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.”