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.