Celts 106, Pistons 102

Ray Allen played a good game scoring 29 points, getting Celtics back in the lead.

Looks like Lakers vs Celtics is very possible.

Celtics lead the Pistons 3-2

--Iron Bowl

Memorial day..

I got to watch the games today...

Celtics lost (Detroit 94, Celtics 75) and luckily Sox won 5-3.

I miss the cookouts we have during memorial day and I hope to be with my friends next year!

--Iron Bowl



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On a side note...

Hub officer on traffic detail rushes to halt alleged abuse

Written by John R. Ellement

Sunday, 20 April 2008

Boston police Officer Joaquim Antunes arrived around 9:45 a.m. yesterday on a Dorchester street closed for a potential gas leak when he heard a man's loud, angry voice and the fearful cries of a woman. Then the 10-year police veteran, about to start his paid detail, heard something else. "You could actually hear the smacking noise," Antunes said, slapping one hand against the other. "It sounded as if someone was being beaten." Antunes got on his radio to call for backup, then ran into the three-story Quincy Street apartment building, ringing all three buzzers at the front door. Antunes was soon joined by Officer Richard J. Driscoll, who had sprinted over from a detail post a block away in response to his call for help. Peter Scrima, a truck driver and laborer for Riley Bros. construction, was working nearby and said the police presence was fortunate. "She got lucky," he said of the woman. "How often do you have two cops standing outside your door. It doesn't happen too often, I don't think." After some moments of ringing bells, the front door opened and Nkrumah Hartfield, 40, told officers he had been arguing with his girlfriend, they said. Other officers, who had responded to the call for help, held Hartfield while Antunes and Driscoll went to the third-floor apartment. There they found the woman, whose name was not released by po lice, sitting in the kitchen, holding her 18-month-old daughter, a welt rising above her left eye. "She looked scared, scared and kind of relieved," Antunes said. Hartfield slammed her in the head with a telephone, she said, and the force of the blow was so powerful it knocked her and her daughter out of the chair where they were sitting, according to the police report. "She said she had just gone through some domestic violence," Driscoll said. "She said she was trying to get away from it." After the woman told Antunes and Driscoll her account of what had happened, police arrested and handcuffed Hartfield, who slammed his head into a cruiser and tried to kick out its windows, police said. Hartfield was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for treatment. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Roxbury Municipal Court, where he will face charges of two counts of domestic assault and battery and one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The woman told police that she and Hartfield started arguing Thursday night about how she disciplines her children and that the dispute resumed yesterday morning. Hartfield was on the telephone with his mother, the woman said, when he became enraged and hit her in the head with the telephone, according to the police report. The woman and her child were taken to Boston Medical Center for evaluation, police said. Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis applauded Antunes's quick reaction. "If the officer hadn't called for help and begin to bang on the doors and let the assailant know he was being pursued, then anything could have happened," he said. "We are just very thankful he overheard the incident and took aggressive steps to deal with it."

I don't understand why this keeps coming up?

The amount they can save by not building the big dig, not having Iraq war, and closing off certain toll stations on the Masspike can save even more, but these officials would rather pick on the police.

Police details is what makes Massachusetts roads so safe. As many people know, there are a lot of MASSHOLES in Massachusetts, and having a police cruiser, and a police officer, definitely helps slow traffic, making it less dangerous for the workers.

In Singapore, I've seen untrained construction workers try to control traffic, Though the Singapore drivers are much more tamed, it is very likely to see drivers ignore these road workers and cause a massive traffic jam or accident.

Directing traffic is not as easy as it seems. Even in a bright orange vest, I personally have many close encounters with cars almost hitting me while I'm helping with traffic control at an accident scene.

I've known officers that were killed on traffic details while trying to save the lives of the workers.

In general, most police officers in are dedicated to their job to serve the public and are serious about performing their duty to protect the workers at their work sites. I would never assume such dedication from a flagman, which most of them are working as some form of part-time job.

There are not much accidents, at these Massachusetts worksites with an officer on detail and we should keep it that way. I've also known of officers stopping crime while on detail and the presence of these officers definitely deter crime.

I would also like to add that the police presence is often a good one as many drivers who do not know a better way to go around the work site has an officer to direct them, rather than driving through against traffic as they do not trust the part-time flag man.

What is wrong with having police officer on work details? If they work more (double shifts) why should they not be paid more?

There are already laws in place to prevent officers from working more than 90 hours a week, and the department can also use detail assignments as a form of incentive or punishment, as poorly performing officers may not be allowed extra details.

It is a complex system and it works, just because the budget is broken, and many of the cities funds are cut, the police detail system should not be dismissed. Anyway, the newspapers and officials are misleading people as the details are usually paid by private companies, and even if they do not use police officers, why should they charge any less?

--Iron Bowl

Officials punt on police details

Political will once again fades; Unions resist shift to flagmen

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff | May 25, 2008

Governor Deval Patrick and the state's top legislative leaders stood united in March and made a bold proclamation: They would use their combined political muscle to take on powerful police unions and their sacred perk - construction details.

They grabbed headlines and plenty of airtime as they touted the $100 million the state could save by replacing police officers at low-risk construction sites with civilians in bright vests with flags.

Two months later, political will has faded.

Patrick was the first to publicly back off the tough stance when, just a week after the highly orchestrated news conference, the governor said on WTKK-FM's monthly "Ask the Governor" radio show, "The more I think about it, the less certain I am that we can fix this top down."

Confronted with a withering lobbying blitz by police officers, meanwhile, key lawmakers inserted legislative language in a transportation bill that would protect municipal union contracts and, with those contracts, the construction details that boost police salaries by thousands of dollars.

The result?

"This thing has been hobbled," said David G. Tuerck, executive director of the Beacon Hill Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank at Suffolk University. "The politicians seem to be totally unwilling to take this issue on in a serious way."

The performance by the state's politicians - quickly retreating from a plan that is popular with fiscal watchdogs and reformers - once again demonstrates the political might of police unions and the inability of elected leaders to make significant changes in a practice embedded in police contracts across the state.

It is a not a retreat the officials are eager to discuss. Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi did not respond to requests for comment on Friday.

Kyle Sullivan, Patrick spokesman, said the governor, who in November first proposed the idea for detail reforms, "has been consistent since then in his desire to address this issue in a manner that is fiscally responsible and places public safety first."

The administration is scheduled to release a set of draft regulations in the next two weeks - and at a minimum is expected to include a recommendation that flaggers replace police at a limited number of state road and bridge construction zones where it can be done safely.

A final version of the recommendations is expected to be produced by mid-July and sent back to the Legislature for further debate. If adopted, it would mark the first time flaggers have appeared on state roads.

But critics said the mandatory union contract protections approved by the House and Senate have doomed much of the reforms, almost ensuring they will have little impact on municipal police on local roads.

They say Massachusetts will remain the only state that uses police officers, rather than less-expensive flaggers, on almost all work sites.

"Given the limitations of the legislation, it can't be anything dramatic," said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. "By tossing it to the local level, they've essentially passed the buck."

Although there are no statewide regulations requiring the use of police details for state or local road projects or utility jobs, state and local officials have used them for decades at construction sites anyway, in deference to politically powerful unions.

Police have argued that the presence of a cruiser and a uniformed officer slows traffic and provides the best protection for the public and for road workers.

"There are some serious safety issues if we go from police officers to flagmen," Richard Brown, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, said last week at a public hearing on the issue. "I've almost been killed more working details than working as a police officer."

Municipalities would save $36.5 million to $66.5 million a year by replacing most police details with less expensive flaggers, according to a 2004 study by the Beacon Hill Institute. The study estimated that cities and towns spent $93.3 million in police details in 2003.

In 1992, Governor William F. Weld proposed legislation to replace police details with civilian flaggers. After 800 police officers picketed the State House, Weld gave up and few have tried to revive the issue.

That appeared to change in March, when the state's top politicians appeared together in the Senate Reading Room to unveil a broad transportation reform package, which included streamlining construction projects, cracking down on retirement and pension plans at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and changing police details.

"We are going to roll up our sleeves," said DiMasi.

"This is a necessary step," said Murray.

"This is one of a host of areas where the Senate president, the speaker, and I . . . are working very closely in partnership," Patrick said.

It was a striking announcement from the state's top Democrats, who typically count public safety unions among their key political allies.

But they didn't release details of how they would do it, and then just a week later, Patrick indicated it wasn't going to be so easy.

"It feels simple," the governor said on the radio show, "but there are public safety issues, and that has to come first."

Police union officials were swarming the hallways of the State House.

Local police officers were calling legislators on their cellphones - even showing up at their homes - pleading with them to soften the initiative.

"I now understand why reform sometimes doesn't rise to the surface," said Senator Steven A. Baddour, a Methuen Democrat who was chief sponsor of the legislation and remains optimistic that it will bring about reforms. "It was the most difficult two weeks I've had in the Legislature."

It is still unclear how the state will encourage cities and towns to follow voluntary guidelines, although one idea is to tie state transportation funding to whether a municipality adopts the state recommendations.

With the protections for existing union contracts, however, local officials do not expect much change under a voluntary system.

"There ultimately will need to be change so that communities won't have to negotiate changes to use civilian flaggers," said Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. "Otherwise, what happens is the unions ask for other concessions like pay increases or additional benefits in exchange."

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.

Celtics 94, Pistons 80

The Celtics earned their first road victory of the postseason at the most critical time, beating the Pistons in Detroit tonight behind Kevin Garnett's 22 points and 13 rebounds. The victory gives Boston a 2-1 edge in the Eastern Conference finals.

Could there be a Celtics vs Lakers Finals??

It seemed like a possibility and the Celtics have now proven that they can win on the road.

Go Celtics!

--Iron Bowl

Lakers vs Celtics

The NBA Conference finals are underway. In the East, the Boston Celtics won Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons. In the West, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs in the first game of their series.

I wonder if we would see Lakers Vs Celtics again after all these years... (Remember Magic Johnson and Larry Bird??)

I hope the Celtics do not worry their fans this time and play game 7 again!!

It would be awesome!

--Iron Bowl

Celts win again!!!

Why game 7 every time??

Damn, this is nerve wrecking!

The Celtics advanced to the Eastern finals by defeating the Cavaliers, 97-92, in an amazing Game 7 at TD Banknorth Garden yesterday. The East's top seed now will play host to the second-seeded Pistons starting tomorrow night. The Celtics are making their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 2002 and won two seven-game series to get there, first subduing the Atlanta Hawks.

Go Celtics!

--Iron Bowl

Beer Cures Fever

I had pretty high fever since Wednesday, and I did not eat much since.

I went to the doctor on Thursday, but his medications did not do anything to help. I drink a lot to hydrate myself but I sweat a lot in Singapore as it is freakin' humid.

As I was home alone, I finished my supply Isotonic water and was too tired to go down to the store to get new supply.

I did not feel better until I started drinking beer instead of Isotonic Water to hydrate myself as I sweat A LOT!!

After finishing 24 can of room temperature beer, I woke up in the afternoon on Saturday and I felt better.

One bad thing though, during all the drinking, I forgot to take my medication...

Doctor 0, Expensive Post-Singapore Tax Foreign Beer 1

-- Iron bowl

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "5th of May") is primarily a regional and not an obligatory federal holiday in Mexico.

Its a great holiday, lets celebrate by drinking Corona, Corona Light, Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial, Pacífico, Tecate, Dos Equis XX Dark, Dos Equis XX Lager, Clair!!!



-- Iron Bowl

Celtics Win!

I was on vacation watching this game, and I am now finally relieved..

I can't understand how the Celtics could do so well initially before the playoffs and finally end up in a 3-3 tie with the Hawks!

But go CELTICS!

--Iron Bowl


CELTICS 99, HAWKS 65

Playoff plans of Celtics still a go with Game 7 win

By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | May 5, 2008

Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins didn't sleep at all the night before the big game. Ray Allen sent text messages at midnight to several teammates, giving encouragement and mentioning the greatness of their season. And thanks to a pill, coach Doc Rivers was able to sleep like a baby instead of stress over his Celtics' upcoming Game 7.

But after knocking off the Hawks with a 99-65 rout yesterday afternoon at TD Banknorth Garden, the Celtics surely slept well last night. The Eastern Conference's top seed won the series, 4 games to 3 over the surprising eighth-seeded Hawks; next up is a second-round matchup against LeBron James and the reigning East champion Cavaliers, starting tomorrow night at the Garden.

"I haven't slept, so I should get some sleep [last night]," said Garnett, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds. "I've been up for damn near 24 hours thinking about Game 6 and the things we [needed] to do."

Boston finished with a regular-season best 66 wins, 31 road victories, and championship dreams. The Hawks had the fewest wins of any team in the postseason (37) and were the youngest squad, too. The Celtics swept Atlanta in three games in the regular season and won the first two games at home in the series.

But after winning three games in front of their sold-out and rowdy home crowd, the Hawks put themselves in position to make history. Only three teams in NBA history had knocked off a top seed in the first round, including Golden State upsetting Dallas last year.

The nightmarish possibility of being knocked off by the Hawks definitely caused the Celtics some stress entering Game 7.

"It's not something we talked about, but it's something that we knew," said Perkins, who had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. "Everybody knew we can't be a part of that. We did a good job of handling that."

Sensing a nervous squad, Rivers spoke to several players before the game.

"I just wanted to let them know that we were going to win, that we were all right, and that each of his teammates were going to get his back," Rivers said. "I never talked about [the individual], whoever it was. I just said, 'Your teammates got your back.' "

Forward Leon Powe said the team's biggest focus was defense. The Hawks couldn't surpass 85 points in Boston, although they averaged 100.7 points in the three games in Atlanta.

Boston set the tone quickly by holding a 27-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Hawks missed 17 of 23 field goal attempts in the first quarter and only took two free throws.

And with the Celtics' defensive intensity strong the rest of the game, they cruised to victory by holding Atlanta to 29.3 percent field goal shooting (24 of 82) and only 16 free throw attempts. Joe Johnson (16 points) was the only Atlanta starter to score in double figures, and Boston was ahead by as many as 38 points.

"We acted like this was just a regular game and we didn't come to play at all," Johnson said. "They were more physical than us and they just really outplayed us. We didn't really put forth the effort."

The Celtics' Paul Pierce, who had a game-high 22 points, said, "For us to be an elite team, for us to make it to the championship, what we have to take from this series is we can't have any nights off and plays off, and we got to get it done on the road.

"It was a good test for us to go to Game 7. Not a lot of players go to Game 7."

Expecting a victory, Rivers watched videotape of Atlanta and Cleveland Saturday night. With only a day to prepare his players, he'll give his Celtics a crash course on the Cavaliers during practice today.

Boston and the fourth-seeded Cavaliers split their four-game season series, with no team winning on the road. James averaged 32.3 points per game in three contests, including a Celtic opponent regular-season high 38 points during Cleveland's 109-104 overtime win Nov. 27. The Cavaliers defeated Washington in six games in the first round and haven't played since Friday.

"The Cavaliers are the Eastern Conference champs from a year ago, a team that went to the Finals," Pierce said. "We know it's going to be a tough road."

While James and the Cavaliers bring a bigger challenge, the Celtics did at least have a chance to temporarily rest their nerves last night before getting back to business.

"I feel good," Perkins said. "We got a brand-new start going into a new series. It ain't time to celebrate, but I can relax a little bit and get re-focused."