M L Carr

In a way, nothing ever changes. Celtics are Celtics, Lakers are Lakers and never the twain shall meet without one of them going away mad. "You know what city you're in right now?" says M.L. Carr, incredulous that someone has suggested there are two or three NBA glamour franchises. "There was only one! Forget the Lakers, man! "Let me rile this up, get this thing stirred up before I get out there! Shoot on the Lakers, 76ers and the Knicks! There was only one team! I want to stir it up!

In a way, nothing ever changes. Celtics are Celtics, Lakers are Lakers and never the twain shall meet without one of them going away mad. "You know what city you're in right now?" says M.L. Carr, incredulous that someone has suggested there are two or three NBA glamour franchises. "There was only one! Forget the Lakers, man! "Let me rile this up, get this thing stirred up before I get out there! Shoot on the Lakers, 76ers and the Knicks! There was only one team! I want to stir it up!

You'll almost always find M. L. Carr sitting on the last seat of the Boston Celtics' bench, a towel wrapped around his neck and hands cupped at his mouth so that every word he says can be clearly projected onto the court. Most games, Carr is content to remain in that familiar spot and urge his teammates with a wave of his towel or make a few unsavory remarks to the opposition. But when the National Basketball Assn.

M.L. Carr has never coached. His boss doesn't know if he can. Yet the Boston Celtic director of basketball operations took the coaching job Monday after a long search--by himself. The enthusiastic Carr is devoted to changing the somber mood surrounding the once proud franchise. He is committed to installing a running game. "It's an open question as to whether or not M.L. can coach," Paul Gaston, the Celtic chairman of the board, said at a news conference.

M.L. Carr has never coached. His boss doesn't know if he can. Yet the Boston Celtic director of basketball operations took the coaching job Monday after a long search--by himself. The enthusiastic Carr is devoted to changing the somber mood surrounding the once proud franchise. He is committed to installing a running game. "It's an open question as to whether or not M.L. can coach," Paul Gaston, the Celtic chairman of the board, said at a news conference.

SAN ANTONIO - Spurs guard Patty Mills has heard all the jokes. The Internet makes it almost impossible to avoid them. He's aware some call him M.L. Carr, Mark Madsen or other NBA players known for their antics on the bench instead of production on the court. And Mills has no problem being the towel-waving 12th man during the NBA Finals. Actually, he is enjoying the experience. "They're great guys and I've gotten to know them on a personal basis," Mills said.

The fans in Boston are praying that they'll see their team again, but M.L. Carr says the Celtics are going to disappoint them. No, Carr isn't conceding a three-game sweep by the Lakers at the Forum. He's predicting a three-game sweep by the Celtics. "I look at it as a challenge to go out there and end it in L.A.," he said before the Celtics took off for Los Angeles. "I look at it positively. "It's just unfortunate for our fans that we have to end it out there." What is it they say?

Gone but not forgotten. No, not the Celtics, silly. Why, it's M.L. Carr. The former Celtic towel-waver supreme may not be a player any more, but he still shows flashes of being a pretty good talker. Have a question? Ask M.L. All right, then, now that the Lakers are up, 2-0, in the championship finals, what's going to happen to that old Gang Green? "I expect them to jump all over those freaks when they get to Boston," said Carr. Freaks? The Lakers?

M.L. Carr has proven to be an effective motivator. His foolish prediction that the Celtics would sweep the three games in Los Angeles may have been just the kind of locker room wall motivation that the Lakers needed before Game 3. PAUL CUNNINGHAM Pasadena

Kevin McHale falls to his knees and slaps the floor, shouting profanities to the referees. K.C. Jones' sour grapes have turned bitter. M.L. Carr's waving towel is now still. Red Auerbach's cigar remains unlit. The balloons have fallen. Good night, Beantown. Hooray for Hollywood! CRAIG POLETTI Temple City

Gone but not forgotten. No, not the Celtics, silly. Why, it's M.L. Carr. The former Celtic towel-waver supreme may not be a player any more, but he still shows flashes of being a pretty good talker. Have a question? Ask M.L. All right, then, now that the Lakers are up, 2-0, in the championship finals, what's going to happen to that old Gang Green? "I expect them to jump all over those freaks when they get to Boston," said Carr. Freaks? The Lakers?

You'll almost always find M. L. Carr sitting on the last seat of the Boston Celtics' bench, a towel wrapped around his neck and hands cupped at his mouth so that every word he says can be clearly projected onto the court. Most games, Carr is content to remain in that familiar spot and urge his teammates with a wave of his towel or make a few unsavory remarks to the opposition. But when the National Basketball Assn.

The fans in Boston are praying that they'll see their team again, but M.L. Carr says the Celtics are going to disappoint them. No, Carr isn't conceding a three-game sweep by the Lakers at the Forum. He's predicting a three-game sweep by the Celtics. "I look at it as a challenge to go out there and end it in L.A.," he said before the Celtics took off for Los Angeles. "I look at it positively. "It's just unfortunate for our fans that we have to end it out there." What is it they say?

A routine team physical on Boston's Eric Williams showed a cardiac abnormality and the player stayed behind for more tests while his teammates left Waltham, Mass., Friday for training camp at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. "From a precautionary standpoint, [doctors] wanted to make sure they took the right steps," Coach M.L. Carr said. * Veteran forward Fred Roberts signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Roberts, 36, averaged 3.7 points and 1.