Sports Redux: How Do You Solve A Problem Like Atlanta?

There are some games the Celtics need to read the papers to get motivated for. Tonight is not one of them. The Atlanta Hawks, as you well know, improbably stretched the C's to the limit in the first round of the playoffs last year, taking every game in Atlanta, where they meet tonight. And it took some last minute heroics to dispatch them at the Garden last month. And the Hawks' website is calling this a rivalry, and bringing in Ludacris for halftime entertainment. And yet tickets are still available. Atlanta needs work on this rivalry stuff.

The biggest question mark for the C's is Paul Pierce, who says he's ready to go tonight after bumping his knee in the closing seconds of the Utah win on Monday. David Thorpe wrote on ESPN the other day that Pierce has truly emerged as a tough guy and a leader, which we knew, but it's nice to see vindication. (While you're there, you should also read this article on Garnett's big mouth.)

There was a familiar face (with an unfamiliar mullet, according to the picture) at the Patriots' holiday party/charity fundraiser. Tom told the press that Bill told him not to tell the press much about his injury, but he seemed to be walking OK and did a great job handing out praise for Matt Cassel and the team that's survived his absence. Two members of which, by the way, are headed to Honolulu: Stephen Gostkowski and Wes Welker were named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad in voting by players and coaches. More may be added later (we're not sure who) as players already named decide they don't want to go to the game.

While the Bruins are sitting idle during an unfortunate gap in their schedule (they finally get back on the ice tomorrow against Toronto), the Globe lays out the dos and don'ts of the hockey fight. The B's' Shawn Thornton is the go-to guy for most of the quotes: "Nobody likes getting punched in the face...but it's a job and I'll do it for the rest of my career." Which is pretty much how Maple Leaf fans feel.

And congratulations to Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who got a 2-year contract extension at an age when most people stop buying green bananas.

Image from Wikipedia.