February 12, 2021 | 10:36
On Thursday, the Celtics defeated the Raptors 120-106. Semi Ojeleye totaled one best career 24 points to lead Boston.
The Celtics play again tonight, facing the Pistons at 8 pm
And the Bruins also play tonight, facing the Rangers at 7pm.
Friday is Bill Russell’s 87th birthday. Here’s the Hall of Fame blowing out what appears to be 87 candles:
Phew, I got to 87! I want to thank my wife for another incredible cake and for the small forest fire over it. Thanks @ SKJR40 to wait with the extinguisher just in case, next time bring a cpr kit. @legends_unite #Deep breath #Friday morning @BleacherReport @NBA @ESPN @celtics pic.twitter.com/TscoGkRhxv
– TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) February 12, 2021
Mike Reiss in Jimmy Garoppolo: Speaking on ESPN on Friday morning, Patriots reporter Mike Reiss discussed how he sees Bill Belichick’s possible plans as a defender in the off-season.
“Tom Brady goes to Tampa, wins a Super Bowl championship. You are the Patriots, what is your answer to that? Asked Reiss.
“You have to be bold,” Reiss continued, “which is why my bold prediction was that Jimmy Garoppolo would return and be the starting defender this season. Think about it: it was the original succession plan for Brady here in New England. In 2016, when they had him while Tom was serving the suspension, he was out, winning in Arizona that opening week, when all eyes of the NFL were watching him.
“So the next week, against Miami, he won really well before he got hurt, and that’s what matters when we talk about Jimmy,” noted Reiss.
Reiss acknowledged that the Patriots’ path to obtaining Garoppolo is uncertain. The 29-year-old has two years left on his current contract with the 49ers, with strikes of more than $ 26 million each season.
Still, if San Francisco chases another quarterback in the off-season, Garoppolo could become expandable.
“You could almost imagine how the dominoes could fall,” Reiss observed.
Curiosities: Jimmy Garoppolo was the fifth quarterback taken in the 2014 NFL draft. Can you name the four who were taken before him?
(Answer at the bottom).
Tip: only one was still playing for the team that recruited him in the 2020 season.
More from Boston.com:
JJ Watt on why he asked for his release:
Houston, I wanted you to hear it directly from me … pic.twitter.com/YqT3P6Lb6l
– JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 12, 2021
Naomi Osaka eventually guided the butterfly to safety:
💜 💛 🦋 @naomiosaka | @ sabrina_i20 pic.twitter.com/kd0rB1w8dA
– espnW (@espnW) February 12, 2021
In this day: In 1994, Norwegian ski jumper Stein Gruben took the Olympic torch from a ski jump at the opening ceremonies of the Lillehammer Olympics.
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 (having won a bronze medal at the 1988 Calgary Olympics), he seemed the safest pair of hands.
But after Fidjestol suffered a concussion in jumping training just before the Games started, Norway turned to Gruben, a 26-year-old painting student with a university degree.
With the world watching, he calmly landed and the host nation exhaled.
#In this day 26 years ago, the @OlympicFlame flew and set the Olympic cauldron on fire # Lillehammer1994 pic.twitter.com/ycowCUw0Lo
– Olympics (@Olympics) February 12, 2020
Daily highlight: Jaylen Brown continued the game until the end with the theft, spin and submission.
JB wins the robbery and bucket tonight @JetBlue Game Play! pic.twitter.com/lEM3Dvti26
– Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 12, 2021
Trivial answer: Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr.
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