=?UTF-8?Q?Herald=20-=20Kedrick=E2=80=99s=20return=20on=20hold?=

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

< Brown was taken for an MRI yesterday to determine the extent of 
the bruise and to see if there are any small fractures in the area.>

An MRI? About time, eh?

-----------------------------
Brown gets red light: Suffers setback with ankle sprain
Celtics Notebook/by Steve Bulpett
Tuesday, November 5, 2002

Kedrick Brown's expected breakout season is being shortened further 
by complications from his ankle sprain. While coach Jim O'Brien had 
planned to have the wingman back practicing Sunday and in the lineup 
within the Celtics' first five games, the timetable has been altered.

``Kedrick did not practice and could be anywhere from another week to 
another month before he practices,'' O'Brien said yesterday. ``He's got 
a deep bone bruise on his ankle. It's not the sprain, but it's the 
damage that the sprain causes that's causing the delay. So there's a 
definite setback.''

While X-rays have shown no structural issues, Brown was taken for 
an MRI yesterday to determine the extent of the bruise and to see if 
there are any small fractures in the area. The results will be available 
today.

``As far as the ankle sprain itself, that's progressing just fine,'' 
trainer Ed Lacerte said. ``Obviously (bone bruises) are difficult to 
deal with because it's a pain issue and it's the type of swelling you 
can't necessarily resolve with (traditional treatments like ice, 
electrical stimulation and compression). If he didn't have the bone 
bruise, he'd be progressing just fine within those 4-6 weeks that we 
initially talked about (from the Oct. 10 injury).

``He's going to be returning to play with some type of discomfort, but 
if that discomfort interferes with his ability to function, then you 
can't return. If you can't function properly, then you're predisposing 
yourself to a further injury. He also has an inability to do certain 
things. He can't necessarily jump at this point in time.''

As for the effect of Brown's absence on the Celtics, O'Brien said, 
``Any time you lose any of your 12 players it's a big loss, and Kedrick 
figured into the rotation. I would say absolutely it's difficult to 
lose somebody that you expected to be in your rotation.''

The coach added there has been no movement on adding another player 
to the roster, though the C's are operating at the minimum.

``No,'' he said. ``We have what we have.''

Fleet move still floating

Contrary to a column in another paper over the weekend, there is 
further evidence to support a Herald report last Thursday that the 
Celtics new ownership group is considering the possibility of building 
its own arena.

Although it is likely the Celtics will remain at the FleetCenter when 
their lease expires in eight years, financial packages being circulated 
among potential investors in the Celtics mention the possibility on 
fully three occasions. On a page referring to ``upside revenue 
potential,'' under building revenue streams for the long term, is 
written, ``Dramatic new arena potential.'' On another sheet, the 
executive summary includes in its investment thesis, ``New arena 
potential - FleetCenter lease expires in eight years; Major revenue 
upside from premium seating, parking, concessions and signage.''

In addition, the document spells out guidelines for the investors' 
financial role in such a process, saying they will have ``the 
opportunity to invest up to 45 percent in total of the equity component 
available in any new arena or facility development related to the 
Team.''

According to a source in the initial report, the new owners-to-be are 
``simply exploring what options will be available beyond staying in 
the FleetCenter,'' and possibly looking for a better deal at the Fleet.

Off-court coaching

Tom ``Satch'' Sanders, the NBA's head of player and basketball 
development, was in town yesterday with a crew to discuss a wide 
range of topics with the players, including personal finance and 
health issues. . . .

The Celtics will work out this afternoon and fly to Chicago for 
tomorrow night's rematch with the Bulls.

The Los Angeles Lakers, minus Shaquille O'Neal, will be at the 
FleetCenter on Thursday.