Good morning! Ready for the first Sunday of the NFL offseason?
Me neither, although I really truly tried to be sincere when I asked that question. Fortunately, there's a lot to keep you busy today. The C's are honoring Paul Pierce, the B's are looking to get back on track, and we're another day closer to the start of spring training.
But first, a few quick thoughts on Pierce:
I feel like we don’t talk about this enough: Pierce was stabbed 11 times in the face, neck and back in a nightclub on September 25, 2000. Eleven times. He was rushed to a hospital and had to have lung surgery, but he was in the starting lineup just over a month later on Nov. 1. He was the only guy on the roster who played all 82 games that year on a roster that wouldn't even break .500, and he averaged 25.3 points per game. After being stabbed 11 times that September.
Of course, those Celtics teams of the early 21st century were wildly flawed, and you kind of always suspected they weren’t going to win a title, but they were fun as hell to watch. Pierce and Antoine Walker jacking up threes and playing defense like scalded dogs for Jim O’Brien. The playoff clashes with Jason Kidd and the Nets and Isiah Thomas (the other one) and the Pacers. I respected Pierce -- especially after coming back so quickly following the stabbing -- but I loved Antoine, and it took me a long time to get over the fact that Danny Ainge traded him. (Honestly, because of that feeling alone, you guys are probably better off that my abbreviated career as a basketball writer never really got off the ground.)
In the end, it was Pierce who became the heart and soul of Boston basketball, winning a title and incorporating himself into the sporting fabric of the city. And in my mind, it all started with how he responded following that ghastly injury.
So clown on him all you want about the wheelchair thing a few years ago. Goof on him for being petty about not wanting to share his retirement ceremony. The year he came out of the ER after being stabbed 11 times to play all 82 regular-season games? That was enough to gave him a pass with Boston sports fans. As Shaq once said, “Paul Pierce is the mother(bleeping) truth.” And that’s good enough for me.
Now, on with the links...
Patriots
Podcast: Price talks Patriots with Matt Chernoff of NBC Sports Radio 02.10.18
Bedard’s Offensive Breakdown: McDaniels called near-flawless game but will have one regret
Bruins
Final: Sabres 4, Bruins 2 — Boston’s winning streak snapped
BSJ Game Report: Sabres 4, Bruins 2 — Lack of meat and potatoes
Celtics
Video: Paul Pierce reflects on his career, jersey retirement
Video: Robert Parish calls Paul Pierce the greatest offensive Celtic player ever
Robb: Terry Rozier and the importance of knowing your limitations
ON TAP
3:30 p.m.: Cavaliers at Celtics, ABC (Robb)
7 p.m.: Bruins at Devils, NESN (McDonald)
Winter Olympics TV schedule
NBC
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Speed Skating — Men’s 5,000m Gold Medal Final
Biathlon — Men’s 10km Sprint Gold Medal Final
Cross-Country Skiing — Men’s Skiathlon Gold Medal Final
7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Figure Skating — Team Event Gold Medal Final (Live)
— Men’s Free Skate
— Ladies’ Free Skate
— Ice Dancing Free Dance
Alpine Skiing — Women’s Giant Slalom Competition (Live)
Freestyle Skiing — Women’s Moguls Gold Medal Final
Snowboarding — Women’s Slopestyle Gold Medal Final
Luge — Women’s Singles Gold Medal Final Runs
11:35 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Alpine Skiing — Women’s Giant Slalom Gold Medal Final (Live)
Snowboarding — Women’s Halfpipe Competition (Live)
1 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Primetime Encore
NBCSN
2:40 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Ice Hockey — Women’s Group Stage, United States vs. Finland (Live)
5 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Biathlon — Men’s 10km Sprint Gold Medal Final (Live)
Speed Skating — Men’s 5,000m Gold Medal Final
Cross-Country Skiing — Men’s Skiathlon Gold Medal Final
1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Curling — Mixed Doubles Round Robin, Tiebreaker
Luge — Men’s Singles Gold Medal Final Runs
Medal Ceremonies
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Olympic Ice figure skating show
Biathlon — Men’s 10km Sprint Gold Medal Final
8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Snowboarding — Women’s Slopestyle Gold Medal Final (Live)
Curling — Mixed Doubles Round Robin, Semifinal
11:30 p.m. to 2:40 a.m.
Curling — Mixed Doubles Round Robin, Semifinal (replay)
Speed Skating — Men’s 5,000m Gold Medal Final
USA Network
7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Ice Hockey — Women’s Group Stage, Canada vs. Olympic Athletes from Russia (Live)
Olympic Channel
2 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Olympic Channel News (produced by Olympic Broadcasting Service)
5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Medal Ceremonies (Live)
7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Olympic Channel News (produced by Olympic Broadcasting Service)
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Olympic Channel News (produced by Olympic Broadcasting Service)
12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Winter Olympics Daily
12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Winter Olympics Daily (Encore)
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Olympic Channel News (produced by Olympic Broadcasting Service)
6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Winter Olympics Daily (Encore)
6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Winter Olympics Daily (Encore)
7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Olympic Channel News (produced by Olympic Broadcasting Service)
11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Olympic Channel News (produced by Olympic Broadcasting Service)
PARTING THOUGHT
This is a terrific compilation of all the action as shot by fans from Super Bowl XLIX mixed with dramatic music. It's not very timely, but every time I worry about football losing its grasp as the No. 1 sport in America, I sit and watch this and look at the reactions of wonder and disbelief and passion. A good re-watch as we head into the offseason, and a nice way to say goodbye to No. 21.
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