CMass Figures in Pro Sports: Jarrett Jack Calls Out Ray Allen

Email to a friend Permalink

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Central Mass has its fair share of pro sports figures and several of them are in interesting situations this week.

Former Worcester Academy star Jarrett Jack got a rise out of his twitter followers this week when he lashed out at former Celtics guard Ray Allen. The sharp-shooting Allen left Boston in favor of Miami, taking less money to play for the defending NBA champions, and prompting Jack to tweet the following:
"Am I wrong for thinking ray allen is a traitor for signing with his rival team the heat? Tell me what u think!!!!!!"

While Jack's shot at Allen may be what Commonwealth sports fans know him for now, the point guard is actually coming off his best season as a pro. Taking advantage of New Orleans' trade of Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, Jack stepped in to start at the point and registered career-highs in points per game (15.6), assists per game (6.3), free throw percentage (87.2%) and minutes per game (34).

Now, Jack enters the final year of his contract, and will look to keep those numbers up in hopes of a lucrative free agent deal in 2013. Jack will then have the chance to shop his services around the league, or stay with a Hornets franchise that now has two promising young pieces in first round picks Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers.

LeHair an All-Star

Another player from Central Mass that is enjoying the prime of his career is Chicago Cubs first baseman/outfielder Bryan LeHair. The Holy Name graduate is headed to his first Major League All-Star Game tonight in Kansas City. LeHair was named to the NL All-Star team as a reserve first baseman.

After spending the better part of his nine year career working up through the minor leagues, LeHair was finally given the chance to start for Theo Epstein's Cubs. LeHair has not let the former Red Sox GM down, batting .286 with a .364 on-base percentage and 14 home runs.

The Dilemma of Central Mass' Dolphin Duo

While Ray Allen is now making plans to head south, two men with Central Mass ties are already in Miami working to clean up what has been a mess of an organization lately. Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin and offensive coordinator Mike Sherman both have the unenviable task of sorting out Miami's quarterback situation.

Philbin, a former post-grad student at Worcester Academy, and Sherman, a graduate of Algonquin Regional High School and former Worcester Academy coach, are both hoping to give the Dolphins stability under center for the first time since Dan Marino retired in 1999. In the last 12 seasons, Miami has started 16 different quarterbacks and won only a single playoff game.

Philbin and Sherman have three less than ideal options now, and drew criticism for selecting former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the eighth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Along with the rookie Tannehill, whom Sherman developed a relationship with when he was the head coach at A&M, the Central Mass coaching duo will be working with veteran David Garrard and returning starter Matt Moore.

There is certainly work to be done for these two offensive gurus.

Dealing Dwight?

The NBA's youngest General Manager is former St. John's basketball star Rob Hennigan. Now the GM of the Orlando Magic, Hennigan is faced with his own dilemma: To trade, or not to trade, All-NBA center Dwight Howard. Howard has repeatedly asked out of Orlando over the past two seasons, and rumors circulated last year that he wanted former head coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith to be fired.

The Magic did part ways with both Van Gundy and Smith, and brought in Hennigan after he helped build an NBA Finalist in Oklahoma City. However, the hire must not have been enough to satisfy Howard, who reportedly demanded another trade in his first meeting with Hennigan. It now appears Hennigan must make the most of a potentially toxic situation with a disgruntled superstar that can leave after the season via free-agency.

At least one thing has worked out for Hennigan, though, as he and guard Jameer Nelson have agreed in principle to a multi-year deal. The contract cannot be signed until tomorrow, and then Hennigan will have to decide whether or not to pick up the option on three-point specialist J.J. Reddick's non-guaranteed contract. Oh, and he has to find someone to actually coach the team at some point.

Much like his counterparts to the south, Hennigan has plenty of things to take care of in the Sunshine State. 

Related Articles

• NEW: Former Worcester Academy Standout Selected to Baseball All-Star Game
• Exclusive: Worcester’s Bryan LaHair to Start for Cubs
• Hennigan’s Former Coach Dishes on the NBA’s Youngest GM
• NEW: Worcester Native Rob Hennigan Named Orlando Magic GM
• Worcester Native Rob Hennigan Leads Scouting Department for Oklahoma City Thunder
• Worcester Academy Baseball Has the Talent to Repeat
• Worcester Academy Preparing Players for College Baseball

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink