well it's been a while

Here we are, it's the lull before the superbowl and as a Patriots fan I'm a tad impatient. It's not that I want the game to get started, I'm tired of the over hype. I understand that the Patsies are undefeated, but jeeez, calm down already. It used to be that folks were more concerned with the State of the Union address than something like this, but then we are a shallow people aren't we?

It seems that more folks are hopping on the Giants "underdog" bandwagon (ESPN devoted way too much time to "breaking down" the way the Giants can win. Of all people, Emitt Smith (I wish I could like the man, I just don't) is stating that a Patriots will win (oh no, a kiss of death).

As for the other teams that reside north of the Connecticut border, there's been a interesting spark of success. The Celtics own the best record in basketball (something I haven't seen in over 20 years) and my Bruins are actually several games over .500 (but please, for God sakes, CAN YOU BEAT THE EFFING CANADIENS?????!!).

Being from Boston and seeing how the success of Boston teams this year (Red Sox wining the World Series, the Patriots poised to win a fourth Super Bowl, the Celtics being the only team with fewer than 10 losses, the Bruins in the playoff hunt, BC football having its first 10 win season) so many folks are pissing on Boston. It's strange, I mean, coming from Boston one is usually bitter and pissy about almost every other place, now the tables have turned, how did this happen? I'm not unhappy about it, just a bit bewildered. I mean, I watched my Red Sox win not one, but TWO world series in my lifetime. My Grandmother who passed away in 1986 is the only other person who saw the Red Sox win more than one championship. I grew up watching Bobby Orr score against St. Louis, and then Havelchek, and then Cowens, and the big three (Bird, McHale, Parrish) win as well. The Patriots barely registered (nor did the Eagles for that matter until a little guy from Natick won the Heisman and showed that Massholes can play something other than bitching-n-moaning). Now the riches of being a Boston sports fan is, well, overwhelming. I don't need to buy a Patriots hat or jersey, every friggin' cheeseball's done that for me.

Back to Super Sunday - I'm more than a little disappointed that I have to listen to Joe Buck for another championship (I muted the World Series for the most part so I didn't have to listen to that idiot McCarver). I don't mind Troy Aikman, though his Okie plainsian accent grates my east coast snobbish ears, but Joe Buck tires me out. He seems to be sleepwalking at times. I like Nance and Simms, his drawl is more sing-song and easier on my otic aesthetics. No Madden this year (phew!), and for goodness sakes, no Gumbels either (amen and amen). I miss Dick Enberg with his "Oh My!", he's great, one of the best play by play I've ever heard.

So predictions? From me? Nope, I'm just hoping that history is made by the team that used to play in a Jr. High stadium named Schaefer (shyte beer btw). I've never been to Gillette stadium, is the parking better than it was with the old stadium?

When Hockey was more interesting

So, in the course of my chronic insomnia I was watching the NHL channel and I caught the 1979 Stanley Cup semi-finals between Boston and Montreal. Game went down to the wire but I was struck by how very cool hockey was back then (especially with Don Cherry behind the bench for my B's). Peter McNab, Rick Middleton, Terry O'Reilly, Mike Milbury, etc etc etc. Great teams and almost all of them played without a helmet (wasn't until the early 80's where the helmet rules were put in place). As a post-collegiate lacrosse player who played with a ton of hockey players, we had more to talk about then just lax.

I live in DC, but there are times when I really miss this time of year in Boston. High School hockey is in the first part of their season, college hockey is up and running, and the early morning trips to the rink with dad are the true causes of morning traffic on a Saturday morning. The greatest hockey tournament comes in February with the Beanpot featuring the four universities in Boston. Harvard, BU, BC, and Northeastern hit the ice the first two mondays in February and the winner gets bragging rights for a whole year. In Boston (prior to the Red Sox and the Patriots winning, bragging and Boston weren't very friendly) having bragging rights is huge, huge. The winner of the tournament almost always makes the D1 tourney (most of the time the winner makes it to the Frozen Four). I miss hockey, good hockey. You just don't get it down here in DC and most folks treat it as a small amusement. Hockey is a great sport, with sick hits and amazing athletes, and it's a blast to watch.

Some folks are just, well, haters

Well, it's another Monday and the Patriots are 13-0, undefeated in other words. They have played stunning football at times and pedestrian at other times. Yet, they are unbeaten. Listening here in DC, the Junkies are trying to speculate who could beat the Patriots. Strange how folks seem to think that the Patriots can be beaten by "scoring a lot of points." There is only two ways the Patriots are beatable - turnovers and injuries. The Ravens game was the closest to a loss that came out a win since Nebraska came back to beat Missouri back in the late 90's.

In watching the Patriots yesterday I was struck by the sheer brilliance that the Patriots have on offense in the passing game. Having four athletic receivers and solid tight ends who can catch (for the most part, Watson seems to cough up some easy ones) and then having Faulk run a hitch/screen out of the backfield makes defenses weary.

I was fortunate that I was able to watch the game since it was my youngest son's 4th birthday but I also had some evacuation situations to handle to I was downstairs in and out of the bathroom while my in-laws/wife/friends/kids were upstairs making a racket. It was great to watch that trick play, double lateral, and burn that big mouth safety from Pittsburgh.

some folks just don't seem to get the idea

Well, the Patriots survived this past Sunday against the eggles, squeaking out a win. Philly definitely came to play but they seemed more inclined to take the game as a proving point, not as a win. Feeley's three picks showed that they were the ones pressing, not the Patriots. I noticed that the Patriots did not turn the ball over at all, Philly gave up three chances, all of them critical. With a chance to win the eggles couldn't do it. Philly made it a game, but they weren't going to win. One of the local talk show radio hosts made the claim "Philly had that game, they only lost because of Feeley's interception". Okay, so how come they were behind at the time of the 2nd interception? Were they winning? Strange how facts kinda change perspective.

The folks on ESPN show just how dumb they really are. Last night fatboy Berman tried to suggest that the rest of the league now have a "blue print" and now there's "hope" for the rest of the league against the Patsies. PULLLEEEEZE - Rodney Harrison stated it best "We had a bad day but we got it together when it mattered." Strange, a player has a better idea of what's going on then 100% of all of the knuckleheads on TV and Radio. Amazing how guys blah blah blah blah when a lot of them NEVER PLAYED. That's the problem with ESPN and sports radio, most folks have zippy idea of what is actually going on in the game and with players. Some guys, former players, are super - I like TJ on ESPN, unfortunately, he's drowned out by the other former players who are h-o-r-r-i-b-l-e on the show with him.

so it's Friday and ah, what's next?

Did anyone see the Revolution vs. Fire game last night? The craziest goal since "Victory" with Pele and Stallone by that Taylor Twellman. Here's a link for it http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3101364&categoryId=2378529

It's crazy - we all dreamed of doing it in a game, or if we're lucky, practice and pray we don't screw up our backs trying it. Maybe New England can finally win the whole thing this year and join the Red Sox as champions. Next up will be the Patriots getting it all (I doubt they'll go undefeated, but they are pretty damn good) and then who knows? Celtics? Most likely the Bruins will squeak into the playoffs and Boston College has dropped off the radar, but they'll most likely get a BCS bowl if they can win out.

In regards to BC they're playing here at Byrd Stadium (pretty nice place to watch a game, great venue for lacrosse too) against the hapless Terrapins (fear the turtle? right, as if we're all rabbits?).

One of my alma maters start their season tonight (George Mason, my MA school) against the Catamounts of Vermont. Should be a tough game, Vermont's coach won a division III title with a local school here (Catholic University, another of my alma maters, PhD land) in DC and he's shown a knack for the D-1 field of opponents.

New England has a bye-week so Vegas can recoup some of its losses from the previous 8 weeks. Interesting article on how the Patriots are killing Vegas bookies (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ordine/blog/2007/10/patriots_run_roughshod_over_bo.html)

Well, we'll see what's what come Sunday night.

now that baseball is over . . .

I'm a bit torn now in regards to sports. I mean, I like football, but I don't love it (even though I played for two years in High School and I understand most of the plays that are run). Hockey has some allure for me given where I grew up (ol' Beantown with the greatest college tournament ever, the Beanpot where the four rival division one hockey teams play each other the first two Mondays in February each year), but I'm still kinda stuck for good sports entertainment. I could root for the Pats, but I'm pretty spent from this past run the Red Sox made in winning their second world series in four years.

So, I guess I could watch college hockey, that always gets me charged. Unfortunately, I don't have ESPNU anymore (Comcast doesn't carry it, dag nabbit) or CSTV either for that matter. I played collegiate sports (soccer and lacrosse) and I love college sports. I think I found my answer.

My oldest son plays soccer (U-8, or "under 8) and I've gotten into watching the game again (I'd love to play in an adult league, I'm defintely playing lacrosse this spring, definitely). I forgot just how challenging the game is in generating a good shot and how the defense sets up to kill the opportunities to score.

Hopefully, this winter/spring can generate some good college sport events (basketball is great, don't get me wrong, but I tire of the ESPN gluttony on sports coverage) to lather my sports fan soap.

It's great to be a Boston fan

Well, this weekend has been great for this Boston fan (horrible for sleep, working on such a low level of alertness). I could not believe how masterful the Red Sox were against the Rockies. Outscored them by double digits easy. With BC winning last Thursday and with the Red Sox sweeping up the pebbles (oops, Rockies) and the complete pasting the Patriots put on the Redskins I am pleased.

I'm soooo wiped out today and I've got three meetings. Not going to be fun today. Congrats to Boston!