Man that one stings. Really tough loss against the Lakers, especially on the home court, but we’ll move on and use it as motivation for the next time. But, finally I can say we’re back to playing the kinda ball I know we’re capable of! You can see us starting to get a better feel for each other, especially on defense.

I got to celebrate a pretty cool personal milestone on Tuesday night against Charlotte, one I never even dreamt of when I first got drafted by the Celtics. Of course, team success and gettin' back to the Finals is my main priority, but I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said I wasn’t proud to become the second all-time leading scorer in Celtics history. If you look at how many great players have worn the green, I’m humbled to be recognized among them. This was a real special moment and I’m glad it happened at the Garden in front of my home crowd. You guys have been behind me all these years and so it’s yours as much as mine.

While individual accomplishments aren’t something I think about a lot, it’s good to see the hard work pay off and that I got to do it all with one of the greatest franchises in sports. This day and age, having a player spend their whole career with one team isn’t something you see too much. And it’s definitely a two-way street. Wyc, Danny and Doc had the faith in me to keep me here and I’m grateful for that and try to go out there every night and show them and my teammates that they made the right choice.

I’ve been through a lot of good and some not so good years here, but I’ve been lucky enough to stay pretty healthy, and just remain persistent and consistent. It’s a combination of things you gotta have to reach this type of accomplishment. A lot of things have to go in your favor, but you’ve still got to put in the hard work and take care of yourself. That’s something I’ve definitely focused on the past few years and something I’ve tried to share with my fans, especially the kids out there, through my Truth on Health Campaign, www.truthonhealth.org. I try to pay a lot of attention to what I eat and make sure that I’m getting enough rest. Playing professional ball for a living, you have to make these things a part of your lifestyle, especially as you get older. It’s a big goal of mine to try and instill these values in young kids now so that it becomes part of their life too.

Now that I’ve moved into 2nd, I keep getting questions on whether I think I’ll pass my man Hondo to eventually retire as the top Celtics scorer in history – to be honest, I’m not so sure. Anything’s possible of course, but 4,500 is a lotta points man! I think about how long I want to play, and health will always be a factor, but it’s also something I’m not really chasing. I never thought about passing Larry Bird when I first came to this franchise. All you really think about is trying to win a championship and being the best player that you can be and the individual achievements will come. Passing Havlicek isn’t really something I’m gonna chase and I’m not the kinda guy who continues to play just for the records. Our ultimate goal is always to try and bring back another championship to Boston. That’s definitely my priority. I think you’re remembered more for winning titles than personal records in this sport because it’s such a team game. And, that’s especially true here in this city. They don’t call Boston Title Town for nothing!

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

Man it feels good to be back home. After 13 years with the Celts, Boston will always be home, and being back in the city for a little makes me really get that itch to start playing some real games again.

You probably heard that I linked up with Rajon for his charity game over at Harvard last weekend, and while it was great to get out on the court with the guys, the main reason I was here was to join with The Boston Foundation over at the Salvation Army Kroc Center to launch our Million Hour Challenge.

It’s a cool new initiative of my Truth on Health Campaign that essentially throws the gauntlet down and challenges kids from all over the state to commit to doing one hour of physical activity a day. Our goal is to reach a combined 1 million hours of exercise in 2012, and after seeing the CHAMPS coaches and Playworks staff working the kids at our tip-off event at the Kroc, and knowing that CHAMPS is lining up close to 4,000 kids to participate, I have no doubt that we’ll get this done. But I’m gonna need the help of all you kids out there in Boston if we’re gonna make it happen.

Those guys over at The Boston Foundation are no joke. When they commit to something they are all in. It was great to get to see them in action and hang out with their President and CEO Paul Grogan and Robert Lewis Jr., their Vice President for Program. Robert is one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard. By the time he was done talking to the kids, I was ready to try to tackle the million hours of exercise myself.

We had over 300 kids come out to the Kroc on Saturday morning for a fun day of fitness, with tons of cool activities like crab walk tag, obstacle courses and of course ya’ll know my favorite -- the hula hoop. They were havin’ so much fun, they didn’t even realize they were exercising. And that’s what it’s all about -- making fitness fun. They completed the hour so quick they couldn’t even believe it! Those guys over at Playworks know how to do it. And make no mistake; I was right there in the thick of it. It was a great excuse for me to jump in and join them and do stuff I haven’t done in years, so I was all about it. We gave all the kids a Paul Pierce Activity watch so they could log their first hour of activity and start entering the info into my Truth on Health site so they can get points and help their teams in the Million Hour Challenge.

And you know I’m always ready to roll when it comes to the competition, and it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re 8 or 80, you better bring it when you challenge me. And that’s just what those kids did when we invited them up on stage for a little friendly hula hoop competition. Now, you might not think that hula hooping is one of my strong suits, but with two little girls I actually get more hula reps in than you would imagine. So it started pretty smoothly and I was undefeated until the last girl came up to challenge my title. But this girl had skills. She came on stage with her game face on. And she ended up beating me… Like a drum! She was pretty good though, so I have to give her credit.

Then the Beantown Jumpers showed us some of their Double Dutch talents. Jump roping is another great way to stay in shape that I even use for the basketball season, but I can’t jump rope like them! They were great. Then our junior Celtics dance team “Lil Phunk” performed. I know y’all know how good they are, but seeing it up close was amazing! They perform at the Garden during our games a lot, but I’m usually listening to Doc on the sidelines or in the locker-room at half-time so I don’t get to see them. They can really move and did a great job of showing everyone how much fun you can have doing it.

After we finished up at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, I headed over to Harvard to get ready for the game. A lot of my old and current teammates came out to support Rondo and it was great that the crowd got to see a lot of our guys back together in Boston. Perk, Leon, Marquis Daniels, Jeff Green and Nate were all in the house, and other guys like Rudy Gay, Josh Smith, Kyle Lowry, JaJuan Johnson and Jeremy Lin came out as well. Kind of cool playing over at Harvard. Between Perk running the point and Leon shooting threes, you could tell the crowd was into it! I had a lot of fun. We're excited to get some real basketball soon.

How about this Indian summer we got goin’ on right now? Just when I’ve braced myself for the cold weather that’s sure to happen, we get a few days of summer heat! But I’m not complaining -- that means I get to hit the links a few more times and work on my short game. Golf is actually a pretty good workout too with all that walking.

I don’t mean to brag, but I have to say my golf game is gettin pretty solid. I feel lucky that I got to play so much this summer, hit a lot of balls, and check out a few different courses. Pretty soon I’ll be ready to get into some live competition like Barkley and Justin Timberlake. And who knows, maybe next year you’ll see me go stroke for stroke with the pros at the DBC.

But for real, I enjoy the game -- it’s relaxing and gets me to loosen up. There’s something about being outdoors -- the quiet around you, taking it at your own speed. Sometimes it’s a nice break from four intense quarters of ball at the Garden, but we all know I would never change my job for anything in the world! But, golf is easy on the body, and still a great form of exercise. It’s one of those things that you can do from age 5 to 85 -- or at least I’m plannin on it.

Through my Truth on Health Campaign, I encourage kids to look at exercise this way -- something that’s fun, you can do at any age, and at your own pace. Golf is one of the best examples of that. After 18 holes of walking the course, I doubt anyone is sayin they’re not tired….and you’ll feel it in your shoulders the next day, too. Golf is also a social game, one I love playing with my boys on sunny weekends, especially this time of year.

Now I do love golf, but ya’ll know my calling is basketball. Nothing wrong with havin a few hobbies, though! I love the game of basketball, being with the fans and playing for a city that’s been so good to me. So while golf is a nice break sometimes, hoops will always be my number one.

Everyone’s getting back in the swing of things now that we’re heading into fall. The kids are back in school with all their after school activities, parents are driving carpools, everyone’s trying to get back into the rhythm. Well, the rhythm in my house has definitely changed since our new baby girl arrived in May. It used to be my wife, our oldest daughter Prianna, and me. Now we’re up to a squad of four, and I’m lovin’ it. I know people say the transition from one to two kids is the biggest change – and I think they were right. Twice the diapers, twice the baby formula, twice the tears!

It’s definitely been fun though, enjoying the shiftin’ family dynamic and seeing my two girls bond. Prianna loves the baby – she’s all curious and wanting to take care of her. That sisterly bond starts at such a young age and it’s just so amazing to watch. I feel lucky that even with a busy schedule, I’m able to spend some time off with my family.

As I mentioned in my last blog, one of our main goals with the girls is to teach them to live healthy lifestyles from the get-go – the same way I try to inspire kids through my Truth on Health Campaign. We make sure to buy healthy foods and make home-cooked, nutritious meals whenever possible, and of course show them how fun it is to be active. We try to get outside as much as possible, runnin’ around, playin’ games, enjoying the sunshine. This time of year is so beautiful – not too hot and not too cold, and none of that killer humidity. Great for golf, hoops, and even a late-season visit to the beach with the whole crew.

I’m excited for when my little girl is older and she can join in on some of the activities. I’m looking forward to seeing what her personality will be like and what she’s interested in, and how different or similar the two girls will be. That’s one of my favorite parts about being a dad. My older daughter loves being outside, swimming, riding her bike. And she loves healthy food … grilled salmon is her favorite! Just goes to show how much power we parents have, and how we should use it to guide our kids in the right direction.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

It’s hard to believe that it’s September and summer’s almost over!

Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend. Even though the weather hasn’t been great recently, I’m looking forward to sneakin’ in a couple more BBQs while the days are still long and before it gets too cold.

I’ve had some time this summer to sharpen my grilling skills and perfect my go-to recipes, but I’ve also tried a lot of new ones. I grill a lot of different stuff: salmon, ribs, chicken, shish-kabobs, grilled veggies – I could give my boy Ming Tsai a run for his money! A lot of what I cook is for guests when we have a big BBQ, and I enjoy that. I like watching my friends and family enjoy a healthy, home-cooked meal. Comfort food doesn’t have to be junk food, and there are plenty of ways to eat right. If I can do it – so can ya’ll.

So you know I’m always preachin’ about healthy eating through my Truth on Health Campaign, but I really believe the best way to make that happen for our kids is through parents. Parents and guardians set the example for their children – and that lasts forever. And we all know it’s real hard to break a bad habit. So many kids learn poor eating habits early on, which can carry over into their lifestyles as they get older … and that’s why you gotta start them young and set a good example for your child. This will become part of their routine and their attitude, and that way they’re more likely to stay on the right track for the rest of their lives.

My wife and I are real conscious about what the kids eat, and it starts with what we buy, ’cause if you don’t bring it into the house they can’t eat it! It’s not a diet – it’s a lifestyle. Parents really do have that control, and it makes such a difference. So we bring in the food we want our kids to eat: the fruit, veggies, fish, chicken, and create the habit for them so when they get older, it’s an automatic way of life.

Don’t get me wrong – I let my girls eat ice cream now and then and my favorite, chocolate cake, because you can’t deprive them, but it’s all about moderation and letting them know that it’s a special treat, and not an everyday thing. So go ahead and have that pizza party, enjoy it! But remember, there’s lots of food that tastes good and is healthy too - there are healthy alternatives for just about everything.

It all starts with you.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

Ni hao! (That’s “Hi” in Chinese.)

I’m just getting back from China now -- had a blast and am really enjoying the final days of my summer. Sounds like everyone back home had to batten down the hatches for hurricane Irene. Seems like it was a crazy storm -- but thankfully looks like the brunt of it missed us. My thoughts go out to all those who were affected.

Now that the hurricane is over with I’m looking forward to some more sun time while we still have a chance to enjoy it, because once the kids go back to school, it’s not long before the weather starts gettin’ cooler and the days shorter. I’m sad to see summer go but am looking forward to the fall -- great workout weather! Nothing like seein’ the leaves change during an early morning jog or a bike ride. I try to promote fitness during all seasons with my Truth on Health Campaign -- let’s not get ahead of ourselves though; we still got some summer left on the calendar. Gotta take advantage while we can.

One of my favorite summer activities is going to the beach. I love everything about it. Chasing the kids, building sandcastles, swimming. I find the beach real relaxing. There’s so much to do at the beach to stay active, too. I’ve spent a lot of time this summer running on the beach -- one of the best cardio workouts you can do. Running on the sand really works your legs and even your balance and your joints. I definitely get a good sweat going, and the best part is I can just run into the ocean afterwards to cool off. I love swimming and so does my daughter. We love takin a dip together -- no matter the Pacific or Atlantic -- and it’s nice that she loves the ocean as much as I do. I think swimming is a great summer workout, too, and I plan on incorporating that into my FitClub34, to help kids take advantage of all that’s around to get fit and have fun. I’m even looking forward to taking the new baby swimming as soon as she’s old enough.

I can’t believe how fast this summer has gone by. It has been an unbelievable one though, especially with the new addition to my family. I’m already looking forward to next summer when I’ll have two little girls runnin’ around the beach that I’ll have to chase after. They definitely keep me young and keep me in good shape with all that energy. I hope y’all have had a great summer too…get out there and enjoy what’s left of it will ya?

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

I know ya’ll don’t want to admit that summer is coming to an end, but it’s the truth. No need to worry though there’s still plenty of ways to enjoy the warm weather for the next month or so and it really doesn’t get too cold out until November, so still plenty of time to be active outdoors. Outside and being active, and having fun while you’re doing it – that’s what I try to get kids and families to understand through my Truth on Health Campaign and some of my friends who support the Truth Fund, like Sports Illustrated and SI Kids.

Outdoor activities in the summer are pretty much endless, so no excuses that you get bored cooped up in the gym –not gonna fly with me! Running, jumping, baseball, football, basketball are all great summer activities. (I’m lucky enough to have an outdoor court at my house, so I play a lot of outdoor ball.) I’m no McEnroe, but I know tennis is another good one, and golf, too – something I’m continuing to work on – but more on that later. When it’s summertime, it’s all about being outside and using what’s around you to have fun. Even just a walk at night with your kids to the mailbox is better than nothing. The summer is great because there’s more daylight – and as we all know, we will sure miss that once we hit winter in New England.

Another one of my favorite summer activities besides hoops is swimming and running around on the beach with my family. Playing with my kids on the beach is a lot like basketball – I know I’ll never get tired of it. We play Frisbee, run in the waves, toss a ball around, anything to just enjoy the time by the ocean. I love being active with my kids because I know that I’m setting a good example for them. That’s what I try to do through my Truth on Health Campaign, too. I think one of the worst things for kids is getting into bad habits. It’s real important for parents out there to be active and set the example for their kids so they develop healthy habits at a young age. That way, they’ll hopefully stick to ‘em for their whole lives.

Now that you’ve heard me preaching about the importance of eating healthy and staying active, I want to share a really cool opportunity with y’all. This summer I’ve been helping SI Kids find a young athlete who is already ahead of the game for their SportsKid of the Year. SportsKid is basically the youth version of the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. The winner appears on the December cover of SI Kids (hey, I’ve only been on the cover of SI Kids once and that was with KG and Ray!). The kids that win also get honored at the SI Sportsman Ceremony in New York City.

We’re taking nominations right now, just click here. The editors at SI Kids will pick finalists and open it up for voting on SIKIDS.com this fall. Now I know what you’re thinking: the winner is going to be some ridiculous, 10-time world champion. Does the SportsKid have to be a good athlete? Well, yes. But getting good grades, helping out in the community and just being an all-around good person will count just as much as the on-the-field stuff. If you have someone in mind—your son or daughter, maybe one of their friends, or a kid you’ve had a chance to coach—go nominate ’em. Or, if you’re 7-15 years old and want to nominate yourself, that’s cool, too! Past winners have been hockey players, tennis players, BMX riders, football players, you name it – it’s game.

I’ve been havin’ some fun with the SportsKid search - check out this video we shot. I made that winner’s jacket look good! Nominations close August 26, so don’t miss your chance by visiting the SportsKid of the Year site. Now go break a sweat!

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

From left, Bob Novogratz, Melissa Shapiro-Zinman, Paul Pierce, Suzanne Kisbye, Cortney Novogratz. (Photo by Yuri Hasegawa).

So remember my Fitness Festival back in February during the All-Star break in LA? It wasn’t just a great chance for me to spread the word about the importance of healthy lifestyles through my Truth on Health Campaign, but it was also a real special occasion for Inglewood High thanks to HGTV and Bing. We did all kinds of cool fitness activities, but I think the moment that blew me away was the reveal of the amazing new locker room, all because of my pals Cortney and Bob Novogratz of HGTV’s “Home by Novogratz.”

You gotta check out the episode on Saturday on HGTV where they officially reveal it, though. I can’t wait.

Bob and Cortney overhauled the whole place. I still can’t believe it. They hooked up Inglewood HS with a spankin' new locker room complete with an area for kids to study before and after practice. I barely recognized it. Bing donated a bunch of new computers for the study area, which will really help kids with their school work, and of course all new exercise equipment. I was also flattered because they hung up framed versions of my old jerseys from Kansas and Inglewood. And of course my C’s jersey! I got to see it before Bob and Cortney showed the rest of the kids – and I gotta say, I was jealous, but these kids really deserve this and it’ll definitely help the whole community.

Bob and Cortney did a phenomenal job. In their words, the goal was to make kids feel appreciated, create a sense of community, encourage core values like respect and truth, and inspire them with bright colors and happy surroundings. The vibe of the new space is sixties inspired with splashes of cool hues, retro lighting, letters used as graphic focal points and oversized imagery to warm up the space and make it more intimate. To reveal it at a big, neighborhood event filled with fun and appreciation made it all the more special. Don’t forget to check it out for yourself on HGTV on Saturday.

The rest of the day at my All-Star Fitness Festival powered by Bing was just as great. It’s so important to appreciate your roots, as I’ve said before, so being back in my hometown for my 9th All-Star run was special. My family and friends, old coaches – everyone was there. I got to talk to the up ‘n’ comers on the Inglewood ball squad – even put on my best Pacino as coach Tony D’Amato and gave the kids a little motivational bit I put together. I led them in some yoga, dance and ball drills, and we even played Microsoft KINECT, which was something I hadn’t done before – technology is crazy these days. It’s cool how you can use tech gear like KINECT to get fit, which is kinda like how we use a watch and the Internet to track our fitness progress through my FitClub34.

The best part of the day was just being able to see how the more things change, the more they stay the same – Inglewood will always be my home and I feel lucky to be able to go back there and always feel welcome. The community there has been so good to me and I’m real grateful to be in a position where I can give back through programs like the Truth on Health and my partnership with Bing –can’t ever forget where you came from! Thanks again to Bing, Cortney and Bob Novogratz, HGTV, and all the peeps who helped put together the awesome Fitness Festival in my hometown. I will be watchin the reveal on Saturday on HGTV, you should check it out too.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

Paul Pierce and Melissa from Everett at the recent camp at Basketball City

Hey all – so after a short hiatus I thought it was time to bring back the blogging. Fall is around the corner, school is starting, football is back – there’s a lot to talk about!

I hope you’re all having a great summer – I know I am. I just got finished coaching at my camp at Basketball City last week. It was a blast – the kids are so excited to learn. I always really appreciate watching the upcoming generation of future ballers. It’s important for the sport, and of course, I’m always sayin' how kids need to stay active to be healthy with my Truth on Health Campaign. So I thought my camp would be another great way to do that.

I remember when I was that age – staying late at practice at Inglewood High and getting as much court time as I could. You know, you don’t have to be the biggest and the best to do well in this game – it’s about heart. Some of the kids I met this week have faced a lot of obstacles, but they still showed so much dedication, which really caught my attention. I know I struggled a bit growing up, but it didn’t prevent me from getting where I’m at today, and I want kids to know that – it’s all about commitment and hard work.

The camp was full again this year and I was really happy to see that. I enjoyed meeting the kids and being part of their basketball experience, helping to shape their game and even take some on in one-on-one!

It was also fun to see the kids there who entered a contest though my website, truthonhealth.org, to win a spot at camp – and that was really cool. I got to meet Melissa M. from Everett and Nick S., who came all the way from Maine to be at my camp! They are really great kids who jumped through a lot of hoops (ha!) just to be there. I was really impressed by their dedication and love for the game.

One girl at camp told me the community ball program where she’s from was having trouble getting enough kids to show up to play a game. I thought that was a shame – it’s so important that we keep our sports programs in school and around our neighborhoods so kids can stay healthy and more importantly, have a little fun. Every child deserves that chance, and I’m just grateful I was able to give that to all the kids at Basketball City who came out last week.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

Alright, it’s that time of the week again — you know, when we put on the sneakers and get our sweat on! We just posted my new fitness video — embedded in this blog — so I hope you’re ready to get movin’. It’s part of my Truth on Health Campaign to get kids healthier by exercising and eating right.

In this video, we’re doing exercises that pro basketball players do every day, both in practice and when it’s game time. Let’s start by breaking into a defensive stance. This is the position you get in to block your opponent from the hoop. You always gotta protect your home court! This move gives us a lower center of gravity and makes it harder to put us off balance. Squat down, stick your arms out, and hover there. Keep your back flat and your eyes up – you always need to be alert. See how long you can stay in that position, then rest and repeat. It’s a great workout for your thighs, and the lower you can get, the better. Next, let’s dribble in place. Pretend you’re picking up a basketball from the rack, then dribble in place. Stay low, like you just did in your defensive stance, and dribble between your legs.

Once you’ve got that down, try the speed dribble. Switch the imaginary ball to your other hand, start dribbling, and run in place. This is how I do it when I’m pushin' the ball up the court toward the basket so those other guys can’t catch me. This is a speed dribble, and it’s really important to keep your eyes up and stay on your toes – you gotta be sneaky.

Now let’s try passing the ball. Lunge forward and pass that ball with your arms stretched out in front of you. Put your dominant foot forward, tighten those abs, and shove that ball! Try a straight pass, a bounce pass, and right side pass. Mix it up like we do every day on the court – maybe even try a behind-the-back pass if you’re feeling good. To finish off, jump up in the air and do a 360 spin. This will test your balance and agility. It’s easy to get dizzy with all that back and forth on the court, so balance is key. And we all know getting some air is a must in b-ball, but jumping is also a great way to strengthen your legs and challenge yourself. Using basketball moves are just one way to get fit, but you don’t have to be a pro to work out like one.

Check out the full video on Comcast On Demand. Just select the Get Local category from the On Demand menu, then choose NBA TV, Boston Celtics, and Paul Pierce's FitClub34, and then get outside and get movin! You can also check out my website, www.truthonhealth.org, for some more exercise tips. Remember to check back every week for my new video.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

Are you guys ready to get some exercise and work up a sweat? Check out my new fitness video, right next to this blog. It’s part of my Truth on Health Campaign, which gets kids moving and healthy – all while having fun!

In this video, we do a bunch of exercises you’ve probably done before, so they should be easy to get the hang of. They may be simple, but these are some great moves for a warm-up before any workout. Let’s start out with walking in place. Nothin’ to it, right? What you want to do is walk in place between every exercise … no stopping. Keep pumping your arms and lifting those knees high in the air to increase circulation. Gotta keep that heart rate up.

Next is skipping. Skipping isn’t just a fun activity for kids — pro athletes like me do it, too. You can do it in slow motion to really feel the movements, and make sure you push up from your toes all the way to the sky to really get that height! And don’t forget to walk in place when you finish.

By now hopefully you’ve got a good little sweat goin’ on. Let’s keep up the pace and try some jumping jacks next. I know I don’t even need to tell you how to do a jumping jack because you’ve probably been doing them since first grade, right? There’s a reason for that - they’re good exercise and a classic warm-up move, even for the pros!

Now that we’ve got our muscles prepped, let’s try some lunges. You want to go a little slower at first so you don’t hurt yourself. Make sure your feet are in line with your hips, and your knees are directly over your toes. This will help protect your knees. You should feel the burn on these – that means you’re working hard, and that’s just what we want.
After you finish all of these moves, do another set of all of them, and remember to keep up that walking in place between each exercise.

At the end, stretch it all out with my favorite -- the pretzel! I always encourage stretching before and after every workout. It’s important for preventing injuries. Cross your legs, put your arms out, cross your arms and hold your hands together, then bring your hands under and up so you look like a pretzel. Remember to breath deep while you stretch.

You can get physical activity anywhere, any time. And it’s not just about plain old exercise; you can do anything that makes it fun, whether it’s a game of four square or pick-up hoops. Check out this full video on Comcast On Demand. Just select the Get Local category from the On Demand menu, then choose NBA TV, Boston Celtics, and Paul Pierce's FitClub34, and then get outside and get movin’! You can also check out my website, www.truthonhealth.org, for some more exercise tips. Remember to check back every week for my new video.

Check out Paul Pierce and his FitClub34 program on Celtics on Demand exclusively on Comcast! Watch the full video of Pierce in action by selecting the Get Local category from the On Demand menu, then choose NBA TV, Boston Celtics, and Paul Pierce's FitClub34.

Hey guys – so I know it’s still a little chilly out there even though spring is supposed to be here. That’s why this week I kept it inside, but almost all the exercises from my fitness videos, which a real part of my Truth on Health Campaign, can be done inside or out, so rain or shine, you can be active. This week’s clip from my new video is right next to this blog. Today I’m focusing on agility. Agility is key in all sports, and even if you’re not playing a sport, it strengthens your core and helps you use more muscles in your body to get you good and strong. It also keeps you light on your toes.

To start, let’s do some marching and arm pumps, followed by carioca – no... I didn’t say karaoke! This is a great way to work on your coordination and get the blood flowing. You start with alternate stepping - one leg over the other, creating a sideways movement and making a figure eight shape with your steps. Make it more challenging by lookin’ straight ahead – no peeking at your toes. Carioca is also great for opening up hip flexers, a part of the body that can get real tight when you’re sitting down at school or in the office.

Next, we’re gonna keep strengthening our legs and hips with some reverse lunges. Stand facing forward and move one leg far behind you and bend your knee, so you’re in a lunge facing forward. To increase the blood flow, you should add some arm movement. Point those arms in front of you every time you step back into your lunge. Now go faster! Have to keep up that heart rate.

Now that your arms, legs, and hips are warmed up, keep challenging your coordination and core. Skipping is great for that. If space is tight, skip in place. Push off that back foot as hard as you can to get as much air as you can. Pump your arms to maximize the height. Skipping is actually great for basketball players like me for that exact reason – it helps us jump in the air when we’re goin’ in for the dunk. It also strengthens our legs big time.

Now we’re getting to the height of our workout, the home stretch. Take it to another level with some hops on one leg. Pick one leg to hop on first. Pick up your foot and don’t let it touch the ground until you’ve hopped ten times in the air, then switch to your other foot .Easier said than done, huh? Getting that burn yet? Add intervals of five to ten hops to challenge yourself if you can, right before the cool down.

After every workout, I always remind everyone to stretch. It’s important for your muscles to cool down.. If you’re out of breath, chances are your muscles are, too. You can stretch it out with some toe-touches. Stand up and point one leg out straight in front of you, heel resting on the ground. Try not to bend your knees. Now bend over and try to touch your toes. Go slow and make sure to do each side at least twice and hold for 30 seconds.

Like I keep saying, you don’t need fancy gym equipment to get some really good exercise. Check out the full video on Comcast On Demand. Just select the Get Local category from the On Demand menu, then choose NBA TV, Boston Celtics, and Paul Pierce's FitClub34, and then get outside and get movin! You can also check out my website, www.truthonhealth.org, for some more exercise tips. Remember to check back every week for my new video.

Check out Paul Pierce and his FitClub34 program on Celtics on Demand exclusively on Comcast! Watch the full video of Pierce in action by selecting the Get Local category from the On Demand menu, then choose NBA TV, Boston Celtics, and Paul Pierce's FitClub34.

Here's the press release for The Truth on Health's special online raffle:

Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce is offering hoops fans the chance to win the ultimate Celtics experience, by placing twelve tickets to his personal luxury suite up for grabs when the Celtics take on the New York Knicks in their last regular season game on April 13 at the TD Garden. The winner will be chosen through a special online raffle with proceeds benefitting Pierce’s Truth on Health Campaign.

Raffle tickets are $2 with a minimum purchase of five tickets and can be purchased now at www.netraffle.org. The winner will be selected on Monday, April 11 at 11 a.m. EST. For more information, visit www.truthonhealth.org or www.paulpierce.net.

“I am thrilled to offer my fans a chance to sit in my suite while helping to raise funds to support my Truth on Health Campaign,” said Pierce. “It is critical for kids to understand that staying active and eating healthy are the keys to leading a happy and fulfilling life, and all of the funds we raise will help give kids the tools and information they need to make healthier lifestyle choices.”

The raffle package includes:

• Twelve (12) tickets to Pierce’s personal luxury suite for the Boston Celtics vs. NY Knicks game on April 13 at 8:00 p.m. EST at the TD Garden


• An NBA special edition Spalding basketball signed by Paul Pierce


• $500.00 for food and beverage in Paul’s suite


• Cash payment of $907.50 to mitigate winner’s tax liability

So who’s still standing in their NCAA pool? I can’t let you in on who’s ahead in our locker room, but I was doing pretty well up until my alma mater let me down. I was crushed when the Jayhawks lost to VCU last week. Not only did it kill my bracket, but I also just couldn’t believe it. I gotta give it to the Rams though, they’ve been playing amazing ball. They’ve got heart, and Coach Smart is…well…smart.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I was rootin’ for Kansas all the way, and I was pretty excited because the Jayhawks killed it against Illinois and Richmond. I thought it was smooth sailing to the Final Four -- but look what happened! It’s been a crazy tourney this year, but real exciting to watch.

I give KU props, though. They came a long way and outlasted a bunch of other top squads in the tournament like Louisville and Duke. Kansas is always in it and certainly had a good chance this year. I pick them every year to win it because that there’s my alma mater, and I gotta stay true to my roots. But this year they realistically had a great shot at winning it all. They’re quick and well-coached. I like the way they play. I had them up against North Carolina in my final. Gotta give some love to Roy Williams.

But man, another former coach also just about sunk my whole bracket this year. I mean, Rick Pitino really let me down when Louisville lost in the first round -- just about ruined that whole side of my bracket. I had the Cardinals going to the Elite 8! Come on now Coach P., after all those laps I ran for you? Least you could’ve done is get to the Sweet 16 -- but I can’t hate. L’Ville is a strong squad and they don’t call it March Madness for nothing.

Anyway, people ask me if I miss college around this time of year. It’s definitely a special experience being part of the tournament, especially when you go to a school that has the history and tradition Kansas does. I always enjoy this time of year; it’s one of the biggest tournaments in all the world. It was always a fun when I was at Kansas, everybody getting so excited, dressed in blue, watchin’ us on TV. It was unforgettable – and I think it prepared me a little for what the NBA is like.

But when I was at KU, things were different. Not many guys went straight to the pros so early. Most of us stayed for three or four years before going on to the big time. That’s a big difference from today. Now, I can’t blame the guys for goin’ to the league when they get the chance, but a couple years in college definitely gives you the added preparation you need and gives your body the time to grow so you can withstand the long NBA season.

March always makes me think about what it was like when I was a Jayhawk, all the great rivalries. I remember playin’ against Tyronn Lue a lot when he was at Nebraska. That was fun, and then we both ended up playin here in Boston - he even came to my Truth Strikes Again at Foxwoods back in December. We’ve stayed close, which is cool, but I’m definitely not rootin’ for his Huskers any time soon. College rivalries are classic. And what’s cool in college is the rivalries are all about the teams and uniforms vs. individual players. Of course there’s Duke-North Carolina, but I remember the KU -- K-State games. Those in-state tilts were always huge, and it was no different in Kansas. We did a lot of prep for those, and us vs. Missouri was another strong one. Hate to say it, but I never did win a game in Missouri in my time at Kansas. Still gets under my skin. Can you tell?

So even though my bracket didn’t pan out, I’m still proud of Kansas for making it as far as they did. Coach and the guys had a great season -- I know what they’re goin’ through, but you move on and put all your focus into next year. It’s tough because in tournaments like this, no matter how far you make it, only one team wins it all.

We all thought it was spring, right? And now Mother Nature's getting all crazy on us again. Luckily, almost all the exercises from my fitness videos, which are part of my Truth on Health Campaign, can be done inside or out, so there's no excuse not to stay active. Check out the latest clip from my new video embedded in this blog. We're startin' out by jogging in place. This is a great way to warm up, get the blood pumping. Don't forget to swing those arms to really get yourself moving.

Next, get into a defensive stance. All you have to do is crouch down a little, keep your arms out and your palms up. Get your feet moving, chopping up your steps. From here, you can move on to what I call “quick feet.” You stay in defensive stance, but your feet start movin' even faster. You're breathing harder now, aren't you? That means you're really working! These are some great moves that really help with your circulation and get your heart rate up.. Remember, it’s important to get a good warm-up before any activity.

Another one to try is side slides. You want to keep facing forward, but take two slides to the left, then two slides back to the right. In between sets of slides, you can do some quick feet to keep that heart rate up.

I also like doing squat jumps for a really good burn. Get in the squat position. Be sure to protect your knees by keeping them over your ankles. Then comes the fun part - jump as high as you can in the air and come down. Don't forget to lift your arms up as you jump. Do five of those and you're really feeling it, right? Good, keep it up!

After all those exercises, you need to end with a good stretch, because you just worked a lot of leg muscles. Open up your legs into a straddle, lean over to the right, and stretch. Do the same in the middle, and then over to the left. Feels good after workin those legs, doesn't it?

Like I keep saying, you don’t need fancy gym equipment to get some really good exercise. Check out the full video on Comcast On Demand. Just select the Get Local category from the On Demand menu, then choose NBA TV, Boston Celtics, and Paul Pierce's FitClub34, and then get outside and get movin! You can also check out my website, www.truthonhealth.org, for some more exercise tips. Remember to check back every week for my new video.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

As a guy from Cali, I get asked a lot about how I’ve been able to deal with the cold weather in New England over the years. And let’s not forget now, I’m a Jayhawk and was out in Kansas for 3 years, now that’s cold.

So actually, between there and Boston, I’ve really gotten used to it and don’t mind it. Of course most of my time is dedicated to playin' ball and the team, but when I do get to spend time with my family, there’s lots of fun things to do that I would never be able to do back in California – not where I grew up anyway.

This winter I had a few snowball fights and went sledding a bit with my daughter (I did all the pushing of course), and she loved it, laughin' and screamin' the whole time. That was fun. I also taught her how to roller skate, so next year we’ll be ready to get her out on ice skates.

Who knows, perhaps we’ll even get out there on the ice at the Garden. Maybe some of my guys on the B’s can hook it up for me … One thing’s for sure, my family does love winter sports. My daughter grew up here and loves the snow, especially the first snow of the year. (She certainly got enough of it this year, that’s for sure!) And though my day job prevents me from getting on skis or a snowboard, I’m definitely gonna try that down the road.

Always up for activities I can do with my family, particularly outdoor activities that are fun AND a good workout. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard me mention how staying active and in good shape has made a huge difference in my career, and now with my Truth on Health program, I’ve made it my mission to pass that on to kids. So, I know it’s harder when it’s cold outside, but there are definitely a bunch of outdoor winter activities that kids can do to keep that heart rate up, and if they’re like me or my daughter, they’ll have so much fun they won’t even know they’re exercising.

A lot of people in Boston say spring is their favorite season and I think I have to agree with that. Of course the playoffs may have something to do with that, but there are other reasons too …

With the weather turning nice, everything comes to life and everyone celebrates the season in their own way. I love to go to restaurants with family and friends – sit outside and be in the sun. It’s also the time for me to fire up the grill – one of my favorite things to do when it gets warm. My daughter loves to go to the swan boats every spring, and I’m definitely taking her there again this year. Boston has so many great parks and cool things for kids to do in the warm weather, so we always look forward to it.

Spring is also a great time to get outside of your house and exercise – especially after everyone was cooped up inside during this long winter we had. Enjoy the fresh air and keep your body healthy too. I’ve also said here on my blog and in general – moving around and staying active is one of the best ways to feel happy. Take advantage of the warmer weather and the sunshine to do fun things that keep you active and that way you don’t have to feel like you’re just workin' out, just having fun. Play hoops (obviously!), softball & t-ball, throw a Frisbee, ride your bike, get on some skates, whatever you like. Just get out!

And don’t forget, spring is a good time for sports here in Boston. Sox are startin' up and Patriot’s Day and the marathon are around the corner. And don’t forget our playoffs. I can’t wait to get into it, but of course – we’re taking it one day at a time, and that’s how we gotta do it to get all these new guys acclimated. We also gotta heal up and I’ll tell you this, I’m really looking forward to getting our guys back off the shelf. Think our team is real deep and we‘ll cause teams serious trouble if everyone’s healthy.

So, though I do like my vaca and family time, I sure wouldn’t mind spending my entire spring inside the gym as long as we’re advancing in the playoffs and we bring Banner 18 home to the Garden rafters!

Now … stop readin my blog, get outside and enjoy the first few days of spring!

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

I hope you're having as much fun as I am with my fitness videos. They're part of my Truth on Health Campaign, and there's a clip from the new one in this blog entry. So are you ready to get moving and work up a little sweat?

This is another one we shot outside. Now that the days are getting longer, there's more time for you to get your exercise in and get some fresh air at the same time. Get your friends together, invite your parents — these exercises are for everybody.

So the first thing to try is jogging in place. Go easy at first, keep those feet close to the ground, but as you warm up, start pushing your knees higher and higher. Keep your arms and hands steady and drive your elbows back from your shoulders.

When I want to loosen up my hips and strengthen my core, glutes and quads, the way to go is squats. Sit back with your hips so your quads are almost parallel to the ground, and keep your eyes forward and your heels on the ground. Pretend there's a door behind you and you're pushing it open with your butt. Open that door!

While you're down there in that squat position, you can do some defensive slides. From the squat, shuffle your feet side to side. If you're at school, keep your range small so you don't crash into your class mates! Just go back and forth, back and forth. Y'all can partner up and shadow each other, too.

Stay in that squat position for the next one, too — it’s burning now, right? This is the jump and twist, where you spin 360 degrees in the air from the squat position. If you can't do the full 360, start smaller with 90 and then work up to 180. Nothin' wrong with starting small and working your way up. That’s what it’s all about: progress.

To cool down and stretch it out, do leg raises where you lift and hold one knee for a few seconds and then switch and do the other one. Remember to breathe.

Like I said last week, you don't need fancy gym equipment to get some exercise. Check out the full video on Comcast On Demand. Just select the Get Local category from the On Demand menu, then choose NBA TV, Boston Celtics, and Paul Pierce's FitClub34, and then get outside and get movin! You can also check out my website, www.truthonhealth.org, for some more exercise tips. Remember to check back every week for my new video.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

So I wanted to share this picture with you guys.

I got to meet President Obama a few days ago when he was in town to speak in Dorchester. I don’t get star struck that easily, but man … it was pretty cool!

I admire what he’s been able to do so much. I also had a chance to tell him about my charity program – FitClub34. Michelle Obama’s program Let’s Move has the same goals as my program – to increase nutrition for kids ... makin' sure our kids are eating right, exercising and being healthy.

He loved some of the things we’ve been doin', which made me feel real good. I’m hoping we will get to work together soon.

By the way, I think I’m really racking up my presidential run-ins! Back when we won the championship in 2007-08 I got to go to the White House … take a tour and meet President Bush. That was awesome to get an inside look at what goes on day in and day out.

And just back in the fall of 2009 I went to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York and met President Clinton. I got to take a pic with him and Usher – got star struck again that time! I talked to him a lot about my program – at the time I just launched it. It ended up working out, cuz I partnered with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (a partnership between the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association) to help fight childhood obesity and it’s been great so far.

Anyway, those were some really big moments for me! I feel really lucky to have gone through those experiences ... Just wanted to share!

Now back to the court.

As you all know, I’m big on staying healthy and keeping fit. I’ve always thought our schools are great places to teach young people how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Kids spend most of their lives at school - in classes or at an after school program. This means that kids get more than half their daily nutrition from school food. I know how important schools are for helping kids be healthy – I’ve spend a lot of time on that subject with my FitClub34 program. We all need to help support schools that are working hard to make healthy eating and exercise a priority.

I think every school wants to be a healthy, but the truth is that not all schools have the resources to do that. A lot of them are not offering healthier food options because it costs so much and is hard to get. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation – a great collaborator of my FitClub34 campaign founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, has been a great teammate in helping me fight childhood obesity. I’m real grateful for their support – they’ve been the key in making it possible for schools across the country to serve healthier meals in an easy and efficient way. The Alliance worked with other companies too, so that we could all accomplish our goal. The process is simpler now and more cost-effective, so more than 30 million kids in school around the nation can enjoy healthier meals.

I’m real proud to say that ALL Boston Public Schools are participating in the Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program. They’re coming up with cool ways to help kids and their teachers eat better and move more. You know Josiah Quincy Elementary? Where I filmed all my videos for my FitClub34 program? I’ve partnered with them in part, because that school has really shown me and the community that they believe in the importance of fitness and they share my vision about kids being healthy and active. JQ offers up so many different physical activity programs – I was so impressed and really wished I could’ve gone to school there as kid!

I’m really proud of our city of Boston for being determined to get healthier and get fit. In 2010, the Alliance honored seven Boston public schools with National Recognition Awards for fulfilling this mission. The winners were: Josiah Quincy Elementary School; Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School; Media Communications Technology High School; Mission Hill School; Nathan Hale Elementary School; New Mission High School and Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School. I hope that some day every school in Boston could be up for this award now that school meals are improving and things are shaping up because of organizations like the Alliance. I know if kids feel good, they will perform better in all areas of their lives, not just sports.

Any school can join the Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program at HealthierGeneration.org, so think about having you or your child’s school get involved. Once a school is part of the program, the Alliance will help that school shape up in every way they can. They offer a lot of great advice and information that helps our overall mission of giving kids healthier school food. Get involved now, and trust me: when it comes to staying healthy, there‘s always something to help improve your game.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

So you’ve probably figured out that my Truth on Health Campaign has a lot of stuff goin on. One of the things I do as part of it is make fitness videos for kids so I’m not just tellin them to get fit, but also showing them how. We've embedded a preview clip from my new video in this blog entry.

We shot this one outside to get you all in the mood for the spring weather that’s right around the corner. Since kids are sitting in the classroom on weekdays, it’s good for them to get outside after school and on weekends and get their bodies moving, get the blood pumping, get some fresh air in their lungs. By the way… these videos aren’t just for kids. Parents, teens, adults – jump in and give it a try! Even if you can’t get outside, these are exercises you can do anywhere, even at school. Makes the school day go faster, too.

This week’s video shows real basic ways to increase strength and agility. One really easy one is walking on your tippy toes. That’s not just for ballerinas — professional basketball players do it, too. Just get up on those toes and walk around for 30 seconds at a time and repeat. Another good one is heel kicks. You run in place, but kick your heels up higher than a normal run. You’ll feel it workin the back of your legs. And that burn’s a good sign.

Knee raises are real easy, too. Just stand in place and raise your knee as high as you can. Then just see how long you can hold it up there. It might start burning but push through and you gotta remember to breathe.

You can also try some basic lunges, where you lunge forward with one leg and hold it. And heel walks, which are like the opposite of tippy toe walks: you walk on your heels, and it works the front of your legs. Once you’ve done all these moves, it’s good to get in a quad stretch to loosen up the muscles you just worked.

This just shows you don’t have to have a ton of fancy equipment to get some exercise. Check out the full video on Comcast On Demand. Just select the Get Local category from the On Demand menu, then choose NBA TV, Boston Celtics, and Paul Pierce's FitClub34, and then get outside and get movin! You can also check out my website, www.truthonhealth.org, for some more exercise tips. Remember to check back every week for my new video.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

Lucy Nicholson/Reuters At the All-Star Game, Paul got to mingle with his peers in the NBA, including Lakers rival Kobe Bryant.

What a great All-Star weekend all the way around. I’m not gonna lie – I was pretty excited for it this time. And as it started getting closer, I was thinking, you know you’ve been around a long time when you play in the All-Star game twice in the same city... haha.

But it’s all good. It’s one of the best showcase events in pro sports, mainly because it’s all about our fans and having fun and everyone loosens up and just hangs out for those few days. It’s about being peers and playin’ ball like we did growin’ up. Seeing the big dogs all together in some friendly competition always makes for a great time. It’s not about the name on your jersey any more, you know? But I do have to add that this year there were a lotta green jerseys … My favorite kind.

Our team was all over the East Conference roster. Ray Ray, KG and Rajon, Doc and all our coaches made the trip, too. One of our assistants, Lawrence Frank, even coached the sophomore team in the Saturday night rookie-sophomore game. Having so many familiar faces makes things more enjoyable.

It’s definitely a testament to the hard work our guys put in this season and it’s nice to get recognized for that. Adds another layer of intensity and fun, bein’ able to compete on the All-Star stage alongside your own guys.

It makes the weekend a little more comfortable. Sometimes coming to the All-Star game can feel a little odd, since you’re so used to bein’ around your own guys. Even though you’ve played a lot of times in all these venues, it’s definitely a different thing when you don’t have all your teammates, coaches and staff around.

This year was a lot different though. Not only was I in my hometown, but I had all my teammates and coaches here. So the guys made plans to go out, have a little fun, maybe get something to eat, catch a performance or something. Just enjoy the weekend together, it was cool.

It was a great show, watching all the superstars throughout the league like Kobe, Carmelo & Durant, going up against each other. It’s crazy. Don’t worry, even though everyone chilled and hung out a bit over the weekend, we all go back to being enemies on the court when Monday rolls around … and it’s back on. Back to battling out down the stretch run and tryin to get ourselves in position for the playoffs. Our goal is to go in with a head of steam and to make sure that Game 7 is on our home turf this time.

Even though I was real excited to play with my teammates in the game, one of the highlights for me was defending my title against the “King of the Three” himself, Ray Allen, in the 3-point contest. I was talkin' about it for awhile so, even though I got off to an iffy start, I stepped up my game down the stretch and made it to the Finals and then, well, you all know what happened. Lost to the young fella from the Heat. But it was fun, and I’ll tell you this, my main focus is to win the titles that count, and that’s Banner 18 for us.

Now, you know I love Boston fans. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again that they’re some of the smartest, most passionate fans in the game. But come on now, where is the love for No. 34? I do have to call you guys out for voting for Ray over me on my survey last week – but I guess it’s cool as long as I’m losing votes to a teammate. But I got my eye on you now, so you know. We’re gonna need you to focus your energy for us down the season stretch run and into the playoffs, so time to step up your game.

Again, I was excited to come back to my hometown for this weekend. Only downside for me was that everyone I knew, and I’m pretty sure their mothers too, wanted me to help get them tickets. Tried to help out where I could, but I’m sure someone ended up pretty mad at me, I just know it. I can handle my business on the court, but handling all these ticket requests is a whole other thing.

On the positive side though, I didn't have to make a ton of travel plans for friends and family, so I guess in the end it all evened out. So I just enjoyed the weekend with my teammates and my friends and family and soaked it all in. Just a little breather before we get back to it.

People ask me what my favorite All-Star standout moments are, and I got about a decade of them. But a lot of mine are things that happened off the court, ‘cus the game is my job, but the other stuff, all the celebrities and stuff, that’s all kind of wild for me. I do get star struck, believe it or not, but I don’t like to show it. I try to keep calm and professional at all times. I find that to be the best way to get the things in life you really want. But last year I got to meet Mary J. Blige – won’t ever forget that. I’ve always admired her, listened to her music, and there I was talking to her. There’s so many stars that come out for the game – you know, all the musicians, the comedians, the actors and actresses. It’s a total scene the whole weekend, everywhere you go. This year we had Dustin Hoffman, Mark Wahlberg, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, George Lopez, that producer Brian Glazer, all the stars came out.

And it was great that some of those guys were able to come out and support me at my Microsoft’s Bing All-Star Health & Fitness Festival at my old stompin’ grounds, the Inglewood High School gym, where it all started for me. That’s the spot where I really learned that having skill is good and even necessary, but it doesn’t mean a thing unless you work hard and practice, practice, practice. Also realized that I really had to dedicate myself and keep myself in shape if I wanted to compete at the highest level. It was the highlight of my All-Star weekend for sure. Great to be able to go back and give back and help turn an old storage space at Inglewood High into a state-of-the-art Locker Room Lounge with the help of HGTV’s Robert and Cortney Novogratz, a top notch design team.

As part of my Truth on Health initiative, the Festival was about encouraging and helping youth make informed decisions about living a healthy lifestyle.

Bing donated 600 of my Paul Pierce Activity Watches to students that were there. These watches, which track their daily exercise, allow the students to participate in my FitClub34 (a rewards-based fan club turned "fit" club) and earn cool prizes for their commitment to fitness.

Our friends over at Xbox also got in on the fun. We had Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360 set up at one of the fitness stations, demonstrating how being active can be a lot of fun too (we love the boxing game!).

And of course, no fitness festival with me would be complete without basketball clinics and fitness demonstrations, as well as a ton of activities hosted by Microsoft Kinect! Kids got to do yoga, dance, and basketball drills.

Many thanks to the celebs, including my friend Maria Menounos from “Access Hollywood,” Tristan Wilds from “90210,” Rocsi Diaz, TV host of BET’s 106 & Park, Lil C, choreographer from So You Think You Can Dance, Zendaya from the Disney Channel and Bobb’e J from 30 Rock. Even Christoper Mintz-Plasse, my favorite guy from “Superbad” came to share in the fun. They really helped make it a great day for the kids, and I’m really excited they showed up.

And now, that all the festivities are behind us, it’s back to focusing on that banner. So now it’s on!

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

Returning home to give back to my alma mater with a lil’ fun & fitness.

Hard to believe this weekend will be my 9th NBA All-Star game, but who’s countin’. With the All Star break being in my hometown of LA and all, I thought this would be a special chance for me to get back to my roots and show appreciation for where I grew up and to all the people that contributed so much to my success. I also want to spread the message about my Truth on Health campaign and inspire kids to be active, so that’s why me and my team, including my good friends at Bing and HGTV, are launching my first ever All Star Health & Fitness Festival right back on my old stompin' grounds, Inglewood High.

I look at my high school as the place where it all started for me as far as basketball goes, and I’m real grateful for all the support I got from the coaches and teammates I had over the years. If it weren’t for Inglewood HS, I flat out wouldn’t be where I am today. Sounds cliché, but it’s The Truth. I used to run my camps there every year and I even announced where I was goin' to college right there in the gym. And this fall, I had my jersey retired there. It was really an honor for me and my family. Just a great day all around and one I’ll never forget.

Not only did I learn how to play ball and get an education there, but I also learned what I needed to do to stay in shape and be healthy. That was a huge factor in helping me get on the right path for my career. And my Truth on Health program was inspired by what I learned from my experiences playing ball and being an athlete at Inglewood HS, so for that I wanna try to do what I can to return the favor.

A highlight of the activities we have planned is the remake of an old storage space into a state-of-the-art locker room for the students at Inglewood. I don’t know if you’ve seen HGTV’s “Home by Novogratz,” but the designers from that show are gonna unveil this amazing new space for everyone to see. I’m really excited. Doesn’t seem like the facilities have been updated too much since I was runnin' the court over there, so I’m really excited to be able to help out with that.

It’s real important to have facilities where kids can work out with the right equipment and a big problem in our country right now in addition to gym class being scaled back is that schools aren’t investing in quality facilities so students have nowhere to go if they want to be active. HGTV and I teamed up to try and help fix this problem at Inglewood High. I’m really hoping the kids like it – I hear it even trumps our locker room! Just want to do what I can to return the favor in terms of everything Inglewood High has done for me.

And Microsoft? They’re stepping up their game big-time and supporting this event through their search engine Bing. They’re donating 600 Switch2Health Paul Pierce Activity Watches to the students who come. They track exercise for my FitClub34 so people can earn points and redeem them for prizes when they exercise consistently. I want kids to know how to be fit and to help them have access to the information and resources they need to accomplish their goal, and I really appreciate Bing’s support on that. Their donation will really help kids take that important first step towards leading a healthy lifestyle, which is what my Truth on Health campaign is all about.

My All Star Health & Fitness Festival is gonna be a real fun day of getting fit and interacting with my young fans and some of my favorite guys in the NBA. I’m grateful to those guys for supporting my cause. KG and Ray will be there and also Kevin Love, Craig Smith, Dorrell Wright and Brandon Jennings. Not just ball players, either – Maria Menounos from “Today” and “Access Hollywood” will be in the house – special props to her for supporting my Truth Strikes Again celebrity bowling fundraiser at Foxwoods back in December. She’s a great fan and shares my philosophy on fitness and healthy living. Plus, the choreographer Lil C – I know you’ve probably seen him on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Rocsi Diaz from BET’s “106 & Park” is coming, and so is Tristan Wilds from “90210.” But the most important guests of the day will be the kids and the reps from Inglewood High, this is really for them, to thank them and give back.

We’ll run through a bunch of fitness activities throughout the day in the high school gym with the students and other participants. My program is all about incorporating all kinds of exercise into kids’ daily routines. Anything that gets them up, off the couch and movin' is worth doing so we’ll try some yoga, Microsoft Kinect for XBOX 360 routines and dancing. I may even bust out the Paulie….Ya’ll know I love to dance, and pro Lil C is gonna lead the charge in that department. And of course there’s gonna be hoops clinics led by my guys - if you’re lucky Ray might even share his secret for making that shot look so smooth. You can check it all out by watching my video post on Boston.com with footage from the event.

This Health & Fitness Festival will be a really special chance for me to give back to Inglewood High School and the neighborhood I grew up in, which holds a special place in my heart. I think it’s real neat that we got kids, my teammates, pro players, celebrities, gym teachers, and everyone in between all coming together to help celebrate what life’s all about: appreciating where you came from. And don’t you ever forget it.

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

Hey guys, you all know what today is and hopefully you took care of what needed to be done. And if you’re finding out from me just now that it’s Valentine’s Day, well … there’s not much I can do to help at this point.

It’s important that you got game off the court as well as on, and one of the things that’s always been a focus for me is taking care of my family and those that have done so much for me.

So, although it’s tough for me to do too much this time of year given how hectic the season gets, I always make time to celebrate Valentine’s Day. At my house, we’ve done different things over the years. It runs the gamut, mainly depending on where the team is and how the schedule unfolds. One year we played it low key and stayed local and just went to a nice dinner. And on the other end of the spectrum, I actually put on the full court press, pulled out all the stops and proposed to my wife on Valentine’s Day. It kinda varies with the schedule. It was three years ago on Valentine’s Day I proposed to her. I figured that way; we can have two anniversaries to remember.

But some things are always a constant for sure. I’ll usually start with the flowers. And roses will always be a staple, but I like to get a little creative too and pick some nice spring colors that are different each year. Then, if we’ve been playing at home, and I have the time, I love to prepare a nice dinner and one of my signature specialties.

I’ll talk about those more in another blog, but rest assured I got skills in the kitchen. I’ve been on record about my cooking, and you know I love to grill. When it’s time to chill and hang out with friends and family I barbecue a lot. Let it be known that my grill game is on point, and when it comes to cooking a few select dishes, I’ll match up against anyone. I might even have to call out some of my chef friends like Ming Tsai to see if he’d like to go mano a mano, Iron Chef style.

But in general, there’s always a lot of pampering going on in the Pierce house on Valentine’s Day. It’s almost like another birthday or another holiday for your girl. And I can be romantic. There are definitely certain situations where I’ve been romantic. I’ve put together a nice dinner, put on a nice suit … maybe run the bath water. Make a quick stop at Victoria’s Secret and some of my wife’s favorite spots. Sprinkle some flower petals around the room. I got some romance in my game.

And of course, my other true Valentines are my daughter and my mother. Clearly two of the special and most influential people in my life, so I never miss the chance to bring a smile to their faces with some cards or candies.

And for me, my kryptonite is my craving for chocolate. I can't be around chocolate. Mainly chocolate ice cream and chocolate cake. I'm trying to encourage kids to be fit, to live a healthy lifestyle, and not to be driven by the cravings. But I tell them, there's nothing wrong with having what you crave one day a week, just not all the time. And that's the truth. And so for Valentine’s Day, you might see me indulge my love for chocolate ... a rare occasion.

So if you are deciding just now you need to do something, here are a couple options you may need to get you out of the dog house. It’s a couple of packages at the Liberty Hotel that support my Truth on Health initiative. Just tell 'em The Truth sent you.

The Truth Package

Spend a night (or two!) at The Liberty Hotel and help raise funds for Celtics favorite Paul Pierce’s charitable organization, The Truth on Health*. A portion of the proceeds from this hotel package will go to Pierce’s worthy charity. This luxury hotel package includes:

• Overnight accommodations in a luxurious guest room


• An official regulation sized basketball signed by Paul “The Truth” Pierce


• Breakfast for two in Clink

Lip Locked Valentine's Day Package

Join us as we celebrate 28 days of unrestrained desire. The Liberty Hotel wants you to feel the love all month long with their luxury Lip Locked Valentines Package available all 28 days of the month. This luxury hotel package includes:

• Overnight accommodations


• Welcome champagne upon check in


• Intimacy Kit


• Molton Brown Lip Gloss


• Valet Parking

Paul Pierce's Truth on Health campaign empowers and encourages young people to lead healthier lives by providing them with the information, resources, and tools necessary to become more active and physically fit. To learn more, visit www.truthonhealth.org

Follow Paul Pierce on Twitter @PaulPierce34 and @TruthonHealth and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paulpierce

We all know my teammate Ray Allen is having one of the best seasons of his career. It’s nice to see at least one of us gettin’ better with age, just like fine wine.

And now look, he did it. He broke Reggie’s record last night at home against LA. What a phenomenal accomplishment. The fact that it happened against the Lakers definitely magnified the whole situation, with our history against them and everything, and it was great having him break the record at home in front of our fans and Ray’s family. Of course it would have been that much better if we had gotten the win, but hopefully we’ll have a chance to see those guys again in June. That’s what we’re aiming for and we’re certainly doing everything in our power to make that happen.

It was also cool that he did it when Reggie was in the house – sitting courtside and everything! We all got pretty emotional, especially when him and Ray brought it in for the big hug. But it was also real special to see the camaraderie between two true professionals who handle themselves with such grace and poise, especially Ray. You know somethin’ big happened when Ray Allen sheds a tear – reminded me of when I got my 20,000th point…but back to the stats: with all due respect to Reggie, and he deserves plenty for playing in this league at the level he did for 18 years, it took my boy Ray Ray 3 fewer years and like 300 games less than it took Reggie. You gotta appreciate how hard it is to knock down 2,560 of those. But he makes it look easy. Ray’s just got one of smoothest strokes out there. Just textbook. Make no mistake Jesus Shuttlesworth has got game!

It’s just an amazing accomplishment. Reggie is no doubt one of the all-time greats, the ultimate prime time killer – just ask Spike and the Knicks. We all have a lot of respect for Reggie and always will but now its Ray’s time, he deserves it for sure.

If guys want an example of how to be ready, how to be consistent, how to be a professional, you look at Ray Allen. He does it both on and off the court too. He’s definitely an example for some of the young guys in the league and the guys in college and high school. Just a living testament to where dedication, persistence and commitment to excellence can get you. He keeps himself in unbelievable shape and that’s been a key factor in keeping his mind and body prepared and staying at the top of his game. When you look up pro baller in the dictionary, you’ll see Ray’s picture in there. He is the definition of a true pro. We couldn’t ask for a better teammate and I’m grateful I had the chance to play with him.

And now I’m happy to let you know that Ray has decided to try to conquer his fears and will face me in the three point competition during All-Star weekend. Record or no record, he’s gonna have to face the defending champ (me) and then really show everyone what he’s got from beyond the arc. Took some convincing, but I called him out and he rose to the occasion. It’ll be fun though and you know I wasn’t afraid to call him out on it. It’ll definitely add some excitement to the weekend. But you gotta remember all the other great star shooters in the league too: Dirk, Nash, Stojakovic, who’ve also all won the three-point contest before -- I’m calling them all out too, and I’m hoping they’ll participate as well. Just bring ‘em all together and see who’s the best of the best. That’s what people really want to see, and that’s what we should want to give our fans. And it’s really about them, our fans, so come on guys, step up and give the fans a show to remember. I’m throwin' the gauntlet down so let’s see who besides Ray is up to the challenge.

Paul Pierce and Ming Tsai at Paul’s Truth on Health Rally in Copley Square this past September. (Aram Bogosian photo)

Hey all,

You’ve heard from me on fitness and eating right plenty this season, and while you know I got skills in the kitchen, I thought it was time to bring in some reinforcements with the Super Bowl comin' up this weekend, so I asked my buddy Ming Tsai to weigh in on how you can enjoy good cookin' during the game, while still eating food that’s good for you.

Ming’s been a great friend and supporter of my Truth on Health initiative, and I’ve certainly enjoyed a ton of delicious meals over at his Blue Ginger in Wellesley. Mmm, mmm good.

It’s all you, Ming…

Ming: I'm excited to be here as a guest on my captain buddy's blog. How about my boys in green? Great game by Paul against the Lakers, Perk is back, Garnett is healthy!

Actor Anthony Anderson with Kevin Youkilis and Ming Tsai at Pierce’s Truth Strikes Again Fundraiser this past December. (Aram Bogosian photo)

I'm sure you all heard about the great time we had in December at High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Lounge at Foxwoods Resort Casino for "The Truth Strikes Again".

It was a great night, with lots of money raised for a great cause. Any chance I have to help bring awareness to Paul's Truth on Health, I happily jump in. I believe in Paul's mission. I'm an active person and I try to move every day, whether it’s a great yoga class or time spent at the squash courts. It’s important to our well-being, to our lives - keep moving and eat healthy!

Everyone is busy, but we need to take the time to think about what we eat. Small changes in the way we do things help. We just need to think about what we are cooking and how we are cooking it.

As we head into Super Bowl weekend (I know our Pats should be there!), think about what you are cooking and how you’re cooking it. Try broiling your wings instead of frying them. I think you can still have amazing tasting wings and eliminate some of the fat. One of my favorite quick dips while at home is mixing non-fat Greek yogurt together with salsa and you have a dip with great creaminess that is good for you! Pair your dip with my Blue Ginger Rice Chips and you have a delicious treat that’s healthy. Try my recipe for Broiled Chipotle-Tamari Chicken Wings with Zucchini Sticks for game night, they are sure to be a hit!

Peace and Good Eating,
Ming Tsai

Broiled Chipotle-Tamari Chicken Wings with Zucchini Sticks (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

1 large red onion, rough chopped
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon Chipotle en adobo, chopped
1 large tomato, rough chopped
½ cup Wanjashan naturally brewed rice vinegar
¼ cup Wanjashan low sodium naturally brewed Tamari
2 tablespoons butter
2 pounds chicken wings, separated into wings and drumettes, rinsed and brined
1 cup Fage Greek yogurt
1 large zucchini, cut into 1 inch x 2 inch pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Canola oil for cooking

Directions:

Pre-set oven to high broil and place rack on lower part of oven. In a sauce pan on med-high heat coated lightly with oil, sauté the onions, ginger and garlic until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the Chipotle and tomatoes and stir. Add the rice vinegar and tamari and deglaze reducing by 50%. Buzz the mixture with hand stick or blender, adding butter to the mixture. Take ¼ cup of mixture and mix with yogurt, season and hold in fridge. Rinse and dry the wings and toss with remaining sauce. Spread on sheet tray and broil, flipping once when browned, about 10 minutes total. Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into strips and serve on the side with reserved sauce and wings.

Paul: Thanks for sharing this with us, Ming, and keep up the good eats. Learn more about my buddy Ming’s delicious cookin' and how to stay fit by logging on to my website at www.truthonhealth.org.