Items on Celts, Blodgett, Hoff, tough track kid

Most weeks, I’m able to stay on task (as educators like to say nowadays) long enough to put together a column that revolves around a single, well-reasoned and witty argument or theme (as journalists like to tell themselves nowadays).

Sometimes, it’s easy and everything flows. And sometimes (like today), I’m not much different from the kid I was back in 1970, when my kindergarten teacher wrote these prophetic words on my quarterly report card: “Has a hard time sitting still.”

I still have a hard time sitting still. And this week, I’m not even gonna try. We have a lot of ground to cover. Let’s get started.

News item: Basketball fans across the Pine Tree State went into mourning this week after the Sacramento Monarchs cut former University of Maine star guard Cindy Blodgett.

Any team can sign her, now. And it may not happen.

Hate to play the I-told-you-so game (and before you write, call, or stick pins in a voodoo doll that looks like me, I am a Blodgett fan at heart), but … I did tell you so.

Ever since Blodgett was traded three years ago (for a player who was quickly cut, by the way) her role has remained the same: Our Girl Cindy was a designated shooter inserted late in games when instant offense was needed.

The fact: Scorers need a green light to do what they do best. And three shots a game doesn’t cut it.

Is Cindy Blodgett one of the best players in the world? By virtue of her four-year stint in the top league on the planet, yes. But here are two another facts: There are others who are much, much better. And there’s no shame in that.

News item: University of Maine president Peter Hoff announced this week that he wouldn’t recommend the elimination of the men’s and women’s swimming teams and the men’s soccer team.

That’s great. There’s only one thing that would have been worse than Hoff making the decision to cut those sports after not attending the public hearing on the issue.

What, you ask? Making the cuts after not attending the hearing, but making the announcement while he was in Oregon, interviewing for another job.

News item: The Boston Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference championship for the first time since Larry Legend and the boys did it back in the 1980s.

Unbelievable. Fantastic. Wonderful. (And as a lifetime Celtics nut, I mean all of those).

I also mean all of this: Antoine Walker and his “Walker Wiggle,” are an embarrassment. The next time the Celts star starts dancing after a mediocre play, I wouldn’t be all that upset if an opponent decided to do his own little elbow-dance on Walker’s snoot.

News item: Unless you’re a track nut or your kid runs, you missed the story of Herbie Ryan. And that’s too bad.

The next time you hear someone talk about how tough the players are in another sport, tell them what the Ellsworth High sophomore did during last week’s Hancock County championships.

Ryan hit he final hurdle with his trail leg and took a nasty spill … which he broke, unfortunately, with an outstretched right arm. The result was sudden and sickening, and you didn’t have to be a doctor to recognize the fact that bones had been broken.

Ryan got up. Took a step, and fell on the arm. … again. Then he got up … and finished the race in fourth place.

And here’s what he said, apologetically, to coach Jim Shedeck, as doctors attended to him at trackside.

“I don’t think I’m gonna be able to throw the discus, coach.”

Ryan was serious.

Bet on this: With an attitude like his, Herbie Ryan will be back. And he’ll be good.

John Holyoke can be reached at 990-8214, 1-800-310-8600 or by e-mail at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net