Better? No, It’s the Same Old Parquet

When they move from historic Boston Garden to the new FleetCenter, the Boston Celtics will have a new scoreboard, new air conditioning and even new championship banners to hang from the rafters of the $160-million arena.

But they will be playing on the same parquet court they have had since 1947.

Thursday, its 256 pieces were assembled in a few hours on the deck of the new building for the first time, after having been brought over from the Garden next door. Everything went smoothly, arena workers reported, and by late morning the ball-balancing leprechaun at center court was smiling toward the ceiling of his new home.

The court of World War II-era oak and red pine scraps got a new paint job and a fresh coat of varnish. Some of the boards were replaced as part of the biennial refurbishment.

Although the same floor has been used for 48 years, most of the original structure has probably been replaced.

Add Garden party: Remember when Kevin McHale did a guest spot on a “Cheers” episode that focused on how many bolts it takes to secure the floor?

The answer is 988.

Trivia time: Who holds the USC football record for total offense?

Religious about football: With tens of thousands of Carolina Panthers fans trying to get to Sunday’s home opener in Clemson, S.C., it could take a miracle for people to get to church in the college town. So some churches are going with option plays.

St. Andrew’s Catholic Church will cancel its 11 a.m. Mass and add one on Saturday evening. Clemson Community Church will begin its worship earlier than usual.

Others haven’t decided how to play it.

The Panthers will play eight games at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium this season while a new stadium is being built in Charlotte, N.C.

“We have a Panther and non-Panther church schedule,” said Father John Kenny of St. Andrew’s. “We’re not uptight about this at all. We’re going to adjust and enjoy the games.”

Add Panthers: Along a busy Charlotte road bordered by dozens of car dealerships, the expansion team has erected a billboard designed to promote ticket sales.

The sign, which was put up this summer, features a picture of Barry Foster, Derrick Lassic and Randy Baldwin, and it proclaims the three running backs to be “A New Set of Wheels.”

There’s one problem, though. Those wheels have fallen off.

Foster was released.

Lassic was released.

Baldwin averaged 2.5 yards the first two weeks at running back and lost his starting job.

Quick, the bat signal: There may be a new baseball crisis brewing.

Daniel Botkin of the Center for the Study of the Environment in Santa Barbara said we are running out of white ash trees, the source for bats.

Botkin reports that more than 52,500 bats are used each year in the majors, requiring 20,475 cubic feet of wood.

Trivia answer: Rodney Peete, whose 8,640 yards are 2,400 more than runner-up Charles White gained.

Quotebook: Detroit Lion quarterback Scott Mitchell, who underwent tests after feeling light-headed in a recent game: “They checked my head out and found I had a brain. That was real encouraging.”