SSR

When Hope Sprung Eternal -- Repost from April 6, 2009

2013-04-08T07:18:00.004-04:00

Today is a holiday in my family.

Right up there with New Years, Turkey Day, and Hanukkah.

On this day you drop what you are doing, call in sick, and head to the Fens to witness the unveiling of a new season.

For 16 years, starting in 1990, it was family tradition. My dad and my neighbor Stevie would sleep out on the cold pavement outside the Red Sox ticket window the day tickets went on sale. They would wake up the next morning, well positioned in line, and purchase tickets to multiple games, but most importantly, Opening Day.

When the day of the game would arrive, unfathomable excitement would overtake me. I would go to school in the morning, knowing I would be dismissed at around 11 A.M. As such, I spent my time in school entirely fixated on the game. Between writing down potential lineups, and staring at the clock, time seemed to move very quickly. At around 11, the call would come from the office to dismiss me. I would sprint down the hallway, my head spinning at how I would spend the rest of my day.

I would return to my house to the smell of microwaved popcorn and the sound my dad nagging my mom about how we needed leave at least an hour before game time. Along with our gloves, we would pack my parents old blue backpack with everything anyone could ever want to eat at a game: Peanuts, popcorn, grapes, cookies, cherries, turkey, apples, cracker-jacks, and sun flower seeds. Of course, my parents would stop at El Giardino's to grab huge overflowing deli sandwiches on the way, and by the time we got to the park, we had enough food to feed the whole section.

We would park in the secret ritzy neighborhood hidden between Comm Ave and Beacon street, where parking was free if you knew exactly where the police liked to ticket. We would walk to the game, stopping at "The Short Stop Deli" on Brookline Avenue to grab the best deal in Boston; 2 dogs, chips, and a large drink for $4.99. Usually the owner, Rosie, would also throw in some purple big league chew that she would order specially for me, free of charge.

Every year on the way to the park, right after we passed Graffiti Rock on Commonwealth Ave next to the BU bridge, my dad would turn to me and say the same 8 words. "I can feel it. This is the year." Most years we would both wait a few anxious seconds while this idea floated through our brains and then laugh because we knew it was a pipe dream. Remember, these were the early 90's and the Red Sox had a consistent track record of marching out teams with over hyped youngsters and veterans two or three years past their prime. Players like Scott Cooper and Carlos Quintana would tease with their seemingly huge upside, while there was always hope that vets like Jack Clark, Mark Whiten, and Rob Deer would suddenly regain the skills they possessed in their heyday, five years prior. We would proceed to park anyway, happy to watch what would usually amount to the beginning of a train wreck. We would cheer the Danny Darwin's of the world and try to hold out hope that it would all come together.

What I never imagined is that when it did, the whole Opening Day experience would be altered forever.

Instead of cheering on a lovable loser with a bunch of has-beens and never will be's, it was cheering the newest multi-million dollar acquisition of the John Henry and Co. Rosie's deli was turned into an Ace Ticket, a corrupt ticket broker who uses loopholes in the law and friends in high places to make a killing of tickets that used to go to the everyday fan.

Old, worn "good-luck" hats were replaced by Green and Pink ones sporting 10 different types of logos on the front, back, and sides.

Tickets stopped being sold at the box office, and went gradually from being sold over the phone, to strictly online. To top things off, instead of being able to buy multiple games at once it was changed to being able to buy one game before starting all over, or until a glitch in the system started you back at the beginning empty handed. Ticket prices went up and up and up, until it cost nearly $500 to take a family of 4 to a game. Fenway became the place to be seen, and everyone in New England tried to outbid one another to get in.

Now I am not saying that I haven't enjoyed what the new ownership has done for the organization. The new additions to the park look and feel great, the food and sound is better, and two championships in three years is something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. But with all that, came what feels like a glamorizing of one of the simplest joys I have ever experienced.

And while the past few years my neighbor and dad have been able to find their way into opening day, through ticket brokers, or an entire day spent on the phone, it really has never been the same. Opening day turned into a "who's who" for celebrities and a place to take clients in big shot law firms. The regular fans were slowly and silently squeezed out. And this year, for the first time in over 20 years, my dad and neighbor were shut out. Tickets sold out too quickly and ticket brokers have gotten the best of them one too many times. So they are resigned to do like the rest of the so-called Nation. They will watch from home or follow along on the computer at work.

I just hope that somewhere out there, there is a little kid getting dismissed from school on his way to the park with a backpack full of food and his glove in his hand.

But somehow, I doubt it. And that makes me a little sad.

AFC Championship -- Three Keys to Victory

2013-01-20T14:57:00.002-05:00

Patriots vs Ravens

1. Keep the QBs clean
The whole world knows by now that the recipe to beating the Patriots and Tom Brady is to hit him. The Texans and J.J Watt talked all last week about how they almost got to him the first time they played. Turns out, you don't get sacks or turnovers for almost hitting someone. The Texans didn't get to Brady last week and he shredded them for 41 points. While the Ravens don't have a pass rushing threat like J.J Watt, they do have Paul Kruger, a relatively well kept secret who has 10 sacks in his last 10 games. He will be matched up on the outside with Sebastian Vollmer, and his ability to get to Brady and force the Patriots to keep a TE into help will be a key factor into whether or not the Ravens blitz packages with Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis are able to get through. The Patriots want to expose the Raven linebackers inability to cover TE's and RB's but if Brady is under constant pressure the Ravens will make this impossible.

On the other side, the Patriots have lacked a sustained pass rush the last three weeks, and with Chandler Jones nursing an ankle injury, the onus will be on Rob Ninkovich to pressure Joe Flacco and prevent him from throwing the ball deep down field.

2.   Dictate the passing game
The saving grace for Joe Flacco from an otherwise mediocre skill is his arm. Blessed with one of the strongest arms in football, Flacco excels throwing the ball deep down the field -- especially on the right side to Torrey Smith or Anquan Boldin. We all know that Bill Belichick always focuses on taking away the opponents best weapon. Look for the Devin McCourty to play way off the line of scrimmage and the Patriots defense to pressure Flacco and make his throw the ball either across his body or underneath.   This will leave the Patriots front seven to stop Ray Rice, and if they can't the Pats will be forced to bring a safety into the box allowing Flacco to take his shots in one on one coverage downfield.

For the Ravens, their number one goal as a defense is going to be stopping Wes Welker. If they can contain Welker by doubling him or playing a shallow zone, Brady will be forced to rely on Brandon Lloyd and Aaron Hernandez to push the ball down field. While Lloyd burned the Ravens for 9 catches in the teams' first meeting this season, I am sure they would rather challenge him to do it again rather than being torched by Welker.

3. Special Teams
I know it sounds crazy that this is a top three key factor, but in a game that is sure be as close as this one, field position and special teams will play a huge role. Both teams struggled in kick coverage last week, with the Ravens giving up a Kick Return for a TD and the Punt Return for a TD, and the Patriots getting shredded by Danieal Manning for several long returns. The Patriots kick team needs to shred their initial blocks and get down field, something the Nate Ebner and Tracy White struggled with last week. While the Patriots return game has been absent this year, the Ravens Jacoby Jones has explosive speed and the ability to break off a game changing return.

Both teams have solid punters, with the Patriots having a slight advantage with Zoltan Mesko consistently winning the field position battle with booming, well aimed kicks.

The Ravens have a rookie kicker in Justin Tucker, who has been solid as can be this year. However, all Ravens fans and players, Tucker included, have the memory of Billy Cundiff's catastrophic gaffe from a year ago. It will be interesting to see how the rookie responds.

The Patriots Stephen Gostkowski has had his ups and downs this season, and does not seem to have the full confidence of head coach Bill Belichick.

In a windy environment, the kicking game will be huge today.

NFL Championship -- Three Keys to Victory

2013-01-20T14:27:00.001-05:00

San Francisco vs Atlanta

1. Home Dome field advantage
The Falcons have been difficult to beat in the Georgia Dome, going 8-1 this season. Remember that while Colin Kaepernick played like a veteran last weekend at Green Bay, the noise he will hear today will be yet another Welcome to the NFL test for the tattooed youngster. If the Falcons can start fast and surge off the energy of the crowd, they should be able to withstand the inevitable surge of the Niners.

2. Run to set up the pass
Both Frank Gore and Michael Turner have a lot of tread on their collective tires. Gore has looked like his younger self for most of the season. If he continues to eat up big chunks of yardage the Niners will be able to dictate the pace with long, physical drives. If not, Colin Kaepernick will be forced to sit in the pocked and throw the ball down the field which is exactly what Falcons head coach Mike Smith is looking for. On the other side of the ball, which Michael Turner will show up? There is no doubt he has lost a few steps, but he still has the size and strength to plod along for consistent short gains. The real X Factor is Jaquizz Rodgers -- if he can break several long runs like he last week, the Niners will have to bring a Safety into the box, opening up deep seam routes to Julio Jones and Roddy White.

3. Coaching
Falcons coach Mike Smith and Matt Ryan were bailed out last week by some head scratching defensive sets by Pete Carroll on the Falcons last minute game winning drive. They will receive no such soft coverages from aggressive minded Niners coach Jim Harbaugh. If the Falcons get the lead and go into their shell like they did last week, Matt Ryan will not win his second playoff game of his career. On the other side, the Niners should forget the success they had last week running the Pistol offensive against the Packers. While the Falcons defense may not be elite, they are much faster on the outside than the Packers. The Falcons lack any sort of pass rush and Harbaugh should have prepared his young QB to recognize blitz packages and read his keys to find open receivers. If Harbaugh is counting on another record setting rushing day from his QB, he will be watching the Super Bowl from home for the second year in a row.

A Clear Signal

2012-12-04T20:21:00.001-05:00

ATTENTION RED SOX NATION

John Henry, Larry Lucchino, and little Ben Cherington are sending out signals. They want the rest of baseball, Red Sox fans, both diehards and pink hats alike to know something. They are determined to be mediocre next year. That's right, you heard them. No last place finishes, no embarrassing nationally televised games in front of a largely empty Fenway Park. No sir. They will finish at least 4th. How do they know you ask them?

Have you seen the news???

They are throwing around money at veteran free agents like it's December 2010.

But they learned their lesson. The want you to know that too. Instead of the 7 year mega deal they gave to speedy but aging right fielder Carl Crawford almost exactly two years ago, they only gave a 3 year deal to speedy but aging right fielder Shane Victorino.
They don't do long term deals anymore see?

And instead of the 7 year contract they gave power hitting first basemen Adrian Gonzalez in April of 2011, they have 3 years to power hitting first basemen Mike Napoli.

With the addition of "clubhouse guy" Jonny Gomes to a 2 year deal, it would appear at first glance that the Red Sox are priming for another run at a title. It feels like the mid 2000's doesn't it?

After all, they've got their gritty, dirt dog right fielder in Victorino (Trot Nixon), their dead pull hitting, clubhouse jokester in Gomes (Kevin Millar anyone?) and they even tended the contract of insane, yet talented Alfredo Aceves (how can he not be compared to Ugueth Urbina?).

As vague as these comparisons may be, the direction of the Red Sox is finally clear -- they want to be as relevant as possible, keep fans interested, until they can either sell the team, or feasibly contend.

I wish it were different and I truly believe that they do too. The last two years have been embarrassing, and the casting off of Gonzalez, Crawford, and Beckett showed that management has learned the error of their ways. But as things stand now, they really are not shaping up to be a very awe-inspiring team. Examine the following:

By signing Gomes and Victorino the Red Sox outfield seems to be complete. Gomes will play left field and be spelled by Ryan Kalish (in retrospect who wishes we gave him up instead of Josh Reddick in the Andrew Bailey deal?), while Ellsbury will most likely play out the last year of his deal in center. Ideally the Red Sox will be able to move Ellsbury at the trading deadline or will face the prospects of heavy competition from the Yankees to sign him to a extension next off-season (Curtis Granderson is aging fast). The Victorino signing is a vast overpay at $39 million over 3 years. He is a nice player but saw his OPS sag to a career worst .704 yet still received a per year raise of almost $4 million. He provides above average defense, doubles power, and some speed (something the Red Sox rarely utilize).

The infield consists of holdovers Will Middlebrooks and Dustin Pedroia. Middlebrooks, who should be hitting 3rd, in front of David Ortiz, should provide a nice power average combination. Pedroia, who had a somewhat disappointing year, needs to prove that he is over his wrist injury that plagued him all last season.

Newcomer Napoli will play first, and while his fielding may be shaky at times, first base defense is the most overrated stat in baseball (I am looking at you Doug Mientkiewicz). Napoli should hit very well at Fenway, and his swing has suited him well there in the past (19-for-62, 7 HR). His average should settle somewhere between his dismal .227 of last year and his incredibly fortunate .320 of 2011.

Shortstop is an area of concern, as slick fielding Jose Iglesias does not seem to be the answer. Anyone who is going to hit .210 with no power has no place on a major league roster, not matter how well he gloves it. The Red Sox are rumored to be looking at trading for Yunel Escobar, he of the racial slur eyeblack,who would provide some power and an average glove to the position (Update: Escobar was traded to the Rays). Either way, the Sox seem to be bridging the gap until Xander Bogaerts is ready to take over in two years.

At catcher the team now has a surplus after signing veteran Davis Ross. Saltalamacchia or Lavarnway should be moved before the season starts, though I am not sure either will fetch big league talent.

Rounding out the lineup is David Ortiz, who somehow managed to get a 2 year $26 million contract coming off a season when his strained achilles limited him to just 90 games. If healthy, and that is a big if, he should continue to hit for power. Just remember however, that this is a guy who is 37 (we think), has been caught using steriods, and now has a nagging injury. This is not the steroid era, and guys with that description don't suddenly get better.

The pitching staff is a whole bundle of fun. As starters go, Jon Lester has proven that he is not an Ace, and even reuniting with John Farrell is not going to change that. Clay Bucholtz showed some glimpses of putting his immense talent to good use last year, but still seems to have focus issues with men on base.

Beyond the top two, the picture gets a bit cloudy. Felix Doubront seems to have real potential as a front of the rotation power arm, and it is up to Farrell to get him to take that next step. Franklin Morales is apparently going to work in the spring as a starter, and while he performed admirably last season in that role, he has never pitched more than 76 innings in his career. John Lackey will supposedly be ready to start the season, but the only thing he has proven in his time with the team is that frogs and people really aren't that different.

Who fills out the back end of the rotation is anyone's guess. They could sign Ryan Dempster or Kyle Lohse or go with Junichi Tazawa or Alfredo Aceves. Their minor league pitching depth is very thin, with the exception of Matt Barnes who seems to be at least a year away.

The bullpen is even murkier. Last year they traded for Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey, only to see them completely flop. Craig Breslow is a nice lefty in the pen and should be heavily sought after at the trade deadline. Other than those three they have Aceves, Bard, and Andrew Miller. Of that trio, I see no sure thing. Aceves is bat shit crazy, Bard spent last year impersonating Ricky Vaughn, and Miller finally had a solid year after a career of failed promise.

This is the area of the team that appears to need to most help. They missed out on low-risk high- reward option Joakim Soria, who was snagged by the Rangers, and may target a big name like Mike Adams or Jason Grilli. However, chances are the team will be reluctant to give a reliever more than a 2 year deal (can't say I blame them). Even if they do sign a reliever or trade for one, having Bailey and Aceves at the back end provide huge question marks entering the season.

All in all, the Red Sox seem be shaping up as a team that will score plenty of runs, have a unstable and inconsistent starting rotation, and an unpredictable bullpen. Sound familiar?

Yes, the $120 million John , Larry, and Ben spent on Ortiz, Ross, Gomes, Napoli, and Victorino sent a clear signal.

It reads: keep buying tickets, and wait till next year(s).

Hockey Withdrawl

2012-11-25T17:45:00.001-05:00

Something is missing from my sporting life. If you know me, that may sound confusing. After all, the Patriots are hitting their yearly second half stride and looked poised for a deep playoff run, the Syracuse men's basketball team is once again ranked in the top 10, and the new look Celtics are showing small glimpses of the team they will be down the stretch.

Why so sad then?

I miss hockey.

There, I said it. The same guy who ranted in a previous post about how the NHL was, and always would be, a AAA sport, misses it. Actually, I don't miss it. I need it.

Somewhere in the last five years, they got me. I tasted the forbidden fruit of a game I never played as a kid, and couldn't get enough. Now I consume everything related to hockey that I can get my hands on, watch every Bruins game, play NHL on XBOX nightly, and even bought an authentic Bruins jersey. I am on the stuff, hardcore. And now that it has been taken away from me, I am losing my shit.

I need the ability to sit down in front of the TV and watch an exciting sporting event in less than 3 hours that is not constantly being started and stopped by commercials and instant replays. I need a sport where big hits are still greeted with praise rather than scorn, one where the players police themselves rather than an overbearing league office sifting through game film, and celebrations are saved for accomplishments actually deserving of exuberance. I miss the insanely over the top television commentary of Jack Edwards and the smooth baritone of Bob Beers on the dial, as well as the edge of your seat tension during the end of game flurry of a close game.

No other American sport can offer these things. Watching football is a lesson in commercialism and committee meetings, the NBA is a elaborate jump shooting contest, and soccer is well, soccer.

I have intentionally kept myself away from the details of why the NHL season is in serious jeopardy of being erased for the second time in 7 years. I honestly don't care. In my head it is like any sports strike or lockout -- a bunch of greedy owners and a bunch of players getting advice from a greedy leader arguing over minutia of just how rich they will all be.

I refuse to take a side or pretend to care. Just get it done. Make nice, shake hands, compromise, change leadership, whatever. Do what you have to do to start playing hockey. At this point, it really is that simple.

Just give me my hockey. I won't wait around forever.

Once and For All

2012-02-03T23:04:00.003-05:00

Sunday is the most important day in the history of the New England Patriots. As Boston radio personality Michael Felger would say, this is fact, not opinion. The Patriots are 414-365-9 in their regular season history, and 23-15 in the playoffs. They have won three Super bowls out of six appearances, but this one means more. Here is why.

Clean Laundry

Throughout the Patriots run of dominance in the NFL, people have always doubted the legitimacy of their titles. First it was the injustice of the "Tuck Rule" game against the Raiders in the 2001 AFC Divisional game. Experts, players, and opposing fans alike argued that while it was the correct call, the stupidity of the rule somehow nullified the legitimacy of the Patriots Super Bowl victory. In fact, Charles Woodson, the Raiders cornerback who knocked the ball out of Brady's hand, continued to complain that the ring was taken from him just last year when his Packers prepared to play the Patriots. However silly it seems that people argue against a rule that was correctly recognized and enforced, the masses will continue to say that the 2001 improbable Patriots run was, at least in part, impure. Aside from the media created phantom scoreboard operator that somehow prevented Raven's coach Jim Harbaugh from calling a time out, this one is as pure as can be.

The End of the Witch Hunt

The Patriots franchise and Bill Belichick were forever tarnished in 2007 when the so-called Spy-Gate scandal erupted. I will admit that I was more ashamed than upset when the details emerged. The Patriots had blatantly broken a very clear rule that adhered to taping opposing teams practices and defensive signals, yet the ensuing investigation seemed more like a anti-Patriots witch hunt than anything else. Hell even United States Senator Arlen Specter got involved demanding a governmental probe into the scandal. Now do I believe other teams did the exact same thing? Absolutely, positively, yes. But the Patriots got caught and really had no answers. When it was all said and done, Belichick received the biggest fine handed out to a coach in NFL history and the team was docked a first round draft pick (many New Englanders scoffed at this as we would have surely traded it anyway). Worse than the punishment was the image it created in the public eye that all three Super Bowls had been won via cheating. The 2007 team came out the next season on a mission to prove the opposite, but were stopped in the most heartbreaking and ironic of ways; on a botched defensive assignment and a misread of coverage by Ellis Hobbs. Not only can this game tell off all of the Spy Gate conspiracy theorists, it can remove all doubt of Patriot greatness in the eyes of all New Englanders.

Proof of the Patriot Way

The “Patriot Way” became entrenched in the sports lexicon back in 2001 when a Patriots team consisting of unheralded veterans, castoffs, and a rookie quarterback shocked the Rams and the world by winning the Super Bowl. It became even clearer several years later when veteran slot receiver Troy Brown began playing defensive back when several players went down with injury. The term has come to mean players and coaches putting the team first at all costs. As a player it has also meant doing your specific job on the field correctly and not playing for yourself, your stats, or your next contract. This organizational philosophy, deeply rooted in Belichick’s childhood days roaming the Navy sidelines with his father, has led to a near media blackout, several big name players being let go or traded when they demanded contract extensions (Richard Seymour, Asante Samuel), and consistently dealing out of the first round of the draft in exchange for a higher quantity of smaller pieces to add to the puzzle. The idea of the “Patriot Way” – all working together for one collective cause, is a noble one. But along with the class and candor carried by the organization and its players from top to bottom, are questions. Have the Patriots frugal ways during contract negotiations irreparably hurt them? Can they really expect to field a solid defense without a solid pass rusher that could have been acquired trading up in the draft?

These questions are valid ones.

In addition, the team has not won a title since the core group led by Teddy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, and Troy Brown hung up their cleats. Team management has not brought in a veteran core to replace them but rather has rebuilt through mid-round draft picks, low level free agents, and waiver wire additions. The continued method of trying to get more out of less talented players by reducing their responsibilities has seemingly continued to work – until the playoffs that is. Since their championship season in 2004, the team is mediocre 7-5 in the playoffs, including the two wins this season.

Indeed the Patriot team we have been watching recently is eerily similar to the 2001 team we all fell in love with. If anything, it is more ragtag. The 2001 Patriots relied on numerous undrafted free agent acquisitions in their playoff run including Bobby Hamilton, Matt Chatham, and Lonnie Paxton. Ten years later the 2011 team has outdone themselves, fielding a team with 18 undrafted free agents, many of whom serve important roles, specifically on defense (see: Kyle Arrington, Sterling Moore), and running back (BenJarvus Green-Ellis). In fact, more than half the roster is made up of players who were either undrafted or taken in the 5th round or later. The question is can this group finally come up big in the spotlight? They face a team that is not quite the Rex Ryan opposite of their own, but one that loves to talk big, spend big, and draft high in the first round. For a man who seems to always carry his father’s legacy and memory with him, Bill Belichick would find beating a team like the Giants and proving once and for all his method effective to be the sweetest vindication of all.

The Legacy

We all know the influence that both Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have had on the NFL. Combined they have 8 Super Bowl Rings and are the winningest quarterback/coach combo in regular season history. Together they have reshaped a franchise, established a dynasty, and cemented themselves a spot in Canton as first ballot hall of fame inductees. But what is at stake on Sunday is above and beyond that. If the Patriots play four quarters of good football and defeat the Giants, both Belichick and Brady will be indisputably the greatest of all time at their respective positions.

Brady will have won four super bowls, tied for most all time for a quarterback. More importantly he will have won rings with two completely different groups of players which no other quarterback has ever done. His first three centered around a defensive core of Richard Seymour, Willie Mcginest, Ty Law, Mike Vrabel, Troy Brown, Teddy Bruschi, and Adam Vinateri. There are only a few remnants left, and those that remain are role players. But Brady has remained.

Belichick has already amassed five total rings with the Giants and the Patriots, and three as a head coach. A win Sunday would tie him with Chuck Noll as the only coaches to have four Super Bowl Championships as head coach. He will have won his rings over a 10 year span, showing a remarkable consistency that is evident in his astonishing 139-53 regular season record as Patriots head coach. He has taken what Bill Parcells started in New England in 1993 and turned it into the NFL’s premier franchise. More incredibly, he has done it the past few years without assistant coaches. He has effectively served as the offensive and defensive coordinators since Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel left for greener pastures after the 2004 season. While he has been criticized for not hiring more high profile coaches in recent years, he has maintained a single-minded approach over the organization. He has a vision, the players, coaches, and scouts follow it. And they have done it well. A win on Sunday would put him above all the rest.

Myra and Robert Kraft

The final reason this Sunday’s game is the most important in Patriot history is less about X’s and O’s and more about something greater. The 2001 Patriots Super Bowl run began in the shadow of 9/11. As the country and region mourned the loss of thousands of innocent civilians, the Patriots became something of a symbol of American morals and pride. Aside from their Patriot logo, the team represented an unwillingness to quit and an idea of continuity and cooperation that the nation badly needed. Guard Joe Andruzzi’s three brothers were New York City firefighters who responded to the scene when the towers were hit, and it was he who ran onto the field carrying the American flag before the Patriots first game of the season against the Jets. In one of his more unforgettable moments, Robert Craft addressed a small throng of Patriots fans gathered in Pittsburgh’s Heize Field following the Patriots 24-17 victory over the Steelers in the 2002 AFC Championship game and declared that “it was fitting that a team called the Patriots were represented in the biggest game in this country”. It seemed that the 2001 team was one of destiny, getting every bounce, call, and break. It was as if it was just meant to be.

This year, ten years after that improbable run, the team is playing in honor of Robert Kraft's late wife Myra, who passed away before the season began. Kraft's emotional investment to his wife has been well documented, as has the fact the she was one of the great philanthropists of our time. While she never tried to directly interfere with her husbands running of the team, she wanted to make sure the organization continued to represent the ideals of integrity and charity that she had always held so dear. This year the team has been wearing a black MHK patch on their sleeves, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis could be seen tapping it in celebration after a touchdown against the Broncos several weeks ago. While the death of the women that players still refer to as "Momma" has hurt, her inspiration and the emotional support for her grieving husband has inspired the team.

In this sense, the Patriots have come full circle. They are once again playing for something greater than football. The bounces, calls, and breaks are falling their way and they seem like a team of destiny. They continue to be led by the solid foundation that guided them all those years ago.

Kraft, Belichick, and Brady have established a winning franchise without fanfare, trash talk, and player scandal that is all too familiar in the NFL.

Throughout the ten years much has changed. The owner, the coach, and the quarterback have not. They have all continued to strive to demonstrate that their approach is right, their belief system just, and their legacy is that of a champion.

Sunday, they will get a chance to prove it once and for all.

Two Roomates: One Shared Shame

2011-12-02T15:13:00.001-05:00

It used to be that I would brag about my alma mater. I would watch an NFL broadcast and would be sure that my school would be mentioned. I could click on Sports Center and watch a fellow alum throwing down a thunderous dunk and smile with pride. I would tell story after story of my magical sophomore year when Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick, and Gerry McNamara led the Orangemen to the National Title. I was so proud that I even named my team of 6^th grade students the Orange team in honor of my alma mater. Once a year, when Boston College would play Syracuse in football, I would wear my blue tie dotted with hundreds of Syracuse S’s to counter a fellow teacher’s B.C outfit. I bled Orange, all the time, and would defend Syracuse against any detractors. Things have changed.

My roommate’s wall is dotted with pictures, trophies, and rugby paraphernalia, all of it engraved with the symbolic PSU of Penn State. He transferred there from Providence in order to join a more prestigious rugby program, and helped lead the Nittany Lions to three Sweet Sixteens and one Final Four. He gave his sweat, blood, and several concussions to the iconic university nestled in the midpoint of Happy Valley in central Pennsylvania. Every Saturday since he graduated, regardless of his other obligations, he would set up his computer and tune into the television broadcast of the Penn State football game. He told stories of almost being run over by legendary football coach Joe Paterno with his car and bragged of the tailgating and crowd noise produced on game days. He has Penn State pillow covers on his bed and a Penn State hat hangs proudly on his door.

As it happened, we were the only two people in our group of friends who went to big sports schools. As such, our other friends latched on and would root for Penn State and Syracuse to succeed. When we started living together earlier this year, it seemed that our new apartment would a college sports haven. Penn State’s football team was in prime position to compete for a Big Ten title and the Syracuse Men’s Basketball team began the season ranked in the top 5 in the nation. We secured a great Direct TV package and were primed for sports watching frenzy.

All of that changed on November 4^th when the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse story broke after a Grand Jury Indictment. Sandusky, a trusted and longtime assistant of iconic football coach Joe Paterno, was charged with the sexual abuse of numerous children in and around the Penn State football facility. The story not only shocked the sports world, but made the cover of newspapers around the nation. When riots ensued in support of Joe Paterno, my roommate refused to watch. He also didn’t read the deposition, detailing in horrific fashion the alleged abuse that took place over nearly twenty years. In fact, he didn’t speak about the incident at all unless I brought it up, and even then he was guarded and shamed.

When my roommate did speak he mentioned how he had used the same locker room and showers mentioned in the deposition while on the Rugby team. He was familiar with many of the main characters, including former Athletic Director Tim Curley, who allegedly covered up the abuse. The closeness he felt and feels to the entire tragedy has reshaped his love and passion for his school. He still is proud of his college, but is less likely to talk about it, or voice his love of his school. When the coverup instigated by Joe Paterno became clear and he was fired, he told me that it was like finding out Santa Clause was fake, all over again. Paterno, a man who put his name on dozens of charities, cut players who broke even the smallest team rules, and had given millions upon millions of dollars to the University, had kept his mouth shut while unspeakable actions took place under his watch.

In the weeks following the Sandusky charges, I playfully bragged about how Syracuse would never push controversy under the table, and ribbed him on how Penn State’s image was forever tarnished. One morning in early November, I went to my parent' house for breakfast, opened up the Boston Globe and gasped. ESPN had broken a story the night before detailing alleged abuse committed by Syracuse University Assistant Men’s Basketball coach Bernie Fine. Fine, a trusted assistant of legendary basketball coach Jim Boheim, had allegedly sexually abused several ball boys in the mid 90's. Since the initial allegations, more victims have come forth and Fine was fired from the University.
Coach Boheim has retracted and apologized his initial abrasive comments toward the accusers and has faced speculation that he has been covering up for his longtime coach and friend. Recently, several groups have called for his dismissal due to his comments that the accusers were telling "a thousand lies". Whether or not he is fired is irrelevant at this point. Boheim, the most powerful and highest paid employee at Syracuse, will be forever linked to the scandal and the abuse. In the past week, both he and the University have been cut down at the knees by a monster who sat next to him on the bench for 35 years.
Since this story broke, I have refused to talk or read about it until today. At first, I didn't want to believe that a program and a school that had brought me so much joy could be guilty of such a thing. I know people who are close to the team and have not been able to imagine that the man described in the allegations was the same one I had been told was a "great guy". The hardest part was realizing that my University would forever be linked Fine and his actions. My blue and orange Syracuse hat would always stand for something much bigger and much more sinister than a liberal arts college in central New York.

The sports frenzy that was to be our apartment is now gone, as is our pride in our respective schools. When our alma maters are mentioned we lower our eyes, partially in shame, and partially in denial. Our lenses are forever dirtied by the actions not only of Bernie Fine and Jerry Sandusky, but by the very universities which we employed with so much trust and respect. My Syracuse tie now sits at the back of my tie rack, waiting for a day when I can wear it without second looks, questions, or shame. His Penn State gear is folded neatly in his closest waiting for the same. We will both continue to watch and root for our teams, but the innocent passion is gone. My guess is that it won’t be back any time soon.

Clash Of Personalities

2011-11-29T21:11:00.001-05:00

Exactly two months ago the Red Sox fired the best manager in team history. Today, after an extensive search that was as mismanaged as it was baffling, the team is set to name Bobby Valentine as its new manager. Valentine, known best as a manager for being ejected from a game while coaching the Mets and reappearing in the dugout wearing a Groucho Marx mask, is an interesting choice. Needless to say, he will not be the quiet, player-friendly voice of Grady Little or Terry Francona. While not displaying the dictator-like qualities of Lou Piniella, he certainly will voice his opinions. Boston media, eat your heart out.

Valentine after all is the man who just last season, while working as a color commentator for ESPN, called foul on the speed of Red Sox vs. Yankee games and specifically took issue with Josh Beckett. The complaint lit up the dials on sports radio stations throughout New England and even resulted in consideration from other players and managers. I wonder how well that will go over at the first meeting between the burly Texan and the new skipper. Perhaps the meeting will go smoothly and perhaps Beckett will be shipped off to parts unknown before it can happen. Either way, Valentine is sure to ruffle some feathers. He will call players out from not running out ground balls, change lineups daily, and go on “hunches” more than statistical analysis (Carmine beware).

My guess is that there will be times when his honestly, candor, and know-it-all attitude will please, as he is the type of know it all personality that would make a great traveling salesman. He did have major success in his latest coaching stint in Japan, and took the Mets to the World Series in 2000. However, he has found himself at the center of controversy several times. He was fired by the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League in 2005 after a conflict with the general manager. In 2000 he opened his mouth a bit too wide at a speaking engagement at the University of Pennsylvania, making backhanded comments about the Mets, his employer at the time. Despite leading the Mets to the aforementioned World Series, his volatile relationship with General Manager Steve Phillips led to his firing in 2002. He returned to Japan and the Marines, and despite great success and popularity, was fired due to a poor relationship with the General Manager after a brutal smear campaign against him. He then returned stateside and has been working at ESPN ever since.

As we can see, Valentine's career follows a clear ebb and flow. He takes a team, achieves moderate success before his personality wears his bosses thin and he is fired, usually in an ugly manner. In a market like Boston, with a new G.M that appears to have little to no power, Valentine may very well find success. But if the changes in Red Sox upper management have shown us anything in the past 10 years, it is that team President Larry Lucchino wields power and eats people alive. A dispute over power led to then G.M Theo Epstein to walk away from his post in 2005. Terry Francona was smeared on the way out of his position as manager this past June in a historically messy fashion. If these two highly respected baseball men couldn’t deal with Lucchino, what chance does a personality like Bobby Valentine have?

So I ask you, what happens when the unstoppable force of Bobby’s mouth meets an immovable object like Lucchino? I can’t tell you, but two or three years down the line, it should be fun to watch.

Last Time I Checked

2011-11-16T18:32:00.001-05:00

A huge payroll? Check.

A historic stadium? Check.

Rich tradition and fans willing to pay anything to see a game? Check.

A Hall of Fame manager? Che...oh, that's right, they fired that guy because a few under performing millionaire southern boys played asshole and ate fried chicken in the clubhouse.   But wasn't the guy they fired the same one who led the franchise to its greatest run of success in history, record ticket sales, pink merchandise, and those two diamond studded championship rings that hadn't been seen in Boston since “The Grippe” epidemic of 1918?

Now that Terry Francona is gone, all that remains are questions, uncertainty, and an uneasy feeling about the direction of the organization.

Flash back to October 16, 2003 when Grady Little walked out to the mound with one out in the 8th inning of Game 7 of the ALCS to make the most obvious pitching change in history.   The World Series was just 5 outs away and calling in lefty Alan Embree to face lefty Hideki Matsui with a runner on first up 5-3 seemed obvious to everyone on the planet. Remember the feeling of impending doom when Little, going on a "hunch", returned to the dugout without Pedro? How about the ulcer growing in your stomach as Pedro readied to pitch to Matsui, and the enraging scream you let out when his bloop single dropped and Jorge Posada doubled to tie the game?

Aaron Boone's 11th inning series ending home run off of a rolling Tim Wakefield knuckle ball ended it, but Little's decision was to our generation what Bob Stanly's over reliance on fastballs was to the Bill Buckner '86 tragedy -- the prequel to the inevitable end.

When it was all over, a change in manager seem obvious, as Little had bungled the biggest moment of his career.   But who could possibly come into such a situation and succeed? A team with an 86 year title drought, and a city that was prepared to watch the team fail spectacularly rather than win gracefully, surrounded by as negative a media presence as there is in the sporting world.

When Terry Francona was hired, little was known of him other than that his dad was a great ballplayer, and that he was booed his way out of his managerial job with the Phillies. Facing the intense Boston media ready to eat him alive, all he did in his first season was approve the trade of the franchises most popular current player(Nomar), and then lead his team of "Idiots" back into Yankee Stadium and vanquish their demons by completing the biggest comeback in baseball history. As we know they steamrolled the Cardinals in four games to bring the Red Sox their first world series in 86 years.

He went on the lead the team to another World Series win in 2007 and managed the team to a 744-552 record for a robust .544 win percentage, never finishing a season below .500 while establishing himself as one of the best managers in all of baseball. In his tenure he dealt with diva superstars Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, and Josh Beckett and never seemed to bat an eye. There were few if any clubhouse leaks to the media, and when there were; players were shipped out (see Manny Ramirez vs traveling secretary Jack McCormick). As a result, throughout these eight years he became known as an excellent clubhouse manager and someone who the players both loved and respected.

But during the last month of the 2011 season something changed. The team limped to a 7-20 September record and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season. As the season ended something happened that was atypical of Francona's previous seven years -- the ship sprung a leak. In a front page article by Boston Globe columnist Bob Hohler, multiple insider sources claimed there was widespread drinking and fried chicken eating during games by starting pitchers. There were also whispers that Francona had lost the respect of the clubhouse and had been unable to motivate a team that boasted the second highest payroll in baseball and had been the league-wide consensus to win the World Series.

Most troubling, however, was the leak that Francona was addicted to pain killers and would spend games in a drug induced haze. While this claim was denied by Francona, it was not denied by owners John Henry, Tom Werner, team President Larry Lucchino, or acting G.M Theo Epstein. Whether or not this rumor was true, it was a bit puzzling that this type of personal information was leaked in the first place. In the past seven years clubhouse issues stayed in-house or at least within the organization and the guilty parties were dealt with internally. So why the change now?

The only reasonable explanation is that this was an attempt by the ownership group to place blame on their manager for a collapse that was in no small part due to a poorly constructed team.

After all this was the same ownership group that attempted to stop the team's September slide by going over their manager’s head and inviting the team to a private party on Henry’s yacht, giving them all $300 headphones in the process. This gesture clearly had little effect other than further demonstrating to the players that their on field performance had no bearing on their ability to “live the life”. It also demonstrated the ownerships desire to control the team and have a hand in the everyday running of the baseball operations.

In contrast, Francona, the man who managed all of the ownership's investments, was not being given the job security that an elite manager should. While his contract was in the upper echelon of major league managers, when he was extended at the end of 2008 season, the team held an option of $4.25 million for 2012 and $4.5 million in 2013 that ownership refused to re up or even discuss until days before his departure.

While his last month was horrid, it seems that one bad month would not erode the good done in seven of the most successful years in the history of the franchise. And while it seemed clear that changes needed to be made, one would think the players, who were reportedly out of shape and unfocused, would be shipped out of town and new rules would be put into effect. However, only weeks after the season ended, Francona met with ownership and decided that a "new voice needed to be heard". In a press conference short on details, one large one emerged. Francona said, "To be honest with you, I'm not sure how much support there was from ownership." Hours later, ownership did what they do best and attempted to deflect blame from the situation. Lucchino said he was puzzled by the comments while throughout the next days and weeks Henry and Lucchino expressed regret that Francona had “chosen” to leave.

However, if they tried to keep him as they continued to claim, why not pick up his option immediately after the season ended as a show of support? Why allow personal information to be leaked to the press? Why did John Henry show up at the 98.5 Studio and for an impromptu appearance on “Felger and Massarotti” with the explicit purpose of denying they leaked information or fired Francona, while blaming the signing of Carl Crawford on soon to be departed G.M Theo Epstein?

While these actions, or lack thereof, are enraging to fans, they are on par with this ownership group’s track record. Both Principal Owner Henry and President Lucchino are good at two things -- making money, and saying all the right things. It is what has led to the payrolls that have provided championship caliber teams, while also creating questions about priorities with other business ventures piggybacking on the Red Sox success. In the case of Francona, it was made clear that what the organization wants most of all is a manager who will follow company orders, not step out of line, and keep the players happy and motivated, whoever they are. It seems that Francona had overstayed his welcome and seeped up a bit too much power.

After all, if the organization were so insistent on a "new voice" and a change in direction, as most teams who make managerial changes are, they would have interviewed someone with major league experience and a "no nonsense" clubhouse demeanor. As such, it would have surprised no one if they had interviewed either Bobby Valentine, Bruce Bochy, Joe Torre, or Trey Hillman. Instead, they have interviewed low profile candidates Dale Sveum, Pete Mackanin, Sandy Alomar Jr., Torey Lovullo, and Gene Lamont. New G.M Ben Cherington has stressed that they are looking for someone who is open to the "organizational approach", which means someone who will follow the orders of Carmine, the stat-spewing computer, and President Lucchino.

As the interview process has progressed and Sveum has become the favorite, one has to wonder if Henry has any idea of the pulse of the franchise. Just as heads shook when Henry signed Miami Heat star and Boston arch-enemy LeBron James to be his business partner; hiring Sveum, a man who was wildly unpopular in his stint as Red Sox third base coach in 2004-2005, would be a public relations blunder.

While no one knows if Sveum or any of these other low profile candidates will be as successful as Francona, in the past two months Red Sox ownership dismissed the greatest manager in the history of their franchise, lost their G.M to the Cubs, watched their franchise closer sign elsewhere, and are preparing to hire a nobody to put it all back together.

Terry Francona's situation back in 2004 seemed unenviable. The task awaiting the new manager in 2012 seems virtually impossible.

As the 2012 season approaches, Red Sox Nation is left with more questions than answers.

Impassioned fan base? Check.

Depleted bullpen? Check.

Clubhouse instability? Check.

A seven year veteran manager with two world championship rings? Che...oh, that's right, they fired that guy.

The Oldest Face in Baseball

2011-10-26T19:16:00.000-04:00

As the sun struggled to break through the morning fog that had descended over the Red Sox spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida last week, a small 86 year old man with milky white hair, dressed in full uniform, approached newly acquired first baseman J.T. Snow and tapped him on the shoulder. When Snow turned around and looked down at the man, he was greeted with an outstretched hand. “Hi, I’m Johnny Pesky,” the man said. Snow, a 14 year veteran, stood shell-shocked, looking like a child being introduced to his favorite movie star. “Hi, I’m J.T. Snow,” is all he could muster, smiling sheepishly with an “of course I know who you are” expression on his face. All Snow need do is read the sign hanging above the field he was standing on -- Johnny Pesky Field.

Since debuting with the Red Sox in 1942 -- through 3 owners, 4 changes in spring training venue, 9 GM’s, 24 managers, and countless numbers of players, ranging from Yastrzemski to Garciaparra. His job title has also ranged nearly all capacities: player, manager, special assistant, and spring training instructor. In fact, the only years he was not with the team were 1943-45 (WWII), and 1952-54, when he was traded to the Tigers.

One would think that after 63 years in the Red Sox organization, Pesky would have had enough time in the sun, and would slip into obscurity along with other baseball legends of yesteryear. One would think that after the death of Ruth, his beloved wife of 60 years, Pesky would spend the years he has left enjoying his family and mourning the loss of his one true love. One would think that Pesky would finally listen to the brass of Major League Baseball and call it quits after they inexplicably banned him from wearing his uniform and sitting on the bench in 2004, claiming he was not an official coach.

After all, what more does he have to accomplish in the game? He led the American League in hitting the first three seasons of his career (1942-45), managed the Red Sox (1963-64, 1980), the Paw Sox (1990), and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995. He also has a piece of one of baseball’s most historic ballparks named after him (Pesky’s Pole), is one of the few people in the world to get close enough to Ted Williams to call the “Splendid Splinter” his friend, and was finally absolved of the “Pesky Held the Ball” incident in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series when the Red Sox buried the demons in 2004. Heck, he was even bestowed the honor of raising the Championship banner in center field during the Ring Ceremony on April 11, 2005 (along with Yaz).

Yet still he stands. And if you head down Interstate 75 to Edison Ave in Fort Myers this spring, you’re sure to see him strolling around, joking and jostling with players half his age, smiling ear to ear, and shaking hands with Red Sox fans of all generations. While the man you see is a far cry from the brashly handsome 23 year old who debuted for the Sox in 1942, don’t be fooled by his white hair, his slow walk, or his shaky voice -- Johnny Pesky’s passion for baseball and his love for the Red Sox is as strong as ever.

The Nine Gloveless Wonders of the World

2011-10-26T19:14:00.000-04:00

What do a perennial all-star outfielder from the Dominican Republic, a first baseman with twelve letters in his last name, a veteran outfielder who plays for his dad and pees on his hands, and an outfielder named after a breakfast cereal all have in common? They all have money, fame, and fortune, in addition to their super human athleticism and incredible talent. More importantly, they symbolize four members of a unique baseball clique that seems to be shrinking by the day; a dying breed of ballplayer that prefers their tobacco unflavored, and their uniform left unwashed. The accolades needed to belong are not signified by home runs or RBI’s; but rather by blood blisters, calluses, and swollen fingers. Members of this group include Doug Mirabelli, Craig Counsell, Vladimir Guerrero, Doug Mientkiewicz, Moisus Alou, Jorge Posada, John Mabry, Bobby Kielty, and Coco Crisp. They all share an unspoken brotherhood - none of these nine men wear batting gloves.

First introduced by Bobby Thomson in spring training in 1949, batting gloves burst onto the major league scene in 1964 when Ken Harrelson of the Kansas City Athletics donned them. Designed to give players better grip on the bat while avoiding the painful calluses and blisters that naturally arise from swinging, batting gloves have evolved from a style originally designed for golf, to highly technical hand accessories. They have become essential to players of all ages, and come in every variety of color, and size.

The reasons that these nine particular players choose not to jump on the bandwagon vary man to man. Craig Counsell learned the practice from veteran teammate Mark Grace, while Moisus Alou uses urine to protect his hands rather than wear batting gloves. Some players do it to look tough, while others just never had them around as kids. In Coco Crisp’s case, batting gloves just never appealed to him, and simply are uncomfortable and unneeded.

However, with the growing popularity of batting gloves, sweat bands, Lance Armstrong wrist bracelets, shin guards, elbow pads, body armor, sun glasses, titanium necklaces, “breath-right” nasal strips, face masks and mouth guards, hitters today look more like characters from Transformers than ball players. In fact, any player who doesn’t accessorize sticks out from the rest. Stroll down to your local little league field and take a look for yourself; nearly every kid you see will have miniaturized batting gloves, wristbands, or some other doodad that is “corporation guaranteed” to help them achieve greater success on the field.

Yet, in an era where baseball has been irrevocably tarnished by steroids, bloated contracts, and expansion teams, it is important that the sport salvage some shred of the mystique and aura that have made it America’s favorite pastime. The overuse of these types of “sports accessories” is moving baseball closer to popular culture and farther from the pure game it was so many years ago. For every major leaguer who dons these accessories, hundreds of kids will do the same, thus perpetuating the transformation of baseball from a recreational sport into a sport personified by consumerism and fashion.

Not all wholesomeness has vanished from the game Alexander Cartwright envisioned in 1845. What remains is symbolized in the image of these nine men, stalking up to the plate, their hands as naked as they would have been when the first pitch was thrown in the 19^th century. And while their actual intention for batting barehanded has little to do with this greater cause, their fight is a noble one. If nothing else, they are unique and headstrong; ignoring the constant media blitz prodding them to buy, accessorize, and be cool. These barehanded hitters represent a time in the game that is vanishing as the years slide by.

Sometimes less is more. More glove-less heroes won’t necessarily bring back integrity to the game we love so dearly, but it’s a start.

The NBA -- Where Predictability Happens

2011-03-07T15:53:00.012-05:00

Some day, the NBA regular season will really matter to all fans. Sure, as a fan of one of the NBA’s juggernauts you could argue that it matters right now. But lose your superiority complex for a moment and take out games featuring the Lakers, Heat, Bulls, Magic, Celtics and Spurs playing against each other. Then ignore the NBA marketing ploy that those games and games between lesser teams and these teams actually have some impact on the playoffs. Now admit to yourself that all those teams were probably playing at 80% until the last 5 minutes of the game and holding out any key player with as much as a hang nail to save them for the real season (see: playoffs).

Ah yes, the playoffs. The nearly three month soiree that seems to never quite end but never quite garner your interest until it is already over (much like the last minute of any regular season NBA game). And why should you be interested? Of the 16 NBA teams make the postseason each year, the majority of the teams in the field historically have little shot of winning. Since 1980 only 8 teams have won the NBA Finals. The Lakers lead the way with a staggering 9 titles in 30 years, while the Jordan Era Bulls have 6, and the Spurs and Celtics have 4 each. The Pistons have three but only one in the last 20 years, while the Rockets reeled off two in a row in 93-94’. The Heat and 76ers only have one each.

By contrast, the NFL has seen 16 Super Bowl winners in the same time frame. The NHL has had 14 winners, and MLB has had a staggering 20 winners in 30 years. The conclusion is clear – the NBA simply does not display parity at nearly the same level as other sports. The more concerning issue is the likelihood that this trend won't change any time soon. The NBA has a problem.

The culprit of this problem you ask? Cheap owners? Selfish players? The slam dunk? Nope, nope, and nope. The real culprit is “The Uber Team”: a team of NBA icons brought together via free agency or trade. Why you ask? Because “The Uber Team” is robbing the league of its parity and kidnapping its small market teams.

While talking heads and NBA officials claim that this is good for the league due to increased attendance, higher T.V ratings, and more marquee games, it is actually further advancing it into a state of utter predictability. While there is no doubt that Lebron James teaming up with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami will increase interest in Miami, or that Carmelo Anthony pouting his way onto the Knicks to team up with Amar’e Stoudemire will help in New York, the cities these players demanded or chose to leave are left with major holes to fill. These three cities, Denver, Toronto, and Cleveland, also happen to be three perennial have-not’s and their fans will have to wait years for the next superstar to come along via draft to even dream of an NBA Championship.

Compounding the problem is that most teams are not even in the position to have a superstar to lose in the first place due to management's poor drafting, giving out bad contracts that tie up money, or the refusal to sign big name players. When one of these teams happens to finally grab a star, they have an increasingly small window in which to win. Fewer stars are staying with their original team and trying to win with a team built around them. Instead, they are leaving via free agency, demanding trades, and plotting with other stars to form super teams as an easy way to the top.

In fact, right now if I asked you who would win the NBA Finals this year and next, you would probably give me a list of around 6 teams. You would probably name the Celtics, Lakers, Spurs, Bulls, Heat, and Knicks (notice how many of the front runners have won titles winners since 1980). Of those favorites, only the Spurs and Bulls have become legitimate contenders without major trades or free agent signings with league icons joining their rosters. In a league where upsets clearly don’t happen in the pinnacle of the playoffs, the scales are tipped steeply against the other 22 teams in the league. For a team like the Milwaukee Bucks or Minnesota Timberwolves, fans are more likely to see their team contracted or moved than win a championship in their lifetimes. Something is clearly very broken.

But instead of trying to fix the problem, the NBA instead focuses their coverage on the perennial powers or the newly formed “Uber Teams”, deflecting attention from teams and cities that desperately need it. This has led to further putrification of a regular season and playoffs that are already too long and too drawn out (the 2010 NBA season lasted a staggering 170 days with the playoffs adding an additional 70 days). It seems silly to take 240 days of the year for something than can easily be predicted by the trading deadline (4 months before the NBA Finals).

The solution to the problem facing the NBA will eventually come in the form of contraction, abolishing guaranteed money in contracts, shortening of the playoffs, regular season, or more likely, a lockout. But these options would be merely serve as band aids for a league that has been broken for longer than most people realize.

The NFL has often coined the phrase “Any Given Sunday” to promote the idea that every team has a chance to win. Fans from downtrodden teams can always wait till next week or next year for a winner. They can always say to themselves that someday they will be able to see their team win and gloat like a true champion. Perhaps the NBA can use the following moniker to replace their much mocked “Where Amazing Happens” campaign. It would read, “The NBA: A Title for Your Team Any Given Some Day”.

But the problem for the majority of teams and fans in the NBA, is that under the current system, some day will never come.

Bruins Come up Lame

2010-03-19T07:24:00.007-04:00

This story should have been an easy one to write. In fact, it was all planned out ahead of time. The Bruins, seething from the devastating blind side hit from Matt Cooke that effectively ended Marc Savard’s season, motivated by a sell-out crowd and the presence of the 1970 Big Bad Bruins, and enraged at the inaction of Colin Campbell, came out motivated and pounded the Pittsburgh Penguins into submission.

It was to be the signature game of an otherwise disappointing season. The proverbial cherry on top of the ice cream sundae that painfully and publicly turned from sweet to sour. Instead, it was a 3-0 loss characterized less by the two poundings delivered by Bruins fisticuffs than the glaring deficiencies that have plagued the Black and Gold all season.

1:58 into the first period, Shaun Thornton coaxed Cooke to left of the Penguins goal crease and did what he was supposed to, although not as convincingly as the Bruins faithful may have wanted. Seconds later, Milan Lucic pounded Sergei Gonchar into the boards. Zdeno Chara wringed a roaring slap shot off the post. The crowd roared, the Pens seemed to be on their heels, and the Bruins smelled blood. But, less than two minutes later, at 8:34, Tyler Kennedy slipped a wrist shot past Tuuka Rask on a two-on-one that resulted from an overaggressive Milan Lucic. The air left the building. The spark was gone. Throughout the rest of the period, the Bruins missed out on several scoring opportunities and entered the break down 1-0. The second period began, and it was as if the Matt Cooke incident never happened. The Bruins played like they have all season: sloppy, slow, and disjointed. They lost battles for the puck in the neutral zone, failed to connect on passes into the offensive zone, and took bad penalties. Zdeno Chara tried to provide a spark at 11:43 when he threw down the gloves with Mike Rupp. But much like the Bruins’ 2009-2010 performance, it didn’t work. Six minutes later, Steve Begin (the worst signing of Peter Chiarelli’s tenure) took an ill-advised tripping penalty and the Pens took advantage, scoring on a redirect from Alexie Ponikarovsky to take a 2-0 lead.

To start the third, the 17,565-plus began bellowing “We Want Cooke”. Bruins announcer Jack Edwards quipped that Bruins wanted some better scoring chances. They would, however, get neither the blood revenge they demanded, nor the miraculous transformation they all secretly knew they would never have. Mike Rupp scored at 5:14 of the third, and the dagger was twisted and left in to fester. The only remaining question was, with the game clearly out of hand, would the Bruins at least show some level of frustration or heart? The timing seemed perfect. A season down the drain, a hated opponent, and a blood thirsty crowd. But, as a seemingly fitting eulogy to the season, the Bruins came up empty.

With 11:40 left in the third, the Bruins managed their first shot of the period and the crowd gave a sarcastic cheer. As the clock wore down, boos began to rain down from the rafters. They were well deserved, because much like the Bruins season, expectations were not met, and a city hungry for some semblance of a hockey winner was left unfulfilled.

When Hope Sprung Eternal -- Repost

2009-04-06T08:24:00.031-04:00

Hockey: America's AAA sport

2009-03-31T19:40:00.017-04:00

Those of you who know me realize that I have been watching sports for the better part of the 25 years I have been on this planet. And through all that time I have found that nothing gets me off the couch faster than a good rumble.

Not a set up match mind you, like in MMA or boxing, but a legitimate spur of the moment throw down that takes place when you least expect it.

Sure, Tyson/Holyfield was massively entertaining, as is any fight involving Kimbo Slice. However, nothing beats a good old fashioned in-game ruckus.

Why do I bring this up you ask? Was there some incredibly entertaining and ridiculous sports fight that you missed last night?
Sadly no, and you could be seeing fewer and fewer of them thanks to several NHL GM's and the rest of the NHL's brass who oversee the sport that provides us more fights than any other.

In a statement made on March 12, several NHL GM's expressed their displeasure at the amount of fighting going on in their league. Specifically, these suits want to curb what they call "staged fights". That is, fights which players arrange before the drop of the puck.

They are proposing a rule change which institutes a 10 minute misconduct penalty to any fight that a referee deems to be staged. What's worse is that they are proposing to seriously discuss trying to remove fighting from hockey all-together when they meet this summer.

While I understand wanting to protect million dollar investments as well as wanting referees to enforce the rules (and the players to actually abide by them), I have serious doubts as to whether the profits of this potential rule change outweigh the consequences.

Why you say? For the sake and viewership of the casual fan.

For most people, including myself, the NHL disappeared off of the major sports radar during the players lockout of 2004-2005. BEFORE the lockout the sport was on a major decline in the US ratings were falling, teams were relocating, and the league was struggling to stay afloat. It had become foriegn -- a Canadian sport trying to thrive in an American market that was uninterested (sound a bit like the MLS to you?)

Once they took a year off, no one seemed to notice when they came back. Anyone who wasn't a die hard fan just stopped caring. For me, this was the case. Even when the Bruins were decent, I really didn't pay attention. Their star was a gigantic freak of an athlete who seemed to be afraid to get physical and/or show the slightest bit of emotion (Joe Thornton for those of you who REALLY weren't paying attention). Without emotion and grit, the sport really meant nothing to me.

And this year, when the Bruins season began, I was the same way. But when they started winning, I began to pay closer attention (I am a HUGE bandwagon Bruins fan). One night, early in the season (November 1), I turned on the game and they happened to be playing the Dallas Stars. I decided to give it a whirl, and within two minutes there was a fight. Then another. And another and another. The crowd was going crazy, the Bruins were pumped up, and I was hooked.

While that game turned out to be a turning point in the Bruins season, I think it was the turning point for casual hockey fans in Boston. Hockey had an identity in the Hub again, and it manifested itself in the form of a punch from the hand of Milan Lucic or Shawn Thorton. And you know what? It was freaking entertaining.

To further prove my point, I will re-create the dialogue between Rosen, Adams and I while at a Bruins game shortly thereafter.

Me: That was a sick pass by Kessel.

Rosen: When are they going to fight someone?

Me: Dude, did you see that glove save by Thomas?

Adams: Fuck you Semuels, you promised fights

Me: Silence.

Can you tell why these casual Hockey fans were at the game? They wanted to see a fight, and frankly, I don't blame them.

So why are these unscripted brouhaha's so delectably entertaining? Because just when you think you can't stand another NBA Cares commercial or another appearance of Wally on the Jumbo Tron, Ron Artest goes and starts throwing hay makers at little kids in the crowd.

Here is a great example of what fighting can do for a sport.

Last year I was sitting on my couch in Portland, OR after work just flipping through the channels, back and forth from Law and Order to ESPN, when I decided to get a little crazy and flip to ESPN's ugly step-sister ESPN2 to see what was on. Low and behold I found the single most boring thing on television...a WNBA game (regular season mind you)

Now previous to this incident, the most I had talked (or watched) an WNBA game was while drunk and debating with Adams about whether or not he could hold his own if he entered a WNBA game as a sub (he is adamant that he could but I am not so sure). Briefly flashing back to this, I decided to stick with the game for a solid minute. It was dull, slow, and about as entertaining as the new season of 24.

I was about to switch channels during a free throw when all of a sudden WHAM. Plenette Pierson (no relation to Snoop Pierson for all of you Wire fans) throws a vicious elbow into the jaw of Candice Parker. Parker retaliates by running her over and then all hell breaks loose. The benches clear, punches are thrown, and to top it all off assistant coach Rick Mahorn throws Lisa Leslie to the floor. At this point my jaw is on the floor and I am just waiting for Bill Lambeer (who is coaching Detroit) to get a cheap shot in just for good measure.

I immediately called anyone I could get a hold of. My heart was racing. I actually cared!! And the next day I even checked to see of their were any suspensions and if anyone was talking trash. It was incredible. I had become interested in the WNBA overnight (any press is good press for a struggling product, right?)

Now I did not suddenly turn into a WNBA fanatic, but I do pause from time to time to watch a game if it is on. Maybe it's in the hope of another fight (probably), and maybe it's because I crave the passion in the game (doubtful). But either way, does it matter?

The WNBA is a struggling product, not all that dissimilar to the NHL, post lockout. But while promoting fighting in basketball would be seen as lunacy and a disgrace to the game, it is built into the sport of hockey. Let me repeat that. Fighting is part of hockey -- end of discussion.

It makes me wonder if hockey really wants people to care about it. If a sport is so concerned with the safety of its players (which is a load of crap seeing as players were just a few years ago required to wear helmets) that it ignores the one huge advantage it has over other sports, it raises serious doubts.

If Gary Bettman and the GM's of the league are content coming second fiddle (and a distant second fiddle at that) to the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NASCAR, then fine. Ban staged fighting. Ban all fighting. Ban sharp skates. It won't matter because no one will be watching anyway.

But from a marketing standpoint, the proposed rule change makes zero sense.

Now if we know one thing from the past 100 years of American culture it is this: America loves a good fight. It's why Rocky is considered one of the great sports movies all time eventhough the acting and script are horrific, and why people pay $60 to see 30 seconds of fighting on pay-per-view.

So if your sports incorporates fighting in its by-laws, and has been doing so for the past hundred years, why would you want to stop it now? To me it seems like sabatoge from within. It's unethical and Un American.

Then again, maybe it's a Canadian thing.

Syracuse vs Arizona State

2009-03-22T12:00:00.001-04:00

In honor of the great Bill Simmons, I will do a running diary of today's Cuse vs ASU game.

"ASU is full of promiscuous harlots and no nothing vagabonds. Glory to the Orange!"

Thank you Paul.

I am curious to see which Syracuse team will come out, the "chip on our shoulder, run you up and down the floor, and then have Eric Devendorf threaten your life" team that ran through the Big East Tourney, or the "Paul Harris, Eric Devendorf, and Jonny Flynn, one on five let's see who's dick is bigger crapshoot" team that lost to Cleveland State, Providence, and Georgetown.

Tip off time:

Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkle are the announcers: Could be the best name combo for an announcing crew in history and are also very underrated -- where are they the other 50 weeks of the year?

Just flashed that Syracuse win National Championship as a 3 seed in 2003 -- Thanks for jinxing that CBS

Also, first mention of how Flynn and Harden are good friends whose bond will last a life-time. My over-under for how many more times it is mentioned is 5. CBS grabs a feel-good storyline and bleeds it to death. Example you say? How about Friday's Siena game when Kenny's Hasbrouck's father who has MS got more camera time than his son. AND after the game, Hasbrouck was the guy they grabbed to interview initially even though he played his worst game of the season. They quickly realized their error and grabbed Roland Moore who hit two of the biggest shots in tournament history to tie and win the game.

At least they have the theme song going for them.

17:04 Both sides are draining absurd shots including a fugly leaner by Harris -- 9-7 Cuse

Syracuse is really working it inside to Arinze and Rick Jackson who both have huge size advantages. Flynn just had a filthy blow-by reverse layup that reminded me why he is going to declare for the draft after this year. More on him later for sure.

11:45 ASU is jacking up threes like they are Celtics circa Jim O'Brien. Unfortunately most of them are going in and even though Syracuse is dominating play, its only a three point lead -- 16-13

8:42 Crappy possession out of the timeout, no movement ending in a Devo one of five drive to the hoop. The Cuse zone is giving ASU fits, and unless they can get the ball inside Cuse will just extend the zone to challenge the three.

5:55 Rautins hits a three and then another. Good to see him going after his disappeared during the round one game. The zone looks as strong as I have seen it this season. ASU seems to be content to shoots threes on every possession and have completely abandoned their inside game. --28-18 Cuse

5:12 The first shot of a "Boeheim Face" after Jackson throws away an outlet. Means they are playing well, but god I love those shots. Leigh (hence force referred to as MF) has become a Cuse fan BECAUSE of the Boeheim face. It varies between the "five year old who just took his first splash-back dump and isn't quite sure what to think" to the "I just tried to impersonate Bear Grylls and ate a fully functioning goats liver" look.
We will go over all of them at some point. It takes a lot of dissection.

2:39 Furious 7-0 run by Cuse capped by another Rautins three on the break. I just let out my first OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

First half ends with a mini run by ASU who should be getting routed and would be if not for some guy from Eastern Europe named Rihards Kuksiks (pronounced Coooksix) who has 15 of ASU's 31 points (averages 10 a game) On a good note, Harden is really shying in the spotlight, he has 0 points and has only attempted 4 shots.

The CBS halftime show was a story about Kenny's Hasbrouck's father who has MS.
I had no idea, did you? What a joke.

11:13 Sorry for the delay. Any Asian Rosen and I went to get coals for the hookah in his Toyota Matrix. By far the worst car name of the year. And its bright red. Thank god its not his. Cuse up by 10

10:19 Pendergraph fouls out. Really? With 10 minutes left? That is flat out retarded. I also blame Sendek for leaving him in. So much for their inside presence.

6:30 Abbott hits a three to cut the lead to 4 at 61-57 I don't like what I see on offense, lots of standing around and watching the ball. We need to get out on the break and start playing to win and not playing not to lose. That was a mind fuck. Just missed a three while writing, fuck this. For now.

3:39 Deven-thug hits two huge threes to widen what was a 6 point gap to 12 with just over 3 minutes to play. After the last one he stares down no one in particular. What a thug and what big shots.

1:51 Up by 15. Looks like Blake Griffen and Oklahoma are next. Last time they met? 2003 Regional Finals in Albany, NY. I was there, no big deal.

78-67 Final. Sweet Sixteen coming up. Time to smoke some hookah