And regardless of whether he plays five minutes or even five seconds tonight, Powe being able to even return to the court is a victory in itself.

“To me, it’ll be a success story in a lot of ways because a lot of people didn’t think he could ever play again,” Rivers said. “When he got hurt, I heard that the first time. I said, ‘You clearly don’t know who Leon Powe is. That kid will always be a success story.’” [CSNNE.com: Powe OK with being passed on by the C's]

Welcome back, Leon.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before

Some of my best friends are… dancers
* Brendan Haywood’s recent homophobic comments about Stephon Marbury bring to mind the semi-recent caveman squawkings of Shavlik Randolph. You know, the whole “Don’t drop the soap around this guy” kind of nonsense. I will tell Haywood what I told Randolph… Don’t flatter yourself. Anyway, Bethlehem Shoals discusses new media’s double-edged sword for The Baseline in: Is Brendan Haywood Really Worried About Starbury’s Sexuality or Something Else?. UPDATE: Kelly Dwyer also adds his insightful two cents for Ball Don’t Lie in: Brendan Haywood isn’t fully informed

Brett Favre is like a fart in church. You want to ignore him, but you can’t
What’s more old and tired than Brett Favre? Bitching about Brett Favre every time he faux retires and then makes a triumphant comeback. Yet still, every single time, I cannot help but throw my hands up in disgust when he un-retires again. If returning to football was a sick child, I would accuse Favre of suffering from Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome. He’s addicted to the attention (now primarily negative) and nothing short of a full body cast is going to keep him from returning to football. Again. (And again, and again, and again…) Mike Florio reports for Pro Football Talk that: Favre is on a plane to Minnesota

He said, she said

Sounds like an episode of The Hills…
* This story has been baking a few days, but apparently Reggie Miller and Diana Von Furstenberg’s son, Alex are having some sort of public tiff over a babe. News and gossip sites report that Von Furstenberg hired a sky writer to call out Miller for texting his fiance. The banner read, “Reggie Miller stop pursuing married women.” A sky writer? Really? That’s so archaic. Everyone knows the only modern way to get back at someone flirting with your girl is to open a faux Twitter account impersonating them and then write things like, “I flrt w/other ppls chix cuz im a d-bag. Whuts gud?” So come on Alex, crawl out of the 16th century and get with the times. More on this soap opera: TMZ: Reggie Miller — I’m No Homewrecker, Just a Flirt

The ghost of old man Zimmer
* I didn’t watch last night’s Red Sox/Tigers game, but I knew something happened when I briefly perused my Twitter stream and people were squawking about Youk getting ejected. Then this morning, the radio honks were making fun of him, so I had to check it out for myself on YouTube. Upon watching it, I immediately had flashbacks of Pedro “gently guiding” Don Zimmer to the turf back in the good ole days. Aw, now those were some seriously good times. In this case though, come on now Youk… you’re three times that kid’s size, you look like the Incredible Hulk and you’ll be getting suspended anyway, you couldn’t have just laid him out? Tsk tsk tsk.

ps. It’s official. Leon has joined the Cavs. I will not belabor this any longer with yet another whiny post. Farewell, my love…

Source: http://twitter.com/YahooSportsNBA/status/3237438573

If this happens, then I’m happy for Leon. He deserves a job and I’ll be glad that he has one. I will just never get over the Celtics not offering him at least the minimum like the Cavs are apparently willing to do. It was already bad enough that I had to hate the Cavs a little less because of my love for Delonte… Now they’re going to have Leon too? That makes things so complicated. LeBron is easier to hate than ever and don’t even getting me started on that flopper Varejao. It would have been really great to just be able to wish the entire Cavs team would rot in hell. Kinda like the Yankees. Now, two of my favorite players in the league will be playing for my team’s arch rival.

Crap.

Update: I decided to rip off the band-aid and replace the Powe square on my Twitter background to a Perk square. It was painful, but had to be done.

Related links:

• Yahoo! Sports: Cavs close to signing Powe

Get your rent checks ready!

Speaking of the backup love of my life
* Slam reported this morning that the Cavs have offered a deal to Leon Powe. Then on Ball Don’t Lie, Skeets posted an example of what a future article might read like if that deal does come to fruition. Just stab me in the heart and twist it around why don’t you? Seriously. That “article” made me want to vomit chunks. Mostly because it’s so accurate. I want another team to pick up Leon if the Celtics aren’t going to, but I really didn’t want it to be the Cavs or Lakers. When they let James Posey go to NOLA, I was totally ok with that because the Hornets aren’t in the conference. I hoped that Powe would end up with Sacramento or if it had to be in the conference, then on some innocuous team like the Miami Heat. This sucks monkeychunks. It really frosts my cupcakes that Danny Ainge doesn’t call me at home and run all moves by me.

24/7 just ain’t happenin’
* I’m noticing more and more when I go to check on Steph on his Starbury TV 24/7 channel that he’s not there. By and large, that has to be a good thing. On the other hand, when he does show up he immediately goes back to the usual script and soundtrack. Occasionally though, he goes on some interesting off-script diatribes. Last night, he went off on Yao Ming of all people. I was trying to remember exactly what he said, but as luck would have it, someone posted it to YouTube. My favorite part is where he compares himself to a bowling ball. Please to enjoy:

Source: YouTube/DDKTien

What’s good around the blogosphere:

Gotta love that bonus track
Nat from Heels on Hardwood comes up with the ideal playlist for Bryan Colangelo’s summer in: Bryan Colangelo’s iPod Playlist – Summer 2009

This post must have taken forever to write!
Zach Harper, the Energizer bunny behind Talkhoops.net (and Cowbell Kingdom) ranks this year’s off-season moves in: It’s a List! Ranking the Off-Season Moves

Source: http://twitter.com/PDcavsinsider/status/3056207147

More info from NBA.com’s David Aldridge in: Cavaliers Are Powe’s First Choice

Source: YouTube/WCVBtv

 Holy emo, I promise I’ll stop talking about Leon… Someday.

ps. I’m calling bullshit on Doc not knowing about the Gino dance.

What does it say when a player like Leon Powe, a great human being, who played through injury and pain for three straight years for the Boston Celtics, including in a playoff game after tearing his ACL, is rewarded by the team saying to him “we only have a short window to win, and you are not a part of our plans because you are now injured.”

It shows you the true state of the NBA.

The Celtics are traditionally a class act. I have great respect for the organization as a whole, but they truly missed it on this one. (Via True Hoop)

The minute Leon went down, I was afraid this was going to happen… I just didn’t think it would. I suppose there is always a chance that Leon could end up back with the Cs, but I’m not getting my hopes up. If this truly is goodbye, then I just want to say thank you to Leon for all the great memories and for being the heart and soul of my favorite team.

You will be missed!

Related news:

• True Hoop: Leon Powe is Unemployed
• Red’s Army: The sad reality about the Leon Powe decision
• FanHouse: Leon Powe Will Prove the Celtics Wrong
• BostonHerald.com: Powe feels Celtics career over
• BostonHerald.com: Leon Powe, Celtics say goodbyes
• NESN.com: Ainge pulling plug on the Powe show?
• NESN.com: Questionable move to let Powe go
• Celtics Hub: Farewell, Leon

————————————-

Update #1: This is from the official Celtics site…

Powe’s Progress

As for Leon Powe, who’s an unrestricted free agent, Ainge said that the C’s would be keeping tabs on his progress as he rehabilitates his left knee from the ACL/meniscus injury he suffered in Game 2 against the Bulls. Powe just went home to California to continue his rehab but is no longer under contract with the Celtics.

With a long rehab ahead of Powe, the Celtics aren’t breaking ties with him, but there’s a lot of uncertainty about when he would be ready to contribute again. When that time comes, he’ll be free to sign with any team he wants.

“We know that Leon is not going to be available to play until late in the season, possibly,” Ainge said.

So, I guess there is always the possibility he could be back. I know I’ve been drama queening out on Twitter today and no player is above the team… but if there was ever a player who could be above the team, it’s Leon. Life goes on, though and I guess like everyone else, I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

————————————-

Update #2: According to The Boston Herald & NESN.com, Powe thinks he’s done in Boston based on a convo with Danny Ainge.

“They told me, ‘Good luck with another team.’ Doc (Rivers) told me that he wanted me there, and he would do whatever he could to make sure I came back, but Danny came to me yesterday saying that they only have a two-year window, and I would be taking up a roster spot for someone else,” he explained.

But that doesn’t mean he is officially off the C’s radar.

“We love Leon, and would consider having Leon back at any time, once he gets healthy,” Ainge said.

That’s where Powe’s and Ainge’s feelings begin to differ.

“I wasn’t feeling a vibe like that,” he said. “I knew they wouldn’t (offer a qualifying offer), so I just have to move on.”

Sigh.

Not ready to give up? Sign the petition to re-sign Leon Powe — Powe-tition!

Here is what I’ll agree to part with:

ps. Keep your grubby little mitts of Scal! I will NOT part with Scal either! Get back! *jabbing the air with a pitchfork*