we were playing on Christmas Day and I didn’t really look at it, I just assumed it was at home,’ Coach Doc Rivers told reporters on Tuesday.
The Celtics have never played a home game on Christmas Day -- but have gone 19-15 on the road and at neutral sites. It’s enough to warrant a ‘what’s up’ from Doc.
Said Rivers: ‘One of the things I did before the season, the league has the coaches send in rules suggestions, I said one of the packages of winning the title is you should get the ring, the trophy, and a guaranteed home date on Christmas Day.’
Put it in a letter to Santa.
Trivia time
When was the last time the Lakers and Celtics played on Christmas Day?
Cry me a Rivers
Of course, Rivers would never dream of using the NBA schedule as a motivational tool for a game that needs no coach-speak gimmicks ... or windmills to tilt at ... or ...
‘I’m sure arena availability probably had something to do with it,’ Rivers told the Boston Globe. ‘It’s not just they wanted to play it in L.A., but as a coach, I’ll make it that way.’
... nevermind.
Pittsburgh Grinches
In Philadelphia, they boo Santa Claus. But in Pittsburgh, they ban him.
Bill DiFabio, a Pennsylvania sports announcer, did his annual Christmas bit this week, dressing up as Santa Claus for a Pittsburgh Steelers news conference. It’s a light-hearted tradition that former Steelers coach Bill Cowher always accepted. Coach Mike Tomlin quickly tired of the bit.
After several minutes, DeFabio asked Tomlin to pass him a football. ‘If that will get you out of here,’ said Tomlin, who then went on with his critical analysis of the 11-4 Steelers’ finale against the 4-11 Cleveland Browns.
Later on, the Steelers announced that Santa was no longer welcome at their news conferences.
No word whether Tomlin was visited by three ghosts.
Trivia answer
In 1970, the Lakers handled the Celtics’ Big Three that day (John Havlicek, Dave Cowens and Don Nelson) in a 123-113 victory.
And finally
Headline on the website Fark.com: ‘Angels GM says team has no interest in Manny Ramirez. That leaves Bingo Long’s Traveling All-Stars, The King and His Court, and the lowballing Dodgers as interested parties.’
-- Chris Foster