The Great Sports Debate

2011 - 2012 NBA predictions... Part 4

2011-12-15T19:41:00.002-05:00

And to end, my playoff predictions:

Miami vs Chicago. No brainer. Will Chicago show up vs will Miami choke? Chicago is going to need to exploit the point guard position and play with balls. With Tom Thibedea (no way i spelled that right) coaching, i give them a slight edge. I can promise it won't be one sided like last year.

Denver vs Clippers. When this happens you won't be surprised. Reading it now you think it's insane.

Bulls vs Clippers 2011-2012 NBA finals...

Bulls in 6

thanks,
Wizard

2011 - 2012 NBA predictions... Part 3

2011-12-15T19:31:00.003-05:00

Final Season Predictions:

Eastern Conference:

Miami: 54-12
Chicago: 52-14
New York: 46-20
Orlando: 44-22
Indiana: 43-23
Atlanta: 40-26
Boston: 38-28
Phili: 38-28

NJ: 37-29
Detroit: 33-33
Charlotte: 30-36
Cleveland: 26-40
Washington: 25-41
Milwakee: 22-44
Toronto: 15-51

Western Conference:

Dallas: 50-16
OK city: 49-17
LAC: 49-17
Denver: 46-20
San Antonio: 44-22
Memphis: 42-24
Golden State: 39-27
Utah: 36-30

LAL: 35-31
Minnesota: 32-24
Houston: 30-26
Sacramento: 29-27
Portland: 27-29
Phoenix:24-32
New Orleans: 12-44

2011 - 2012 NBA predictions... Part 2

2011-12-15T18:50:00.002-05:00

This is my shitty team by team breakdown.

Atlantic:

Boston: Did nothing to improve team. Did enough to dress 12 players.

New Jersey: Love Morrow. Love Williams. Too bad some Russian will do anything he can to ruin team chemistry.

NY: Why not score 120 a game while allowing 121.

Phili: This team will have heart and rebounding. Point's will be tough to come by though.

Toronto: A foreign team with mostly all foreign players. I never thought i'd say it but i feel bad for Bargnani.

Central:

Detroit: My 2nd favorite team. At least for home games they have a beer of the night for $5.

Chicago: Gotta love everything about this team. Rose will continue to strive to be the best. Last year he took a big step in his decision making. I assume that can only improve, regardless of his fake SAT scores.

Cleveland: Post Lebron, year 2. Still twenty more years to go before the wounds heal. Tough luck getting 2/4 top picks in weakest NBA draft of my lifetime.

Indiana: Doing the little things, and signing black players. Sleeper alert

Milwakee: At least the Packers are going 19-0.

Southeast:

Miami: 66 games, and all should be wins. That won't happen. Lebron no showing in playoffs will.

Orlando: Once Howard is traded, they will be worst team in basketball. I mean, a team that shoots 3's and doesn't rebound? When has that ever worked Phoenix?

Atlanta: Joe Johnson's contract. ha

Charlotte: Worst GM in sports history. Bring back morrison. Maybe Cam Newton can hit a jumper.

Washington: Dead money favorite to win any pistol duels. However, big underdogs game to game.

Northwest:

Denver: The Rocky Mountain Knicks have a lot to look forward to. Like teams playing the 2nd night of a back to back 5,280 feet in the air. Wait till my playoff predictions.

Minnesota: The schedule helps them almost more than anybody. Kevin Love will win 20 games by himself. Ricky Rubio sucks as well. They will get some wins, and a lot less ping pong balls.

OK City: The funnest team to watch in basketball outside of the Harlem Globetrotters. If westbrook can take his 10 terrible shots a game down to 5, and make decent passes for 10 extra points, watch the fuck out.

Portland: Heroin capitol of the world. Doesn't explain how Brandon Roys' knees disappeared or how Greg Oden himself died... Or does it?

Pacific:

Utah: Love the starters with big Al, Millsap, and Harris, but this bench is to unstable to do anything. Could be your classic NBA western conference team with 50 wins and a 9 seed. (shortened season adjusted)

Golden State: MONTE. CURRY. DEFENSE. fuck that. DEFENSE. fuck that. DEFENSE. although they should be able to outshoot anybody playing a back to back.

LAC: Beast of west. A team that is cursed with actual expectations? Blake is the best player in basketball. CP3 is the best PG is basketball. and the rest of the team is meh.

LAL: Blowing up the team for some reason. Kobe will still dominate, but i'm not sold on the mental toughness of Pau after trade rumors. and i'm still not sold on Bynum's health for a whole season.

Phoenix: Trade nash then talk to me. until then enjoy winning 1/4 games.

Sacramento: Such a boring team. yawn

Southwest:

Dallas: NBA champs. Only got better with kardashian.

Houston: Talented, but most wins will come off heart. Teams gotta get lucky once in a while.

Memphis: Tony Allen tried to trade rudy gay. When that is your biggest offseason move you may be in trouble. Sneaky though have one of the best fan bases in basketball.

New Orleans: Never heard of them

San Antonio: Early Exit. Lot of wins though. Will be fun up until April for spurs fans.

2011 - 2012 NBA predictions... Part 1

2011-12-15T18:28:00.003-05:00

This is where i write down my thoughts so in 6 months i look really smart.

First off, fantasy basketball leagues are only 13 weeks then playoffs. remember that.

OK. My predictions for all awards.

MVP: Blake Griffin. Just got the best point guard in basketball to set up instinctive dunking ability to begin with. Blake could average 20/15. If his FT% improves, that number could be higher.

Rookie of Year: Kenneth Faried. Guys from fake colleges are always dark horses. In a year which will have countless back to backs, the kids will have to play. It helps that Faried might end up starting.

Defensive Player of Year: Lyndsey Hunter... Is he still in the league? He shut down rondo once. This one is obvious. Barkley once told Dwight Howard to get some rebounds. Ever since he has won back to back to back DPOTY awards. He is an absolute lock to win again.

Sixth Man: Tough to predict because we don't know who will end up playing or not. My guess is George Hill from the pacers. Once IUPUI's greatest stud, he is now an important piece on a much improved pacers club.

Coach of Year: I hate saying it, but Vinny Del Negro will run away with this award. If the clippers clinch a playoff birth he is in. It won't be his coaching that earns the award, just the players. Remember, Mike Brown won this thing once.

Executive of year: Don't know his name, don't care. Guy who runs Clippers.

Most Improved: JaVale McGee. There is a ton of talent with this kid. However, he cries like a school girl when people play to physical. Guess i'm just a sucker for raw talent.

I refuse to do any other awards.

What Pink Hats have done to the Red Sox

2011-11-30T11:14:00.002-05:00

Our long Red Sox national nightmare finally ended last night as the potentially insane Bobby Valentine was finally reported to be the next Red Sox manager. Now I hate this. I didn't want Dale Sveum either. The guy I wanted was Mike Maddux but he backed out. This was a lame crop of managers by they way. Between the group out there, then yes Bobby Valentine was probably the best choice. He looked like the manager version of Kate Upton compared to the Roseanne Barr of Gene Lamont. What really gets me angry about this whole situation is how the great puppet master Larry Lucchino undercut his new puppet in Ben Cherington so blatantly in the public and totally making it so that we, as fans, can never take anything Cherington says seriously again.

Now lets get to why the pink hats are to take some of the blame for the joke the Red Sox are now. The pink hat fans have totally taken over Fenway Park and have made it tough to be a die hard fan. The ownership has taken full advantage of the pink hats and good for them. They've made a ton of money off them. The pink hats started to pop up in 2003, really emerged in 2004 and are now basically 75% of the fan base. I hate pink hats. Pink hats are the reason that Valentine is the manager now. Lucchino saw and listened to the fans, heard that there wasn't really a lot of excitement for Svuem ( and rightfully so) and then went to the guy that pink hats have seen on ESPN and heard every bandwagon fan from Boston to Maine get excited and boom, next thing you know he's the guy that's been the number 1 choice all along when we all know damn well that Svuem was all but hired. The pink hats helped sign Crawford and now they've helped Lucchino hire Bobby V. They should own a 50% stake in the team.

Now a pink is not just about gender. Men and women can be pink hats. I have probably seen more male pink hats then female pink hats. Also pink hats don't have to physically wear a pink hat. They can wear a whole damn uniform but they're still pink hats. I was a Sox game a few years back and there was some guy sitting in the stands trying to impress his girlfriend and she asked about who the "number 9" was up in right field. The guy didn't know. He didn't know! Its Ted freaking Williams. Only the greatest Red Sox player of all time. Only the greatest hitter who ever lived. Another sign of a possibly pink hat is there reaction when you call them a pink hat. If you call me a pink hat I'm just gonna say "yah ok" and laugh it off. But if you call a pink hat a pink hat, look out. They freak out and almost always say "I'm not a pink hat. I know what I'm talking about. I watch every game" And they always say it in a high pitched voice. It happens 100% of the time, every time.

They've turned Fenway and Yawkey Way into almost a amusement park setting. They get every ticket and phase out the die hards and the people that know what their talking about. Bandwagon fans are every where but the ones I respect are the ones that don't try to act like they know what their talking about. Pink hats I have almost no respect for. I don't have a problem with the girl fans, I say god bless them but the guy pink hats just kill me and suck the life out of me. Nothing could ever drive me away from my love of the Red Sox but they way the operate down there is embarrassing and how they care what the fans say is killing me slowly. Listen to the scouts and your baseball operations people and not Joe Six Pack out in Quincy who saw Bobby V on Baseball Tonight. You think Belichick listens to us? Hell no and things have been working out for him lately.

Red Sox Off Season

2011-11-16T10:49:00.002-05:00

Going in to this key off season for the Boston Red Sox, I thought they had one definite move to make- and that was to resign Jonathan Papelbon. Yes, he blew the save in Game 162 but if you don't have a dominant closer who's been through the fire and came out clean on the other side then you don't have anything. All those people that were "happy" to see him go, ask yourself this- Are you going to get anyone better to replace him? Heath Bell has been good in San Diego but that's San Diego. Can he handle Boston? Franciso Cordero is old and he had a good year in a contract year (always a red flag). K-Rod's arm is about to fly off at any second. Daniel Bard isn't ready. He was terrible in September and just cause you can throw 100 MPH doesn't mean you can get the three biggest outs of the game. Before Pap left I was thinking they should make into a starter. I am intrigued by Joe Nathan. He'd be cheap money but he's coming off Tommy John and who knows if he can be effective. I say Nathan and whoever steps forward between him or Bard. The closer is not the only move the Sox need to make.

Manager. The Sox still don't have a manager. It looks like Dale Sveum is the leader in the clubhouse and I don't know about you but I'm not really feeling that. Maybe its cause I remember him sending every runner to the plate that he possibly could and getting them thrown out. They say because hes been in the clubhouse before and knows the players but he hasn't been here since 2005. The only players he knows in that clubhouse is David Ortiz (more on him later) and Kevin Youkillis (him too). I was on the Mike Maddux bandwagon but he backed out. Sveum was named interim manager of the Brewers in 2008, took them to the playoffs, and then they demoted him back to hitting coach and hired Ken Macha. That's a little strange right there. Sandy Alomar Jr is my choice right now. Former catcher, knows pitching, and would have respect from the players.

David Ortiz and Kevin Youkillis. I'm conflicted on this. I love both players but I would resign Ortiz and explore a trade for Youk. There really is no market out there for Ortiz and the DH position has become a dead position in baseball. He can still hit and power in today's game that is hard to come by. Yes he's got a little bit of diva in him but he's still a leader in that clubhouse even though last year happened on his watch. Resign Papi I say.

As for Youk, I don't think he can stay healthy and we have a potential stud 3rd base prospect named Will Middlebrooks. Youk can't handle the grind of 3rd base and at this point he's a 1st base/DH type of player. I don't know what you can get for Youk. The Brewers might need a first baseman and I would call up Theo at the Cubs, maybe get some relief pitching. Then Id give Middlebrooks the job and sign a veteran for him to platoon with. Such as Casey Blake. That's a move I like.

Also theres little moves I would do. Cut the cord with Varitek and Wake. I hate to do it but it's time. I'd sign Michael Cuddyer, good clubhouse presence, can play multiple postions, right handed bat, and have him split right field time with Ryan Kalish, whos ranked as the second best prospect in the Red Sox system and came up in 2010 and showed potential. Also have Jose Iglesias spilt with Marco Scutaro. By the end of the year Iglesias could be the everyday guy. Then have
Ryan Lavarnway spilt with Salty at catcher and Lavarnway could spell Papi at DH against lefties. Hopefully Beckett got a fire lit under his ass and comes back in shape. Same with Lester. Lackey's gone for the year. There's some solid starting pitching out there. Mark Buehrle is out there. I'd go out and get Rich Harden. They had him at the trade deadline but the team doctors said he want healthy. He went on the make every start for the A's after the deadline and now the team doctors are fired (good riddance to them by the way. So many misdiagnosed players the last few years). I'd stay away from CJ Wilson. Too much money and I think he's sligtly overrated.

You could say "Well BJ, you sure got a lot of rookies playing key positons". Yes but there's still a ton of talent on this team. Crawford will bounce back, Adrian will have a better year, Pedroia, Ellsbury are still here. The pieces are in place all we need is a few moves and a change of the culture and the Red Sox will be back.

Team Win

2011-11-14T10:23:00.003-05:00

That game last night for the New England Patriots was one the most satisfying, biggest, character building wins they have had in awhile. Last night was basically for our playoffs lives and they came up big. It wasn't pretty. The defense was basically held together by glue, scotch tape, some some helf by Mark Sanchez, and were carried by Brady, Gronk, and Andre Carter.

With five undrafted free agents starting on defense you had to have a program with you just to know some of the guys out there. No Spikes, no Chung, and losing McCourty halfway through, the defense played well. I know, I know it was against Mark Sanchez but at this point we have to take what we can get. Andre Carter has been one of the most underrated free agent signings in the NFL and if he, Mark Anderson, and Vince Wilfork can get the pressure on the quarterback like last night then you can get away with having Sterling Moore, Phillip Adams, and Antwaun Molden in the secondary. Also communication was a big deal last week and this week they appeared to have those problems figured out on the road in a tough environment.

Also last night it was one of those wins that Brady, Branch, Belichick, and the rest of those guys love. It was a make or break game, the season was on the line, everybody was picking against them, and like they always do they come through when they needed to the most. Even Patriot legends like Troy Brown and Rodney Harrison picked the Jets. Brady started out a little slow but once he figured it out and went to the hurry up, he was brilliant. No team plays the "No one believes in us" card better than the New England Patriots.

Now I'm not saying to pack and get ready for the Super Bowl, this team still has a ways to go but the AFC is wide open. All these teams are fraudulent. The Pats have flaws, as do the Ravens, Texans, Bills, Jets, Bengals, and Steelers. I guess you would have to say that the Steelers are the top team in the AFC but not by much.

Big win. 6-3. Still improving. Chiefs up next on Monday night.

Penn State Scandal

2011-11-10T09:52:00.002-05:00

In my years of following sports there has been a fair share of scandals. The Bob Knight scandal in Indiana, steroids in baseball, Tim Donaghy and gambling in the NBA, and even SpyGate in the NFL but none of those compare to whats going on at Penn State and Joe Paterno.

This story at Penn State is bigger than sports, that's what make so big. It's by far the worst story that I have seen or read about. It's not about football and Paterno's legacy or wins and losses, it's about eight (probably more) innocent children who were violated and molested by a monster. I'm not even going to get into the details because it makes me sick to my stomach. Jerry Sandusky is just a vile human being and at the bottom of the human decency who was only allowed to keep his job the first time and allowed to keep the keys to the Penn State locker room only because he knew how coach linebackers. He's going to locked up forever.

As for Joe Paterno, he finally got fired last night and rightfully so. He knew damn well what was going on and he allowed it. Joe Paterno runs that school. He could have stopped Sandusky and saved maybe countless children from that animal. But he didn't cause Sandusky was right hand man and defense coordinator. How can Joe Pa sit there was Sandusky for all those years knowing what that freak does behind closed doors? Paterno didn't deserve more than the phone call he got. He didn't deserve a graceful exit and to go out on his own terms. Paterno was a enabler. Paterno probably can't be charged with anything legally but morally and as human being he's going to have live with what happened and why he got fired on his conscience for the rest of his life.

As for all the yahoos that were rioting on the Penn State campus last night- all I have to say is calm down. I know what Paterno means to the school, how he's one of the greatest college coaches, how he's a figure head for the school, how he put that school on the map. But lets be serious Penn State students, your not losing Nick Saban or Les Miles in his prime. Paterno hasn't "coached" in years. You think he's making calls? You think he's putting game plans together? You think he's traveling across country recruiting these kids? He sits up in the box without a headset on. When they need to lock down a recruit, they bring him in and he flashes his championship rings and the kid signs with Penn State. Paterno was lucky enough to keep his job these past three or four days only because hes Joe Paterno. Anyone else would've been canned the day the story broke. Read the report and maybe you wont protest as hard. Take off you Penn State pajamas and maybe you'll see why Paterno is fired and disgraced. Penn State should be embarrassed by what ESPN and CNN was showing. What some of the kids were saying was embarrassing and showed that they were out of touch with what was going on.

Like I said it's the worst story in sports that I have ever seen. Everyday it gets creepier and creepier. How Sandusky wrote a book called "Touched". How the lead D.A. back when the case first broke disapeared, and is now proniuced dead, after he dismissed the case. And now how Sandusky was "pimping" out kid from his foundation to rich donors. It makes me sick just thinking about it. Those who feel sorry for Paterno, they shoudnt.

Until next time...

Deja Vu

2011-11-07T10:19:00.002-05:00

Deja Vu is defined as the experience of feeling sure that one has already witnessed or experienced a current situation, even though the exact circumstances of the prior encounter are uncertain and were perhaps imagined. Well what happened yesterday at Gillette Stadium gave every Patriot the feeling of deja vu. Only we know exactly when we experienced it the first time. That game last night played out just like Super Bowl XLII. Pats offense struggled throughout. Then Brady comes though. Then a Giant who wears number 85 makes a unbelievable catch and then after that Manning throws a game winning touchdown. It was uncanny. Eli Manning gave me the same face that probably Tom Brady has given teams throughout the decade. That "I'm totally helpless and I just got punched in the stomach" face.

The defense played well throughout the game but they had a chance to shut up the critics and make a play but they didn't. And lets stop with this whole idea that "the game has passed Bill Belichick by". That's just foolish. He's still as good a coach as ever. I will fully admit that the players aren't good and that goes back to Belichick. Bill Belichick the GM has failed Bill Belichick the coach. Sergio Brown and Tracy White are special teams players, not guys that should be out on the field with the game on the line. Sergio Brown had a tough time making plays at Notre Dame, now hes expected to do it in the NFL? You look around at other teams in the league and they just have better defensive players. The Pats don't have it.

This game also brings home the point even more that Tom Brady has to play perfect and put 30 points plus for the Pats to win. You can tell that he's pressing out there and trying to force the ball into spots that he normally doesn't. All the pressures put on Brady to be perfect and we all expect a him to be perfect and when he's off it's panic time all over New England. Look at the Green Bay Packers. Their ranked 31st in defense but their winning games because Aaron Rodgers is playing at such a high level. If he gets into a slump the Packers will probably lose a game or two. Tom Brady is going to be fine. He's just a bit off.

Now we head to a Sunday night match up with first place in the AFC East on the line against the New York Jets. The Pats are trending down while the Jets are trending up. The Jets laid the hammer down on the Bills defensively yesterday and if they play like Sunday night then its going to a loooooooong night.

Until next time...

Requiem For A Nightmare

2011-11-02T17:12:00.004-04:00

I'm 24 years old. As a sports fan, I've seen all four of my favorite pro teams win championships. The Patriots have won three Super Bowls, Red Sox have got two World Series wins, and the Celtics and Bruins have won a championship each. I've seen so many great players and great games, you think I would appreciate the championships so much that bad losses don't bother me but that's not the case. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the championships and the moments. Nothing can top it. But the losses stay with you more than the wins. They stick with you more only because of the "What If" factor of the games. What if we had won? What would the legacy be? As a society we always want more. There's four devastating games that I've seen and I can never see again if they ever come up on the ESPN classic, NBA TV, NFL Network, and MLB Network. My eyes just start spurting blood. Those four games are Red Sox/Yankees Game 7 2003, Pats/Colts 2006 AFC Championship game, Super Bowl XLII, and the Celtics/Lakers Game 7 2010. Out of all those games, the one that hurts the most and haunts my dreams the most: Super Bowl XLII.

I write this now because the Patriots are playing the Giants this Sunday and ESPN is probably going to be showing highlights of it all week and all Sunday. It'll be a miserable week of hype for a game for Patriots fans. It'll come up in conversation wit your friends and its tough to avoid. Lets review 2007 from the great beginning to bitter end.

It started in the off season. The Pats had just come off the AFC Championship game vs the Colts were they blew a 21-6 halftime lead. Belichick was on a mission that off season. He signed Adalius Thomas on the first day of free agency. Stole Welker from the Dolphins and signed Donte Stallworth. Then the big trade happened. We all know what it was. Trading a 4th round draft pick for Randy Moss. That's when all the experts started to talk about how this team could dominate and that an undefeated season was possible. I knew this team would be good but I didn't think they be THAT good. The Pats went out and blew the doors off the Jets and we knew that this year was going to be real fun after Brady and Moss hooked up for their first of many touchdown connections.

Then the bomb of SpyGate dropped on Monday. All over ESPN and nationally, people calling the Patriots cheaters. Calling Belichick a cheater. Saying that Brady was a product of knowing the defensive signals. To this day no story gets me more mad then the SpyGate stuff. Patriot haters finally had something to on the Pats and they were going to use it. ESPN kept throwing out the cheating card 24 hours a day. Patriot fans all over had banded together like never before. This was our team, our championships. How dare you say they are tainted. It totally became "Us vs Them". We felt we had to defend our team. The players were more angry than ever and you could see it. The Pats started to blow out every team they faced. The haters kept getting louder. Pats fans knew they were just crying because they couldn't stop Brady, Belichick, and Moss. And we rubbed in it their faces. After every win, the "Us vs Them" became worse and worse. And I loved every minute of it.

While the Pats were continuing their assault of the record book and SpyGate died down a bit, ESPN and Haters had to come up with another storyline. Then it became that we were running up the score. Steve Young and Meriel Hodge were crying like the Patriots were kidnapping small puppies and throwing them off bridges. Like Moss and Welker were robbing banks likes Ben Affleck in "The Town". It fueled the fire in the players and fans even more. Then the 1972 Dolphins and Mercury Morris wandered out of the retirement home and found every station and media outlet that would have them and talked about how they didn't want the Patriots to go undefeated because they "cheated" and weren't doing it the right way. They were ultimate frauds. That was the last straw for me. Not only did I want to go undefeated even more, I wanted to do it in style. I wanted Brady and Moss to shatter records. I wanted to Pats to go undefeated and then laugh in the opposing teams face in a way that said "How dare you even step on the same field as us". I wanted Mercury Morris to hand us the trophy and bow down after he did. I wanted to mock all the Patriot Haters that had run their mouth all year and make they say that New England Patriots were the unquestioned greatest team of all time. That was the dream.

They broke every offensive record there was. Were undefeated heading into the Super Bowl, about to play the Giants, and go 19-0. Then the offensive line collapsed against the Giants pass rush and couldn't give Tom Brady time get the ball down field. It was a nightmare. The Pats were up 7-3 for most of the game. Eli Manning found David Tyree in the back of end zone to go up 10-7 with about 5 minutes to go. I'll fully admit I was nervous. But I knew that Tom Brady always came through for this team. And he did. He drove the Pats down field and found Moss to go up 14-10 with about 2 minutes left. We did it. All we needed was one stop and the dream was complete. Greatest team ever. 4th ring for Belichick and Brady. Bruschi, Seau, and Harrison go out winners. Eli throw a ball to right sideline and only Asante was there. This was it! But the ball went right threw his hands. Not yet. Then on third down, Seymour and Jarvis Green had Eli sacked and all wrapped up. I yelled at the top my lungs "BLOW THE WHISTLE!!!". The refs didn't and Eli escaped and threw it up for grabs. I thought it would've been picked by Rodney. Rodney was in the area but so was Tyree. He caught the ball on his head. The next thing I know is the Plax caught the ball in the end zone and that was it. The dream was dead. (No words)

No perfect season. One of the biggest upsets ever. I was stunned. Took awhile to get over it and I probably never will. Worst sports loss of my life. All the Patriots Haters got exactly what they wanted. All the trash talk came right back at me. The Pats haven't won a playoff game since. Brady and Bill are still searching for that 4th ring. David Tyree hasn't caught a pass since February 3rd, 2008 and yet he haunts my dreams every night.

Until next time...

Secondary Issues

2011-10-31T12:45:00.002-04:00

All right before I get into what I really want to talk about credit to Mike Tomlin, Dick LeBeau, and the Steelers. They did what no one thought they would do and adjust. They changed up from the zone blitzes and switched it to man pressure. The cornerbacks maned up on Welker, Branch, and the Pats receivers and wouldn't allow them any space to operate. OK now lets get to the good stuff.

Yesterdays performance by the Patriots secondary was pathetic and sad. Big Ben and that offense came out throwing the ball all over the place as well they should. Every time there was a 3rd and long, the Steelers were converting with ease. The corners were so far off the receivers and just giving them free releases off the line, letting them run easy to a spot and letting Big Ben complete easy passes. Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, and Heath Miller were just running their routes, just having a grand old time like their playing catch in the backyard. Devin McCourty has taken a huge step this year and has been useless. I could sit here and rip Phillip Adams and Moulden but no one knows who those guys are and I don't expect anything from them anyway. McCourty has zero confidence right now and it shows. Yesterday he was the king of playing all the receiver. If you iso'd on McCourty yesterday, like I did on many plays, he would be up on the receiver and then right before the ball is snapped he'd back up and give a free release. Watch Revis. He's up in guy's faces all day giving them nothing easy. Because I'm insane I'm gonna re-watch the game and count how many times McCourty was up close and then back off last minute. That defensive backfield was awful and it made the Steelers look like 1999 St Louis Rams. The secondary is just Pat Chung and a bunch of practice squad guys. Is Leighh Bodden available?

Brady and the offense only had the ball for 20 minutes and with that little time they still put numbers and points. With the way the seondary played, the offesne couldnt afford 3 and outs and they had a few of those yesterday. Another disturbing is that Pats wide outs cant get open vs man coverage. It goes back to the Jets playoff game. Ochocinco is on his last legs here. He cant even run a deep post without looking like a drunk frat kid on Halloween weekend. Talk about useless.

The call for the onside kick was awful. Down 6 just about 2:30 left with 3 timeouts and the 2 minute warning. I know the defense was awful but you have to trust them there. Chances are the Steelers were going to run and we are actually pretty good vs the run. That's telling how Belichick has no faith in the defense. Maybe they weren't going to stop them but it could be a learning experience for them down the road. The execution of the kick was horrendous. The kick went about three feet. Just the wrong call in my opinion.

Well that's that. The secondary is poop sandwich. Yesterday was frustrating to watch. Next up we got the New York Giants and you damn well that ESPN is going to love to show Super Bowl 42 highlights. Get ready to chance that channel.

Until next time...

ESPN book review

2011-10-27T17:10:00.003-04:00

I recently just finished reading the book about the history of everybody's favorite sports network, ESPN. The book is called ESPN: Those Guys Have All The Fun and it's written by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales. It's a pretty solid read albeit a long one. It's not a traditional book, it's an oral history. It's 745 pages of interviews and anecdotes from the employees and anchors of The Worldwide Leader of Sports.

The book talks about 9 steps that led to ESPN's rise to world dominance:
Step 1- Bill and Scott Rasmussen's (the father and son who came up with the idea for an all sports network) decision to buy a transponder satellite in 1978. That transponder would allow them to broadcast their show all over the United Sates to houses that have cable.

Step 2- The Getty oil company's investment of 15 million dollars into ESPN in May of 1979. That investment allowed them to have some money to spend. Also, Getty at that time was a huge company and ESPN being involved with legitimized them in a way.

Step 3- The advancement of a duel revenue stream in March of 1983.

Step 4- Coverage of the America's Cup in 1987. The America's Cup was a yacht race. Airing the race on ESPN opened up new viewership and it was the first big event that ESPN helped produce and air. By doing that it would help ESPN be able to show that you can air big time sporting events on the station. ESPN has gone on to have football, baseball, basketball, and hockey all air on their channel.

Step 5- In the same year, ESPN acquired the rights to air ESPN games. This wasn't a full TV deal, that came down the road, but it showed they could air big time major sports.

Step 6- In 1989, ESPN and Major League Baseball hooked up with 4 year deal worth 400 million dollars. In my opinion, baseball is usually the game that ESPN airs and produces the best (except with Joe Morgan). Also by having MLB on their network, it helped launch Baseball Tonight which is one of ESPN's most stable studio shows.

Step 7- The classic "This Is Sportscenter" commercials. You know the ones, with the athletes and the mascots hanging around and mingling with the anchors at the ESPN studios in Bristol. The old ones are so classic. The commercials became so popular that every now and then they air a show that's all Sportscenter commercials.

Step 8- ESPN finally getting a full season of NFL games in 1998. Through Sunday Night Football and now Monday Night Football, games on ESPN have been memorable. The announcers have struggled ( Tony Kornheiser? Paul Maguire, I couldn't stand) but they've had some classic games. The Joe Namath/ Suzy Kolber game is memorable for a different reason but they've had Farve lighting up the Packers with the Vikes. The Pats keeping the perfect season alive in Baltimore. Even though lately the games have sucked, ESPN is a good place to watch a football game.

Step 9- The ninth and final step to ESPN's rise to world dominance is the creating ans airing the SportsCentury. My opinion is that the best things that ESPN airs is the documentaries. The SportsCentury series was so well done. Some of the scenes in them are ultimate goosebump scenes. The Bob Cousey part in the Bill Russell, where he tears up thinking about how he could have helped Russell adjust to life in Boston as a black man, is one of my personal favorites. And to to this day with the tremendously well done 30 for 30 films. The Len Bias story, Reggie Miller vs the Knicks, The Fab Five, Four Days in October are just some of my favorites.

Say what you want about ESPN, and I certainly have, that their bias, that their too cocky, that their too powerful in the world of sports, but you cant doubt that their one of the the most powerful companies in the world. How they built the empire is a great success story. I enjoyed this book and if you like to read and enjoy sports and business I recommend reading it.

Patriots vs Steelers Preview

2011-10-26T14:29:00.002-04:00

One of the great rivalries of the last decade is renewed on Sunday afternoon. The Pats head down to Pittsburgh where they have routinely handled the Steelers in the Brady/Belichick era. Brady has lost to the Steelers once in his illustrious career and it was back in 2004. I would like to sit here and try and say how its going to be a tough game, that Pitt is tough to play in, that Ben Roethlisberger is a top fligt QB whos tough to beat, and its all true. I can't fear the Steelers and this game but I do love to beat them and hear them whine about it after. The Patriots always beat the Steelers and they do it the same way every time.

The Patriots are a game plan team. That means the game plan changes from week to week. One week it could be a running attack. The next it's a passing attack centered around Welker and then the next week Gronkowski and Hernandez. The Steelers, on the other hand, do what they do. Their going to blitz you and their going to blitz you often from a variety of spots. It's been the same way for years dating all the way to when Bill Cowher was first hired. Belichick has coached circles around the duo of Cowher and Dick LeBeau and now Mike Tomlin and LeBeau. What the Pats do is spread the field out, let Brady see where the blitz is coming from, and he just picks it apart. Brady has throw 1 interception in his career vs the Steelers and I've seen every Brady game and I can't even remember the game and situation when it happened. Look for a big game from Gronk. Last year, Gronk had his breakout game vs the Steelers, having 3 TDs and setting up his future career on twitter with Bibi Jones.

Another thing Brady and the Pats do is routinely catch Troy Polamalu out of position. They take advantage of his aggressive style with play action and bait him into jumping the deep in cuts and then hit the bomb over the top. He has always been a non factor vs the Patriots.

Big Ben has been known to make plays. Hes a huge guy, could play tight end that's how big he is. He hangs in the pocket and gets outside the pocket and makes big plays down field to Mike Wallace. The Patriots don't try to sack Roethlisberger like they would with other quarterbacks because he is so tough to bring down. They try to keep him contained and make him try and been a basic prototype pocket passer. When the play breaks down and he gets outside the pocket, that is when the Steelers will hurt the Patriots defense. Keep an eye out for that.

Brady probably enjoys beating the Steelers maybe more than any other team besides the Jets and the Colts (the real Colts, not the stink bomb team this year). It goes all the way back to Joey Porter, Jermome Bettis, Anthony Smith, and the SpyGate stuff that they still complain about. Its always fun beating the Steelers. Pats win.

Until next time...

A Great 4 Year Run

2011-10-25T10:27:00.002-04:00

Late last night news broke that the NBA was going to cancel another two weeks of the regular season. My feeling throughout this whole lockout is that we won't have a regular season at all. And that has got me thinking about my favorite team, the Boston Celtics, and what it means for the franchise with the most Larry O'Brien trophies.

What it really means is that this is the end of the Kevin Garnett era of Boston Celtics basketball. And by that I mean RIP to the chance of winning titles with the New Big Three. We knew this team had at least a 4 year window. We got one title in 2008. Were a KG injury from getting back to the Finals in 2009. Came so so close in winning in 2010. And we were geared up to do it again in 2011 until the Perk/Jeff Green trade railroaded the season. KG, Ray, Pierce, and Rondo will still all be back next time NBA will be played and it'll still be fun to watch but they won't be at a championship level (kills me to say). The Heat are there, along with the Bulls, Knicks, 76ers are hungry. The Boston Celtics are not the class of the East anymore. It was a tremendous 4 year of basketball and it meant a lot to me personally.

Ask anyone that knows me how I always talk about how the Celtics were the first team that I remember as young kid.

Ask anyone how I was basically raised on watching Larry Bird 80s games on my father's VHS tapes and ESPN Classic.

Ask anyone how during the Celtics 18 game losing streak in 2006, I started to become delusional and would wish for the glory days of Larry Bird and Red Auerbach even though I wasn't alive during it.

Ask anyone how devastated I was that the Celtics didn't get one of those top 2 picks in the Oden/Durant draft. Turns out it was the best thing that happened.

Ask anyone how pumped I was when the KG deal went through and I finally had a legit Celtic team to call my own.

I could go on and on. I was so happy when they won the title. I ran around the championship parade like a 3 year old. I was equally devastated when KG hurt his knee in Utah. We probably would've went back to back that year. Perk hurt his knee in 2010 in Game 6. If Perk's healthy in Game 7, I guarantee that we would've won that game and that championship in LA. I still have visions of Ron Artest hitting the biggest shot in that game to basically seal it for the Lakers. And don't get me started on the Perk trade. Worst trade ever.

So that's that on the New Big Three. Great basketball, great memories watching those games with my friends. Something that I always dreamed about. Only got 4 years of it after I waited 20 years. Here's hoping I don't have to wait another 20 years.

P.S. on Notre Dame. What a debacle. Come out and get down 17-0. Came back make it 17-10, get down to 1 yard line about to tie it and fumble. USC takes it back for a touchdown. Then its 24-17 after USC shanked a field goal and then they turn it over on a swing pass which ended up being ruled a lateral. Next play, touchdown Trojans. USC was begging to give that game away and Notre Dame couldn't take advantage. The Irish never come through for me when I want them too.

Until next time...

A Look Back: Notre Dame vs USC

2011-10-21T11:25:00.003-04:00

Now I am a unabashed Notre Dame football fan and I wont apologize for it. This Saturday our hated rivals, the USC Trojans, are coming down to South Bend. It's going to be the first time USC plays at South Bend at night. Both teams are unranked so its not as big a game nationally then it should be but, for me, I am so hyped up and excited for this game. Plus whenever I see Notre Dame and USC match up it brings back memories of that classic game from 2005. Lets hop back in the time machine and talk about the game that has been known as "The Bush Push".

October 15, 2005. USC came into Notre Dame Stadium at the height of their powers. Defending National Champions. Matt Leinart was the reining Heisman winner and Reggie Bush was on his way to a Heisman and even was considered a every down back. USC was also on a 27 game win streak. It was the first year of the promising Charlie Weis era. ND was 4-1 and ranked 9th in the polls. Brady Quinn was establishing himself as a great college quarterback. This game was hyped from the start. College Gameday was there. The Irish came out in the green uniforms. It was setting up to be a classic game. And it was.

The Irish led at halftime 21-14 due to a Quinn-Samardzija touchdown connection and punt return TD by Tom Zbikowski. Reggie Bush had a 45 yard TD run to tie it at 21 in the 3rd and in the 4th quarter is when the real fun began. Bush and Leinart ripped off a 80 yard drive to take a 28-24 lead with 5 minutes left. Then it was up to Quinn try to put a stamp at Touchdown Jesus. He led a great, what seemed at the time, a game winning drive. I remember when Quinn ran that touchdown in to take the lead 31-28, I was absolutely freaking out. I knew there was still about 2 minutes left but I couldn't help thinking that Irish football is back and that we took down the mighty Trojans. Shame on me.

All I remember is that USC had to convert a 4th and 9. Leinart dropped back and throw a low fade to Dwayne Jarret. The corner was right there and all he had to was stick his right hand out, knock it down, and the Irish win. Nope, instead Jarret catches and almost takes to the house but was stopped at the 13 yard line. USC got down to the 2 and Leinart rolled out this left and tried to jump into the end zone. He got stuffed, fumbled out of bounds, the clock ran out, players and fans alike rushed the field and the game was over. That's I what I thought. I started to celebrate. I was watching the game with my buddy, Seth, and you can ask him, I started to jump around and celebrating, yelling "WE JUST BEAT USC!!". As Lee Corso says, "Not so fast, my friend". There was still 7 seconds on the clock. Leinart ended up trying to sneak it in, got stuffed, but was helped in by Reggie Bush pushing him in. Game over. Trojans 34 Irish 31. I was devastated obviously. The push by Bush was crap but that never gets called.

It was one of the great college games and one of the best I've ever seen. USC ended up losing to Texas in the title game while Notre Dame got spanked by Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Its crazy to think about where all the key guys from that game are now. Pete Carroll is coaching the Seahawks. Weis famously flamed out at Notre Dame and is now offensive coordinator of Florida. Bush got a Super Bowl ring but is a glorified 3rd down back in the NFL. And both starting quarterbacks, Leinart and Quinn are back ups in the NFL. Lets hope this Saturday that this game can live up to that game 6 years ago. Only that the Fighting Irish come out on top.

Until next time...

Tebow Time

2011-10-20T19:37:00.002-04:00

Tim Tebow, through all his faults and positive traits, is really one of the most talked about athletes of the last decade. Everyone has an opinion, good or bad, of him. He's probably the nicest guy in the world but there's people out there that don't like the guy. Ever since he enrolled in Florida in 2006, controversy has followed him and he became one of the most accomplished college athletes ever. The controversy his freshman year at Florida was because the fans wanted him to be the starter over Chris Leak. Tebow backed up Leak, came in on special packages and threw alley oop passes at the goal line, and Florida wound up winning a National Championship with Leak as the starter.

Leak then graduated and Tebow started full time and pulled off a great season. Throwing for 29 TDs, rushing for 22 more, finishing with 51 total and taking home the coveted Heisman Trophy. The next year he led the Gators to a National Title, adding to the legend of Tebow and gave a heartfelt speech after a tough loss about that he was going to play harder than anyone in college football. That speech is legendary at Florida and is engraved on a plaque out at Gainesville. His senior year, he came up a game short of another National Title but broke Florida's record for rushing touchdowns. He truly is a great leader and great college player but will it translate into the NFL?

All his flaws as a quarterback are well documented. His footwork stinks. His throwing motion is awkward which leads to him being inaccurate and his arm strength isn't all there. But when he goes in the game for those Denver Broncos, they seem to respond and play hard for him. He does provide them with a sense of energy but that can only last for so long. When hes skipping throws in the dirt, I doubt players will still respond to his Rah-Rah routine. John Elway and John Fox weren't the ones that drafted Tebow and for so long they were hesitant to even play him, let alone start him. Honestly, I don't think they believe in Tebow that much. If they believed in him and wanted him to succeed, then I don't think they would've traded his best weapon in Brandon Lloyd for next to nothing.

Tebow's not a franchise QB. Bottom line. With a good defense and good weapons around him maybe he could be a good NFL QB. Its tough to change your footwork and your throwing motion on the fly after you've been doing it one way your whole life. He's got all the intangibles and traits you want in a player- great work ethic, team guy but the NFL is about performance. If he cant make the throws then he isn't going to play. Love him or hate him, he is fun to watch and its a story every time he plays. He really is an enigma.

Until next time...

Ocho Stinko

2011-10-18T11:51:00.002-04:00

Since Belichick's quest to acquire Chad Ochocinco finally came to fruition, he's been a number 1 hot topic among Patriots fans. Its either been friends arguing when they called Ocho coming to the Pats, what kind of numbers he is going to put up, or why the hell he doesn't know the plays.

When the Pats finally got Chad, he became a victim of how big a name he is and his brand as a whole. Fans see him on Twitter, and they see the touchdown dances and the highlights and people expected him to put numbers like Randy Moss. He never was going to do that. Here he was going to be just another weapon to get open and add to the plethora of options that Tom Brady has. What Randy Moss did here in his time in New England is something we will never see again. 2007 was a special kind of year, obviously. Welker and Hernadez are going to have the big catch numbers. Gronk is going to have the touchdown numbers. Woodhead and Branch are going to be the safe options that Brady always knows is going to be there. That last group is the one I want Ocho in. Someone Brady is confident in and always knows is going to be in the right spot. After Chad ran the wrong route on Sunday, Brady chewed him out and Chad wasn't see again. Brady's confidence in Ocho may be wavering.

Another thing is his ability to grasp the playbook. It's been well documented how tough this playbook is for receivers to handle and it's a long list of casualties that couldn't handle it. I'm starting to fear that Ocho cant handle it and he'll join Donald Hayes, Bethel Johnson, Doug Gabriel, Joey Galloway, and Brandon Tate. That's a list of names I'm sure Ochocinco never thought he be on. I know that Chad didn't have a training camp and he came in late but the players that have thrived here have seemed to picked it up right away. Welker came in and immediately bonded with Brady. So did Randy Moss. Deion Branch picked it up right away as a rookie. Whenever there's been a hint of talk about a player not being able to pick up the system, that player usually never does. The receivers that play well here seem to pick it like second nature. The clocks ticking on Ochocinco.

Brady, Belichick, and other coaches and players have come out and defended Chad and as well they should. They have to defend him. They did the same thing with Randy Moss, even after they traded him. But you know behind closed doors they are getting on Chad about the playbook. Who knows if he is working as hard as he should. Here's hoping he does.

Until next time...

Just How They Drew It Up

2011-10-17T11:57:00.002-04:00

If yesterday while watching Tom Brady lead another game winning drive you were reminded of all those classic games from 2001, 2003, and 2004, you weren't alone.I thought the same thing. Those were those type of wins that made the Patriots the Patriots and gave them the toughness that won Super Bowls. We, as fans, haven't seen a game like that in awhile and it was awesome to see.

Since the defense started to rank in the bottom half of the league and really start to struggle, the Patriots were still able to win because of Tom Brady. Brady would pick that defense up and go out and put up 35 points. And if Brady didn't play perfect the Patriots were probably going to lose. Well yesterday Brady didn't play too well and guess who picked him up? The defense. Yeah they gave up some yards but when they had to get a stop, they got it. Andre Carter, who quickly is becoming one of my favorite players on the team, is starting to become that pass rush that we've been begging for since Rosie Colvin and Mike Vrabel left. Vince Wilfork was more that just a speed bump yesterday as he was his usual self. He made the call for Brandon Spikes to shoot the game and stuff that shovel pass and hold the Cowboys to a field goal. (By the way, whens the last time a shovel pass worked? The 1940s? How nervous is Jason Garret to put the ball in Romo's hand if he calls a shovel pass on a crucial 3rd and goal?) Even (gasp) Albert Haynesworth got in on the fun and made a few plays yesterday. I feel more happy and satisfied after this game winning 20-16 then I do after beating a team 38-30. I know we can win those games but yesterdays game is the type of games you see in the playoffs. The defense is improving, the communication is coming along and I'm really excited for this defense.

Tom Brady continues to add to his legacy and his greatness. He struggled for most of the game. Give Rob Ryan credit, he seems to have Brady fooled. Last year he did it and this year he did it. Demarcus Ware is one the best 5 players in the league and a future Hall of Famer for sure. Brady made some uncharacteristic throws and plays. His second pick was atrocious, I'll even admit it. I've never seen him try and make that throw and we'll probably never see it again. But you knew down 16-13, 2:30 left, everyone knew what was going to happen and there never was a doubt. It was like Larry Bird back in the day where he would struggle throughout most of the game shoot like 8-20 but when the biggest shot and plays needed to be made, he take the shot and make it without blinking. I could sit here and probably go on for 12 hours about Tom Brady. Look, guy is my favorite athlete of all time and I just want to appreciate watching one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The last time we saw a athlete like this in his total prime was maybe Pedro Martinez and I didn't fully appreciate it at the time and took it for granted. Not this time.

Big win heading into the bye week. 5-1.

Until next time...

Patriots vs Cowboys Preview

2011-10-14T11:15:00.002-04:00

For the second week in a row a Ryan invades Foxboro. This Ryan however is fatter and hairier. He of course is Rex Ryan's sasquatch looking brother, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. The Cowboys come in to Gillette led by a Princeton educated head coach, a trick or treat quarterback, and Ryan brother that leads a very talented defense. This is a very tough game and it hasn't been talked about enough around here because of all the Red Sox talk (and rightfully so). But lets talk about here on the greatest blog known to man. Shall we?

Brady and Belichick have talked at the press conferences about how fast the Cowboys defense is and, as always, they are right. Their defensive line is very good, their linebackers are very good and the secondary is solid. Their best player is DeMarcus Ware and he is one of the best players in the National Football League (Ron Jaworski voice). They move Ware around a lot on the outside and try to free him up to get the quarterback in a lot of different ways. He'll get to Brady a few times, just cause he's that good, but if they can limit his pressure, the Patriots should be able to put up points. Sean Lee is good looking young player who the people rave about. In the Cowboys games that I've seen, he looks like he can play. Terrence Newman, at conerback, is someone who I feel is one of the most overrated players in football. If he's on Welker, then that's like taking candy from a baby. Look for Wes to put up big numbers this week like he always does. Rob Ryan was the defensive coordinator of the last team to hold the Pats to under 30 points and everyone thinks he has the kryptonite to stop Tom Brady. No, he does not. Pats put 30 like always.

As bad as Tony Romo can look sometimes, other times he can look the total oppostie and look like a top flight NFL quarterback. The Cowboys have a very explosive offense with Dez Bryant and Miles Austin on the outside and Jason Witten, Romos go to guy, at tight end. The matchup I'm most worried about is Dez Bryant being covered by Devin McCourty. McCourty has struggled this year and if that countinues then Dez might have a big day. McCourty needs to get back to jamming the reciver at the line and get back to playing the ball when it's in the air. He's lost some confidence and if he has a good game then he should be back to normal. Patrick Chung will be the guy to cover to Witten and Chung did a phenomenal job covering Antiono Gates in week 2. If Chung takes away Witten then Tony Romo will freak out and try to force the ball into places and thats when he makes his classic mistakes.

This should be a really good game to watch. Its America's Team vs What Should Be America's Team But Isn't Because ESPN Has Brainwashed All Of America. Romo will combust, Brady will dominate, and a Ryan brother will always be fat.

Until next time...

we don't deserve happy days

2011-10-12T18:02:00.002-04:00

it's bad enough the red sox have begun overpaying players that don't fit but the events of the past two weeks have led to my decision to abandon ship. This is your fault Boston Red Sox board of shadowy figures. To leak information about Terry Francona in the mannor it was leaked is the most asinine surreal experience of my life. That being said, has anyone ever spelled the word experience correct the first time? Bull Shit. I'm calling you out shadowy figures.

Tom Werner: I don't even know what your day to day chairman shit is all about but i hate you.

John Henry: Faking injuries, divorcing a new broad every year. Who are you kidding? I hope next time you slip on your yacht you get knocked out and drowned you fraud. I have a sneaking suspicion you are leaking everything.

Guy who plays sweet caroline: Fuck you!

Guy who wrote sweet caroline: Fuck you!

Larry Lucchino: Dark day for Italians indeed.

How is Lebron James the most likable figure in the Red Sox organization? Think about that shit. Anyways, I'm done. I never would have thought the Yankees would be classier than Boston, but those days are here. Congrats Red Sox nation. Your fucking dead to me.

Empire state of mind. im out. new yorkkkk

Happy Days Are Over

2011-10-12T10:58:00.002-04:00

If you were to tell me in April that on October 12th, the Boston Red Sox are dominating sports radio and news cycles like ESPN then I would be thinking that Red Sox are in the ALCS and ready to go to the World Series again. Nope. Just more fallout from the greatest collapse in baseball history.

The long standing rumor of Theo Epstein going to take over the Chicago Cubs finally came to fruition late last night. Its not a surprise at all. I think we all saw it coming. The Red Sox have been greasing the skids for his departure since the season ended. Every time Theo's name was brought up it was followed with Ben Cherington's name. Ive never heard a guys name so much in my life in such a short period of time. Ben has been Theo's right hand man for awhile and he's likely to take over. There's a group out there of Red Sox fans that say Theo's overrated and good riddance. I say they are wrong. Yes, I am a Theo guy. I think he's a smart guy and he's in the top percentile of GMs in baseball. Yes, his big time free agent signings are spotty and most have blown up in front of his face. I have a hard time defending some of them, but his trades have been great and he's built one of the best farm systems in baseball. The Chicago Cubs are lucky to have him.

The Boston Globe came out with a great article about the collapse.I urge people to go out and read it. About how our supposed top 3 pitchers are sitting in the clubhouse during games, drinking beer, playing video games, and eating fried chicken. That's stuff that Ive done on occasion. That's stuff that people do while watching Beckett and Lester and Lackey pitch. I don't want my top 3 pitchers chugging beer and stuffing their face with KFC like a college fan boy. I'm so surprised that Beckett and Lester stopped working hard. We've seen them at their best. We've them locked in and dominate opposing batters. Beckett had a tough 2006 and he rededicated himself and dominated in 2007. Since then he appears to have gotten fat and happy. Literally. I never thought Lester would get to this point. The kid has been through so much. He had the long journey back from being diagnosed with cancer and came back and won a clinching World Series game and threw a no hitter. Hopefully this wakes both of them up and they rededicate themselves to be the aces they are supposed to be.

This organization, espically this ownership, has shown to always leak some stories about big name guys that leave. No star in Boston has ever left on good terms. Dating all the way back with Roger Clemens and Mo Vaughn to Nomar and Johnny Damon, ownership always leaks a negative story about the player. The latest victim- former manager Terry Francona. In the Globe story, it talked about martial problems and a drug problem with Tito. It talked about how Francona had been taking painkillers for his knees and it may have affected his performance as manager. Which, in my opinion, is total crap. Tito has been a guy here who has always taken the fall for the players and he still does to this day. If I were Francona, the day they fired me I would of came out and went after all the bums that didn't work out, that are drinking in the clubhouse, and that were lazy, entitled pieces of crap. Tito has always been a stand up guy and to trash him on his way out like they did to Derek Lowe, and Manny, and Pedro, and all the others is bush league. All those leaks has Larry Luchino written all over it. I've always thought he was a snake and a slime ball and I'm not the only one that feels that way. Now lets get ready to see how he shreds Theo on his way out.

If Cherington is named GM, as is expected, then he should clean house. See what you can get for Beckett, Lackey, Youk, and all the others. He should build around Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Papelbon. Those are three guys that want to win and were cited in the Globe piece as being the hardest workers on the team. Believe it or not, Theo leaving is just the tipping point for Red Sox moves this off season.

Until next time...

Various Thoughts

2011-10-11T17:10:00.003-04:00

Lets get to some of my various thoughts about whats going on in the wide world of sports.

Lets talk about the vaunted "Dream Team" of in Philadelphia. Now I was skeptical about them from the very beginning. When youe back up quarterback dubs you a Dream Team, you have no shot. Vince Young called them a Dream Team and all the hype about the signing Nnamdi Asomugha was just blown up by ESPN and Sal Paolantonio. What made anyone convince them that this was a Dream Team or even a favorite in the NFC? Because they have 3 good corners? Yeah, Mike Vick had a great year last year but he hasn't won a big game in years. He can almost never stay healthy and his offensive line is crap this year. He's a guy you'd rather have on your fantasy or Madden team that your real life team. The defense has been the worst part for them. Their defensive coordinator this year was their offensive line coach from last year and that line struggled last year. Andy Reid has been known to have moments of utter buffoonery and he's never won a big game ever. Dream Teams don't work. Just ask the 2011 Miami Heat and the 2011 Boston Red Sox. The only time a Dream Team has won anything was the 1992 gold medal.

Lets move on to the NBA. The NBA announced that they are canceling the first 2 weeks of the NBA season. David Stern must be out of his tree if he thinks that fans are going to be in a uproar like they were going to be for the NFL. Only people like me, who really love basketball and really love the Celtics or whoever their individual team is, are going to care that its gone. Most fans causally watch and then only get into it at playoff time. Yes they owners are losing money and they want a 50/50 split from the players but their the ones that hire the idiotic general managers that hand out these horrendous contracts to players that are nowhere near worth half that money. Maybe that's the reason their losing money. Most of these owners are glad that they are going to miss games because they won't be losing money. What's also awful about this is that the deal that's on the table now, is going to be the deal the players and owners will agree upon in January, after we've missed half the season. What a mess.

Last up is Jay Cutler. Now I'm not a Jay Cutler fan by any stretch. I think he's arrogant and entitled and he walks around like hes done something in this league but last night he impressed me. Hes already got one the worst offensive lines in maybe NFL history and he's going up against a young, hungry, and talented defensive line that the Lions have. Every time he dropped back he was running for his life and getting the crap kicked out of him. And he actually played well considering he couldn't set his feet at all. Big ups for Jay Cutler last night. He proved he's got some toughness in him. Too bad he didn't have that in last years NFC championship game. How about that parting shot by me.

Until next time...

The Law Firm

2011-10-10T11:45:00.003-04:00

The Patriots took care of business in Foxboro yesterday and dispatched the Jets by a score of 30-21. It was a solid, all around team win that handed the hated Jets their third straight loss and gave the Pats a measure, however small, of revenge over last years playoff loss.

The biggest story of the game was the performance of BenJarvus Green-Ellis. He finished with 136 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ive been saying since last year that Benny is a legit running back in this league. That's why I used to get up in arms when people would say the Pats need a Adrian Peterson type back. Benny is a perfect running back for this team. He doesn't try to anything more than he has too, he just does his job. He always fights for extra yards and he never fumbles. He's also a classic Patriot story. Undrafted guy that had to sit and wait but he always worked hard and now hes getting his chance and hes making the most of it. When you watch Green-Ellis play you can see the difference between him and Laurence Maroney. Benny has worked for everything hes ever gotten while Maroney has more natural talent but doesn't put the work in. Benny fits in perfect with the Patriot Way. He's versitile, I've seen him on special teams a few and make plays in the passing game, and he only cares about winning. Another classic Belichick find. Give me a guy like BenJarvus any day over a guy like Maroney.

The defense actually played OK yesterday. I know how terrible Sanchez is and how inept Brian Schottenheimer is as a offensive coordinator but they did force 7 3 and outs yesterday. Going into the game they had forced 8 3 and outs so its baby steps with this defense. Next week will be a big test with the Cowboys. Dez Bryant will a tough matchup for Devin McCourty, who has struggled this year. Of course if it is close Tony Romo will probably spontaneously combust like he always does.

Baby steps with the defense, keep pounding the ball with Benny, and Tom Brady will be Tom Brady. I like the direction the New England Patriots are heading in.

Until next time...

People who are pissing me off.

2011-10-07T16:06:00.003-04:00

You know who has been pissing me off lately? Lesbians.

Just seems they are having some private competition to see who can be the ugliest now. Men love hot women, but women love ugly women. I'm lost. Your alright though portia de rossi. keep doin your thing.

Patriots vs Jets Preview

2011-10-06T12:13:00.002-04:00

Here we go again. Its Jets week here in New England and its the most intense, most hate fueled rivarly going on in the NFL right now. Belichick vs Rex. Brady vs Rex. Welker vs Revis. Everybody ready? Lets break this puppy down.

Last time we saw the Jets, it was one of the few times that a team and coach was able to fool the tandem of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. The Jets game plan was the total opposite of what they did in the game where the Pats blew them out by 42 points. In the 42 point beatdown, the Jets blitzed Brady and Brady eats blitzes up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the playoff game, they rushed 3 or 4 and just flooded the zones and no one could get open.Similar to what the Giants did in Super Bowl 42 and the Patriots couldn't adjust. Welker was covered, Branch couldn't get open, Gronk and Hernandez were lost and Brady couldn't figure it out. Brady didn't play well and the Pats lost. How do the Jets play it this time? You know Brady has watched that playoff game multiple times and has maybe figured out some ways to beat that coverage. Do the Jets mix it up and blitz at times and play coverage other times? Do they blitz like mad men or play the zones? Do they put Darrelle Revis on Welker? I think they do. Its the ultimate chess match.

I'm expecting and hoping for a big defensive game from the Pats on Sunday. The Jets offensive line is banged up and we all know how bad Mark Sanchez is. Of course, this Pats D has a habit of making mediocre quarterbacks look like John Elway. Last year in week 1, Sanchez looked awful vs the Ravens and then in week 2 he threw 3 touchdowns vs New England. Lets hope that history doesn't repeat itself. And it wont if Albert Haynesworth awakens from his slumber and causes some havoc. If there ever was a week from him to do it, its this week against a banged up Nick Mangold. The Patriots have to get at Sanchez and rattle him and force to make mistakes, which he will.

Usually, during Jets week we hear a ton of crap and trash talking coming from the Fat Man Rex Ryan himself and his team full of mouths. But this week, they've been unusually quiet. The only one that's had anything to say is Antonio Cromartie and he was just saying again that he thinks Tom Brady is an A-hole. Yeah, the guys got 9 kids with 8 different women in 6 different states and Brady's the A-hole. Other than that fool there's been nothing. Usually by Thursday, Rex has said that Brady isn't as good as Peyton Manning and just reaffirming that for the 3rd year in a row hes predicting a Super Bowl. He hasn't said much. All hes said is that Belichick is a better coach than him (no kidding). Maybe this 2-2 start has him humbled a little bit and the fact that there coming in slumping against a team that's hot has him a little worried. The Pats have a chance to maybe bury them early and lets hope they take advantage of that.

Tom Brady had his weekly press conference yesterday and it was the most serious, most locked in I've seen him in awhile. We know he hates the Jets, he's said so himself, and he is ready to unleash hell in this game. A couple reporters tried to get him to respond to Cromartie's comments and he wasn't having any of it. A reporter tried to get him to joke about getting the fans hyped up and he shut that down real quick. "I'm not joking any more this year" was the quote. This guys ready. For those of you that say he's soft since Giselle and when he grew his hair out. The hairs gone and he had a look on his face I haven't seen since 2007. Like I said, this guys ready.

On another note, the Bruins put the final chapter to their magical 2011 Stanley Cup season when they raise the banner tonight. Rumors are flying about whats going to happen tonight and who's going to be there. There's gonna be legends there and it's going to be special. Banner nights here in Boston is a special kind of event. When you see that banner go up and you see the looks on the players faces, you remember all the great moments that happened that year as a fan. Sports in Boston is different than in other cities. Perhaps the only city that knows how we feel is New York. Tonight should be a special night for the Bruins players and their fans. And I look forward to defending that Cup now.

Until next time...

Is Redemption Possible?

2011-10-04T11:41:00.002-04:00

We've had 4 weeks of NFL football and it seems that Tony Romo has been the lead on shows like Around The Horn and Pardon The Interruption and rightfully so. Romo's been the main story in Week 1, Week 2, and Week 4. Week 1 and Week 4, he's added to his resume of epic chokes in games. Against the Jets on the opening week, on national TV, Romo fumbled on the 1 yard line and threw just a God awful interception to allow the Jets to set up a game winning field goal to complete blowing a 14 point lead 4th quarter lead. He seemed to shake that off and came back and won an overtime game vs the 49ers the next week with cracked ribs but this past week he collapsed yet again and it was almost predictable. The Cowboys led the Lions by 24 points in the second half and the Lions started their comeback after Romo threw another pick that made you scratch your head. Bobby Carpenter picked it off and ran it back for a TD. Then Romo threw another Pick 6 on the next possession. The most egregious interception was an off balance, off the back foot, into triple coverage throw to Jason Witten that I and two of my friends predicted and then laughed at how bad it was. The next day on all the NFL shows, all they talked about was Tony Romo's collapse and how bad it was. But there is a bigger story here. Can Romo overcome these debacles and redeem himself?

Many athletes in the past have been labeled as chokes and have been able to redeem themselves. The most recent and perhaps most inspiring story happened in Tony Romo's own city. In 2006, Dirk Nowitzki had such a public failure on his games greatest stage. The Mavericks lead the Heat two games to none in the NBA Finals and they blew a 13 point 4th quarter lead with Dirk at the center of the collapse. In game 4 Dirk bricked potential game winning free throws. While Dirk came up small, Dwayne Wade on the other side made every big play for the heat. It was one of the worst choke jobs by a team and player in NBA history. The next year was somehow worse. Dirk won the MVP and led the Mavs to 67 wins and the top seed in the NBA. Then in the playoffs, The Warriors ousted the Mavs and Dirk looked utterly lost. The critics were on Dirk more than ever and he widely became known as the biggest choke in the NBA. He continuously kept coming up small in big spots and was well on the way to becoming known as the best player never to win a championship.

Then the 2011 playoffs came around and Dirk took no prisoners. He led the Mavs to a dominant sweep of the two time defending champions Los Angeles Lakers, took down the up and coming Thunder and rewrote his legacy by taking down the Miami Heat than left him broken 5 years before. Dirk hit every big shot while Lebron James was the one getting criticized like Dirk once been. You could see the emotion on Dirk's face when he finally won. He ran back into the locker room to have the moment to himself and he deserved it. He was a guy that deserved a championship more than anyone in the NBA that year. He took all the shots from the experts and talking heads weather fair or unfair and kept coming back until he finally shook the choke label, won a championship and cemented his legacy as one of the greats to ever play in the NBA.

So, yes, redemption is possible. Romo just has to look down the street at Dirk. Romo has had just as many collapses as Dirk had. The botched field goal in the playoffs. The playoff ending interception vs the Giants in 2007. It'll be tough to shake those cobwebs because I think he is a little sensitive and his every little move in monitored in Big D. But he just has to stay strong, learn from his mistakes and just keep playing football. Who knows if he can overcome his habit of blowing up at the wrong time but it is possible. Redemption is always possible.

Until next time...

Pats vs Raiders Week 4

2011-10-03T11:26:00.002-04:00

The Patriots went down to Oakland and took down the Raiders 31-19. But what did we really learn? It was reinforced again that Brady to Welker is unstoppable and that our defense continues to struggle. Well get to the defense later but for now lets talk about the positive. Tom Brady knows that he can throw to Wes Welker anytime he wants and that Welker will make the play. This is Welker's 5th year and he still amazes me every game. The guy is 5'8 185 and he's the toughest player on the field. Every week he goes over the middle and takes shot after shot and he keeps getting up, getting open, and making plays. That double move back shoulder throw where he somehow got both feet in bounds was ridiculous. Shame on the Raiders for letting him free and do what he wants. Then again what do I care. Another thing about Welker is that he'll always be looked at as a slot receiver and wont get the same hype that guys like Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald get. Welker's leading the league in catches and yards by wide margins but you probably wont hear his name when the "best receiver in the league" discussion comes up.

Now on to the defense. Yesterday was pretty much the same thing we watched last year. Sit back in zones, get no pass rush, and get hopefully get a key turnover at a crucial point. The defense gave up over 500 yards to a team quarterbacked by Jason Campbell. They did do a good job on Darren McFadden, holding him to only 75 yards, but he did gash the D a few times. The defense has to get better. It cant be the same as last year. We all know how last year ended up. We need Albert Haynesworth to get healthy cause he was the center piece to the attacking 4-3 that Bill Belichick wanted to run this year. Getting to the quarterback is a necessity now. Sitting back and hoping they make a mistake doesn't cut it in the NFL these days. We can't count on Vince Wilfork to keep making interceptions week after week. Only 34 away from the franchise record, Vince Also, reports are that Mayo isn't out for the year which is good news but that he will miss the next 6 weeks. Hes one of the best linebackers in the league and our defensive leader so we have to hope Brandon Spikes and Gary Guyton step up.

To end this on a positive note it was great to see some offensive balance yesterday. Its good to see that Tom Brady doesn't have to throw for 400 yards for the Patriots to put up 30+ points and win. The running game, which has been little used up until yesterday, really came alive against a pretty good front four. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Stevan Ridley combined for 172 yards. Ridley showed great burst on his touchdown run and If Danny Woodhead is out for a extended period of time, Ridley seems to be a good fit for that change of pace back to split carries with BenJarvus.

All in all a solid road win in a tough place to play. Now on the Fat Man and the New York Jets. Let the talking begin.

Until next time...

Staying or Going?

2011-09-30T14:13:00.003-04:00

Its been two days since the train fell off the tracks for the Red Sox and stories are starting to fly. It also appears that the first domino to fall is the the choice to not have Terry Francona return to Boston for his 9th season. The report is that Tito had a meeting with the Red Sox brass and that no decision has been made on if he is going to come back. Gorden Edes reports that Francona has told some staff members that he wont be back and Edes, at times, is a credible source.

My gut says that Francona isn't coming back. Like I wrote about yesterday I think the players started to tune him out and stopped working hard. Yesterday at the press conference Francona said that he had a team meeting in Toronto after a 14-0 win. That shows the problems this team had where they had to have a meeting after a 14-0 win. You also hear reports about drinking in the clubhouse during games and little things that added to this collapse. This team really wore on Francona with how arrogant and entitled they thought they were and I don't think he can take it anymore. I think the choice is Tito's here. Frankly, I don't think he wants to comeback. He's has had a history of health problems and this job could kill you. Its been a miracle he lasted this long. 8 years is a long time. The average length for a manager with one team is 4.3 years. I think hes tired of the media, tired of the questions, and just tired of the prima donnas in that locker room. He looked dead tired at the press conference yesterday. Right when it ended he jetted out the press room so fast. By far the fastest hes ever moved.

Lets get another thing straight, Red Sox fans- he's not being fired. His contract is up and its up the front office in weather to pick up his option for a new two year deal. This is going to be a mutual parting of the ways here I think. I would love Francona to stay. Hes been a unbelievable manager here. Hes been the guy for two World Series championships. He handles the media tremendously and he handles a clubhouse tremendously. Well up until this year. I don't know who we are going to hire to replace Tito but I doubt it will be anybody better. Bobby Valentine wont. Tony Larussa wont. Maybe Joe Torre. Who knows.

After the Francona situation is done, the next decision to make is the status of Theo Epstein. Theo has one year left on his deal. They can't give extend him or promote him to president after this fiasco. That would be an awful PR move and their so PR conscience down there. I think Theo wants to stay and fix this. Theo was very accountable yesterday. He stood up and took blame which I give him credit for. Theo's John Henry's golden boy so maybe he'll stay. I think Theo is the guy to fix it here if management doesn't butt in. Your up next, Theo. Fix this thing.

Until next time....

Too Infante and Beyond

2011-09-29T18:47:00.003-04:00

In keeper league fantasy baseball, I have won. I just need to thank my final roster

C: Salvadore Perez

1b: the bottom feeder Mike Carp

2b: Eric Young Jr.

3b: Too Omar Infante...

SS: Marco Sca Sca Scutaro

of: Jacobe front and back Ellsbury

of: Dexter i sucked for 4 straight months Fowler

of: Michael dot dot dash Morse

utl: Ben the steals are coming revere

bench: Tony same name as me Campana

Brent Morel Orel

Corey Fart Hart

Alex same name as my father Gorden

Jason ride the pine till i die Heyward

Buster Posey

sp: Cliff Lee the adverb

sp: Madison Bumgarner

sp: Josh im back, im hurt, im back, im hurt, im back, im hurt Johnson

rp: David Hernandez, Marc good luck spelling Rzepczynski, Joe im still ok Nathan, Kyle control problems Farnsworth, Joel Hanrahanranhanrahan, Sean Marshall Mathers, Im an alcoholic, I have a disease and they don't know what to call it, and Joquin Benoit.

And a special thanks to everyone who i picked up along the way. Don't worry. Memory lane didn't take that long to go through.

Kelly 200ks baby Johnson, Vernon Well(s) i did ok, Nate random extra capitol letter in my name McLouth, Brett white jacobe Gardner, Carlos Ruiz, Juan in a million Uribe, Stephen Drew, Albert Pujohls hey hey hey, Adam i had 100 rbi's once LaRoche, Jose Lopez, Hisanori ching chang chong talk Takahashi, Jesse Crain, Travis gave me soft Wood, Brandon Beachy, Sean Burnett, Derek Netherlands Holland, Rafael Betancourt, Javier Vazquez, Chad Billingsley, Sean 4 position eligable Rodriguez, AJ Burnett, Yorvit Torrealba, Mark sad Trumbo, Ryan broken dreams Doumit, Sam LeCure, Justin Turner, Adam im all Dunn, Jonathan Lucroy, Al Alburquerque, Alberto Callaspo, Eli White power Side, Brandon Tighten yo Belt, Allen Craig, Josh Collmenter, Brian Tallet, Matt Thornton, Matt Reynolds, Maicer Izturis, Brennan Boesch, James Loney, Vance Worley, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Roger Berandina, Jon baseballs tallest man Rauch, Edwin Encarnacion, Daniel White McCutchen, Rubby De La Rosa, Phil blow Coke, Bobby Parnell, Michael Martinez, Sweet Willie Bloomquist, Alfredo Aceves, Glen Perkins, Clint Deer Meat Barmes, Mike Minor, Bill Bray, Ervin Santana, Cory Anal Luebke, Jed Lowrie, Aaron Crow, Rafael Soriano, JD Martinez, Bobby Abrea, Ryan Raburn, Jesse Litsch, Kyle Seager, Raul Ibanez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Wade Davis, Drew Pomeranz, Steve Cishek, and Jim Johnson

I love you all.

Who will be the sox 3rd starter in postseason?

2011-09-29T18:02:00.002-04:00

This question has been bothering losertown since the trade deadline. Lackey? Bedard? Wake? Ted Williams head? Obviously Jon Lester and Texas tough guy Josh Beckett will be dominate, but that third game against Texas has all the question marks. In my opinion we should star... wait, what's that god? The Sox didn't make the playoffs? Well that makes the Red Sox biggest summer question easier to answer.

Your Boston Red Sox failed to make the postseason again, but unlike bj, i'm placing the blame elsebury... i mean elsewhere.

Theo? What Kind of tricks was he supposed to pull? This was almost unanimously (somehow spelled that right) the best team on paper in march. At the Deadline for trades, they had a 99.8% chance of reaching the postseason. Two questions bring us back to July 31st. Who was available to get, and who did we have to trade? We are talking about a team that couldn't pull Chris Crapuano from the mets with their farm system. Yes, the same guy who's 2007 Brewers once lost 22 straight games he started in. I'm not saying its an mlb record but because this blog is a half ass commitment on my part, i'm not looking it up.

tito? Guy lost the team. I'm not saying he should be fired, I just hope he's on the wrong side of the new seth rogan movie 50/50.

That may have been harsh. You don't fire tito. But when you pull Lackey from a start next season and he stares you down, dropkick him.

Speaking of which, Lackey. BJ is claiming he had the worst ERA in baseball this season. In a dark room somewhere sits Brian Matusz who actually set the MLB record for reals for the worst ERA. 59 Earned runs in 49 2/3 innings. I know you didn't graduate from a prestigious college like Eastern Michigan BJ, but that ERA is 10.69, just beating out Roy Halladays prior record of 10.64. Bet you didn't know Doc had the previous record did you? Look it up.

Carl, good to see you... drop that ball in the 9th. Call me soft but im a sucker for guys who hit triples and steal bases. Wait. Crawford had his lowest amount of triples and steals since his rookie season? Well that's cause he was hurt all year. he did miss 20% of the season. And he has only had 1 gold glove so let's not try to compare him to griffey whose glove is actually the gold glove now.

I blame the fans. I blame Lackey's wife. I blame Neil Diamond. I blame Dustin Diamond. I blame everyone who thought this team had a chance three months. Unlike anybody in Boston, that's when I knew the season ended.

July 24th. Wakefield pitched 6 1/3 innings, 7 earned, and got win 199. Fast forward to september 13th, 9 starts later, the red sox finally get him his 200th win. That isn't real pressure and the red sox folded for 2 months. Start after start they blew leads, didn't hit, choked away games, (any of this sound familiar?). The comparison between games Wakefield started and the month of september are mirror mirror. Am i surprised the Red Sox are at home today? Yeah, but i'm not losing sleep over it because this wasn't a team. This was a bunch of scared little girls. A team full of guys waiting for someone else to step up. Hoping the ball is hit to someone else. Hoping someone else does all the work. This team had no leader. No one ever called anyone out. We burned Manny to the ground but won't say a word to Crawford or Lackey? I'd rather have my left fielder beat his wife than hit .250 while making 142 million dollars.

So there it is. There is no real scapegoat here. This team simply didn't have when it takes to win. I'll end with a bible passage. The bruins once blew a 3 games to none lead in the playoffs and came back the very next season and won everything...

goodbye

Best Team Never

2011-09-29T09:54:00.004-04:00

They say to never write anything in anger so if I wrote this last night it would be the most hate filled, venomous, sad, depressed, angry blog of all time. But don't worry there's still plenty of anger in here. So I barely slept last night and thought about the whole season and whose to blame for the collapse. So welcome to BJ Shea's morgue and lets examine the 2011 Red Sox body while its still fresh. I'll name of the biggest culprits of this disaster.

Theo Epstein- I'm a Theo apologist but its got to start at the top with this thing. There were holes to fill at the trade deadline and throughout the year that Theo didn't fill. Erik Bedard was a disaster, he couldn't even get INTO the 5th never mind get out of the 5th. Not picking up a good bat to pinch hit throughout the year was a mistake as evidenced by the fact we had to have Ryan Lavarnway hit in the top of the 9th with the bases loaded. Theo admitted this year at spring training that we don't have the pitching depth that we should and that one injury or pure ineffectiveness by anyone will doom this team. Well guess what Clay Buchholz got hurt, Dice K (remember him?) got hurt and John Lackey had the worst season of any pitcher in history. After we won in 2007 I thought we had the next baseball dynasty. We just needed to fill in a few holes here and there but Theo hasn't done that.

Terry Francona- With collapses like these there's always going to be a scape goat and in this case it will probably be Tito. I don't know what happened in that clubhouse and we will probably never will know. I don't know if the players started to tune him but hes been here for a long time. And when a manager or a coach has been around awhile players start to tune they guy out. Its not in Francona's nature to be the flip out type of guy like a Lou Piniella and his way has worked obviously but along the way he lost this teams focus. Guys running into outs that shouldn't be. Playing awful defense. They were among the league leaders in errors in September. Something happened along the way and its more on the players than Francona but the manager always is the fall guy.

The Players- The players of this team get the biggest slice of blame pie for this debacle of a season and month. This team had no heart whatsoever. Do not blame injuries like Adrian Gonzalez did last night. When things got tough they got tight and almost pretty much gave up. The 2004 and 2007, two teams with great heart and mental toughness, would be ashamed. There are guys that have heart, like Pedroia, Ellsbury, Papi, Scutaro and Papelbon, but there was bigger factor here at work where it just snowballed. There were guys walked around with a sense of privilege that they didn't deserve.

John Lackey- Probably the most hated player ever. Whoever is running the ship next year, weather its Theo or someone else, has to find a way to get rid of this guy. He cant pitch here. He's just sensitive and thin skinned for this environment. The signing was a ultimate disaster. He has an excuse for everything. The numbers speak for them self. Highest ERA in the league. Highest WHIP in the league. Whatever you have to do to dump him you have to do it. Probably gonna have to eat more than half of the contract.

Carl Crawford- I was for the signing when it happened but in the back of my mind it never felt right. It always felt like a Yankee type signing. He was the best player on the market but he never seemed like a good fit. I don't think they thought about the fit here. It was the definition of round peg in the square hole. There was nowhere in the lineup for him to hit. They tried 3rd, 2nd, 6th, 7th and he didn't fit in any of those spots. This year was just a lost year for him. I don't think hes gonna be as bad next year as he was this year. of course I said the same thing after Lackey's first year and he somehow got worse. He looked scared this year. He had a glazed look on his face all year. Guy once played in a World Series! What is he scared about? That final play last night it was almost fitting how the ball got hit to him in that fashion. He has to catch that ball if hes a so called gold glove award winner. Ken Griffey Jr probably makes that play right now.

Jonathan Papelbon- There is a group of Red Sox fans out there (and you know who you are) that doesn't like Papelbon. Pap is the last guy I blame for what happened. Its too bad that he blew up at the worst possible time. This was probably Papelbon's best year. He was one of the few guys that showed up and took blame when it was necessary. If we let Pap go we are screwed. Bard isn't a closer. I mean look at his September. He was puddle on the mound. You have to bring Pap back.

Beckett and Lester- After being good to great all year and then exploding all of the themselves in September was the most troubling. Their supposed to be our two aces and they didn't have one big win during this collapse. An ace has to be a stopper and put the team on their back and come through when the team needs them most. Pedro did it. Schilling did it. These two didn't do it.

And that's just going through some of the carnage of this team. Everyone is to blame. A wasted great year by Jacoby Ellsbury who will probably be gone after 2013. I don't know whats going to happen to David Ortiz. Hes an icon here that can still hit. Personally I would like to see him come back but who knows. Changes will be made and heads will roll. My gut says that Francona wont return and that's a shame I don't know what free agents are out there to get but that's never been a success for us to go out and get high priced free agents.

With all that being, let me try to be an objective fan here and be a fan of baseball for a second. What a great, dramatic night of baseball last night. Congrats to Rays for being a true team and having heart (unlike the Red Sox) and coming through in the biggest stage. I'm sure there's young 10 and 12 year olds in Tampa in love with Evan Longoria in the same way I was in love with Nomar Garciaparra and thinking he could do anything. Nights like last night is why we watch sports.

Until next time...

The Moneyball World

2011-09-27T11:44:00.003-04:00

The last time I blogged I gave NBA playoff predictions which turned into a debacle and I wrote about how the Bruins were collapsing in the playoffs. Well the NBA picks were awful and the Bruins went on to win the Stanley Cup so I suspended myself from blogging for awhile. Well that and I didn't have wireless internet but I'm back now and hopefully better than ever.

When "MoneyBall" was released back in 2003 it changed how baseball teams were built and how baseball players were looked at. More of an emphasis was put on raw data rather than raw talent. Stats such as OPS (on base plus slugging) and range factor ( a way to judge how good a player is defensively) became more important when evaluating a player than physical skill. Ive embraced some of these stats such as on base percentage and OPS but I think some of them are ridiculous such as UZR ( ultimate zone rating), VORP ( value over replacement player), and WAR ( wins above replacement).

Building a team strictly on sabermetrics you could turn your team into a clubhouse full of robots. Take for instance this years Red Sox team and their recent collapse. General Manager Theo Epstein is part of the sabermetric revolution and hes built his team by looking at the advanced stats and churning players out of the super computers down at Fenway. Hes built a great team but this last month has been a disaster. My theory is everyone in that clubhouse from top to bottom is relying on the percentages. Theres no one in that clubhouse to get people loose. Theres no Millar to say something stupid and get people in a relaxed mood. I think Pedroia has tried to do it but when your stuck in the same locker room as John Lackey who is sucking the life of everyone in Red Sox nation its tough to be relaxed. I personally would like to see more a blend of numbers and intangibles out of the Red Sox and how they build their team. More Pedroias less JD Drews.

Many moves Epstein has made I've agreed with. Adrian Gonzalez is a no brainer. The Nomar trade in 2004 turned out great. His commitment to the farm system speaks for itself. But Theo is at fault in some moves. Letting Orlando Cabrera go after the 2004 World Series and choosing Edgar Renteria was the definition of choosing numbers over intangibles. Orlando's OBP with the Red Sox in 2004 was .320. Renteria's in 2004 was .335. Carrer OBP is .317 OC to .343 for Edgar. No doubt Renteria has better numbers over his career than Cabrera but just by looking at the way they player in their short times with the Red Sox there's little doubt who has better intangibles. Orlando thrived the atmosphere in Boston while Renteria was a wreck. Cabrera fit in perfectly with that teams and remains a fan favorite and a personal favorite. Also I believe that the fact OC has been on teams that made the playoffs in 6 of the last 7 seasons adds to the intangible factor. Guys a winner.

The summary of this post is that you cant strictly build your team out of a computer. Numbers are important but I think the personality and intangible factor is just as a important. Recent championship teams have had a good mix of sabermetrics and old school way. Reliance on the computers doesn't get you any where as evidence by the 2002 and 2003 Oakland A's.

Until next time....

Belmont Stakes 2011

2011-06-09T18:26:00.003-04:00

Im only doing this because facebook apparently has a character limit like twitter.

For the kentucky derby i posted the following. "love soldat out of the 17 gate tonight. if the track stays wet though derby kitten in the 9 gate at 29/1 will be your sleeper. happy kentucky derby"

Well it turned out Soldat didn't get the jump i was hoping for an with 19 other ponies running, he never recovered. It also never rained like i was hoping so derby kitty and his over sized body couldn't take advantage. They finished 12th and 14th respectively.

Then came the preakness... "for the preakness. i love shackleford out of the 5 gate. (13/1) Box up an exacta with midnight interlude out of the 7 (15/1) and you will be happy. enjoy the rapture"

Despite us not dying, i did the opposite and lived. and won a shitload of money. Would have been so much more if this race was half the distance. Midnight interlude is still a great horse, just built like a broad on her period. Something happened and this horse just quit. Maybe it was the dirt who knows. Anyways, here comes the Belmont predictions. The race is this saturday and i believe its race 11. confirm before you wager.

i love nehro out of the 6 at 4 to 1. kid is born to run long distances and sat out the preakness for extra rest. i also love animal kingdom out of the 9 and thats saying alot since i NEVER take favorites. with only 12 horses animal kingdom can adapt to any pace set by another horse since he refuses to jump out early. coming out on the side will also allow him to slowly work his way to the rail leaving the others behind. Take the 6/9 and box up your exacta. it will pay 10/1 or so. if your feeling froggy, i like brilliant speed at 15/1 out of the 5 gate. shows late speed and with this small field, won't get trapped. Even if this horse does get trapped this is the longest race in the triple crown so there is plenty of time to recover. Your trifecta should read 6-9-5 and pay about 40/1... enjoy everyone.

remember... you lose 100% of the bets you don't make

NBA Playoff Preview

2011-04-16T20:53:00.002-04:00

Quick blog during the Bruins latest playoff collapse.
East
Bulls/pacers- Derrick Rose easily dominates this series and cements his place as top 5 player in the league. Bulls sweep.

Heat/76ers- The 6ers want to play uptempo. The Heat can only play uptempo. Lebron and Wade go off for 30 each a game. Elton Brand could dominate Chris Bosh downl low. Tougher than people think. Heat in 6.

Celtics/Knicks- The franchise with the greatest history of all time vs the franchise that ESPN wants you to think is the greatest of all time. The knicks are coming in and the Celtics come in cold. But last I checked defense wins in the playoffs. KG, Pierce, Ray, and Rondo turn it on. Shaq wears nice suits the whole series. Celts in 5.

Magic/Hawks- Depends if the Hawks play like men and have some pride from last years beatdown at the hands of the Magic. One of the Collins twins is expected to play big minutes for the Hawks. Never a good thing. Magic in 6.

Bulls/Magic- Tom Thibadeou knows how to defend Dwight and he's got the bodies to do it. Nelson and Gilbert can guard me or you. Rose countinues playoff dominance. Bulls in 6.

Celts/Heat- The ultimate battle of good vs evil depending on how you see it. I think chris Bosh is legit scared of KG at times. Shaq stops the fun events he does and grabs rebounds and takes up space. Lebron has never beaten the Celtics in the playoffs. Celts in 6.

Celts/Bulls- Toughest series of the new Big 3 era I think. NBA playoff history shows that Bulls aren't ready to win the championship and you have to lose before you
can win. The Big 3 won't let maybe their last chance at the Finals slip by. Jeff Green comes up big, mark it down. Celts in 6.

West preview coming after the Bruins....

nba 2011 predictions/truths

2011-04-14T22:21:00.002-04:00

East.

Chicago/Indiana: Is there any reason to break this down? Scalabrine could play 35 minutes a game and Chicago still wins easy in four. More interesting sub plot? Tyler Hansborough getting all vertigoed like lucil from arrested development. thanks white people.

Miami/Phili: I don't hate Phili here. Maybe because I started three of their players all year on my championship fantasy basketball team. (Young, Brand, and williams) I love the direction this team is heading. This team attacks the rim and had three players who grabbed 100+ offensive boards. Unfortunatly Lebron always plays well in round ones. Miami takes in six games, but if it stretches to seven, anything is possible.

Boston/NYK: Is this 2010? A team goes on coast mode till the playoffs, then turns into a dominate force during april/may? This year poses similar scenarios for boston. A round one matchup with a team that knows they will be 100 times better next season. A second round match up with a power house that has zero team chemistry and is one delonte west sex scandel away from falling apart. A round three match up with... i'll get there. The knicks do have three D leaguers looking to be a twelfth man next season so they have that going for them. oh, and they are going to get big minutes. Carmello will go off, and the celtics will have some issues to work out but will sneak by in six games.

Orlando/Atlanta: Bad match-up for the Hawks. That being said, the remaining 15 playoff teams are bad match ups for the hawks. The San Jose Sharks of the NBA. Always good enough to make the playoffs, win a few big games, pick on the little guy, but when you get into a series, you are done. Next time don't offer big Joe more money than what lebron and wade got. 5th place for the next decade. Orlando wins by 10 in 4 straight.

West.

San Antonio/Memphis: 97-96. 2.1 seconds left. Spurs up one. Grizz ball inside... Tony Allen gets the inbound. Spurs in five.

LAL/Nalins: I feel ya kobe. Saying Fagit and getting fined 100,000 isn't fair. If the man isn't going to charge players for dropping n bombs and c patients all day then i'm on your side. Even with David West the lakers take in four games. Don't worry hornets. Seattle wants a team again.

Portland/Dallas: Another above average Dallas team. Another banged up Portland team. Nobody wants to play portland is their rally cry. However nobody explains why. Heroin capital of the world goes down in six.

OK/Denver: By far the only matchup i am looking forward to in the west. The thunder have an identity that doesn't involve durrant shooting 13/37 like he's the black fredette. They are tough and will punch you back. It is the perfect recipe for a team like denver that has zero identity and has no motivation other than to stick it to carmelo. Hey denver, no one is mad at him. Don't worry though. You still got Tebow.

East Round 2:

Chicago/Orlando. Upset special. There are two facts in this match up. Chicago is a defensive minded tough physical team, and Orlando is a bunch of 3 point shooting wimps. Well... Chicago feeds off teams trying to get inside, control the paint, and act tough. They get in your head and force opponents to make bad decisions. Orlando just moves the ball and shoots unless howard gets open. If they miss, they shoot again. They Don't pretend to be tough ever. They are like the knicks but can spell defense. Dwight will be mostly ineffective on the stat sheet but his presense will demand a double from good, but undersized big men in noah and boozer leaving the arc wide open. Orlando will go out on some early runs and put this series away in six games.

Miami/Boston. The popular pick is Miami in 5. the number 5 represents how many practices the celtics have had since trading perkins. the number 5 also represents the number of practices the celtics have had in the past week. This series will come down to the paint. Lesidekick and Wade will do their thing getting 70% of the teams points but when we factor in Rondo vs bibby and centers vs centers the Celtics will have no excuse to lose. Miami gets hot, Boston bounces back, and we all enjoy game 7 in south beach...

San Antonio/OKC. The ultimate team you wanted two years ago vs the ultimate team you want in two years. Don't put stock in the regular season. That being said, you take expierence all day. The spurs are like that attractive single mother who passed her prime. She won't keep you up at night but when you are in bed with her, your never gonna forget it. The Thunder are like that 21 year old blonde who has daddy problems, but is cute enough to get whatever she wants. She is going to do some weird things you never thought possible and make you the happiest person in the world, but will end up cheating on you and leave you out of the playoffs in six games.

LAL/Dallas: Another fantastic match up. Dallas is once again screaming, were not afraid. May be true, but doesn't translate into wins. Kobe warms up here going toe to toe with dirk a dirk. Starts heating up for the finals. The lakers depth takes them to the semi's.

Round 3 East:

Boston/Orlando. In a near 20/1 scenario, the 3 v 4 seed will happen. Either team has an even chance to win here. If the celtics make threes to combat orlando they will prevail, but if they continue to shoot less than 20% from downtown orlando will face the lakers. Either way, this goes seven as well.

Round 3 West:

LAL/Spurs. Sorry spurs. I'm getting tired. you lost by 30 at home last month to LAL. Not much to like about you here. Don't put stock in the regular season! LAL cruises in 4 games.

Finals:

LAL/Boston: You know it, I know it, more importantly, the American people know it, and they want it. LAL Miami would be a great series too but now your asking people that hate the lakers to cheer for them. Boston divides america in half. I like the cardiac heart attack potential kids (Boston) in seven, once again. If not, we always have the red sox!

ps: Sorry about spelling, puncuation, etc. I don't give a fuck. Plus the only way anyone ever reads this is if i get everything right. Can't stop, wont stop...

Exam # 2

2011-04-10T11:39:00.002-04:00

The Celtics failed their first big test heading into the playoffs of the Jeff Green era. They were absloutly spanked by the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Bulls. The Celtics looked soft and not confident. They have lacked an identity since the trade of Kendrick Perkins. They are no longer the tough beast of a team that I have come to love watching. When we have won we've looked good but when we've lost we've looked really bad like the other night vs the Bulls. Yeah we beat the Spurs pretty good but I wouldn't consider the Spurs the best team in the West, the Lakers are. Today's game vs the Heat is big. Our big advantage vs was our size down low in the paint and with Perk gone and Shaq out till who knows when we might have to beat them a different way. Since the trade teams play with a new found confidence vs the Celtics. It's up to the Big 4 to take that confidence away.

2011-04-07T16:47:00.002-04:00

Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong for the Boston Red Sox in the first six games. Losing today on a squeeze play and then over running a base after the ball goes off the pitcher. But lets face it the Red Sox aren't going to be in last place. Pedroia, Youk, and Crawford aren't going to hit this bad. Only the pink hats are in a state of total panic. The Sox are just playing really dumb baseball right now. The pitchers didn't come out of spring training in shape. Clay wasn't ready and neither was Dice K. Lester pitched well today and hell be like that all year I'm willing to bet. Everything will be ok but I don't think they will be the "Best Team Ever" according to the Boston Herald.

I'm Back

2011-04-05T16:35:00.002-04:00

I think it's time to start my sports blog again. Dusting off my typing fingers and getting my genius brain back out onto the world. Get ready.

Trading

2010-12-02T22:31:00.002-05:00

Trading in sports. Is it crazy to think that different leagues can start trading together to help cities? Here me out here for the one person who accidentally googles this blog and then proceeds to read it for some reason. Our economy has completely fell apart here. Would it be that insane if say the Red Sox traded Buchholz and prospects for Adrian Gonzalez, and San Diego also threw in a Chargers conditional pick or some shit? You get your entire city interested during offseasons, build loyalty, maintain a fan base, and eliminate shitty management. If we could do this maybe the lions don't go 0-16 and the pistons don't spend 100 million on two bench players? Maybe Go dumars trades Chauncey Billups and the lions give up picks for Iverson and Culter? Both cities and all four teams benefit. Just saying. This kind of trading would also make the rivalries between in city teams more competitive. Maybe the Clippers take over LA, or the Mets win more than two games in September.

Boise

2010-12-02T22:13:00.004-05:00

For everyone who thinks the kicker for Boise State should kill himself, think about this. Your a national title contender in one of the worst conferences in college football. It doesn't matter what your excuse is, every conference game should be a double digit win. No one is putting Nevada in the title contention. Team lost to a Colt Brennanless Hawaii. While both kicks should have been made, it never should have came down to that. Go independent, join the Pac10, Big 12, something, but playing this card in the BCS is unacceptable. Either that, or get that playoff system we all want.

Also, for the fans who support Kyle Brotzman, man up. The only chance this guy has of becoming a normal person again is if he drops out of Boise and moves to Nevada. Everywhere else, he will always be a joke. Boise should pretend he never existed.

6/4 bets

2010-06-04T18:42:00.002-04:00

yesturday 2-1-1

today is a slow day. no time to explain

Mets 1-5 (+185) over Florida
LAD 1-5 (+130) over ATL
MIL STL over 8... Randy wolf sucks!
Utah blaze +17 over cleveland... (areana football) just, trust me

6/3 bets of the day...

2010-06-03T12:39:00.002-04:00

Balitmore NYY over 9... Kevin Millwood vs CC. Millwood will always be thinking how awesome his life would be if he was still in texas. he has nothing to play for. the yankees will light him up. CC on the other hand will take chances since he'll have a bunch of runs to work with and it will cost his overweight ass. Baltimore 4 NYY 11

Seattle -1.5 (+155) over Minn... Due to a death in the family Michael Cuddier will not be playing. This leaves gaps in the middle of the order that minnesota hasn't had to deal with all season. Not to mention king Felix is on the mound. Although Carl Pavano is pitching well, really for the past year now since he ended up in Minnesota, he is still Carl Pavano. Seattle 5 Minnesota 1

ITALY MEXICO FRIENDLY... DRAW +220. The only realistic way to bet two even teams in futbal is to take that draw. After all if anyone scores in soccer its a fucking miracle to begin with. World cup next weekend baby... NIL NIL

Germany -450 over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This bet should simply be parlayed with anything your trying to play today to make some extra coin. I didn't even realize Bosnia was still a country and i'm still not sure what a Herzegovina is. Sounds like something i'd still my dick in. Mark it down, Germany 4, b&h 0

Them are the bets of the day.

Fire Jim Joyce

2010-06-02T21:46:00.002-04:00

One of the most over used terms in sports is, "That was the worst call i've ever seen". Well ladies and gentlemen, it was witnessed tonight. Armando Galarraga ended up hearing nothing but boo's instead of cheers as he walked off the field at Comerica pitching a one hitter, instead of a PERFECT GAME. Seriously, nice fucking ego Joyce. He could have been safe by 10 steps, you still call him out in that situation. Say what you want about NBA refing scandels but Joe West and Jim Joyce may be the worst officials in any sport. Check them for roids.

NBA Finals 2010

2010-06-02T20:20:00.002-04:00

From the brilliant desk of Bill Plaschke, journalist (If you can call him that) from the LA Times wrote the following four reasons why the Lakers will raise banner 16 and the beat the Celtics in the finals this year.

Reason a) Homecourt... So it turns out the Lakers are 28-3 in their last 31 playoff games at home. These are numbers that can not be argued. I would like to say competition isn't fair or they got lucky but it wouldn't be accurate. What I can say is that Boston could be playing in Iraq and bring the same intensity and teamwork needed to win. If we go back to 2008 in LA for the finals, we gave up game 3, made one of the greatest comebacks ever in game 4, and almost pulled off the same shit again in game 5. Long story short, if we don't spot LA 30 in the first 12 minutes, we shouldn't have a problem here. Also, as much as I don't agree with the 2-3-2 format, it helps Boston in this series. For the past two series against Orlando and Cleveland we went back to Boston for a must win game 6. Not game 7, but 6. I feel that if it even gets to that point, Boston won't have to play with that pressure...

Reason b) Kobe's memory... How about my memory... Kobe raped a chick once. Probably even more times but his bottomless checking account took care of it. Anyways, what does his memory have to do with anything? Pierce, KG, and Allen never had tough losses in their careers? What we did to Kobe in 2008 is what he did to that chick in Colorado in 2003. You don't recover from that no matter what. That being said, what is in his memory? The teams are the same except LA got slower and Rondo grew up. Does this mean Kobe will be clutch now? When LA is in a true last possesion in a game that is either tied or down by one or two, he is shooting less than .25%. Even Vince Carter has a better percentage! Remember all you want Kobe, whatever that means.

Reason c) Artest... In game 5 of the conference finals Artest went from goat to hero. Does that mean we have to forget about his entire mediocure season, and first 14 playoff games? The rumor is Artest is an NBA lockdown defender yet in ten years we will only remember him for pantsing Pierce in 2004. Oh, and now they get to play again, except the only difference is that Pierce got a ring and Artest attacked a fan. Anyways, this brings me to matchups i guess. So Artest on Pierce is a good one. Both may struggle on the offensive end, but Pierce won't be afraid to shoot when it counts and is unguardable for an entire game. Slight edge Boston. At the point Rondo will have a field day on Fisher's corpse, and With Gasol playing all over the place Rondo will have so many uncontested lay-ups it's making me hard. Kobe has the edge on both ends of the floor with Allen, but once Phil Jackson sees how Fisher is a nobody you got to expect the switch putting Kobe on Rondo. This leaves the biggest mismatch of the postseason... Either Fisher, Sasha, or Farmar, will have to guard Allen. (15/1 for Ray Allen to be finals MVP). Down low we got Gasol and KG. Both players very similar in many aspects but other than some dirty fouls, Gasol has never proven to be physical. Then a good mix of Bynum and Odem on Perkins will cancel each other out. When you talk about the bench, neither teams plays 12 deep for obvious reasons, but when we take the ones who will play, Wallace, baby, TA, maybe Nate vs Sasha, Brown, Farmar, and Walton, how do we not give the advantage to Boston? Much like Lebron had to do, expect Kobe to play 40+ minutes a game and be a non factor every 4th quarter.

Reason 4) Bynums "pressence"... wait? The fourth and final reason why LA will beat boston is because of some 7 footer who just had 2 ounces of fluid drained from his ligamentless knees? Bynum is like a younger looking Oden when it comes to health. Granted, that cat can ball when he needs too but his injury plagued career offers such a small sample size.

So those are Bill Plaschkes 4 reasons why LA will win. The worst journalist in sports has struck again. in 2008 he claimed Boston would loose in 4 games, but would probably pull one out on a Laker off night. This time around he hasn't been as bold for obvious reasons, mostly being that LA is completely outmatched.

WE BEAT LA

2010-02-19T01:55:00.002-05:00

however LA didn't have Kobe. Good note? We dominated from start to finish.

what to learn?... Andrew Bynum can ball. He is an adult now. Pau Gasol sucks, always sucked, and will always be a llama. Artest is alergic to the paint. Fisher has been washed up since 06. Ladies and gentlemen your 09-10 lakers. Kobe isn't a factor against teams that play defense.

Was this the biggest win of the year? No. hell no. Kobe didn't play. Biggest win of the year was Orlando on x-mas undermanned. The lakers can be rattled to easily. If only the nuggets knew that.

then again who want's to play anthony? Same name as me? yeah its weird. Celtics need help. Hopefully that midget nate robinson helps.

Bowl Season

2009-12-08T18:53:00.002-05:00

It is that wonderful time of year again. The wife wants much more for christmas than i can afford, the salvation army makes sure you can't enter stores without giving a donation, and the BCS screwed up again, forcing millions to say, "why in the hell isn't their a playoff".

You can't argue that Alabama and Texas shouldn't be in the championship. Everyone and their mother knew around September it would probably be these two teams, or maybe Florida, but God came through and ruined Tebow's career. The problem now is teams like Boise St, TCU, and Cin City, all with perfect records wondering, what more could we have done? Simple answer, become independant and schedule whoever you want, or keep being satisfied playing for nothing every single season while being undefeated.

If it isn't bad enough these three teams don't have a chance to win the title, the BCS ruined the chance of any of them playing a somewhat meaningful game. Cin city drew a Florida team which might pull a Notre Dame and just say no. There's no crying in football Tebow, ok. You still had a game left. You can't pull a NBA champion Adam Morrison at Gonzaga and just break down like that. If i played on the O-line i'd give Tebow something to cry about.

Were TCU. We ran the table and had a few big wins. Ya, well we're Boise and we beat Oregon. Ya, well we're the BCS, just play each other because you probably wouldn't travel well. How are these teams supposed to prove themselves when they end up playing each other to finish the season for the 2nd straight year?

Last problem about the BCS. This PAC-10 vs BIG 10 Rose bowl shit has to go. The big 10 continues to be the single worst conference in college football. They loose to MAC teams, the teams that are supposed to be good always loose terrible games, and the most popular coach hasn't been alive since Buddy Holly's plane went down. Then the pac 10 comes out. The division should be changed to the USC+9. Ya, they had a down year but do you really think Pete Carroll won't figure things out and recruit the hell out of California?

Bowl games offer no reason to watch. If there is a reason, chances are the viewers won't watch because the teams usually don't deserve to be there. A playoff levels the playing field. We will never hear about a team getting screwed because there are never more than four or five teams that deserve a chance. Anthing after that is gravy.

Laker Nation, and some clippers talk too!

2009-06-16T01:49:00.004-04:00

We are now 24 hours removed from the NBA finals were all our questions about the season have been answered, except for stuart scott's, "the lakers are 15/15 in NBA championship series" comment.

Were the Lakers the best team in the NBA this season?

- As painful as it is to admit this, yes they were. By simply running away with the western conference and posting a 4-0 record against Cleveland and Boston during the regular season, its hard to argue that they were not the best. However other teams have hope in the future because according to espn beating the lakers is as easy as giving candy to an Odem. You may never see a more rediculous excuse for poor play in any sport than what we witnessed with Lamar Odem and his candy eating problems. When he is on however, and Fisher isn't pretending to be a seasoned vet from the 80's, and Llama, (Pau Gasol) is pretending to be aggresive, and Kobe doin work, is doin work they are as close to unbeatable as a team is going to get.

Will Hedo stay in Orlando?

- Odds are he will, but it is confusing that a star on a team in the finals opted out of his contract in game three. In all seriousness though he opted out a mere eight or so hours after the game five loss, which raises more questions than answers. Hedo is in a dilemma here. He can stay in Orlando and make around seven million next season, then enter the 2010 free agent pool, along with every other top 20 player in the league, or he can stay a free agent now and get a better deal with another team. The flaw in the latter is that no team is going to offer a contract that Hedo wants because almost every team is saving money for after next season. If Hedo goes back to Orlando and then enters the 2010 pool he is guarenteeing becoming a teams, "next best thing" pick-up which would hurt the soft 6"10s feelings. Long story short, i think he stay's.

With a tenth title, does this make Phil Jackson the best coach in NBA history?

- Numbers make it tough to argue but I will say no. Ten titles had been an impossible milestone but they way he won them has to take a little of the glory away from him. He took Jordan to six titles, kobe and shaq to three and kobe alone to one. The 08-09 was by far the most impressive and makes Phil deserve as much credit as he gets but there is still no way you can put him ahead of Red Auerbach. Red built dynasty after dynasty with the same team over an extended period of time either coaching or working in the front office. He also revolutionized the game we have today by drafting the first african american and having the first starting five all of african decent. Phil revolutionized the triangle offense, something 95% of sports fans probably can't describe. Phil also took huge advantage by having Jordan during the NBA's worst years, the 90's. With the exception of Karl Malone, regular season hero, playoff choke, there was very little competition for the better half of the decade. To make a better metaphor, if football was as bad as the NBA was in 1998 Ryan Leaf would not only not currently be fleeing from the law but looking at four or five superbowl rings. One stat that many people fail to remember however about Phil Jackson is that as a coach, he's never missed the postseason! Give me one more ring Phil and you'll have my support hands down as the best coach in NBA history.

Is stan Van Gundy a choke?

- After this postseason Shaq has been proved wrong by calling Gundy a choke. Orlando simply ran out of gas, while constantly shooting themselves in the foot, and while watching other teams hit buzzershot after buzzershot on them. He has nothing to be ashamed of; except that haircut he got for the finals.

Will Blake Griffen lead the Clippers to the postseason?

- No. Sorry thats it. Go to wikipedia and look at the Clippers history. Not much to be proud of since they played in Buffalo. Yes they played in Buffalo, then San Diego. Actually they have nothing to be proud of. Maybe they should play a few home games in Toronto.

Tell me about Farvs shoulder!

- I have lost so much respect for this former icon that i will continue to spell his name Phenetically instead of how it's supposed to be spelled. However a return to the NFL's Vikings should lead to a late season Lions win.

Bet of the day:

Royals (-140) over the Diamondbacks...

The King

2009-06-01T07:13:00.002-04:00

Orlando 107, Cleveland 106
Cleveland 96, Orlando 95
Orlando 99, Cleveland 89
Orlando 116, Cleveland 114 (OT)
Cleveland 112, Orlando 102
Orlando 103, Cleveland 90

the King. ( not the horse from entourage )

With the elimination of the Cleveland Cavs from the postseason sinking in, more and more questions continue to be raised. Mostly, "How?" The simple answer is that Orlando was better but that topic is boring. Here are the questions I am interested in.

1. Is Mike Brown the single worst coach of the year in sports history?
- For the NBA it is tough to argue this fact. Sam Mitchell won three seasons ago with Toronto with only 47 wins and a first round loss to the nets but i guess the argument is that he took a bad team, and came out on top in a bad atlantic division. With that exception every other coach has a good resume. The NFL certaintly picks deserving coaches of the year, every year. Baseball has a great history of picking the most deserving managers with the least emphasis on record. Joe Girardi, depsite how confused he looks in New York now, won the award in in 2006 with Florida with 78 wins, and a fourth place finish in the NL east. But what he did that year with a payroll similar to that of a McDonald's staff was unbelievable. Mike Brown won 66 games this past season, the best in the NBA, followed by two sweeps in the first two rounds of the playoffs. He was a great actor pretending he knew what he was doing this entire time, but then came Orlando. In game one we pretended that no one came to play except Lebron. In game two Stan Van Gundy literally gave away the game by not having Rashard lewis 6'10 in the face of Mo Williams 6'1 while leaving Lebron to come off a simple screen in single coverage to hit an open shot. Once again, Mike Brown blew a big lead, but still, no one noticed. Once Orlando got home, they played very well and took some close games, and went up 3-1 in the series. Still, Mike Brown is off the hook. Game five however, despite winning will be the demise of this coach of the year forever. In a close game at the start of the fourth quarter Mike Brown said to his guys, "Listen, i have this idea. We're gonna go one on five for the next twelve minutes." Of course Mo, big scary white guy, my hair is my ego Varejao, and old herpie face had no problem with this plan, since none of them want to shoot under pressure. Somehow Lebron won the game by himself, with Mike Brown standing in awe. So how does Cleveland and Mike Brown feed off the momentum? By giving up in game six. Lebron couldn't even score 40! The 2008-2009 Cavs may have had the most talent any team Lebron will ever have, but the lack of a coach cost him a championship.

2. Is Stan Van Gundy actually a good coach?
- We will find out alot more in the finals, but this is slowly becomming a fact. The Magic are a good team, but they don't have what past championship teams do have. It seems like the magic just launch threes all game, and this is actually a true statement, but even though it's fourty of so threes, they all have something in common. They are open threes! Game time adjustments are one thing but coaching is a 24-7 job that Stan is on top of. When cleveland was down two with a second left, the whole world knew who was getting the ball. Same scenerio for Orlando in game four, and I guarentee that only Stan and five Magic players knew what was going to happen. Van Gundy may make a mistake here and there but the big picture is that they are going to the finals. Final answer, Van Gundy has proved himself.

3. Does Lebron deserve this heat for not shaking anyones hand after game?
- Well the first thought clearly is yes, but then after you think about it, you have to still say yes. I understand that he is a "competetor" and "passionate" but this is two years in a row now. When you loose you congradulate your opponent. No one enjoys doing it, except Delonte West, but that's mostly because he likes taking his shirt off on TV. The critizism may be a bit blown out of proportion but he certaintly deserves most of the heat.

4. With this being the most dissapointing loss of Lebrons career, does it guarentee an exit from Cleveland after next season?
- Obviously next years outcome is important but I think this is it. Loosing is bad enough, but now that teams know how to beat him, Cleveland isn't going win. The magic didn't just take Lebrons best chance for a ring, but now, possibly his only. You let Lebron do his thing, you just shut down everyone else. This new defense that Van Gundy established perfectly means Lebron needs more help. However this talent isn't out their because every other star needs the ball in the fourth quarter. Lebron being as immature as he is probably won't understand that Cleveland is the best fit for him. That Organization will do everything to make a winner but Lebron doesn't care. He actually thinks leaving will make things better. Cleveland has a great sports history with greater dissapointments, so loosing this year wasn't the end of the world for the city. Once Lebron tries to pull these loosing stunts in New York, he will be eaten alive by the media. Short answer, he's gone, the question is where?

5. How long are Lebron appoligists going to defend him?
- For ever. Lebron isnt just a legend to some people, hes a way of life. You have to defend your team as a fan, but you can only go so far. Pierce shouldn't have sat on a wheel chair in the finals. I said it. Your turn Cleveland.

6. Will Quentin Richardson change his number 23 for Lebron when he goes to New York? If not, what will Lebron wear?
- My last question is clearly the most interesting. This clash can easily go either way. Will Lebron fight Q? Di antoni will probably make Q sit out the entire year and then buy out his contract if he doesn't give up his number. I can actually see the Knicks cutting Q just because of this situation. However if Lebron does grow up in the next year and change his number, what would it be? does he try to one up Jordan and do 24, does he predict his future rings with the number 0, or does he just quit and play football for some reason?

The NFL draft...

2009-04-25T11:42:00.002-04:00

Top 1o reasons to not watch the NFL draft later on this afternoon...

10. The Lions already signed someone they don't need and haven't drafted.
9. Maurice Clarett is still in prison.
8. Marc Sanchez was terrible two years ago, and now he's a top ten pick.
7. It's held in New York.
6. Mel Kiper Jr has had his, "best left" list on espn.com for two months now.
5. Utah was robbed a national championship bid.
4. The united football league might start this year.
3. Tennessee hasn't signed anyone who can catch a football since Carl Pickens.
2. The Calgary Stampeders will dominate the CFL again.
1. The Arizona Cardnials made the superbowl.

Anyway's have fun.

No Fun League

2008-10-23T23:42:00.002-04:00

Despite Tampa Bay fixing game five for Las Vegas bookies, along with game six they held on to advance making my logic behind the Redsox loosing make more sense than if they had lost. More importantly though we have to have a discussion about the no fun league.

Countless numbers of coaches and players in the NFL have been fined over the past three seasons but over the past few months the fines have been comming out of no where. Apparently after scoring a touchdown a player is supposed to walk back to the sideline instead of celebrating. We can all blame Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson for ruining it for everybody but no it's not just touchdowns. It's hits, comments, looks, everything. Roger Goodell aka The commish, seems to be fining anyone who smiles or hits at more than a half pace speed. The money being fined is usually around $10,000 or so and the money supposidly all goes to charity. The NFL is lucky their isn't other semi-elite football leagues like the NBA is dealing with because I guarentee the entire league would leave, and the only people left would be Matt Cassell and the Detroit Lions. My proposal is stop fining everybody for everything. When players can just play the game instead of wondering if they can do this or that, I guarentee that fineable plays would drop. Goodell is ruining what was once a great league, maybe even a sport that was becomming America's new pasttime. Fortunatly for the NFL the MLB had that whole steroid thing, but if the "pansy" NFL league continues it's shenanagans, it's not only going to loose respect, but fans. And incase Goodell didn't take economics in college, Fans = money...

I'm Back

2008-10-16T22:06:00.002-04:00

There has been a delay of writing all summer, and for my one or two fans at most, I appoligize. I feel I should at least begin by bragging. I predicted the MLB playoffs last March and only got 50% of the teams right. However, I did predict three teams exact record. Not an easy thing to do over the course of 162 game season. Let the record show that on March 29th B Shea only predicted two playoff teams right. I also had the Phillies in the World Series. Not bad at all.

Today however marks the final two teams left in the hunt for october. Tampa Bay is up 5-0 in the 7th as of right now and will beat the Boston Redsox. Tonight, I want to explain why the Redsox will not be making the world series.

A) Jason Varitek: Currently 0-11 in the ALCS against Tampa Bay. Slighty worse than his piss poor regular season. But, the one thing that has kept him in the line-up and not on the DL is his ability to handle the pitching staff. So far this ALCS he's let up 0,9,9, and 13 runs. Currently Tampa Bay has 7 runs. Clearly, V-tek has lost it. Thank god his contract is up after tonight. Have fun signing with someone like Washington Jason.

B) Not taking pitches: For some reason Boston has been good at taking the first pitch, but after that it's nothing but swinging like batting practice. I have never seen so many 1-1 or 1-2 count, pop fly outs. This is because the Redsox batters have been nervous for the first time in years.

C) Ortiz: I'm saying it on October 16th. Big papi is done. Not as a Red sock, but as a feared MLB hitter.

D) The Boston Media: Thanks for blowing the Manny thing out of control. Who needs that production, especially at a time when no one can hit the ball. Manny is the one hitter in baseball who cannot be rattled. Even though he has faired well, no one is scared of Jason Bay. Manny just adds that postseason presense and talent that everyone in the locker room can feed off of.

E) Theo Epstein: Why is Timlin on the post season roster? Oh, yeah, and why is it that when a few Boston Media personal like the co-hosts of the Vagina Monologues, Dennis and Callahan rip Manny, you trade him? At least Schilling might come back next year. Theo gets a D for this season, and only because he made the playoffs.

F) Tampa Bay: I'm going to give them credit. Despite the fact that Boston has more fan weather Tampa Bay fans than any other city in the world ( even Tampa Bay ) they have played unbelieveably. Pitching has been amazin, except for game two. The hitters are playing like they have all won rings in the past. And Joe Madden is managing like a legend, something Francona has forgotton how to do. Good luck against Phili Tampa.

Calling out the Wiz

2008-07-07T18:40:00.003-04:00

First off, if you ask me who my favorite basketball team is I would say the Boston Celtics. Thus making them my team. They are also other people's team as well but my team.

Now to my real problem with you. For you to say that we would have been fine with Tony Allen instead of James Posey is ludurcious. Are you out of your mind? That is one of the stupidest comments I have ever heard of in my life. Who is the better shooter? Posey. The better defender? Posey. More versatile? Posey. More clutch? Posey. Don't get me wrong, I like Tony Allen. He is a good defender who can slash to the hole. But the Celtics have Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett to go the hole and draw fouls. What the Celtics needed this season was someone who could stretch the floor and knock down shots. Posey helped fill that hole. Posey's real value was in his leadership and experience. Posey had those pre game hugs where the starters said that he had a different thing to say every time. Posey is an ultimate glue guy. Keeps everyone together. Now I'm not saying he is the true team leader, KG and Pierce are, but he was certainly a key.

Posey is also a experienced winner. Before Sam Cassell arrived for the last 2 months, Posey was the only guy with a championship. He had what the Big Three was striving for. Its no accident that this guy has been a big contributor on 2 championship teams. In that Heat/Mavs finals, he was the guy that had to guard Dirk and did a great job. In The Comeback Game in this past finals, he had 18 and buried 2 huge threes in the 4th including one to cut the Laker lead to 2 after being down five. Plus he is so versatile where he can guard a 2, a 3, and some 4s. And when the Celtics went small he was drawing power forwards away from the hoop to open up lanes for Rondo, Pierce and KG. The guy is probably one of the more coveted free agents this year because he is a winner and has a ton of intangibles you need on a championship club.

The Celtics needed this guy if they were to win this year. He helped share his experience to the Big Three. Even they will tell you that. Even Danny Anige will tell you that. In fact Anige said he provided a type of craziness that was good for the team. Jeff Van Gundy was drooling about the guy during the finals saying that he would to coach a James Posey. For this year it was important to have him because he is clutch and had a ring. Next year I would love to have him back but at the right price. Now that the Big Three and the rest of the team has championship experience they know what their in for. But if he doesn't come back, his presence will be missed come playoff time. Believe that.

And in my eyes Wizard, you my boy but you lost a lot of credibility in my book.

Sports and Tampa.

2008-07-04T08:37:00.003-04:00

What do you mean "your" celtics? The Celtics belong to everybody sir. I'm going to call you out on some lies to being this blog. At no point can anyone love alien face Sam Cassell. At no point is stealing the ball from Sebastian Telfair impressive. And how many games has scallups won this year? Tell me how he helped, other than the game were he carried pierce off to the locker room. Next, I feel you are over-hyping James Posey. He contributed, but I feel we could have won the championship without him. Tony Allen would have seen more playing time if their was no Posey and he showed he is still not scared to go to the hoop. Then you rip my boy Karson Kressley. Who are you to rip this huge Redsox fan? Would you have smelled Doug Mirabelli's Jockstrap? Plus his sexual orientation is unknown, so who knows what he would do at the playboy mansion. You were wrong about Schilling. I believe he is a hall of famer despite his wins in the low 200's, and his personality. That spineless fish of a human shouldn't talk publicly unless it's about baseball. And their is still zero proof he had a bloody sock nation. ketchup inside a sock looks alot like blood. Keep thinking Jason Varitek will come around, and keep thinking Kevin Cash is a solid backup. Varitek certaintly calls a great game, but he has done nothing for this bullpen. And Kevin Cash couldn't hit a beachball. Lugo is awful, and despite everything he has done offensivly, you still managed to miss his league leading, sixteen errors. The sox have manny being manny and manny being Carl Everett. This man is a disgrace to baseball, the the way the redsox are handling it is awful. Attacking players and elderly employees, along with not performing on the field? Theo and Francona are showing no class as they continue to let these actions go unpunished. Maybe a strong moral stance would have got them at least one win in Tampa. Finally, out of all the things you have said B Shea, your comments about the Tampa Bay fans is the most off. The fans remind me of college fans, or even better, little league world series fans. The reason they make noise and go crazy all games is because half of Tropicana field is sox fans. They want to be heard and the best way to hear them is to win. They beat the Redsox up and down all series.

Tampa Bay fans have just swept the Boston Redsox for the second time this season. The first time Boston has been swept twice in one season by one team since 2001. The question lies, is this team for real? Last year Balitmore took a AL East lead into July only to finish 4th in the division. A few years back the Washington Nationals took a league leading record into July, only to fizzle out and finish last in a good NL East. Who's to say Tampa Bay isn't going to be like the previous surprises? A team so good at home (33-13) and 500 on the road (19-19), despite averaging 19,000 fans per game. A pay roll of 44 Million, in a division with Boston and New York who pay over 140. What makes this team click? My bold prediction as of July 4th, is that Tampa Bay will make the playoffs, as a wild card team. Starting pitching is what will carry them. Baltimore and Washington lacked pitching on their runs. This team can flat out pitch. Their bullpen has questions but should remain stable as long as steroid ghost troy percival remains healthy. Rookie of the year, Evan Longoria has came up to the MLB alot quicker than anyone had thought and has performed well. The offense is shaky but you can't count out a young fired up team. When your number five pitcher Andy Sonnanstine has nine wins, your doing something right. Finally, when you get to play the Yankees, Blue Jays, and Orioles for the majority of your remaining games, your going to be sitting pretty... I am currently on the Rays Bandwagon and will continue to be. Go Rays

Stung by the Rays

2008-07-03T17:18:00.003-04:00

Ya boy went down to St. Pete earlier this week with my dad to catch the first 2 games of the Rays/Red Sox series. I walked away from the first 2 games with 4 impressions.

1) The Rays are good. I mean really good. They are going to be in this race until the final day. People expect them to go on some long losing streak soon but I see differently. I saw Shields and Garza shut down the Sox and I have never seen any 2 pitchers do that in the Theo/Tito Era. With Shields, Garza, and Kazmir the Rays have 3 good pitchers that wont allow this team to go on a losing streak. Their bullpen is much improved with Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival at the back end. It'll be interesting to see how they handle the loss of Percival but with guys like Grant Balfour coming out of the pen throwing 99. Also, they come up with the hits when they need it. BJ Upton set the tone with a lead off home run on Monday. Evan Longoria came up with a huge hit on Tuesday as well as flash the leather and kill a Sox rally.

2) Rays fans are AWFUL. I cant emphasize this enough. They don't know how or when to cheer. On Tuesday, two loser in Johnny Gomes shirts were jumping up and down and giving each other high fives on the first out of the game! If you just walked in you would have thought they won the World Series. They bang their cowbells every chance they get. They explode if the Rays get a bloop hit in the 4th inning with 2 outs. On Monday, they were counting outs in the 7th. I know its their first real team in Tampa but still, they have seen Sox fans cheer for 10 years down there. You would think they learned something.

3) Something is wrong with Manny. Manny was 0-11 in this series. He was late on every fastball. He was going after every first pitch and he popped up on the first base foul line at least 5 times when I was down there. Manny has struggled recently and something has to be wrong. Either he misses Papi or his altercation with the traveling secretary is weighing on him. I don't know whats wrong but we need Manny to get hot again.

4) We miss Papi. With JD Drew playing out of his mind it hid the loss of Papi but now its starting to show its ugly head. In this series we have struggled to score runs. On Tuesday with 2 on, JD struck out looking on three pitches. In that situation, you know that David Ortiz is going to come through. As hot as JD Drew as been if you ask any pitcher they would still rather face Drew than David Ortiz.

Sox Talk

2008-06-27T19:28:00.002-04:00

The Red Sox have reached the real halfway point of the season. Through 81 games they are 49-32. Pretty much exactly where I thought they would be considering all the injuries they've been through. Papi, Beckett, Dice-K, and Lowell have all been down at some point this year. One word that describes this baseball season for the Sox is depth. So many guys have come up and contributed. Masterson, Colon, Lowrie, Moss, and Hansen have been surprises. Now I'll give a old fashion analysis position by position of this team.

Catcher- I don't care what Varitek hits. No one handles a pitching staff like Tek. We all saw how valuable he was in 2006 when he got hurt and the Sox just collapsed. He is a streaky hitter and he always goes through slumps but he always ends ups hitting around his career numbers of .265/20/82/.348 OBP. Kevin Cash has been a surprise. Hes been handling Wake well and anything you get with his bat is a plus.

First Base- Youk's been as sold as he has ever been. He always gets off to hot starts and then cools off a bit but hes still getting on base at a high rate (.374) and hitting well (.303). I thinks its safe to say that we will see him at the All Star Game this year. Sean Casey has been a valuable bat off the bench and is a solid backup to Youk when he needs a day off.

Second Base- Dustin Pedroia is another player who should be getting into the All Star Game and probably as the starter for the American League. Pedroia has been great all year and he is the perfect guy to be hitting behind Jacoby because he never strikes out and is extremely patient.

Shortstop- If you are just looking at numbers for Lugo, .274 avg/366 OBP/.347 slug, then you would think that Lugo has been fine. But sometimes the numbers lie. And in this case they do. That .274 average is a soft .274 in my opinion. We are halfway through the year and Lugo has 1 home run and 18 RBI. Hes projected to have 39 RBI this year. His career average is 61 RBI. I don't know if he can turn it around but I hope so.

Third Base- I didn't expect Lowell to have a super year like he did last year but hes coming damn close. 11 homers, .287 avg, and 41 RBI is fine by me at this point of the season. He keeps coming up with clutch hits like he did the other night against the D'backs.

DH- For Papi to be out as long as he has and we are still leading the division, I'll take that any day. We should be even better when he comes back and start to pull away from the pesky Rays.

Outfield- Manny's being Manny. Jacoby has had his struggles but when hes on base he causes chaos. Coco has been key and has contributed with Papi going down. JD Drew has been the offensive MVP and has carried this team since Papi went down. Its been unbelievable to watch. Hopefully he continues it when Papi gets back because he is not going to be hitting 3rd and his hot streak came when he started hitting in front of Manny. The 3 hole belongs to David Ortiz.

Starters- Beckett has just been a little off all year but in his last start he showed that he was back. Lester has been great all year. Hes been very consistent all year and hes leading the team in innings pitched. Hes made huge strides and if the playoffs started today, he would the number 2 guy. Dice-K has been good until his last start but I'm willing to give him a pass on that. He still has outing where he'll drive you insane but as long as he gets the win I'll live. Wake has been doing what hes done for the past 10 years. Masterson has stepped up huge giving us quality starts and wins.

Bullpen-If there is one real weakness on this team, its the bullpen. Pap has a couple of fluke blown saves and I'm not worried about him at all. Okie has struggled big time. He needs to turn it around somehow, some way. Delcarmen has rebounded after a rough beginning to the year. I have like what Hansen and Aardsma has brought to the table. Power right handers out the pen. Aardsma has come on strong as of late. I'm we will make some deal at the deadline for some bull pen help.

38 Was Special

2008-06-25T01:08:00.003-04:00

Recently, Curt Schilling had surgery on his throwing shoulder, effectively ending his season and possibly his career (at least with the Red Sox). That got me thinking about Big Schill's career and his time with the Red Sox. Schill is one of the best post season pitchers of all time, highlighted with his 10-2 record and a 2.23 ERA. I remember watching that 2001 world series vs the Yankees where it seemed he pitched every game. Pitching in 3 games on 3 days rest is the stuff legends are made of. That series helped him create a legacy of post season dominance. But then came 2004. He came to Boston to win a World Series and he promised it. Think back to the off season of 2003. The Red Sox were coming off a devastating 2003 ALCS lost to Yankees and "curse" talk was higher than ever. Before Schilling said he was coming to win a World Series, have you ever heard someone say that about the Red Sox? No, people were afraid to become next Bill Buckner or Mike Torrez. Schill was doing to commercials saying he was coming to Boston to break a 86 year old curse.

If the 2001 World Series didn't show that Schill is the ultimate gamer, than the 2004 post season proved it. Every Red Sox will remember how all hope was lost when Schilling got rocked in Game 1. If the guy we brought here to beat the Yankees couldn't get it done, then who else was going to do it? Later we find out that he had a messed up tendon in his right ankle and he couldn't push off the rubber with it. So now our big gun is down and the Sox are done 0-3 to the Yankees. David Oritz and Dave Roberts bring the series back to New York where Schill risks his career and plays with his tendon stitched all up. He goes out and puts on a show and ties the series up at 3 apiece. The rest is history.

Schilling has never really recovered from that injury. While hes pitched, he hasn't been the same. Last year, he added to his legacy by pitching and winning in the playoffs with a low 90s fastball by pitching with smarts and pure guts. I'll always remember what Curt Schilling did for the Red Sox. He promised us a World Series. He brought us 2. The Red Sox will miss when it comes playoff time. Say what you want about the guy but if I had a game to win, the guy I want pitching is Curt Schilling. I think he's a Hall of Famer. I know the Wiz will call me a biased ass but hey I call 'em like I see 'em. 3 World Series titles, 1 World Series MVP. Sound Hall worthy to me. So I'd just like to say, thanks Curt, thanks for coming to Boston.

Still on Cloud 9

2008-06-19T19:46:00.004-04:00

Two days after watching my team, the Boston Celtics, win the NBA Championship and I'm still as happy as I was while watching the trophy presentation on Tuesday. I still cant say enough about this team. People thought Ray Allen was done during the first 2 and half rounds of the playoffs and he ended up setting a NBA Finals record for 3 pointers made with 22. Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins made huge strides during this season and they are only going to get better. Also, as much as the Big 3 (and yes, i am going to start calling them that) was tremendous during the regular season and the playoffs, the Celtics don't win this title without the play and leadership of James Posey. He was so good all season. He is the definition of a big time role, veteran player coming through in the clutch. I hope he stays because he is just such a key to this team.

Doc and Danny took a lot heat the past couple of years and now they have built a NBA Championship team. Doc showed what he can do with the tools and that he is one of the top coaches in the league. Danny came through and stuck to his plan from the beginning. As good as the trades for KG and Ray were, I look to the drafts that he's had. Danny is a good judge of talent when it comes to the draft. Leon Powe and Big Baby were second round picks. The players in the trade for KG are an example. Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green (even though hes not in the league anymore), and Delonte in the Ray Allen trade. I'm excited to see what's next.

As for the Lakers, they just absolutely smoked. For me, it was great to see cause I hate the Lakers. Phil Jackson looked clueless at times on the bench and had to go with Chris Mihm at one point. I say from now on whenever a coach just goes to a desperate move like that, I say we call it a Mihm. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Sasha Vujacic proved that they are softer than Carson Kressely at the Playboy Mansion. Hopefully all the Kobe/MJ talk is done for now because he got absolutely shut down this series.

I'll probably been writing about this for a couple more days. I'm just in heaven right now. They say there can only be one. And I'm glad its us.

Banner 17

2008-06-18T19:44:00.006-04:00

The Boston Celtics are the NBA Champions for 2007-08. Words cant describe how happy I am. Ive been a Celtic fan my whole life. I was raised on the greatness of Larry Bird. The Celtics were the first team that I can remember. There's pictures of me, of when I was little, watching the Celtics play with a Larry Bird hoop right behind me. Also, there's some pictures of me wearing a Snoopy/Joe Cool style sweatshirt. Those who know me know how much I love the Celtics.

Somewhere along the way I absolutely feel in love with this team. I love all these players. From Pierce and KG to Big Baby and Sam Cassell. So many great moments that I can remember from this past year. Ray's game winner against the Bobcats. Pierce riding KG's back against Houston. Posey coming up huge against the Mavs at home. The domination of the Texas teams. Going 7-2 when KG was out with injury. Powe's game winner for the T'wolves. KG picking Sebastian Telfair's pocket to win the game. Name a player and I'll tell you a time when he helped this team win. I know I'm jumping all over the place but I cant help it. I will always remember this team. It was a joy to watch this team grow up from pre season in Rome, to a 66 win regular season, and capping it off with a dramatic playoff run and winning the NBA championship.

Legacies were made during this season, too. Kevin Garnett, by winning the championship, has cemented his place in NBA history. With a ring now I feel that he is a top 20 all time player, if not top 15. The way he has performed this year by changing the culture with the Celtics. He was just so much more emotional last night. It was an amazing thing to watch just how much winning this championship meant to him. Kissing the floor, screaming towards the rafters, crying during the post game interview, hugging Bill Russell saying "I got my own". Last was the best of his life and he came up big in the biggest game of the year and his life. By doing so, he has shut up all his critics including Peter Vecsey who in my opinion has lost all credibility by quoting Ron Artest on KG's ability to win.

Larry Bird once that you don't how it feels to be a Celtic until you have won a championship. Last night, Paul Pierce has become a true true Celtic. By winning this, I think that he is in the all time Celtics starting five with Bird, McHale, Russell, and Cooz. I have always been a Paul Pierce fan and I haven't seen any player take the type of heat he has gotten in this town. He showed everyone in the world that he is a top flight player in this league. Just knowing about what this guy has gone through in his career. From dropping to 10th in the draft, to almost dying with the stabbing incident, to playing on some bad teams, and now being the NBA Finals MVP.

There's just so much to talk about this season that I cant really think of it all now. Just a unbelievable season. I'm sure I'll talk about it some more in the near future.

Cry Baby Sasha

2008-06-17T16:46:00.003-04:00

First of all, the worlds toughest athlete is by far Sasha Vujacic, and not Tiger Woods. Tiger woods may have had the most improbable puts in consecetive days in PGA tour history, just to tie, but Sasha has came out and said that the Celtics, "play to rough". This comment makes me so mad, I'm just going to forget that you gave up on the Celtics in game four. First of all, your Sasha Vujacic. No more than 5% of NBA fans can even pronounce your name. The name Sasha itself is derived from the American house cat. You made it out of your filthy country, Yugoslavia which 99% of Americans can't point out on a map. You weigh 195 pounds and your 6-7. Are you serious Sasha? I've seen infants with more spine than you. How can you complain about toughness when you cash your 1.5 million dollar check per season, while your family back in Yugoslavia fights in a race war. Take your 1.5 million and buy Yugoslavia, i'm sure thats how much it is on the market. This is the NBA, not girls junior high volleyball. It's great defense that leads you to shoot 3-19 in your last two games you wimp, not people playing rough. Its the NBA, what do you expect. No one in the world other than Bill (I'm about to die of high cholesterol) Plaske, that fat worthless, nobody from LA expected the Lakers to score their season AVERAGE of 108, and through five games, the soft lakers haven't put up anything higher than 103. Its good defense you crybaby puke Sasha. Man up and hit a shot, or sit on the bench and let some other foreign, soft, nobody try to hit a shot you punk. Enjoy being traded in the next two years for cash considerations and a bag of balls you girl...

Celtics and Tiger

2008-06-16T18:50:00.005-04:00

It was a tough lost for the Celtics last night in Game 5. The Celts got down early again and fought their way back on the strength of Paul Pierce. KG got into early foul trouble and he never got into a real rhythm and struggled. Game 6 is tomorrow and its a quick turnaround for both teams. The Garden is going to rockin' and its going to be tons of fun. The team, as always, will be lifted by the crowd. I am extremely excited and nervous at the same time. Its going to come down to defense as it always does.

This weekends U.S. Open event and especially today's playoff proved why I love sports so much. Tiger Woods won and hit amazing shot after amazing shot on basically one leg and after not playing in such a long time. Also, mega underdog Rocco Mediate matched Tiger shot for shot and almost pulled it out. It was awesome to watch. And its about time someone kind of stood up to Tiger and not just wilt under the pressure.

Tiger also once again proved why I think he is the most mentally tough athlete of today, if not of all time. Battling pain in his surgically repaired knee, he mounted about 3 or 4 comebacks in the tournament to pull out this win. They have been showing a commercial about Tiger and his dad and how his dad said that he will meet no one that is more mentally tough than himself. That is Tiger's greatest strength above every other golfer out there. In the clutch situations, you just know that Tiger is going to come through.

The Comeback Game

2008-06-13T13:34:00.003-04:00

I'll admit it. I was preparing to get ready for a Game 5, tied at 2-2 with the Lakers. In that first half the Lakers played unbelievable hitting every shot. Lamar Odom was playing like he was Larry Bird (I know its wrong to put those two in the same sentence but still). Luke Walton and Trevor Ariza were hitting shots. Pierce and KG still were off their game a little bit. Then Jordan Farmar hit a buzzer beater 3 off the glass to push the halftime lead to 18. It didn't look good at all. All that happened and Kobe didn't even have a field goal yet.

Then the second half, it was completely different. Doc made the adjustment to go small and spread the floor. Pierce took the challenge to guard Kobe and did a great job. Posey and Eddie House were hitting shots and Ray Allen played a marvelous game. It was just an unbelievable game to witness. Everyone contributed. Doc coached great. Pierce, KG, and Allen played great. The role players played great. The defense was great. I cant stop using the word great. Sam Cassell had a great F-bomb laden speech after the Celts took the lead. Amazing.

It truly was one of the greatest games in franchise history and one of the greatest games in Boston sports history. I'm glad that I saw it and now the Celtics are this close to a 17th championship. Unbelievable.

Various Thoughts 2

2008-06-11T18:43:00.002-04:00

I didn't know that "milestones" are a stat like batting average and ERA. Thanks for that news. I'm not surprised with anything that comes out about Roger Clemens anymore. Who knows whats next?

Last night, the Celtics struggled vs. the Lakers and lost by 6. I didn't expect to sweep this series but we still had a chance to go up 3-0. Pierce and KG struggled mightily and I don't expect that to happen again. Even though Kobe had a good game, no one else on the Lakers had a good game except for Sasha Vujacic and his hair band. I'm worried about Rajon Rondo and his ankle injury. If he is not 100% then our offense will struggle. Hopefully that means more Eddie House and less Sam Cassell. But I am still confident with the Celtics and tomorrow's Game 4 is the biggest game of the year.

On Manny and Youk's dust up last week, I support Manny up until he gave Youk a little slap. I love Youk but sometimes when he flips out after he makes an out, it does get a little annoying. Youk fired back and Manny got a little chippy. Like I said I back, Manny up till the slap but it wont evolve into anything huge.

Hideki Okajima has not been as money as he was last year. His numbers seem ok but those numbers lie. He has been awful against Baltimore and even worse with inherited runners on. If Okie struggles and every other middle reliever struggles then the Sox are in trouble. Okie needs to turn it around or someone in the pen needs to step up cause we need the bridge to Paplebon.

The Ramblin' Gamblin' ref Tim Donaghy is at it again. He says that the Kings/Lakers series was fixed back in 2002. I remember watching that Game 6 and just laughing at how bad the officials were. I don't want to believe anything Donaghy says because he is such a scumbag. Either this is true and the game was fixed or he just picked the most blatant home called game on the history of earth to help save his ass. You decide.

Ken Griffey Jr hit his 600th career home run the other day. Every kid that grew up in the '90s like me, is a Ken Griffey fan. One of the worst sports injustices ever is that injuries robbed him of hitting 800 home runs. It should of been him that is the all time leader in home runs and not He Who Shall Not Be Named.

Finally, Cedric Benson was released by the Bears for his second alcohol related arrest. Next stop : the Raiders.

Viva Viagra...

2008-06-10T18:12:00.004-04:00

Manny hit 500, along with hitting first baseman/utility stud, Kevin Youkilis most recently. Both events in the long run will not be remembered. Milestones are the most over exaggerated statistic out there and mean the least about a persons talent and value to a team. Congrats to Manny, but lets move on. B Shea says the Celtic's can't win without Pierce? I don't know if they couldn't win but by the way the Lakers play defense, I could go out and pop a three.

So Roger Clemens is in the news again. Viva Viagra this time. The New York Daily News has reported that the former star pitcher and current funny man, Roger Clemens hid Viagra in his locker and took it before games as a steroid. Victor Conte, founder of BALCO said that the supplement can be used as a performance enhancer. Finally, I understand how South African runner, Oscar Pistorius and his lack of human legs can run so fast. I wonder if hes missing more than just his legs? Clemons, undoubtingly will come out and deny in the very near future, but at this point where is his credibility? Somehow however in the news today, an even more rediculous, bizarre story made it's way into headlines. The Los Angeles Lakers and Las Vegas have agreed to be 9.5 favorites over the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics. Throughout the postseason I have had a relatively good time betting the lines, but this is outragous. Did games one and two mean anything to oddsmakers? The only thing more rediculous than this story is Shelly Smith actually getting a paycheck to be on TV, but that's a whole different story. ..

For tonight, in the betting world, you have to take the Boston Celtics +9.5. For me, I took them straight up at +400. I also like the over in this game at 196. Other solid plays for today include the RedSox -220 over the Baltimore Orioles, and the over in the Dogers/Padres game at 7 runs.

The Truth Prevails

2008-06-06T16:36:00.003-04:00

When Paul Pierce went down early in the third quarter and he was clutching his knee, I saw our title dreams fade away. Pierce is our best one on one scorer and our most clutch player. Usually when he goes down, he gets right back up. But this time he didn't get right back up. ABC went to commercial and the first shot they show is Pierce grimacing in a wheel chair. When I saw that my heart jumped into my throat. While he was out everyone else stepped up but I kept looking at that corner where the players come out of the locker room. Then when I saw come out, I was completely re energized and you could feel the team and the entire building get a lift. Then Pierce hit the 2 three's to give the Celtics the lead and we were off.

Pierce is the heart and soul of this team. His been the longest tenured Celtic, knows all the history that comes with a Boston/LA match up, and is the captain. We need him to win. Like I said, he's the go-to-guy, the facilitator, and our best perimeter defender. For any idiot to say he was faking an injury (Bill Plaschke and Phil Jackson) is disgusting. Whats the benefit of the team for him to leave for 3 minutes in the NBA Finals? He said he heard his knee pop and he was probably more scared than anything. He is hurt and people saying he is faking is erroneous. He says his knee is sore and stiff but he'll be ready for Game 2.

500

2008-06-01T20:32:00.004-04:00

First off, I said that you could make a case that Celtics/Lakers is a better rivalry than Red Sox/Yankees. I never said that it was better. If you put a gun to my head, I would say Sox/Yankees is better. But its a hell of a lot closer than you make it seem, my good man. Also, your jokes are hit or miss. Just like the Tigers. Ba-dum-dum.

Last night, Manny reached a career milestone by hitting his 500th career milestone. It was also a classic Manny game in a Red Sox uniform. In the 4th, he coasted towards a easy fly ball and let it drop off his glove. The guy reached second and ended up scoring, giving Baltimore the lead. Then later in the game, he absolutely crushed a ball deep into right-center. So many times, Red Sox fans have seen Manny make a bad play in the field and then hit a bomb. Manny is the best right handed that I have ever seen and arguably the greatest right handed hitter of all time. He's the best at hitting home runs the other way. I think hes last 4 home runs this year have been to the opposite field. Thank goodness that we didn't trade him the 10 times we could have. Next up : 600

Ob La Da Brother

2008-05-31T17:59:00.002-04:00

B Shea, come on... The Lakers Celtics is a bigger rivalry than the RedSox Yankees. Is that some sort of joke? They play each other twice a year, and haven't met in the playoffs in 21 years. The Rivalry is as dead as OJ Simpsons credibility. And what is this "various thoughts" thing you do now. If your going to think, at least try and sound like an adult. Nice prediction about the Spurs. I mean, they went out and died quicker than, Jeremy Gonzalez. I know it may be a little soon but it was the best metaphor i could come up with. Expect Colon to fizzle down the stretch like bad keg beer. Stop crying about fingernails too. Clay Buckholtz is missing one so your insensitive comments could be offending him. That's really it for your comments this week. You were so wrong.

B Shea predicts seven games for the NBA finals between Boston and LA and as usuall I am going to disagree and bring some sense to this blog. Boston wins the NBA title in six games. Detroit posed the greatest threat to Boston and they rose up and overcome. LA is so surprising because I don't understand how they made it this far. Pau Gasol is a great player but he's no Shaq. Kobe is playing like a God right now and thats all they have going for them. The Lakers had the 19th best defense in basketball with the best offense. Boston had the best defense in basketball with the 10th best offense. Something is going to give, and I can't see it helping LA. Every matchup offsets the other in this series. Perkins and Garnett will get theirs, but so will Gasol and Odom. The young Rondo will have a much easier task of guarding Fisher as opposed to Chauncey Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Billups. Kobe Bryant vs Ray Allen should be interesting. Both are known for shooting rather than defense, but with help Ray Allen won't be giving up anymore than 30 a game to Bryant. The match up that Boston will be able to expose is Paul Pierce over Vladimir Radmanovic. The overpaid Russian had a decent season getting eight points and three boards a game, but that isn't going to cut it in the finals. Why I think Boston will win in six, at the most is because of the bench. Eddie House will be able to run the point because of LA's weak defense, giving up energy and points from the bench. Posey, Brown, Powe, Davis, and maybe even Cassell will see playing time. Comming off the bench for LA will be Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, and Ronnie ( my heart hurts ) Turiaf. These guys couldn't intiminate a girls high school team, let alone the team with the best record in basketball, along with the best record against the West.

As for tonight, since I started my "lock of the day" I am 3-1. I need to bump this up by making two big locks for tonight. I like the Orioles (+114) with Garrett Olson on the mound to beat the Redsox and I also like the Geogia Force (-4.5) to beat the Tampa Bay Storm in some exciting Areana football.

ps, my Turiaf joke was funny...

Lakers vs Celtics

2008-05-31T16:42:00.005-04:00

The Boston Celtics are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. Even better, they are going up against the Los Angeles Lakers. I am so excited. The Celts went on the road and beat to Pistons to advance. They were down by 10 early in the fourth and Paul Pierce made a ton of key plays. He had a nice And 1 and sweet pull up jumper. KG have a few big hoops. James Posey made a huge steal on Tayshaun Prince with about 1:30 left in the game. It was a great comeback road win and it was even better to see them keep their poise down the stretch.

Now its Celtics vs Lakers in the NBA Finals. So much of the NBA's history comes from these two teams. The Celtics have 16 championships and the Lakers have 14. The two franchises have had some many great battles. They have met in the Finals 10 times and this will make it 11. So many great players have played on the teams. Russell. Wilt. Cousy. West. Hondo. Baylor. Heinsohn. Goodrich. Bird. Magic. McHale. Kareem. Parish. Worthy. And the list goes on and on. Now Pierce, Garnett, and Allen will take on Kobe, Gasol, and Odom in the next installment of the Celtics/Lakers rivalry. You could make a case that the Celtic/Laker rivalry is more intense than the Red Sox/Yankee rivalry but that's for another day. Its the way it should be. Everyone knows it. Heck, even my mom said its the way it should be.

These 2 teams are very evenly matched. The Lakers have a high powered offense while the Celtics have the great defense. This series also brings up many great story lines. Pierce, KG, and Allen looking for the first rings. Kobe looking for a ring without Shaq. Pierce going back to play in LA in the Finals. Phil Jackson looking to pass Red Auerbach for most championships for a coach against the Celtics. This is going to be so much fun. Celtics in 7. Lets get it on.

Various Thoughts

2008-05-27T19:57:00.003-04:00

I only included the Bruins in The Golden Era because of the miracle run they had to the 7th game of the first round this year. Plus, the magnitude of the other 3 pro teams outweighs anything negative the Bruins have done in the last ten years.

Now its time for some of my various thoughts on the sports world. I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist but has anyone else noticed how ESPN doesn't show replays on any questionable calls by referees? In Game 7 of the Celtics/Cavs, there were a lot of bad calls or missed calls by the refs and you can hear the crowd react to the replay on the Jumbo Tron and then ESPN doesn't bother to show the replay. Last night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, KG got called for 2 moving screens in a row and to me they both looked questionable. Especially the second one. So I sat there and waited for the replay. Never came. But when the refs make a good call, ESPN shows the replay 7 times. From all angles and then the stupid super slo-mo version that they show on every replay. Look for it in Game 5 tomorrow night.

With the emergence of Bartolo Colon in his first 2 starts for the Red Sox, do not be surprised in the Red Sox tinker with a 6 man rotation. They were talking about this off season but Curt Schilling got hurt. Right now with Clay Buchholz hurt, they have the normal 5 man rotation. But when he gets back, I would not be shocked if the Sox go to a 6 man rotation. All the pitchers will have a day of extra rest and that could be huge heading into the stretch. Beckett talked about how, last post season, him missing a couple weeks on the D.L. really kept him fresh for the playoffs. Just imagine for the rest of the season a rotation of Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, Wake, Colon, and Buchholz. I'm not really counting on Schilling to pitch at all this year considering hes only thrown a baseball twice. But in case he comes back, I wouldn't be surprised of he goes to bullpen to help with that bridge to get to Papelbon. Just throwing it out there.

With the New York Mets on the verge of a total implosion, I am not looking too good on picking them to come out of the National League. Just by looking at them, they have no team chemistry. Willie Randolph is on the verge of being fired even though Mets management says hes safe. I'm gonna give till the All Star break before I change my mind on them going to World Series.

Tonight the Spurs look to even up their Western Conference Final versus the Lakers. I'm calling Ginobili having another 30 point night along with Tim Duncan going for a 20/20 game. The Spurs are too good and too tough minded to go down 3-1 to the Lakers. That series will probably go 7 games along with the Celtics/Pistons series.

Speaking of the Celtics/Pistons series, has anyone else noticed that Richard Hamilton has the longest finger nails ever on a basketball player. No wonder he gets open so much. He gashes whoever is guarding him with his Wolverine-nails and gets an open jumper. In Game 3, he gashed Cassell. Last night, they showed a clip of Ray Allen talking to the refs, showing him his arms and pointing of the scratches that Hamilton has probably given him. Check it out next game.

And that is it for my various thoughts this week.

Lacrosse Story Still Involving Duke...

2008-05-25T10:41:00.003-04:00

Not to take away from Jon Lester's amazing performance B Shea but you said that the Royals have a "legit" offense. Was that a serious comment or some sort of a joke? Unless legit means in the bottom 30% of every offensive catagory, dead last in home runs, and second to last in RBI's, then yes, they are legit. What a rediculous thing to say. Also, when the Bruins haven't won a playoff series since 2000, It's hard to consider them in a "golden era". Keep having a distugsting hometown bias and see where that gets you when Boston sports go mid 90's on us again.

The last of the Duke rapist are officially ineligable in the NCAA, after their granted fifth year of playing. Duke was defeated 10-9 by Johns Hopkins ending this rape story which everyone but Al Sharpton is sick of. In the other semi-final game Syracuse came from five goals down to defeat Virginia in double overtime. So the Dukeless championship is Johns Hopkins vs Syracuse. I like Syracuse to win its tenth title in it's storied history, and finally, end this Duke scandel for good.

As for betting, my lock of the day is the Lakers (+5) over the Spurs.

The Golden Era

2008-05-20T15:20:00.003-04:00

All I know Wiz, is that I wanted the Pistons in this round. It wouldn't be the same if we didn't have to go through the Pistons to go to the Finals. In 2004, it wouldn't have been the same if the Red Sox didn't have to go through Yankees to go to the World Series. And Wiz, I hope your right and we have a nice quick series.

Jon Lester threw a no hitter last night. No one deserves a no hitter more than this kid. In a two year span he was diagnosed with cancer, beat the cancer, came back and got a win in his first start back, won Game 4 of the World Series, and capped it off with a no hitter. Last night, he was absolutely terrific. He seemed to get better as the game wore on. On his final pitch, he threw 96. The Royals have a legit offense and Lester just absolutely shut them down. It was great to see and Lester didn't seem that fazed by it. He has been through so much, that a no hitter doesn't even register. Every one in the ball park was ecstatic. Francona and Lester shared a emotional hug. I cant wait to see how Lester pitches now.

Last night also continued the Golden Era of sports here in Boston. I say that this era started in 2001 with the Patriots first Super Bowl win. Since that time, us fans have seen 5 championships, a perfect regular season for the Pats, a couple of no hitters and millions of other great moments. The Celtics on working towards another championship and the Bruins are a young and exciting team. The Red Sox have 2 of the last 4 World Series and are arguably the best team in baseball this year. The Pats came within 2 minutues of 19-0 and I would say are still the favorite for next year. This is why other cities hate us and I'm glad they hate us. No city will probably ever have all 4 major teams so good at the same time. This is truly The Golden Era of Boston Sports and I'm glad I'm here to witness the magic.

Also last night was a perfect 2 day period. Lester's no no and Pierce's Game 7 performance will always be remembered together. Now we have Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Fianls tonight. This is such a important game tonight because the Pistons have been off for awhile and the Celtics are in a rhythm. People say that Chauncey Billups is going to tool on Rondo. While Rondo will have a tough time guarding him but Billups has to guard Rondo too and Rondo is the last person that I would want to guard if I was coming off a hamstring injury. Also Ray Allen has to give us some points. He has beef with Rip Hamilton and hopefully that will give him a little extra motivation. Look for the Celtics to run a lot when they have the chance and not try to play the half court game with them. Lets get it on.

Beasts of the East...

2008-05-19T18:31:00.004-04:00

You have to be out of your mind to say that we, the celtics fans wanted to play the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals. I would have much rather seen the Raptors or Sixers as opposed to Detroit. The Celtics have a hard enough time with teams like the Hawks in the playoffs. However, despite your stupid idiotic comment it's not all bad in Celtic land.

Detroit this season is 1-2 against Boston, and their one win came with 0.01 seconds left on a good up fake by Chancey Billups, and awful defense by 12th man Tony Allen, who I believe has no right dressing, especially over my boy, Brian (Scallups) Scalabrine. Billups went on to get fouled and hit two freebies leaving Boston to lose by two. The other two games this year weren't dominated by Boston, but should have set up a good game plan by unproven coach Doc Rivers. This series is going to be simple. The Atlanta Hawks were young and fired up, Detroit is old and is trying to do their best Atlanta Braves impression. ( fourteen straight playoff appearances, one title) The Cleveland Cavaliers had Lebron who gets every call and never gets called himself, for anything, Detroit has no one of that nature. Detroit is a simple, exellant shooting team. How do you beat them? Go inside, go inside, and then fake a three, and go back Inside! Right now Ray Allen couldn't make a junior high team, but that won't matter this round. Garnett, Perkins, Powe, and Davis should combine everygame for at least sixty. Rasheed Wallace hasn't stepped in the paint since 2004, and Rip Hamilton does most of his estimated running of six miles per game on offense. Tayshaun Prince and Chancey Billups are great defenders but tend to back off of a player with the ball inside, to avoid being called for a foul. Then there's the bench. Am I supposed to be afraid of Jason Maxiell and Rodney Stuckey. Maxiell is a great defender but tends to get into foul trouble early, mostly due to his over-aggresivness. Stuckey may have averaged 26 some odd points in college (Eastern Washington) but this is the best defense in the NBA. The old Detroit starters are all going to be looking at 39-40 minutes a game which will not fare well, especially with Chancey's lingering hamstring injury. I am still sticking to my orignal prediction of Boston in four games over Detroit. I don't expect home court to matter because of Michigan's economy. It's hard to get behind your team when unemployment is over eight percent.

As for past blogs, I was right about Big Brown winning the preakness, but was a little off with the quinnella, trifecta. I was also right about Conneticut over Atlanta in that WNBA action. For tonight my lock of the day is the Cubs (-130) over the Astros. I also like the over (184) in game seven tonight between the Hornets and the Spurs, along with the Detroit Redwings (-155) over the Dallas Stars.

Pistons vs Celtics

2008-05-19T12:02:00.003-04:00

Wiz, I kind of agree with you that part of the reason Pistorius was allowed to participate in the upcoming Olympics is ratings for TV. If he makes a team and is in a race, I will probably tune in and watch. But other than that, I could care less about Olympics track and feild events.

Yesterday afternoon the Celtics prevailed in one of the best Game 7s in recent memory. I would say it ranks up high in the list of all time Game 7s. Pierce and LeBron had a duel similar to Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins. Pierce would come down hit a jumper and then LeBron would do the same. It was just a great game to watch and I cant wait to see it on NBA TV or ESPN Classic in the near future. There were also two unlikely heroes for the Celtics in this game that every championship team gets along the way. Eddie House played a good game. Him chasing the ball from one end of the court to the other, beat Wally, dive on the floor, and tip it to Posey gave the team and the crowd a huge lift. I'm glad to see that Eddie is back in the rotation because he gives the team a huge lift. He knows how to run the offense and with Ray Allen struggling, he can knock down shots. Another unlikely hero was veteran PJ Brown. PJ came off the bench and had 10 huge points. With the Celtics only up 1 and after LeBron made a mini run by himself, PJ nailed the biggest shot the game. Then he made a great defensive play and played LeBron good on his drive and made LeBron take a tough lay up which he missed. Also the Celtics had some luck from above with Pierce's free throw with 7 seconds. That was the spirit of Red from above helping that shot go down.

Now we have what the Celtics wanted, the fans wanted, and what the NBA wanted. Its the Boston Celtics vs the Detriot Pistons for the right to go to the NBA Finals. These two teams are very evenly matched. The Pistons are well rested while the Celtics are coming off a very emotional series. This is going to be such a fun series to watch. Its going to be reminiscent of the classic Celtics/Pistons battles of the 80s. I cant wait for it. The roller coaster ride continues.

fake people can mean a lot of things...

2008-05-17T09:42:00.002-04:00

When a person calls another person, "fake" it generally implies that they act in a certain way that they are not. When I call a person fake, I am refering to South African runner, Oscar Pistorius. Don't get me wrong, I repect the disabled, and I am for equality, but how in the world are his prosthetic legs or running blades not considered a, "mechanical advantage". Was the OJ Simpson jury called upon to make a ruling again or has The Court of Arbitration for Sport lost their mind. I thought the problem with the olympics was that it was being held in communist China. Since our politically correct culture won't allow us to say anything negative, I guess i'm going to have to. This is 100%, a ruling for ratings. Joe America, (who's not a real person, just a representive of the populas) probably isn't going to watch the olympics. When you tell Joe that a guy with no legs is running, he might tune in. Fortunatly, for tradition, Mr. Pistorius hasn't made the South African team just yet, and his best qualifying time in his life doesn't even meet the minimum requirement to make the olympics.

I want to talk about the ruling in detail now. The The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that he didn't have a mechanical advatage. I guess he put on his best prosthetic legs for that appearance. A runner uses everypart of his body to achieve his best time. Does Oscar Pistorius even stretch? The most comman injury in sport is, a bruise. Pistorius can only bruise on about 70% of his body because metal legs reportedly don't bruise. For a runner however, the most comman injuries include foot, ankle, and knee injuries, and all the muscles inbetween. Pistorius get's to avoid these as well. Pistorius calls his legs, "Running Blades". Physically, Blades have much less wind resistance than flesh. When someone says, "Break a leg", what does that mean for Pistorius? I'm sure he's a nice guy who simply wants equality, but he's missing two legs. In a competive world of sport, he will never be seen as equal. While the world roots for him, i'll be the one cheering on tradition.

In other news, the LA Lakers beat my western conference finals predition, the Utah Jazz. It was a great game to watch, much like all the other games this postseason. Hopefully we can be blessed to see Chris Paul prove to the world that he deserved the MVP over that crybaby Kobe Bryant.

Finally, today is the preakness. Horse racing has always been one of the most exciting events in sports and despite PETA's views, it is great for American tradition. Today like most of the country, I like Big Brown to win at 1/2 odds. For the quinella I am liking Big Brown and Yankee Bravo. For the trifecta we are going to go with Big Brown, Yankee Brave, and Hey Byrn. Also, my lock of the day is Conneticut (-11) over Atlanta in some hardcore WNBA action...

Celtics and Pats

2008-05-13T22:07:00.004-04:00

Wizard, its good to have you back but apparently you have gone a little crazy. There is no need to panic and change the starting line up. What has killed us these last 2 games has been our bench, not the starting line up. In the 2 games we have won, the Celtics bench has outscored the Cavs bench. Now vice versa, in the 2 games that we have lost the Cavs have outscored our bench. James Posey and Leon Powe have the play better. PJ Brown was the only bench guy to come to play in Game 4. Yes, Rondo has struggled this series and especially Games 3 and 4. But in the second half of Game 4, I thought he played well. He was aggressive early in the third which is what I want to see. Sometimes I think Doc keeps Rondo on the bench a little too long and sticks with Sam longer than he should. Sam has played terrible on the road this post season and apparently can only make shots at home. Also, I thought we went away from KG in the 4th and when he did have the ball he wasn't aggressive enough. I like when the ball goes inside to KG early and they play inside out. Pierce took a dumb 3 in the 4th and those are the metal mistakes that we didn't make in the regular season but are making now. I still feel that we are the better team and will still win but with all that said, why do I have a feeling that LeBron is about to go off? One last thing Wiz, the Celtics regular season record was 66-16. They only play 82 games in the NBA, bro.

I love when announcers make things up during a broadcast. Like when Tom Jackson said that the Patriots hate Bill Belichick after the first game of the year and they promptly went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl. Or when Joe Morgan analyzes a baseball game. A perfect example happened last night during the Celtics/Cavs game. When Pierce fouled LeBron and wrapped him and kind of went in the crowd, Kevin Harlan, the TNT commentator went into a frenzy about how Pierce and LeBron don't like each other and have a rivalry that is simmering over into the playoffs. That could not be further from the truth. Pierce and LeBron have never had any type of confrontation. Just another example of announcer making things up.

Today Roger Goodell met with Matt Walsh and Walsh told his side of the story. They showed the tapes and it was really nothing new. Walsh said that he always kept the camera during halftime and never showed the tape to the coaches. But Mark Schlerth refuses to listen to that. He continues to believe that you can tape the signals in the first half and break it down during halftime and use it in third quarter. He and Chris Carter were an absolute joke. They just refused to listen to what Goodell had to say and continue to believe that the Pats cheated. ESPN just has a blatant agenda against Belichick and the Pats and its really sad to see. ESPN's football coverage is a joke. Marvin Harrison is connected in some way to a shooting and there's hardly any coverage on that. I don't agree with a lot of things WEEI's Pete Sheppherd says but if that was a Patriots player connected into a situation like that, there would be 4 hours worth of NFL Live some how connecting Spy Gate to the shooting.

Really Rediculous Road Ruh Roh's

2008-05-12T17:07:00.002-04:00

Haven't had time to blog in a while. I've been under more stress than a Roger Clemens lawyer... Time for me to dismiss everything B Shea says. To begin I do believe Paul Pierce should have been fined by the NBA for his hand gesture towards the hawks bench, but not $25,000. It's a thing he has done hundreds of times before but has somehow gone unnoticed. Roger Clemens continues to be funnier than any other human on TV. Everytime he opens his mouth bad things come out of it. He needs to pull a Mark Mcguire and just dissapear.

Finally, the re-occuring theme of B Shea's blogs all year. Rondo is a good point guard. I said it before, he impressed me this year, but when the playoff's come around, that means nothing. Rondo has been a bigger dissapointment than the short lived XFL. We can say he needs to play better, but I think he is giving us his best. He isn't Chris Paul, Deron Williams, or Tony Parker. In game three of the Eastern Conference semi-finals the Celtics had thirteen points. That sounds like a Knicks first quarter. The argument is that Rondo sets the pace, then Alien face comes in to change the pace of the game. Why can't Sam Cassell just start and then have Rondo off the bench to change the pace. Doc Rivers has done a sub-par job coaching, at best! Everytime Rondo shoots I get nervous, and in game six of the opening round against Atlanta, I knew the game was over before he even attempted the game tying three.

So the question still lies, what do the Celtics do to win on the road? My guess is to start James Posey, KG, Pierce, Powe, and Cassell. This way Posey can continue to shut down Lebron James, while opening up shooting attempts for Pierce and Cassell. Leon Powe has been playing unbelievable on both sides of the ball all post season, where as Perkins has yet to man up. KG with the help of Powe should be able to contain the 7`3 Z man. I find this starting line-up the best way to put points up on the board, while taking the Cleveland crowd out of the game.

For tonight, the Celtics are the underdog for the first time this postseason. (+2.5) This should be the first wake up call for them all postseason, because let's be honest, who was nervous against Atlanta in game seven? A team that went 66-17 in the regular season, and 31-10 on the road ( Both led the NBA ) should not have this big a problem on the road. I look for Boston to snap out of this funk and win tonight 97-88.

Road Woes

2008-05-12T12:44:00.002-04:00

Tonight the Celtics look to end their road woes tonight in Game 4 against Cleveland. They got punched in the face in Game 3 and for the first time this postseason got blown out. Tonight is a big game for the Celtics. I don't think we have to do any changes strategy wise, it just comes down to more effort and more intensity. They have to rotate better defensively and that's all effort.
Pierce and Ray Allen have to play better offensively. They need to make shots. Pierce needs to go to basket strong early and by doing that that will open up things for Allen to get some looks at the basket. Tonight I think the Celtics get their first road win on the road tonight and go up 3-1. I think Pierce and Allen will finally play well, KG will be KG, and Rondo will play much much much better than he did in Game 3.

In the shock of the century, former USC guard OJ Mayo has been linked in allegations that he has accepted cash and other gifts from a sports agency. It was just a matter of time before something like this came out. The thing about situations like these it doesn't really affect the player. It affects the school most because they end losing scholarships while the player is off in the NBA making millions. ESPN did a big time piece on this whole situation and the guy that was giving Mayo the money pulled a "No comment" which usually means "Yes, I'm guilty" in the world. I'm interested to see how this thing turns out.

Rocket Man

2008-05-09T14:23:00.004-04:00

No player ever in sports has had their reputation tarnished in a short period than Roger Clemens. It all started in December when he was found on the Mitchell Report after being dimed out by his former trainer Brian Mcnamee. He has come out and swore up and down that he is innocent, gone on 60 Minutes and drank the most bottles of water ever for an interview, and then he went before Congress and came up with new words for us to use as well as sign autographs for the Congressmen. His only defense has been a Jose Canseco pool party where he says he wasn't there but then we find out he was. Canseco has also been the only to defend him and that's the last person that you want to have your back. For Red Sox fans it has been and absolute joy for us to watch the Rocket squirm on TV in front of the world. We thought it couldn't get any better. Then the New York Daily News has a storyof Clemens having a decade long affair with country music star Mindy McCready that could of began when she was 15 and he was 28. Now that is a little ridiculous. McCready says that they didn't do anything until she was 18. Roger denies the affair but McCready confirms it. So chalk up another lie to the Rocket. Then after that story about 47,451,289,974,361,947 other women have come out and said they have had relations with the Clem-bag. Strippers and bartenders across America said that Clemens has given them tickets, jewelry, and vacations. There is no telling what is going to happen next. He's probably got a few kids out there somewhere with more K-names. What he's got to do is just stop talking because every time he talks something comes out that just buries him deeper and deeper. Wait, on second thought he should just keep talking. I wanna see if he has connections to mob.

Cavs vs Celtics

2008-05-06T13:27:00.003-04:00

Tonight at 8:00 is Game 1 of the Boston Celtics vs the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is going to be a difficult series for the Celtics. The Cavs have a solid inside game with Big Z, solid perimeter shooters with Wally, Delonte West, and Boobie Gibson, a good bench, and of course, LeBron James. It is impossible to stop LeBron. Paul Pierce, James Posey, and even Tony Allen will all draw the assignment to guard him but really everyone on the floor will have to help out in various ways. Perk and KG have to always show on screens and control the paint. I wouldn't really double LeBron because he is such a good passer and the Cavs have some shooters. I would see that Celtics just play the same team defense that they have been playing all year. There really is no scheme that Doc Rivers and the Celtics are going to draw up. Its just going to be what its been all year. Great Defense.

Also I would look to see the Celtics really work Ray Allen on offense. Wally is probably going to guard him and Wally has never been a good defender so you can run Ray Allen off a lot of screens. By doing that you should tire Wally out and his legs will be gone from his jump shot.

The New Orleans Hornets have dominated the Spurs in the first 2 games of that series. They have fed off their home crowd and made the Spurs look old. I will never count out the Spurs like I did in the first round. The Spurs will handle their business on their home court and make the necessary adjustments to try and slow down Chris Paul. Paul is a lot like LeBron where he is impossible to guard. Duncan and Manu have a couple rough games but they are the defending champions so I think that they will take the 2 games in San Antonio to tie up the series.

Game 7

2008-05-03T12:00:00.003-04:00

Last night in Game 6, the Celtics played their worst 4th quarter of the entire season. It was just a poorly played quarter by everyone. Now the Celts have a do or die Game 7 tomorrow against the Atlanta Hawks. I still think that we will win but we should of closed the Hawks out last night. What I didn't like about last night was no one looked like they wanted to shoot the ball in the 4th. KG kept making the extra pass when I would like to see him put his head down and go to the rim. Pierce fouling out on a bogus call didn't help any cause he would have been the guy to attack the hoop. Also since when do you get a tech for tossing you headband towards your bench? Its not like he threw it on the court. But in this Game 7, I would like to see KG or Pierce pull a Cedric Maxwell and say jump on my back cause I'm gonna carry us today. I want someone to do that tomorrow and then do it for the rest of the postseason. We should be able to get this win in front of a packed house in the Garden. Having the home court is huge but if the Celtics are gonna win a championship, they have to prove they can win on the road in the postseason. But lets get this Game 7 first.

Pierce and the "Gang Symbol"

2008-04-30T14:44:00.003-04:00

Wizard, I love the Bobcats pick for 6th next year. Larry Brown is worth at least 7-10 wins next year. The Bobcats have good, young athletic players and all they need is a little coaching. Larry Brown will have them playing hard and playing smart. He is great at rebuilding teams and getting them to the playoffs. He did take the Clippers to the playoffs back in '93. Also, I expect Pat Riley to take the head coaching job of the Heat back right after the lottery where they a top 2 pick and can either Micheal Beasley or Derrick Rose.

Shame on the NBA for putting a unnecessary black mark on one of its top players. David Stern and the NBA has botched this whole Paul Pierce and the hand gesture story. That was the most non threatening gesture I have ever seen. Now all of the news people think Paul Pierce is in a gang. A gang. Pierce is 30 years old, about to get married, and has a kid. Now morons that know nothing think that Pierce is in gang and threatening Al Hortford. People are calling in on the radio making assumptions on Pierce. Some preacher is saying that Pierce should 50,000 dollars to a inner city youth fund. This thing is an absolute joke. Pierce does tons of charity work for inner city youths here in Boston and back in his hometown of Inglewood. Pierce does the gesture every game in the intros. He says it stands for "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" and I believe him. I see players every night do it after the hit a three. I can see if Pierce flipped Hortford the bird but not this. The way the NBA worded the fine was a sham too. They could of just said that he was fined for walking towards the Hawk bench on a timeout but they worded it saying for "showing gang related symbol". I'd like to know who in the NBA office is sitting there checking every game for which players are throwing up gang signs. Its just a damn shame. Its just a non story that people are making a story.

As for Game 5 tonight, look for the Celtics to come out with great energy and try to work KG in the post early and often. I hope KG will not settle for the fall away jumper and take it right at whoever is guarding him. Also if the Celtics get out to a big lead, I look to have the Celts keep the foot on the gas pedal. Now the team sees that the Hawks aren't going away no matter the deficit. Also the Celts have to play better defense and I think they will. Its a huge game tonight.

The Phoenix Suns, Larry Brown, Barry Zito, and Other Unnecessary Sporting Figures

2008-04-29T11:40:00.004-04:00

I first want to appoligize once again for my moronic counterpart B Shea, even though I have agreed with most of his latest blogs. I then want to appoligize for my lack of blogging lately. Because of Final exams all week I haven't had the time, but now it's over and I can go back to being right about so many things.

B Shea's prediction of the Suns in five isn't looking good right now. However, down three to one, and clearly with a formula to beat San Antonio, I still like the Suns in seven, like I Originally predicted.

Larry Brown is on the move again, this time comming to save the Charlotte Bobcats who are currently represented by Eastern Michigan Alumni, Earl Boykins. Now a face that reaches taller than 5`5 can lead this team of young guns and poor draft picks. (Ex: Adam Morrison) The question still lies however, Does this team have a chance even with a great coach? Brown most recently couldn't save the New York Knicks who clearly had more talent then, than the Bobcats have now. The difference this time around is that Charlotte actually has people who want to be coached. Bold prediction time; I like the Bobcats to finish sixth in the east next season, pending Michael Jordan doesn't keep interfering with all their practices.

Barry Zito, Pitcher for the San Francisco Giants has been moved to the bullpen. Normally, I enjoy the Giants fail as a professional baseball team after the way the immortalized Barry Bonds* and his cheating home run chase but the way they seem to be giving up on the highest paid pitcher in baseball is sad for all baseball fans. Despite being 0-6 as a starter, his ERA is only 7.53 which means their is still hope. I'm looking for him to bounce back from this and finish the season as strong as anyone on the worst team in the National League can finish a season.

At last Pat Riley has left the Heat, and at a good time too. Other than the Knicks, no team in basketball has less of a future than the Miami Heat. I enjoy Riley leaving as coach because this way he can hire a good coach, wait for him to become succesful, fire him for no reason, then take that team to the playoffs. Good luck Wade... At least your contract is up in two years.

And finally, the Denver Nuggets. Fire George Karl, trade Carmelo Anthony before he drinks and drives his way out of Denver, and start all over through the draft, because this team will never win. To play such poor defense night in and night out and to loose a series four games to none without even caring is saddening. At least they aren't the Knicks...

Pats Draft and Suns/Spurs

2008-04-27T13:25:00.003-04:00

The New England Patriots finally got the young linebacker they needed yesterday in the draft. Trading their 7th pick to the Saints and getting the 10th pick, the Pats drafted Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo. Everything I have read about him says that he is a smart player and that he is versatile. Being smart and versatile are two things the Pats are looking for when they acquire players. Mayo should be able to step in and contribute right away. He'll also be able to learn from Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, and possibly Junior Seau if he returns. We will have to wait and see if he plays inside or outside but he will probably play both at some point during the season. Up until this point of the draft, the Pats have drafted another linebacker and 2 conerbacks. Linebacker and conerback are the two positions where we lack the most depth so its good to see those needs addressed.

It is not uncommon for a team to continually get beat by another team in the playoffs every year. It took the Pistons awhile to beat Bird and the Celtics in the 80s. Then those same Pistons frustrated Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the late 80s and early 90s. That is the same dilemma facing the Phoenix Suns now. They have been bounced by the Spurs twice in the playoffs and now they are down 0-3 to them. I picked the Suns because I thought the Spurs got old quickly. But that is clearly not the case. Phoenix blew Game 1. Came out flat in the second half of Game 2. And got smoked on their home court in Game 3. The Suns are about to get swept. One thing I would like to see is Steve Nash man up and play some damn defense on Tony Parker. Parker had some many open shots in Game 3, that its a miracle he didn't score 55. Or maybe have Mike D'Antoni put in DJ Strawberry on him but it could be too little, too late for that. This Suns team as presently constituted will probably be blown up possibly. If not, maybe a full year of Shaq will help but I think the Spurs are in their heads. I don't know if they can ever beat the Spurs.

Here is a warning to Al Hortford and the Hawks : Don't piss off Paul Pierce. He's liable to go off for 40 and I think he will.

The Other 1-2 Punch

2008-04-22T23:48:00.006-04:00

Right now the Red Sox are on a roll. They are hitting great, the pitching has been decent to good, and their having the classic Fenway comeback wins. And this all started when Coco Crisp went down with a apparent injury and Jacoby Ellsbury has been playing full time. Jacoby seems to be on base every time he comes up. He's got a .444 OBP and he's batting around .300. Tonight against the Angels he belted 2 home runs. The kid is an absolute stud. He, along with Dustin Pedroia, have been getting on base lately and setting the table for Papi and Manny. During this great run the Sox have been on, Jacoby and Pedroia have been in the middle of it all. Tonight was a perfect example. The game game was tied at 6 in the bottom of the 8th when Jacoby led off with a perfectly placed bunt single in between the first baseman, pitcher, and second baseman. Then Pedroia smoked a ball down the 3rd base line and Ellsbury turned on the jets and scored all the way from first to give the Sox a 7-6 lead. This is just a continuation of Games 3 and 4 of last years World Series where they hit great and were all over the bases. Coco is great defensive center fielder but Theo Epstein has to find someone to take this guy soon because Jacoby is the spark plug for this team. He gives them energy. He's perfect on stealing bases. Him and Pedroia are the perfect 1-2 to start lead a line up.

Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury are my two favorite players on the Red Sox and they may approach "Nomar Status" in my book. Back when I was a kid and Nomar was the best shortstop in baseball, I was absolutely obsessed with Nomar. I did his same batting stance, right down to the toe-tapping and batting glove adjustment. I collected almost every baseball card he was on, I had a bunch of t shirts that his name on it. Probably one of my greatest moments in my life when I went to Fenway and I got his autograph on a Red Sox program with Darren Bragg on the cover. I was absolutely speechless. So all in all, Nomar Status is just the select few athletes that I will serious man-love for (like the Wiz has for Brian Scalabrine). Probably the only athlete that has reached and maybe even surpass Nomar Status is Tom Brady (perhaps it should be changed to Brady Staus but Nomar came first and was my first love I guess). Larry Bird to me is just God but he was before my time, so in my book hes just God. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are approaching Nomar Status with every win. Pedroia and Ellsbury are on their way up. Its just a matter of time really.

NBA Playoffs

2008-04-19T13:32:00.007-04:00

If we were in the Big Show right now Wiz, they would be playing the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood make believe music. Its easy to play the what if game on this type of topic. I like to live in reality my good man. The reality is that no one got hurt, thank god, and Carmelo made a mistake. I like to believe that people deserve second chances.

Now on to the NBA Playoffs. We'll start in the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics- The Celtic defense is just too good. The Celtics have a much better bench and the Garden will shaking. I'm looking forward to the point guard match up between Rondo and Mike Bibby. Bibby always plays well in the playoffs and this is Rondo's first taste of playoffs action. Should be a sweep but 5 games at the most.
Phildelphia 76ers vs Detroit Pistons- The 76ers are better than people think and they will give the Pistons some trouble. Rasheed dosent like to go inside anymore and just hangs around the perimiter now. The 76ers will try and run and run with all those athletes but Detroit is very good at forcing a team to play the halfcourt game. Pistons in 6.
Toranto Raptors vs Orlando Magic- This is an interesting series. The Bosh/Howard match up is one of the best indivdual matchups of the first round. The Raptors are better without TJ Ford and with Jose Calderon. But now Ford is back starting and Calderon is back on the bench playing 20 minutes a game. The Raptors have a ton of shooters and they can get hot for a series but Howard and Hedo Turkaglu are just too much. Magic in 6.
Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavilaries- The best first round series in the East. The Wizards can really score and they seem better with Gilbert Arenas coming off the bench. However, as Stephen A. Smith would say, they have called out LeBron. Deshawn Stevenson has called him overrated and Gilbert has been talking on his blog. LeBron plays out of his mind and carrys his sorry supporting cast past the Wizards in 7 games.

Cavs vs Celtics
LeBron cant carry is sorry supporting cast past the Celtics. Ben Wallace cant handle KG and the Celtic bench will be a huge key. Whoever Wally Szczerbiak guards weather Pierce or Ray Allen has a feild day. Tony Allen and James Posey coming off the bench to guard LeBron will be big. LeBron still has a good series but his sorry supporting cast (I'm just gonna refer to them as SSC. Its just eaiser.) dosent do much. Celtics in 6.
Magic vs Pistons
Dwight Howard has the time of his life in this series. Sheed wants no piece of of the paint on defese. Howard will abuse him. However, Sheed draws Howard out the 3 point line and allows Billups and Hamilton to pentrate. I would not be shocked if the Magic win this series but I think the Pistons end up winning in 7.

Eastern Confernce Finals- Pistons vs Celtics
Its that 80s show all over again on this time it will be good. KG has has 3 great games vs the Pistons and has abused Sheed all year. Like I keep saying Sheed wants no part of the paint. This is going to be such a great series. Rondo took a big step in the last Celtics/Pistons matchup. He did a great job on Billups in that game. Once again the Celtic bench will be key. I look for Sam I Am to hit a big shot as well as James Posey. Celtics in 7, baby.

Western Conference
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers- The Nuggets can be scary because they are so good at scoring the basketball but other than Marcus Cambey, they have no interest in defense. Kobe will have a crazy sereis becuase he'll be able to score at will vs the Nuggets. I think Carmelo and AI have a good series as well but the Nuggets lack of knowledge at the defensive end does them in. Tougher than people think but Lakers in 6.
Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Hornets- Upset special. Dirk has got that killer instcit back as he has been carrying the Mavs lately. Dont be shocked in Josh Howard gaurds Chris Paul. I would have Howard gaurd Paul and put Kidd on Morris Peterson. Howard can handle Paul and he should give him some problems with his length and it saves Kidd's legs for offense. The Hornets have little playoff expirence and those that have some were not pleasent expirences. Mavs in 6.
Phoniex Suns vs San Antonio Spurs- The Suns got Shaq just for this matchup. Shaq gives Tim Duncan trouble and Shaq can just concentrate on defense and let Amare and Nash go crazy on offense. The Spurs havent really showed their ususal championship guts this year really. Manu has to go crazy and average 30, I think. This isnt gonna be as close as people think. The Suns have been waiting for this all year and Shaq gives them championship confidence. Suns in 5.
Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets- The Jazz are so good at home and not too good on the road. The Rockets dont have Rafer Alston for the first 2 games and dont have Yao Ming at all. Tracy McGrady has to have a huge series for the Rokcets to win and he has the history of first round faliure. The second longest win streak in NBA history loses in the first round. Jazz in 6.

Jazz vs Lakers- This gonna be a great series. The key matchup is Carlos Boozer vs Pau Gasol. That should be a great matchup. If I'm not mistaken, the Lakers went into Utah and blew them out so they have that going for them. Deron Willams will have the best series out of everyone in the series. The Jazz are too shaky on the road tho so I'm gonna go with the Lakers in 6.

Mavs vs Suns- Too many weapons for the Mavs to cover. Amare will be unstopable. The Mavs did go into Pheonix and came back from 13 down to win but I dont think that will happen again. This is where the Suns get to run as opposed to in the first round where it was half court game. Suns in 6.

Western Conference Finals- Suns vs Lakers
Shaq vs Kobe. All week we'll be seeing ESPN showing all the Shaq and Kobe stories from the past. We'll see the stupid clip of Shaq giving Kobe a piggy back ride and all those stupid clips. But other than that it should be a great West Final to go with the East Final. Im going with the Lakers be cause I need and want to see a Celtic/Laker NBA Final. Lakers in 7.

NBA Final- Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics.
The most storied rivalry in basketball gets renewd this year. On ESPN Classic and NBA TV, we will get to see all the Celtic/Laker games from years past which is phenomal. The Celtics have more offensive weapons plus the fantastic defense. KG, Pierce and Allen wont let this slip away. Posey and TA's defense on Kobe will be key. Leon Powe will be huge as will Eddie House and Sam I am. The C's swept the Lakers this year. Granted that was before the Lakers had Gasol. But let me ask you this question. Is there really much a difference bewteen the Lakers with Gasol or the Lakers with Andrew Bynum? I dont really see much a differnce. Gasol is better offensively while Bynum is better defensivly. This series will the most watched final ever. It's going to be so much fun, I'm getting goosebumbs just thinking about it. Celtics in 7 and it goes down as one of the best Finals ever.

NBA playoff results...I'm that good

2008-04-19T13:07:00.002-04:00

East: (1)Boston & (8)Atlanta...Look for Boston to win all four games in double digits against the Mike Bibby led Hawks. (1)Boston goes on. (2)Detroit (7)Philadelphia...Very tough first round match up for Detroit as they get one of the hottest teams in basketball led by star Andre Iguodala. I just can't see the veteran leadership of Rip, Chauncy, Rasheed, and Tayshaun going down. I like (2)Detroit to move on in six. (3) Orlando & (6) Toronto... Chris Bosh has established himself as one of the elite players in the league but this young squad will not be able to contain Dwight Howard and hedo Turkoglu for long. Add the great shooting ability of Rashard Lewis who was brought to Orlando just for his three point shot to take down Toronto in five games. Finally there is the (4) Cleveland (5) Washington matchup. Alot of trash talking between the two teams, even before they knew they were playing eachother. I like Cleveland in seven games because of Lebron James. Gibert and friends will be there everygame but Gilbert and his lack of playing this season will tire him out by the end.

This leads up to (1)Boston vs (4) Cleveland. Lebron carried his team last year to the NBA finals but after Washington beats him up for seven straight games, I can't see him having anything left. Look for Boston to win in five games, at the most. Next we have (2) Detroit vs (3) Orlando. This series comes down to shooting, and since Detroit plays far better defense, I like them in six games.

(1) Boston vs (2) Detroit. The Match-up we have all been waiting for. Boston hasn't dominated Detroit all year, but they have their number. Winning the season seriers 2-1, Boston realizes Detroits weaknesses, and that is interior defense. Detroit couldn't contain Glenn Davis, so how are they going to contain KG and Perkins? Every matchup favors Boston, except at the point but with alien face Sam Cassell comming off the bench, Detroit stands no chance against a team built for a championship. I like Boston in the sweep to go to the finals...

West: (1) LA Lakers vs (8) Denver... I'd say Kobe and the Lakers in four but Denver can outshoot LA at least for one night. Lakers in five. (2) New Orleans vs (7) Dallas... Somehow as a two seed no one likes the hornets. Well I love them because of their close nit squad, and great defense. Plus MVP candidate Chris Paul who will outplay Jason Kidd up and down the court will lead to a New Orleans win. Factor in the choke artist of the playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki and you have the Hornets moving on in six games. (3) San Antonio (6) Phoenix... Big Cactus and Nash vs a team that is incapable of winning back to back championships. Still, Phoenix loves to keep it close to score high ratings and make money, so I like them in seven. (4) Utah vs (5) Houston... Since Houston lost after winning twenty two straight, has anyone heard from them? Utah has one of, if not the best point guard in the league in Deron Williams, and they are getting unreal playing from Carlos Boozer. I like Utah in five games here against the Yao-less Rockets.

(1) LA vs (4) Utah... Will LA be healthy enough down the stretch? It's a tough question, especially when your going to be up against a team like Utah who hides under the radar. In seven, look for Utah to move on. (2) New Orleans vs (6) Phoenix... Chris Paul had a great season but Steve Nash has been here to often. Every game is going to be a struggle for the Hornets but I'll give them at least one win. Phoenix in five.

(4) Utah vs (6) Phoenix... Looks like a bunch of upsets, but in the west, nothing is an upset. This will go down as the demise of Shaq. He is going to get to game seven but fail to make the finals. The most underrated team in the west, the Jazz will go to the finals making Malone and Stockton very happy.

As for the championship I'm going to make it quick. Utah can shoot, and will shoot there way to a few wins over Boston, but the Celtics will beat down the Jazz night in and night out. Boston wins big in game six to win the NBA Championship. Bold prediction, Brian Scalabrine makes the last bucket of the season.

twenty-two

2008-04-18T14:22:00.002-04:00

So by letting Carmelo Anthony off the hook, are you saying you advocate drinking and driving B Shea? Since he said he was sorry it's ok? What if he got into an accident and killed somebody B Shea? If he said sorry would you still want him on the court in the playoffs a week later B Shea?

Other than B Shea supporting drinking and driving, baseball had an epic story last night. The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres played twenty-two innings. The game was tied for 9th for the longest game in history, along with the longest since 1993. The longest game in MLB history was in 1984 when Chicago and Milwakee went twenty-five innings. Since both teams have to travel and play the next night, should baseball enstill a new extra innings policy? My side of the issue is no. It's something that has been around since the start of baseball and the rare twenty plus game is so rare that it doesn't need change. Coaching is generally overrated in baseball because of the long season, but in games like this it is very fun to see how they do. Lucky for the fans the teams combined for a .170 batting average while only putting up three runs. They were cursed however in the bottom of the 14th when Josh Bard singled in the game tying run, to even the score at one to one. I had a great time watching parts of the game however. Like most baseball fans we know extra innings can be as fun as any overtime in any sport, especially in the NL were pitchers have to bat. I hope that we get more pitching gems and see this more often because extra inning games are fun. My bold prediction is that Colorado goes into Cinncinatti and wins and San Diego goes into Arizona and wins.

The Time Is Upon Us

2008-04-16T18:48:00.006-04:00

Yeah, maybe I am a little biased towards the best clutch hitter in Red Sox history and one of the 3 three most clutch players in Boston sports history. Remember 2 years ago when Manny started really slow? Granted, he wasn't as bad as Papi has been now but Manny ended the year hitting .321/35/102 and that was with him taking September off. Papi will put his usual numbers. And Wizard, you gotta take it easy on Carmelo. Yes, he made a mistake and I'm sure his press conference was sincere, but for you to call for a suspension is ridiculous. The NFL is cracking down on things like this but it is happening all over the league. Name the last NBA player to be arrested. I cant really name anyone. Melo knows the mistake he made and I think he has punished himself enough. I expect him to have a huge postseason.

The Celtics will play their final regular season game tonight vs the Nets. Then Sunday the second season begins. I can not explain how excited I am. I have been waiting for the Celtics to have a legit shot at a title my whole life. I cant wait to see all the Celtic Legends to be in attendance for the games. Russell, JoJo, Parish, Hondo, Cooz, Sam Jones, KC Jones, and the list goes on and on. The Garden will be so loud and so intense. This current team is prepared for this moment. They take every game one at a time which is the perfect mindset for the playoffs. Pierce, KG, and Allen are ready and I don't think they will let this opportunity pass them up. Everyone on this team has heard all the experts saying how they can't win. Either its that Rondo cant shoot and be a championship point guard or KG cant win the big one or that Doc can't coach under pressure. They have so many things to motivate them. This team is ready to take their place in history. The fans are ready. They've been waiting 22 years for this. The time is now for everyone involved with the Celtics. I may pass out from all this excitement.

Driving Under The Influence...

2008-04-15T14:18:00.002-04:00

The only thing worse than you being wrong all the time B Shea is that when your wrong because of your bias towards Boston Athletics. David Ortiz will bat .300, have 35 HR's, and drive in 130RBI's. Are you out of your mind. Papi will come out of his slump, but won't be what we are used to seeing. He will go .274 with 27 home runs and 106 RBI's. Fortunatly Manny is actually hitting the ball in April for the first time in years, or this team would be in serious trouble. It was also good to see alien face finally score. He will be very important in the post season but the X-factor is still Rondo.

Today Carmelo Anthony, small forward for the Denver Nuggets was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. It's four in the morning, your team just made the postseaon, and you had your worst game of the season. I'm going to bet he had been drinking too! Fortunatly no one was hurt, except his reputation. What bothers me is that he is going to get away from this without any scratches. The NFL is cracking down on things like this and I would love David Stern, commisioner of the NBA to do something. The DUI is all to familiar and is becomming a norm for professional athletes. I am sick of the athletes always getting away with this crime because they have money. Even as far back as the early 90's athletes were getting away with DUI and alcohol related accidents. All I am really trying to say is that I hope David Stern man's up like he has done with so many other things and actually comes up with a punishment.

As for tonight, Bruins win again, this time in regulation 5-2...

A Great Day

2008-04-13T16:42:00.003-04:00

Yes, Pac has been very wacky with all that has gone on around him. Punching a girl in the face is inexcusable. Now I don't mean to be a Pacman apologist but he was not the one that fired the gun that paralyzed the man but still it was an awful situation. However, since he has been suspended he hasn't gotten into any trouble. Everyone thought that he was just going to get into more trouble by being away from football but he really hasn't. I guess that shows that he has matured a little. I think that Pacster should be allowed back into the NFL. If he messes up again then I might rethink that.

Yesterday was great day for Boston sports. The Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins all played exciting games. First the Red Sox. Beckett pitched really well but you can see that he fatigued a bit down the stretch. I chalk that up to him missing most of spring training. He will be fine. Papi continues too struggle but he'll be fine. We expect so much of this guy that we think he is slump proof. Papi will break out soon and before you know it he'll end the season with .300/35/130. Jacoby and Pedroia started the rally in the bottom of the 6th by getting back to back hits. Jacoby and Pedroia should be 1-2 in the order for the Sox for the next 5-10 years. Coco is a great defensive outfielder but this lineup is completely different when Jacoby is at the top of the order. Hopefully the Sox find a trading partner for Coco and we can get to see Jacoby full time.

The Celtics beat the Hawks yesterday in a playoff preview. With the win, they now have the third best record in franchise history. Truly phenomenal. With the starters on the bench for most of the 4th, the second unit played great defense and really shut down the Hawks down the stretch. Also Sam I Am finally came alive. He had 15 of his 20 points in the 4th and lived up to this reputation as a big time shooter. It was good to see Sam finally started to knock down shots because the Celts are gonna need that experience in the playoffs.

The Bruins nearly stole game 2 away from the Habs. They came out with a ton of energy in the first period but were still down 1-0 after 1. The second period they didn't play to well and were down 2-0. They were finally able to score with Montreal in the penalty in the 3rd period to send it to overtime. A very questionable tripping penalty in overtime really hurt. Tim Thomas made a bunch of great saves but let one slip by. Down 0-2 the Bruins come back home where the crowd is on their side. Bruins win 4-3, bold prediction baby.

Also tonight we get to hear Joe Morgan call the Sox game tonight. I will be listening intently and I'll blog about the idiotic comments he says. Always makes for great comedy.

Pacman Fever...

2008-04-12T10:49:00.005-04:00

Good point about the Bruins needing to begin to play physical but you can't compare hockey to baseball. In baseball if you want to become physical or throw at someone, you get suspended. In hockey you sit in a box for five minutes. The risk/reward in hockey is significantly greater than in baseball. Once again though I like how your too chicken to make any real predictions about the NHL playoffs B Shea. Maybe when your older you'll become a man, and even with time, you might actually be right about something. Or maybe you'll stay in your drought like the Chicago Cubbies.

Anyway, the world is four days away from knowing if Roger Goodell is going to allow Adam (pacman) Jones, cornerback for the Tennessee Titans to return to the NFL. If I was Roger Goodell I would just tell him now instead of waiting that you are not allowed to return to the playing field. It doesn't make sense how this man has been arrested so many times and still doesn't play for the Cinncinatti Bengals. Six arrests in two years is unheard of. I thought OJ Simpson was the worlds luckiest athlete, well up until a few months ago, but Pacman's record is awful. A man is paralyzed after a triple shooting in a Las Vegas strip club because of him. Other arrests include him punching women in the face in Atlanta, starting riots at Strip Clubs, other shootings outside other clubs, and numerous traffic Violations. Last season while appealing his one year suspension in New York City to commisoner Roger Goodell, the night before he was seen in a NYC strip club. Some people just don't learn. Pacman's latest argument is that he's doing good now for the community which is rediculous. He's done charity work in an Atlanta church but with the help of his family. His other charity included buying 1500 TNA wrestling tickets for Atlanta's youth. Pacman shouldn't even have the chance to go back to the NFL because he should be in prison. Everywhere this guy goes, people get shot, riots break out because he throughs thousands of dollars on a stripers stage, or women get punched in the face. This guy is the human version of hurricane Katrina, just a disaster. Even though we all know this, why is Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys trying to get this guy? Has he been taking the short bus into Texas Stadium this past month? You already have Terrell Owens, who is the most outspoken person in the NFL, the same man who turned Quarterback Tony Romo into a girly man who will never win a playoff game. Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones would be hell on earth for the Dallas area. I have faith however because time will catch up with this man, and he will, if not Tuesday, be thrown out of football forever.

If somehow he is re-enstated, what is a fair trade. At first a seventh round pick for Pacman was the offer. A few years back he was picked sixth overal from, West Virginia. Tennessee thinks he's worth something and somehow Dallas thinks he is worth something. I think that perhaps a fourth round pick is fair trade value at this point. In the long run however anything is worth it because I am sick of the name Pacman Jones, the team Tennessee Titans, and the sport Football being in the same sentence.

Rare B Shea Hockey Talk

2008-04-10T23:42:00.005-04:00

Like I said before, I am not a hockey expert nor do I pretend too be. I was raised on the three main sports, basketball, baseball, and football, and could never really get into hockey. I like to watch a Bruins game every now and then but hockey has never really interested me. But with the Bruins in the playoffs again, I've tried to get myself into it the Bruins. Watching the Bruins continued to get dominated by the Canadiens made me wonder a couple things. How can one team lose 12 times straight to a hated rival? and when is that losing team going to do knock someone down? By knock someone down I mean to finally stand up to someone on the other team and show that you are willing to fight. Someone on the B's has to level a Hab. Can you imagine the Red Sox losing 10 straight to the Yankees without Jeter or A-Rod getting knocked down by Beckett or someone else? It took one blowout in the 1984 NBA Finals for someone (Larry Legend) to say something about and then Mchale took out Rambis and the Lakers were stunned and the Celts won in 7 games. Like I said I am no Puck Guru so I don't know what type of hockey strategy the Bruins can use to finally beat Montreal but if anyone on the Bruins has any pride someone has to go down and go down hard on the Canadiens. Its just in the athletes code. You cant keep getting your ass kicked by a hated rival.

In some other news, if you want to read something hilarious then check out this article from Pat Jordan on what Jose Canseco's life is really like now and how he is such a scumbag. Some graphic details but thoroughly entertaining.

NHL playoff bold predictions

2008-04-09T18:56:00.003-04:00

Billy Buckner threw out the first pitch to open the 2008 season at Fenway park. I guess Boston is trying to forget that he blew the 1986 world series. Personally, I don't see it being all his fault because the Red Sox still lost game seven. It doesn't make sense how goats like Bill Buckner are never forgotten yet hero's like Mike Jones are lost within years. Who? Mike Jones tackled Kevin Dyson in the 1999 superbowl at the one yard line to win the game. I think what Boston did yesturday was a great thing for the organization, and especially, for the Buckner family which had moved to Idaho to avoid everyone. Unfortunatly for Buckner and Red Sox fans, I think a new curse has been unleased. Hopefully the curse only lasts a couple of days though so Boston can still win the world series, and get yet another one of my predictions right. Another prediction like picking Tennessee to win the NCAAW basketball championship last night. Not so bold, but right.

Now for my NHL predictions which will be 100% accurate.

East:

1. Montreal

8. Boston

4. New Jersey

5. New York (R)

3. Washington

6. Philadelphia

2. Pittsburgh

7. Ottawa

I expect Boston to play New Jersey, and Washington to play Pittsburgh. In the eastern conference final i expect Boston and Pittsburgh. This series will be won by the Bruins. From there best player, to their worst player Boston is a very even team. There strength is Tim Thomas at goalie, who is having an amazing year. They open against a banged up Canadians squad who will be without captain Saku Koivu. I also like Pittsburgh to beat Washington and prove once and for all that Sydney Crosby is better than Alexander Ovechkin.

West:

1. Detroit

8. Nashville

4. Anaheim

5. Dallas

3. Minnesota

6. Colorado

2. San Jose

7. Calgary

In the Western Conference i like Detroit vs. Anaheim and Minnesota vs San Jose. In the conference finals i like Detroit vs San Jose but I have San Jose winning here because unlike Detroit they play the body.

In Lord Stanley's Cup I like San Jose over Boston, even though I'll be rooting for Boston all the way. The matchup of Joe Thornton verse Scott Thornton playing their old teams will be riveting and they potential return of Bruin great Patrice Bergeron to the ice will light a fire under this team. I do expect however San Jose to win in six games. At 30/1 however Boston is a great pick to win it all.

Rock Chalk Red Sox

2008-04-08T23:30:00.005-04:00

Last nights college basketball title game was the best college basketball I have seen in a long time. It had everything you could have asked for in a championship game. Clutch plays, bonehead coaching moves, and the classic "questionable call that is not really a questionable call cause the ref had his head up his ass". Of course the call I am refereeing too is Derrick Rose's bank shot with the shot clock winding down. It should have never come to the refs checking the monitor. The ref was right behind Rose as he is taking the shot! He missed the call but luckily for Kansas and Wizard the refs made the correct call. The bonehead coaching move was Calipari not having his players foul Collins right before Chalmers' 3. Coach Cal says that they were trying to foul but on the replay you can see Rose kind of backing off Collins. I'm surprised that you don't see teams foul in that situation more often. How many times do you see a team not foul and then give up the game tying 3? I see at least 5 times every basketball season. Its too early to decide where Chalmers shot ranks in all time NCCA tourney history. It will be up there with Keith Smart, Christian Laettner, Michael Jordan, and Bryce Drew. Laettner and Drew's shot weren't in the the final but Smart and Jordan's were. The difference between Smart and Jordan was they were wide open and Chalmers had a couple hands in his face. Just an unbelievable shot in and unbelievable game. As for Bill Self, I don't think he'll go to Oklahoma State, even though it is his alma mater. Leaving a great basketball school like Kansas to go to Oklahoma State would be like leaving Notre Dame football to coach Georgia Tech. Its a step down in terms of history and tradition.

Just a beautiful day at Fenway Park today. Not only did the Sox beat the Tigers 5-0 and Dice-K pitched great but with all ring ceremonies the highlight is the pre game festivities. All the Boston sports championship trophies were together today as Bobby Orr led Bruins greats with the Stanley Cup trophy, Bill Russell was with Danny Anige, KC Jones, JoJo White, John Havlicek, and for some reason ML Carr (I was surprised that he wasn't waving a towel). The Pats were led by Tedy Bruschi, Kevin Faulk, Larry Izzo, and long snap expert Lonnie Paxton. The players with the 2004 World Series trophy were a great collection of old friends. Dave McCarty, Curtis Leskanic, and the original dirt dog Brian Daubach (who, if my memory serves me correctly, was only with the team for like the first month of 2004). It was really fun to see all the trophies together but I guess the real highlight was the vindication of Bill Buckner. Buckner came of the Monster and threw out the first pitch. You could tell on his walk to the mound that he was emotional. Buckner was the face of the whole curse business and its too bad because he was a great player and a great hitter but he is always remembered for the ground ball in 1986. People forget that the game was already tied cause the shaky Sox bullpen blew the two run lead but Buckner became the main goat. I suppose that 2 World Series later his is truly vindicated and I'm glad for him and I suppose that Red Sox Nation has forgiven him. It was a great moment to see. Maybe next year Grady Little will throw out the first pitch.

Plus I always love to see how the players interact with Johnny Pesky. Watching him and Big Papi hang up the 2007 World Series banner was great to watch. Seeing Manny give him a little kiss on the cheek and a hug was classic. The whole team just has smiles on their faces when Johnny Pesky is around and for good reason. Johnny Pesky is Mr. Red Sox and his number should be retired with all the others.

College hoops is almost over!

2008-04-08T14:30:00.006-04:00

You know i hate agreeing with you B Shea but it's tough to say that that Dennis Johnson shouldn't be in the basketball hall of fame. Usually you are just another biased fool but after looking at the intangables that DJ brought to Boston over the 80's was unreal. I'm not entirely upset with basketball however because a great class just entered. Congrats to the electee's for your hard work and dedication to the game.

The madness has finally ended, yet i still feel mad. Memphis who all year could not hit free throws but got away with it this far lost the championship due to a problem that coach John Calipari stated, wasn't a big concern. Experts tried comparing them to the UConn team of recent years that couldn't hit free throws yet ran away with the title. Unfortunately John Calipari among other experts forget that they play in Conference USA. They snuck by all year without needed to hit clutch free throws as they walked through powerhouses like UAB and Tulsa. That said, even without free throws how does a team blow a nine point lead with less than two minutes left. The game turned around when Sherron Collins stole the inbound from Antonio Anderson, made a few passes, got the ball back, and hit a three to make it a four point game. From there Derrick Rose and especially Chris Douglas-Roberts failed to put the game away missing four of the last five free throws. Even with all this lack of offense, Memphis had a three point lead with under ten to go until a rediculous three pointer with two seconds left was hit by Mario Chalmers. It was only the second three pointer of the game for Kansas but as soon as it went in, everyone knew Memphis stood no chance. They ended up winning 75-68 which is twelve points less than I predicted. I did however predict Kansas would pull away in the end and that free throw shooting would kill Memphis. I also won my bracket for the first time in my life which was pretty awesome. As for the game, Memphis surprised me and played alot better than i gave them credit for. Derrick Rose showed for the most part that in the near future he will be an exellant NBA pro, and i think Mario Chalmers helped his case for the future as well. The refereeing I thought was decent, and went both ways. It was the most compelling chamionship game for the NCAAM tournament that I have ever seen. It really was a perfect ending to a great basketball season. I just hope that Kansas coach Bill Self doesn't sell his soul to the devil and take the Oklahoma State job.

Staying with college, tonight for the NCAAW basketball tournament I have Tennesee winning 73-65 over Stanford. Look for Candace Parker to be the better Candace on the court, even though Candice Wiggins spells it differently. That's it for college ball till next year.

DJ # 3

2008-04-07T18:19:00.005-04:00

Yes, the Tigers have got off to a horrific start and yes their pitching is and has been very suspect but their line up is too good to continue to struggle. Pitching is always ahead offense early in the season. Plus once the weather heats up, I think their bats will too. I am still going to stick with the Tigers to win the division. I will not be a flip-flopper.

Today the Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2008 inductees. The seven new members are Pat Riley, Dick Vitale, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Adrian Dantley, Cathy Rush, and William Davidson. However, there is one name that is missing. That name is Dennis Johnson. DJ, as he is known around Boston, was just as important to those 80s Celtics teams as Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. Johnson won 3 NBA titles (2 with the Celtics and 1 with the Sonics), a 5 time All Star, and was also named to an All Defensive team 9 straight years. Johnson didn't have great numbers but he had solid numbers. He averaged 14.1 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, and 5 assits but his numbers didn't speak to what kind of player he actually was. DJ was a unbelievable defender. In the 1984 NBA Finals, he shut down Magic Johnson and completely took him out of that series. When DJ retired, Magic called him "the greatest backcourt defender of all time"

DJ was also tremendously clucth and almost always came up big in the biggest games. In 1985, Johnson hit a game winner in Game 4 of those Finals against the Lakers. In 1979, Johnson was a finals MVP. In that series with the Sonics, DJ put averages of 23, 6, and 6 including 32 points in the game clinching win. He was the definition of a big time, big money player. You know, someone had to be there for Bird's steal vs the Pistons.

People also forget that DJ was a shooting guard when he was with the Sonics. He was known as a above the rim type of guy. A huge contrast compared to what he was later in his career with the Celtics.

Johnson was a very consistent player throughout his career. He was very fundamental and great player to watch. When I was growing up and learning the game, I would like to watch how Johnson played defense and would try to learn the little tricks that he was amazing at. Former Celtic teammate Danny Anige called him "one of the most underrated player of all time and one of the greatest Celtics acquisitions". In my mind he IS the most underrated player of all time.

For DJ not to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a complete and utter injustice. Joe Dumars is in the Hall and they are similar players but no way did Dumars have the career like Johnson. Dumars has 2 rings, Johnson 3. Dumars averaged 16.1, 2.2, and 4.5 compared to DJ's 14, 3, and 5. Larry Bird said that DJ was the best teammate he ever had. That is pretty much the highest praise that any player can give to any teammate never mind from the greatest player of all time. There is a reason that Bird asked that his "33" be retired next to DJ's "3". Dennis Johnson should have got in this year and hopefully he will in the coming years. Its just too bad that he is not around to see it.

The Detroit Tigers, Along With Other Jokes.

2008-04-07T12:35:00.004-04:00

If you want to avoid always being wrong B Shea, don't set yourself up with a "Stupid Idiotic Comment To Make". Thank you to Curt Schilling for that comment. Other than that, for at least one post you didn't sound like a five year old trying to give insight into a big world. I will say about Canseco is that he needs to slow down. I'm not going to say his book is full of lies because he understands the legal side of publishing lies but I am going to say that when the going get tough, Jose get's going. Steroids are a distugsting shadow casted over the 90's over baseball but tremendous steps have been taken to clean up a dirty game. It seems odd to me that the witchhunt is still going on. My only question for Jose is, why wouldn't you just add the big names in your new book to your first one? Does he have blackmail on every player from the 90's? Something isn't right and I personally wouldn't take anything he says in his new book to seriously.

0-6 isn't the way baseball expected the $137,685,196 payroll of the Detroit tigers to start off the 2008 season. There current payroll is 2nd among baseball teams in the MLB only trailing the New York Yankees. So many moves were made this offseason by Detroit, especially picking up Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. Edgar Renteria and his ten million per year were also added. This move forced former SS Carlos Guillen to move to first base. All offseason the so called experts said that the tigers had the best offense 1-9 in baseball and most predicted them to at least make the playoffs as a wild card team. One has to imagine there hitting dillema's have to turn around at some point over the 162 game season but the problem will lie with their pitching. Justin Verlander who's no hitter a mere year ago is his only claim to fame but what is missed through his near 100 mile per hour fastball is the fact that in 2007 he led baseball in wild pitches and hit batsmen. Jeremy Bonderman has a career ERA over 4.78 which seems high but not as high as his 8.5 million per seaon he banks. Dontrelle Willis who hasn't pitched a .500 season since 2003 isn't going to hold this starting rotation together. Nate Robertson who has a career ERA of 4.63 is also one of the starting five. The startling fact about him however is the fact that he barely averages more starts than home runs allowed. You can't win games when the ball is in that pesky crowd at Comerica Park. Finally there is tv camera man hating, Dumping booze on police man pitching, eight million per year earning, 43 year young pitcher Kenny Rogers. He was the only pitcher on this team which looked good in there 0-6 start, but only for about four innings. He was lights out, pitching a no hitter threw three innings until the powerhouse Royals got to see him again. It is very tough in this day and age to win games when your starters can't get out of the 5th inning. Unfortunatly for Detroit their bullpen is even worse than there starting pitching. At the back end, closer Todd Jones who I personally guarentee gives up more warning track flyball outs than any two pitchers in baseball. He is a workhorse at 39 years old but over the stretch of an entire season will fade. Getting to Jones is the tricky part however. Fernando Rodney, Bobby Seay, Jason Grilli, Zach Minor, Denny Bautista, Yorman Bazardo, and the always injured Joel Zumaya at any given point make up the bullpen. Keep in mind that out of a 137+ million dollar pay roll, only Fernando Rodney makes over one million per season. Big names all offseason and the only addition to your bullpen is Denny Bautista!

Not to brag but i want to remind everyone from my post on March 28th I said the Detroit would NOT make the postseason, while my counterpart B Shea who seems to enjoy always being wrong has them winning the AL Central. Look for Detroit to finish third in the division as i said so long ago. Finally, watch Kansas tonight beat up on Memphis so I can win my first ever bracket pool. It's too easy being this right all the time!

A Little Bit of Everything

2008-04-06T16:15:00.002-04:00

Wizard, you are an idiot. No kidding every game in every sport could come down to the final minute. Its a freaking general statement. A lot of people say it because its true. Unfortunately none of the games came down to the final minute. Memphis came out and just over powered UCLA. Derrick Rose completely took Darren Collison out of the game. CDR had a great game and put the exclamation point on it when he posterized Kevin Love. In the second game, Kansas had amazing energy in the first half and were running UNC out of the building. UNC nearly pulled off the historic comeback by pulling within 4 but all their energy was spent and Kansas hung on. Kansas matches up really well with Memphis. The Jayhawk guards can keep up with Rose and CDR. The game should be an up and down affair in the early going because of the nerves of both teams. I wouldn't be surprised if Kansas goes to a zone and force Memphis to shoot contested jumpers.

The Red Sox lost today 7-4 to the Blue Jays. Beckett looked good early on but he tired in the in the 5th inning. I thought that Beckett was left in for one batter too many. The middle relief continues to struggle. Right now, I think this team is still very tired. You can just tell that the usual spark isn't there. The Sox now return home and they should receive some energy because of the ring ceremony. Plus the Tigers are coming to town.

Last Night the Celtics locked up homecourt throughout the playoffs by beating the Bobcats. KG, Pierce, and Allen got some much needed rest. I think they will maybe miss one more game but should probably play in the final 5 games in reduced minutes to get back into a rhythm heading into the playoffs. Also they set the record for biggest turnaround ever from the previous season. This year has been amazing and I don't want it ever to end.

Jose Canseco has been everywhere lately plugging his new book. Canseco is just an absolute moron and a scumbag. He picks and chooses who is going to rat out. He openly admits to hating A-Rod and is ratting out Maggilio Ordenez for not investing on a movie with him. He was interviewed on the Big Show on WEEI the other day and hung up on them when the questions got a little tough. He calls Curt Schilling a 1 year old, weird and the strangest man he has ever seen. He is defending Roger Clemens like James Dolan backs Isiah Thomas in public but in his book he says that Clem-bag didn't look so good in front of Congress. He is contradicting himself in his own book. To be honest, I don't know who or what to believe anymore but I know that when I need the truth I'm not turning to Jose Canseco.

Kansas vs. Memphis

2008-04-06T00:18:00.002-04:00

Despite my pre tourny pick of Memphis loosing in the sweet 16 they have played like a powerhouse all tournament. For a team that shoots under 57% from the stripe all season, they have consistantly hit there free throws thus far. They opened at 63% against the University of Texas-Arlington then shot a dismal 47% while just squeaking out a win against Mississippi St. Then in their past three games they have shot 74%, 83%, and 87% respectively, all in blow outs of decent teams. Hit your freebies and you will be successful. Unfortunatly they are running into a Kansas team which simply dominated Tyler Hansbrough and his UNC Tarheels.

In response to our new blogger, PUCK GURU, I am pretty sure watching hockey isn't time well spent. It's merely just time spent at best. Other than that however, I personally am theorally excited about the Bruins playoff push. I honestly thought it was all over twelve games ago when Zedano Chara got hurt and rookie GM Peter Chiarelli made the comment, "We are going to rest him for the playoffs" with a two point lead over the then 9th seed Sabres. There is so much wrong with that comment that I can't even comment more on it. Unfortunatly it appears as if the Bruins are going to get stuck playing Montreal whom they are 0-8 against this season, or the Washington Capitals who are the hottest team in hockey. I never thought playing Sid the kid and the rest of the Penguins was the Bruins best chance but it appears that it is. Finally, the Boston Globe reported today that Patrice Bergeron still might come back after that devestating hit from behind he suffered at the beginning of the season. That would be a rare hockey storyline I'd be excited about.

In response to B Shea and his inability to say something that makes sense, nice pick with UCLA. At least you had Kansas so i can't enjoy being 100% more right than you. You say that both games could have come down to the final minute because they are all #1 seeds. Not only was that wrong, but can't every game of every sport come down to the final minute? The lone thing I agree with you about is the storylines which proved to great. I really want to comment on you saying that these two games feature the most potentional NBA players. With the exception of Derrick Rose and maybe Kevin Love, these games don't feature any NBA starters, unless they all end up in Charlotte or Miami. I see this as a catch 22 however because all these players are great college athletes and should have made for two better games than what I witnessed today. Finally, please don't ever call Tyler Hansbrough a future "decent" pro again. I see him getting 7-10 minutes a game while averaging 3 points and 2 boards.

So this leads me to the Championship game of Kansas vs. Memphis. Pre tourny I had Kansas winning 79-73 over Texas. This has proved to be on it's way to being half right so far. To me this game is going to be very simple to predict. Kansas has a better defense, offense, bench, and starters. Memphis has the best player in the game. Coaching is about even because I still don't see Bill Self as a good coach, but at the same time I am sick of John Calipari playing the "no-respect" card. Look for Memphis to come out firing and jump out to an early lead but for Kansas to control the rest of the game. Memphis will not shoot over 60% from the stripe because they won't have the comfort of a big lead anymore. I look for Kansas in the 2nd half to take this game over. The Final score will be 86-67.

Playoff Frenzy

2008-04-05T15:17:00.003-04:00

My beloved Bruins have clinched a playoff birth after their impressive victory over the Ottawa Senators last night. Tim Thomas made 17 saves and came within 8:14 of his third straight shutout. In my eyes he has been the MVP of the team all year and he is a savior for this surprising and young team. Milan Lucic reminds me of old friend Cam Neely by playing ferocious defense and fighting with just about everyone who stands in his way. Can you believe were in the playoffs without having injury stricken Patrice Bergeron, and most recent Marc Savard. It looks like we will be playing the Capitals or Hurricanes in the first round who are on a hell of a run and are tied with Carolina for that Third Spot in the conference with one game to go. I am so impressed with this Bruins squad this season by having a great turn around from last year's disaster. Please watch the NHL playoffs this year, its not a waste of time, its time well spent.

We're talkin playoffs

2008-04-04T23:39:00.002-04:00

In honor of the Boston Bruins making the playoffs, we here at The Great Sports Debate decided to add some hockey flavour. The Wiz and I have added our good friend, also known as the Puck Guru, to talk about hockey. I am not what you call and hockey aficionado and Wizard is too busy taking on entire nations so we do not really talk about hockey. Trust us people, the Puck Guru was raised on hockey and he knows what he is talking about. So enjoy his posts, they should be humorous as well as informative.