I started thinking about Len Bias today, after some idiot wrote an article comparing Bias’s death to Kevin Durant’s relocation from Seattle to Oklahoma City. (Which is kind of like comparing the time your grandparent died to the time your grandparent caught a cold, but I digress.) Every time I think of Bias, I think of one lasting image. Right after Bias was drafted, only a day or two before he overdosed and passed away, Bias was on top of the world with this hat on his head.

As Bill Simmons described the scene, “A green Celtics hat crammed on Bias’ head, millions and millions of green dollars ahead of him, green with experience, holding up the green and white uniform … nothing but green. That smile on Draft Day, will the image ever completely fade away? Did anyone seem happier, ever? He looked like a little boy, didn’t he? Can you still see him? I can. I see that smile and I see miles of green.”

And then he was gone. As quickly as Len Bias became a Celtic he became a ghost, one that would haunt the Celtics organization for the next 22 years as Celtics fans wondered, “What if Len Bias had never used cocaine?”

24 years after Bias’s death, the Celtics organization has finally recovered. But the image of his draft photo remains an indelible mark in franchise history; Bias, king of the world, possibilities endless, slightly crooked brim of a Celtics hat angled skyward off the top of his head, the toothy smile on his face revealing a man perfectly content with his new job and his limitless future.

You can own the hat. I already do. And every time I put it on, I wonder, “What if…?”

Every once in a while, I link to a few articles from other writers around the internet. You know, I throw some dimes.

1. A Seattle PI blogger, Scott Cushing, actually had the audacity to compare Len Bias’s death to Kevin Durant and the Thunder leaving Seattle. Umm, no. Len Bias died. Durant just relocated. Let’s relax here, Cushing. You need to take a few plays off. (Note: Cushing’s blog is a reader’s blog. I don’t know whether any Joe Schmo can have a reader’s blog, but his work is un-edited.) While we’re on the subject of Bias, read Bill Simmons’s Bias piece. One of my favorite basketball columns of all time.
2. Paul Flannery discusses Shaq’s potential impact next season: “Shaquille O’Neal was not the most important offseason signing for the Celtics. He wasn’t even the most important acquisition at his position. That would be Jermaine O’Neal who will be asked to assume the starter’s role when training camp begins. But Shaq rates higher on our list for reasons that go beyond the court. That’s the way it is with Shaq these days. His offcourt persona dominates to such a degree that it has become bigger than his game.”
3. Flannery also attempted to answer a question we all asked yesterday: why work out Adam Morrison, Rashad McCants et al? Flannery concludes, “It’s not clear what Ainge’s intentions are yet, but with the start of training camp looming at the end of the month, it does appear that he’s continuing to look for the right pieces.” Which begs another question: if Ainge is looking for the right pieces, shouldn’t he be looking somewhere else?
4. A panel of Lakers experts consider the Celtics a bigger threat to LA than the Heat. Key word, “bigger.”
5. A little baby mama drama. Dwight Howard is suing his child’s mother for more than $500 million, according to TMZ. Dwight now has two things to work on this summer – 1) wearing a condom, and 2) his first post move.
6. I never thought the day would come when I’d be afraid of Eric Dampier joining a rival team, but if Dampier signs with the Heat he’d help. CBSSports says the Heat are the frontrunners, while Sports Illustrated lists the Heat, Rockets, Suns and Raptors as suitors.

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.