February 12, 2021 | 10:36 am
On Thursday, the Celtics defeated the Raptors 120-106. Semi Ojeleye amounted to one career high 24 points to lead Boston.
The Celtics will play again tonight, facing the Pistons at 8 p.m.
And the Bruins also play tonight and take on the Rangers at 7 p.m.
Friday is Bill Russell’s 87th birthday. Here’s the Hall of Famer blowing out 87 candles:
Phew, I made it to 87! I want to thank my wife for another great cake and the little forest fire on it. Thanks @ Jeroenbakker to be ready with the extinguisher just in case, bring a cpr kit next time. @Legends_unite Deep breath # Friday morning @RTLnews @NBA @espn @celtics pic.twitter.com/TscoGkRhxv
– TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) February 12, 2021
Mike Reiss on Jimmy Garoppolo: Speaking on ESPN Friday morning, Patriot reporter Mike Reiss discussed how he views Bill Belichick’s possible plans as an off-season quarterback.
Tom Brady goes to Tampa, wins a Super Bowl championship. You are the patriots, what is your reaction to that? Reiss asked.
“It must be daring,” Reiss continued, “and so my bold prediction was that Jimmy Garoppolo will return this season and be their starting quarterback. Think about it: he was the original succession plan for Brady here in New England. In 2016, when they had to address him while Tom broadcast that suspension, he was lights out and won in Arizona that opening week when all eyes in the NFL were on him.
“The following week, against Miami, he was great in a win against them before he got hurt, and that’s the most important thing when talking about Jimmy,” noted Reiss.
Reiss acknowledged that the Patriots’ path to getting Garoppolo is uncertain. The 29-year-old has two more years to go on his current 49ers contract, with caphits in excess of $ 26 million in each season.
But if San Francisco chases another quarterback in the off-season, Garoppolo could potentially become expandable.
“You could almost imagine how the dominoes could fall,” noted Reiss.
Trivia: Jimmy Garoppolo was the fifth quarterback to be taken in the 2014 NFL draft. Can you name the four who were taken away before him?
(Answer below).
Hint: Only one played for the team that drafted him in the 2020 season.
More from Boston.com
JJ Watt why he asked for his release
Houston, I wanted you to hear this directly from me … pic.twitter.com/YqT3P6Lb6l
– JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 12, 2021
Naomi Osaka eventually brought the butterfly to safety
@naomiosaka @sabrina_vw pic.twitter.com/kd0rB1w8dA
– espnW (@espnW) February 12, 2021
On this day: In 1994, Norwegian ski jumper Stein Gruben took the Olympic torch from a ski jump at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Lillehammer.
Gruben was not his country’s first choice, as 33-year-old veteran Ole Gunnar Fidjestol was initially preferred. Given Fidjestol’s experience and success on the world stage (after winning a bronze medal at the Calgary Olympics in 1988), he seemed like the safer pair of hands.
But after Fidjestol suffered a concussion during a practice jump shortly before the Games started, Norway turned to Gruben, a 26-year-old painting student at the university.
As the world watched, he calmly held onto the landing and the host country exhaled.
#On this day 26 years ago the @OlympicFlame flew and lit the Olympic cauldron # Lillehammer1994 pic.twitter.com/ycowCUw0Lo
– Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 12, 2020
Daily highlight: Jaylen Brown went all the way through the game stealing, turning and finishing.
JB will bring in the sample and the bucket tonight @JetBlue Playing the game! pic.twitter.com/lEM3Dvti26
– Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 12, 2021
Trivia Answer: Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr.
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