Durant=ROY

The expectations were there for Kevin Durant the day he first arrived in Seattle: anything less than being the best rookie in the NBA would be a disappointment.

The 19-year-old didn't disappoint.

Durant, the Sonics' dynamic young star, has been chosen as the NBA Rookie of the Year, the Associated Press has learned from a person with knowledge of the vote. The person requested anonymity because the official announcement has not been made, but is likely to come on Thursday when the Sonics have scheduled a news conference.

The honor was first reported by The Seattle Times in Wednesday's editions.

Durant becomes the first Sonics' player to receive the award after leading the downtrodden team in scoring, living up to the lofty expectations placed on him after being the national college player of the year at Texas and the No. 2 overall pick in June's draft.

"I don't think it's remotely close in terms of what he's done in any category, from top to bottom," Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said at the end of the season. "Where he stacks up to compared to previous rookies and what they've accomplished in their first year, how he compares to other rookies of the year, how he compares to the other rookies in this class."

Playing as a true shooting guard for the first time in his young basketball career, Durant was asked from the start to carry the scoring load for a rebuilding Sonics franchise. Durant averaged 20.3 points, grabbed 4.4 rebounds and played a team-high 34 minutes per night. His scoring was the highest average for a rookie of the year since LeBron James averaged 20.9 points in 2003-04. Carmelo Anthony averaged 21 points as a rookie, in 2003-04, but James won the award.

Despite strong rookie seasons from Atlanta's Al Horford and Houston's Luis Scola -- both of whom deemed strong consideration with the success of their teams -- Durant's selection is hardly a surprise, especially after overall No. 1 pick Greg Oden went down over the summer with a knee injury. Durant was the Western Conference Rookie of the Month five times, only once not picking up the award, when it went to Scola.

"It would mean a lot," Durant said after the season about the rookie award. "My main goal was to come in and get better. This summer is big for me to become a better player and help this team out next year and that's what I'm going to try and do. But if I am the rookie of the year, it's a blessing."

"The Truth" PP34 in a gang?

The "menacing gesture" Paul Pierce flashed during the Celtics' Game 3 playoff loss to the Atlanta Hawks could indicate anything from gang affiliation to shoe company preference, according to law enforcement officials and experts in gang culture.

Pierce linked his right index finger and thumb in a circle and, above that, raised his three other fingers together. He directed the gesture toward the Atlanta bench, along with what could be seen as a menacing stare.

The NBA responded with a $25,000 fine on Monday, two days after the game. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said the franchise would address the matter after the season. The reactions of both the league and team officials prompted speculation that there was more to the gesture than what cameras captured.

"It definitely can be a gang sign," said Boston community activist True-See Allah, who counsels at-risk youth about the dangers of gangs. "Paul Pierce is from California, so he's got to be aware of all the different signs and symbols. I'm sure he knows people who are in gangs.

"They definitely saw something wrong with what he did. Even if it wasn't a gang sign, it gave the appearance that it was.

"That's unbecoming of a professional athlete. I can see the league doing something like that because it wants professionalism."

Given that he grew up in Inglewood, Calif., near areas of widespread gang violence and that he nearly died after being stabbed at a Theater District nightclub in 2000, Pierce may seem an unlikely individual to flash gang signs.

Following practice yesterday, Pierce did not address the gesturing incident.

The Boston Police Department declined to comment about the matter, saying there are a wide array of hand-gesture interpretations.

According to other law-enforcement sources, a hand sign similar to the one Pierce directed toward the Atlanta bench can indicate "blood killer" or "crip killer," referring to the two major gangs with origins in Southern California. The three raised fingers stand for "k." A closed circle made by the index finger and thumb indicates "blood." A slightly open circle indicates "crip."

The subtle difference in hand gestures used by rival gangs underscores how easily such signs can be misused or misinterpreted. Signs also can be co-opted by those looking for a certain "street cred," law enforcement officials said.

Additionally, the meanings of gang signs often change over time and depend on context and audience. Allah said that Boston kids who showed three fingers to friends were often indicating a preference for the three stripes of Adidas. (For the record, Pierce wears Nike.) Another local gesture similar to Pierce's is one where the lower-case "b" formed by the index finger and thumb means, "What's up, Boston?"

But signing "Adidas" or "What's up Boston" doesn't make sense in the closing seconds of a frustrating playoff loss, especially since the gesture followed taunting by Atlanta rookie Al Horford.

"I don't know anything about [the gesture]," Horford said to Atlanta reporters. "I don't know what that is."

Ainge claimed that Pierce's gesture was a variation of the sign he flashes during pregame introductions, meaning "blood, sweat, and tears."

Byron Scott named NBA Coach of the Year

Byron Scott was voted NBA coach of the year on Tuesday after leading theNew Orleans Hornets to their first playoff appearance in four years.

Scott coached the Hornets to a 56-26 record, a franchise high for victories. New Orleans won the Southwest Division crown and leads Dallas 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs entering Game 5 Tuesday night.

This is the first time Scott has won the Red Auerbach Trophy in eight seasons as a coach, four with the New Jersey Nets and the past four with the Hornets. Scott won three titles as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who led Boston to the best record in the NBA (66-16), as well as Houston coach Rick Adelman, who oversaw the Rockets' improbable 22-game winning streak and helped his team stay competitive after a season-ending foot injury to star center Yao Ming, were considered candidates to win the award.

Rivers agreed with the choice of Scott.

"He should," Rivers said Monday night. "He really should. You look what they've done."

As recently as the 2004-05 season, the Hornets were an NBA joke with an 18-64 record, Scott's first season as coach. He was hired to guide a New Orleans team in transition, and the franchise has progressed steadily since.

Life Ain't Nice When You're Caught Cheatin' TWICE

Roger Clemens had a decade long relationship with country star Mindy McCready that began when she was a 15 year old aspiring singer and the pitcher was a Boston Red Sox ace, the Dily News reported.

Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, confirmed a long-term relationship but told the newspaper it was not sexual.

"Mindy McCready is a longtime family friend of Roger Clemens and the Clemens family," Hardin said in a statement Monday. "At no time did Roger engage in any kind of inappropriate or improper relationship with her. It is unfortunate that the Daily News has chosen to report anonymous allegations that are completely unfounded, have no basis in fact, and have nothing to do with Roger's baseball career or the issue of steroid use in baseball."

The story, which appeared on the newspaper's website Sunday night and in editions Monday, quoted several people who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation.

McCready's lawyer, Lee Ofman, said he did not have any comment on the Daily News story.

Clemens was 28 and a married father of two when he first met McCready, the newspaper reported.

The story could undermine Clemens' reputation, which is central to the defamation suit the former pitcher has filed against former personal trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee contends Clemens used performance-enhancing substances during his major league career.

"If true, it's just another example of Roger's pervasive prevarications which will be at the core of any defamation case," said McNamee's attorney, Richard Emery, in an e-mail to the Associated Press.

The newspaper said Clemens sent cash to McCready to help her with legal issues and reached out to her when she was in jail last year in Tennessee.

The 32-year-old McCready was sentenced last September for violating probation from a 2004 drug arrest and was released from jail last Dec. 30. The violation occurred in July when McCready was accused of scuffling with her mother and resisting arrest at her mother's home in Fort Myers, Fla. She still must serve two years' probation.

Brown to coach Bobcats

Well traveled Larry Brown has reached an agreement to return to the NBA as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Monday.

The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made, said Brown was expected to sign a contract on Tuesday. The Bobcats called an afternoon news conference for what they termed a "major basketball announcement."

The 67-year-old Hall of Famer will be taking over his ninth NBA team, and it will be his first coaching job since a messy exit from the New York Knicks in 2006. Brown will replace Sam Vincent, fired on Saturday after going 32-50 in his one season.

Reached early Tuesday, Vincent said he wasn't surprised that part-owner Michael Jordan decided to bring in a veteran coach.

"Michael never said that he was hiring Coach Brown. He just said they were going to make some decisions that were in the best interest of the organization," Vincent said. "So I kind of assumed of going in the direction of hiring a veteran coach and someone who was very popular in the community."

Brown's agent, Joe Glass, refused to confirm or deny that his client was headed to Charlotte. "I have no information on Larry Brown," Glass said early Tuesday.

Brown won the NBA championship with Detroit in 2004 and the NCAA title with Kansas in 1988. He resigned last week as executive vice president of the Philadelphia 76ers, and Glass indicated Brown wanted to return to coaching.

The move means Jordan has turned to a fellow former North Carolina Tar Heel to try to get the fourth-year Bobcats into the playoffs for the first time. Jordan and Brown both played for former North Carolina coach Dean Smith.

Brown, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, is one of five NBA coaches with at least 1,000 victories.

Panic time in Beantown?

The Boston Celtics were supposed to be resting up by now, getting ready for the next round of the playoffs.Instead, they're headed back to Beantown all tied up with the lowly Atlanta Hawks , who are starting to believe -- really believe -- they can shock the world.

That IS where Boston has gone wrong, you had a young immature team dead in the water. Now they have won two games in a row and BELIEVE that if they win game 5 in Boston (Wednesday night @ 8:30 pm et) that the series will be over in game 6. The Hawks have the right to believe so I mean thus far Boston has done NOTHING to make these young guys feel uncomfortable at home.

* Atlanta has won ONLY 12 road games the entire season.

* The Hawks have won five of their last six home playoff games against the Celtics.

* After averaging 9.5 points per game in the first two Atlanta losses, Josh Smith is averaging 27.5 in the last two wins.

* The Hawks still face an uphill battle. Boston is 28-0 all-time in series when they have had a 2-0 lead in the series.

Haywood calls LeBron "crybaby"

Overrated hasn't worked. Now one of the Washington Wizards is calling LeBron James another name: Crybaby.

Following Cleveland's 100-97 win in Game 4 on Sunday, James, who has absorbed two flagrant fouls in this rough-and-tumble playoff series and has been banged around by the Wizards, was asked about Washington's tough-guy tactics.

"I guess that's what they want to do," he said, "hurt LeBron James in this series. It's not working."

Brendan Haywood on LeBron, "He wears 23, he wants to be Michael Jordan, I can respect that, he's a great player. You saw what Mike went through. Mike got fouled way worse than this. No one is trying to hurt him, everybody is trying to play basketball, trying to play tough. Play basketball and leave it alone."

On Monday, Wizards center Brendan Haywood countered.

"Awww," Haywood said in a whiny, high-pitched voice to mock James. "They are trying to hurt me."

Haywood, who was called for a flagrant-two foul and ejected from Game 2 after shoving James, believes it's time for Cleveland's superstar to stop complaining. With at least one game to go, Washington vs. Cleveland Part III has featured weeks of back-and-forth trash talk, intense games loaded with hard fouls, even dueling rap stars. Haywood's remarks -- and a postgame comment from James -- will provide the backdrop as the teams prepare for Game 5 on Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

Hey Brendan here is a thought...shut up!...shut the HELL up! LeBron has single handedly beat up on the Wizards and your team can talk all the smack you want but over the past three season against the Cavs the playoffs read like this LeBron and his Cavs 11 wins over the wizards, Washington 1 win. To top that off LeBron and his teammates are 1 win away from there 3rd straight year off knocking you out of the playoffs. If you ask me it sounds like the Wizards are the team whining because you know that LEBRON OWNS YOU!!!

Madden Cover=No love for Brady OR Moss

It was recently announced that Brett Favre would be on the cover of the new Madden game. This comes as a surprise, as Madden's covers have always been current players, and unless they know something we don't, Favre is retired. I can think of two reasons this occured.

1. Frank Caliendo:This guy is hilarious. He does some of the best impersonations out there, and his John Madden is second to none. And he hits the nail on the head by saying that John Madden is in love with Brett Favre. Whenever John Madden talks about Brett Favre he just gushes. This leads me to believe that Madden forced EA Sport's hand on the matter, making them put Favre on the cover as a retirement present. Imagine that discussion between Favre and Madden.

Brett Favre: Well, gosh, I really do appreciate it John.
John Madden: I just hope it shows you how I truly feel for you.
Favre: What do you mean?
Madden: Well, I think it's better if I just sing you this song to show you how I really feel when I'm around you...
Favre: Uhhhh, John? I gotta go.
Madden: Wait, wait, wait...(cues music) One, you're like a dream come true....Two, just want to be with you...
Favre: (hangs up phone)
Madden: Three...Brett it's plain to see that you're the only one for me..and four...Brett, are you there? Brett?

2. The Madden Curse: I urge you to click on that link and see the list that is compiled of NFL players on the cover. I get that superstitions are that and nothing more, but this is beyond superstition. As far as I'm concerned after an event occurs 6 or more times in a ten year period, especially when it can only occur at a rate of one per year, it is no longer a curse. It is a fact. And wouldn't it make sense that all the current NFL stars refused to be put on the cover and they had to have some star power, and Favre was the obvious choice. Now, if somehow Favre gets injured within the next year we should just start putting people we want to get hurt on the cover.

NASCAR

My Observations

- What a race at the 2.66 mile superspeedway Sunday, and it proves just what team is the one to beat this season.

- There's no driver hotter than Kyle Busch at the moment, and it's surprising that there aren't very many people wearing M & M's gear in the stands yet. Sooner or later, this kid's gonna start winning some fans over as he continues his dominance.

- Two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart once again had a car that could win at Talladega but failed to do so. He's now winless in 18 tries at the track, and finished 38th Sunday.

- It looked like Dale Earnhardt Jr. might finally break into the win column after 70 races, but he caught up in one of the late wrecks before salvaging a 10th place finish.

- At one point near the halfway mark in the race, third-place finisher Denny Hamlin radioed to crew chief Mike Ford that his right foot was aching so badly from having to keep it steadily glued to the floor on top of his gas pedal, that he was hoping for a caution so that he could give it a rest. Ford suggested he try using his left foot to give himself some relief. Hamlin did, but it provided only some help.

- Sam Hornish Jr.'s first-rate performance at the Daytona 500 made for the promise of an equally strong run Sunday. However, some questionable pit strategy and an engine that eventually was running on only seven cylinders stymied his afternoon. The rookie of the year candidate barely remains in the top 35 in points (33rd).

- I have no idea what Jamie McMurray was thinking on Lap 170 when he drove his Ford Fusion into the side of eventual race winner Busch. The result could have been a disaster, taking out much of the field.

Next weekend it's racing under the lights Richmond.- What a race at the 2.66 mile superspeedway Sunday, and it proves just what team is the one to beat this season.

- There's no driver hotter than Kyle Busch at the moment, and it's surprising that there aren't very many people wearing M & M's gear in the stands yet. Sooner or later, this kid's gonna start winning some fans over as he continues his dominance.

- Two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart once again had a car that could win at Talladega but failed to do so. He's now winless in 18 tries at the track, and finished 38th Sunday.

- It looked like Dale Earnhardt Jr. might finally break into the win column after 70 races, but he caught up in one of the late wrecks before salvaging a 10th place finish.

- At one point near the halfway mark in the race, third-place finisher Denny Hamlin radioed to crew chief Mike Ford that his right foot was aching so badly from having to keep it steadily glued to the floor on top of his gas pedal, that he was hoping for a caution so that he could give it a rest. Ford suggested he try using his left foot to give himself some relief. Hamlin did, but it provided only some help.

- Sam Hornish Jr.'s first-rate performance at the Daytona 500 made for the promise of an equally strong run Sunday. However, some questionable pit strategy and an engine that eventually was running on only seven cylinders stymied his afternoon. The rookie of the year candidate barely remains in the top 35 in points (33rd).

- I have no idea what Jamie McMurray was thinking on Lap 170 when he drove his Ford Fusion into the side of eventual race winner Busch. The result could have been a disaster, taking out much of the field.

Next weekend it's racing under the lights Richmond.

Patriots in 2008 draft

New England Patriots Draft picks are as follows:
1 10 (10) Jerod Mayo OLB TENNESSEE

	Mayo isn't quite as instinctive as Rivers, and he has to improve his cover skills. But Mayo has more upside than Rivers. He has very good top-end speed for his size, and although he lacks ideal strength, he explodes into hits. In addition, he's versatile enough to line up on the inside or the outside, depending on how a team wants to use him. Video
2	31(62)	Terrence Wheatley CB COLORADO
	Wheatley is another example of a player with durability concerns; he doesn't have great size and has a long history of injuries. On the plus side, he has the fluid hips, speed and burst to develop excellent man-to-man cover skills. In addition, he's a better tackler than his size would suggest; he can make plays in run support and covering punts.
3	15(78)	Shawn Crable OLB MICHIGAN
	From New Orleans
	Crable needs to do a better job reading his keys, and he can be a step late getting to the football. Additionally, he takes too many false steps in coverage. On the plus side, he has the size and speed to develop into a starting outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and he should make early contributions in special teams.
3	31(94)	Kevin O'Connell QB SAN DIEGO STATE
	He has prototypical size and is an above-average athlete. O'Connell has excellent and efficient feet with his drops, and the arm strength tomake all the throws. He has shown the ability to buy time with his feet and does a nice job keeping his eyes down the field when flushed out of the pocket.However, he is still very raw and needs time to develop.
4	30(129)	Jonathan Wilhite CB AUBURN
	Although Wilhite is susceptible to getting flagged for pass interference and defensive holding, there's a lot to like about his physical style of play. If he Learns to play with better discipline, he could develop into an effective press corner for his size. He also has very good speed.
5	18(153)	Matt Slater WR UCLA
	From Tampa Bay
	He went to UCLA as a wideout, got injured then moved to corner. As a result,he's raw and needs some time to work on his technique. Still, the Patriots do a great job of finding special teams players in the middle rounds, and Slater is excellent in that phase.

Masterson Gets First Career MLB Start

Justin Masterson, starting pitcher for the Red Sox farm team the Portland Sea Dogs, will get his first start today with the Red Sox. This comes after Josh Beckett and Dice-K were both scratched from their starts, and gives the fans their first look at one of the top pitching prospects in the organization.

Masterson will look to follow a long line of succesfull major league players coming from the Sea Dog's organization. The list includes players like Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Clay Buccholz, Hanley Ramirez, Josh Beckett and Kevin Youkilis.

"He's one of the nicest kids you'll ever meet," manager Terry Francona said in an interview with boston.com. "I think his future is very bright. Hopefully we'll get a chance to glimpse some of that."

So far this season Masterson has allowed only two runs and 14 hits over 19 innings, and although he has never pitched above double A it seems clear now is the right time to give him his shot. From watching him personally I can tell you he has great control, and a sinker that reminds people a lot of Derek Lowe.

When asked about the start by the Portland Press Herald Masterson stated "I'm just real excited. It's hard to put into words, but I just want to put together a quality performance."