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After injuring his shoulder during Wednesdays game, Cavs G and 3 point sharp shooter is out for the rest of the series

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson is out for the remainder of the second-round playoff series against the Celtics due to a first degree left shoulder separation, which could sideline him for 1-2 weeks.

Gibson left Cleveland’s Game 5 loss on Wednesday in the third quarter with a left shoulder contusion. He received additional examinations today at The Cleveland Clinic, including an MRI, which revealed a first degree left AC (acromioclavicular joint) separation. With Gibson out, look for veteran guard Damon Jones likely to replace him in the rotation and veteran guard Eric Snow likely to be activated.

In my opionion it is a HUGE loss for the Cavs, when GIbson gets hot he is a huge weapon. This makes the Cavs bench one player short and puts more pressure on Delonte West to score and defend.

NFL Network Adam Schefter reports that Kevin Jones and the Patriots met last week.

During his rookie year, Jones led the Lions with 1,133 rushing yards while scoring five touchdowns. But foot and knee injuries slowed him down during his next three seasons in Detroit and contributed to his release in March. Now, after four seasons in the NFL, Jones’ career is at something of a crossroads.

The speedy Jones, a first-round draft choice of the Lions in 2004, is recovering from a torn ACL. The Patriots had been high on Jones when he was coming out of Virginia Tech, and were prepared to scoop him up with the No. 32 overall selection in that draft, but the Lions swooped in with a trade and picked him at No. 31

Jones appears to be a couple of months away from recovering from the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered late last season, but he is far enough along that the Patriots brought him in for a look.

I think that Kevin Jones would be a great add, giving depth and competetion to the RB position. If Jones can become something of what he was in his rookie year, itll be a big upgrade. While he wont threaten Maroney as a starter he would add competition to Morris and Faulk as backup, change of pace and/or third down back.

It was clear that the Sox were trying to trade Tavares but now it is more evident that there is no room for Julian on this years squad. To make room for Sean Casey who is coming off the DL, the Red sox have designated Juilan Tavares for assingment (according to multiple sources, SI.com, Projo.com).

They now have 10 days to either work a trade with another team or to outright release him.

This lowers the value that the Sox will get in return for him but hopefully more than one team wants him, which I think is likly (he could be a 5 starter somewhere), thus driving up the stock for him and the sox landing something of value in return.

Projo reports that once promising pitcher Abe Alvares was released on Sunday:

The lefthander was at Triple-A Pawtucket and had been moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen this year. He had a 6.46 ERA in 13 games.

In four career appearances with the Red Sox (the most notable a 2004 spot start), Alvarez had a 4.76 ERA in 10 1/3 innings.

In other news the Sox and Rockies are still talking trade of Julian Taveres (reports boston.com, weei and other sources)

Rather than pick up immediate help, the Red Sox would probably want a prospect from the Rockies. Some possibilities could include outfielder Seth Smith, catcher Michael McKenry and pitchers Jhoulys Chacin, Shane Lindsay and Juan Morillo.

 Viewimages.com

Maybe by releasing Alvarves they are making room in AAA for one of those prospects. I think if they can get any high to mid level prospect in return for Tavares would be great. While he does give us flexibilty to start or relieve, we have plenty of others who can give us spot starts and many better options in the bullpen and long relief that Tavares, so sell him while you can.

According to the Boston Globe, big man Ben Wallace is doubfut for game 3:

Cavaliers starting forward Ben Wallace is doubtful for Game 3 of Cleveland’s playoff series against the Boston Celtics because of allergies and a left inner ear infection.

Wallace started but played less than 4 minutes in Thursday night’s game before he became dizzy and asked to come out. He staggered to the bench and had to be assisted by his teammates before the Cavs’ training staff stepped in.

Wallace underwent a series of tests at the Cleveland Clinic on Friday. The team said the defensive stopper could be upgraded but it was “best case, 50-50″ that Wallace would play Saturday in Game 3.

Cavs coach Mike Brown said if Wallace can’t go, Anderson Varejao would likely start up front alongside LeBron James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas as Cleveland tries to climb back from an 0-2 deficit in the best-of-seven series.

Wallace joined the Cavaliers in a trade from Chicago in February. He missed several regular-season games because of back spasms.

Its little things that win playoff games and Wallace does those little things, hustle, offensive rebounds and defense. With him out that propells Verajo into the starting line up and makes the Cavs weak bench 1 man smaller. With him being out it Could be a hit to the head for the Cavs.

Obviously if you are reading this blog you probaly watched the game so I will rarely go into recaps about games but I will give my two cents.

19 Points 13 Rebounds 2 Assists  7-13 from the Field, 3 steals and stellar defense and electricity.

These are not the stats from Lebron, Pierce, Garnett or any other starter but rather the combined stats of two bench players whom came up huge in last nights win, giving the celts the momemtum, clutch points and rebounds, defense and hustle to grab the lead and eventually the win. These two men are Leon Powe and James Posey.

Again it was Poseys long arms and menacing defense who bothered Lebron and got in his head where he was forcing shots, turning the ball over (7 times) and missing layups.  Posey also came through with a huge 3 late in the second quater and a steal off Lebron leading to a dunk where the Celts took the lead, got the crowd on its feet and never looked back.

It was Powes hustle and hardwork on the offensive boards (4 off boards).  With Perkins in the game Illgauskus scored 12 points going 6-6 from the field and Kendrick was not able to defend vs Illgauskus’ outside pop out jumper. Powe came into the game and was scrambling all over the place sometimes playing vs Illgauskus who only scored 7 more pts the rest of the game, sometimes hedging a disrupting Lebrons jumper. I think Powe needs to get more PT in this series, Kendrick can not get out to Illgauskus jump shot and is not bringing the intensity as Powe does.

Without the two P’s the C’s might have gotten an L last night. Up 2-0, need to steal one in Clevland and the bench will have a huge impact.

Some good video and links for you….just click away….

• Jimmy Kimmel aka Miguel Tejada on his wieght issues (video)

• Bill Bilichek and Josh McDaniels could use this play (video)
• Tribute to the Beer GUY (article and videos)

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08125/878966-85.stm

This story is a great read about a teenager with cancer who has a huge heart, a mature mind and a love for sports. Its a heart touching story and a must read. Exert:

The 18-year-old kid dying of cancer gets his wish, a chance to swing a bat maybe one last time in a real baseball game.

He hasn’t played in a few years, but he’s called on to pinch-hit. His eyes light up at the first pitch and he puts all of his 5-foot-5, 93-pound frame into one mighty swing, making contact and sending a line drive into right field for a single — if he can reach first base. The cancer he’s been battling for almost two years has spread to his pelvis, making running nearly impossible.

The kid worries about falling as he hustles down the first-base line. When he gets to the base, he lets out with a yell. “I did it! I did it!”

His high school coach set up a fund raiser walk for him so he could go on one last vaccation with his family. They raised enough and he plans on going a cruise in JUne.

After the walk, John addressed the crowd.

“He spoke from his heart,” Mr. Wetzel, the coach, said. “He said, ‘I’ve got two options. I know I’m going to die, so I can either sit at home and feel sorry, or I could spread my message to everybody to live life to the fullest and help those in need.’ After hearing that, I don’t know if there were many people not crying.”

On figuring out he had cancer and talking with his dad

“I sit up with him at night until 1 or 2 in the morning,” Scott Challis said. “He’ll tell me, ‘Dad, when I’m gone, you have to do this or that. You have to watch your weight.’ He’s worried about my weight. He tells me I have to take care of mom.

“When the doctors told him a few weeks ago about how the cancer was winning, he had a lot of questions about what it was going to be like and about being comfortable. Later on, he broke down with me and you know what he did? He apologized. He was upset because he felt like he was letting everyone down who had been praying for him.”

The role of sports in his life

The cancer forced him to stop playing football as a junior.

“But I will never forget,” his father said, “when he first got sick he told me, ‘Dad, I have to dress for a football game one more time.’ “

He got his wish in the final game of his senior season, against Hickory. Coaches let him kick off once. He was supposed to kick and immediately run off the field to avoid danger. Instead, he stayed on the field and got a little excited when the kick returner started heading his way before being tackled.

Later in the game, the coaches put him in for two plays at receiver. Mr. Wetzel and others who saw the game proudly tell how, on one play, John tried to block a defender, fell down, but got up and pushed another defender………….

Baseball

 John attended the game, but had an IV line in his arm for a treatment he was getting. He took out the IV line and asked Mr. Wetzel if he could pinch-hit again.

“Unbelievable. He told me the doctor said he could take it out for up to seven hours,” Mr. Wetzel said. “He told me he just wanted to be a normal kid one more time.”

So Mr. Wetzel let him pinch-hit. This time he struck out.

Impact on his coach

They have a unique coach-player relationship. Mr. Wetzel invited John to be part of the team a year ago and John calls the coach one of his best friends. They talk every day, at least on a cell phone, and go to lunch together once a week.

“The kid has changed my life,” Mr. Wetzel said. “I cry for him just about every day. I’m 32 and I’m getting married in September. You know what he told me the other day? He told me to save him a seat in the front row of the church, because even if he’s not there, he’ll be there in spirit.

Great read, really touching showing that there is more to life than sports. A role model and someone who know about what life is reallly about.

By the way Curt is playing catch:

Curt Schilling made 25 throws at 60 feet this afternoon. The session — really just him playing catch with pitching coach John Farrell — lasted six minutes. He’s scheduled to throw again on Thursday. Boston.com

Also WEEI reports that the Rockies have inquired about trading for Julian Tavares