Hartford Courant, Hartford, Conn., Thursday, June 19, 2008:
New England sports fans will savor this decade. The Red Sox won two World Series titles (so far). The Patriots won three Super Bowls. UConn, Boston College, Trinity and other colleges in the region have won sports titles. Now the Boston Celtics are back on top.
The Celtics entombed the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92, Tuesday night to win a 17th National Basketball Association championship. There was a certain justice to the win. When the other teams were down (a period, minus a couple of good Bruins teams, generally covering the second half of the last century), the Celtics were the region's point of pride. The teams assembled by legendary coach and general manager Red Auerbach won 11 titles in 13 years.
But after the 1986 championship, a combination of bad luck, bad drafts and weak ownership took the Celtics out of contention. The team descended from mediocre to irrelevant, last year compiling a 24-58 record. But general manager and former Celtic player Danny Ainge rebuilt the team in a manner that would have made Mr. Auerbach proud.
Champion teams have at least three top-tier players; the Celtics had just one, Paul Pierce. Mr. Ainge added Kevin Garnett and former UConn great Ray Allen.
He also did something Mr. Auerbach was famous for: He found veteran players such as P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell, who had good miles left. The Celtics' bench was a key to one of the most remarkable turnaround seasons in any professional sport. It seemed impossible a year ago, but the Celtics are raising another championship banner.
One quibble with the NBA: Why did the games have to start at 9 p.m.?
The Day, New London, Conn., Thursday, June 19, 2008:
On Tuesday, Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd did what he should have done last week: directly confront allegations that he received special treatment in obtaining two mortgages from
At two news conferences -- one held over the phone for Connecticut journalists and a second in front of the Washington press -- Sen. Dodd said he did not seek or expect any favorable treatment from Countrywide, repeating a position his office took last week. But in talking to reporters and editorial writers he went a step further, saying no one suggested to him that he was receiving a special deal. If anyone had even hinted at providing a sweet deal because he was a senator, Sen. Dodd said he would have ended the conversation and the transaction.
The only problem is that Sen. Dodd also revealed that a loan officer told him at the time he was eligible for VIP treatment. Sen. Dodd said he assumed the special treatment was a result of being a longtime Countrywide customer. Why did he assume that? It never crossed his mind that being a senator had something to do with inclusion in a VIP program? Was it a case of don't ask, don't tell -- just give me the good rate?
Perhaps things are as innocent as Sen. Dodd maintains, but perhaps not. We welcome, then, news that the Senate Ethics Committee has started an investigation of the special treatment Sen. Dodd and other politicians may have received from Countrywide.
The VIP treatment for influential people apparently originated with Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo. The intent appears clear -- to exert influence. But Sen. Dodd said no one at Countrywide tried to influence him and he has never spoken with Mr. Mozilo.
And the senator maintains that the 4.25 percent adjustable rate mortgage for his Washington townhouse, and 4.5 percent adjustable on his Connecticut home were good, but not great bargains by 2003 standards.
If Sen. Dodd's account is accurate, this issue will quickly fade from the headlines. But the word of Sen. Dodd, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, is not enough, not when it comes to influence-peddling by a company that was a leader in handing out reckless subprime mortgages.
An investigation is necessary to clear things up. Sen. Dodd promises to fully cooperate. He should.
