Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen on the Cover of the New Issue of ESPN The Magazine

- Celtic Pride is Back
- Plus: The Magazine’s NBA Preview and Tank Johnson in Dallas

October 24, 2007 -- NBA PREVIEW:

A FRESH COAT. For the past nine seasons, Paul Pierce has had to be a one-man band for the Celtics. With the arrival of rock stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, he’s part of a trio that can make Boston pop. Chris Broussard reports.

Garnett/Pierce/Allan Quotes:

* Garnett on Allen and Pierce: “I love it,” KG says. “I told everybody, ‘I’m not doing anything by myself. If I do anything, it’s going to be with these two.’”

* Pierce on Allen and Garnett: “If those two make the All-Star team and I don’t, I’ll feel like I had a part in making it,” says Pierce. “If I were younger, I might be upset, but that’s not even in my blood anymore.”

* Allen on winning a championship: “We have this ongoing conversation: ‘Our generation is better than your generation, our athletes are better than your athletes,’” Allen says. “We can get into this conversation because the three of us feel like we can roll with some of those cats from back in the day. But from a team perspective, we can’t talk yet. None of us. Not until we win a championship. Then we can be like, ‘Well, we would’ve got y’all in ’84.’ Until then, we can’t say nothing.”

FLIP THIS LEAGUE. Trouble and the NBA have been married longer then Bill and Hillary. And like any relationship, there are ups and downs – and that’s just how it is. Chuck Klosterman reports.

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS. Now that they’ve done everything from improving curb appeal (Rockets) to gut renovations (Sonics), 30 clubs are ready to raise the roof on the 2007-08 season. The Magazine staff reports.

OTHER FEATURES:

HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN. For Tank Johnson, nothing matches the rush of pulling the trigger. But with the Dallas Cowboys gambling on him to spark their defense – and stay out of trouble – he’s learning to live without it. Seth Wickersham reports.

Johnson Quotes:

* “If you’re stressed out, rent a gun at the range and shoot two clips out. You’ll be feeling pretty good.”

* “I know this lady (Dallas realtor) believes I’m just this big-ass thug, idiot, gun guy. I don’t think I did anything wrong. But I didn’t do it right.”

* “I was like, you mean to tell me they just took a SWAT team to my house, took my daughters out with Uzis and machine guns, and they’re going to charge me with a misdemeanor?” On SWAT raid on his Chicago home.

UPSET IN THE MAKING. Think Cal fans are wild? Meet the buzz-kills who live outside (and above) Memorial Stadium. Their campaign to block a new football facility has school officials up a tree. Tim Keown reports.

JUST LET IT GO. Fear of failure made Oregon QB Dennis Dixon question his skills. But a summer spent roaming minor league outfields taught him that failing is part of the game. Alyssa Roenigk reports.

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE. A-Rod and Johan Santana are the biggest of stars. But they’re not the only ones floating around this fall. Anybody got space for the Home Run King? Buster Olney reports.

THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN FLY. When rock-climbing/BASE-jumping/highlining sensation Dean Potter has a bad day, it can really (really) hurt. Katie Arnold reports.

“I’D LIKE TO HAVE A GERMAN LEG.” Just your usual pro-volleyball-in-Cambodia-played-by-land-mine-victims kind of story. Not so familiar with it? You’ll want to be. Christopher Cox reports.

Source: ESPN

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