Ramble On ...

Slate Suggests...

Maybe Rupert Murdoch should invest in a daily Journal sports section. Send your proposals to slate.pressbox@gmail.com. (E-mail may be quoted by name in "The Fray," Slate's readers' forum, in a future article, or elsewhere unless the writer stipulates otherwise. Permanent disclosure: Slate is owned by the Washington Post Co.

Certainly a full sports section in the Journal, maybe in the Weekend Journal, would boost interest and sales. The failed American sports daily of the late 80s, the "National," might make Murdoch think twice.

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According to Hollywood Reporter, Boston is fast becoming Hollywood Northeast. Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" was set in the Bay State and more than half of the film was shot on location, but only about $6 million of its $90 million budget was spent in Massachusetts, with a larger amount of the location work going to New York, according to Nicholas Paleologos, executive director of the Massachusetts Film Office.

"Fast-forward 24 months: 'The Pink Panther 2' had nothing to do with Massachusetts and not a single scene takes place in Massachusetts -- but Massachusetts got the lion's share of the location spending," he said.

In large part, this trend can be attributed to an aggressive tax incentive plan allowing productions that drop more than $50,000 in Massachusetts to receive a 25% rebate on everything they spend in the state.

Nine major features were shot in Massachusetts this year, pouring more than $125 million in direct expenditure into the local economy, up 150% from 2006, according to industry sources.

As a side note: Seems to me that Senator Kerry should be more concerned about the WGA strike than a single NFL game on cable TV.

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What would a year-ender be without mention of the projects of all projects, the Big Dig. Here is what the AP had to say this week:

BOSTON - When the clock runs out on 2007, Boston will quietly mark the end of one of the most tumultuous eras in the city's history: The Big Dig, the nation's most complex and costliest highway project, will officially come to an end.

Don't expect any champagne toasts.

After a history marked by engineering triumphs, tunnels leaks, epic traffic jams, last year's death of a motorist crushed by falling concrete panels and a price tag that soared from $2.6 billion to a staggering $14.8 billion, there's little appetite for celebration.

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Other news items for the week, include; Merry Christmas in a cold, cruel world:

This from the Dec. 24th WSJ daily email:

MAXjet Files for Chapter 11
Trans-Atlantic business-class only airline MAXjet Airways filed for bankruptcy protection, blaming rising fuel costs and an increase in competition for business-class travelers for the inability to raise funds. MAXjet ceased operations On Christmas Eve, leaving jets on tarmacs and stranding passengers ahead of the Christmas holiday. The company listed just six months ago on London's alternative market. Trading of the stock was suspended Dec. 7 as a result of an inability to clarify its financial position. MAXjet said that shareholders are unlikely to receive any value following the bankruptcy and shares will remain suspended. The carrier, formerly based in Dulles, Virginia, apologized to customers for stranding them on Christmas Eve and said on its Web site that it contracted with rival Eos Airlines to carry passengers returning to New York's JFK International Airport or London's Stansted Airport.

In other Dec 24th news: It was widely reported that the Chicago Bulls fired coach Scott Skiles on Christmas Eve. Skiles took the high road and said the timing didn't matter, as he certainly is not 'destitute' and 'that it was his turn to be held accountable.' The issue that some might overlook? The transaction does effect just the Bulls and Skiles, it has a trickle down to all the media members, many who might have days scheduled with their families. Unless it's absolutely, 100% necessary, holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Easter, Fourth of July, etc, etc. should be avoided for team transaction announcements. We are all in the entertainment industry and - certainly - have to be expected to work on many, many days and nights. In some instances, it can and should be avoided. The Bulls should have circled Thursday, December 27th for their announcement as they host Milwaukee on Friday, Dec. 29th.

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John Feinstein of the Washington Post did a Christmas column to pay tribute to a few of the finer things in the life of sports. One of them was his friend, Red Auerbach, former, coach, GM, team president and the late patriarch of the Boston Celtics; Here is the missive written by Feinstein:

Red Auerbach...He isn't around to see it but my hope is that the greatest NBA coach and general manager in history is smiling someplace watching this Celtics team play. Red suffered greatly in his last few years when the Celtics were suffering. He never completely got over the deaths of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis which plunged the franchise into years of darkness and he so wanted to see one more championship to go with the 16 he was responsible for from 1950-86.

His desire to see the Celtics win never weakened, even as he did. I can remember being in a hospital room with him -- intensive care no less -- when he heard the team had traded Ricky Davis, the kind of scorer he thought a team needed to have when the playoffs and half court basketball rolled around. He did everything but yank all this tubes out he was so angry.

On what turned out to be his last opening night in Boston, Doc Rivers asked him to talk to the team after the game. When he finished, he found Dan Dickau, a shooter he always believed had potential.

"Hey Dan, can I ask you a question?" he said. (anyone who knew Red knew when he asked if he could ask a question you were about to get nailed).

"Sure coach," Dickau answered.

"Are there baskets on the sides of the court?"

Puzzled, Dickau shook his head. "No coach there aren't," he said.

"Okay then, why the f--- do you keep dribbling sideways? Take the ball to the goddamn hole will you?!"

He really never did stop coaching. I'd like to think he's coaching these Celtics in some way, shape or form.

And smiling.