Boston Sports Then and Now

Price's 2010 Binky: Brandon Graham

Chris Price from WEEI has returned from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and answered some of my questions regarding the Patriots and the draft!

Be sure to check out Chris’ blog, It Is What It Is on weei.com.

BST&N: What players got the most buzz at the combine? I heard Tebow broke numerous combine records for QB’s.

CP: Even though he didn’t throw, Tebow definitely got a big bump in the eyes of many because of how he performed. On Sunday, he had an excellent workout — he didn’t throw, but he finished first among all quarterbacks in the three-cone drill (6.66 seconds), the 20-yard shuffle (4.17 seconds) and the 60-yard shuffle (11.27 seconds). In addition, he tied Josh McCown for the best vertical leap (38.5 inches) in combine history for a QB, had the second-best broad jump (9 feet, 7 inches) and recorded the fourth-best 40-yard dash time (4.72 seconds) at his position. Also, several people reported that he did extremely well in the interview process with teams. He did a great job in the face of a sizable national media contingent, answering every question posed to him in a well-articulated manner. He was also helped by the fact that some of the more well-regarded quarterbacks like Sam Bradford didn’t participate, and some of those who did like Dan LeFevour performed poorly. Not saying he turned everything around in one weekend, but he was certainly someone who got a boost over the weekend.

I’d also point to Maryland offensive tackle Bruce Campbell, who likely vaulted into the upper reaches of the first round with an awesome performance in many of the drills. He has a limited body of work, but his combine performance made him a blue-chip prospect in the eyes of many. Also South Florida pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, who had an impressive outing and is likely now a Top 10 pick as a result.

CP: If it means taking him in the first two rounds, no. I think he would certainly be an intriguing piece of the puzzle in Foxboro, but they have too many other needs to address instead of using one of those first four picks in the top 60 (and I think Tebow will be gone by the end of the second round to someone) on someone who is still going to be a bit of a project for the next year or two on the NFL level. I really respect the opinion of NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock, and he believes if Tebow gets to the right environment and has a couple of years to develop, he could become a good NFL quarterback. Now, if you’re the Patriots and you’ve filled all your needs by the sixth round and he’s still there, that might be a different story.

My friend Jenn from SoxPinkPony has a great book about Red Sox History; she gets all sorts of great facts that she posts on Twitter. Today she wrote about almost losing American hero and baseball legend, Ted Williams on February 19, 1953. In recent months the only news I’ve heard about the Splendid Splinter is how his cryogenically frozen head has been used as batting practice. It’s disgusting, it’s disgraceful and it has overshadowed some of the great things he accomplished in his life on and off the diamond.

Ted Williams in the F9F cockpit

Captain Theodore Williams flew a total of 38 combat missions in two wars. In Korea he was assigned to First Marine Air Wing, VMF-311 with close friend and future astronaut and senator, John Glenn. Williams’ plane was hit by enemy fire while flying a combat mission with the 33rd Marine Air Group aimed at Kyomipo, North Korea. Williams’ flew a bit too low and his plane was hit by a shower of small arms fire.

The airplane controls showed multiple failures, his landing gear got stuck down (although he was able to get it back into the plane) and he lost radio contact. Meanwhile, unaware his plane was on fire, another pilot tried signaling him to eject but he increased altitude and headed toward the nearest US base.

When the landing field was in sight, Williams turned to land. He was unable to get the landing gear back down and still didn’t realize the aircraft was on fire, until the explosion. He wasn’t aware how fast he was going (due to the controls being out) and was forced to try and land at a speed of 225 mph, almost twice the recommended landing speed.

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A few days ago, I was honored with offer to write for Boston Sports Then and Now. I accepted the offer, as you can see, and I am very

Meet Marko the Boston Sports Fan From Serbia.

happy to be part of something like this.

Certainly it would be rude to not introduce myself to readers – My name is Marko Rancic (like Marco, Run + cic; like in Milan Lucic’s surname) and I am huge Boston Sports fan. I was born and raised in Pirot, small town in Serbia – tiny country in Balkans. Some people may find my passion for Boston and Boston sports strange since I’m thousand miles far from it, but it’s never far enough for love.

It’s been 10 years or more since I fell in love with Patriots. I started to like them first time I’ve watched them. They lost that game, but I was sure that they will be my favorite team and that they will make every single BS fan proud. Luckily, my guess was right. There is also ‘you just can’t help not loving Boston’ factor, which is, combined with first one, mostly responsible for love I feel for Boston teams and Bostonians in common.

Unfortunately, I had no real chance to connect with Patriots, Bruins, Red Sox or Celtics fans until we’ve found each other on Twitter.

That is one of the main reasons I write this, my believe in social media networks or let’s say it more trivially – connecting people. So, nowadays, I have plenty of friends with whom I like to spend time and watch games.

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Hannah Kearney

Life is Good.

Pitchers and Catchers have reported!

I have been pleasantly surprised watching the national coverage of the games to find out two of our USA representatives are members of Red Sox Nation!

Hannah Kearney is a VT native, and 2010 Gold Medalist in the Women’s Freestyle Moguls did a great interview with Bob Costas where she admits to wearing a Jacoby Ellsbury shirt under her opening ceremony uniform and then Costas gives a shout-out to RSN. (about 4:40 into the video).

It’s been reported that Tom Wearner called Kearney up on her cell phone to ask if she wanted to throw out the first pitch at a Sox v. Yanks game in April; An offer she (reportedly) gladly accepted.

If I could walk in the shoes of anyone right now, it just might be Kearney.

I mean, Ben & Jerry’s are going to name and ice cream flavor after her. And while that’s not Sox related, it’s just plain cool. Never mind the fact the flavor is Coffee and chocolate cookies. No joke, my favorite. Seriously we should be BFF.

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The Massachusetts Miracle Men with BU official(middle).

The world was in a state of turmoil. The Cold War was at epic heights between the Soviet Union and the United States.

America was secretly funding the Afghan rebels to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan.

There was no love loss between the two countries whether it was world affairs or on the ice.

The 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York was not just an international athletic competition, but a showing of superpower muscle.

And a band of collegiate hockey players from the Midwest and New England, were David trying to take down the Soviet Goliath.

Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Dave Silk, and Jack O’Callahan grew up playing hockey on rinks in the Boston area.

Jack O’ Callahan hailed from Charlestown, Mass.

Jim Craig called North Easton home.

Mike Eruzione grew up in Winthrop.

Dave Silk was raised in Scituate.

These four sons from the Bay State all attended Boston University, one of the country’s collegiate hockey powerhouses which was coached by the now legendary, Jack Parker.

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BSB will be held on Sunday, March 28th at Jerry Remy's at Fenway.

An idea is just that unless others share your passion for the concept. Well the Boston Sports Blogapalooza(BSB) Express is rolling down the tracks and people are jumping on board.

BSB has only been on the drawing board for about two weeks and everything is coming together beyond my expectations.

My idea to put together a tweet up for Bruins fans morphed into something even bigger. I thought to myself, why not get all the Boston sports bloggers together in one place?

These Social Media Outlets for Sports (bloggers) can finally meet, trade social media tips, and talk shop in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Then I thought why not incorporate the Boston media, local companies, and music.

Media of both types (social and traditional) could mingle and discuss all the hot topics on the Boston Sports Scene.

Local companies could network with bloggers about their products and services. Partnerships between these companies and social media outlets would be agreed upon right at the event.

Bloggers can help promote and build a buzz about their partners’ offerings.

In return, bloggers would generate revenue through these cross promotions.

Everyone one wins!

Boston Sports Blogapalooza was born.

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