Bits and Pieces

by: Frank Carpano

Bits and Pieces

· I can’t offer much insight into why the Celtics have failed to win a road game in the postseason. They seem like 2 different teams; the Garden team and the “other” team that wears their shirts on the road. But I guess if I had to pinpoint one thing that’s different about their performance, it’s their intensity. That said, their futility on the road helped produce a game 7 against the Cavs that was the most entertaining, sit on the edge of your seat game in the last 20 years of Celtic basketball.

· Matt Walsh holds so little credibility, even if he said he filmed the Rams walkthrough prior to the Super Bowl in 2002, I would have had reservations about believing him. Unless he produced something in writing or recorded evidence that someone in the Patriots organization in a position of power ordered him to do it. Otherwise, who is to say that Walsh just acted on his own.

· I love Manny Ramirez. He just seems like a big kid out there. I know he frustrates a lot of hardcore Red Sox fans with his casual attitude, but how can you not love some of his antics. If for no other reason, you watch just to see what crazy thing he is going to do next. The high five he gave a fan after making a catch in Baltimore was hilarious. But the most amazing thing was that he still had time to get the ball back into the infield to complete a double play!

· I recently emceed a dinner for the Verrazano organization. They honored Pawsox President Mike Tamburro. If you’ve never attended a Pawsox game at McCoy, you’ve deprived yourself of experiencing one of the true gems in professional baseball. The baseball aside (which is great) , the Pawsox (under Tamburro) raise the bar in the area of customer service and value for your dollar. And Tamburro’s work in the community is also legendary. They may play in the so-called “Minor” league, but the way they do business is “Major” league.

· I have to admit I am a Johnny come lately to horse racing. My recent visit to the Kentucky Derby has made me a fan. I was amazed to see Big Brown’s performance at the Preakness. It seems like in the most important part of the race, that that horse has another gear. The way he pulled ahead after the final turn was unbelievably impressive. In fact, the jockey said after the race that he was holding him back until then. The video backs him up on that. Your not going to make any real money, but to bet against Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes is like throwing your money away