Baby dances; Pierce in Spain

Celtics Dancer tryouts at the Roxy (Evan Richman / Globe Staff)

The world champion Celtics held final audition for the Celtics Dancers Thursday at the Roxy. Just a month after winning championship No. 17, the hoopsters picked 17 ladies to dance on the parquet next season. And, of course, Glen "Big Baby" Davis was on hand.

From the "Names" column in today's Globe:

The Celtics Dancers held their final auditions last night at the Roxy, with 39 half-court hopefuls shaking their rumps and strutting through various dance numbers and - the dreaded - swimsuit competition. (Open to the public, the event had a suggested donation of $10 that went to the team's Shamrock Foundation.) Celtics forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis, "American Idol" contestant Ayla Brown, and comedian Gary Gulman witnessed the spectacle. A slew of media folk were also on the guest list: KISS 108's Billy Costa, Mix 98.5's Kelly Malone and Gregg Daniels, WZLX hosts Big Head Braden and Pete McKenzie, Fox 25's Doug Meehan, WFNX host Special Ed, and Jam'n 94.5's Melissa.

(AP Photo)

Meanwhile, 3,400 miles away in Spain, Celtics captain Paul Pierce prepared for Bancaja WOB 08 Campus events. Pierce told the Associated Press that America needs a gold medal more than the Celtics' needed banner No. 17.

"They need it worse than the Celtics needed a championship this year," said Pierce. "The U.S. has been a perennial basketball power and they just need to establish that once again. I think this is the team to do it."