The NBA has made little progress in lifting its lockout, which has forced many players to seek alternative money-making methods in the offseason. While a cast of stars seem poised to play overseas, Celtics guard Delonte West is apparently looking for work on a local scale.

“It’s official. Pride 2 the side,” West tweeted. “Just filled out [an] application at Home Depot. Lockout aint a game.”

West had attempted to explore opportunities abroad earlier this month, but a judge apparently ruled that he could not play overseas because of his two years of unsupervised probation for weapons charges in July of 2010.

Former Red Sox star Roger Clemens leaves federal court in Washington, D.C., Thursday after jury selection for his trial. (AP)

Remember when Roger Clemens was on top of the Boston sports world? With the Rocket’s perjury case in progress, those days have never felt further away. Whether it’s because of contract disputes, trouble with the law, or locker room drama, plenty of former Beantown sports heroes have fallen out of favor over the past few years. We’ve got 10 that take the cake.

10. Nomar Garciaparra

If you were a Red Sox fan from 1997 to 2004, chances are you had at least one article of clothing with the number five on it. After winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1997, Nomar quickly became the undisputed face of Fenway Park. With two batting titles and five All-Star selections, he was grouped with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez as the three most exciting short stops in the league. Garciaparra seemed destined to play out his career in Boston, and perhaps help the Red Sox finally break the curse of the Bambino.

However, when TV cameras caught him sulking in the dugout while sitting out of a 2004 classic against the Yankees (when Jeter dove headfirst into the stands), Red Sox fans did not react well. That incident, combined with general manager Theo Epstein‘s desire for improved defense, led to the shocking trade. Garciaparra had to look on from Chicago as the Red Sox won it all without him with the help of Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz. Still, Nomar can expect a much better reception in Boston than most of the athletes on this list, especially because a one-day contract allowed him to retire as a member of the Red Sox.

9. Joe Thornton

Thornton entered the NHL with Boston in 1997 and led the team in scoring for several years, but it was never enough to get the Bruins to the next level. The center faltered under intense scrutiny, especially in the postseason and during his time as captain. After being traded to the Sharks in 2005 for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau, Thornton won the Hart Trophy, making him the only player ever to be named MVP in the same season he was traded.

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Amar’e Stoudemire is in the midst of one of the best stretches of basketball in his career. He has scored more than 30 points in each of the last eight games, all wins for his Knicks. But in the Knicks win over the Nuggets Sunday, Stoudemire got into it with Nene, and there was talk of a possible suspension. Not so, says CBSSports Ken Berger whose sources tell him Stoudemire won’t be suspended.

The Knicks play the Celtics Wednesday in a highly-anticipated matchup.

As many people know, new Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal makes a living out of making a character out of himself. In the past few years, he’s toned it down considerably, but in his heyday Shaq was everywhere. Not only was Shaq featured in several feature films, including “Blue Chips,” “Kazaam” and “Steel” (he also made an appearance in “He Got Game” with his now-Celtics teammate Ray Allen), but he made his way into homes every night through his many, many endorsements. From milk to soda to candy to cable, Shaq was — and still is — the NBA’s king of sales.

Through the power of online video, let’s look back on some of Shaq’s best commercials, with our minds set on seeing Shaq represent the Green on more ads in the future.

Pepsi — Playground Bully, 1993

Synopsis: Shaq, looking a bit like Gary Payton, literally breaks into a neighborhood basketball court, bends a rim down to dunk (seeing the opposite is a lot more fun) and proceeds to storm over to the cooler for a much deserved beverage. When there is no soda left in the cooler, he casually walks over to a small kid, who flat out denies him the Pepsi.

Best Moment: 0:16 — Romantic music starts to play as Shaq lays eyes on the child, giving the totally wrong impression.

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According to a tweet from Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports, free agent shooting guard Ronnie Brewer turned down an offer from the Celtics so he would have the opportunity to start in Chicago. Brewer took a three-year, $12.5 million deal with the Bulls.

“I got an opportunity to start (in Chicago). Both (Chicago and Boston) are storied programs,” Brewer told Spears. It came down to where I could excel more.”

The 14th overall pick in the 2006 draft, Brewer spent his first four-plus years with the Jazz before being sent to the Grizzlies at the trade deadline last season. He has averaged 10.3 points and 1.8 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game over his five-year career.

The Celtics will need to continue their pursuit of a frontcourt player for the bench as CSNNE.com’s A. Sherrod Blakely is reporting that free agent target Kwame Brown will most likely take his services elsewhere next season. The biggest concern appears to be money as the C’s can’t offer anything over the veteran’s minimum to Brown, who averaged just 3.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while earning $4 million last season as a member of the Pistons. He has been considered one of the biggest busts in NBA draft history after being selected first in the 2001 draft by the Wizards and averaging double digits in points in just one of his nine NBA seasons, but he impressed Doc Rivers at a recent workout, leading Rivers to say, ”I wouldn’t mind having him on our team, I can tell you that. He could help us.”

The Celtics will have to look elsewhere as they try to reload their bench for another run at the NBA finals next seasons after multiple reports have Suns guard Leandro Barbosa being traded to the Raptors as part of a three-player deal that would send swingman Hedo Turkoglu to Phoenix. Barbosa had been rumored as a potential trade target for the C’s this offseason, but that appears to be off the table now. Barbosa averaged 9.5 points as a backup last season and could have replaced the recently departed Tony Allen as the first guard off the Boston bench. Instead, the Celtics will now need to lure in other trade partners to fill that role, using the not-yet-retired Rasheed Wallace‘s contract as bait.

The Red Sox celebrate after beating the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS at Yankee Stadium. (AP)

Is there anything more enticing than a Game 7? For fans, there’s no better drama. For players and coaches, there’s no higher stage. It’s the only game in basketball, baseball, and hockey that is for all the marbles, all or nothing, win or go home.

With the back-and-forth 2010 NBA finals coming down to a Game 7 on Thursday night, here is a list of the most memorable Game 7s in Boston sports history.

The Red Sox, who have had their share of disappointments in Game 7s, compile half the list, while the Celtics and their 7-0 record in Game 7 of the NBA finals complete the other half. Apologies to the Bruins, but no one needed to be reminded of their conference finals Game 7 loss to the Canadiens in 1979, despite the drama of that overtime thriller.

10. 2003 ALCS

We begin the list with a tough Game 7 to swallow for Red Sox fans. In a storybook season, Boston looked as if it would finally overthrow the rivaled Yankees and capture its first World Series since 1918. After defeating the Athletics in a decisive Game 5, the Red Sox forced Game 7 in the ALCS in New York. Infamously, manager Grady Little didn’t pull Pedro Martinez with five outs remaining, resulting in the Yankees summoning a rally to force the game into extra innings. The curse would not be lifted as Aaron Boone joined the likes of Bucky Dent with a walk-off home run in the 11th inning off Tim Wakefield. This Game 7 certainly was memorable, but one Red Sox fans would like to forget. Read the rest of this entry »

Although we normally think of the Celtics in terms of NBA rings and playoff dominance, there have been some great individual performances against the Green in their storied postseason history. From Michael Jordan dropping 63 on the 1986 Celtics, to Jerry West notching a triple double in Game 7 of the 1969 finals, the Celtics have been on the wrong end of some historic performances. On the heels of Kobe Bryant’s impressive 38-point outburst Sunday night in Game 5, here is a list of the top single-game playoff performances against the Celtics.

10. Andrew Toney, 1982 Eastern Conference finals, Game 7

Known for playing some of his best basketball against the top teams in the league, Toney almost singlehandedly knocked the Celtics out of the playoffs with his impressive performance in his team’s 120-106 series-clinching victory. Dubbed the “Boston Strangler” during the 1980s, Toney lead the 76ers with 34 points in Game 7 to send the Celtics packing on their home court. The two-time All-Star lead the Sixers in scoring during the series (22.1), and proved to be one of the best clutch players in the game. Read the rest of this entry »