Matt Vautour: Al Horford was a good player, but a great Celtic
Meeting with the media earlier this week, Brad Stevens admitted, for financial reasons, it was unlikely that Horford would be back.
He's pondering retirement while considering offers from the Warriors and Lakers.
In a Celtics franchise whose history boasts some of the best players in the history of basketball, Horford was a good player.
He was never a superstar or the face of the franchise. He averaged 11.2 points per game over his seven seasons in Boston and never more than 14.0 per game. Only one of his five All-Star selections came with Boston.
But he impacted the Celtics nonetheless.
In 2016, when he signed with Boston, which has historically struggled to land free agents, he gave the Celtics valuable credibility. It was the first piece of the building process that turned the franchise back into a perennial contender. A year later, they signed Gordon Hayward and traded for Kyrie Irving.
Because of Hayward's injury and Irving's immaturity, those two didn't become the franchise-leading stars the Celtics had hoped they'd be. Still, the team continued to rise and Horford was a big reason why.
Horford emerged as a mentor and steadying presence for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who did evolve into the superstar tentpoles for last year's championship.
Horford's professionalism, sacrifice and work ethic will be reflected in his younger teammates, long after he hangs up his high tops.
'Another guy that if he were to go and play somewhere else — I think Al's an all-time Celtic and a winner and did everything he could for this organization,' Brad Stevens said. 'Not only from the games, but also how he impacted our younger players.'
Outtakes from a busy week...
What do Messi, Clark, Ohtani and the Savannah Bananas have in common?
At first glance, this should be a slow time on the sports calendar. Patriots camp is still few weeks off and baseball is in its pre-trade deadline, pre-pennant race stretch.
But in Massachusetts, which has had a disappointing year for the local pro teams, July 2025 is showcasing visitors ranging from zany to iconic:
Lionel Messi — New England Revolution coach Caleb Porter called the Inter Miami star the best player of all time. Messi vs. Pele is a terrific debate that will keep happening for years to come. But whether Messi is No. 1 or No. 2, he's still a legend who was at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday and drew a huge crowd to Foxborough to see him.
Caitlin Clark — Clark is neither the greatest player of all time or the greatest player in the WNBA right now. But she's a star who is early in her climb. And her popularity in college has made her one of the most recognizable players and the biggest box office draws in the WNBA.
Boston only hosts one Connecticut Sun game per year, so to get Clark at TD Garden on Tuesday is a big deal.
Shohei Ohtani — There's no guarantee that he'll pitch, but baseball's power-hitting ace and the rest of the World Series-winning Dodgers will be at Fenway Park from July 25-27.
Savannah Bananas — The barnstorming baseball circus remains one of the toughest tickets in all of sports. The novelty of the Harlem Globetrotter-style, rule-changing baseball club hasn't worn off. The Bananas sold out Fenway on back-to-back days on Fourth of July weekend.
July continues an already good year.
In addition to annual visitors Connor McDavid and LeBron James, Boston hosted the World Figure Skating Championships, and a terrific NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, which featured an overtime classic between USA vs. Canada.
Alex Ovechkin visited just before breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goal record and the 2025 Beanpot was especially loaded with future NHL players.
French kissing doping scandal
Ysaora Thibus is a silver medal-winning fencer, but a gold-medal caliber baloney-slinger.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned her four-year doping suspension for a positive test in January.
Why?
The CAS said it was in fact plausible that her positive test for Ostarine was caused by kissing her boyfriend repeatedly, who was using the banned substance.
So in the future, as long as an athlete's significant other is using performance enhancers, they've got an alibi for a positive test? Given the notorious lore of the 'mingling' at the Olympic village, it's a wonder that more people don't test positive if smooching is all it takes.
Why didn't A-Rod think of that?
That is the best excuse to dodge punishment since I successfully fought a speeding ticket incurred while running an errand the day before I got married.
'Officer, there's no way I was driving that fast because I didn't want to get back to the house and all the pre-wedding chaos happening there.'
Dismissed.
Real Jeopardy! Clue
Sports clues from actual editions of America's favorite quiz show. As always, mind the date
CATEGORY: THERE ONCE WAS THIS MAN FROM...- $200: Dec. 11, 2019
Brazil / Who kicked a ball with some skill / Finding the holes / Scored 1,200-plus goals / & gave us 2 decades of thrill
— Answer below
The Top 5
We'll call these the Cal Raleigh All-Stars.
5 - Juan Pierre
4 - Jeff Montgomery
3 - Cal Raleigh
2 - Oscar Charleston
1 - Jacksons - Reggie, Shoeless Joe, Bo
Today in Boston Sports History
July 11
1914 — Babe Ruth makes pitching debut for the Boston Red Sox against Cleveland, getting the 4-3 victory over the Indians.
Lightning round
Caitlin Clark is David Pastrnak. Angel Reese is Cam Neely.
If Missouri pitcher Sam Horn, a projected early-round pick in next week's MLB Draft is selected by the Red Sox, he could be celebrated on the Sons of Sam Horn despite not being the son of Sam Horn.
In related news, Celtics Summer League big Kenny Lofton Jr. is the son of Kenny Lofton, but not THAT Kenny Lofton.
MLB Pipeline's No. 44-ranked draft prospect is a player named Jack Bauer, a lefty pitcher from Indiana. His jersey number is exactly what you think it is.
Even if Juan Soto was kidding when he complained about missing his All-Star bonus, when you sign a $765 million contract, there are no funny jokes about missing a check.
If you missed ESPN's SportsCenter feature on Ezra French, USC's amazing disabled track star, read his story here.
Real Jeopardy! Question:
Who is Pele?
Finally...
Happy National French Fry Day to those who celebrate.
Read the original article on MassLive.
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