Boston Sports Then and Now

Magic & Bird: Courtship Of Rivals is a Must See

When I checked my email on February 9^th, I saw an email from the Comcast Triple Rewards program.

I didn’t think much of it.

I figured must be another coupon for a pay per view movie.

Wow, was I wrong!

The message read, “Thank you for being a valued customer. HBO, The Boston Celtics, and Comcast cordially invite you and a guest to join Celtics Captain, Paul Pierce to celebrate the premiere of the HBO Sports documentary, Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals.”

The event was going to be held at the TD Garden on February 22, 2010.

This had to be by the far the best perk I received from any customer appreciation program.

I worked for Comcast (got laid off) and I am currently a customer. Of course, they have not always made me feel all warm and fuzzy with technical issues and mysterious charges.

However, this invitation to attend an advance screening of documentary about one of my favorite all-time athletes, Larry Bird, will make me a little more patient and understanding (I hope) when my bill is incorrect next time.

Read the rest of this entry →

My love for the #8 began with Yaz.

What’s your favorite number?

Why?

People have hundreds of stories or reasons, but one of the top choices is probably sports.

I have been crazy for the #8 since I was a little kid.  When I was a little kid, I LOVED the Red Sox (probably on Jared Carrabis level). I recall spending summer days in my family’s screen house watching the Sox on a little black and white television.

My favorite player was you guessed it, #8 Carl Yastrzemski. I loved YAZ and I am not sure why. I just gravitated towards him and have been a fan of his ever since (I have bought my share of Yaz shirts over the years).

I still remember vividly watching Yaz day on TV during the ’83 season which proved to be his last.  It was such an emotional and wonderful day. He received many gifts on that day at Fenway Park. I can still see him sitting in the rocking chair that was presented to him (I even cut out all the pictures from the Boston Globe).

Who can forget his lap around Fenway Park slapping hands with all the fans?

That’s how my love affair for the #8 began.

Read the rest of this entry →

The Bentley Falcons finished the 2009 season with an 8-2 record and as tri-champions of the NE-10.

A 23-21 loss to Stonehill College in the season finale proved to be particularly costly as it knocked the Bentley University Falcons out of contention for the NCAA Division II Championship.

The Falcons seemed destined to earn a spot in the Division II Playoffs after being ranked fourth in the NCAA Super Region entering the final week of the season. However, they fell out of the top eight after their loss and did not receive one of the 24 bids to the NCAA Playoffs.

Bentley’s omission means that the NE-10 did not have a team advance to the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference received four bids into the playoffs.

Bentley finished the 2009 season with an 8-2 record. Both of their losses came by two points. They shared the NE-10 championship with Merrimack and Southern Connecticut.

Matt Zahoruiko has 111 tackles for the season, just four shy of the school single season record. He ranks second in Division II in tackles.

Last week the Falcons had a bye week, which allowed them the time to get players healthy.  Although Bentley didn’t play, they were able to climb in both the regional rankings and AFCA Division II Poll.  Bentley has moved back to fourth in the NCAA Division II Super Region One and 24th in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll.

The regional rankings are used to determine the seedings for the NCAA Division II playoffs, with the top two teams in each region receiving a first round bye and the next two hosting first-round home games.

Although Bentley clinched a piece of the Northeast-10 title Friday night when Southern Connecticut fell to Merrimack, Bentley has nothing else on their mind except beating Stonehill and winning the league out right.

Bentley has not and will not change the way they prepare for each game. The Falcons take each game one at a time, never looking to the future.  Don’t be surprised by Stonehill’s record, 4-5, as the Skyhawks always come prepared to play the Falcons.

Read the rest of this entry →

Sporting an 8-1 record, the Bentley Falcons can win the NE-10 title and earn a spot in the NCAA Playoffs with a win at Stonehill on November 7th.

The Bentley Falcons have now put their own destiny in their hands after winning 24-20 last Saturday against the Assumption Greyhounds to improve to 8-1 on the season.  This week the Falcons are resting up and getting ready for their last opponent, Stonehill Skyhawks, on November 7.

Last week the Falcons got back to their game plan as the offense had 314 total yards and ate up 30 minutes of clock.  Bryant Johnson connected with John Malone twice and Kelley Rowe once for scores in the second half.  Then Tyler McNamara made a 24 yard field goal early in the fourth.

Read the rest of this entry →

Bryant Johnson and the Falcons drove 91-yards in the final minutes to pull out a victory and improve to 7-1 on the season.

One thing that the Bentley Falcons learned last week is you cannot take a team lightly no matter if they are 0-6 or 6-0, but as all great teams do, the Falcons found a way to win the game.  With an impressive drive inside the last two minutes Bryant Johnson took the offense 91 yards to give the Falcons a 28-27 edge over the Setters.

Last Saturday both sides of the ball struggled throughout most of the game.  The offense brought in its usual numbers, 408 yards of total offense, but gave up three interceptions and two fumbles.

The defense had some troubles of its own, but when it counted Chris Carroll picked off the ball on the Bentley two-yard line and returned it to the nine with 2:30 left in the game.  Matt Zahoruiko had another great performance with 15 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble.

Read the rest of this entry →