Boston Sports Then and Now

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 →

ESPN’s Adam Schefler tweeted and filed a report with EPSN that New England Patriots wideout Wes Welker appears to have torn both his ACL and his MCL in today’s game against the Houston Texans.

As reported earlier, Welker went down on the Patriots first series after catching his left foot in the turf following a catch that gave the Patriots a first down.

Houston safety, Bernard Pollard, made the stop as Welker crumbled to the ground writhing in obvious pain. Pollard was responsible for the below knee hit which sidelined Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady for the entire 2008-09 season.

After being helped to the sidelines, Welker sat on the bench with a towel covering his head. It is not clear whether he was crying due to the pain or upset at the thought of missing the Patriot’s playoff run. Read the rest of this entry →

Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots are left to wonder about life without Welker.

Not the way you want to end your regular season going into the playoffs.

This game was bizarre to say the least.

Bill Belichick plays Tom Brady who was being held together with band-aids and bubble gum.

He lets Faulk, Maroney (probably benched), Warren, Bodden, and Wilfork rest.

Welker, who has been throwing his body across the middle for 14 games, doesn’t get any R and R (military term for rest and relaxation) against Houston. Instead, he goes out there with reckless abandon and on a routine cut, blows out his knee.

The team’s offensive MVP is probably gone for the season. Welker’s tears on the bench pretty much ended all hopes of a miraculous comeback.

Greatest nightmare realized.

The Patriots lost one of their stars in a meaningless game.

It wasn’t a meaningless game for the Houston Texans, however.  They needed this game to keep their playoff hopes alive as well as assure themselves of their first winning season.

Read the rest of this entry →

Randy Moss and Tom Brady looked 2007-esque versus Jacksonville.

The Patriots took care of business and clinched the AFC East for the seventh time in ten years. There will be no playoff bye this year, but the Patriots look like they putting everything together.

It’s all about getting hot at the right time.

Remember those NY Giants that knocked off the undefeated Patriots in 2007?

Win and New England is in.

Pretty simple, right?

It looked simple against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville was fighting for their playoff lives but they didn’t play like that.

New England dominated the Jags in every phase of the game.

Read the rest of this entry →

The Patriots defense did alot of bending but didn't break against Carolina.

The post-Adalius Thomas era began with a win. Now the Patriots are 2-0 without their disgruntled, overpaid, and underachieving linebacker.

Was the win easy? No.

Was it pretty? Far from it.

The Patriots turned the ball over 3 times.

Brady is battling injuries and it showed in his accuracy and comfort level in the pocket. The Patriots quarterback had a pedestrian performance going 19 for 32 for 192 yards and a touchdown.  Brady also had his weekly bad interception.

He needs to heal up and improve if New England plans on going anywhere in the postseason.

Randy Moss was virtually invisible the whole game. He only had one catch for 16 yards and a costly fumbled. He never seemed in the game, perhaps there are lingering effects from “Lategate.”

Well that was the bad and now the good.

Read the rest of this entry →

Different road game.  Same story.

Was Bill Belichick outcoached again?

Get out to an early lead.

No pass rush.

Secondary gets torched.

Offense disappears in second half.

Patriots lose another road game.

This storyline sounds all too familiar. It happened in New York, Denver, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and now Miami.

The Patriots started off like gangbusters yet again. They raced out to a 14-0 lead highlighted by a 58 yard bomb from Brady to Moss that brought me to my feet!

Can the Patriots finally shake off their road game funk?

Not so fast.

They had the Dolphins on the ropes early and let them back into the game, yet again.

Read the rest of this entry →