Boston Garden

BOSTON -- Finally, after almost 2 1/2 hours, it was time for Larry Bird to say thank you and goodbye. "I've been very fortunate," he began, but the crowd wasn't ready for the last act of this remarkable retirement party."

Associated Press WALTHAM, Mass. — The original Boston Garden is long gone, and so is the fear in opponents' eyes when they play the Celtics on their home floor. So don't expect the Magic to be too intimidated in Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. "We've won there before, and there's no reason we can't do it again," Magic forward Rashard Lewis said Friday. "Boston beat us twice on our court. Why can't we do it to them?" The Celtics took the first two games in Orlando, earning a chance to advance without having to leave town again.

BOSTON -- After three decades of bull and bluster, the deal announced Thursday to build a new Boston Garden began streaking toward reality on a warm Sunday in March when, fittingly, the Celtics were at home, destroying the Atlanta Hawks.While Larry Bird was busy scoring 20 points, Japanese bankers were watching the game from the hard plastic seats of the decrepit North End landmark that is scheduled to be replaced in 1995.Earlier in the day, officials from Toyo Trust & Banking Co. of Tokyo had toured the Garden, seen the obstructed views during a Harlem Globetrotters game and met with Garden officials, including Jeremy Jacobs, chairman of Delaware North Cos., which owns the Garden, and Garden president Larry Moulter.

Hall of Fame baseball manager Leo Durocher once said that nice guys finish last. But sometimes they don't even get to finish the season. Case in point: Lawton Dean, an 80-year-old usher for the Double-A Birmingham Barons. Make that former usher. The Birmingham (Ala.) News reported this month that Dean lost his job April 11 after he retrieved a ball that Chicago White Sox prospect Joe Borchard hit over the center-field fence for an 11th-inning victory. Dean asked for permission to give the ball to Borchard as a keepsake, but Barons president and general manager Tony Ensor told him it was against club rules.

"Celtic Pride" is about men who know what's important in life: not careers, which they've blown, or families, which they've abandoned, or happiness, which eludes them forever. No, what's truly important is the success of 12 mercenary millionaires playing a game for sheer profit and shoe company commercials. Is this a great country or what?The movie, which makes some nifty points about the irrationality of passion devoted to professional athletics, is only semi-funny, however, and only semi-convincing.

Opponent: Boston CelticsSite: Boston GardenTime: 7:30TV/Radio: Channel 20/WWLG (1360 AM),WTEM (570 AM)Outlook: The Celtics had an impressive week last week, winning back-to back games against the two best teams in basketball, the Phoenix Suns and the Orlando Magic. But Boston enters tonight's game with a two-game losing streak. Rookie center Eric Montross is the only Celtics player among the league leaders in any category, with his .548 field goal percentage ranking sixth. The Bullets have lost both games against the Celtics this season.

VS. PHILA. FLYERS* WHEN: Tonight, 8:05.* WHERE: Capital Centre.* TV/RADIO: HTS and WMAL-AM 630.VS. BOSTON BRUINS* WHEN: Tomorrow, 7:05.* WHERE: Boston Garden.* TV/RADIO: Ch. 20, WMAL-AM 630.* OUTLOOK: The Capitals are 2-0 against the Flyers this season, but have won just one of their last nine games. The team is still beset with injuries with Peter Zezel, Neil Sheehy, Jim Hrivnak, Dave Tippett and Chris Felix out. The Flyers (21-18-5), who are tied for second with New Jersey (47 points), have Ron Hextall back.

Opponent: Boston BruinsSite: Boston GardenTime: 7:30TV/Radio: HTS/WMAL (630 AM)Outlook: The Capitals (6-10-5) are on a three-game winning streak and are 3-1-3 in their past seven games. Tonight, rookie goalie Jim Carey, a native of Dorchester, Mass., who grew up rooting for Boston, is again expected to be in goal, as Washington tries to cool off the 12-7-2 Bruins. Boston is 4-1-1 in its past six games, including Sunday night's 5-2 victory over Hartford. The teams tied, 1-1, the last time they met at the Garden, on Feb. 11. Should Washington win tonight, it would be only its second road victory this season.

VS. BOSTON CELTICS* WHEN: Tonight, 7:30.* WHERE: Boston Garden.* TV/RADIO: Channel 20; WTOP-AM (1500), WINX-AM (1600).* OUTLOOK: The Bullets take a 2-26 road record into the Garden, where the Celtics have won won nine of the last 11 games between the clubs. The Bullets (23-41) will be without forward Bernard King (lower back and flu) and forward/center Charles Jones (pulled groin). Tom Hammonds, who had 14 points against Boston last Friday, is expected to start in place of King.Boston (49-18)

BOSTON -- Tonight, thousands of Boston Celtics fans will walk into the new FleetCenter on Causeway Street and look up. What they'll see is the past. Glorious banners -- in Celtics green for 16 NBA championships, in Bruins gold for five Stanley Cups.L All accomplishments achieved at the legendary Boston Garden.Beginning tonight, The Garden is truly history. The NHL's Boston Bruins left the place behind Oct. 7, with their first home game here in The Fleet. Tonight, the NBA does the same, when the Celtics open the season against the Milwaukee Bucks.

In yesterday's Today section, the incorrect network for the television show "The Practice" was mentioned in a headline. The new legal drama appears on ABC; its local affiliate is WMAR (Channel 2).The Sun regrets the error."The Practice" is an anti-lawyer courtroom drama that sides with the little guy against corporate America, but ultimately votes conservative.Sound like a bundle of contradictions? It is, but what a pretty package to look at and what a fine piece of work by producer David E. Kelley ("Picket Fences" and "Chicago Hope")

"Celtic Pride" is about men who know what's important in life: not careers, which they've blown, or families, which they've abandoned, or happiness, which eludes them forever. No, what's truly important is the success of 12 mercenary millionaires playing a game for sheer profit and shoe company commercials. Is this a great country or what?The movie, which makes some nifty points about the irrationality of passion devoted to professional athletics, is only semi-funny, however, and only semi-convincing.

Opponent: Boston CelticsSite: FleetCenter, BostonTime: 7:30TV/Radio: Ch. 50/WTEM (570 AM)Outlook: This will be Washington's first visit to the brand new FleetCenter, the home to the Celtics. The building has not yielded many results for the Celtics, who are last in the Atlantic Division (1-4) and 1-3 at home.G Dee Brown was averaging 11.5 ppg before being placed on the injured list Wednesday with a twisted left knee. F/C Pervis Ellison (sore right knee) is expected to come off the injured list tonight against his former team.

BOSTON -- Tonight, thousands of Boston Celtics fans will walk into the new FleetCenter on Causeway Street and look up. What they'll see is the past. Glorious banners -- in Celtics green for 16 NBA championships, in Bruins gold for five Stanley Cups.L All accomplishments achieved at the legendary Boston Garden.Beginning tonight, The Garden is truly history. The NHL's Boston Bruins left the place behind Oct. 7, with their first home game here in The Fleet. Tonight, the NBA does the same, when the Celtics open the season against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The TV Repairman:We interrupt this column to inform you that the Orioles are playing on your radio (WBAL) and your television (if you subscribe to Home Team Sports) today (1 p.m.) and you are excused. But hurry back.* Roy Firestone got the right guy in Bob Cousy to explain the wonder and majesty of the Boston Garden in his ESPN "Upclose" tribute to the soon-to-be-razed old gal atop Boston's North Station.They called the legendary parquet playing surface "Cousy's floor," because of the stupefying things he did on it, but he debunked the legend by pointing out, "It probably wasn't a good floor at all because of the dead spots and screws always coming loose.

Opponent: Boston BruinsSite: Boston GardenTime: 7:30TV/Radio: HTS/WMAL (630 AM)Outlook: The Capitals (6-10-5) are on a three-game winning streak and are 3-1-3 in their past seven games. Tonight, rookie goalie Jim Carey, a native of Dorchester, Mass., who grew up rooting for Boston, is again expected to be in goal, as Washington tries to cool off the 12-7-2 Bruins. Boston is 4-1-1 in its past six games, including Sunday night's 5-2 victory over Hartford. The teams tied, 1-1, the last time they met at the Garden, on Feb. 11. Should Washington win tonight, it would be only its second road victory this season.

You call yourself a hockey fan? How does 200 games a year in collegiate, NHL, AHL, IHL and ECHL grab you?Donald "Fuzzy" Cohen, a native of New York City, sees six or seven hockey games a week, and when the hockey season is over, he watches more than 200 major-league baseball games a year.Look up into the top row of the Baltimore Arena at just about any Skipjacks game and you'll see a man with a flowing beard. That's Cohen."I watch at least 30 Skipjacks games and 15 Orioles games a year," said Cohen.