We had a busy little week didn’t we? The NCAA basketball tournament kicked into full gear.  Texts from the world’s most famous golfer were made public, which revealed his propensity for going ATM and choking out porn stars. There was a week long hype over the Bruins grudge match with Matt Cooke and the Penguins (and the subsequent and expected half ass effort by the B’s Thursday night). Throw in an apocalyptic rainstorm early in the week, St. Paddy’s Day in the middle and the arrival of spring weather right after the aforementioned apocalyptic rainstorm, and we had ourselves quite a hectic few days.

So it’s understandable that news from Patriots camp would go slightly under noticed. Besides, it was just off-season workouts, and the story from those is always “who’s there” and “who’s not there.” Nothing too riveting when compared to March Madness, a monsoon, mid-week debauchery and a golfing sodomite.

And while normally I could give a rat’s ass whether some grown man shows up in Foxboro to run some sprints and hit the tackling sled when football season is still a good 5-6 months away, this year there was an absence that did catch my (and a few others) attention.

(And if you’re thinking Adalius Thomas’ absence is what caught my eye, you’re wrong. I let him slide this go around because apparently he “didn’t know” that there were even workouts, which makes sense because I’m sure he doesn’t own a cell phone, have an Internet connection or make contact with the outside world in any way whatsoever.)

No, what caught my eye is defensive end Ty Warren’s missing the first off-season workouts, or really, the reason for his missing them. Get this, Ty Warren, multi-millionaire athlete, skipped out on exercising and a $250,000 bonus for doing so in order to attend….wait for it….school.

Yes, you heard that correctly, instead of reporting to Foxboro to do some light weightlifting and jogging (and get paid a quarter million to do so, really I can’t stress that amount enough), Warren stayed home in Texas to work towards his degree at Texas A&M. But hey, it’s not just any degree mind you. It’s not like he’s passing up a cool quarter mill to become a doctor or a rocket scientist or something dumb like that. Oh no my friends, Ty Warren has decided to neglect the duties of his day job so he can earn a prestigious degree in agriculture leadership, which is the equivalent of getting a degree in how to be really good at playing Farmville. Retarded? You bet.

I get what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to show how a college degree is an important thing to have. And I agree with him. I believe possessing a college degree, especially in our society and culture is extremely important—if you’re not like Ty Warren.

College is a tool, not an accomplishment in itself. It’s for people like me who have no practical skills like carpentry or automotive repair, who can’t play sports at a highly competitive level, can’t act, sing, or create amazing pieces of art or music, or have played Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 enough to know that you wouldn’t last a minute as a soldier. For people who fit those qualifications, college is a great chance to learn a skill that can help make you useful to society and earn you money in order to buy cool crap.

But if you are good at one of those things, like Ty Warren is, you have no need for college. Furthermore, your need for acquiring a college degree is even less if you are in a financial situation that allows you to miss out on a $250k paycheck so you can play student for a few weeks.

Look, if Warren wants to get his degree and miss out on what most of us would consider a fortune, that’s fine. He’s a grown ass man and can do whatever the hell he wants as long as it falls within the acceptable standards we as a society have set. But please spare me the whole “he’s a role model,” “he’s a class act” speech. Because it’s bullcrap.

Being a role model is being a good family man, keeping your nose clean, working hard and using your God-given talents to the best of your ability. By that mark, Warren was a role model long before he decided to pull this little stunt. He didn’t need to sacrifice an ass-load of money and chase some phony degree in “agricultural leadership and development” to prove that. If anything, he’s only proving to us that he’s a goddamn moron, and trust me, no college diploma can cure that.

I don’t care if there’s going to be a lockout in 2011 and he thinks this will secure his future. He has enough money to get through it, and he’d have even more if he showed up in Foxboro this past week. I don’t care if he wants to be a community leader after his playing career, his NFL experience can help him achieve that. And I don’t care if he promised his kids he’d get his degree. Parents lie to their kids all the time. They tell them that there’s a Santa Claus or that they love all them all the same or that their birth occurring just five months after the wedding was “planned.”

The fact remains that Ty Warren is going to college though he has no practical reason to. He has willingly neglected to work on his natural ability to try to gain some artificial ability, and in the process lost enough money to put multiple kids through college. I’m not saying that this is villainous behavior, or that Ty Warren owes it to me or you to be at Patriots workouts, but I also wouldn’t dream to call what he’s doing the actions of a role model.

If I stop going to work to learn Portuguese, am I role model? If my friend quits his job so he can master the collective works of Shakespeare, is he a class act? No. We’re just dudes who stupidly quit our jobs in order to do something we could have done in our free time. Now, I don’t want to insult any agricultural leaders and developers out there, but I’m pretty sure that becoming one is a goal you can pursue part-time, and not require a person to put their normal job on hold to achieve.

Besides, if Ty Warren was so concerned about education, why didn’t he just use his bonus to set up a scholarship fund so kids can pursue their dreams in college like he was able to in the NFL? Then maybe kids who won’t get paid millions of dollars a year to push grown men or who may not otherwise be able to attend college due to financial restrictions can have a chance at an enjoyable and profitable career. Doesn’t that make more sense? Of f’ing-course it does. But you wouldn’t expect a sensible decision from someone who rather go to school for a degree he doesn’t need than get paid a quarter of a million dollars to work out for a couple days.

Ty Warren is a football player. Not an agricultural leader. Perhaps if he spent a little more time being the former, instead of pretending to be the latter, then we can call him a good role model. Until then, he’s just another guy who thinks that the only way to be successful and respected in this country is to have a piece of paper from a college proving you took some classes. He’s a guy who thinks that two Super Bowl rings, a successful playing career, a reputation as a community leader and a family man are meaningless without that ever so elusive college degree in agricultural leadership and development. He’s a guy that thinks that what’s right and necessary for some, is right and necessary for everyone. That isn’t the thinking of a role model. Or a class act. It’s the thinking of an ignorant man. An idiot. And I never thought I’d think that of Ty Warren. But perhaps I thought wrong.

© Fudge for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots.

This has been some NFL offseason. Well, not quite for Patriots fans. I mean, solving the Vince Wilfork issue was a big accomplishment, as they got their man in the middle, but now need to look for some complementary pieces. They might have missed out on some big name players, but there are more fish in the sea. Still, other teams have made out like bandits, while others have struggled to keep their franchises afloat. Here are some of the top stories from the short, but productive NFL offseason.

These Bears Mean Business:

It was the first day teams were allowed to sign free agents and one team went out if its way to sign valuable free agents. But it was the Bears…a team that is notoriously cheap? They went to the Super Bowl and then dropped their top running back in Thomas Jones. So, when then opened up their wallets, it was a surprise.

Still, they walked away with the top player available in defensive end Julius Peppers. He will now give the Bears a solid pass rusher and someone who, combined with a healthy Brian Urlacher, could give the Bears the best defense in the NFC North.

Then, the Bears topped it off by signing running back Chester Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna. Taylor will team with Matt Forte to give the Bears a balanced running game and Manumaleuna will be a much needed weapon for Jay Cutler.

Browns vs. QB’s:

When Mike Holmgren was brought in as President for the Cleveland Browns, change was going to take place. There was questions if Eric Mangini would remain with the team, but he is still there. However, someone had to be blamed for the Browns 5-11 record last year. It became clear who was taking the fall.

Cleveland traded for Seneca Wallace, as the former Seahawk was part of the Holmgren system. It was similar to when Holmgren went to Seattle and took some Green Bay backup quarterback named Matt Hasselback with him. The, Cleveland did something amazing. They cut Derek Anderson and traded hometown hero Brady Quinn, leaving Wallace as the only quarterback on the roster.

However, when Jake Delhomme was released by the Panthers, he vowed revenge against his former team. So, he found his way to Cleveland, where he would most likely be the teams opening day starter. Should he remain the teams go-to guy, he will have his chance at revenge this upcoming season. The Browns are rebuilding, but for now they might have found their quarterbacks for both the first and second string.

Tomlinson’s Journey:

Future Hall of Famers just get no respect. LaDainian Tomlinson was one of the most dominant running backs in the history of the game. He passed the likes of Jim Brown on the all time rushing list this year. Still, now he will have to finish he career like Emmitt Smith did, with another team. It has been a whirlwind offseason for Tomlinson, but now he needs to move on.

On Feb. 22, The Chargers released their nine-year veteran after they put nearly 12,500 yards on him. It must be hard to leave a place where the weather is always perfect, but Tomlinson still believes he has stuff to offer other teams. He was being recruited by top quarterbacks. Drew Brees publicly stated his desire, while Brett Favre apparently was sending some text messages. (If that’s true, then can we put the Brett Favre is coming back rumors to rest. He’s coming back.) However, who would turn down the opportunity to join a team on the rise in the largest TV market in the country. That’s why Tomlinson will join the Jets in New York next season, making his first appearance on the first Monday night game in the new Meadowlands Stadium.

The Best Offense in Cincinnati:

Last season, The Bengals surprised many by winning the AFC North. They started with season with a strong offense, but it faltered by the end of the season. Then during the playoffs, they could only muster up 14 points against the Jets while their star receiver Chad Ochocinco was completely shut down. This was mainly due to the fact that he did not have a receiver to take the pressure off. Say what you want about Laveranues Coles, but he was hit or miss. They re-signed the defensive players they needed to, so now they needed to turn to the other side of the ball.

They have been flirting with Terrell Owens. Sure Owens had a down season in Buffalo, but come on, that was Buffalo. They are currently a step below the Raiders. So, do not be surprised if you find two great receivers playing together in Cincinnati to form the ever entertaining “T-O-chocinco”. However, the Bengals have already a former 1,000 yard receiver who makes big plays all the time. Antonio Bryant was well under the radar as a member of the Buccaneers last season. Now he joins Chad and a stellar quarterback Carson Palmer and could possibly be part of the trifecta with Owens. Along with Cendric Benson, would that be the best offense in football? There would be a chance.

The Ravens The Team to Beat?:

Baltimore made only one real move this offseason, but it should prove to be a great one. After a surprising trip to the AFC Championship in 2009, the Ravens followed it up by starting the season 3-0 with the best offense. Then after a loss of the Patriots, they began to struggle. They lost their next three games and throughout the rest of the season were either as explosive as can be, or couldn’t put up the points. The were missing one piece and they might have received it.

They needed a wide receiver, but not just any one would do. They needed a dominant one and they got it. Anquan Boldin will now move from under the shadow of Larry Fitzgerald and become the man in Baltimore. Veteran Derrick Mason will be able to take the load off his shoulders and put it on Boldin. Also, the signing of Donte Stallworth will give Joe Flacco more targets and could make the Ravens the team to beat next season.

Parting Thoughts:

Do not think the small moves don’t matter. Nate Burelson and Kyle Vanden Bosch will immediately help the Detroit Lions. However, losing Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and Kurt Warner could spell doom for the Cardinals. For New England, they now have holes they need to fill because of their players signing elsewhere (tight ends especially, though the team reportedly signed Alge Crumpler). Still, there are plenty of months ahead of them to find their own diamonds in the rough.

© Teddy for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Patriots.

With the Olympic break over and the home stretch to the playoffs in full swing, Washington has clinched a playoff spot (by clinching their division), and has claimed the top spot on our rankings (by taking down Chicago 4-3). But with much of our usual experts sidelined by depression over the U.S. losing to Canada in both ice hockey finals, only two of us are present this time to give you our rankings and prediction of who the Bruins will face in the first round.

Two teams drop from the rankings, one all the way from #6 and the other not getting any points at all. Unless the Sharks or Blackhawks can shake things up regarding the Conference or the Capitals, it looks like the top three is in place until next season.

A first place vote earns a team 10 points, a second place vote earns 9, and so on. Ties are broken based on who received the most first place votes, then the most second, and so on. The second tiebreaker is based on rank in the previous power ranking, then the one before that, and so on.

Table Legend:

• A number in parentheses before a team name indicates the number of first place votes received.
• A number in parentheses after a team name indicates total points received.

Bruins’ 1st Round Opponent:

John – none

The injury plagued Bruins can’t seem to get a meaningful foothold in the East. True, they may have a point and two games on the Rangers, but multiple goal leads are few and far between for Boston, and they need a cushion to have any sort of chance in any game.

KC – Washington Capitals

The Bruins will finish as the 8th seed probably, and the Capitals are the NHL’s best team. The Bruins could make it interesting and steal a game, but without Marc Savard, they’re toast.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, Opinion.

Most NBA players and coaches agree that March is the most trying month of the season. With the playoffs still well over a month away, teams are simply looking for consistency in the wake of injuries and long road trips.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks, two teams who made their teams significantly better at the trade deadline, sit at No. 1 and No. 3 respectively this week. The Mavericks earned just as many voting points as the Lakers (25), but LA’s superior winning percentage (.727) helped them edge Dallas (.682) for the No. 2 position.

The Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets were each bumped down a rank, while the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, and OKC Thunder maintained their 2/27 positions.

The Boston Celtics are a team in search of consistency. The green have gone 18-18 since a win over the Orlando Magic on Christmas day, and have slipped to the No. 10 position this week. If they don’t pick it up here down the stretch, the Celtics could find themselves out of our rankings entirely. Especially with hungry teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, and Memphis Grizzlies waiting in the wings.

Previous Power Rankings: 12/18 | 12/30 | 1/16 | 1/29 | 2/12 | 2/27 | 3/14

© Andrew Kipp for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Opinion, Top Story.

I don’t want to piss all over everyone’s recent Nomar love-fest, but I feel someone needs to pipe up.

Look, I loved the guy when he was wearing a Red Sox uniform. When I played wiffleball, I would mimic his obsessive compulsive batting glove routine, just like every other kid (I still do, because admit it, it’s fun.) Nomar was idolized in this region. He was our ambassador to the outside world. Jimmy Fallon (badly I may add) played a character on Saturday Night Live based on our love for this guy (which is when I first started hating Jimmy Fallon, a passion (a) I carry on to this day and (b) can proudly say I had long before it was cool to hate Jimmy Fallon). Even Ted Williams, the greatest hitter ever, said that Nomar would be the one to inherit his throne. Hell, for all we know, Teddy Ballgame promised Nomar a spot in the freezer next to him when his life was over.

Nomar marked the resurgence of Red Sox Nation. He was our fearless leader, and like my fellow writer Matt, who posted a nice piece about Nomar retiring as a Red Sox, I was happy to hear about this re-sign/retire gesture. In a sports news cycle saturated with paternity suites and vehicular manslaughter cases, reading a story like this is more than welcome in my book.

But amidst this touchy-feely story, it seems we’re kind of forgetting a few things, or at the very least, quickly glancing them over. And it’s this—we, meaning most of us in Boston and New England (fans and media alike) were more than happy to see Nomar shipped out back in 2004.

Not only did we give two craps about the guy who we had loved so dearly being traded by some new hotshot GM barely old enough to buy a case of Old Milwaukee–we were sending him moving boxes and Google Map directions for the quickest route to Chicago (assuming Google Maps was around in 2004, I don’t know, I try not to do research for any of my pieces).

Terry Francona said Wednesday that Nomar was “Boston’d out” when he was dealt in ‘04–like Nomar had enough of this town. Well believe me, the feeling was mutual. St. Nomar was suddenly in 2004 a “quitter,” a “friggin’ crybaby,” and my all-time favorite, “what kind of queer-ass name is Nomar anyway.”

What was once the guy who hustled, who played the game the way it was supposed to, who was beloved by the young kids and the old-timers alike, was now the guy who sat on the bench nursing a sore muscle and pouting, while Derek Jeter, the guy he was suppose to rival, was diving into the seats of Yankee Stadium to make one of the most memorable catches in baseball history.

The first half of the 2004 season, that July series against the Yanks and that classic play especially, epitomized our frayed dynamic. The Yankees were winners. We were losers. And we needed someone to blame for that—and that blame fell squarely on the shoulders of Nomar Garciaparra, because he was the guy sitting on the bench. He was the guy who committed a couple errors in the previous few games. He was the face of our failures, and we wanted to collectively punch that failing face.

Not that I entirely blame Nomar. Here was a guy who had given the Sox a string of great seasons, only to see management publicly lust after A-Rod, who was then with the Rangers.  And when that trade fell through, they pretended like everything was all good. Imagine if your girlfriend spent the whole night hitting on some random dude at a bar, then when he rejected her, she just came and sat back next to you, acting like she hadn’t been willing to jump said random dude’s bones at the drop of a hat. Then imagine that said random dude was A-Rod (or someone you know of equal or greater douchiness, if that’s possible). Starting to get why Nomar quit on us back in ’04?

But that didn’t seem to matter to any of us then. Or even now, because of what happened next. We all know how the story unfolds: Nomar traded for a few players that help us win a World Series for the first time in 86 years. Red Sox flourish. Nomar flounders. He visits for the first time. Standing ovation! Tears! All is forgotten. He comes back! For a day! Retires. Happy ending.

Of course, this cute little re-signing/retirement doesn’t happen if October 2004 doesn’t happen. Those magical four games against the Cardinals erased any leftover animosity. After that event, no insult from the past was too great to be forgiven. Just as older fans forgave Bill Buckner, we forgave Nomar. We conveniently erased the bad times from our collective memories, even if those bad time had just occurred a few months prior. Nomar was now our wayward son, the player who was “our guy” and just caught a few bad breaks. He was always a Red Sox, no matter what uniform he wore–Wednesday reinforced that sentiment.

I’m not saying this little ceremonious signing is bad. Nor do I think it’s all that great. If anything, I think it’s useful–useful because it makes us Red Sox fans mindful of what the team (and by extension us as fans) used to be, and how that’s not what we are any more.

Like my late grandfather taught me, “You should never forget where you came from.” Thank you, Nomar, for reminding us.

© Fudge for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Now!, Opinion, Red Sox, Top Story.

Quite honestly, I love stories like this. I still remember back to 2005 when Emmitt Smith signed a similar contract with the Dallas Cowboys. It shows that no matter where your career takes you, it is possible for a player to have such a profound experience on one team and with one fan-base that it stays with you throughout your entire career. Players want to play, but sometimes they also want to play in one particular place. In an age where athletes leave city after city chasing the next big contract, this is a heart-warming little story.

Nomar didn’t leave the Red Sox the way so many of our more famous athletes do. He didn’t jump to the Yankees for the biggest contract like Johnny Damon or make salary negotiations so complicated like Jason Bay did. He clearly wasn’t happy here in his final year (2004), but he sucked it up and dealt with it as best he could.

I was fortunate to be at his 2004 return to Fenway (from injury). Some might remember this game as the one against Baltimore where Manny Ramirez intercepted a cutoff throw from Johnny Damon, enabling the Orioles hitter to score an inside-the-park home run. Nomar’s first at-bat was a truly magical experience, one that compliments well my first memory of him, which was of a home run he hit during a game I attended in high school (probably only my second or third Red Sox game ever to that point). In his return, he walked up to the plate and received a long-lasting standing ovation. He then proceeded to belt out a nifty little single. He would’ve added a double later in the game but the Baltimore left-fielder robbed him with a diving catch. In the end, it mattered little. Nomar was traded a month later and the Red Sox went on to win the World Series in large part due to the players the team received by trading him.

When Nomar returned to Boston last season, he returned to a standing ovation that reduced him nearly to tears. It was touching, to say the least. Red Sox fans sometimes take heat for the way they turn on ex-players of theirs, and there is some merit to that. We hate Roger Clemens, especially those of us who don’t remember his time in Boston. We can’t stand Johnny Damon. And we booed Mark Bellhorn in his first return to Boston.

But, Nomar got a standing ovation. In some ways, Nomar Garciaparra was emblematic of the resurgence of the Red Sox. He peaked in the late 90s and early 200os. This was the same time that saw the acquisitions of a young Pedro Martinez, Jason Varitek, and Derek Lowe. All of these players would factor into an era of Red Sox baseball that saw numerous playoff appearances and winning seasons. And at the heart of all of that was Nomar Garciaparra. For everything we got from him a decade ago, it’s nice to have him back with us, if only for one day.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Opinion, Red Sox.

With 5:37 left in the game on Sunday, Marc Savard was decked in malevolent fashion by the Penguins‘ Matt Cooke. Aside from the initial jawing, nothing was done by the Bruins as payback. Isn’t that what you do when someone commits such a grievous act against your team? Don’t you fight them and punch their lights out? What’s five minutes in the penalty box to your team’s honor? True, it’s hard to think about it in the heat of the moment, but there could be more to the obvious than meets the eye. It was probably a good thing for the Bruins not to get hotheaded a la Bruce Banner. Why, you ask? I’m glad you asked:

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

The Penguins are obviously the favored team whenever they meet the Bruins. If the hit had occurred in the 1st or 2nd period, or even early in the 3rd, things may have been conducted differently. But there was just 5:37 left to go. Could the Bruins have gotten something going in that short amount of time? Maybe they could have, but the way the season has been going for Boston thus far, it takes them a while to come up with offense, and play calling isn’t always the best. The Bruins almost had terrible timing, as the Penguins started attacking right as Thomas was coming out of the net. With everything going against them, including time and timing, the Bruins probably thought they would just cut their losses, especially with a reasonable lead and tiebreakers over the lower teams.

The Infinite Cycle of Revenge

Why weren’t the referees watching the puck in an attacking zone? A penalty (and ejection) should have been called on the play, but it wasn’t. And as of press time, no penalty had been brought down on Cooke by the NHL. Say the Bruins had gone after Cooke as they had to have wanted to (I myself have had visions of jamming the butt of a stick into Cooke’s throat or temple, or slashing various body parts with a skate blade). We attack them as revenge, but they inevitably think we went too far (see above vision). Then they attack us again even worse. Then we attack again. It doesn’t take long for an arms race to replace the hockey game, beating and busting all players until no one is available to finish the game.

Both teams would be right; both teams would go too far. Can you imagine the fines and suspensions that would blanket the hockey landscape like ash from Vesuvius? The Bruins got a tough run of things. There’s no need to make it even worse. Cut your losses and be the bigger men.

Savard the Martyr

Of course the Bruins are angry. But anger is a powerful weapon, if used correctly. Fighting back is not using it correctly. Basic psychology dictates that if you stay focused, and use your anger as fuel, you increase your strength, hit harder shots, check harder, and get more aggressive on the rink, in a way the Bruins desperately need. If Savard’s injury serves the purpose of igniting such passions in such a manner, then there might be a silver lining. If the Bruins can focus their emotions like a gamma ray burst, then they will strike fast and furious like said burst and heat up at the right time of year, when the playoffs are looming. If the Hurricanes can make the Conference Championship as #6 in the East, then surely the Bruins can do better. Remember when as #8, the B’s took the #1 Canadiens to seven games?

What Lies Ahead

With 18 games remaining, the Bruins are in good shape. Only the Capitals should provide a big challenge to the Bruins. The Devils will also provide a challenge, but the Bruins have kept their last two meetings to one goal losses, including one in a shootout. The Sabres haven’t been too much of a problem. The Canadiens have, but still have a comparable record despite having played three more games. The Flyers might be a little tough. The one and only season match-up with the Flames could be a wild-card. But still, the Bruins don’t have much to fear in terms of landing a playoff spot. Just concentrate on offense, use Savard as motivation, and a spot in the brackets will come. Just keep an eye out on Thursday March 18 when the Penguins come to the TD Garden.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, Opinion, Top Story.

The Pats understand that that NFL is a business. The emotional aspect does not play a factor in Foxboro. Even Randy Moss has predicted that this would be his last season, because that’s how the Patriots operate. They find the best players and coaches available and implement them to win championships, even if that means getting rid of stalwarts.

New England will get rid of players such as Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel and maybe even Randy Moss and Stephen Gostkowski, in order to keep fighting long term for Super Bowls. It doesn’t matter if you helped them win a Super Bowl, are a perennial Pro Bowl member or even a former league MVP, no one is certain in Foxboro. It seems harsh, until you realize that it could be the best business plan in football.

LEARNING FROM HISTORY:

There is one thing that Cowboys, Broncos and 49ers have in common. They all had excellent runs in the 90’s, then fell off during the next decade. They built franchises on Super Bowl MVP Quarterbacks with Troy Aikman, Steve Young and John Elway. Then all three teams gave their QB’s the perfect sendoffs. However, none of the teams had backups that were of the same quality. Denver and San Francisco made playoff appearances under Brian Griese and Jeff Garcia, but the teams were never close to being Super Bowl bound. The Cowboys took over a decade before they were a title contender. By being emotional to their star players, they lost several years of competitive football.

San Francisco should have taken a page out of their book in the early 90’s. When Joe Montana was getting rusty and often injured the 49ers pulled the plug and went with Young, who was already starting at the time. Montana finished his career in Kansas City, even lead the Chiefs to a playoff appearance in 1994, the same year Steve Young and the ‘Niners beat the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. Even though Montana was a legend, San Francisco knew their best opportunity to win a Super Bowl again was to give Young the reigns and it paid off.

This is why it’s good to be a Patriots fan.

WELCOME TO THE GOOD LIFE:

Thursday, The Patriots tendered Stephen Gostkowski at the second round level. Meaning that if another team signs the Pro Bowl kicker, they in return will have to give the Patriots their second round draft pick, only. It does not seem like a fair deal at all. Gostkowski is one of the premier kickers in the league. Then consider that the Patriots will have four second round picks. DeSean Jackson, Eddie Royal and Matt Forte are all former second round selections. The second round is a breeding ground for first round talent at a much cheaper price, the way New England likes it.

For a while, it seemed that the Patriots were swaying away from their pattern when they signed Adalius Thomas to a five year $35 million contract with $20 million guarantees. New England never overpaid for players, no matter how valued they are. They let guys like Asante Samuel walk and traded Richard Seymour, before his contract expired. New England fans might want to see Julius Peppers, Karlos Dansby, Darren Sharper or Thomas Jones come to New England, but if the price isn’t right then they will pass.

The future isn’t secure for current stars, even Tom Brady. Remember back in the day when Drew Bledsoe was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL? An injury gave Brady a chance and he ran with it. When he went down for the 2008 season and Matt Cassell shined, many wondered if Brady’s time was over in New England. Since then, Matt went to Kansas City, Brady returned and eventually found his old form. However, in this draft New England might be looking at a young quarterback you needs time to develop, (cough*Tim Tebow*cough) and build a foundation for the future. It was only two years ago when the Packers got rid of their future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre in favor of Aaron Rogers becoming the main cheesehead I would say that worked out well for Green Bay.

In the upcoming weeks, New England might fill some needs by giving veterans the chance to win a Super Bowl. New England might look to Jason Tayor if Peppers price gets to high. Gregg Olsen could be a new tight end in favor of Ben Watson. Adalius Thomas might be sent to Seattle for a reunion with Deion Branch. Anything can happen with the New England Patriots. However, one thing is certain, they will put together one of the best teams they can, no matter what fan favorite gets cut in the process. Fans like me, would have it no other way.

© Teddy for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Opinion, Patriots.

I love watching sports. Baseball, basketball, football, hockey, definitely. I love pro and college sports. I also like more archaic sports, such as beach or indoor volleyball. I’ll watch certain kinds of combat sports, such as the World Combat League on Vs., and I’ve even been known to watch a horse race or two. I love watching sports. And, as evidenced by this blog, I clearly love thinking about, talking about, and writing about sports as well. I would say I love sports in general, and all that they entail. Except for one thing: fantasy leagues.

To this point, I’ve joined two fantasy leagues: one baseball, one football. The football team was my first. I actually missed the draft, so I didn’t even get to pick who was on my team. As it turns out, my team was good enough to make the playoffs of my league. Having done little to bolster my team throughout the season, I considered it a moral victory. My baseball team came in second to last place. This doesn’t really bother me, since it’s run through a company I no longer work for. Neither of these leagues have been a huge source of enjoyment or entertainment for me, and I think I’ve figured out why: The drafts take too long.

To me, it’s just not worth it to spend two hours waiting around, with just moments of excitement every now and again when it becomes your turn to pick. It’s like watching a low-scoring baseball game: boring. And unless you really put the time in ahead of the draft, you won’t really know if you’re even getting a good team or not. Granted, there are more experienced fantasy players for whom this is not an issue. But for me, it is. The draft simply takes too long to make it worth it to even play.

Additionally, I find fantasy sports to just be a jocky version of Dungeons and Dragons. When it comes down to it, how different are fantasy sports leagues from fantasy role playing games such as D&D? Both revolve around creating teams of characters with stat based abilities. Having high constitution or charisma is essentially the same as having a high batting average or completion percentage. Instead of player-created dungeons, we have pre-scheduled games for players to pit their athletes in and see who does the best. Instead of experience points, we have fantasy points that lead players to higher rankings and teams to better performances. It’s all the same, and it’s just as nerdy. It’s just not as OVERTLY nerdy, and people hope no one notices what’s below the surface. Frankly, I’m not buying it.

The last reason I’m not crazy about fantasy leagues is that they lack the connectedness of real sports teams. What makes sports great is the way they unite a community around a group of people whose actions they have no control over. The Boston Red Sox, despite being comprised of many players who are not natives of Massachusetts nor even current residents, somehow come to represent the city of Boston. Ohio State’s football team represents even those students who’ve never been to a football game. With fantasy leagues, you lose that in the face of pure individualism. I watch sports to feel part of something larger than myself. I don’t watch to feel more insulated and individualized. Fantasy leagues remove from sports that which makes them wonderful.

Maybe I’ll never get the appeal of fantasy sports. I’ll have to be content with real sports and just hope that somehow Tom Brady develops better THACO.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments
Filed under: Fantasy, Featured, Opinion.

After the drama that led to his trade at the deadline in 2008, Manny Ramirez continued his career in the National League by re-signing win the Dodgers on a two-year $45-million deal. This was a far cry from the four-year $100-million deal Manny and super-agent Scott Boras imagined when Manny’s remaining options were voided as part of his trade to the Dodgers.

After a 2009 season marred by a 50-game suspension related to his positive test for female fertility drugs, Manny is boldly announcing that 2010 will be his last season with the Dodgers. If Manny intends to continue his playing career, who will be interested in the slugger and what effect will this season have on his earning potential? Scott Boras pulled a rabbit out of his hat after the 2008 season for that Dodgers contract and only time will tell if he has another up his sleeve.

Return to Red Sox

Nope. I’ll confess to being a Manny fan, but it just won’t happen. Manny has been here, done that, can’t field, has stared down the front office and is represented by Scott Boras. A reunion with Boston is as likely as the Kansas City Royals trading for Albert Pujols.

Land of Uno

How about the Chicago White Sox as a landing spot for Manny? Ozzie Guillen is already quite a character, minimizing any disruption Manny would bring to the clubhouse. The White Sox could put together the money it would take to sign Manny and he could slide right into their lineup as designated hitter in the proud tradition of Frank Thomas and Jim Thome.

As for the Cubs, with Soriano in the fold there just isn’t room for another expensive left fielder. Maybe the new owners want to make a splash and bring in Manny to try and end their World Series drought, but there are better ways to fix the team.

Manny Meeting the Mets

While the Mets have been linked to Manny in the past, with Jason Bay as their left fielder either Bay or Manny would have to shift to first base or another outfield position. Given the question marks hanging over the defensive abilities of both outfielders, this is unlikely.

Evil Empire

The New York Yankees are the one team where you can argue Manny almost doesn’t fit on the roster. With Posada and Jeter both in contract years and both espressing desires to stay with the Yankees (while likely needing more rest as they age, not to mention A-Rod and his balky hip) the DH spot will be crowded in the Bronx. But, this is the Yankees we’re talking about, they would find a way to fit his bat into their lineup.

Baby New York

The Philabelphia Phillies are running out the statute of Raul Ibanez as a left fielder so why not Manny? The Phils are the closest thing to an American League lineup the NL has to offer with power up and down the batting order and Manny would be another step in that direction. However, with Ibanez signed through 2011, the Phillies would need to make a trade to open left field for Manny.

Ranger Roving

Manny would be a good fit for the Texas Rangers, should they decide to pay for the luxury. Still a young, up-and-coming team, Texas could use Manny as the DH and take advantage of his remaining hitting skill to boost their lineup.

The Problem

After demanding a four-year, $100 million dollar deal following the 2008 season and walking away with “just” $45 million, with a portion of that subtracted due to his 50-game suspension, Manny may simply be looking for too much money to sign with any of these teams. In the last two offseasons, the salary for a poor defensive outfielder or DH with a strong bat has plummeted. Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu don’t have the Hall of Fame resume that Manny has, but they didn’t come close to the $20 or $25 million per year Manny is likely seeking.

Maybe during his trip to Taiwan some foreign scouts will be intrigued enough to bring Manny to Asia and shake up baseball on the other side of the Pacific. After all, Boras has done everything else, why not start sending his clients overseas if North American teams won’t meet his demands?

© Mike Carlucci for Sports of Boston, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Red Sox.