A Late Summer Pick Up

by Tom Halzack on Aug 12, 2009 8:08 PM EDT in CelticsBlog

We are proud to introduce our newest writer - Tom Halzack (tenaciousT). Please give him a warm welcome. - Jeff

Hello to all the diehards at CelticsBlog!

This is my introductory article here and it is a true pleasure to be a part of such a tremendous website. A major intersection for Celtic Nation thought, it is like the morning coffee house, the news site during the day, and the evening stop at the C-Town Diner or Beantown bar. Where else can you catch up on all the latest Celtic news or the 90 post debates on whether Gabe Pruitt is more efficient going left or right? (OK, So I made that one up.)

Some may know me from Celtics Central at ctnews.com, CelticsStuffLive on Comcast Sports Net, Bleacherreport.com, or simply as tenaciousT, my message board moniker. As a fifty something year old, I'm surprised to be a part of the ‘new' media. So I guess I represent the old... new media.

Why me? Why here? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe it was that bowl of Lucky Charms I ate the other day. I will say that I love the game. Love it. There is no team game better in the world, IMO. My writing style, analysis and opinions? Well....put it this way....

In high school I hung with the ‘in' the crowd, but I always felt I was borderline (no, not insane - but don't put that question to my wife, please) and I never let ‘the crowd' determine who my friends were or do my thinking for me. I made friends with a lot of the uncool kids as well. Turned out, some of them were cooler than the cool kids.

That is kind of how you can describe my opinions, analysis and writing. Sometimes, I'm with the mainstream, the ‘cool guys'. Sometimes I'm not.

Danny Ainge once said....

"I'm open to smarter people than me. It still comes down to my instincts. I have to make the choice, no matter what my scouts say, no matter what the models say. I don't think it's realistic to think that a statistical model will ever be foolproof in basketball because there are so many variables, but I do think it can help us."

I agree completely. I know that you won't see things my way all the time. But I also know that my thinking isn't that unique. There must be some others out there that think the same thoughts that I do. (Pad Thai or hamburgers - both great).

Anyway, on with the show. The Celtics have a big year coming up in a clash of NBA titans and I will be checking in regularly with some observations along the way. Here is to a great year of the Celtic Drive for 18.

Many thanks to Jeff for asking me to share in the discussion here.

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Comments

Darn it!

And just when I brought back Jack Jemsek to C17!

Just kidding Tom. Good luck here — I know you’ll be received very well. I look forward to reading your stuff soon.

Graham Brunell, administrator for Celtics 17 (mvn.com/celtics17), and MVN.com. Sounds professional eh!?!?

by Celticsfanatic on Aug 12, 2009 8:46 PM EDT reply actions

C-fanatic - carrying the C17 banner!

Another good draft choice in Jack, Graham. I will be looking for some nice stat driven expositions from the Bobinator!

Thanks, CF.

by Tom Halzack on Aug 13, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Congrats to tT and Celtics Blog

Jeff made an excellent choice and I look forward to seeing your material at C-Blog tomorrow.

I will be helping out at C17 a bit, but look to assist the CelticsStuff Live team in their blog efforts as well as CSNNE.

Training camp is just around the corner, and the juices will be flowing in the Celtics blogosphere!

by ManchvegasBob on Aug 14, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

MVBob......First man to 100,000 words.... wins!

I’ll have to take a pseudonym and vex your incredibly patient mojo.

It will make us both stronger. Well…..it will be fun anyway.

Thanks to Stat King of C17, and numbers sifter extraordinaire of CSL!

by Tom Halzack on Aug 15, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Looking forward to your future writings Tom.

"Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing." - Vince Lombardi

by wild-a on Aug 12, 2009 8:56 PM EDT reply actions

Welcome, I remember someone mentioning that they should recruit you to write here… kudos to whomever that was.

by BudweiserCeltic on Aug 12, 2009 8:58 PM EDT reply actions

kudos to rickyfan3.0...

he tipped me off on the KG to Boston rumor and he gave me the idea to recruit Tom Halzack

what else could you ask from a guy? :)

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Aug 12, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow....

If this doesn’t solidify my Hall Of Fame credentials, I don’t know what does…

T, I want 10% !!

Congrats to you both, this should be great…

by rickyfan3.0... on Aug 13, 2009 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks RFan

whew….. I was going to offer you 30%.

But then, 30% of nothing……

Thanks for the support.

What is the next big deal the Celtics are going to make?

by Tom Halzack on Aug 13, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Welcome aboard, Tom

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Aug 12, 2009 9:12 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks, Mr Hobbs.

by Tom Halzack on Aug 12, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Welcome to one 50 something year old from another

I write articles for this site sporadically but my thumbs swell up if I type too much. They swell up about the size of Jeff’s swollen ego head. It’ not pretty.

So welcome Tom Thumb…. now go ahead and write something about how sad you are to see Leon Powe dumped.

Join us in the chat once the season starts. AVOID G17 and Roy Hobbs as best you can.

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Aug 12, 2009 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

Oh yeah

Did you agree to write here for the full MLE or the League Minimum? Getting paid around here is also a problem. Don’t get hurt or Jeff will dump you.

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Aug 12, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Master POwe

is just bitter because I told him to look for a better offer elsewhere and he couldn’t get a Cavs blog to pick him up

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Aug 12, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

LMAO

I lub you guys. : )

And congrats on getting on the team, Tom. You’re twice my age so hopefully that equates to twice my wisdom, something like that. <_<

by Tai on Aug 12, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL - that's pretty good for you

Cavs Blog looking better all the time with Delonte and POwe (too bad I hate Lebron)

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Aug 12, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah

This is all quite awesome. By the way, I heard Jeff tried to extend an offer to Master Po after it was clear that word got about about other offers. Our loss.

by grnpeak on Aug 12, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

“about about” = out about

(Or, it seems, to put it another way, in this particular case: my loss!)

by grnpeak on Aug 12, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Ha! Ha! noted!

Thanks, Mr. Po.

by Tom Halzack on Aug 12, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

and next on the receiving line...

is your buddy Surferdad of course! Glad to see you honored with authorship status. Hoping others from Celtics17 come by too.

Oh, and it’s Pad Thai at point guard while Hamburger does the muscle work in the low post.

by Surferdad on Aug 12, 2009 9:34 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks SD!

Another board guy who could be writing articles himself.

I still remember your article, predicting that the Cs might get KG. Uncannily prophetic.

Who do you like in the third at Aqueduct tonight?

by Tom Halzack on Aug 13, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

welcome tenacious t !!!!!! ^_^

as a die hard celtics fan and celtics blogger i look forward to reading ur articles theres not a day in my life i havent been on celticsblog hahaha heard pierce was hangin wd marbury possibly recruiting him dat true ?

by celticsgreen4lyf on Aug 12, 2009 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

welcome, tom.

by ssspence on Aug 12, 2009 9:49 PM EDT reply actions

old man I'm a lot like you

Welcome to the blog…

by Fastbreak1 on Aug 12, 2009 10:14 PM EDT reply actions

love ole Neil, Fastbreak

by Tom Halzack on Aug 12, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

A great writer for a great site!

If you aren’t familiar with Tom’s work yet, then you are in for a pleasant surprise!

by Jughead on Aug 12, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks to the guy who started me off!

Much thanks to Justin for sending me down a road I can’t seem to get off. It’s just too much fun.

Keep the faith at CSL and remember the early days

by Tom Halzack on Aug 13, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Welcome to CB!

Come right in :-)

by Amager Celtic Fan on Aug 12, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

wow. thanks for the kind words.

You haven’t read my stuff yet, I guess.

by Tom Halzack on Aug 12, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

Welcome Tom ...

and how bout we bring steve weinman back from the dust bin (aka NBA internship). The summer’s too long I need some daily babble!

by stoyko on Aug 12, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

Definitely need the Wein-stein.

by Tom Halzack on Aug 12, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

SD and Justin – what’re you doing here?

Check their passes, Roy or Jeff. I think they’re using forged documents.

by Tom Halzack on Aug 12, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

Welcome aboard Tom

We’re glad to have you!

by SalmonAndMashedPotatoes on Aug 12, 2009 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

welcome

good to have you on board. the more opinions and insight, the better off we are here.

by Jimmy Toscano on Aug 12, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions

As good as it gets

While I have little doubt that the endorsements from Jeff, Justin and so many others on the board should be more than sufficient for the rest of our fine readership here, I would be remiss not to add my two cents on this:

In addition to the fact that, contrary to his own self-deprecating claims, tenaciousT is an excellent writer, he’s also a terrific guy. One of my first writing mentors, Tom’s guidance throughout my time in the blogosphere has been and continues to be invaluable to me. He showed me the ropes when I broke in on another network a bit more than two years ago and has since devoted countless emails to exchanges with me regarding hoops, writing and life. His support through my efforts at CelticsBlog and my work this summer has meant a ton to me, and his writing is always a pleasure to read. Can’t thank him enough.

CelticsBlog readers are in for a treat. Welcome aboard, T, and I’m excited to see what you have in store for us.

-sw

"I didn't go there with the intentions of getting ejected. I went there with the intentions of just telling Kobe, 'You got to relax. You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?'" -Ron Artest, 05.06.09

by Steve Weinman on Aug 13, 2009 12:17 AM EDT reply actions

Simply much too kind, Steve. Really.

I’m gonna pull a Big Baby and get misty.

two whole years ago? That was back when I was…..still fifty something. Boy those where the days.

by Tom Halzack on Aug 13, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions

tom

welcome on board,looking forward to hear from some new blood

by wopp22 on Aug 13, 2009 12:21 AM EDT reply actions

Great to see you here Tom

Can’t wait for more thoughtful analysis from the CB crew!

by Slick on Aug 13, 2009 12:26 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome

I’m looking forward to your work!

by Fafnir on Aug 13, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions

Nice to have you around, Tom. Now, get writin'.

by Cousin It on Aug 13, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions

Certain left-coast readers are such taskmasters.

Can’t get a free second to breathe with these guys.

:-D

Good to see you around, CI.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Aug 13, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

CI, you’re not related to Yak, are you?

by Tom Halzack on Aug 13, 2009 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Welcome

Glad to have another writer here ^_°

I asked god and he said: L.A. will lose again next year!! ^_°

by greenmech on Aug 13, 2009 3:14 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome Tenacious

Looking forward to your contributions here, and plus +1 to the twice my age coomment!!!

P.s. Good to see u around and u still droppin by to post Steve

"....you can't handle The Truth"

by kheeko on Aug 13, 2009 4:02 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Welcome, Tom!

Looking forward for your articles. I already love your nickname, TenaciousT, it sounds cool, especially for a guy over 50. :P

by Drucci on Aug 13, 2009 4:10 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Thanks Drucci.

Semi-cool is good enough at my advanced age. I actually remember when stuff like that mattered.

In a few more years, I’ll just be saying I want to be cool…in the summer. You know how the heat affects old people.

So far, every age has had its own distinct benefits. Don’t worry. I’ll blaze the trail for you. Fortunately, you have to live it for yourself. And add a few new things along the way. That is how it goes, I think.

by Tom Halzack on Aug 15, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I do not know you...

so, get to writing damnit. GIEF MOER ARTICLZ.

There. I said it.

(and welcome ofc dude :D)

- Dirk 'DaarisDirk' van Boxtel

by Kiorrik on Aug 13, 2009 5:42 AM EDT reply actions

Are you are new veteran PG?

by thebirdman on Aug 13, 2009 6:49 AM EDT reply actions

Congratulations Tom

I’m always excited at the prospect of more stuff to read on the front page. I look forward to reading your stuff. Any person who likes hamburgers and pad thai obviously has got it all figured out.

[img width=500 height=84]http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo115/greentownsfinest/GreentownsFinestHeaderCBlogLQual.jpg[/img]

by Prof. Clutch on Aug 13, 2009 6:59 AM EDT reply actions

Cheers Tom

Looking forward to your insights in this year that is particularly well-described as a “clash of NBA titans.” Now, can you make it start any sooner? ; )

by Thruthelookingglass on Aug 13, 2009 7:30 AM EDT reply actions

Tom's first article

is coming this morning

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Aug 13, 2009 7:33 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome Tom

It’s always good to have a new sacrificial lam……errr …. valiant reporter……..here to express his (or her – being politically correct) opinion.

by Dipper on Aug 13, 2009 7:59 AM EDT reply actions

A writer from Boston ? I like

Standing up for the little People

PS: I am actually from Boston.

by Champzilla on Aug 13, 2009 8:00 AM EDT reply actions

still don't understand this

am I not a good enough blogger because I don’t currently live in Boston?

are fans on this board not good enough fans if they don’t live in Boston?

ridiculous

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Aug 13, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think the Hallelujah chorus just started singing....

Amen Jeff.

Graham Brunell, administrator for Celtics 17 (mvn.com/celtics17), and MVN.com. Sounds professional eh!?!?

by Celticsfanatic on Aug 13, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

When did I say that?

by Champzilla on Aug 13, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I like everyone, no matter where they are from.

I just like seeing a Boston guy become a writer, “Boston is a brotherhood”.

by Champzilla on Aug 13, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Champzilla, hate to break a bubble.....

But….. I’m a New Englander, but not from Boston.

Can I be part of a….. cousinhood?

by Tom Halzack on Aug 15, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions

You haven't been sent by Tyron Lue, have you?

If not, welcome. I’m sure these guys can use some fresh story line help. This blog is a good product insofar as posting subjects to comment on. That isn’t easy day after day especially at this time.

Hey, you can post on USA soccer and I’m down with it although you’d probably get ridden out of town.

by Wildblu1 on Aug 13, 2009 8:03 AM EDT reply actions