To Err is Human, Unless You're Tiger

As you've undoubtedly heard by now, Tiger Woods was unfaithful to his wife. This is certainly not the first time a celebrity athlete has been accused of cheating, but it may be the most publicized. Other than Kobe Bryant's alleged rape incident, it is hard to find another case of infidelity involving a billionaire athlete with such a stellar reputation. Woods was, and still is to many, the complete role model. He's never been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, never acted unprofessionally (sans a few meltdowns on the course) and he's the last person many expected to be cheating on his wife. Except he was.

All the accolades aside, Tiger is a human. People can say that they thought he was above this, but let's face facts. He's a billionaire athlete. He's in prime physical shape. He travels practically every weekend. Did I mention he's a billionaire? Under the circumstances it is easy to see how his "personal failings" could have happened. The mistake happened, however, when he let it get too far. I'm not advocating cheating. I'm simply saying that if he did it once and cut ties he wouldn't have put himself in the situation in the first place. Simply put, he allowed himself to get caught.

Beyond being unfaithful, Woods is also guilty of another sin. Moral indignation. A quote from his "apology":

The virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate
and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and
problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.

Spare us, Tiger. The minute you began profitting from the public from your name and making millions of dollars, you lost the right to privacy. Being a public figure means that people will be curious as to why you crashed into a tree at 2 AM and continue to be when you leave a voicemail asking a mistress to change her phone settings. I agree that the matter should be resolved between him and his wife. But realistically, this is not something that will get better over night. He's got to admit and apologize for his "transgressions" and being the healing process of his image, not blame the media like so many other public figures.

Turkey For Me, Turkey For You

In honor of the most gluttonous holiday, I've comprised my five favorite things about Thanksgiving. Leave yours in the comments section if you feel compelled.

5. Stuffing. Everybody has their favorite side dish and mine is stuffing. I realize it's mostly bread crumbs but the way it compliments the gravy and turkey makes me thankful that someone discovered it.

4. Beer. No day consisting of eating and watching television would be complete without the ideal beverage. Once the tryptophan hits and you've got a few Sam Adams in you, Thanksgiving is complete.

3. Family. Love 'em or hate 'em, family is a crucial part of Turkey day. If you've ever spent Thanksgiving alone you know that it just isn't the same. Spending quality time with loved ones and no one judging you for getting that second helping of apple pie.

2. Turkey. The staple of Thanksgiving. I personally love it because it's just tradition and as I mentioned I have an affinity for stuffing and also mashed potatoes. Not to mention the turkey and gravy combo is like a Brady/Moss '07 and Manny/Ortiz '04 lovechild. Doesn't get much better.

1. Football. Whether it's high school, college or the NFL, football is everywhere on the final Thursday of November. Despite some lack luster NFL games and my alma mater losing a tough game, Thanksgiving Day football is my favorite part of the holiday. Now if we could just get some better games in the NFL, things would be perfect.

NFL = No Fun League

Last week, Titans owner Bud Adams was caught flipping the bird to the Bills faithful. Almost instantly he was fined by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for $250,000. I think it's good that he got fined because he was a bit out of line, but really what message is this sending? Is it Goodell holding owners accountable or reminding them whose boss? I like that Adams was taunting fans, especially after enduring the debacle in Foxborough earlier this year. Giving them an "explicit gesture" is going a little too far.

This isn't about Adams, however. This is about the pussification (emasculation) of the NFL. One week it's an owner being fined for being proud of his once 0-6 team. The next it's Rex Ryan bitching about Belichick and Co. throwing on third down. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you supposed to try and get first downs? As Herm Edwards once said, "You play to win the game." He gets it and apparently Ryan doesn't. Granted there was under a minute to play and the Patriots could have simply run the ball, but that could have led to a punting situation. As we've seen in earlier games, Belichick doesn't like to chance anything and if given the opportunity to ice a game he'll go for the jugular. The NFL needs more no-nonsense coaches like him because guys like Ryan talk about being disrespected when they haven't even earned respect in the first place.

Hand of God?

The luck of the Irish may have run out. As a result of the obvious handball by France's Thierry Henry, the French tied the game at one and ultimately won on a 2-1 aggregate. While I personally would have liked to see the Irish advance to the World Cup, there is no denying the travesty that has befallen them. What's worse yet, Henry admitted to the handball and has since stated his belief for a replay of the game. The original request by the Irish Football Association was squashed by FIFA, but a second request made by Ireland Captain Robbie Keane to the French Football Federation (FFF) may give new hope. If the FFF endorses the idea of a replay, which it's Captain Henry is already in favor of, then it could be brought to FIFA and a replay is a realistic possibility. For now, it is up to the powers that be to decide Ireland's World Cup fate. Let's hope their luck hasn't run out, for the country and the sport's sake.

State of the Hub

Over the weekend, strange things happened in Boston. First the Celtics lost two straight to teams they should have beaten (Atlanta and Indiana). Second, the Bruins found a way to lose in overtime while giving up the game-tying goal with just 0.4 seconds left. Then last and most bizarrely, the Patriots squandered a three score Fourth Quarter lead to lose to the rival Colts.

Most people immediately dismiss the Celtics and Bruins because their seasons are their infancy and the losses did not come to hated rivals. I'll agree with that. However, in both cases these were games the teams needed to win to prove something, at least to themselves. The Celtics took on a young Hawks team that currently leads the Eastern Conference, not to mention took them to seven games in 2008. The C's then come out and lose the next night at Indiana, who could be a first round playoff match-up, and things are questionable on Causeway. At least they followed it up with a solid win over a less than solid Golden State team last night.

The Bruins are in a similar situation. They had started to play better after an average start. David Krecji and Michael Ryder look to be headed back to last seasons scoring. They scored five goals against the defending champion Penguins. All this to give up the tying goal with under a second to play and then lose in overtime after a miscue from Tim Thomas. If the Bruins want to be contenders they have to get hot like they did last year, and they can start by winning games in which they have the lead in the final 10 seconds. They had already beaten the Pens earlier in the week in Boston and to beat them in Pittsburgh in a comeback effort would have been a good boost for this team. Instead, more disappointment and another lack luster performance on Monday, losing at home to the Islanders, 4-1.

Lastly, the state of the Patriots. They lost to the Colts. Often times this would not upset us New Englanders, but this time it's different. The Patriots lead 31-14. Tom Brady was awesome. The defense was good for three quarters. Then it all fell apart. Give Peyton Manning credit, he was his usual self throwing for four TD's and 300 yards. The biggest play, was not made by Manning however. Rather, it was Bill Belichick going for it on fourth and two from his own 28 yard-line with 2:08 to go. You've probably heard and read every side of the argument so I'll keep it short. My feeling is that Belichick did not trust his defense to stop the Colts, so what difference does it make if it is 30 yards or 70 yards? The difference is in the intangibles. Not a lot can go wrong when you only have to go 1/3 of a football field, but 3/4 is a much different story. Passes can get tipped, fumbles can happen, hell look at Laurence Maroney. In Bill we trust, but we can still question.

Footie Madness

In the ever competitive game of Women's soccer, it's really not whether you win or lose but if you can survive. In the past week, two separate instances have led to national publicity for the relatively tame sport. First, there was New Mexico State's Elizabeth Lambert kicking, punching and even pulling ponytails (above in red) on her way to internet fame. Lambert was later suspended indefinitely. Today, news broke of a high school girls state championship erupting into fisticuffs. Personally, both incidents don't bother me too much and I'll tell you why.

For starters, they involve student-athletes under the age of 25. Without sounding sexist, I think that most young adults from 16-22 have a lot to deal with. All the girls involved here undoubtedly have other things on their plate besides playing soccer. Having said that, I think it's understandable that things may get out of hand every once and awhile. Until this weekend, when was the last time we heard a story of violence associated with Women's sports? More than likely you can count the number of incidents on one hand. It's unfair that this had to happen, shining an ugly light on the sport. Now, think of how many melee's occur in college high school and college male sports. Almost, weekly there are players getting arrested, cheating to pass or more recently gouging eyes out. People will claim their outrage at these young ladies actions, but isn't that a bit hypocritical when young men are doing the same at a much more alarming rate?

New York State of Mind

The Yankees. The single most hated franchise by everyone outside of the Bronx. Their 27th championship only adds to this hatred for most, but in a way this one is different. For the first time, notorious ass holes like Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira are part of the mix. Now it's true they've won with some pretty big low class jack-offs in the past (Paul O'Neill comes to mind) but at least O'Neill wasn't being paid $150 mil. to help win. The fact is the Yankees have the highest payroll in baseball by some $60 mil. which is ridiculous. All-stars at every position and an MVP that pinch hit in games three through five and two (if not more) admitted HGH users. Yes the scum of the Earth has won and for us hate them, it's just adding fuel to rampant wild fire.

Hey When You're Right, You're Right

The Celtics looked scary good last night, while the Bruins looked less than impressive. While the B's were on the wrong end of some outstanding saves by Chris Osgood, the offense is anemic. Not to mention their power play (0 for 3) looking just dreadful. They need scoring and quick.

On the flip side, the Celtics are looking like varsity while everyone else is just JV. It is really almost pathetic how bad they've beaten their opponents thus far. Other than the opener against Cleveland, they've won every game by double digits including wins by 28, 31 and 33. If that isn't domination, I don't know what is. There is no reason to suggest why this team can't keep it up, especially with Rasheed Wallace scoring 20 points in just 23 minutes. The Hub better hope the Bruins start getting some production like that or there will be only one team in the playoffs this May.

No Playoffs, No Problem

It's Tuesday, which means there is no football. It also happens to mean an off-day for the World Series. Fear not sports fans, there are sports to watch. The Celtics travel to Philly to take on the Sixers starting at 7 (Comcast SportsNet) and the Bruins will have their hands full playing in Detroit.

For both the Boston teams there are some interesting storylines. The C's appear to be unstoppable and take on a team whose already given up 120+ points twice in three games. Despite this being the first of a back-to-back, traveling to Minnesota Wednesday, this game looks to be a winnable one for the green.

The Bruins, on the other hand, could be in trouble. With last year's leading scorer Marc Savard out, the black and gold have struggled mightily to score. It's been so bad they've managed just three goals in their last three games. They desperately need Patrice Bergeron, Michael Ryder and David Krejci to pick up the slack or their slide will continue. Not to mention their playing the Red Wings, who aren't too bad themselves.

Rumblings in the NFL

Sunday was a day full of surprises and there was none bigger than Denver getting ruined by Baltimore. That wasn't the only big game of the day in the AFC. The Jets did it again, finding a way to look awful against the Dolphins. No hot dogs on this day, Mark. Ted Ginn, however, deserves two dogs for his double dip in the 3rd quarter.

Elsewhere, the Bills lost to the Texans meaning the idle Patriots are a game and a half up on the Jets, with a chance to increase their lead next week when they host the Dolphins. The fins have had success with their "wildcat" gimmick, but as we saw in Week 12 of 2008 the Patriots can't be fooled twice. The Jets certainly can and were fooled, again. If the Pats win they might run away with the division. If they don't win though, they better hope 11-5 is good enough to get in because they'll be lucky to get there with trips to Indianapolis and Naw'leans.

Spook-tacular

Tonight is Game Three of the Fall Classic, with the series tied 1-1. This was meant to be posted a few days back but I'm a busy man. The Phillies are a cocky bunch and look to repeat for the first time in their history. Hell, two championships in any sport in Philly is remarkable. Chase Utley has been a beast thus far, reaching base for a record 27 straight playoff games. If the Phils are to win Game Three they'll need Cole Hamels to revert to his 2008 form, as he's been pretty much terrible thus far in '09. Playing in the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, the Phils are going to score some runs. However, if Hamels is giving them up at a similar rate then it could favor the Yankees who have a more power heavy lineup (Ed. Note: Philadelphia had four players with 30+ Home Runs, New York had eight with 20+).

If the Yankees win Game Three, this will be a seven game series. The Phillies will not lose two in a row at home and with Cliff Lee going in Game Five, this should go back to the Bronx 3-2 Philly. If it goes seven and Hamels starts, it could spell trouble. However, I think Philadelphia sweeps at home winning the series in five, just like J-Roll predicted, and repeating as World Champs.

The Haps

The NBA season begins tonight and although I am in no way an expert on basketball, you should check it out. A handful of games are on tap, but none bigger than the Celtics visiting Cleveland to start the season. The C's added Rasheed Wallace in the off-season, a move that gives them depth on the bench and an added veteran presence as they make another run at a title. The Cavs, along with the Magic, figure to be their biggest contenders if they can stay healthy. That's a big if. Glen "Big Baby" Davis is already injured, breaking his thumb in a fight with his friend. He is scheduled to be out 6-8 weeks and his presence will certainly be missed when the Celtics try and stop Shaq tonight.

As far as the season is concerned, I think you can expect the Celtics to win at least 60 games as they have done the past two seasons. If Garnett's knee holds up and the big three dominate like they're capable of doing, another championship is certainly a feasible task.

Weekend of Despair

As you've probably noticed, this weekend sucked for New England sports fans. The Sox were swept away by the Angels in the most unlikely fashion and the Pats looked terrible in the second half against former offensive protege Josh McDaniels and the Broncos.

While both losses were arguably shocking and disappointing, the Red Sox loss has to be the worse of the two. Over the past five seasons they have made it a habit of coming back when down (0-3 in 2004, 1-3 in 2007 and forcing a seventh game after down 1-3 in 2008) but this year they were the team to collapse. Leading 5-2 into the eighth and 6-4 in the ninth, one would have thought we'd see a Game Four. Not so fast. Jonathan Papelbon was terrible in his only relief appearance of the series (1 IP, 4 hits, 2 BB, 3 ER) and suddenly the season was over. Truly a terrible way to end the season and leave a lot to be desired come this off-season. Two questions loom largest: Will the Sox re-sign Jason Bay or go elsewhere? Will Papelbon be on the trading block with Daniel Bard big league ready? Deep down you'd like to see the Sox explore options for a big power bat, but Bay is a solid player that will hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs. Look for them to do all they can to re-sign him. It is highly unlikely that the Red Sox with trade Papelbon but if they do they'll either get a boatload of high level prospects or a young starter like Felix Hernandez in Seattle.


Sunday's misery was not over after Papelbon blew the game in the ninth. Rather, the Patriots built a comfortable lead of their own before falling flat in the second half, losing 20-17 in OT. Tom Brady looked good in the first half, throwing two touchdowns and leading the Pats against a tough Broncos D. The second 30 minutes were a disaster. Brady was inaccurate, rushed and looked to be a bit confused at times. Although the Broncos defense deserves a lot of the credit, Brady was just not what we've become accustomed to. On the other side, Kyle Orton looked like John Elway, completing 73% of his passes while throwing for 330 yards and two touchdowns himself. If not for a complete let down in the fourth quarter, along with some stupid penalties, the Patriots could be 4-1 and atop the AFC East. Instead, they are 3-2 and looking average at best.

A final note to Denver, burn those uniforms and never speak of them or wear them again. Thank you.

SoCal Slaughter

One sports fans misery was another's delight on Thursday. It started in Boston and ended in Los Angeles, as the Ducks thoroughly embarrassed the Bruins in their own building and then the Angels dominated the Red Sox in Game One of their American League Division series.

The night started well enough, as the B's scored first and led 1-0 after the first 20 minutes. It all went to hell from there. Teemu Selanne potted two PP goals and Corey Perry added an even strength tally and it was 3-1 Ducks heading into the third. The Bruins looked uninspired and played like garbage on their way to giving up three more goals and losing 6-1. Certainly not the effort fans wanted coming off a 7-2 thrashing of the Canes and a four day lay off. Islanders are up next and may be the sacrificial goat the B's need.

The night ended in shambles. The Sox got four hits, all singles. John Lackey looked like a Hall of Famer. For all that went wrong, CB Bucknor is an ass hole, gotta hand it to the Angels. Torii Hunter has been a vocal leader for this team and backed it up with his bat last night, hitting a decisive three-run bomb to dead center. Other than that hit, Jon Lester pitched pretty damn good in his own right. If the Sox are going to win this series they have to have Game Two tonight (9:37 EST, TBS) and salvage a split before heading back to Fenway. It will be interesting to see if the bats get going against Jered Weaver who has been solid all season for the Halos. If Josh Beckett is healthy, he claims he is, and pitches like he has in the postseason, sans 2008 against the Rays, he could shut down the Angels and spare us from seeing Ramon Ramirez shit himself on the mound again.

Stay East Young Man

The Bruins announced yesterday that they had re-signed forward/tough guy Milan Lucic to a three-year, $12.25 million contract extension. This comes on the heels of trading another youngster, Phil Kessel, to division rivals Toronto. From the outside one would question the trading of the much more offensively gifted Kessel (66 goals in 222 games) and signing resident tough guy Lucic (70 points in 151 games) to such a hefty deal. It is not that simple, however. The Bruins feel they have a solid core group and look to keep them around for some time. This is made abundantly clear by Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli,

"You’ll see that the players we want to sign, we will sign."

There you have it. He believes in Lucic, and why wouldn't he? He's an exciting young player who gets the crowd on their feet, whether it be pummeling another man's face or putting the puck in the net. He would have been a restricted free-agent at the end of the year, and the B's weren't about to let that happen.

Playoff Time Part 2

As promised here is a look at American League half of the Postseason outlook. Arguably the most intriguing match-up is the Red Sox and the Angels, but that begins tomorrow night so we begin with the Twins and Yankees.

Two teams with complete opposite paths to the Division Series. The Yankees are big spenders who were the first team to wrap up a playoff spot and have a murderous line-up one through nine. Minnesota is your typical small market team who does not spend, relying rather on scouts and a bountiful system of young talent and prospects. With former MVP Justin Morneau out, the onus is on batting champion Joe Mauer and Morneau's replacement Michael Cuddyer, who is coming off a career year, to step up if the Twins are to have any chance. New York has better top of the rotation starters, better offense and have been able to rest. All signs point to them sweeping this series, but if Jason Kubel can get hot along with Mauer and Cuddyer, the Twins might just have a chance. Not to mention the Sabathia and A-Rod choke jobs of previous Octobers. Pick: Yankees in 4.

The Angels and Red Sox are set to meet for the third consecutive Postseason and fourth time in six years. Some say the Sox have their number, some say the Angels don't match up well, I say it's just a coincidence. The Red Sox have two great pitchers going the first two games and arguably so to do the Angels. The Angels might struggle with previous failures, but the Sox certainly do not rest on past success. Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have done well in previous trips to the Playoffs, each winning rings with Boston, but that does not mean they'll be looking beyond a dangerous Angels offense that can run and hit for both power and average. The same is true for the Red Sox offense which has AL stolen base leader Jacoby Ellsbury at the top and four guys with 20 or more home runs. The biggest question is whether Boston can get the starting pitching it needs to give its offense a chance to win. Throughout the season the offense struggled, but when Victor Martinez was acquired at the deadline it seemed to fire up this team. The Angels bats will be a true indication of whether this will be a quick series or a long one. If Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu get going early, the Red Sox could be in trouble. On the other hand, if Lester and Beckett silence them and Jonathan Papelbon repeats his previous success, the Sox should take care of the Angels no problem. Watch for Abreu to have a huge impact offensive if the Angels win. Pick: Red Sox in 5.

Playoff Time

Once again it is time for MLB Postseason to remind us that baseball is still going on. For the 22 teams not competing, fear not, football season is in full swing. For the eight teams in the race, however, football will be on the back burner for at least another week. Here's an idea of how things should/could/might shape up in both leagues.

We will start with the National League because the Rockies and Phillies get under way in a about an hour. In this rematch of the 2007 NLDS, pitching is most certainly the biggest question. The Rockies are without Jorge De La Rosa who lead their team in wins (16) during the regular season. Philadelphia's bullpen is a mess and Cole Hamels has struggled all season. However, they still have Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ who can eat innings and win ball games. Colorado has Ubaldo Jimenez going in Game One and Aaron Cook in Game Two. With the destructive left-handed bats in the Phillies lineup, this could easily be a sweep. Don't count out the Rockies though, they've been here before and did pretty well for themselves. Pick: Phillies in 4.

The other National League bout is a good one, pitting arguably the two best hitters of the last decade, Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez, against one another. Once again, pitching will be the determining factor. The Cardinals have two of the best in NL in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright . It isn't a stretch to say that they could win both games in LA, meaning they'd have to win only one of two at home. For the Dodgers, they have veteran Randy Wolf going in Game One, following that with youngster Clayton Kershaw in Game Two. It is important to note that both pitchers are left-handed and could present problems to leadoff hitter Skip Schumaker (.220 vs LHP in '09) and Colby Rasmus (.160 vs LHP in '09). Schumaker must get on in order for Pujols and clean-up hitter Matt Holliday to be effective. Still, the Cardinals are a much stronger team than the Dodgers, but if youngsters Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and James Loney can produce like they did in the regular season this team could get back to the NLCS for a second consecutive year. Pick: Cardinals in 5.

Stay tuned for the AL Playoff Preview coming later.

Enough Already

Show of hands, who else is sick of ESPN's raging mega-huge boner for Brett Favre? Okay. I'm not alone. During last night's Vikings victory over the Packers Jon Gruden basically professed his love for Favre and it was almost as if the producers were encouraging him. Throughout the game the whole booth had a love fest with Favre and how the "gunslinger" was back and the Vikings were the second coming of Christ, etc. WE GET IT. You want Favre to succeed so you can create media hype. However, as a national media outlet you need to be unbiased and ESPN is definitely biased. It'd be one thing if it were a local station but this it's ESPN, the supposed "World Wide Leader in Sports." Highly unacceptable.

In closing, to you Jon Gruden, shut up and get over Favre, he's good but he most certainly did not throw 5,000 balls in practice.

Flying High Again

Another tough challenge, another tough win. The Pats faced the undefeated Ravens and their vaunted defense, yet lead the majority of the game, winning 27-21. Coming off a fairly convincing win over the Falcons, the Pats were playing arguably their toughest opponent yet. It started well with the Ravens fumbling the opening kickoff, giving Brady and the offense a chance to go up seven without batting an eyelash. It wasn't meant to be as Sam "Hands of Clay" Aiken dropped a pass on first down, leading to a Gostowski field goal. The teams went back and forth, but the Pats D held serve when it mattered most. A Leigh Bodden interception late in the first half stopped the Ravens from scoring and preserved the Pats ten point lead. Then leading by six late in the game, the defense bent but did not break and the Ravens turned the ball over on downs inside the New England 15 yard line. Brandon Meriweather was all over the field and along with Brandon McGowan (FROM?... Maine!), the secondary seems to be getting stronger every game.

For all the talk about Tom Brady struggles in the first few games, I was impressed by his passing skills today and although he wasn't perfect, he got the W. It's also good to see him get fired up after a roughing the passer penalty. The defense has been outstanding, surpassing even the most optimistic expectations. If they continue on this path, a division title is absolutely reasonable. Especially when the Jets realize they can't win a road game with "Dirty" Sanchez.

Across the Pond

Assuming most of the followers don't read about or pay close attention to soccer, or to some "football", here's a free lesson. Perhaps the biggest name in soccer left the English Premier League this past summer going for a record £80 million (roughly $150 million) transfer fee. I am of course talking about Cristiano Ronaldo who joined Real Madrid after six seasons with Manchester United. While the Reds are still a powerhouse in the EPL, Real Madrid is now a formidable opponent to FC Barcelona who is coming off championships in both the Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions league. The move certainly benefits Madrid more so than ManU but both teams seem to be doing alright.

The Champions league has completed the second round of games in the group stage, with some interesting results. The third round, or matchday, is scheduled for Oct. 20 and 21 and has some key matchups including Arsenal traveling to Alkmaar (Netherlands) on the 20th and AC Milan visting Real Madrid on the following day. If you haven't checked out soccer yet, I suggest doing so now because it only gets more intense as the weather grows colder.

Hub in Full Effect

With the Celtics starting training camp and the Bruins set to drop the puck tomorrow night, Boston is once again a four team town. The Sox have clinched, Garnett is back and the Pats looked better last week so all systems are a go for the B's to start up where the left off last regular season. I'll be the first to say that last year this team should have gone farther and accomplished more, but winning the Eastern Conference, Vezina (Tim Thomas, Best Goalie), Norris (Zdeno Chara, Best Defenseman) and Jack Adams (Claude Julien, Best Coach) ain't too shabby. Still, this team has a lot to build on and could conceivably contend for the next half-decade if they can stay healthy and score. The emergence of David Krejci in 08-09 allowed for the B's to part ways with Phil "The Thrill" Kessel. It is unclear whether Krejci will be available for tomorrow night's tilt against the Caps, but if not this team has enough depth to win without him. Marc Savard and Milan Lucic will anchor the first line and expect to see either Blake Wheeler or Michael Ryder on the right side. Combine that with a second line of Patrice Bergeron, Chuck Kobasew and Mark Recchi and a third line of Marco Sturm centered by Krejci or Zac Hammel and either Ryder or Wheeler and you have three pretty solid lines.

The defense and goaltending, substitute Tuukka Rask for Manny Fernandez, is much the same and if they can repeat last season's success (Fewest goals allowed in the NHL) this team should finish in the top three in the Eastern Conference. The question then will be if this team can make the leap or fall short like so many Bruins teams in the 2000's. In my humble opinion, trading one of their first round picks in 2010 or 2011 for a scorer could make all the difference.

VICTORY! Sort of...

The Red Sox finally clinched the Wild Card last night, through no help of their own. Losing their fifth straight, it was the Rangers loss in Anaheim that sealed the deal for the Sox third consecutive post-season appearance. Although they are finally able to breathe easy and rest up for the playoffs, it would be nice to see this team win some games. Getting swept in New York is the last thing the Sox need before a potential ALCS showdown. Following that up with Clay Buchholz getting shelled by Toronto and suddenly I'm worried again. It's natural to feel this way, but after the 2008 ALCS, I'm not entirely sure the Sox can make it to the World Series with the starting pitching they have. Lester's knee and Beckett's ego will determine how far this team actual goes.

Preview To The Remix

The Red Sox wrapped up a three-game series with the Angels last night, losing 4-3. They did take two of three including a controversial 9-8 victory on Wednesday night. More importantly, however, was the re-emergence of Dice-K and the continued beat down of the Angels at Fenway. Sure they lost the last game, but Josh Beckett pitched brilliantly through eight innings and if not for a certain backup catcher going ole on a strikeout, it would have been 3-2 into the ninth. Despite Varitek's best sabotage efforts, the Red Sox have begun to heat up as the weather cools which is a good indication that they will go deep into October.

With the exception of Wednesday's game, the pitching was superb. Dice-K exceeded expectations with six scoreless, while Beckett looked like the ace once again. If the Red Sox are to make it far this post season they'll need performance like the aforementioned to win a third title this decade.

Fred Cusick 1918-2009

One of the legendary broadcasters of our time passed away Tuesday night. Fred Cusick, the great Bruins play-by-play man who inspired a new generation of fans in the Hub, was 90 years old. I am truly saddened by his departure and was glad to find out he was still doing radio down on the Cape this summer. The man loved his profession and was great at doing it. As a fellow broadcaster I am sad to see this day come, but may his legacy live on.

Meltdowns

It may be Wednesday (technically Thursday) but I got a few things I have to get off my chest. First and foremost, fuck you Kanye. I like to keep the blog clean but I really can't think of more appropriate sentiments and gigantic middle finger to Kanye West. If you've been under a rock, this ultra-mega-douche decided it would be appropriate to walk (scroll to the 0:26 mark) onto the stage of the MTV Movie Awards and take the mic from 19 year-old Taylor Swift. Swift had just won her first award and was about to give her jittery thanks to millions of adoring fans when West waltzed onstage to relieve her of her duties. Thanks buddy. He went on to spew about how Beyonce should have won, etc. etc. We all know how talented she is and you think you are, but let the girl have her moment. While it was refreshing to have Beyonce call Swift back to the stage to say what she wanted before, the ignorance shown by Kanye is just incredible. The awards will not be remembered for what award Swift won (which was...?) but rather the arrogant and selfish actions of Kanye West. Way to go ass hole. Go bang your nasty ass girlfriend.


Speaking of women, a certain female tennis player made news for all the wrong reasons this past Saturday. I'm talking of course about Serena Williams tirade on a line judge during her US Open Semi-Final. On a day normally dominated by Michigan - Notre Dame garble and how badly the Big Ten sucks (namely Ohio State), we actually heard quiet a loud rumble from a place no where near the day's biggest games. Instead we heard quite a bit about Serena's epic flip out. While she isn't the first tennis star to lose their marbles at an official, it comes as a surprise from an athlete who is generally fairly mild mannered and polite. Telling someone you are going to "(take) this ball and shovin' it in (their) fuckin' throat" is hardly lady like. But I guess when you're pissed you say things you don't mean. I've done it. Hell Obama called Kanye a jackass. I'm sure those two are tight.

To crucify Williams is a bit harsh. Most of the media has given her the chance to apologize, she even went on Good Morning America for her "I'm not that much of a hormonal bitch" tour. Her accolades are endless and for the most part she keeps her mood in check. Although this is a fairly big slip-up, it did cost her the match and rightfully so. To hang this over her head, though is unfair to her and the graceful game of tennis. At least Roger Federer kept his cool.

That's More Like It

For the first three quarters and a half quarters, it looked as though Tom Brady wasn't fully recovered. Over the last five minutes of Monday Night's game, however, he showed he was. He threw two TD passes in the final 2:06 to win a wild season opener over the Bills 25-24.

Although I was unable to physically watch the game, listening to it put me in sheer hysterics. After falling behind 24-13, Brady decided he'd had with the snakes on his plane and proceeded to lead an 11 play, 81-yard drive down the field; capped by an 18-yard strike to TE Ben Watson. The Bills put their hands team out (why?) and the Pats kicked it deep. Brandon Meriweather made the play of the night, stopping return man Leodis McKelvin in his tracks long enough to allow Pierre Woods to strip him of the ball. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski recovered the ball and the Pats were in business a shade outside the Bills 30 yard-line. Brady struck again, completing three passes including the difference making 16-yard strike to Watson on the identical play.

You can dwell on how poorly the Pats played or how the Bills should have won or even how Dick Jauron looks like death. But none of that matters. They found a way to win and should come as no surprise that it was Tom Terrific leading the charge.

Day to Remember

Today is the eight anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York. In 30 years, 9/11 won't have the same pull. It will be like Black Friday, Pearl Harbor and D-day before it. So before it fades into a distant memory take time out of your day and remember what happened. Unless you are just starting the second grade, chances are you remember it and where you were.

Sour Balls

Has there ever been such a big deal made about a man named Prince? On Sunday, Prince Fielder hit a walk-off homer against the Giants and proceeded to jump on home plate. Common practice in the game of baseball. What is not common is having your teammates all fall backwards as you do this. I personally have no problem with it but some people apparently do. Baseball is slow, sometimes boring and can be meaningless this time of year. But that didn't stop Prince from having a little fun on the Sunday before Labor Day. While some players not involved, like Torii Hunter, decide to give their two cents it remains to be seen how the Giants feel. As this is my blog, I'll tell you how they should feel. They shouldn't get upset because the Brewers are out of it and you know Fielder mentioned the celebration before he hit the homer. To have the balls to say that and follow through with it shows how good he really is. As far as the league is concerned, if Bud Selig tries to pull any crap with suspensions or more likely fines, he's doing the game and himself an injustice. He's already done that once in Milwaukee.

Just Say No

Richard Seymour was traded from the Patriots on Sunday to the Raiders for a first round pick in 2011. Or so we thought. It's almost Wednesday now and Seymour still isn't walking through that door. Raiders say he's working things out for a long-term contract, I say he's politely telling the Pats he'll do whatever necessary to stay.

While it is doubtful (read: impossible) Seymour will remain a Patriot, he is acting accordingly. The Raiders need help on the D-line and who better than someone with three Super Bowl victories and five Pro Bowl appearances. With these credentials comes a price. Seymour's got one year left on his contract and wisely wants some stability before fording the rivers and losing oxen on the trek out west.

Also, in the case of a certain Ohio State QB, just say no to speaking. Terrelle Pryor spoke after Saturday's win, explaining why he wrote "Mike Vick" on his eye black. As much as Pryor sucked in the game itself, the press conference was equally disastrous.
Disclaimer: If you are involved with Public Relations in any way, look away now. Here's what Mr. Pryor had to say,

"Not everybody's the perfect person in the world. I mean everyone kills people, murders people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever. I think that people need a second chance, and I've always looked up to Mike Vick, and I always will."

Needless to say, the Buckeyes may reconsider letting Pryor speak to the media without someone around to watch what he says. For now, just another great quote from a college athlete. Makes you wonder how much stock they put in the student part of student-athlete.

Who's the genius?

"In Bill We Trust" is the motto echoed throughout New England. The latest move by the Belichick brain trust has raised some doubts. Sunday, the Patriots traded five time Pro Bowler and three time Super Bowl winner Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders for their first round pick in the 2011 draft. After the initial shock of the deal, it appears that Belichick has once again made a controversial move that will be beneficial. As of now, it is unclear when it will be beneficial but Belichick has a track record of making moves that pan out.

Time will tell if the Raiders are getting the same Seymour that helped start a dynasty in New England or an aging D-Lineman who will be a free agent at season's end. "In Bill We Trust" indeed Pats fans.

Now I'll tell you who is NOT a genius. Shawne Merriman. Sometime around 3:45 a.m. Sunday, Merriman allegedly choked and restrained his gal Tila Tequila. It should not come as a surprise that he would let his temper get the best of him, probably just some roid rage. Interesting to see what, if any, punishment will be levied. At least there were no weapons involved.

I certainly do not condone domestic violence and would add that no matter what defense Merriman uses, nothing good happens at 3:45 a.m. Except Domino's 5-5-5.

Silly Canadians

In the US of A, lacrosse is mostly a sport for young men and women still enrolled in some form of academia. In Canada, it's for real men. Before today I didn't know of the existence of a professional lacrosse league in Canada, nor did I really care. However, that has changed now that Game One of the Mann Cup (seriously) is over.

A quick synopsis if I may. One of the stars for the Brampton Excelsiors (ManBearPig anyone?), Colin Doyle, was hit hard by a New Westminster Salmon-belly (Odd) and as he was being looked at by trainers, some players began grumbling about the event. One thing led to another and well, this happened.

Some pretty intense action for a lacrosse game I must say. It seems strange that this type of reaction would ensue but I guess its to be expected when you are vying for the now infamous Mann Cup. Fear not Excelsior fans, Doyle returned for Game 2 and helped even the series with two goals and four assists.

TGIF Grumblin'

If you were lucky to catch last night's Oregon - Boise State game, you hopefully saw LeGarrette Blount's outburst. Out of context this looks incredibly vicious and unprovoked. To be honest, I kind of like it. Oregon's new coach Chip Kelly certainly did not, suspending him the rest of the season. However, if you saw any of said game the Ducks were lifeless and pathetic. Granted, Blount's actions did little to fire up his team and came closer to inciting a riot but at least he gave the 'ole college try.

In other college football news, I would have fallen asleep watching NC State and South Carolina had I been watching it. However, the Red Sox were busy taking two of three from the nightmare palace known as Tropicana Field. The Ole Ball Coach can be happy they won a squeaker, but that effort won't hold up in the SEC and he knows it. Thankfully he gave internet sensation, and Heidi Watney nemesis, Erin Andrews exclusive insight on the matter. That's all for now, have a great Labor Day Weekend and always designate a driver, or chessboard. And in case you didn't notice, the Mets are awful.

For Those Living the Fantasy

At the behest of a reader, here is some free Fantasy insight. I am by no means an expert but I've read a multitude of sources which should help you out.

First and foremost, avoid Favre. He throws way too many interceptions (especially when he tries to make things happen) and he's got Adrian Peterson to give the ball to so I don't seem him doing much for your team.

Consider taking some lesser known backs like Ray Rice (Ravens) and TJ Duckett (Seahawks) both will be available late and could be studs if they stay healthy. Rice will probably split time with Willis McGahee but he could get the bulk of the load in the red zone.

Besides the obvious choices at wide-out, Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, look at guys like Eddie Royal in Denver. If Brandon Marshall doesn't quit his whining he'll most likely be out and his distraction is Royal's gain. Also, don't forget about Tony Gonzalez in Indy. With Marvin Harrison gone, he's most likely going to step and fill the void.

Any questions feel free to leave them as a comment. Good luck loyal constituents.

Some Rumblings in Sport

There are many ludicrous deals in sports but the NHL has to be at the top with the number of years on a contract. Marian Hossa already signed a 12-year deal with Chicago and yesterday the Canucks did the same with goalie Roberto Luongo.

In other September NHL news, great article from Yahoo!Sports on the Bruins.

Remember former Boston College football coach Jeff Jagodzinski? He was the guy who was told he'd be fired if he interviewed for the New York Jets job. Well, he went to the interview, got fired by BC and wound up in Tampa Bay as the Bucs Offensive Coordinator. He clearly did something offensive because he was fired today.
Although not a BC fan myself, it is refreshing to see a team put loyalty in such high esteem. Clearly Jagodzinski took the Eagles job for granted and it backfired. Enjoy your trips to the unemployment line with Pacman!

Chew that Pacman

Earlier this week it was reported that Adam "Pacman" Jones was going to sign a one-year deal with Winnipeg of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Their coach, however, said no thanks and the troubled CB is still unemployed like the rest of the country.

Since being drafted Jones has been done more off the field than on it. The guys is a class A moron and Winnipeg should be applauded for their decision not to sign him.

Summer's over

The fall is the best time of the year anyways. Football season is upon us once again with college opening up tomorrow with a handful of games, most notably #16 Oregon at #14 Boise St. While the first weekend generally has some intriguing match-ups, it also has defending champion and #1 Florida welcoming Charleston Southern into the Swamp for what will undoubtedly be a one-sided affair. Look, I am all for Florida opening with a cupcake because they will face plenty of challenges later in the season playing in the SEC. But Charleston Southern? They are 73 point underdogs. Obviously you take the under.

Take a look at #11 LSU, they travel to Washington to take on the Huskies. While they were abysmal last year, they are still a FBS school playing in a BCS conference. At least the folks at LSU are trying to test themselves instead of feasting on some tiny opponent from South Carolina.

As the season begins, there is not shortage of headlines. Greg Paulus leaves Duke to become the QB for Syracuse. (Something tells me he's not going to matter much). Oklahoma St. TE Jamal Mosley left after a protective order was filed against him. (He was slated to be the starter but apparently couldn't handle johnny law in his grill?) Finally, Rich Rodriguez apparently over did it with some of the off-season workouts. Okay, so I understand that they restrict these workouts for a reason, but what is the reason? I mean for the most part this training occurs during the summer when school for most is not in session. So what gives? Are these restrictions in place so the kids can't be taught new plays, formations, etc.? Or are they there so the kids aren't physically exhausted by the first week of September? Either way, they don't seem to make sense. The players will learn the formations and plays anyway (spring practice anyone?) and if a coach wants to run them til exhaustion he's only hurting his own cause. The rules just don't make sense and all they seem to do is encourage parents to bitch, which they do enough of anyway.

Been Awhile...

And I apologize. Things have been downright batshit crazy in sports lately with the whole A-roid scandal, spring training and whatever bullshit ESPN drums up. I personally could give two shits about A-roid and his fantastical story about his cousin injecting him "twice a month" and the two of them not knowing what they were doing. Please, spare me the nonsense. It's fairly obvious by pictures of your cousin (and the MLB banning him in 2001) that your cousin knew EXACTLY what he was doing and you were just scared you were going to get caught. Well, you did. And although you admitted to it, sort of, you still left so much to be desired. Nobody liked you before and now everyone knows just how much of a bitch you really are. But I digress. There is so much more in sports that we could focus on. Like March madness coming up, or the NFL combine or my personal favorite, the NHL. The Bruins get a rematch tonight against Florida after losing to them Saturday 2-0 in what was a dismal offensive showing. Yes, Thomas Vokoun made 41 saves and played well, but we had a god damn 5 minute power play that me cringe like I was watching an Even Stevens marathon. Painful. They follow that up with a loss to the Lightning on Sunday. Remind me why we don't trade Manny Fernandez for Eric Cole? I mean the Oilers clearly need a goalie and we clearly need a tough left handed shot. Fucking pull the trigger. For all the good Peter Chiarelli has done in Boston, he has yet to make an impact deal. He's done a good job with free agents but didn't make a big trade last year and it looks more and more likely that he will be reluctant to do so this year. Whatever happens, the B's need to go on the offensive or their ship will sink faster than the motha fuckin Amistad. Put Krejci with Kessel and Savard with Wheeler, that's what needs to happen. Until then, watch out for the Devils, their creeping like MJ in Thriller.

Glorious Hub!

The Bruins are back! Literally. After a five day lay off the black and gold took on the team closest to them in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals. As expected it was a hard fought game that went into overtime. The B's, who battled back twice from one goal deficits, were able to capitalize on a power play in the extra session and beat the Caps for the first time this season. More importantly, however, they got excellent contributions from Patrice Bergeron, Andrew Ference and Milan Lucic all returning after missing time. Bergeron (16 games) and Ference (21 games) had been out for so long, that when NESN aired re-runs of games from November it made you realize how well this team did without them. Regardless, until tonight they couldn't beat Ovechkin and his traveling wildebeasts. After tonight, things don't get much easier. The Devils and Rangers come to town before road games in Montreal, Philly and Ottawa which will be a true test of grit for this young(ish) team. As every great team knows, you can't win em all but if the B's can get hot out of the break, they may be playing after Maine thaws out. Which, incidentally, could be June at the rate we're going.

Super Letdown

So the Super Bowl is just a few days away and other than the diehard Steelers fans, who really cares? I mean honestly. Up until now, the Cardinals haven't done diddily poo and other than the win in Carolina, they haven't looked that impressive. History certainly isn't on their side and while I'll be the first to admit that anything can happen in one game, I don't really like their chances. I want to know what you think. If you have an opinion let's hear it! And remember to check out my columns at www.mainecampus.com just go to the sports section. Only time will tell what happens but don't hold your breath for another upset.