If the CBA is not approved, neither will the new stadiums

It seems that if the CBA agreement is not signed and all signs are pointing every which way today, the league won't allow teams to borrow the money needed for stadium construction. At $150 million a stadium, that's not chump change and could change the landscape (literally) of the league.

From Newsday:

If no extension is reached and the sides can't agree on a labor accord before this one runs out after the 2007 season, the G-3 program, which allows teams to borrow up to $150 million for stadium construction, would be eliminated until a new CBA is approved.

The Giants and Jets plan to ask the league for $300 million ($150 million per club) as part of a stadium package. They hope to build a stadium, estimated to cost more than $1 billion, near Giants Stadium.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also is looking to build a stadium in Fort Worth, and Vikings owner Zygi Wilf wants to build one outside Minneapolis. The Chiefs are trying to win funding for a major stadium upgrade, and the 49ers hope to eventually build a stadium to replace aging Monster Park.

The G-3 program is a joint venture of the owners and union, which wants to promote stadium construction because it adds revenue streams that eventually help increase player salaries. But if the union follows through on its threat to decertify if the CBA is not extended, the G-3 program will be eliminated.

What if we don't want him?

Wells is now claiming he'd be happy to remain in Boston. Most likely this is because he was in a wheelchair for a month! and noone else will take him. But what if we don't want to keep him?

I've never been happy with having Wells on the team. He had a 4.45 ERA last year. And with an incentive laden contract, he's going to go out and try to pitch whether he's healthy or not. I expect a lot of three inning outings from him this year.

Also, I'm tired of hearing how he's a big game pitcher. Well, let's take a look at how he did in his big games last year?

How about opening day last year? That was a big game, right? Yankee stadium, opening day... Boomer "gave up 10 hits and four runs over 4 1/3 innings. He also balked in a run, walked one and had two hit batsmen (Jason Giambi both times) while notching four strikeouts. The Boomer took the loss as the Yankees pounded the Sox, 9-2, on Sunday's Opening Night."

Well, what about the playoffs. Those are big games, right? Well, it was a better outing than opening day, that's for sure. In 6.2 innings, he gave up 7 hits and 5 runs (only 2 ER) and only 5 K's. I certainly remember how he got rattled after that error. That was his last big day for the Sox. I only hope it really was his last.

Alex Gonzalez pulls out of WBC

Alex Gonzalez is on his way back to spring training with the Red Sox after pulling out of the WBC. Although there is no official word as to why he pulled out, chances are good it's because Carlos Guillen and Omar Vizquel are also on the Venezuelan team and Alex wouldn't get a lot of playing time.

Alex played for the Venezuelan team over the winter where he hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to win one game, and drove in the tying run and scored the winning run in the championship game vs. the Dominican Republic.

Nomar plays first base

Doesn't that just sound weird. Nomar Garciappara may have been the best shortstop to play for Boston, and here we are just a few years later, and he's playing first base.

Pre mid 90's, SS was just a defensive position, leaving the power and hitting numbers to the outfielders. Then Nomar, Jeter and A-Rod came along and redefined what the position meant. Now, Jeter is the only one still starting at SS.


Boston Globe

Nomar Garciaparra made two outstanding plays at first base

Why is Toine still complaining?

Am I missing something? I just don't understand what Antoine Walker's issues are when it comes to leaving the Celtics. Does he still have issues from the first trade when Ainge made it clear that they didn't want him?

The Celtics managed to get Walker onto a better team with a six-year contract for over $52 million. What more did he want?

"I feel that he’s a guy that doesn’t understand what we’re doing - and he doesn’t need to understand," Ainge said. "I just think Antoine feels hurt, but I have nothing personal against him. I did everything I could to work out the trade and get him the contract he wanted even though we got very little back in return. He said we didn’t want him back, but I talked to his agent last summer and just realized that their goals were different than ours. Once I knew that, I tried to help him get what he wanted."

Comments from Walker like: "I don’t know if (Ainge is) trying to run the youth thing, but we were coming off an Atlantic Division title and we had a good core together. And I’m 29 years old, so I don’t know what you consider old. I don’t know where the problem lies, but the truth will probably never come out." just don't make sense to me.

Does he just not get it? The Celtics weren't going to win (it all) with just him and Pierce. Will someone explain to me what his issues are. Things worked out really well for him. The Celtics are struggling without him. What more could he want?