“I’m in New England and truly home. I’ve bounced around and been around the country, but I’m where I’ve always wanted to be. This is my dream job,” Addazio told The D.A. Show Wednesday night. ”I’m staying here, building this thing here, and I want this to be my destination.”

“Being here is just fantastic,” he said. “It’s a real family community here, and I can’t wait to embrace all the great traditions and the people that are in this family.”

Addazio comes to Boston College after two seasons at the helm at Temple. In his first year as a head coach, Addazio led the Owls to a 9-4 record and a New Mexico Bowl Title. Last year, as Temple transitioned to the Big East, Addazio’s Temple squad went 4-7 but finished above most of their preseason expectations.

“I want to bring toughness, passion and energy,” said Addazio. “I felt that is something I can bring here and really improve us in those categories.”

From his experience at his various stops in college football, which include Notre Dame, Florida and Syracuse, Addazio is confident he’ll be able to recruit players not just from the northeast, but around the country.

“I really felt I could recruit this program really well,” he said. “I felt being a northeast guy, recruiting the northeast my whole career at Notre Dame and the catholic leagues in Ohio, Indianapolis and Chicago, and my passion and love for Boston College, I really felt gave me an opportunity to be a great fit here.”

“My experience over the years, there really is good talent in the northeast. I recruited Aaron Hernandez down at Florida,” he recalled, noting he recruited other future NFL players like the Colts’ Dwight Freeney. “There is a tremendous talent pool out of the northeast and out of those pockets in Chicago and Ohio. I also have six years down in Florida, and I know the great high school coaches and have great relationships and have the ability to dip in down there.”

“There is a lot to get done. We are busy at work and it’s a process, not a one-shot deal. We’re building this thing for the long-haul,” added Addazio.

A program which ranked as high as No. 2 as recently as 2007, the Eagles have fallen on hard times since former AD Gene DeFilippo fired Jeff Jagodzinksi for interviewing for an NFL job. The Eagles replaced Jagodzinski with Frank Spaziani, who led the team to a 21-29 record in three seasons, leading to his firing over the weekend.

Now, Bates is looking for a new head coach, and he spoke with Damon Amendolara on Monday night to discuss what he’s looking for.

“I think if all else is equal, clearly the past experience and knowledge of BC is advantageous but ultimately, we need someone that’s going to come in here, sustain the high retention and graduation rates of this institution, represent us as an ambassador to the entire community and to our alumni base and fans, and win,” Bates said. “And [he must] do it with an energy and an enthusiasm that makes all of our alumni proud.”

Bates was asked if he’d be OK with hiring a coach who may only be interested in being at BC for three to five years before moving on.

“If all else was equal, you would clearly want continuity in your program. At the same time, I can’t predict the future,” Bates said. “We’re going to create a situation here that’s going to be, in our opinion, a destination-type situation, a place that gives a coach every opportunity to have the high level of success and achieve that vision of excellence that we strive for within our football program.”

Bates said that there is a specific type of head coaching candidate who will be drawn to BC, which could lead to a long-term hire.

“There’s a lot of great coaches out there, [but] I’m not sure every great coach is a great fit for every institution,” Bates said. “The coaches that are going to be excited about BC, that can sell the product of Boston College, are people who are going to be aligned with the values of the institution. And so when you have a situation professionally when you can strive toward your vision of the program, where you can work with highly intelligent and talented students in a community that really is a family, then yes, I think if you can find that person then the tenure is going to be longer than one might expect.”

The D.A. Show will be moving to overnights on CBS Sports Radio starting on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. Fans can hear DA’s hot sports takes nightly from 2-6 a.m. on the air, streaming online, and on the Radio.com app.

“I’m extremely fired up to bring the Mothership to the rest of the country during overnights. One of the biggest factors in this for me was being able to remain on the Sports Hub. The loyal following we’ve grown here over the past 3 1/2 years has been nothing short of amazing,” said Amendolara. “You’ll have to put on another pot of coffee and chug a Jolt cola, but I hope I have many of my listeners stay up into the night with me. Boston helped put the show on the map, so we’ll keep doing what we’re doing… just a little later!”

Amendolara promises a program which will be a mix of the latest sports news, discussions and controversy, in addition to interviews with tastemakers from the sports world and calls from night-owls across the country.

D.A. joins the previously announced schedule which includes powerhouse talent such as Jim Rome, Doug Gottlieb, John Feinstein and Scott Ferrall.

Following Sunday’s great escape against the Bills, there’s been another round of hand-wringing in Boston. Will another great season of Tom Brady and an explosive offense be submarined by a wretched D? Are we simply setting up for the inevitable: a shootout loss in the playoffs to a good quarterback?

Outside of the addition of Aquib Talib at corner, there are very few ways this defense can improve over the final seven weeks of the season. The defensive secondary will remain full of inexperience and injury-prone players. The linebackers will be shoddy in coverage. The run defense will hopefully remain consistent, despite a poor day against Buffalo.

So where can the defense turn?

Look no further than rookie Chandler Jones.

He has proven over the course of his first nine games he can be a standout pass-rushing beast in the NFL for years to come. He has the size, wingspan, and array of moves that can disrupt offensive lines and plunder pockets — all as a rookie. His polish will only improve, and the techniques that he goes to now should become even more effective as he makes his way through the early part of his career.

His height and length are reminiscent of Jevon Kearse, but his polish in getting to the quarterback is already more in line with Dwight Freeney.

How do I know?

I spent years watching both at Syracuse. My time at SU coincided with Freeney’s, and I’ve operated the website “Orange Fizz” for the past four years.

On the eve of Jones’ selection, we wrote the following analysis of why his stock had skyrocketed in the weeks leading up to the draft:

“If GM’s didn’t like Chandler, his stock wouldn’t be soaring. The combination of raw skill, insane measurables (he’s every bit of 6’5” with an absurd wingspan), a high motor and a coach’s dream off the field has led to his stock going from a 3rd-round advisory grade to the top half of the first round. It’s not one thing, it’s everything.”

I had the chance to meet and speak with Jones at the 2011 Big East Media Day in Newport, R.I.

He was charismatic and personable, but most important genuine. He was comfortable being the face of the Orange, and could naturally converse with anyone who approached him. He comes from a family of superior athletes (his brother Art plays for the Ravens, his other brother Jon “Bones” is one of the elite MMA fighters in the world), and a strong support group. On draft night, cameras showed his entire family and girlfriend, Cherynne Montanero, beside him celebrating. Combining his athletic gifts with his personality traits, SU observers knew he could make a splash early.

But after a dynamic first half of the season where he routinely killed opposing left tackles, his game has quieted. Teams are focusing more attention on him, and he may be hitting a rookie physicality wall. But on Sunday against Buffalo he also drew a holding penalty and helped provide coverage on Ryan Fitzpatrick’s strip sack. If the Pats can get after the quarterback more regularly, they can help their own secondary from getting shredded.

The best way to do this?

Continue to implement blitzes and creative pass-rushes. This can free up Jones to do one-on-one work instead of getting doubled, and use his athleticism to wreak havoc from unique places along the line.

After getting drafted, we at The Fizz noted:

“Jones will no longer see the constant double and triple teams like he did at SU. He will (be) in one of the most complex defensive schemes in the league, and Chandler’s intelligence and football instincts will be a huge advantage. Chandler can be used both as a 3-4 edge rusher and a 4-3 defensive end, and that versatility will allow him to get plenty of snaps.” 

It’s that versatility that can help force quarterbacks to make quicker decisions, create big plays for the Pats, and potentially save a sinking defensive ship.

Tune in to The D.A. Show weeknights from 6-11pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub and follow Damon Amendolara on Twitter @TheDAShow.

Before his last show, which will be on Friday, December 14th, D.A. took a look back at one of the best moments of his time in Boston, the night the Bruins won the Stanley Cup.

D.A. was on after the game taking calls and ended up staying on until Toucher & Rich came in at 6am. Take a listen to a few of the calls that D.A. put together into some montages.

Montage 1

Montage 2

Montage 3

He’s also thinking that it’ll be a comfortable victory for New England, but there is still a chance that it could be closer than we think.

The Patriots can score and will score against this poor Buffalo defense, but can the Patriots defense handle things?

D.A. called out the fans and went on to criticize the fandom in Miami. A Miami fan called in and wasn’t happy with D.A. talking ill about Miami and tries to compare Boston and Miami when it comes to sports.

The caller only has one point that he keeps throwing out while D.A. blows him out of the water.

“I just think they have a good group of young guys, they have some playmakers. They could upgrade in a few areas but the nucleus they’re building can get it done,” said McGinest, who helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls during his 12 years in New England. “This is the same team that made the Super Bowl with a little upgrade in certain positions. They can get it done.”

It’s been a frustrating month watching the Patriots secondary get called for numerous pass interference calls for simply not turning around on pass plays. Is this from lack of talent among the corners and safeties, or lack of coaching from Bill Belichick’s staff?

Read: Patriots-Seahawks Leftover Thoughts

“Trust me, they’re definitely getting coached that. They are real precise telling guys what to do in game planning, especially when you have something that consistent like that in the passing game,” said McGinest. “Bill knows all these things, and points it out as soon as it happens. This is something that was trying to get corrected a year ago, and they’re still working on it. I don’t know if it’s because of the youth or inexperience. I know they’re smart players and I know they’re tough, because to play for Bill Belichick you have to be smart and tough.  I just don’t understand where the breakdowns are coming during the game.”

The Patriots defense couldn’t get a stop on the Seattle Seahawks’ final drive on Sunday, letting them score a touchdown in the final two minutes — a 46-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Russell Wilson to Sidney Rice.

“Even last year, if you see what the Patriots were doing on the back end, they led the league in big plays – more than 20 yards. It’s same as this year; they’re pretty consistent at that,” said McGinest. “They were good at takeaways and keeping teams out of the end zone. I just know being in those meeting rooms that’s something Belichick teaches; don’t give up big plays and don’t let people get behind of you – especially in crucial situations. It just seemed like some of the corners were losing focus on that.”

Read: Rex Ryan Wants Pats To Know Jets Think They’ll Win On Sunday

“When you get into those last play situations, you have to be reminded of what the situation is; how many points are they down, you can’t let guys get behind us, don’t be staring at the backfield – all this stuff goes through your head,” said the 15-year NFL veteran. “We were taught to keep everything in front of you and come down hill and tackle, make them go the long-hard road. We just didn’t see that (on Sunday).”

“We had a lot of guys that were real accountable and had a lot of pride. They didn’t want to be the guy to give up the big play,” McGinest said of his days in New England. “We all counted on each other to do your job. We were saying that back in ’01; that’s one of those things that is planted in your head.

“I don’t know if the communication is there, if the urgency is there. But I can attest these things are being taught in the meetings daily,” he said. “If there is a point in time where you can’t get it in this system, with Bill Belichick and this team, he’s going to go find someone that can.”

Listen to D.A.’s full chat with Willie McGinest:

Without Rob Ninkovich’s strip fumble of Willis McGahee the Broncos could have made the game closer at the end and things might have ended differently.

D.A. was joined by Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports to discuss stories from around the NFL.

Chiefs fans cheered after a hit left their quarterback Matt Casssel laying on his back apparently injured. At the time it was unclear if the quarterback was seriously injured, but fans who seem to be fed up with Cassel’s poor play cheered at the injury.

Cassel left the game and sustained a concussion and will likely not play next weekend’s game at Tampa Bay. Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Winston criticized fans after the game for cheering. What did Cole think of the comments?

The two guys compare the play of Peyton Manning pre and post neck injury. What grade does Cole give Manning through the first five weeks of the season?

They went on to discuss Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes who has made some big plays at times when he’s been on the field. There are times when he gets caught up in pass coverage, but seems to be able to defend the run well. Why did he drop down in the draft?

Former Patriots linebacker Eric Alexander joined D.A. on The Mothership to discuss Sunday’s match up between the two teams.

The guys started off discussing the Patriots defense through the first four weeks of the season. The secondary was shaky at the beginning, but things looked better last week against Buffalo. What has Alexander seen out of this team defensively so far this season?

“They’ve been up and they’ve been down. I tell you what, if they can continue to create turnovers like they did in the last game I think they’re going to be okay.”

They went on to talk about linebacker Brandon Spikes and if he can be a difference maker on the field. The guys also discussed the Patriots offense and what it will be like if the can continue to have success running the ball.

Most Bruins players took a trip on Thursday to join other players at meetings to show solidarity and find out all the information about the negotiations.

Is there too much at risk for the NHL to miss a significant part of the season? Does it ruin the brand to go through another lockout so soon?

Brian Waters has yet to report to the Patriots, which surprised quite a few people. The veteran offensive lineman was expected to return late in the preseason, but has not reported yes — despite being under contract for this season.

In addition to fans and media members, does Waters’ absence surprise the Patriots?

“It’s not just us, I think this caught the Patriots unaware. I heard from inside and outside the organization that he was going to be back. I kept checking during the off-season and that was the case… I think the Patriots did at some point at the end of training camp expect him to show up,” said Bedard.

“If they had thought he wasn’t coming back they would have made other choices at center, guard and whatnot. Ryan Wendell is a good player, I think he can get them through things, but that’s not the ideal scenario.”

Have the tables turned? Is this the a time when the Pats want a player more than he wants them?

“I would say that’s the case. I think there has got to be some point in time with the Patriots where push comes to shove. Although he’s not on the inactive list, at any point they can trade or cut him — they don’t have to wait until he reports.”

Is there still a chance Waters shows up at some point this season?

“He’s counting on the cap right now. If the Patriots didn’t think he would ever show up, or they were done with him, you would have thought they would have cut him (Tuesday). But they haven’t. That’s an indication to me that the door is still open.”

Would Waters reporting late in the season lead to some issues in the Patriots locker room? And what happened with Jeff Demps? Greg Bedard breaks it all down on The D.A. Show!

There’s not a lot of harmony in the clubhouse right now, and the once pristine model no longer exists. And, does Bobby V have an ax to grind with Aceves?

Well, to quote Bobby, “What difference does it make?”

Why and how has this club has eroded?

After a few minutes of Roger Clemens and steroid talk, Levan and DA move on to the Pats’ newest special teams threat, Jeff Demps. The former Florida Gator and Olympian practiced with his new team for the first time Wednesday in Tampa. He could make a difference on kickoff returns, something the Patriots have lacked for the past few seasons.

“He’s a better sprinter than he is a football player,” Reid said of Demps. “I know he was a running back at Florida, so he can play the game. But he decided not to touch a football after his January 1st Bowl Game to become a sprinter for the Olympics… He’s not a slow guy. They haven’t had speed like this since Bethel Johnson, and haven’t had a consistent kick returner since Ellis Hobbs.”

Read: Levan Reid’s Patriots Blog

“I don’t know the last time the Patriots went out and got a specialist like that,” said Levan. “If they feel like they need to make movement in the running game, and Bill Belichick said there were times last year he felt like there were openings and they just didn’t hit them fast enough. Now when you fill out the roster, he takes a position away from somebody else.”

Right now, Levan is leaning towards that being receiver Donte’ Stallworth’s spot.

“Every week I feel different about Donte’ Stallworth, and every week I feel different about Deion Branch. Branch did something on Monday night where everything he caught was a first down,” said Reid. “He ran the routes right, ran across in the middle of traffic, was able to stop and go and came back to the ball. Guys still don’t do that! So I said ‘alright, Deion trends up.’ And then you have Stallworth arguing with the ref from Central Catholic. You can’t do that.”

Keeping with receiver talk, Levan is feeling a little different about newcomer Brandon Lloyd than he did when he first signed on.

DA Show: NY Daily News’ Gary Myers On AFC East

“He had one great year. We hear Brandon Lloyd, everyone is writing good things, and then I looked it up and Brandon Lloyd has only had one season where he had 1,400 yards and was the best receiver on the land. Then he kind of fell off,” said Reid. “Now he’s turning 31, and it doesn’t look like he’s getting any better. You’re hoping he gets better in this system because he has a better arm throwing to him, and a better group players surrounding him, but all of a sudden I’m not as pumped as I was about Brandon Lloyd.”

Starting in the AFC East, the Jets haven’t scored a touchdown yet this preseason. Should they be worried about their lackluster offense?

“They absolutely have problems. They don’t have enough firepower or play makers on offense; their right tackle Wayne Hunter has been abominable now. He was terrible last year, and was really eaten up by the Giants pass-rush Saturday night. They have issues,” said Myers. “I tend not to put too much into it simply because their best receiver and best player maker hasn’t played yet; they haven’t showed any of the offense that is going to be on the field for at least 10 plays a game with Tebow, and their offensive line has played poorly.”

“I think the Jets have regressed last year with what they did for the first two years under Rex,” he said. “People are looking to what they’ve seen the first two weeks in the preseason and thinking 6-10. I don’t think its going to be that bad, but another 8-8 season could be what we’re looking at.”

Could Rex Ryan be under the gun with the Jets?

“I don’t think so. The owner, Woody Johnson, loves him. I think that has a lot to do with the man who preceded him in Eric Mangini, who came in and made the organization feel extremely uncomfortable… when Rex came in and his attitude was 180-degrees different than Mangini,” said Myers. “I think things would really, really have to deteriorate here for Rex to be in any trouble.”

“That being said, he doesn’t have a lifetime contract. They didn’t make the playoffs last year, and if they don’t make them again this year, going into next year you could say there might be a little more heat on him,” Myers added. “I don’t think there is any pressure now.”

Elsewhere in New York, could the Bills contend for a wild card spot?

“I don’t (think so) only because I don’t believe in the quarterback,” Myers said of Bills play caller Ryan Fitzpatrick. “Defensively they certainly improved a lot with Mario Williams, but I’m just not a believer in the Bills. I still think this is a division where the Jets are the only team that can challenge the Patriots, and I’m not sure they’re capable of doing that.”

Word came down that Clemens planned on playing for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

What a joke! Is this for fun or does Clemens have some kind of agenda?

This year in 98 Mile II Tony Mazz battled all the way back to the Finals to take on Jon Wallach. The guys put together their own crews and took their best shots at Michael Felger. In the end after all the votes were counted up Mazz once again fell short. That’s right, Jon Wallach is this year’s winner of 98 Mile II.

Finals

Jon Wallach’s Finals Rap About Felger (WINNER)

Tony Massarotti’s Finals Rap About Felger

The Rap Battle Recap

Semi-Finals

Battle 2
Fred’s Rap About Mazz

Mazz’s Rap About Fred (WINNER)

Battle 1
Tanguay’s Rap About Wallach

Wallach’s Rap About Tanguay (WINNER)

Round 1

Battle 5
Bertrand’s Rap About Mazz

Mazz’s Rap About Bertrand (WINNER)

Battle 4
Rich’s Rap About D.A. (WINNER)

D.A.’s Rap About Rich

Battle 3
Fred’s Rap About Adolfo (WINNER)

Adol…Cha-Chi’s Rap About Fred

Battle 2
Andy Gresh’s Rap About Gary Tanguay

Gary Tanguay’s Rap About Andy Gresh (WINNER)

Battle 1
Scott Zolak’s Rap About Jon Wallach

Jon Wallach’s Rap About Scott Zolak (WINNER)

D.A. grabbed some cheap tickets and headed out to Fenway Park. He saw lots of empty seats and lots of people just overall not paying attention to the game at all. Lucky for him he left early to avoid the Sweet Caroline sing-a-long.

He moved on to discuss what’s wrong with Beckett. Is there really anything physically wrong with the starter or has he just lost his stuff? Peter Abraham joined D.A. to discuss what’s going on with this Sox team.

It’s that time of the year again, when 98.5 The Sports Hub supremacy can be determined in only one way: a rap battle. The Finals are finally here, with Tony Mazz one of the last ones standing once again, but this time around he’s up against Wallach.

Listen: 98 Mile II Rap Battle Recap

For the Finals, the guys take the focus off each other and turn it to the one host who wanted nothing to do with this year’s battle: Michael Felger.

Jon Wallach’s Finals Rap About Felger

Tony Massarotti’s Finals Rap About Felger

It’s that time of the year again, when 98.5 The Sports Hub supremacy can be determined in only one way: a rap battle. Thursday is the Finals, with Tony Mazz one of the last ones standing once again, but this time around he’s up against Wallach.

For the Finals, the guys take the focus off each other and turn it to the one host who wanted nothing to do with this year’s battle: Michael Felger.

But before we can get to that, take a listen to all of the raps from this year’s battles.

Semi-Finals

Battle 2
Fred’s Rap About Mazz

Mazz’s Rap About Fred (WINNER)

Battle 1
Tanguay’s Rap About Wallach

Wallach’s Rap About Tanguay (WINNER)

Round 1

Battle 5
Bertrand’s Rap About Mazz

Mazz’s Rap About Bertrand (WINNER)

Battle 4
Rich’s Rap About D.A. (WINNER)

D.A.’s Rap About Rich

Battle 3
Fred’s Rap About Adolfo (WINNER)

Adol…Cha-Chi’s Rap About Fred

Battle 2
Andy Gresh’s Rap About Gary Tanguay

Gary Tanguay’s Rap About Andy Gresh (WINNER)

Battle 1
Scott Zolak’s Rap About Jon Wallach

Jon Wallach’s Rap About Scott Zolak (WINNER)

Many of them blame Beckett for the “toxic” atmosphere in the Red Sox clubhouse, a sentiment Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan said the team’s ownership also feels.

Passan joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s The D.A. Show Wednesday night, and said it’s pretty simple why Beckett is still a member of the Boston Red Sox.

“Because nobody wants him,” Passan said. “There is a difference between being able to move him, and to move him for what they think is the right price. I think there is definitely some personal feelings involved with this one where they don’t want to eat the entirety of the contract. They know how bad that would look, and they know that extension – even at the time – a lot of people thought it was too much for Josh Beckett to be getting. I think they want to do everything they can to dump that contract without eating a lot of the money.”

Listen: Gammons on Felger & Mazz

“Is that actually going to happen? Tough to say at this point unless the guy goes out and pitches his ass off for the next month or so,” he continued. “There is still not going to be anybody that wants him at the price the Red Sox are peddling him.”

What is it that makes Beckett unmovable? Is it his attitude or the nearly $38 million owed to him over the next two years?

“I think more than both of those things it’s his stuff. He’s just not a good pitcher right now,” said Passan. “His fastball averages 90-93, and Josh Beckett averaged 93 last year. The fastest fastball he’s thrown in the last month was 93.5 miles-per-hour. His average fastball was 93, and the hardest he can throw this year is half a mile-per-hour over that. He was up in the high 96’s last year.”

“I think teams will take on a player that has talent, but is getting paid a lot. I think teams will take on a player with a bad attitude, but is still good. But when that skill erodes, and you’re not sure it’s coming back, that’s when a guy becomes toxic. That to me is what teams are so leery about.”

Beckett had to leave Tuesday night’s start against the Tigers in the third inning with a back spasm, and left the mound to a sea of boos from the Fenway crowd.

Were Red Sox fans right to boo an injured player, given it was Josh Beckett?

“Can you be right but also be tasteless and cruel? That’s kind of how I look at it,” said Passan. “You have every right in the world to boo whoever you want to, as long as you don’t mind looking bitter. The reason for being bitter, I get it; Josh Beckett is the face of the collapse last year and I think a lot of the problems this year. They had every right in the world to do it, and I don’t blame them for it.”

Roche: Beckett Shouldn’t Have Been Booed

“I think through actions — or rather inactions — in the past, I think he earned it,” said Passan.

“If it goes down I think it’s a win for the Celtics. Courtney Lee is a very good player — a young player,” said Mannix. “(He’s) a guy that has proven he can be a starter in this league. He’s a very good defensive player at that two-guard spot, shoots a good percentage from the three-point range. He’s not a star but he’s a serviceable guy who can give you very good, quality minutes as a backup or a spot starter.”

In the reported deal, Boston would send second year players JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore, Sean Williams and a second-round pick to Houston. Mannix says each of those players are replaceable, and Johnson was being outplayed by first-round pick Jared Sullinger in the Summer League, likely meaning he would be far down on the C’s depth chart come next season.

“It’s all upside if you’re Boston in acquiring Courtney Lee. He’s a much more proven commodity than what they’re giving up,” said Mannix.

While the financial aspects of the deal could be what’s holding it up from being completed — Mannix noted that Lee’s agent is the “Scott Boras of NBA Agents” — all signs are pointing in the right direction.

Listen: DA’s Jermaine O’Neal Rant

While Lee is a very good shooter and solid defender, he won’t help the Celtics’ lack of rebounding — their biggest problem last season. Is there anything left on the free agent market that could help the Celtics on the glass next season?

“There aren’t really any clutch rebounding types out there… It could be a situation where you take a flyer on the next Greg Stiemsma type,” said Mannix. “There are a large chunk of free agents out there looking for jobs at this moment. They could take a flyer on one of those types of players, but the Celtics have to hope Kevin Garnett holds up again, Brandon Bass steps in, Sullinger can defy the draft odds and contribute this team next year; they’ve kind of got to rely on what they have because the market has kind of dried up.”

Plus, how does Mannix feel about Jeff Green heading into the new season? Was he worth the four-year, $40 million the Celtics signed him for? And is Dwight Howard LA bound? Hear that and more with SI’s Chris Mannix on The DA Show!

“I had a fantastic time in Boston, an unbelievable sports town, fans and organization. But it wasn’t necessarily the best fit basketball wise,” O’Neal told HoopsWorld.com. “Your comfort level is everything. Sometimes when you’re asked not to worry about some of the stronger parts of your game, which is scoring, and only [focus on] defense, that’s difficult to do.”

“I’m not stupid, I don’t think I can go for 20 every night anymore, but I do believe I can go for 20 on any given night. It’s just about finding a position whether it’s coming off the bench or starting, whether its 15 minutes or 30 minutes, whatever the coaches ask you to do it’s just about having the opportunity to be yourself. I just want to get to the level that I know I’m physically right.

So Damon Amendolara had a few things to say to “Gentle Jermaine” Wednesday night…

“He played in 49 games in two seasons, he played in a quarter of the games he was paid for!” said DA. “What type of offensive role do you want? He sat an entire month with a back injury, and when he was cleared to come back he sat out with a runny nose!”

Listen: DA’s Epic Rant on Red Sox, Tom Werner

“What do you want to be a part of the offense? You’re not Garnett, you’re not Pierce, you’re not Rondo. And you don’t ever play, what do you want in the offense you clown?!?” continued DA. “Gentle Jermaine STOLE MONEY.”

“Go enjoy the Turkish league where you get 20 shots a game for a last place team,” joked DA. “Gimme a call and let me know how the jump shot is working… what a clown.”

And that was just the tip of the iceberg… Enjoy as DA laces into JO, again!

SI’s Ian Thomsen joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s The D.A. Show Monday night, and said Miami not only improved themselves by getting Ray, but hurt the Celtics in a big way.

“There is no way the Celtics are as good without him,” Thomsen said of Allen’s departure. “When you think about what they could have had if they had been able to keep him; the wealth of talent on the wing going against Miami, which is a perimeter team. It would have been really interesting next year, but it’s one of those deals like a Yankees-Red Sox kind of thing. The Yankees get better and the Red Sox get worse.”

Felger & Mazz: Wyc ‘Not Upset’ With Allen Leaving

“(The Celtics) wanted him. They didn’t want to pay him what he was making before, and surely they wanted him to understand his role was not going to be as pronounced as it had been. But they definitely wanted to keep him, there is no doubt about that,” Thomsen said of the two-year, $12 million deal Boston tried to entice Allen with. ”When you take into account their competition was Miami, if they had any doubts that they wanted to keep him – which I don’t think they did – those doubts were erased with the thoughts of him going to Miami. Now next year when they play Miami and it’s the end of a tight game, Miami’s fourth option is Ray Allen. If they had any doubts about wanting to keep him, they would have kept him to keep him out of Miami.”

Allen took less money from the Heat, so does that speak volumes as to how unhappy he was near the end of his days in green?

“I wouldn’t want to put words in his mouth, but you have to think for a guy as proud as him and as hard as he works, that it had to bother him he was in trade rumors the last three years… that had to bother him,” said Thomsen.

Now with Allen gone, the Celtics are setting their sights on Courtney Lee, although it will be tough to pull off a sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets to acquire him. They did add veteran swingman Jason Terry, but is Boston doing enough this off-season to stay relevant?

“It isn’t enough. You think about if they had Ray, and Miami didn’t, then you could say they made strides. They would have had all sorts of insurance that they didn’t have last year,” he said. “If everyone is healthy, which is a big IF with three older players, they definitely are better than they were in the playoffs this year.”

“The gamble on investing in older players is you cannot count on them being healthy,” said Thomsen. “You can’t have it both ways: you can’t have the benefit of experience without taking the risk. It’s the opposite if you develop around young players: you can count on them being healthy but you can’t count on the experience.”

Follow: NBA Free Agency Tracker

“If they are healthy, they are better than last year without a doubt. Having Jeff Green; if Avery Bradley comes back ok; these other guys are able to play absolutely they are better. But nothing is static with old players,” said Thomsen.

What about the rest of the NBA? Does Steve Nash on Lakers make them more competitive or more exciting…. or both? And what is the latest with Dwight Howard to Brooklyn? SI’s Ian Thomsen breaks it all down on The D.A. Show!

He said that the Heat have a real family feeling within their organization that might be a selling point to potential free agents.

The Heat might also be willing to put Allen in during key situations. Heat fans are also confident that a deal with Ray Allen will get done.

This leaves only the Heat and Celtics as potential suitor’s for Ray’s services. What can Miami offer Allen that the Celtics can’t?

Will the push by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade work to get Ray Allen in a Heat uniform?

The Red Sox are second in baseball with 411 runs scored, but mustered just 14 in their seven games out West. They were shut down by younger talent on both the Mariners and A’s pitching staff, but McAdam says a lot of the blame needs to fall on Boston’s offensive shortfalls and not stellar performances by the opposition’s pitching.

“A lot of the blame has to be on the Red Sox rather than give credit to the other guys,” said McAdam. “I’ve never heard a team talk more “we hit balls hard but right at people.” That can’t be the case every game. There has to be some blame, and not luck assigned, to whatever they’re doing, and they didn’t do much on this trip.”

“I hear that after almost every loss; ‘We hit five or six balls right on the screw but right at people.’ Sometimes that’s true…  but it doesn’t happen every single time you lose. Yet, that’s what you often hear in (the Red Sox locker room),’ said McAdam.

David Ortiz also made headlines Thursday, but it wasn’t just for smacking his 400th career home run. Ortiz told USA Today his contract negotiations with the Sox last offseason were “humiliating” and “embarrassing.” Ortiz wanted a multi-year deal, but the Red Sox only wanted to sign him for one year. Does Ortiz have a beef here?

“I understand his frustration in the big picture and the numbers he is putting up only fuels the frustration he feels when the team really didn’t get into any talks about a multi-year deal in the offseason,” said McAdam. “But it’s the nature of the market place; whether it’s in the business world or the baseball world, it’s about leverage and supply and demand. The fact is there were not a lot of teams ready to break down the door to sign a guy that was going to be 36 and limited to DH duties.”

Once Ortiz accepted arbitration, he lost a lot of leverage with the team. The Sox were only focusing on signing him to a one-year deal, and while Ortiz is complaining about security, if he does in fact go to arbitration again with the Sox after this season he will likely earn more money and it will be as if he signed a two-year, $30+ million deal.

“If you’re going to make $30 million over 2 years, does it really matter if those are part of the same contract or not? In the end, you’re walking away with more than $15 or $15.5 per year, even if you have to do it on a year-to-year basis.”

Also, should the Red Sox keep Aaron Cook or sell now while his stock is high? Sean McAdam breaks it down with DA!

Does Licata see Dwight Howard going to the Nets?

“I guess it’s still a possibility, but I think it’s a long shot myself and to be honest with you I understand the appeal of going for Dwight Howard.”

Is there fear that he could ruin the next team he goers to like he’s ruined the Orlando Magic? Licata thinks there is and that the Nets should just forget about Howard all together.

If the Nets got Howard would they pass the Knicks in local interest? If Howard went to the Nets and didn’t just dominate would the New York tabloids just tear him apart?

The Red Sox just blew three game in Oakland and now they are at home for three with the Yankees. Are New York fans surprised at where the Yankees are at right now?

Read: David Ortiz Says He’s Humiliated, Embarrassed By Offseason Contract Negotiations

D.A. then dove into David Ortiz’s contract complaints. He felt like he was disrespected for having to grind out every year for a contract when unproven guys get big contracts.

If he could have got more money from another team wouldn’t he have left to go there? Why does he feel so disrespected here?

The Celtics are reportedly ready to offer Allen a two-year deal for $12 million, more than any other team can offer.

So the question is, why would Ray want to go elsewhere?

“I think there are a variety of reasons. Number one is the role in Boston is pretty unclear at this point,” said Mannix. “I think Boston has settled on Avery Bradley as the starting two-guard at this point, and I don’t think Ray or his ego is inclined to play behind a third-year guard that has proven nothing in this league.”

Read: Celtics Turning Sights On Jason Terry

“Everyone says he would be a backup in Miami, but being a backup to Dwayne Wade and being a backup to Avery Bradley is night and day,” said Mannix. “I think there was a lot of misinformation out there about if Ray volunteered for the reserve role [last season]. He was a good soldier at the end; he played his part, he didn’t disrupt things, he gave Boston the chance to win a conference and win a championship. But now that he has the freedom to pick and choose, he’s taking that opportunity.”

And with that opportunity comes feeling wanted by other teams.

“If he just wanted the money, he would have signed (with the Celtics) already,” said Mannix. “He already has a good situation in Boston, his family is settled in Boston, and he’s being offered the most money by Boston. Clearly there are other priorities to Ray Allen. Maybe he just wants to be wined and dined a bit in his last real stint in free agency, or maybe he really does want to explore other avenues and go to another team.”

Allen will likely want to end his career with a chance to win another ring. The Celtics will not be the favorite in the East when next year starts, which could go into Ray’s decision. Plus, Mannix says there is an issue between Allen and Rajon Rondo that could come into play.

“I’ve said it before, I think there is friction between him and Rajon Rondo; I think that’s a variable,” added Mannix.

While Danny Ainge has maintained he wants to keep the “Big 3” together, and consistently said he would like to have Allen back, there is an underlying bonus that would come Boston’s way were they to re-sign Allen.

Read: Ainge Determined To Keep Big 3 Together

“It’s a little complicated because of the salary cap situation. If they go over that $58 million cap when they sign their own free agents, they have access to the $5 million mid-level exception that they can use,” explained Mannix. “For Boston, it’s not just about getting Ray Allen, but getting Ray Allen and having $5 million to spend on a guy like a Jason Terry or a Kris Humphries; a guy that can make them better… You’re talking about a two-for-one situation for the Celtics where they would get Ray and still have the ability to go out there and sign someone else.”

Plus, what’s the latest on the whole Dwight Howard trade drama? Could he land in Brooklyn, or are the recent rumors just the works of the Nets trying to get the info out? Mannix breaks it all down, including the playoff picture in the East if Howard ends up in Brooklyn.

Daisuke Matsuzaka just got off the disabled list in early June and could be head back after he left Monday night’s game due to neck stiffness. The starter only recorded three outs against the Oakland Athletics before leaving the game.

With all the inconsistencies in the starting rotation do the Sox need to go out and get an arm before the trade deadline or if not now what about the offseason? What if they have to make good with what they’ve got? What arms do you feel confident in?

“When you go up and down this list there’s a bunch of guys in there that have major, major question marks. Not little question marks, major question marks which is odd because they have numbers, they have quantity, but my goodness the quality not there.”

Are there five guys that you can look at right now and say that those are my guys?

Over the weekend it was reported Kevin Garnett will sign a 3-year, $34-million extension with Boston. D.A. thinks most people were surprised that the Celtics offered a third year to KG. Should we be concerned with that third year?

“Yeah and I just don’t know how much of it is guaranteed; that’s the key to be honest,” said Goodman. “Whether it’s a team option, how much of it’s guaranteed, but certainly yeah I think everybody, you’ve got to be concerned a little bit about where Kevin Garnett is going to be in three years.”

Is it possible that the Celtics came up with this deal so KG could get his money and lessen their cap hit per year? Plus,  how will the Celtics use KG next season?

The guys also discussed the Celtics drafting Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo last week. Were these good picks?

They also discussed the reports that the Celtics are willing to offer Ray Allen $12 million over two years to stay in Boston. Do the Celtics really need him?

Starting off on the hardwood; the Boston Celtics re-signed Kevin Garnett to a three-year, $34 million deal over the weekend. The question now is, will Ray Allen follow in KG’s footsteps?

“5 Questions” With DA: 

Moving to the other team in their off-season, the Boston Bruins kept quiet the first day of NHL free agency. Peter Chiarelli said it will likely remain that way, but is this the right move for the B’s?

Kalman: Don’t Be Surprised With B’s Silence

As for the Red Sox, David Ortiz was named their lone All-Star on Sunday. With a payroll of $173-million payroll, is it disappointing they only have one player going to Kansas City for the mid-summer classic?

With Kaufman and DA both Syracuse alum, they had to get some Orange talk in there. Who will be the better draft pick: Chandler Jones on the Patriots or Fab Melo for the Celtics?

And last but not least, Kaufman gives DA a little guff for Italy’s loss to Spain in the Euro Cup over the weekend. Accepting the defeat, DA gives a PSA for all those not into soccer, yet…

D.A. takes a look at the deal and wonders if it’s the best thing for the Celtics right now. He mentions the positive and negative aspects of the deal.

Parish is set to receive the Basketball Legacy Award at the annual event at the Garden, which will be presented by former teammate Bill Walton.

“I have to say that the excitement and the momentum is building. It’ll come to a head (Thursday) evening,” Parish said of the honor, noting his former teammate Walton has been “blessed with the gift of conversation.”

Parish also recalls his time on the Celtics, remembering the trade that brought him together with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in 1980.

Parish knew from the get-go they had something special with the original “Big 3.”

“(I realized on) the first day of training camp; the intensity, the focus. Everyone was all business and dedicated,” said Parish. “We all seemed to be on the same page. I knew from Day 1 we had the potential to do something special.”

Read: Bird Stepping Away From Pacers

And when Boston put together the “new Big 3,” Parish was very excited for his former team. There was no animosity towards the new trio of Celtics, because Parish saw a lot of similarities between the two groups.

“I was happy for the Celtics. I was glad they were able to assemble that type of talent. What was very impressive about the current ‘Big 3′ is they were able to put their egos aside and that’s what I feel like what we had in common,” said Parish. “Larry, Kevin and I put our personal egos aside for the betterment of the team, and that’s saying a lot. You’re able to sacrifice who you are and what you want individually for the team. I was very impressed with them for doing that, especially Paul Pierce. He basically took a step back for Allen and Garnett, and you have to respect that.”

Read: Hard To Fault Ray Allen If He Leaves

Parrish had the honor of playing with both Larry Bird and Michael Jordan during his time in the NBA, and said they both had the drive and killer instincts to be great.

“The most obvious one for me is Larry and Michael had unshakable confidence in themselves,” he said. “No matter the situation or the circumstance, they always felt like they could get it done; that they could pull it out. That’s something I always admired about them.”

“They’re the type of players if they get you down, they’ll put their foot on your throat and keep you down,” said Parish. “That’s what you needed to get the job done night in and night out.”

What did Parish think of LeBron James’ performance this postseason? Did he see any of Bird and MJ in LeBron? And did he take more pride in a thunderous dunk or big defensive play? Hear all that and more with the legendary Robert Parish on The DA Show.

With the Red Sox just getting back to .500 after taking two of three against the Cubs, a report came out that the clubhouse was “toxic.” So Werner made a point that the 2004 and 2007 World Series championship teams were not perfect either.

That set DA off, and he delivered a rant for the ages.

“Would someone please wake up Tom, and let him know that at this point in those two seasons they weren’t .500,” started DA. “After 66 games in 2004, the Red Sox were 12 games over .500; not in last place. In 2007 they were a wagon, already 18 games over .500 at this point in time.”

Report: Sox Actively Shopping Youkilis ‘Everywhere’

“In 2004, this team was a pitch away, an inning away, from breaking the curse. With Schilling, Foulke, they were going to battle to break that curse; there was a reason to play baseball. There was a directive, there was a cause,” he said. “None of this, ‘I don’t want to pitch because I threw 100 pitches yesterday’ or ‘I want to be a starter, I don’t want to come out of the bullpen’ or ‘these trade rumors are bothering me.’ There was none of that.”

“In 2007, you had Pedroia and the young guys saying ‘we want ours now,’” continued DA. “You still had Manny raking, you still had Papi raking, and you were the best team in baseball.”

Read: 10 Reasons The Sox Have No Chance At AL East

“”There is no comparison here. Things may not have been perfect then, but you were 18 games above .500…  Do not ever utter ’04 and ’07 around here in terms of ‘it could be like that again.’ No, stop. You sound stupid. You sound like you’re shoveling ice to Eskimos, and they’re sick of the damn ice.”

He moved on to discuss the Boston Celtics with ESPN’s Ryen Russillo. They talked about whether they believe Kevin Garnett will retire from the league or return to the game. If he does return to play will it be with the Celtics since he is a free agent?

Could the Celtics get KG on a one year deal or would the have to offer a couple of years for him to take it?

D.A. talked with Adam Kuperstein of NBA in Miami to get an idea of how worried people are down in Miami.

“I’m only panicking a little bit,” Kuperstein said.

He was also glad to see that Boston was focused on LeBron James’ performances through this series as much as Miami fans. James came to the Heat in 2010 and promised he’d bring championships with him, which he’s been unable to do so far. What is the relationship like with Heat fans and James at this point is his Heat career?

“If he plays well, hey it’s still Wade’s team, Wades the guy and you got here because of Wade and if he doesn’t play well, no matter what else happens in the game, it’s LeBron.”

What will be the feeling in South Beach if the Heat don’t win this series.

“To me it’s not fair to put this on LeBron James, but you know D.A. at the end of the series if the Heat don’t win, no matter how it happens, it’s LeBron’s fault.”

With the series tied 2-2 after the C’s took both games in Boston, the Heat are expected to have forward Chris Bosh back Tuesday night. Bosh missed nine games after suffering the injury over three weeks ago, and it’s still unclear how well he will play in his return.

Sports Illustrated”s Ian Thomsen joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s The D.A. Show Monday night to talk about the ripple effect Bosh may have on the Celtics defense. While Bosh himself might now put up big numbers, his return may help a struggling Heat star.

“To me, I think they have to hope the big effect is it gets Dwyane Wade going. I don’t think they miss Chris Bosh’s production, but Dwyane Wade misses it a lot,” said Thomsen. “The Celtics have been able to take Kevin Garnett and shade over towards Wade, trap him and get the ball out of his hands. If Chris Bosh is playing in this series and is any kind of threat, it’s going to be more difficult for the Celtics to pay more attention to Dwyane Wade. That’s the ripple effect of the whole thing.”

Read: Bosh Listed As “Day To Day”

“The Celtics defense, as they’ve done throughout these five years, they’ve figured out who they want to take away and they’re able to do it. It’s like the Bill Belichick style,” Thomsen said of the Celtics choosing to shut down Wade this series. “He’s not the only guy they’ve done it to; in the past they’ve done it to LeBron.”

However, Thomsen warns Bosh will be rusty and might still be hampered by the injury. The one benefit he does have over the aging Celtics are fresh legs.

“The mistake will be if anyone thinks the guy will be able to do a lot. That’s a very difficult injury, and even if he plays there is a very good chance he’ll be limited,” he said of Bosh. “He hasn’t played well against Garnett for the most part, and Garnett is playing great right now. The one thing he does have right now is his legs. If he can be active defensively and cut off some of the lobs to Garnett in the post, that is something they can’t get from anyone else.”

Read: Celtics-Heat Game 5 Preview

As for the Celtics, they are getting some solid production from the injured Ray Allen. He has scored in double-digits each of the last three games, hitting eight of his last 21 three-pointers.

Ray has been dealing with bone spurs in his ankle, but it seems he has learned to play with them. But Thomsen says the injury could come back to haunt Allen and the Celtics at any point.

“I think it’s just how he falls out of bed that morning; it’s that simple. If he can get up and move that foot around — and isn’t in excruciating pain — that’s a good day for the Boston Celtics,” said Thomsen. “It’s amazing what the margin of error for the team has become; the outcome depends on how Ray Allen feels in the morning.”

However, if Allen can stay relatively healthy, given the Celtics play in the last three games Thomsen is now giving the edge to Boston.

“The spirit of this team is a very rare thing. That spirit is what you’re seeing now the last couple of games,” he said. “There is no reason why they should be doing what they’re doing, but they’re doing it anyways. That’s who they are. It’s like they know this is the last time, and they’re going to define the terms.”

“When I look at these next games coming up, I don’t see how you can pick Miami,” said Thomsen, who originally picked the Heat to win the series in five games. “The Celtics have outplayed them the last three games, and Rondo is the most valuable player in the series. Far more valuable than LeBron. I think you have to look at it and say the benefit of the doubt goes to Boston.”