– Wonder which team has more players wearing beards these days – the Bruins or the Red Sox?

– No wonder John Tortorella can’t last long in any one coaching spot. Would you spend several years of your career playing for him as he constantly throws you under the bus in post-game press conferences?

– As it gets closer and closer to the Miami Heat getting to the NBA finals, I ask myself ‘do I really want Ray Allen to get this title? I love the guy. I hate the Heat.’

– If Sam Dexter(Messalonskee HS, USM) keeps this up he just might become the best everyday baseball player to come out of a Maine high school since (fill in the blank).

–  It is hard to believe that David Ortiz now has more multi-home run games (38) than Ted Williams (37), Jim Rice (35) and Yaz (27).

–  I’m rooting for the Indiana Pacers to win the NBA title and it’s because of head coach Frank Vogel. Yes, he is a former Celtics video coordinator under then head coach Rick Pitino, but, he transferred from playing basketball at a Division III school to attend Kentucky and became a student manager. And, Vogel (as a 10-year-old) appeared on David Letterman’s segment” Stupid Human Tricks” spinning a toothbrush on a basketball while brushing his teeth. Go, Frank, go!

– Put me down as officially worried about one Rob Gronkowski.

– Do you realize that Tiger Woods left The Players Championship tournament with a winner’s check for $1,710,000.00… and Lindsey Vonn.

– UMaine vs. Stony Brook in the first game of the America East baseball tournament should feature the top two starters in the league – Maine’s Tommy Lawrence (9-3 2.59) vs SB’s Frankie Vanderka (8-3 2.27). Pitching, pitching, pitching wins championships.

– By the way, as the America East tourney is being played at the Red Sox Lowell Spinners minor league stadium, some former Spinners players include…Hanley Ramirez, Jose Iglesias, Jed Lowrie, Brandon Moss, Will Middlebrooks, Felix Doubront, Jonathan Papelbon and Jackie Bradley Jr.

– Why do I get the feeling that comparing LeBron to Michael Jordan is like comparing Jimmie Johnson to Dale Earnhardt. Not matter what LeBron or Jimmie do, they will never be Jordan or Earnhardt.

– When NBA free agents hear about Doc Rivers always trying to decide whether he wants to return as C’s coach each year, does that affect their decision on which team to sign with?

– Give me a team full of players like Dustin Pedroia.

– Bull Frog Sunscreen and Fuzzy’s Vodka. Two examples of how sports and sports products/sponsorships can be a good thing. Did you ever hear of Bull Frog Sunscreen before Clay Buchholz was found to be using it on his arm to get better grip on a baseball? Did you ever hear of Fuzzy’s Vodka before Ed Carpenter’s No. 20 Indy sponsored car won the Indy 500 pole over the weekend?

– Live P-B-P of the Bruins all this week on Sportsradio 92.9TheTicket.

When you talk sports with fellow workers at the water cooler, have you ever joked about Big Papi David Ortiz? Something like “yeah, he got to be on somethin’, hahaha.” Or, when you are out drinking a cold one with your buddies and the talk turns to the Sox, you’ve heard someone say, “it’s amazing what Papi is doing – can’t even run a lick one month, then starts playing games and hits .500 the next month?”.

If your answer is yes – congratulations! You are Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe columnist.

And, you too now draw the ire of Ortiz. Sox co-owner Tom Werner has taken you to the woodshed. Many in Red Sox nation swear they hate you and want you fired.

I’m here to say that I love Dan Shaughnessy. He is the best at what he does.

Dictionary.com defines a column as “a regular feature or series of articles in a newspaper, magazine or the like, that reports or comments upon a particular field of interest, which may contain letters from readers, answers to readers’ queries, etc.”

A few days ago, the Globe’s Shaughnessy was doing his job when he met face to face with Sox DH David Ortiz then wrote his column based on his questions asked to Papi and the answers Papi gave him.

Example 1.

Shaughnessy: Did you hear the fans in Toronto chanting, “steroids!”?

Ortiz: No, not really. Why?

Shaughnessy: Because what you are doing looks too good to be true.

Ortiz: They test me all the time…This year I would say I’ve been tested five times. They don’t warn you. They just show up.”

I ask – what’s wrong with this?

Example 2.

Shaughnessy: But hitting is really hard and you are making it look so easy. No spring training. You are hitting .426.

Ortiz: It is not easy, bro…We work consistently to get better. I don’t work in the cage every day, I don’t hit every day in the batting practice, I don’t watch video every day to get worse. If I want to get worse, I come here and sit in my chair and 10 minutes before the game I get up.”

Again I ask – what’s wrong with this?

Example 3.

Shaughnessy: Do you understand why people are suspicious?

Ortiz: I don’t care about what people say, bro. People don’t feed my family. I feed my family. I don’t got nothing to hide, bro. I’m not going to screw everything that I have done in my career because I test positive for steroids. That’s not going to happen.”

Strike three – I ask what’s wrong with either this question, or this answer?

In my opinion, Shaughnessy did his job well. Big Papi did his job well. End of story.

Except that Ortiz won’t let it go. The follow up tweets…the comments to Shaughnessy in the clubhouse over the weekend. (Yes, Shaughnessy does show his face in a place where he knows he is not well received right now).

Red Sox owner Tom Werner used the team website to post this. “Those who publicly ask questions must take responsibility for their words. They (the Globe) had the right, but was it right?”

My answer is – returning to the clubhouse is certainly taking responsibility. And, there is nothing right or wrong with this. There were some tough questions and some honest answers.

Globe editor Brian McGrory says, “Dan Shaughnessy did what good columnists do. He gave voice to the questions that were on the minds of many people. Rather than fling accusations from afar, Shaughnessy went right to the source, respectfully posing a series of questions to David Ortiz, face-to-face, and receiving thoughtful answers in return.”

Exactly.

Now let’s all move on.

Or else Shaughnessy will start asking about chicken and beer in the clubhouse.

Naw…no story there.

ITEMS FROM THE DUFFEL BAG:

– Under the category of “it’s a small word” the USM baseball team won the LEC title over the weekend, defeating UMass-Dartmouth 4-2 in the championship game. The same UMass-Dartmouth school where Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzohkhar Tsarnaev took classes.

– How about the job former UMaine Black Bear defenseman Jack Capuano did with the NY Islanders…would he make a good replacement for Tim Whitehead?

– Husson softball needed to take that next step in the NCAA softball world. One win and two close losses at the regional – step taken.

– Trade Comparison: Joel Hanrahan: 9 Games/ 0-1/4 Saves/9.82ERA/Arm Surgery…Mark Melancon: 18 Games/18Inn/18 K’s/.50 ERA

–  A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog on sports emmy nominations. And the winners are….

Play-by-Play: Al Michaels

Analyst: Chris Collinsworth

Sideline Reporter: Pierre McGuire, Tom Verducci

Studio Host: Bob Costas

Studio Analyst: Charles Barkley

I could see the look on your face the other night when the Knicks beat your Celtics in Game 6. It was a look of “we got beat by that pack of punks, in the first round? I do have a lot of off-season work to fix this!”

Yup.

Let me be one of many to offer free, unsolicited advice.

First and foremost, you need to have a heart to heart with coach Doc Rivers. I love Doc and I know you do too. But, does he really want to start over? If you trade Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, let’s say face it, it’s a re-build job.

Now to Pierce and KG. You can’t trade or cut one without trading or cutting the other. So your choice is to get rid of both…or keep both. Trust me Danny, PP and KG ain’t the problem.

Your problem is with the Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Jerry Terry and Courtney Lee types. Those four guys are costing you almost the same amount as Pierce and Garnett combined salary. All four guys can say they know about Celtics pride but I don’t see any one of them willing to play hard – every night. So Danny, this is where you must work your magic. Trade some of these guys for a better fit for the team. I trust your eye for talent.

Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger are keepers. Plus, they total less than $4-million bucks on the salary cap.

Now, that brings us to Rajon Rondo. Look Danny, we know you tried to trade him before he got injured. So if you were willing to deal then, go ahead and try it again. See what you can get in return.

Those are your top nine players. I can see why you had that pained look on your face. You have got some monumental decisions to make.

Good luck and let me know if you need any more of my free advice.

P.S. Do not. Let me repeat – do not bring Jamal Crawford back. You agreed to give him $2 million for next year. You find a way to dump him. … Some of the unrestricted free agents this summer include Kyle Korver, Josh Smith, Ben Gordon,  Chris Kaman, JJ Reddick, Monta Ellis,  Al Jefferson, JR Smith and some guy named Howard…I think it’s Dwight Howard.

Thanks, Dale Duff

ITEMS FROM THE DUFFEL BAG:

– By the way, KG was 12th in MVP voting.

– Could we get NHL players and MLB players to stop spitting during the national anthem. Could they just assume a camera is going to be on them and just hold the split for two minutes.

– Mike Fransoso, UMaine shortstop. All he does is lead the team in batting average, hits, runs scored, RBI, steals, total bases, slugging percentage and on base percentage.

– Manny Ramirez has passed David Ortiz on another home run list – this one is the slowest home run trot(tatertrottracker.com). Manny hit his 5th homer in Taiwan and took 29.44 seconds, exactly one second more than Papi’s 28.44 earlier in the year. Big Papi still owns three of the top five slowest trot times this season.

– USM baseball has won the LEC regular season title, St.Joe’s won the GNAC conference title, Husson may win the NAC title, UMaine is on track to win America East regular season title. I would say college baseball is alive and well in the Pine Tree State.

– Interesting that Alaska-Anchorage has suspended its search for a new hockey coach – after bringing in four finalists. School officials say they want to revamp the committee and criteria for hiring a new coach. Hmmm.

– Bruins playoff action continues on SportsRadio 92.9TheTicket this week. Perhaps this is the week the B’s flip that switch and get into playoff mode.

– Ryan Dempster has 43 strikeouts in his first five starts in a Sox uniform. The only pitcher in club history with more through five games is Pedro Martinez in 1998. Perhaps it’s because of that “Bugs Bunny splitty” that catcher David Ross says Dempster is throwing.

–  David Ortiz owns the slowest home run trot of the season to date. Friday night’s bomb vs Houston was timed by tatertrottracker.com at 28.44 seconds. He also has the fourth slowest trot of the year. Must be the Achilles injury.

– The Sox are 17-1 when leading after eight innings. They are 0-4 when trailing after eight innings. Plan your trip to the refrigerator accordingly.

– Jacoby Ellsbury has 11 stolen bases and now has 201 thefts in a Red Sox uniform. He is just the third Sox player to have 200 steals (Harry Hooper 300 and Tris Speaker 267). I know, you are probably thinking —  what about Tommy Harper? Me too. I checked it out – he only played three seasons for the Sox and stole 107 bases.

– Mike Napoli has 18 extra base hits in April passing Jose Offerman’s 16 back in 1999. Just when I keep trying to forget Jose Offerman in a Sox uniform, he pops up again.

– The Red Sox pitching staff has 248 strikeouts. Not only a franchise April record but an MLB record (Arizona in 2002). Where in the name of Randy Niemann, Bob McClure and Curt Young have you been, Juan Nieves!

– The Sox will spend all 30 days of April in first or tied for first place…and that’s a first.

– Mike Napoli has 27 RBI. There have been 90 runners on base when he has come to bat.

– As we enjoy this great start to the season, a reminder that last year’s miserable team left the Sox with the No. 7 overall pick in June’s amateur draft. Be careful with this high pick Mr. Cherrington.

– Big Papi actually has a 20-game hit streak going, dating all the way back to July 2nd of last year when he got hurt. Now that’s a long streak.

– As I write this blog today, Mr. Beckett, Crawford, Gonzalez and the LA Dodgers are 11-12 in fourth place in the NL west.

– Jonny Gomes is hitting .179 with no homers and one RBI. He is second on the team in walks (10).

– Set aside David Ortiz limited play, the Sox leading hitter is Mike Carp at .455. Raise your hand if you called this one back in Fort Myers.

– Think about this. The 18-7 record is best the AL and your two starters on the left side of the infield are hitting .146 (Drew) and .202 (Middlebrooks).

– Oh yeah, this same team with the 18-7 record, the No. 3 hitter in the lineup (Pedroia) doesn’t have a home run.

– Watch out for the month of May. 30 games in 31 days… 11 of those games are against Minnesota and Cleveland… Feels like more wins to me!

– Nobody puts on a pre-game ceremony like the Red Sox at Fenway. You can credit Dr. Charles Steinberg. Not sure what his title is these days with the Sox but Saturday afternoon’s honoring of the victims of the marathon event had his fingerprints all over it.

– Having said that, David Ortiz delivering an obscenity on live TV, in front of 37,000 folks at Fenway including many kids – you can’t do that. I know he said what a lot of folks wanted to say. I know he apologized. It was not his first time speaking into a mic. He knows better.

– The old baseball adage of the importance of retiring the first batter of an inning – going into the weekend series with KC, Red Sox pitchers had retired the leadoff hitter in 84 of 129 innings. The ERA is 1.32 when the leadoff guy records on out. The ERA is 5.49 when the leadoff guy gets on base. (From the Maniacal One-Chuck Waseleski)

– A tip of the cap to UMaine coach Steve Trimper – 400 wins coaching college baseball in the northeast is tough. It’s a lot of innings of cold, windy and rainy baseball.

– Someone has suggested that having fans sing the national anthem in unison should happen before every game and to forget about having stars perform the anthem. I like that idea.

– The best athlete around just might be kayaker Trevor MacLean, the nine-time winner of the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. You try to sit in a 16-inch space for two-plus hours and paddle for 16 miles. By the way, his boat is not even built for river racing.

– Just when I started to warm up to New York fans for the singing of “Sweet Caroline” along come the knuckleheads who booed Paul Pierce at Madison Square Garden as he spoke before the game one playoff on Saturday.

– B’s coach Claude Julien is in a tough spot. He is a defensive-first minded coach but his team can’t score goals. In comes players like Jaromir Jagr and Carl Soderberg who are offensive-minded first players…this is going to be interesting.

– For those sick and tired of the song “Sweet Caroline” – how do you feel about it right now?

– I never saw it, but former UMaine coach Shawn Walsh kept a piece of paper in the center drawer of his desk that he put there on the day he was hired. The note read “if you don’t have the best of everything, make the best of everything you have.” Good advice.

– Now that Allen Webster has had a chance to pitch in a Sox game how about the next wave of arms, currently at double-A Portland…

Anthony Ranuado:  2-0 / 1.1.5 ERA / 17K / 5BB / 17 INN

Brandon Workman: 3-0 / 3.00 ERA / 25K / 2NN / 18 INN

Matt Barnes: 1-0 / 7.71 ERA / 11K / 4BB / 9 INN

Imagine if just one or two of these guys and Allen Webster can join the Sox rotation down the road? I think there will be an all-farm system rotation soon.

– Howland’s Matt Mulligan is a Green Bay Packer. How neat is that.

Actually, I’m not sure I have the exact candidate but I can offer my unsolicited advice – to those who will make the pick, to the guy who gets the gig  and to Maine hockey fans.

#1  The search for the new coach should not be rushed – unless there was a crystal-clear choice on the day you let Tim Whitehead go. This is probably not a popular idea but I believe it to be true. I know many hockey fans are disappointed that Maine didn’t act quicker on Jim Montgomery. Denver University, like BU, is a private school. The hiring process is different from a public school. I don’t blame DU. I don’t blame Montgomery. I don’t blame UMaine. Surely Jim Montgomery is not the only qualified coach out there.

#2  Just because current players want an assistant coach (Bob Corkum) to be the next guy doesn’t mean he should be. It’s understandable that players want someone they already know. But again, if he was your choice last week then hire him. If not, check the field and then decide.

#3  Hockey fans should remember that hiring someone with a big name is not always the best hire. Shawn Walsh was a Bowling Green backup goalie as a player and a no-name assistant coach (to most Maine fans) when athletic director Stu Haskell hired him. He turned out OK.

#4  Someone with no Maine ties might be the way to go. Again, not a very popular thing to say. But, I’m thinking an assistant coach such as Greg Brown from Boston College has learned a thing or two from Jerry York over the years. What about former DU coach George Gwozdecky? Read between the lines out there and I get the sense many hockey folks can’t believe he got the axe. No on-the-job training needed for this guy.

#5  When the new guy is chosen, UMaine officials and the new coach need to carefully choreograph the first press conference and the early days on the job. Be bold at the press conference. It’s OK to say this is where the program will be next year, in three years, in five years. Hockey fans want to know what is the vision of the new coach. Many fans will make their decision on whether it’s the right choice or not based on what they see, hear and read on day one.

In my time covering the first press conference of new UMaine coaches, two stick out. Shawn Walsh and Joanne Palombo. Both carried the room and I remember thinking “I don’t know if they can coach a lick, but I know they’ve got “it”, whatever “it” is.

#6  On day two, three, four and five go ring the church bells from Kittery to Fort Kent (as Bob Norton said on ESPN when the Bears won their first national championship). Maine people want to size up the new guy. Go play a round of golf at Aroostook Valley GC in Fort Fairfield to let County folks know you care and you’ll also be stepping into New Brunswick too. Have a breakfast at Becky’s Diner in Portland. Stop in at the Ice Vault in Hallowell. Climb Cadillac. Show up at the Moxie Festival in Lisbon Falls.

You get the point.

The UMaine hockey coach job is more than just a coaching job.

Take the time to get it right.

ITEMS FROM THE DUFFLE BAG:

– 23-14-3. Anybody remember. Anybody care. The UMaine hockey record a season ago.

– More numbers…4-6-5-6-5-3-4. For those scoring at home that’s the triple play turned by the Yankees the other night. Cano-Nix-Youk-Nix-Overbay-Cano.

– I hereby announce that I’m adding 200 strokes to my career golf score. After hitting into the water, I must have dropped a ball the same way Tiger Woods did at the Masters at least 100 times…so 100 x 2 stroke penalty = 200. Rule 33-7. There goes my PGA card.

– I am interested to see early season play in high school baseball and softball. The miserable weather has cut into outdoor practice time and scrimmage games for many teams.

– Sox closer Joel Hanrahan says all the right things but I see a little Calvin Schiraldi in his face. And that is not a good look.

– No disrespect to Colby and Thomas College baseball but the in-state baseball game I want to see is (21-14) UMaine vs (20-3) USM.

O Canada…O get-a-life.

The treatment of Red Sox manager John Farrell over the weekend at Skydome (oh, excuse me-Rogers Centre) is just the latest example that many sports fans up there just don’t get it.

It’s bad enough that Montreal fans boo the US anthem at the Forum (oh, excuse me-Bell Centre) before the game against the Bruins.

Then their fans spend the night applauding the biggest bunch of floppers the sport of hockey has ever seen (and hockey is supposed to be your sport).

Remember a couple of years ago when Canadiens fans put out the call to Dudley Do-Right and the Mounties to arrest Zdeno Chara because he had the audacity to check one of their players. He (Max Pacioretty) got hurt — because of poorly designed glass boards (hey — why don’t you just worry about catching Snidely Whiplash).

And then over the weekend, John Farrell gets bombarded with boos, taunts and paper airplanes by 45,328 folks. The Maple Leafs must have been on the road. I checked the average attendance for Blue Jays games during Farrell’s two years as Toronto manager-about 24,000 a game, slightly more than Tampa Bay attendance.

John Farrell has become public enemy number one in Canada because he wanted to be manager in Boston instead of Toronto. And that, apparently shows a lack of loyalty.

Pleasssse….

The Blue Jays have been around since 1977. They have gone through 15 managers in their 37- year history. That’s an average of about two and a half years per manager.

Where’s the loyalty Toronto?

What I find fascinating on this Farrell situation is that it’s not just the fans. It’s the media and some of the players.

Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun wrote over the weekend, “He (Farrell) got what he wanted. He got out of his pesky contract with the Jays and secured his dream gig with the Red Sox. Clearly — given his obvious dispassion during his time with the Blue Jays — he cared very little for anything Toronto, the team, the  fans, they city.”

Hey Steve, not to bring up old history, but, why did your Maple Leafs fire coach Dick Duff after an 0-2 start to the season in 1979? (No relation to me but just wondering.)

Slugger Jose Bautista, “We respect John and his decision to pursue his dream job, if that’s what he called it. We would rather have him over there than here wishing he were there.”

Ouch. That hurts coming from a guy who has played for five different teams in his 10-year career.

Hey Toronto. Knock off the “FAAAA-RELL, FAAA-RELL” chants…

Maybe we’ll think about stopping the “KESSS-SEL, KESSS-SEL” stuff the next time there is a B’s-Leafs game at the Garden.

Maybe.

ITEMS FROM THE DUFFEL BAG

– How about the playoff rule in the NBA D-League. The division winners get to pick their playoff opponent. First-place Rio Valley Grande Vipers picked the No. 8 Maine Red Claws. I can hear the Red Claws coach in his locker room now ‘See that guys, they don’t respect us. They thought we were the worst team in the league. Now go show em’.

– I admit I know nothing about buildings and structural designs but as I crossed the Bangor-Brewer bridge the other day I noticed the roof on the new Cross Center rounded in design and the old Auditorium with the V-roof. I think the new design will be better. What do you think?

– When I watch Rick Pitino’s Louisville team play that defense,  I can’t help but think of Jeff Hart’s Camden Hills HS teams.

– B’s Milan Lucic is so big and tough and good…but somehow I always think he should be better. You with me on that?

– I am not adjusting well to this interleague game everyday thing in MLB.

– Who’s got the best job in the world this week? CBS play-by-play guy Jim Nantz — Final Four Monday, Masters Golf starting Thursday.

– How ‘bout this…four championships live on SportsRadio 92.9TheTicket this week. Monday-NCAA men’s hoops, Tuesday-NCAA women’s hoops, Saturday-NCAA hockey, Sunday-Masters golf.

I was surprised to find that Tom Hanks’ famous quote was only No. 40 on the American Film Institute’s top-100 list of quotations.

Now you are wondering about the top quotes, right? Well, funny you should ask…

No. 10 Robert DiNero “You talkin’ to me?”  Clearly this quote was used many times around the Red Sox clubhouse last year when Bobby V asked players to do something.

No. 9 Bette Davis “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” I expect new Sox pitching coach Juan Nieves to mumble this when the call goes to the pen to bring in Alfredo Aceves.

No. 8 Harrison Ford “May the force be with you.” Welcome to the American League West Division, manager Bo Porter and the Houston Astros. You’ll need it.

No. 7 Gloria Swanson “All right, Mr. DeMille. I’m ready for my close- up.” LeBron and his Miami Heat guys were ready to pose as best team ever…and then the Bulls had a little something to say about that winning streak.

No. 6 Clint Eastwood “Go ahead, make my day.” I think I heard Tiger Woods saying that the other day when another reporter (perhaps it was me) doubted he could win one of the majors this year.

No. 5 Humphrey Bogart “Here’s looking at you kid.” All of Red Sox nation is saying this when Jackie Bradley Jr steps to the plate.

No. 4 Judy Garland “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Check out the Wichita State University website. Big and bold, it reads “ Goin’ To Atlanta.”

No. 3 Marlon Brando “I coulda been a contender. I could have been somebody.” Isn’t this what Rex Ryan says after every NY Jets season?

No. 2 Marlon Brando “ I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” Sources tell me this was what Bob Kraft said to Wes Welker. Then Wes picked up the phone and called Peyton.

No. 1 Clark Gable “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Bill Belichick is very fond of this one.

ITEMS FROM THE DUFFEL BAG:

– Four games into his AHL career, former Maine Black Bear Joey Diamond has two assists and 13 penalty minutes with coach Scott Pellerin’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

– One of the good things about the Detroit Red Wings playing in the same division as the Bruins next year — we get to see and care much more about how Jimmy Howard and Gustav Nyquist are doing.

– So far Portland’s Ryan Flaherty’s career mirrors Mike Bordick’s career. Now, will he get the chance to prove he’s an everyday player? Remember how Bordy’s career took off when it happened?

– Looking at the new four class high school football system on first glance — Class B East is going to be a beast!

– I wonder if Daniel Bard wishes he hadn’t uttered the line “I want to be a starter”?

– If the Syracuse 2-3 zone defense is so good, why don’t more teams use it?

– Now that the Frozen Four college hockey teams are set — the college hockey world takes almost two weeks off before they play. Please, someone in college hockey fix this. By the way, when the hockey championship is played on April 13, you will hear it on 92.9TheTicket.

Just so happens the 34th Sports Emmy nominations came out last week and the winners are announced in early May. Not that you or I actually have a vote…but who would you pick in the following categories.

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – STUDIO HOST

James Brown (CBS), Bob Costas (NBC), Rich Eisen (NFL Network), Ernie Johnson (TNT), Dan Patrick (NBC) My pick: Bob Costas…again. Since this category was added in 1993 Costas has won 14 times, including the last four years in a row. No matter what the sport, you have got to admit he is smooth.

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – PLAY BY PLAY

Mike Breen (ABC), Mike Emrick (NBC), Al Michaels (NBC), Jim Nantz (CBS) My pick: Mike Emrick…just listen to how he calls a hockey game. The best PBP call of anyone in any sport. Since this category was added in 1993 Joe Buck leads with six Emmys – interesting that he is not even nominated this year.

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – EVENT ANALYST

Ato Boldon (NBC), Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Jon Gruden (ESPN), Jim Kaat (MLB Net), Mike Maycock (NBC, NFL Net) My pick: Mike Maycock…he doesn’t have the name recognition of Gruden and Collinsworth but he is very good on Notre Dame football broadcasts and other events. By the way, if I told you Cris Collinsworth has won 11 sports Emmys over the years for studio and game analyst work, would you believe me? It’s true.

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – STUDIO ANALYST

Charles Barkley (TNT), Tony Dungy (NBC), Boomer Esiason (CBS), Harold Reynolds (MLB Net), Bill Ripken (MLB Net), Kurt Warner (NFL Net). My Pick: Boomer Esiason…he is smooth and says what is on his mind. I’m a little worn out by Sir Charles.

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – SPORTS REPORTER

Andrea Joyce (NBC), Pierre McGuire (NBC), Lisa Salters (ESPN), Michele Tafoya (NBC), Tom Verducci (MLB Net) My Pick: They all deserve an Emmy. The sideline reporter/interviewer is a thankless job. I’ll give it to Pierre McGuire for avoiding all of those pucks that come flying his way.

ITEMS FROM THE DUFFEL BAG:

– The first ever sports Emmy was awarded back in 1950 as part of the prime time Emmy awards show. The sports award went to Los Angeles TV station KTLA for its coverage of…wrestling!

– Paging Dr. Hockey…Paging Dr. Hockey….The Bruins need an infusion of something…pronto.

– Joey Diamond should fit well in the AHL. Some of his style of hockey will not be penalties in the pro game.

– Dr. John Giannini should be one of the hot coaches in line for a bigger program – if he wants to leave La Salle.

– If Doc Rivers gets the chance to coach the Olympic team I wonder if he’ll use it as a chance to bow out of the Celtics gig. The Olympic job and following his kids play – sounds like a winner compared to whatever is next for the C’s.

– So who did get the last shot at the last shootaround at the Bangor Auditorium?

– Now that Tiger Woods is relevant again, get ready for the ratings to go up for the upcoming Masters tournament.

– The NCAA March Madness continues this week on 92.9TheTicket…despite my badly broken bracket.

ITEMS FROM DUFFEL BAG:

– Make it six former Senior League World Series/Mansfield Stadium players now in the Netherlands World Baseball Classic lineup. Shairon Martis, Xander Bogaerts, Jonathan Schoop, Curt Smith, Hainley Statia and Jurickson Profar. The 2013 Senior League World Series in Bangor begins August 11th.

– Hard to say his name, easy to watch him play – Bruins goalie Anton Khudobin. I like this guy.

– From Dixfield to dancin’ in the NCAA’s. Notre Dame’s Thomas Knight is a nice Maine basketball story.

– As high school baseball and softball teams begin the so-called 8 and 2’s this week, here’s hoping for a nice, warm spring with little rain (what are the chances?)

–  I’m still ticked off that the Patriots let Wes Welker go.

– NCAA hoops tourney action on 92.9TheTicket starts this week. Anybody playing hooky Thursday and Friday when the games start at high noon?