Alan Greenwood

Big-league sports soap operas are mostly founded on greed and ego. Then there are those leading actors who are simply off-kilter, whose thoughts have a shelf life of 30 minutes or less.

And then there is Kyrie Irving, whose chain of thoughts jump from one to another with every breath.

It was reported Thursday that Irving’s long-rumored union with Kevin Durant is all but a done deal. They would be joining forces with the New York Knicks, whose owner, James Dolan, has fueled more exasperating sagas than Irving and Durant combined.

Since their embarrassing exit from the playoffs, his teammates have made it clear that they would have no trouble seeing Irving drift to Manhattan, where stars have long been unable to turn the Knicks into a respectable club, let alone a championship contender. Apparently there is a strong sense that the role of team leader should be shared by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Unless Danny Ainge packages one of his emerging stars in a trade for Anthony Davis, Tatum and Brown should take the steering wheel next season and see how far down the road they can get.

Really, absent a blockbuster deal for an elite player like Davis, leaning on Tatum and Brown is about the only reasonable option the Celtics have.

Then there is Gordon Hayward, where the hope is that this lost season was necessary as a warm-up for the rest of his career. It may be so; for evidence re watch Hayward’s injury on Opening Night, 2017, but not on a full stomach.

TIME TRAVEL: May 16, 1959 – “Nashua High clobbered Keene 7-2 at Holman Stadium yesterday afternoon behind the five-hit pitching of Bill Hill. … It was the second Division III win for the Panthers, giving them a comfortable lead in the division with a 2-0 record.”

Carl Tamulevich had three hits while Don Grandmaison and Jerry Fuller had two hits apiece. Kenny Kane had a bases-clearing triple in a four-run first inning.

For anyone startled by seeing a 2-0 record and a comfortable division lead in the same sentence, be aware that high school baseball season back in the day began in late April or early May and was limited to a 12-game schedule.

Considering the wretched weather we’ve endured in what we laughingly refer to as spring, a 12-game schedule seems an attractive alternative.

CALL FOR NOMININEES: The Red Sox Foundation is seeking nominations for its IMPACT awards. The acronym: Inspiring More Philanthropy Across Charities Together.

Non-profits from New Hampshire are eligible. The focus for the fifth annual awards are on organizations demonstrating a commitment to “improving health and wellness outcomes in their community.”

Nominations are being taken through May 24. Email redsoxfoundation@redsox.com for more information.

AND FINALLY: The KidSports page that appears Sundays in The Telegraph has been a bit shy on content this spring. Part of that is, no doubt, due to the generally dismal weather conditions.

All leagues in Greater Nashua are welcome to submit results, news briefs and photos by Thursday afternoon to appear in the ensuing Sunday paper and online.

Camps or clinics being held free of charge or by a non-profit group are also eligible.

Alan Greenwood can be reached at 594-1248, agreenwood@nashuatelegraph.com or Telegraph_AlanG.

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