AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Ortiz slugged .788 percent through 23 games, and hit 10 home runs on a .363 batting average. His pitching counterpart stabilized the Sox starting rotation with a perfect, 5-0 record and 1.84 ERA, a far cry from the inflated 7.00 spot he put up in April.

Their recent awakening has complemented the clubhouse resurgence, as both Lester and Ortiz head into the month of June on the ups. After going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Tuesday night’s game, Ortiz bounced back with a towering 2-run home run off Athletics pitcher Ben Sheets, shooting the 3-2 fastball into right field. Fans quickly forgot David’s slump of June 1^st.

The bad news is for baseball. A deep, saturated cloud of guilt was hovering over Detroit last night, as one of baseballs oldest umpires threw in his lot with the conspirators.

Jim Joyce missed a crucial call on the final out of a baseball gem that would’ve given Detroit right-hander Armando Galarraga MLB’s third perfect game of the season, and first in Tiger’s history. On the final out of the game, Indians rookie Jason Donald hit a soft grounder to first, and with Galarraga covering, Joyce said he didn’t touch the bag.

It sent the entire city of Detroit spinning on a pirouette of frustration.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland had to be restrained as the conversations fumed at the end of Galarraga‘s jaunt for perfection, that came 28-outs too close. He fell, one snow cone catch short. Joyce claimed he lacked timing before securing the out, something pitchers do like clockwork. Galarraga smirked after the call.

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Pressure was off the NBA officiating until tonight’s NBA Finals Game 1 tip-off in Los Angeles. Thank you, Jim Joyce.

But voices are speaking out, and no one should apologize for being forthright.

NESN’s own Tom Caron says, “If Joyce thought he bobbled it, why didn’t the official scorer (at Detroit) call it an error and give Galarraga a no hitter? Just saying.”

Todd Wright of Sporting News Radio [on his Twitter account] claims it was “the worst blatant blown call at first base in a huge spot since Don Denkinger in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series.”

Solid comparison.

It could prompt MLB executives, and Vice President of Umpiring Mike Port to make a decision on a long-standing issue: instant replay. Baseball has dabbled with a novice system in the postseason, but only put in practice for fair-or-foul situations.

Forget public empathy and “an umpire who cares”. He missed the call, and they made it official. He apologized, but will he ever really be forgiven? An upstart pitcher was robbed of a perfect game. It’s embarrassing. And it is a perfect example of why instant replay should have already been on hand to vindicate the situation.

After the game, Leyland was near tears in his post-game press conference, acknowledging “he’s been a good umpire for a long time, he’s been a class act”. Following his appreciation for Joyce, Leyland added, “he probably got it wrong”.  Instinctively, he knows, Joyce will never hear the end of this.

Always with the final word, ESPN Around the Horn host Tony Reali said, “Last thing on this. Jim Joyce kinda looks like an old James Hetfield. Or the cowardly lion. That is all.”

Instant replay? Meet baseball. Baseball? Meet instant replay. Should make for a healthy relationship, balanced with cheers, and jeers. Good news, and bad.

If Rajon Rondo can break free of Derrick Fisher, this series could be over, sooner than imagined.

Let Rondo play his game. If he’s not healthy, you’ll know it immediately. Too many times this season, you’ve seen the Celtics point guard run the floor, direct the offense, without help from head coach Doc Rivers. Rondo plays direct to the hoop, and can even pass out of the post. Assuming Kobe get’s assigned to him, Pierce and Allen will be free to shoot. Being the number one distraction is a serious advantage for the Celtics.

Who will win the battle at power forward?

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Pau Gasol has become a sensational basketball player. In his three years with the Lakers, Gasol has outgrown his days as an average player on the Memphis Grizzlies. This year, the Spanish Sportsman is averaging 20 (ppg) and 10 (rebounds) for the Lakers, a far cry from 2008, when he was manhandled by a healthy Kevin Garnett, and ex-Celtic Leon Powe. Stronger, and more determined, stopping 7-foot Gasol is a high priority for Rivers’ defense.

If Andrew Bynum is healthy, Kendrick Perkins will miss a game.

Perk, of course, has reached his playoff limit of six technical fouls, after the league rescinded his seventh following Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals. There’s a lot of pressure on Perk to play a clean game, but you’d have to imagine sometime during this series, Bynum’s bickering will get personal, and he’ll be teed up for his seventh technical and one game suspension. With the way it works, Perkins will get suspended for one game at every ninth, 11^th, 13^th technical, but let’s hope it doesn’t come down to that.

Tough, and physical, this series will be won in the paint.

The Celtics will need to get high percentage shots, and catch the big men in the lane for layups. Dribble in, and pass out of the post. Make smart shots. Get Ray Allen involved early and often, but don’t live and die by the three. It didn’t work for the Suns, and it’s not a part of the Celtics strategy.

Set up the pick and roll for Garnett.

Matching up with Pau Gasol this series, KG will have his hands full on defense. The C’s have been so successful when they play Garnett off the screen, giving him open looks behind the basket. If you give the big man an easy look, whether its Perkins, Garnett, or Big Baby, the C’s are already in good shape.

AP Photo/Winslow Townson

Make the Lakers go to their bench.

Doc has limited his rotation to seven or eight guys this postseason, a far stretch from the 10-11 man rotation he was playing late in the regular season. If Tony Allen is healthy, the Celtics are deep. Look for Nate Robinson to get more minutes, given Rondo’s injury, and his inflated 41 minutes that he’s been averaging per game. Glen Davis provides great energy off the bench, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Shelden Williams caught a few minutes if the team is in foul trouble. Phil Jackson is comfortable with his starting five plus Odom, but after that, it’s up in the air. Trevor Ariza is not walking through that door.

Hey, Rasheed? Please keep your mouth shut.

Nothing fires up an officiating crew more than Rasheed Wallace and his maniacal mumbling. If Wallace can feme la bouche for the time being, he’ll be able to step in and make productive fouls, the same way he did against Dwight Howard in the Magic series. All bets are off on that last comment. I guess it’s just Rasheed being Rasheed. (Manny moved to LA, so it’s okay to make at least one mention of the stock phrase).

Are they healthy?

Tony Allen’s ankle injury could hurt the Celtics, if Paul Pierce is stumped on offense. All-Defensive starter Ron Artest has a lot to prove in this series, and a lot of it comes down to Pierce. If Artest goes on the offensive, Pierce isn’t doing his job, and something’s not right. But Artest isn’t much of an offensive player, which means, Pierce can leave his man and not worry as much as others. A lot is resting on the Captains shoulders, but you can’t say he hasn’t done it before.

Size… doesn’t matter.

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The Lakers starting five have size. They average 6’ 7” on the floor, but what the Celtics lack in size, they match with intensity. Many people thought Perkins would succumb to the athleticism of Howard, but through the first four games of the Eastern Conference Finals, Perkins proved the to be more physical. Howard returned the favor in Games Five and Six. Odom comes off the bench at 6’ 10” and can turn the corner better than most.

Kobe, Kobe, Kobe.

And then, there was Kobe Bryant. One of the best finishers the NBA has ever seen. Odom recently said that “Kobe is so good, he makes the incredible normal for us.” But who is Kobe Bryant without his supporting cast? Jerry West has a long pedigree of high-quality core players that can compete on a yearly basis. Kobe Bryant is one of those certified superstars. If there’s any reason to not believe in Boston? I’ll place the blame on the 100 percent Philadelphia prefecture to put a “steak” in the Celtics playoff run.

The Celtics boast the best road record in the NBA this year, and come to LA with a strong defensive mindset. The Lakers are kidding themselves if they think they can score 100 plus on this team. Let the games begin.

Follow Courtney on Twitter @fallon87

“That’s our mother-in-law set—constant nagging and harassment.”

One of his former players, ex-Celtics Forward Antoine Walker, has been nagged over the past year by multiple financial institutions and Las Vegas Casinos for unpaid debts.

News broke Wednesday that Walker has reached out to Pitino, in hopes of reviving his NBA career. Word spread that Walker is set to work out with a handful of Pitino’s players over the next few weeks, writes the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Excessive gambling, frivolous spending, and invalid checking accounts put the former All-Star into debt, after he made over $110 million dollars in his 12-year playing career.

According to a report from the Las Vegas Sun back in November of 2009, the bulk of his debt is being financed, after Walker’s defense lawyers agreed upon a $12,835 monthly dividend to three separate Vegas Casinos.

“Employee #8” was the sixth overall selection by the Celtics in the 1996 draft, who went 51-113 over their next two seasons. Drafting Paul Pierce in 1998, Boston had brief success, reaching their pinnacle year in ’01-02. That year, the upstart Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals before getting ousted by Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets. Two seasons later, Walker was traded to Dallas for the priciest white guys in the biz (the Celtics received Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch, Chris Mills and a 2004 first-round pick in the trade).

If Walker gains employment, he will pay $21,391 a month over the course of three years, obliged to eventually return $700,000. Makes sense that he wants to come back to the basketball court.

‘Toine was last seen playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008, and is currently represented on VH1’s  “Basketball Wives” by ex-girlfriend Evelyn Lozada.

Antoine needs our help, so I have carefully cultivated a few plays for the Pitino/Walker playbook, to be rehearsed in a Louisville gymnasium later this month.

Big Baby: Lots of dribbling, no turnover.

Full House: Pitino will call the “Full House” after his team has lost, sending Antoine to center court to bargain for a double-or-nothing outcome.

Security!: When someone yells security, all bets are off. That means, stop what you’re doing, run to your phone, call your bookie, and invite him over for a night of light-hearted fun.

Monopoly, anyone?

It’s been 3,303 days since the five-time All-Pro linebacker was a top choice out of Georgia, and the anchor to a preeminent New England defense.

It’s been 8 months and 1 day since I’ve stopped worrying about Seymour’s unhappiness in the locker room, if he was arriving late for mini-camp, or holding out for better contract negotiations.

It’s been 9 years and 16 days since fans swooned over David Terrell, and wanted his name called by the Patriots in the 2001 Draft.

It’s been ages since New England fandom has questioned Bill Belichick’s shot selection and defensive strategy.

It’s been eons since I’ve read something like this:

“Someone mentioned a 21-year-old lineman named Richard Seymour. He’s 6 feet 6 inches and 300 pounds. He can play over tackles or over guards and centers. He can play three downs, two outside, and one inside. He once covered 40 yards in 4.87 seconds. One of the most devastating comments about him is that he never takes a play off. Never. Imagine that. His belly is as flat as the plains. He is tall and fast.” – Michael Holley, Globe Staff, April 24^th, 2001.

There won’t be anymore whining of Patriots fans, wondering what he will look like on a transitioning NE defensive line. Young Seymour was ferocious and relentless. His scouting report says it all. No fancy emphasis needed.

You put Richard Seymour on your defensive line, and he’d compete with the crème de la crème, needing double or triple team coverage. A stud. Mammoth strength. Whopping potential. He was the Ferris Bueller of pranksters. Too good to be true.

Two years and a knee injury later, Seymour was more than effective in man-to-man coverage. After the rush of Super Bowl success, David could tackle Goliath. He was being dominated.

In the final days of Richard the III, there wasn’t much love left in the tank. He didn’t find the need to genuflect, hallow at the sacred ground, because he came here, and did what he needed to do. He was drafted, won three Super Bowl rings, and had enough of the winners attitude.

Jaded. He’d seen numerous coaches come-and-go, get their promotions with other teams, but he was still standing in Foxboro. Same old jersey number 93.

But when Richard Seymour was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a 2011 1^st round draft choice, he was offended. Irate is a better the word.  Disrespected by the franchise that brought him to the top of his game, and recycled him back into the NFL triage. Traded for a future top draft pick, someone who will want it more than he did.

He didn’t show up for days. They threatened to nullify the trade but it would cost him an automatic five-game suspension by due process of NFL-law. He filed a grievance, claiming he was “blindsided”  by the trade, and was still dealing with “personal issues”  back in New England.

He eventually showed up, and enrolled in the black-and-silver. He played defense off every JaMarcus Russell miscue. Maybe even shared a candy bar or two. The Raiders were miserable, and finished 2009 with a 5-11 record, good for 3^rd in the AFC West. In February of this year, Oakland gave him the franchise tag.

What have the Patriots done without Seymour? They’ve gotten lighter, younger, and more cooperative on team chemistry. They were able to draft players like Ron Brace and Myron Pryor, who are less likely to make an All-AFC roster, but more likely to make plays every Sunday.

What has Seymour done for the Patriots? Inadvertently recruited veteran DL Gerard Warren to New England, who was Seymour’s teammate last season in Oakland.

“It’s all business,” Seymour told Warren. “Come in. Play winning football. Have fun. Family environment. When you walk in through the doors, it’s all business. Very appealing.”

Thanks again, Big Sey. Thanks for the memories.

In the three-minute segment, host John Brenkus and his team of physiologists and ESPN lab technicians strap hypersensitive gizmos to McCourty’s body, measuring various levels of speed, torque, and inertia.

The results may surprise you. Testing with NFL elite rookies Jahvid Best, Ndamukong Suh, Tim Tebow, and Jason Pierre-Paul, McCourty reached a top speed of 19.6 miles-per-hour during his 40-yard dash.

Best, recently drafted by the Detroit Lions, ran a 4.35 at the NFL Combine, the fastest of any rookie running back. In Sport Science, Best maxed out at 18 mph. Yes, Devin McCourty is faster than Jahvid Best. It doesn’t stop there.

“Of all the skills a [Defensive Back] has to have,” asks Brenkus, “What’s the single most important?”

McCourty replies, “He has to be able to change direction. Fast.”

“Fast?”

“Fast.”

On the field, McCourty has a triple line of vision. Stepping back into coverage, a cornerback initially reacts to a receiver’s route, shifting eyes of an opposing QB, and ball release, all within a matter of seconds.

“You need quick feet,” says the Patriots 27^th overall draft pick. “You need to have straight line speed, and be able to go right, left, forward, or backwards.”

ESPN made him do just that. Devin’s next experiment sent him back-pedaling 20 yards, testing the speed of the Scarlet Knight. Through careful analysis, the ESPN lab discovered McCourty runs backwards 80% as fast as he runs forwards.

So how do you take your McCourty? Straight up with a 90-degree twist? It only takes him six tenths of a second to hit his pace. Dirty.

Role play. Acclaimed radio announcer Gil Santos reads:

3^rd quarter is heating up at Foxboro, with the Indianapolis Colts setting up on the Patriots own 20-yard line. Two tight-end set for the Colts, Manning alone with Donald Brown in the backfield. Slot receiver to his right, TE goes in motion. Manning takes the snap, play-action fake, Brown picks up the run-blitz for Manning as he rolls to his right. Holding, holding, fires towards Austin Collie …

For the time it takes Manning to choose a target on his five-step drop, it’s taken Devin McCourty 66 hundredths of a second to shift directions downfield. In hot pursuit of a game-changing play, McCourty has the pick-six in clear sight, faster than you can say, “Let’s Go Insurance Adjusters.”

A Special Teams maven, McCourty is an aggressive, physical rookie nickel back with speed and astute thinking. There is no doubt Devin is ready to impact this Patriots secondary. Fast.

“It was a long draft,” said Hernandez during a team conference call. “I was just happy regardless of where I got picked because it’s a dream come true.”
It’s not too often that a New England native gets to set up shop in the house of hero-worship, but it’s the sort of dream that manifested at a very young age.

Bristol High School coach Doug Pina knew he had something in Hernandez, and in January of 2006, his most talented athletes lost his father to surgical complications. Mr. Hernandez’ passing inspired Pina to help young Aaron, a junior at the time, who was already in the process of choosing colleges.

Pina passed along a tape to Gators head coach Urban Meyer. It didn’t take long for the famed UF coach to recognize a true talent. He extended the TE a visit to Gainesville, and Hernandez committed on the spot.

Meyer took him under his wing. Hernandez had monster potential, illustrated by the numbers he put up during his senior year at Bristol. Hernandez set a state record with 67 receptions and 1,807 receiving yards, to go along with 24 touchdowns and 42 tackles-for-a-loss.

An all-around, versatile, blocking-TE, with wide receiver hands and acrobatic athleticism, Hernandez worked hard under Meyer, earning him top slots on the NFL Draft board. Certainly well deserved.

Florida Tight Ends coach Brian White agreed. “Aaron has all the ability to be considered an elite tight end and one of the best, if not the best in America. He just needs to continue to improve.”

But the Hernandez story has recently hit a schneid. Before being picked up by New England, Hernandez fell three rounds in this year’s draft, and a lot of scouts wanted to know why. Allegations have since emerged of Hernandez’ involvement with marijuana and a failed drug test at the university.

After another media handicap, multiple sources confirmed that Hernandez tested positive for the drug during his junior season at UF. How many tests, no one is quite sure. But a number of NFL teams have stepped forward to contribute their two cents, including Albert Breer of the Boston Globe, who reported Monday that Hernandez “failed absolutely, positively, more than two.”

This isn’t the first time one of Meyer’s pupils has been caught “under fire” so to speak. Last season, top recruit Percy Harvin failed his drug test at the NFL combine, but that didn’t stop the Minnesota Vikings from making him a first round selection.

Recreational use of the drug has gained national attention in recent years, after famed running back Ricky Williams notably disappeared from the NFL to devote more time to his “smoking hobby.”

For the terminally ill, marijuana is a common herb reputed to cure a variety of afflictions, for Aaron Hernandez, one could pose a lot of questions.

Was this a case of mentor turning away from an apprentice? Or a protégé still self-handling the pressures of the NFL and the loss of his father?

Florida Substance Abuse Committee tests student athletes on a regular basis, and “issues a one game suspension for two failed tests, and an indefinite suspension after five.”

Hernandez missed the first game of the Gators 2009 regular season under ambiguous circumstances. If NFL teams failed to draft the top TE because of character issues, it’s their player to lose, and Belichick’s to gain.

Belichick constantly endorses Meyer and his players, it hasn’t stopped New England Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio from selecting three other Gator Alumni. The Patriots have been on the hunt for the perfect TE since the Ben Coates retired. Former top draft choice Daniel Graham has since moved on to the Denver Broncos, while Benjamin Watson has signed with the Cleveland Browns.

The Patriots drafted two top-tier blocking tight ends in this year’s draft, in their effort to provide more pocket protection for quarterback Tom Brady. New England hopes to re-invent the role of the “power tight end,” using Hernandez and 2^nd round pick Rob Gronkowski as significant, red zone weapons.

With players like Vernon Davis out in San Francisco, Antonio Gates in San Diego, and Dallas Clark in Dallas, the Patriots hope that both Hernandez and Gronkowski will follow suit, and supply great offense for New England.

Despite his loyalty to Drew Bledsoe, Hernandez is honored to catch passes from Tom Brady.

“I still can’t believe it, but I’m just glad I’m going to a team that has a great quarterback.”

It’s also a nice return for Brady, who will have some new, young faces surrounding him this season. Hopefully, Hernandez will bring out the best in his quarterback, and that Brady will respond in kind. Both QBS are known for their frozen-rope accuracy, and professionalism, defining characteristics that made Bledsoe an iconic sports figure just ten years ago.

Funny how everything in life, comes full circle.