We've had some great days here in Bostonas collective members of this crazy and complex sports societybut yesterday was not one of them.
Rondo yelled at a camera man! Beckett was golfing! Ahhhhhhh!
I felt like crawling under a rock and repeatedly smashing it over my head.
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Yes, Rondo got pissed and had some words for a cameraman. What are you going to do?
Can you imagine if that same camera had caught him smiling and joking around with family after the game? What's the reaction then?
"What the hell!?! He doesn't take this seriously! He doesn't care! He's no leader!"
But when he gets angry at the guy (who yes, was just doing his job, but in that moment was doing the job of a glorified TMZ correspondent) then Rondo's an unruly a-hole? Then it's just Rondo up to his old selfish and immature tricks? Come on. I'm not defending Rondo here, I'm just saying it doesn't matter; it's a non-issue. And I can't wait for him to take the court tonight so we can bury this story and move on.
Unless of course he has a bad game, in which case we'll dig it all back up and go through the same song and dance.
As for Beckett, he's clearly not doing himself any favors, but I thought the most interesting aspect of Hardy's report, which no one is really talking about (or certainly not focusing on), was this line: "At one point he said, which I found surprising, that it was a surprise to him when Bobby Valentine came to him and said he was shutting him down and he was not going to make his next start on Saturday."
That would suggest that Beckett didn't want to miss the start, right? That he didn't think that this lat issue was worth sitting down for?
And to that point, I know the argument is: "Well, if he could've pitched, then why didn't he volunteer to pitch in Sunday's 17-inning marathon?" But do we really know what happened? Bobby Valentine was pretty vague about the whole thing, and considering it was his decision to hold Beckett out of his previous start, isn't it fair to assume that he'd also be cautious about inserting his starter into a surprise, high-pressure relief performance?
Listen, if I wasn't defending Rondo, then I'm really not defending Beckett. I'm not a fan, and would have no issue with the Sox trading him for whatever they can get. But sneaking in 18 holes on an off day that he didn't even want to take? I'm sorry, it's so hard to care. And I can't wait for him to take the mound again tonight so we can bury this issue and move on.
Unless of course he has a bad game, in which case we'll dig it all back up and go through the same song and dance.
But either way, at least for one night, we'll have real games and actual sports to fill our brains and airwaves. And after yesterday, that's a more than welcome sight.
Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine