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Friday, December 31, 2010

Excessive Celebration? Not So Much



This video doesn't show the entire situation, so let me break it down for you a little bit. This Kansas State touchdown brought the score within 2 points. They needed to convert a 2-point conversion to tie the game. Decent chance to make it, right? Well, after this "excessive celebration," the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty backed K-State up 15 yards and made their 2-point conversion nearly a 20-yard prayer. After failing to convert, Syracuse was victorious in a controversial ending. So how absurd is the celebratory penalty becoming in sports?

According to ESPN, next season the penalty will become a spot foul. If a player high-steps into the end zone from the 5 yard line, for example, the touchdown will be taken back and the unsportsmanlike penalty will be assessed from the spot of the foul. This simple salute -- a two-second gesture in the least excessive way imaginable -- played a huge factor in swinging the outcome of the game. I just find it ridiculous. We're looking to make the real world into a damn video game with players lacking emotion and spirit. It doesn't make sense to me. But I'll leave it up to you. Vote 1 for this is a totally unacceptable celebration and the rule is fine the way it is. Vote 5 for you shouldn't have to be a statue after you score a touchdown.
 

Thursday, December 30, 2010

KG Injured

ESPNBOSTON- Kevin Garnett left Boston's 104-92 loss at Detroit on Wednesday night with a right leg injury.

Though as of press time we are one day away from New Year's Eve, going into 2011, it feels like 2009.

Kevin Garnett left last night's game vs. the Detroit Pistons with an apparent leg injury. The first X-Rays taken revealed there is no fracture, but he will be having an MRI later today to get a prognosis.

This is huge for the Celtics. This injury comes a game after the 14-game win streak came to an end vs. the Orlando Magic. The Celtics were playing like a well-oiled machine with all parts doing their duties to make the engine go. But with this injury, the machine might have a huge kink in it. Plus, the Celtics are entering a time in the season where they in the past have struggled. KG's injury couldn't have come at a worse time.

This MRI is going to really determine the Celtics success for the the rest of the season. If KG's injury is day-to-day, the C's should be fine. But if the forward's injury is a tear or another serious leg injury, it almost guarantees that the Celtics will fall way short of expectations this season.

We can only hope that the former is the case, because this season has been blissful to watch, and a leg injury could send Celtics fans off Cloud 9.
   

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Black and Gold Finding Their Stride


One week ago today, I was writing an article about the struggles of the Boston Bruins and their need for a spark of life in the locker room. Today, we observe how quickly things can change. On the heels of two straight victories to leapfrog over Montreal and into first place in the Northeast Division, the Bruins aren't struggling so much anymore -- rather, they are looking to turn the corner and start a streak.

On Thursday night against the Atlanta Thrashers, we saw some life out of the black and gold. When Milan Lucic took a hit up high to the head area, Andrew Ference and the rest of the Bruins on the ice took exception. They came to the defense of their teammate. They showed some heart and soul for the first time in a while. That energy translated into an eventual 4-1 win and the end of a little skid for the B's. In their follow-up effort last night, they were slated against a hot Florida Panthers team that had won three of its last four games. It was a tough, mostly sloppy game, but Tim Thomas stood tall and David Krejci notched a pair of timely goals -- each tying the game at the time -- in what amounted to a 3-2 shootout win for Boston. Can the B's carry it over and continue on the winning track?

Monday, December 27, 2010

Guest Article: Meet Matt Patricia


By: Derek Harrington

So, I bet you are saying to yourself, who is that stylish man on the Pats sidelines with a beard that puts Bruce Gardner’s to absolute shame? Meet Matt Patricia, the Patriots LB Coach. The past few weeks I always see this younger coach on the sideline talking to guys like Mayo or Ninkovich. Each week, I noticed his beard growing more and more glorious, and with Manuary around the corner, a tribute to him was definitely needed.

Patricia has been with the Patriots for six years now, but has been involved with football his entire life. Matt was born on September 13th, 1974 and grew up in the city of Sherrill, New York. He attended Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School, and was both a lettered football player and wrestler. Patricia was an offensive lineman for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he won 3 ECAC Championships. He never played in the NFL.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas to All

From all of us here at Ultimate Boston, we'd like to wish our readers a very happy and safe holiday weekend. Sure, it's a little bit lame that Christmas is on a Saturday -- worst case scenario for the working man -- but we'll take it with a grain of salt and enjoy the season regardless. I wouldn't expect that you'd be spending your Christmas time on Ultimate Boston anyway -- but if you were planning to, I believe our writers will remain on break for a little while. You might see an occasional one, but consider the blog to be in a mini hibernation mode. But, by all means, at those family gatherings for the holidays -- show your relatives, their friends, their dogs, their grandmothers, and anyone else who might be in attendance. We're looking to come out of the holiday break with a bang. The ULTY Awards will be distributed and the Boston sports seasons will kick it into gear. The Pats will head to the playoffs in search of their fourth ring in a decade's span. The B's and C's will look to enter the meat of their schedules and establish their dominance in their respective conferences. And hey -- in just a few months, pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers. There's plenty to smile about this time of year, so keep your chins high and your grins wide. Merry Christmas from Ultimate Boston!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

State of the Boston Bullpen

Right after the Red Sox landed outfielder Carl Crawford in their second big free agent signing of the offseason, everyone was screaming and crying for Boston to address their final important concern -- the bullpen. Since then, Theo Epstein has brought in former closer Bobby Jenks and setup man Dan Wheeler. Wheeler has had a WHIP under 1.00 in two of the past three seasons, and he converted 51 of 63 save opportunities for the Rays over that span. Jenks, a two-time all-star with the Chicago White Sox and the MLB record-holder for consecutive batters retired (41), has stirred several rumors that Jonathan Papelbon may be on his way out of Boston. Could that actually be the case? Dustin Pedroia was asked the same question yesterday on WEEI.

“Everything is going to work fine,” Pedroia said. “Pap wants to win. And when he gets the ball in the ninth inning it’s his job to make that happen. Pap I know is kind of a colorful guy, says a lot of things, but the biggest thing on his mind is winning. I know some people don’t think so, but that’s the main thing he thinks about. The toughest job in baseball is being a closer, because you go out there and give up and we lose, everyone points the finger at one guy.”

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Bicycle Boom


You really only have to watch the first goal on this video... I didn't even watch the rest of the goals. I couldn't find this bicycle by Sonck on YouTube because all the videos got removed for copyright or something. YouTube's cracking down on that stuff lately... they took down like 16 of my videos because they had NESN footage in them, videos I uploaded over the summer of the Red Sox games for UB. I'm thinking these copyright things gotta chill out. But anyway, rate this goal. Vote 1 for you've seen better and you do this move in your sleep. Vote 5 for you just fainted in amazement.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Struggles Continue for Bruins

The Bruins hosted the Ducks last night with a chance to build upon a Saturday night victory over the Washington Capitals, but they came out flat and dropped their fourth out of their last five games in a 3-0 loss to Anaheim. So what's the problem?

Reminding us all of last season, Boston has struggled to bury the puck in the back of the net of late. In their recent 5-game slump, they've scored just 9 goals -- a mere 6 goals in their 4 losses. If David Krejci or Marc Savard were still sidelined with their injuries, you might have a potential explanation. But all of Boston's forwards are healthy, so it we can't help but ask -- why are they struggling to score?

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Teddy Bear Toss


Meant to post this last week, but I was busy with final exams and all that stuff. And then there was some Christmas shopping to do today, and then some more Patriot success to view via my television. So this is the first real chance I got to post the Teddy Bear Toss at the Calgary Hitmen game. I guess the Teddy Bear toss is now a common tradition in minor league levels of hockey as big charity events. All in all, one of the most awesome things ever.
  

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Ski and Party With SnowRiders?



So I got an email from these guys at SnowRiders. They are new UB readers, and they are looking for UB to potentially join them for their Sunday River College Week. I mean, I don't foresee myself organizing any kind of UB group to attend this, but if a lot of people are interested, we might potentially be able to work out further discounts with SnowRiders. Who knows. But either way, you can watch this video of their last event and you can read the details on the website linked above. I'll need some feedback -- how many people would be interested in this?
 

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

It's Been More Than 5 Hours

If you read DRob's article regarding Crawford, you will note that my pre-teen take on the situation was given at the end. I said that the bullpen can wait for 5 hours. Well, it's been about 5 days, and that is far too long.

The winter meetings are over and the Red Sox are the clear winners this winter. The line-up just got exponentially better and scarier. Theo has worked his magic and brought huge talent to Beantown.

But more work needs to be done. For example (the only example, really): the bullpen.

We don't have one. Well, a full one, anyway.

Papelbon should (I hope...ugh) have a good final season in Boston. But it will be his last. He's going to walk and try to make some money. Bard still remains, so the 8th and 9th innings shouldn't be any problem (the word 'should' is making me cringe).

Phillies Land Lee

After the Red Sox grabbed Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford over the winter meetings, many baseball pundits, and myself, were about 95% sure that the New York Yankees would land ace lefty Cliff Lee.

Well last night, after countless days of experts going between the Yankees and Texas Rangers as the top contenders for Lee, the Philadelphia Phillies nabbed the pitcher who had left the team for Seattle only a year before. Lee's move to the Phillies will be the fourth time he is moving in the past two seasons. Can you say journeyman?

The addition of Lee makes the Phillies rotation un-Godly. Lee will be joining aces Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay (two Roys, that's funny) and a top level starter in Cole Hamels. I mean, the Phillies rotation looks like one that would be in an MBL 2k game with fair trades off. Can we give the NL to the Phillies now? They have the best rotation in a pitcher-friendly league. They are going to absolutely dominate on defense this season, bank on it.

The best part about this? The Yankees are left without the biggest free agent ont he market this off-season. Their best signing? 36-year-old Derek Jeter, who is past his prime and overpaid. What an awesome off-season for Sox fans; Gonzalez and Crawford come to town, and the Yankees are thwarted in their attempts to grab a top-level free-agent. It seems as though players aren't biting on the Yankees money-flashing ways anymore.

I cannot wait until opening day.
  

Study Break

My goal is to be this kid after Saturday afternoon. However, this kid couldn't simultaneously keep up a Boston sports blog while achieving these high academic marks! Therefore, I am taking my second notable vacation from Ultimate Boston. I mean, it kind of started already in the sense that I haven't been posting as frequently. But from now until Sunday, I wouldn't expect anything from me. My fellow bloggers may have finals, too -- so I can't make guarantees. But just because you aren't reading the blog, that doesn't mean you can't play your part. Don't forget to VOTE for the 2010 ULTY Awards. People, you can vote up to 25 times per valid email address. I know you have several emails for spamming and whatever. Use that to your advantage. Get your votes in now. How can you miss the giant memo at the top of the blog? Beats me. Anyway, get voting and I'll see you Sunday. Go Bruins (vs. Habs Thursday night).
  

Monday, December 13, 2010

Makes Total Sense

Not surprisingly, the big news around the NFL this Monday morning was not about how the Patriots absolutely shellacked the Chicago Bears. It was about Jets strength and conditioning coach tripping Dolphins' corner-back Nolan Carroll during a routine punt-return. Alosi intentionally stuck his knee out to trip Carroll, as the tape and picture (above) show.

ESPN was shocked at the actions of Alosi. Not I, I say. My first reaction was "makes total sense." Because it does. The Jets are a gritty, borderline dirty team, from the players to the coaches. Whether it's Braylon Edwards doing the "dougie" in front of Devin McCourty for a penalty (he's not dancing now, especially after losing to Miami) or Alosi's sophomoric trip, the team really is cheap. Almost like the "Dirty Dozen." And lest we forget the most recent season on "Hard Knocks."

I'm surprised Carroll was only tripped and not hit with a crowbar or something, because the Jets are not only dirty, but they are now a desperate team. They had everybody fooled with there rough-and-tough act, and people were putting them in the Superbowl already. But after an ass-beating by the Pats and a tough defeat by Miami, the team has regressed it seems. I mean, they barely beat the Texans and Browns, but they've still regressed. Though the team will most likely make the playoffs, this tripping incident is another dirty chapter for the NFL's dirty dozen.
 

Streak Over, Yahoo Confused?


297 straight games. That's the number that will officially be etched into the record books with Brett Favre's name next to it. I'm not going to hate on Favre in this post. It will be the only time I honor him. But first, I can't help but wonder -- is Yahoo on foreign drugs?

The above screen shot is from the Yahoo homepage. In the little tab, they have it correct: Brett Favre's streak ends. That would be a suitable name for the article; however, in the enlarged version, the title reads Water main breaks, encases house in ice. I searched for the metaphoric representation in the ensuing description, but it just doesn't make sense. When you click through to the story, it brings to you a regular old article honoring Favre's accomplishment. Weird. Those damned Yahooligans.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Jealous of Snow, Not Football Squad

Sure, I'll admit it -- I'm jealous that Chicago has awesome snow storms right now and New England has warm, gross, December rain. But just to clarify -- Chicago's snow is the only thing I'm jealous about.

One would have suggested I may have been jealous of their football squad after today's game between the Patriots and Bears. After all, in such horrible conditions, the Bears would have the advantage via their ability to pound the rock on the ground and play tough, rugged defense. Once reality transpired, though, fans saw New England convincingly take down a 9-win opponent for the second straight week. And the total score in those two weeks? A mere 81-10 advantage for the hometown heroes.

For anyone who questioned which team was the best in the NFL right now, that question was loudly answered today. In a hostile environment with less than favorable weather conditions, the Patriots put on a massacre of the Bears from the start. After a 33-0 score at the half -- already the most points Chicago had given up all season -- and the rest was history.

How's Your Eye?

After months of trash-talking on TUF 12, claims of greatness, and more trash-talking, Georges St. Pierre finally shut the cocky Josh Koscheck up at UFC 124, in which GSP defeated Koscheck by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45, 50-45, 50-45), retaining his welterweight championship.

As a huge GSP fan (and an ardent Koscheck hater), this was about as satisfying as a victory goes. Would a knockout have been more satsfying? Well, yes, but look at Koscheck's right eye. That's where GSP mechanically hit him throughout the five -round rout. That image is satisfying enough for me.

And The Winner Is ...

USA Today - Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the runaway winner of the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. Newton beat out other finalists Andrew Luck of Stanford, LaMichael James of Oregon and Kellen Moore to become the 76th winner of college football's top individual honor.

I must say, I'm pretty excited about this. Not because I got the prediction right (because anyone with two eyes that's ever seen a college football game could have predicted this), but because I love the way that Cam Newton plays and I respect him for pulling through this year when his team needed him the most. Now we just have to wait until January for his (perhaps final) college test.
 

Saturday, December 11, 2010

ULTY Voting Begins Now



Here is the nomination slideshow for the 2010 ULTY Awards. Visit the ULTY voting page to cast your votes today. You may vote up to 25 times per valid email address. The nominees were all hand-selected by you the fans via the nominations that were up in excess of a month's duration. You've had your say, but now it's the real deal. Decide who gets the ULTYs! Vote now, and make sure youre friends vote too!

PS -- I know the sound doesn't work on this video. It will eventually, I hope. Either way it would just be some filler music. Big whoop.
 

Friday, December 10, 2010

Brandon Spikes Suspended Four Games


As first reported today by the Boston Herald and later confirmed by NESN, Patriots rookie linebacker Brandon Spikes has been suspended by the NFL for four games -- the remainder of New England's regular season -- due to the use of a banned substance. It has been a successful but controversial first season in the league for Spikes, who had an illicit sex tape flood the internet at the beginning of the season.

While some reports are claiming the detected drugs to be steroids, Spikes issued the following statement in response to the breaking story.

"I've been contacted by the NFL and informed that I will be suspended four games for the detection of an illegal substance in a drug test. The substance was a medication that I should have gotten clarification on before taking. It was not a performance-enhancer or an illegal drug. The integrity of the game is very important to me. I understand the league's ruling and apologize to my teammates, the fans and the Patriots organization for this mistake."

Spikes has 61 tackles through his first 12 NFL games, including a monstrous 16-tackle performance in New England's Week 6 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The suspension will definitely take its toll on this defense and the Patriots' hopes of securing the top seed in the AFC. Like they always have, though, Bill Belichick and his coaching staff will look to find a replacement to step up and do his job in the system.
   

You Decide! #2: James Harrison



One of the biggest issues (justifiably so) this NFL season is concussions and helmet to helmet hits. And no one has been in the center of this issue more than Steelers linebacker James Harrison.

The whole hub-ub and cracking down on helmet-to-helmet hits started after James Harriosn nearly took Browns' receiver Mohamed Massaquoi's head off with a helmet-to-helmet hit. Since then, Harrison has been fined three other times for questionable hits (he was fined for the Massaquoi hit as well.)

Team GSP

Now I've only been really following the UFC heavily for about four months now, but the main event at UFC 124 is looking to be one for the ages.

The event is fast approaching (two away as of press-time), and the most hyped fight on the card is Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck, for the Welterweight title. St.Pierre will be fighting in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The event is expected to be one of the most viewed of all-time. The two fighters were coaches on the most recent season of "The Ultimate Fighter," in which two GSP fighters made it to the finale. The match is shaping up to be one of the most heated of all time, and the UFC is expecting to make bank on it.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Josh's NFL Pro Bowl Predictions

AFC quarterback Peyton Manning, of the Indiana...
As of yesterday, the NFL released it's list of the Top 10 Pro Bowl "vote-getters," and I have to say, I'm a little bit disappointed. Of course, we all know the Pro Bowl is all about hype, so guys like Peyton Manning can make the Pro Bowl every year simply because of their name. So here's my list of the Top 10 Guys That If They Don't Make The Pro Bowl This Year I Will Be Very Suprised. And here's some sleeper pro bowl picks too.

10. Brandon Lloyd -One of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL. He's having a tremendous season with Kyle Orton quarterbacking him and I can only wonder how good Lloyd could be if he was catching passes from a guy like Peyton or Tom.
9. Ndamukong Suh -My favorite lineman have always been Mathis and Freeney, perhaps the greatest tag team to ever roam the defensive line. But Suh has stepped up and shown his ability to sack, tackle, and even catch the ball. I think he's one of the best all-around lineman in the NFL which is what makes him one of the most feared and dangerous.
8. Arian Foster -Between this guy and Andre Johnson, Houston has definitely stepped up their game this year. Oh yeah, and he's the only RB averaging over 100 yards per game right now.
7. Reggie Wayne/Wes Welker - These two guys are the two best receivers in the AFC, not just for their stats, but for their ability to find their spot on fantastic football teams and not get pissed off when they're overshadowed.
6. Michael Vick - I personally love this guy as a football player. I wouldn't trust him running a kennel but that's a different story. He's an all-around amazing quarterback with multiple talents.

Why Is This Under Sports News?


The Associated Press - Yum Brands Inc. is targeting Africa and other emerging global markets for expansion for its venerable KFC chain that has become a dominant fast-food player in China but has struggled in the U.S. Louisville-based Yum said Wednesday that it expects to double the number of KFC restaurants in Africa to about 1,200 by 2014. Yum projects that KFC will grow into a nearly $2 billion brand in Africa within four years and will contribute more than $100 million in profit to Yum's international division, which excludes China - which has its own division. 

Why the hell was this in my sports news? What was Google thinking? I guess maybe you could link sports and KFC because when I'm watching sports I often see KFC commercials. Or maybe because I watch sports and I've eaten KFC before. Oh, and why does China get its own division of KFC? Why doesn't America have its own division? For that matter, why isn't there a division in Boston? Anyway, I thought it was interesting that out of all the places KFC could expand itself into, they chose Africa. I still don't get why this came up under Google's sports news.
  

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Report: Sox Sign Crawford

Several reliable sources tonight, including ESPN and the Boston Globe, are reporting that the Boston Red Sox have signed Carl Crawford to a 7-year, $142 million contract that officially brings the hype back to the Bean.

DRob's take: I can't express how elated I am at the fact that the Sox are spending money again. Bringing the likes of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to Boston is reminiscent of the offseasons that we reeled in guys like Beckett and Manny. These deals, combined with a healthy squad after last year's injury-stricken campaign, have to make the Sox contenders once again in the AL East. I'm genuinely excited about the Red Sox for the first time in a while. Crawford is exactly the type of dynamic star that needed a change of scenery from Tampa. I think he can flourish in Boston. Get ready for a fun ride. Opening day is just 4 months away, give or take.

Joe's take: Theo Epstein, I'm sorry we've ever talked bad about you. Ever. I'm so sorry. YES! YES! YES! Where is April. Get here now. I'm ready for Red Sox Season.
Now let's go get a bullpen and get the ball rollin'! Seriously though. That bullpen really needs some work. Or this team isn't going anywhere.
I'm sorry I'm just really excited. The bullpen can go on the backburner for the next 5 hours. Carl Crawford! (I hope I'm not speaking too soon...)
  

Josh's BCS and Heisman Predictions

So there isn't much written about college football on this blog. And it's virtually impossible to cover the entire BCS thoroughly. So no one tried. But before we start into the bowl games, lets talk a little bit about the Heisman. With past winners like Carson Palmer, Tim Tebow, Matt Leinart, and Sam Bradford, this year's winner could soon be among some of the NFL's premiere young talent. Among the nominees are Stanford QB Andrew Luck, Oregon RB LaMichael James, Boise State QB Kellen Moore, and of course, Auburn standout Cam Newton. So who should come away with the prize this year?

On the Heisman's website, it states that the trophy is given annually to "the most outstanding college football player in the United States. The Heisman is a national symbol of collegiate football experience and competitiveness." With that in mind, Cam Newton definitely caught my eye in his first game of the season. For a man carrying 250 pounds on a 6'6" frame, he's certainly a very mobile quarterback. The way he's carried that Auburn team has really impressed me. Unfortunately, the Heisman stands for more than just stats. It's given to the all-around best player in collegiate football, and that includes the way a player conducts himself and represents his team.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Haynesworth Suspended. Thankfully.



^(another reason to dislike the Haynesworth.)

Technorati.com- (Albert) Haynesworth, the embattled defensive tackle, has been suspended for the final four games of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the team. The result of this after he was inactive for Sunday's game at the New York Giants, and after Haynesworth told general manager Bruce Allen that he did not want to talk to Shanahan on Tuesday. Allen informed Haynesworth of the suspension Tuesday.

Albert Haynesworth is a baby. A dirty player. A Prima donna. And he is finally punished for being that way.

You Know What They Say

Don't assume things. Especially with the Red Sox brass. They may buy a soccer team instead of signing a premiere first basemen to a long term deal.

WHAT THE (expletive).

John Henry, toss a friggen dollar to Theo. The guy will be 37 at the end of 8 years. He'll be playing, and at a good rate. I promise.

He won't pull a Manny and be an ass for 5 of the 8 years. He's a stand up guy, a hell of a ballplayer, and someone who is worth investing in. If you want to wait and see how he performs this summer, good luck competing with the Yanks in free agency (plus Pujols will be on the market, and he's going to make 1 billion dollars, giving Gonzo something to gauge his worth).

Give Me an M!

And add a VP behind said M, because after last night's performance, there is no way at this point Brady isn't the undisputed MVP of the NFL. 7 games, 0 interceptions. Manning, Rivers, and Vick can't say that. Plus, Brady has done it against very talented defensive teams like the Steelers and the Jets. So, as long as Brady doesn't play like Manning has the past 3 weeks in the last few weeks of the season, he is bar none the most dominant player in the NFL this season.

And about last night: most satisfying regular-season victory. Ever. That was pretty much a perfect game offensively and defensively. You couldn't write that game any better. Plus, it was gratifying to see the Michelin man finally having that smug smirk wiped off his face. Santonio Holmes kept celebrating after every one of his five-yard catches (none of which were for TDs), which made me laugh because he failed to realize that his team was down by 21. That was the ultimate "eff you" game right there.

Brady is on his way to MVP, the defense is looking like an all-pro defense, and the Pats are atop the NFL (sorry Atlanta, you play in the NFC.) Life is good for a Pats fan (for now at least.)
  

5 Reasons Why the Pats are the Best

So you're sitting in front of your t.v. watching the Pats dominate the Jets in front of the entire Monday Night Football crowd, and you're probably smiling and asking yourself: what makes the Patriots the best team in the league right now? What makes them arguably the best team of the century? I was originally going to make this a 10 part answer, but here's the answer in five.

5. The veterans of this year's team - Branch. Welker. Wilfork. Warren. Wright. Ninkovich. Sanders. Light. Mankins. Koppen.Vollmer. Connolly. Crumpler. Mayo. Banta-Cain. None of these guys are Brett Favre, but they are certainly veterans on this team. While many times its the rookies and younger players in the spotlight, these are the guys that never fail us as fans. And they make their own fair share of huge plays.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Jets Eat Patriots Feces Live Chat

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Broncos Fire Josh McDaniels

Oh, how quickly things change.

Bring yourself back a few years. Josh McDaniels was masterminding the New England Patriots offense to record-breaking statistics and calling the plays for Tom Brady to execute en route to the best single season a quarterback and an offense has ever had in this league. Then he goes to Denver a little while later, and after a 6-0 start including a big win over his former Pats, it seems like McDaniels has found his home.

Then things went sour. The Broncos missed the playoffs last season after their red-hot start, and they have now been eliminated from contention this season with a 3-9 record after a 10-6 loss to Kansas City this week. It all began spiraling down for McDaniels after the alleged videotaping scandal that surfaced a few weeks ago, and with their elimination from the postseason, the Broncos decided it was time to move forward with what may have been the inevitable. What's next for Denver? Will Tim Tebow get time at quarterback under whoever their new coach is? McDaniels recently said he had no intentions of rushing Tebow into the fire simply to accelerate his development. We'll see if the rest of the organization shares those feelings.
 

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Like I Said: No Need to Panic

As you may have read in my personal take on the reports that the Gonzalez deal was called off, there were still plenty of possibilities that Boston could still get Adrian Gonzalez despite failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension before the 2 p.m. deadline today. As it so happens, the Red Sox ultimately succeeded without the extension. Gonzo is headed to Boston -- officially.

The Sox will now need to make sure they are able to reach an extension agreement with the slugger before the 2011 season ends. This investment -- giving up three highly touted prospects -- will fall flat on its face if Gonzalez walks to free agency after one year. Regardless, Sox fans can ease their criticism for the moment and appreciate that our owners still have a little willingness to spend top dollar and sacrificing top prospects.
 

No Gonzo?

Reports are flying wild this afternoon on the internet that the Adrian Gonzalez deal between the Boston Red Sox and the San Diego Padres has fallen through and will not be finalized. Jon Heyman reported that the 2 p.m. deadline for Boston to renegotiate an extension with the first baseman passed, and thus the deal won't go through. Gonzalez wanted 8 years, Boston wanted 6 years.

Now for my take. I'm not freaking out yet. I think this deal could very well still go through and it is very possible that panic is spreading like a wildfire for no reason. 2 p.m. was the tentative deadline for Boston to renegotiate an extension with Gonzalez -- not for them to announce anything. That's the first thing. Just because no extension was announced doesn't mean one hasn't been made. More significantly, though, the Padres could care less about the extension being signed between Boston and Gonzalez -- that has nothing to do with the actual specifics of the trade. Rather, it would be a case of Boston dropping the deal to avoid a 1-and-done contract with the slugger. But from a luxury tax standpoint in relation to the salary cap, the Sox would benefit from waiting until after Opening Day to sign Gonzalez to an extension. So keep your eyes peeled today, but I think there's a chance that the panic is unmerited and the deal will still go through without an immediate contract extension. Or maybe that's just me being optimistic.
 

Thanks, Jed

As if no one saw this coming eventually...

The Red Sox reportedly are on the verge of acquiring Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego. In return, the Padres snag a couple of the Sox top prospects, including pitcher Casey Kelly and first basemen Anthony Rizzo.

After some thought, I ultimately do agree with acquiring Gonzalez. Sure, he is entering the final year of his contract. But if the Sox were to wait a year, they would have been without a third basemen this season, as Adrian Beltre more than likely would have wanted a multi-year deal.

Robot Unicorn Attack and Lebron

Do not get addicted. Stay away while you can.

Just kidding. Easily the most distracting and fantastic game of all time to be put onto Facebook, competing with the likes of Jetman, FarmVille, Family Feud, and the MindJolt Games applications.

Lebron's return to Cleveland was heroic. What a genuinely nice guy, who does great things for his community, and is truly humbled by the uproar of applause he intends to receive from his former fans.

What an idiot.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Sox Reel in Slugger Gonzalez

The Red Sox have taken the first step in addressing what I believe to be their biggest problem right now. Last month, I made a post explaining why I'm sick of the Red Sox and how they won't spend money on big free agents. Days after hearing rumors that we went hard after Mariano Rivera, we learn that Boston has reportedly locked up slugger Adrian Gonzalez in a trade with the San Diego Padres.

In exchange, the Padres will likely receive a combination of prospects from Boston including coveted pitcher Casey Kelly. The acquisition of Gonzalez may mean that Boston's efforts for Adrian Beltre are passed -- with Gonzalez the new first baseman, Kevin Youkilis will likely revert back to his old position at third base.

One more move -- such as the signing of Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth -- would make this offseason quite a successful one for the Red Sox and restore their offense nearer the caliber it once was. If they are able to do so, Sox fans can be invigorated with a new sense of excitement that just wasn't there last season.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Savard to Return Tonight


It's official, folks. Savvy will be back on the ice tonight as the Bruins try to get revenge on the Tampa Bay Lightning after losing to the Bolts last month. Savard hasn't seen any game action since the conference semifinals against Philadelphia last May. No word yet on which forward he will replace, but there is some early speculation that Savard will have Tyler Seguin on his wing in an attempt to create a duo similar to the one Savvy had when Phil Kessel was his winger. Kessel scored 36 goals as Savard's winger in his last season with Boston.
 

Rondo = Sweetheart


It's Rajon Rondo's mother's birthday. What is Rondo going to do? He's going to bake her a cake of course! But don't forget to eat a slice of it first before you give it to her. I mean you worked hard on that thing, take some for yourself! That Rondo. Always dishing out presents to everyone else. He's the NBA's Santa Claus. And he can bake cakes, too. My burning question: what the hell can't Rajon Rondo do? He's the most valuable person in the world, perhaps. Or at least he's in the discussion.
 

It's Been Real, Sturmy

The time comes for all hometown heroes to move on.

Reports surfacing today indicate that the Bruins are sending veteran winger Marco Sturm across the continent to the LA Kings in return for conditional draft picks. For Sturm, it ends a 5-year tenure with Boston during which he had some big highlights. We all remember his monstrous overtime goal in 2008 against the Montreal Canadiens. We remember his Winter Classic overtime winner and some of the most epic photos that were taken in recent memory from Fenway. Excluding his 2008-09 injury-plagued campaign during which he played just 19 games, Sturm notched 22+ goals in each of his seasons with the Bruins. He finished his B's career with a +24 rating and 106 total goals.

Most of the Garden faithful may have seen this move coming. When asked about Thursday's transaction, avid Bruins fan Matt Goodwin took the high road in sending #16 away.

"I'm not upset by it. I like the team now as it is, and getting Savard back will be clutch," Goodwin explained. "Sturm had his great moments, he was consistent, but we have new younger talent now."

The evidence is there. The Bruins are in a pinch making room for a guy like Savard on their roster. Who do you cut? It's a tough call. Having to make another move to allow Sturm into the mix just didn't seem to fit the mold. At 32 years old and coming off ACL surgery, it seemed that the time was right to part ways. Thanks for the memories, Sturmy. Best of luck in LA. See you in the Cup finals (Bruins-Kings was my preseason prediction for the finals).
 

Wait, Where the Hell is Qatar?


For those of you whose news feeds and Twitter scenes haven't already been blown up by the news, the winners of the bids for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups have been announced. To the stunning disappointment of Americans who wanted the Cup in the latter of the two tournaments, neither event will be taking place in the States. So who got it? 2018 goes to Russia. Not really too interesting to me. But the 2022 Cup is going to take place in Qatar. Qatar. Where/what the hell is Qatar?

Time for a little worldly lesson for everyone who was in the same boat I was regarding Qatar. It is a small Arab country located on the northeasterly coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south. Other than that border, the Persian Gulf is what surrounds the nation. The picture above is of Qatar. Hey, I mean, that's not bad. Looks like a fairly beautiful scene. It is the smallest country to ever host the World Cup. Its land area is 4,416 square miles. If you want to put that in perspective, you could fit more than 800 Qatars inside of America. They have 1.7 million inhabitants. 3.8 million people live in Los Angeles alone. From a financial standpoint, the US obviously has a way higher GDP because of how excessively large we are in comparison. But when you look at the per capita numbers that divide that number over the population, Qatar is a fairly rich nation. Our per capita number is $46,381. Qatar has a per capita of $83,840. They have said the stadiums and everything will be fully air conditioned. Things will be nice. I'm actually somewhat excited for this World Cup.

I know it's 12 years away and I'll have passed the age of 30 by the time this thing actually happens, but I bet there will be plenty of hype when it comes. We're coming off one of the most hyped cups in a while this year in South Africa. Obviously I would have loved to see the tournament come to our own soil, but good for Qatar. I had literally never heard of them before this morning. Now they're putting themselves on the map. For all I know, they may have literally been omitted from maps beforehand. So they're putting themselves on it in every definition of the phrase today. Congrats, Qatar.
 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Seeking Redemption

The last time the Boston Bruins visited the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, they dropped Game 6 in a colossal Eastern Conference Semis collapse against the Flyers. Tonight, they will look to rid themselves of the bitter taste that has lingered for the past 201 days since that dreadful seventh game.

It will be the first meeting of the season between Boston and Philadelphia, and the hope is that the B's can use the energy surrounding this matchup to snap their current skid. Having accumulated a record of just 1-3-1 in their last 5 games and slipping down the Eastern Conference ladder, a win against the first-place Flyers would do great measures for getting this team back on the right track.

They won't have Marc Savard just yet, but Savvy has said that he feels ready to move forward and is very close to returning to game action according to reports. That theory can be supported by the team's most recent transaction, clearing Matt Hunwick and his $1.45 million cap hit in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. Boston needed to clear $1.4 million to make room for Savard, so the move seems synonymous with the impending return of the star centerman. Either way, Boston will look to kick it back into their early-season gear tonight against the team that so devastatingly ended their magical run six months ago.
 

Fantasy Hockey Special: Forwards

Over 20 games into the season, it's officially time that you can cut bait with certain players and consider them "busts" if they're not producing yet. In contrast, there have been many surprise hot starts and many of them have died out, but a select few have kept up the pace and have emerged as top break-out candidates. Forwards are the offensive leaders of your teams, but it is a fickle position and has to be monitored carefully. Some players, like Kovalchuk and Spezza, have been off to slow starts but they're still worth owning and you should grab them if they're available. Some slow starts, however, are just too bad to ignore. Here are the Studs and Duds so far this fantasy season:

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Average Joe's Gigantic Update

I have a terrible tendency to write posts and never post them. I hope that trend does not continue here.

Because I got a crapload of stuff to talk about.

1) Victor Martinez
Let's think about this. Yes, I would much rather have had him hang out for a few years. But I have had some time to dwell on this, and it may be okay. This allows us more money to upgrade at other positions and got a top-notch guy in the outfield/third (or first) base. It might not be a bad idea to give Saltalamacchia a chance. Better yet, re-sign Varitek; he knows this pitching staff better than anybody.

Case in Point

Yesterday, I made a post discussing Rex Ryan's coaching style and how that isn't the prototypical championship style. And while a commenter did point out that Bill Parcells operated in a similar style, Parcells last won a Super Bowl in 1991. So, to be clear, I meant that the overwhelming majority of football coaches set a more strict and no-nonsense precedent with championship football teams. Can Rex break the mold? Possibly. But I digress. A Darrelle Revis interview on ESPN last night told me all I need to know about why the New York Jets aren't built for championships, starting from the leadership positions on the squad.

Chris Berman asked Revis, "What would a win over the Patriots mean for the New York Jets?" What did the Jets' superstar corner reply?

"It would mean that we accomplished everything we want this year."

Coincidentally, Tom Brady just got through saying in an interview that the Patriots "haven't accomplished anything yet" being 9-2 and tied for the AFC East lead. Because the Patriots know that the goal is to win championships. I just get that feeling about the Jets organization that they're so concerned with their image, with the media hype, with Week 2 Super Bowl victories and with trash talking that their vision of the ultimate goal is foggy. It was a smashing success to make it all the way to the AFC Championship game last season with a rookie quarterback. The standard was set from the start in New England, who won their first title with a guy who -- for all intents and purposes -- was a rookie. Super Bowl or bust. That's our mindset. Is it the Jets' mindset? Maybe. But it seems like Revis is more concerned with making people into slouches and winning regular season hype. You absolutely never hear a Patriot say that they have accomplished everything they wanted to accomplish by Week 13. Period. Just saying.
  

Monday, November 29, 2010

B's Ship Hunwick, Acquire Cohen

Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is expected to announce to reporters tonight that the team has traded defenseman Matt Hunwick to the Colorado Avalanche for former Boston University defenseman Colby Cohen. The move is largely due to the Bruins' necessity to make salary cap room on their roster with the return of Marc Savard impending. Hunwick ($1.45 million) was rumored to be a potential player to go for the past few weeks. Cohen, the owner of an entry-level contract with Colorado, will have a friendlier salary to clear up a little room for Boston.

In three seasons with the BU Terriers, Cohen tallied 25 goals and 53 assists for 78 total points. He won a national championship in his sophomore season (2008-09). At just 21 years old and having played just 3 NHL games, the Bruins will hope to bring out the potential in Cohen, who was a second-round draft selection by the Avs in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Even with the move, the Bruins' forwards will all need to be on high-alert in the coming games. The team is struggling and the return of Marc Savard will mean the demotion of one of the forwards on this squad. Hunwick's departure will serve as no sigh of relief to any player in that locker room.
 

Rex Continues the Banter

Rex Ryan has always been notorious for his playful and sarcastic manner in every situation. He's a light-hearted guy who we love to hate here in New England. I won't sit here and be a hypocrite about it. If I was a Jets fan (phew), I probably would love Rex. He's funny sometimes. There's no denying that. But in the aftermath of a Thanksgiving Day victory over Cincinnati and awaiting a monstrous Monday Night Football showdown next week with the Patriots, Ryan does seem a little but more playful than usual.

"I never realized how similar I am to Tom Brady," Ryan told reporters this afternoon. "The obvious physical appearance would be the first thing. The fact that he's married to a super model [Gisele Bundchen]? Hello? Yes, I'm also married to a super model."

Boar Domination, Round Two


I made a very similar post to this one long ago in September. I said that Gore would go silly on the Saints in a Monday Night Football matchup. Needless to say, he did (29 fantasy points in my league, anyway). Well, I'm making the round two prediction. He'll have his 2nd best game of the season tonight. Is that mainly because I need him to perform for my fantasy team tonight and I'm being optimistic? Probably. But the Niners need this win to make the playoffs. You can kiss it goodbye if they lose to the Cards tonight. But a win gets them back within a game of the Rams for first place and, amazingly, they would still be in striking distance at 4-7. Guess who is second-worst in the NFL when it comes to limiting opposing fantasy running backs? Arizona. Guess who has allowed opposing backs to tally fantasy totals of 25+ points on SIX occasions (including their last 4 games) this season? Arizona. Gore is coming off just his second game of the season in which he failed to rush for 40 yards. The last time he did that, he bounced back with that monster game against the Saints I just mentioned. All the signs point toward another breakout week for the man I like to call Frank Boar. So I'll just make that prediction because I have been slacking when it comes to making predictions to keep you entertained. Gore goes for 20+ fantasy points tonight. He might even sniff 30. At least 2 touchdowns. It's bold and I'm asking a lot and this could flop on its face. But I'll even give you a predicted stat line. 29 carries for 163 and 1 touchdown. 6 receptions for 47 and 1 touchdown. That would be 33 points. I'm reaching for the sky with this one, but I have faith in you Frank Boar.

  

The Real Black and Yellow


Rumor has it that Barstool Sports told this kid they weren't going to feature this video. Well I'm not making that same mistake. Isn't it pretty unmistakeable how legit this remix is? I mean this is the illest thing that has rolled through the remix scene since the Randy Moss mix. But this is actually the work of some kid. It'll go viral soon. Barstool messed that one up if they really did see it and turn it down. But I'm sure you can count on El Presidente to throw it up there tomorrow or something and claim he rules the world.

Quick side note about Barstool Sports. Speaking of "mortal locks" that will actually pan out... I would throw down a dime on Barstool crashing and burning within the next year. I think the appeal will wear off sooner than later. They're on the downslope of the hill of life. El Pres is getting less funny and, frankly, I think the Stoolies will start to tire of his excessive cockiness and (let's be honest) poor sports knowledge. He's basically good for an occasional laugh and stalking college girls for pictures. All things must end sometime -- if I were a betting man, I'd bet on the empire falling before too long. Just my opinion. It's not like UB is some smashing success and we obviously won't overtake them or anything. Two completely different blogs. Pure speculation on my part. And maybe a little bit of my grudge against the presidente came into play.

Anyway, rate this outstanding Bruins remix. Vote 1 for my dog could sing a better remix than this. Vote 5 for I would rather queue up this version in my iTunes playlist than queue up Wiz Khalifa's version.
  

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Didn't Pay For This!


The bad news is that Andre Johnson is on my fantasy team and he's probably going to get suspended. But hey, we didn't even pay for this bonus act. I was watching the Andre Johnson - Cortland Finnegan fight and a football game broke out. That's when it became so noticeable that Cortland Finnegan is a little bitch, got tossed around most of the game by boss man Andre Johnson, and then had to literally play smash-mouth football at the line. Thought process: Well, I can't defend this guy... so maybe I'll just blast him under the chin. Keep talking Cortland. Let me know when you guys can score a point or stop an opposing offense. I'm disappointed in Tennessee and I like the Titans, but Finnegan brought them down a few notches. I still love you Andre. Hopefully you don't get suspended. But if you do... well, I don't know what I'll do.

  

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving


This turkey isn't going to get his wish. We're all going to be feasting on turkey tomorrow and watching football. Our Patriots get to play on America's day. What more could we ask for? Ultimate Boston will be vacationing for a few days, folk. Enjoy your turkeys and your families and your football. That's what it's all about. Vaya con dios!
  

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

NBA Recap: Sabbatical

Hello all, and welcome to a "special edition" of the NBA recaps. I have some news: I'm taking a week sabbatical from the updates. Why? Thanksgiving days away, and I'm going to be very busy this next week. So I apologize, but nobody comments anyway, so it doesn't seem like anyone will be rioting anytime soon. I thank all of you who do read, and I hope you will continue reading next week. It's a hectic time of year for everyone, so I'm sure most of you will understand.

I'll leave you for the week with this picture.

-Ed B.
 

Victor Headed for Motown

Reports have surfaced today that the suspected deal between Victor Martinez and the Detroit Tigers is about to be finalized. The Sox all-star catcher/first baseman will be headed for Motown on a 4-year, $50 million deal.

Pathetic is the word that comes to mind. With every day that passes, I accumulate a greater and greater disgust for the way the Red Sox organization handles their business. People have been saying all along that this ownership group just cares about the money and nothing else. I always stuck up for them, but it's getting downright impossible to continue to do so. You're going to go buy the Liverpool soccer squad for a bazillion dollars, but you can't bring back our top priority free agents? I've had enough of it. The truth is,  our owners aren't what we were hoping they'd become. You look over there in New York, and even if they have a bunch of assholes running their team, guess what their goal is? To win championships. That's it. They'll spend money until they're bankrupt if it means bringing a championship to their city. Here in Beantown, the Red Sox have become the organization most guilty of lacking that drive.

Fantasy Hockey: Defensemen

At this point in the season, it has become apparent that this season entails the emergence of a new generation of fantasy-elite blue liners. Many youngsters are taking over as franchise defensemen for NHL teams and several of them are helpful in fantasy, such as P.K. Subban, Erik Karlsson, John Carlson, and a few others. For those of you lucky enough to draft Dustin Byfuglien hoping to get solid points and PIM have been rewarded countless times over with a point-per-game pace as well as 28 PIM, 10 PPP and 76 shots. He has been the best defenseman in fantasy so far and continues at a torrid pace, with RW eligibility to boot. Here's who caught my eye this week:

Monday, November 22, 2010

Who Dat? The Answer


Sorry about this answer being so delayed, but whatever. Here it is. Did anyone score big? I have a feeling someone did. The bigger question, though... who might that someone be, and whose eyes did they guess correctly?

11/21 NBA Recap: Rondo-less

The Celtics faultered north of the border and the Lakers out gunned the gun-slinging Warriors. Here's today's NBA recap.

- The Rondo-free Celtics lost another close game in the Sunday matinee, this time to the Toronto Raptors. Andrea Bargnani put up game high 29 points, while Reggie Evans controlled the boards with 16 rebounds. Nate Robinson stepped up in the starting point guard position, putting up 22 points.

- It was a very inconsistent, up and won game for the C's, and I didn't like what I saw. Sure, Rondo wasn't playing, but Nate stepped up in his place. The bench wasn't scoring, the starters were forcing shots on the block (Shaq in particular), and the team looked like it was taking the night off. Don't let the score fool you; though they only lost by one, the Raptors were pretty much in control until the last couple of minutes. This is the team I hate to see playing, and I hope that they turn it on tonight vs. Atlanta. I'm aware that it's a long regular season, and the Celtics won't win them all, but this is a team that they should beat, Rondo-less or not.

Who Dat? Take a Guess


With the Thanksgiving break approaching and school work getting all crammed in, I apologize for the slow times here at UB lately. Things will brighten up soon. But why be a negative nancy when there's this game called Who Dat where Bruce is winning and has just over a month to hold a 4 point lead? It starts today for you. Guess it!

Bruce 8 points
Fitch 4 points
Ed B 3 points
Magz 3 points
Enahs 2 points
Kshep 2 points
Mikey Diggs 2 points
Craig89 1 point
Hink 1 point
T-Money 1 point


  

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sorry Peyton


Hopefully today helped to further solidify this ridiculous debate over which star quarterback is "better." Every analyst agrees that Tom Brady is the guy in a clutch situation or to win you one big game. How is that not enough to be considered the best? I don't know. But even despite that, the three pathetic interceptions thrown at critical times tonight by Peyton Manning helped to reestablish the Patriots' dominance over the Colts. We're back. It feels so right. It's time to party like it's 2001 through 2005 baby.
  

11/20 NBA Recap: Good Money

Blake Griffin scored a career high 44 points and Rudy Gay's talents outdid those of the team from South Beach. Here's today's NBA recap.

- After turning the ball over to Lebron James late in the game (which turned into a bucket to tie the game), Rudy Gay made up for his mistake by hitting a game-winning shot as the game clock was fast approaching zero. Though Gay only had 15 points in the game, he is vastly improving as a player, helped by his stint with Team USA over the summer. This begs a question for the 2012 Olympics: does the USA stick with the Durant-led team that won with unity, grit, and obviously superior talent, or does the US Olympic committee allow Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and other such stars back on the team even though they weren't willing to play in the FIBA tournament? I say stick with the squad that just won it in Turkey. They were all willing to play, and showed they were just as apt to win as the 2008 squad.

 

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