Editorial

Connelly’s Top Ten – Patriots no Problem, Red Sox who cares? Kneeling

Published

2 days ago

September 29, 2017

1.Patriots

* Since Cam Newton’s fumble in the Super Bowl that he refused to pick up – he has an 8-10 record and has thrown – 21 TD / 19 INT

* Carolina 2-1 but have played a weak schedule - 49ers / Saints / Bills

* Look for Christian McCaffrey to have a big game against these Patriot linebackers – in three games he has 18 receptions for 173 yards

* Patriot defense is on pace to give up 43 passing TD this year

* Patriot defense on pace to give up 27 touchdowns of twenty yards or more

* Patriots 35-17

2.Red Sox

* Eduardo Rodriguez has given up 5 runs or more in 12 of 65 starts – not good

* Benintendi – had a 20 / 20 season in the bag but hasn’t stolen a base since 9/13

* Eck and Remy in the booth keeps getting better and better

* David Price gets a raise next year to $31mm

* I think the Red Sox have the most expensive bullpen in baseball history - $61mm - Kimbrel, Price, Reed, Kelly, Thornburg, Abad, Ross

3. Why don’t I care about the Red Sox? In 1978, I was devastated by their loss to the Yankees – now the Yankees and their manager and owner are actually more likable:

* Cowardly attack on Eckersley

* Red Sox management broad brushing Red Sox fans as racists

* Unlikable players – Hanley, Price, Pedroia (who would have guessed he would be on the list)

* Pedroia throwing his teammates under the bus

* Jackie Bradley setting up Eckersley and mocking him

* John Farrell – the city emotionally invests in him during his cancer bout – all the while he is leaving his wife, hooking up with sideline reporter, is a terrible game manager and is painful to listen to in press conference

* Fenway Park considered most expensive experience in baseball according to bankrate.com – ownership in rinsing every cent out of their fans

4. Why don’t these athletes have more perspective? Look at the lifetime earnings of half of the Cavaliers team (not including endorsements):

Lebron……………$269mm

Dwayne Wade……$176mm

Deron Williams…..$143mm

Derrick Rose……..$115mm

Richard Jefferson…$110mm

Kevin Love……….$99mm

Jeff Green…………$71mm

Kyle Korver………$63mm

K. Perkins…………$58mm

JR Smith……………$57mm

T. Thompson……….$46mm

Combined Earnings $1,207,000,000 (That’s over a BILLION dollars)

5. In honor of Kyrie Irving come to town – a list of great talkers who couldn’t help themselves and were always available for a sound bite:

· Bill Walton

· Bill Lee

· Teddy Bruschi

· Carl Everett

· Rick Pitino

· Don Cherry

· Victor Kiam

· Ken Harrelson

· John Y Brown

· ML Carr

· Oil Can Boyd

* Julian Edleman

* Brad Marchand

6. In the 1972 NHL Playoffs – Bobby Orr registered a point in 14 of the 15 games / in seven games he had multiple points / 24 points in all - on the way to the Stanley Cup

7. Amazing Stat - Since Jamie Collins decided to free-lance in Foxboro and got himself traded to the Browns:

* Patriots 13-2 / Browns 1-10

* This season - 11 tackles / 0 sacks

8. In honor of Chuck Person getting bagged paying money to recruits at Auburn – lets go back to 1991 Game 5 playoff duel with Larry Bird:

* Chuck Person 43 minutes / 32 points / 5 for 9 from three-point land

* Bird hits his face on the parquet and leaves the game

* Bird returns – 33 minutes / 32 points / 9 rebounds / 7 assists

* Celtics win game and series with 124-121 victory

9. Just a Little Bit Outside - Thoughts on kneeling during the national anthem – if you would indulge me (feel free to skip):

* Supposition #1 - Both sides believe their stance is patriotic?

* Supposition #2 - The National Anthem is an important symbol of our country? Fort McHenry, Iowa Jima, 9/11 ruins, first African American Medal of Honor winner William Carney risking everything to carry the Stars and Stripes in the Civil War, planting the flag on the moon

* Supposition #3 If we all agree on #1 and #2 – Those that kneel are doing so with heavy hearts but do so because they are filled with conviction

* A challenge to Supposition #3 - If they love the country and feel compelled to take a stand – why can’t they do both – kneel but at the same time put their hand over their heart and/or sing the anthem with great passion (if they know the words?)

* Supposition #4 - 85% of NFL players are members of the 1% - from their first days in Pop Warner, to college scholarships to millions of dollars of salaries they have reaped the greatest materialistic benefits of this great country - which means they are considered advantaged

* Supposition #5 - If we agree on #4 agree – that means football players are actually kneeling for others that are less fortunate and lack a voice

* Question-related to #5 – If they are sincere, their commitment should go far beyond kneeling to include commitment of money and personal time. If not, then their kneeling is hollow and their intention is only to be divisive

* Supposition #6 - To say that they are using their platform to bring attention to the matter is not good enough – to be an individual of impact then you have to be part of the solution (define cause, articulate plan, state intended resolution).

* If someone doesn’t know why they are kneeling – to me that is cause for termination.

10 Randomocity

* DeShaun Watson handed his first NFL paycheck to cafeteria workers – that is special stuff

* End of the month Saturday means update time for Chicago – So far this year - 530 murders / 2,850 shot – or ten people are shot a DAY!

* Side note on the kneeling and unity – Aaron Rodgers wants all the fans to lock arms as one (which I believe is sincere) even though he can’t even talk with his own family

* National anthem suggestion – shouldn’t the fans sing the anthem with great luster – wouldn’t that send a clear message to the players?

*Rick Pitino finally knocked out - reminds me of Dan Shaughnessy’s great line when Pitino left Boston – “We thought we were getting Michael Corleone but we got Fredo.”

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Editorial

A Trip to a Mets Bar

Published

1 day ago

September 30, 2017

Jackson Kelley

“You don’t know just how good you have it.” Being fans of modern Boston Sports, chances are you’ve been scolded for this “ignorance”, at one time or another. But if you take a step back, gain perspective and absorb the history, you’ll find that this is a resoundingly accurate statement.

Come on, we were all recently unnerved because, for a moment, it appeared as though the Sox would have to make the playoffs through the AL Wild Card Game. That sentence contains the phrase “make the playoffs”…

Man, we have it rough!

In nearly every relevant professional sports institution, New England has established hegemonies. Since the year 2000, between the Red Sox, the Patriots, the B’s and the C’s, we’ve collected 10 championship wins in total. That equals more than 1 championship every other year.

We’re simply the winningest. Boston you could go and hibernate for a decade, knowing that when you woke up we’d still be on top. As a demographic, we’ve become appropriately accustomed to winning, and that’s fine.

But it’s important to have sympathy for the less fortunate. There are populations out there that have forgotten the definition of the word “dynasty”.

So, in a humble effort to become more gentrified, I traveled to the most depressed and most neglected bowel of the Sports World - a Mets bar.

Editorial

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Published

2 days ago

September 29, 2017

Jackson Kelley

Due to recent controversies, we will not be playing the National Anthem before this article begins. With that being said, you may sit, stand, lie down and/or levitate. Get comfortable. It’s time for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

The Good

Through the electronic osmosis of the Internet, TV and Radio you’ve probably realized that Americans haven’t been too happy lately. Our country is in a time of widespread conflict, from the cobblestone streets of Boston all the way to the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Not even professional sports has been impervious to recent politicization. In fact, athletes are the ones who incited this debate!

Of course, I’m referring to the protesting of the National Anthem.

Even if you’re not a sports fan, you have certainly heard excerpts from the discussion that this rebellious act has kindled. I’ve had friends approach me, who have never watched a single sporting event in their life, asking what all this means and how did it start.

On the surface, such heated dissension isn’t something to embrace or to cheer on. But in an attempt to say this with political impartiality: It’s good a thing.

Growing up in the early 2000’s, there was always a professional sports scandal to follow. But that’s just what it was: Scandalous. Take Kobe Bryant and Michael Vick for example. Parents always warned us that these superstars, whom we emulated and worshipped, were not always the best of people out in society. And although we still have our roguish scandals today, athletes protesting the National Anthem is one that is not immoral or too vulgar to be appreciated by the kids who idolize them.

A political statement this large is reminiscent of Muhammad Ali being a conscientious objector in the 1960’s. All sorts of nasty epithets were thrown at him, back then. He was called disrespectful; he was called a “draft dodger”. Now we remember him as one of the most model activists in professional sports history.

Whether you consider the protests insolent and ungracious, or if you agree with them and consider it constructive: It does not matter. It’s the principal of the action. Standing up, or in this case kneeling down, for what you believe in is invariably a good thing. This country is predicated on every human’s sovereign right to do just that. Professional athletes, who are celebrities and powerful people, are finally using their eminent platform to send a moral message. This is one “scandal” that is worthy of praise.

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins 2018 Line Projections And Season Preview

Published

2 days ago

September 29, 2017

Justin Doyle

Boston Bruins Potential Lines For The 2018 Season

The Boston Bruins Still has some last minute roster changes to be made. Other than that we all have a good idea who is going to be on the team. Here is a look at the possible lines for the new season. Also some predictions for the Bruins overall season outcome.

Boston will be a very fun team to watch this season. It seems like they are going to let the youth roam free and take the reigns. With some vets thrown into the mix.

Vegas has the Bruins projected at 30-1 odds to win the cup. I do not expect the B’s to go out and win the cup with this team. They do need to be competitive though. I project them to squeeze into that 3rd division spot and make it to the playoffs. It will probably take somewhere around 96-98 points to grab that spot which I think is achievable. I say they need to get around 40 wins with maybe a couple of ties in there.

The biggest outcome of the season would be the breakout of at least one of the rookies. I am looking forward to this years team, they are going to be a very fun team to watch.