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.
 

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.
   

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?

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.