March 2006 Archives

In case you haven’t noticed (and if you haven’t, check your pulse…I think you might be dead!), the World Men’s Curling Championships are about to sweep the Mill City off it’s feet.

The event kicks off April fool’s Day at the Tsongas Arena, but it’s no joke. Running through April 9th, the championships are expected to bring up to 60,000 people through Lowell and pump millions into the local economy.

As a proud sponsor, The Lowell Sun has been all over the festivities, running daily features since the beginning of March and devoting scores of articles all this week. Anything and everything you wanted to know about Curling and the sport’s world championships has appeared on the Sun’s pages in recent days. Among the “must read‿ articles:

The Fan Guide touches on everything from the schedule of events and the competitors to the rules, lingo and social aspects of the game. Dave Pevear introduces us to Bob Fenson, coach of the U.S. team. Carmine Frongillo followed the Americans to the Daley School as they taught students how to play the sport. David Perry profiles Hans Wuthrich, the man entrusted with creating and maintaining the ice. And Kirk Boutselis highlights the volunteers, without whom staging an event of this magnitude would not be possible.

The coverage will only intensify once competition begins. The Sun has 29 media credentials for the event, meaning almost the entire staff will contribute one way or another. Be sure to follow all the goings on in the print and online editions over the coming week.

In addition, I’ll be heading over to the Tsongas for a few of the sessions. Look for some “live blogging‿ with a minute by minute account of the festivities, including some behind the scenes stuff you probably won’t get anywhere else.

Now then, how many of you have tickets to at least one day of competition? If not, do you plan on attending at some point? Do you enjoy Curling? Do you understand it? Is this 10-day event going to be as big a boon to the area as we’re being told, or is it more of a headache than anything else?

News Flash: Major League Baseball’s investigation into steroid use begins with former Maine Senator George Mitchell heading the inquiry. The probe will only cover events after September of 2002 and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig says Mitchell has his permission to follow the investigation wherever it may lead.

Teddy’s Take: Now there’s a contradiction. “Follow the investigation wherever it may lead.‿ And what happens when the road inevitably leads to the period before 2002?

The time to look seriously into steroid abuse was in 1999 and 2001 when Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds were making a mockery of the most treasured records in all of sports. Now it’s too late. The damage to the game’s integrity has already been done, and the late 20th/early 21st centuries will forever be known as the “Steroid Era.‿

What are they going to do? Punish Bonds for what he did AFTER he broke the HR record? And if they do punish Bonds, what about the rest of the offenders, particularly the two guys also named in the BALCO scandal?

How exactly have Gary Sheffield and Jason Giambi skated free and clear in all this? It’s hysterical to hear members of the New York media and Yankees fans pontificate about what an injustice Bonds has done to the game of baseball while cheering Sheffield and Giambi. Ancient history you say? Perhaps, but I’d still like to know how Giambi managed to bulk up and re-discover his batting stroke, all after hitting below the Mendoza line and being asked to go to the minors.

Just curious.

Kind of a slow day sports-wise, so for the first time since our Anna Nicole Smith entry, I thought we’d re-visit a sport of a different kind. My inspiration? The new biography about Barbara Streisand which highlights the diva’s sexual exploits.

I can’t help but think of Wilt Chamberlain and his tell-all where he claimed to have slept with 20,000 women. And you thought scoring 100-points was his most amazing accomplishment!

But while “Fab Bab� can’t match "Wilt the Stilt" for sheer volume (at least I don’t think so), the quality of the 10-time Grammy and 2-time Academy award winner’s conquests is quite impressive. Among them:

Steve McQueen (turns out “Papillon� wasn't his greatest escape)
Kris Kristofferson (thanks to contraceptives, A Star Isn’t Born)
Prince Charles and Dodi Fayed (matching Princess Di’s daily double)
Jon Voight (hopefully not in Costanza’s car)
Don Johnson (making nice with Miami Vice)
Warren Beatty (who hasn’t?)
Elliot Gould (along with James Brolin, one of Streisand’s hubbies)
Richard Gere (please tell me that was before Cindy Crawford)
Omar Sharif (fun on the set of “Funny Girl�)
Andre Agassi (dumped him ‘cause he had better hair)
Ice cream heir Richard Baskin (that could explain the expanding rump)
Liam Neeson (from Schindler’s list to Streisand’s)
Peter Jennings (making news on the anchor desk)

No confirmation on whether she bagged President Clinton, but the book does claim Hillary banned “Babs� from the White House after learning she slept over while the First Lady attended to her dying father in Arkansas. So unless the first time was the charm, our former prez did not have sexual relations with that woman.

Now then, whose accomplishments in the oldest “game� of them all are more impressive…Chamberlains 20,000 points or Streisand’s “Evergreen� list of “People Who Need People?� You think all this experience helped “Babs� land the role of the sex therapist mom in “Meet the Fockers?� Would Bill Russell be able to neutralize either of these two off the court?

News Flash: Red Sox relief pitcher, Julian Tavarez, faces possible suspension for instigating a brawl during yesterday’s spring training contest against Tampa Bay. The fight started on a play at home plate involving the Rays Joey Gathright. Tavarez stepped on Gathright and threw a punch because he "thought" the outfielder was going to get up and hit him. "I'm a very calm person," insisted Tavarez. "I'm not a fighting guy."

Teddy’s Take: Be careful what you wish for….you just might get it!

After the 2004 World Series victory, Red Sox management made a conscious effort to change the personality of the team from a bunch of “idiots� to a more professional image. If this is what they were talking about, give me Kevin Millar any day of the week. At least the self-proclaimed “idiots� were winning ballplayers.

The list of blow-ups involving the right-handed reliever is too long to get into here. Suffice it to say that before yesterday’s meltdown, Tavarez was most famous for hurting his hand abusing the clubhouse phone to the bullpen while with the Cardinals in 2004. Oh yeah, that temper tantrum was during the National League Championship series. Guy sure knows how to pick his spots, doesn’t he?

What’s even more troubling is the fact the Red Sox signed Tavarez to a reported 2-year, $6.7-million contract. For a team throwing the word “value� around like beads at a Mardi Gras parade, it’s just not a very smart move. If this guy can’t keep his cool during a spring training game, just imagine what happens when some sarcastic Boston media personality gets on his case.

That’s my take...what’s yours? Is Julian Tavarez what the Sox had in mind when abolishing the idiots? Will he be able to handle the pressure of pitching for the Nation? Will his outbursts be tolerated as long as he produces? Could that kind of money be better spent elsewhere?

We interrupt our regularly scheduled blogging to bring you this special programming note:

Fantasy sports take center stage tonight as yours truly joins host Mike DeBlasi on My TV Prime. The 90-minute call-in show airs on MyTV (the former WNDS) every Monday thru Friday from 8-9:30pm. The first hour of tonight’s show focuses on the fantasy sports craze and how it’s become a billion dollar business on the internet.

I had the pleasure of working with Mike for nearly 6-years during my television days, and I can promise you the show will be quite entertaining and informative, especially if readers of this blog phone in.

The telephone number is; 1-888-905-MYTV (6988). MyTV is channel 18 on the Comcast Cable network, channels 50 and 950 on satellite, and channel 50 if you still use rabbit ears.

Now back to our regularly scheduled blogging.

It was the summer of 1987. The badly injured and beat up Boston Celtics had just lost in the NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers, but fans weren’t too upset. Surely the Green would be back to reclaim their title the following season, wouldn’t they?

After all, they still had a healthy Larry Bird and his three consecutive MVP awards to count on. Kevin McHale would no doubt return from a foot injury to reclaim his inside dominance. Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge would provide veteran leadership.

And when all else failed, they’d still have Red Auerbach and that famed Celtics “system,� wouldn’t they? You know, the “system� that allowed them to hoist 16 Championship banners in 27-years. The “system� that put team above all else. The “system� that was the envy of every other franchise. The “system� we thought could teach Brad Lohaus, Michael Smith and Acie Earl to play Celtics basketball.

Funny how you never realize the good old days are gone until it’s too late.

I bring up the Celtics example not to show my age (I know I’m old!), but to call attention to the unthinkable possibility that the Patriots dynasty may be a thing of the past and that the Patriots “system� may be in need of a tune-up.

This isn’t to say the sky is falling in Foxboro. I’m not stupid enough (stupid, just not stupid enough) to think Bill Belichick and the boys won’t be back in the playoffs next year. But if Patriots fans think the Super Bowl is their annual right because of some system, they’re in for a rude awakening.

Allow me for a minute to use some Belichick/Pioli reasoning to make my point. We constantly hear that what sets these two apart is their ability to make decisions based not on history or sentimentality, but on what’s best for the team. Decisions on players are made not by what they’ve done in the past, but on what they can do in the future. What players contributed to the 2002, 2004 and 2005 Super Bowl winners has no bearing on the next title chase.

So why then do we just assume the Patriots “system� will continue to perform as it has in the past? Isn’t it possible the “system� is perfect for building a Super Bowl winner but flawed when it comes to maintaining one?

Let me use an innocent enough example; Joe Andruzzi. Is it strictly coincidence the Pats running game fell off the face of the earth? Perhaps Andruzzi alone didn’t account for the drop off, but coupled with the loss of Damien Woody the year before, the offensive line just didn’t have enough depth to withstand the injuries which strike every team.

And that’s the point. There’s something to be said for a cumulative effect. You can’t just lose quality player after quality player and continue to enjoy the same success. Rodney Harrison and Mike Vrabel don’t come along every free agency period. For every one of them, there’s a Tyrone Poole and a Duane Starks.

After beginning the 2003 season with a 2-2 record, the Pats went on to win 32 of their next 34 games counting post-season. After winning two of their first three games in 2005, they went 9-6, including the playoff loss in Denver. Is that just an off year or the start of a trend? Before you answer, I strongly urge you to remember the 1987 Boston Celtics.

In Bill I still trust. It’s the Monte Beisels and Reche Caldwells I have no faith in.

That's my take...what's yours? Is it time for the Patriots to re-evaluate their system? Was last year just a speed bump on the road to the Super Bowl? Will the Pats go the way of all other sports dynasties or will the way they do business keep them competitive for as long as Bill Belichick runs the team?

Raise your hand if you had George Mason in your Final Four.

Anyone?

I didn’t think so, especially since I doubt the school’s Athletic Director, or the three clueless secretaries who randomly picked them, read this blog.

But no matter how improbable it seems, George Mason is in the Final Four, stunning Connecticut in overtime to make history. With the win, GMU joins the 1986 LSU Tigers as the lowest seed (#11) to appear in the NCAA semi-finals. They also become the first small conference team since Penn and Indiana State in 1979 to make the final weekend of March Madness. (Yes, those were Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores)

With my bracket officially destroyed, all I can say is; Go George Mason....at least one group of Patriots is having a good March!!!

So what do you think bloggers? Will the clock strike twelve for George Mason or can the ultimate Cinderella win this thing? Is there anyone out there whose bracket is still alive? Is it possible to root for anyone other than the Patriots?

News Flash: The Bruins fire General Manager Mike O'Connell and replace him with Assistant GM Jeff Gorton. According to team President Harry Sinden; "It was not proper to let him keep doing what he was doing, signing players, making plans for the future, when we knew that at the end of the year we were going to relieve him of his job."

Teddy’s Take: Perhaps Sinden and Jeremy Jacobs should have thought of that before letting O'Connell trade away Joe Thornton and Sergei Samsonov, the B's two best players? What a joke!!!

Since Sinden isn't part of this front office purge, it’s not going to make a bit of difference. My hunch is Gorton is just going to finish out the season and a full-scale search for a permanent replacement will begin. But if it’s Sinden leading the search, Black and Gold fans are just in for more of the same old-same old.

So what do you think B's fans? You happy? Will this turn the team around or is it just the first step in a major housecleaning?

Slots Grobnick asks; “Is Nomar going to reclaim any of his former brilliance? I, for one, think he has Lynn Disease. The symptoms are: head west and regress.‿

Well Slots, the analogy to Freddy Lynn is a darn good one. Both had their best days in Boston, owned the city, and ultimately failed to recapture past glory after leaving.

That said, Nomar Garciaparra is one of the most intriguing fantasy players coming into this season. His numbers last year (.283, 9-HR, 30-RBI, 62-games) were very disappointing, especially to those of us who drafted him. However, a closer look reveals a guy who batted below .200 before tearing a groin muscle and missing most of the season. Once he returned and shifted to 3rd base to replace the injured Aramis Ramirez, Garciaparra began tearing the cover off the ball, much like he did for the Red Sox in his heyday.

Now I know he’s not getting any younger and he’s moving to a pitcher’s park in Los Angeles, but I still think Garciaparra has a place in every fantasy lineup. First of all, he’s eligible at shortstop and 3rd base right now and will add 1st base because that’s where the Dodgers are playing him. Three position eligibility alone makes him valuable. With the strain of playing short gone, expect Mr. Hamm to perform much as he did for the Cubbies in September.

The injury risk no longer makes him a stud, but if Nomar is there in the 10th round of your draft or later, give him serious consideration. The potential reward far outweighs the gamble.

Experienced players will tell you Fantasy Baseball leagues are won and lost not necessarily by the superstars, but by the future studs who come out of nowhere to play bigger than their reputation, or the declining veterans who’s numbers shrink to Tattoo-like proportions.

Last week, I gave you 5 relative no-names who should get strong consideration in the later rounds of your draft. This week, I’ve matched that with 5 guys who may have seen brighter days and should be dropped on your list.

The trick, as with the up and comers, is to know exactly when a guy is a reach or a value. For example, Keith Foulke has the potential for 40+ saves, yet to take him with the first wave of closers is too big of a gamble. But if he’s there late in your draft, his potential value is so great he should be scooped up faster than the class hussy at a junior high dance.

Here then, is my list of “Tattoo� performers for the 2006 season:

Gary Sheffield (NYY)-OF
Carlos Delgado (NYM)-1B
Bartolo Colon (ANA)-SP
Barry Bonds (SF)-OF
Curt Schilling (BOS)-SP

First of all, I didn’t list the obvious. If you need me to tell you 37-year old Bob Wickman isn’t going to catch a whiff of the 45-saves he accumulated in 2005 or that Garrett Anderson’s injuries have turned him into Wade Boggs with a bad back, you’re in deeper trouble than I can help with. The people I named are near the top of everyone’s draft board. The lowest ranked player in my Yahoo league’s pre-season list is Barry Bonds at #110.

However, I think all of these players will be overvalued. Sheffield is aging and unhappy with his contract, a bad combo. Delgado is moving to a pitcher’s park and has a creaky elbow. Colon has way too many miles on a body that looks an awful lot like what I see in the mirror. Bonds’ knee simply will not allow him to play enough games to be a top-tier player.

The one name I’ll bet caught everyone’s attention is Schilling. I hate to say it, but I think “Curt on the Car Phone’s� days of dominance are over. Sure he’ll put up a flashback start from time to time, but giving up 5-runs in 7-innings against minor leaguers this afternoon should tell you something. I know, I know….it’s just spring training. But those are just minor leaguers. My advice…stay away, at least until the middle rounds.

That’s my take….what’s yours? Do you agree with my “Tattoo� picks? Who else is due for a fall from Stud Mountain?

News Flash: The long rumored sale of the Lowell Lock Monsters is a step closer to becoming reality. As reported on this blog back on February 8th, the deal is with the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils. Thursday’s edition of the Lowell Sun has details of the sale, which is still contingent on a number of factors, including the success of a campaign to sell 1,500 new season tickets.

Teddy’s Take: O.K. Merrimack Valley Sports fans…time to step up! So far, roughly 300 new season tickets have been sold. I’m not sure if any of my loyal readers are included in that list, but I want you guys and gals to strongly consider joining the effort.

A lot of you know each other, so even if you don’t think you can afford it by yourself, perhaps you can split an account with someone else. I also want those of you who own a business in the area to make the commitment. It’s not only good for your company, but for the entire region as well.

As part of the campaign, I pledge to buy 2-season tickets for my family business. I will also list the names of any person or business which purchases a season account, and I will also forward the names to the Lowell Sun, which has pledged to publish the names periodically.

News Flash: Adam Vinatieri, one of the heroes of the Patriots 3 Super Bowl victories, signs a contract with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal reportedly calls for a $3.5-million signing bonus and will average $2.5-million over the first three years.

Teddy’s Take: The title of this post is not a misprint. The Pats in essence gave Vinatieri the boot, deciding the guy who kicked two of the most clutch field goals in NFL history is no longer capable of living up to his reputation.

How else do you explain New England’s unwillingness to match the Colts offer? Vinatieri earned 2.5-million in 2005 when the salary cap was roughly 94-million. That means Adam accounted for 2.65% of the team’s salary cap. With the cap jumping to 103-million in 2006, surely there was some room to bump Vinatieri’s pay rate up a few notches without gobbling up a much larger chunk of team payroll. The fact Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli refused to can only mean they no longer thought he was worth it.

The “in Bill we trust� motto is about to get its first serious test. It’s one thing to lose a receiver (of which teams typically carry 5 or 6) and a linebacker (of which there are 6-8 on a roster). But to lose your field goal kicker, the best clutch foot in the game, has a much greater impact. Replacing Vinatieri with Paul Edinger, Mike Vanderjagt, any of the other available free agents, or even a rookie is a huge drop-off from what Patriots fans are used to. If Belichick and Pioli are wrong about Vinatieri’s worth, the results could prove fatal to New England’s Super Bowl hopes.

There is one other thing to consider here. The biggest knock on BB in Cleveland was that he was arrogant and stubborn, refusing to change course even when the ship started sinking. Could that be what’s happening here?

The Pats have followed a blueprint for building a Super Bowl winner that has obviously worked. But what if that blueprint doesn’t work when it comes to keeping a championship team intact? Might it not be time to adjust the formula to keep some proven clutch performers in town? In the non-guaranteed contract world of the NFL, is an average salary of $4-million a year for Willie McGinest or $2.5-million for Vinatieri really that unreasonable? I don’t know the answer, but we’re about to find out.

What are your thoughts on Adam Vinatieri leaving the Patriots for the Colts? Is this something that could have been avoided? Do you agree with me about Belichick thinking Vinatieri might be slipping? Who would you like to see replace Adam? Is this the straw that broke the dynasty camel's back?

As you guys continue the lively debate about whether Damon, Pedro, Arroyo and others were disrespected by the Red Sox, I’ll post some direct quotes from Damon for you to chew on. But first, let me remind you how a class organization really operates.

When the Patriots sever ties with a beloved veteran contributor we don’t hear “anonymous sources� saying how Willie McGinest is too old and too injury prone, or how he’s not worth the kind of money he’s asking for. Instead, they issue a message of thanks and wish them well, with no further comment. The Red Sox go into KGB propaganda mode, whispering about bad shoulders and injuries that make any long-term contract “too risky� while making below market offers that are improved on only after it’s clear someone else is willing to pay more and there’s no way they’ll have to pay the money.

That’s my take…here’s Damon’s:

“After they didn't come to me during the [2005] season, my loyalty to them wasn't there anymore either. I felt the loyalty from them was gone. ...Unfortunately, the loyalty of the fans always stays. You try not to be bitter through life, because I've learned you just shouldn't be that way. I've learned to accept it. I hope the [Red Sox] fans accept it, because now another guy they loved is gone."

"They have their plans, and they have their computers, and they believe that's right," Damon said. "Unfortunately, computers don't judge a person's heart. Getting along with the younger kids and helping them along, unfortunately, computers don't [evaluate] that. As important as I was to that team, Billy Mueller was just as important. Kevin Millar was just as important. Certain players have numbers that might be sexy, but what's lost is when you get a good core of guys, it goes under the radar."

Spinners fans are famous for filling LeLacheur Park to capacity. Now they get their chance to pack Fenway.

Tickets for the “Futures at Fenway,� an event announced over the winter, go on sale this Saturday, March 25th. As part of the August 26th doubleheader, the Spinners will take on the Oneonta Tigers at 2pm, followed by a Triple-A contest featuring the Pawtucket Red Sox versus the Rochester Red Wings. The idea originated with Boston Mayer, Tom Menino, who approached the Red Sox about finding more ways to utilize Fenway Park.

Spinners General Manager, Tim Bawmann, is already looking ahead to the event, saying it will be “fun for the front office and for the players.� The major league ballpark will feature a decidedly minor league feel on that Saturday, with plenty of the same family friendly promotions and stunts normally found at the lower levels on display.

Ironically, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats were supposed to be part of a tripleheader on that day. But current majority owner Arthur Solomon, who bought controlling interest of the team from Spinners owner Drew Weber, prematurely announced his team’s participation in the event at a business function in Manchester. The Fisher Cats exclusion from Fenway this year is thought to be the Red Sox way of punishing him for jumping the gun with the announcement.

The general public can purchase tickets on the internet (www.redsox.com) or over the phone (617-482-4SOX). Red Sox season ticket holders have already been mailed letters giving them advance access to the seats.

Now I'm extremely curious to see exactly how many tickets are sold for "Futures at Fenway" and how many of those sales come from Spinners fans. What do you think? Can they bang out Fenway Park or come close? Do any of you have any interest in going, or would you rather save the money and see the Spinners closer to home?

Samuel Butler, the 19th Century English author, once wrote; “Loyalty is still the same, whether it win or lose the game.� I don’t know much about the man, but I doubt he’d care for modern day professional sports owners, or sports fans for that matter.

Case in point; The Red Sox shipping Bronson Arroyo to the Reds for Wily Mo Pena. Now let me preface my remarks by saying I love the trade. Arroyo is, has been, and probably will be nothing more than a mediocre pitcher. Pena is a young, power hitting outfielder who bashed 26-home runs in only 110-games in 2004 and followed that up with 19-dingers in 99-games in ’05. As far as fourth outfielders go, he’ll be one of the tops in the league while also providing a platoon partner and possible future replacement for Trot Nixon.

So while I cheer the deal, let me also take a minute to boo those of you quick to criticize any player who spurns the hometown team, especially the Red Sox. Heaven forbid an athlete decides to leave Boston for greener pastures elsewhere. “The Nation� will turn on him faster than Lindsay Lohan turned on food.

The recent examples of Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon stick out like a sore thumb. Never mind that both played their hearts out for the Red Sox. Never mind that both adored Boston and its fans. Never mind that Sox management offered them far less money than they got elsewhere. As soon as they left, they were vilified for refusing to take a hometown discount, even though neither one was born or raised in Boston.

Which brings us to the guitar strumming, formerly corn-rowed pitcher who took the hometown discount and did so with nothing but a verbal promise that the Red Sox wouldn’t take advantage of his “generosity� and use the below market contract as trade bait. Almost two months to the day after he signed the deal, he’s gone. So long Mister Arroyo and thank you for playing, Let’s Make a Deal…you sucker!

So the next time you want to dump on an athlete for being a traitor, remember what they seem to understand much better than most of you do, what Bronson Arroyo learned a little too late. In pro sports, loyalty is a one way street. It begins and ends with your salary cap figure on Route 1 in Foxboro, detours right to who can be scapegoated so management avoids blame on Causeway Street, then circles around “greedy� baseball players trying to squeeze money out of “value seeking� ownership on Yawkey Way.

Of course, wasn’t it John Henry who basically left the Florida Marlins to make more money with the Red Sox? Perhaps there isn’t much difference between owners and athletes after all.

That’s my take…what’s yours? Did the Red Sox owe Arroyo any loyalty? What do you think of the trade itself?

A couple of thoughts after the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament:

I, and pretty much everyone else in the country, vastly overrated The Big East. Most of the “X’s� on my bracket (yes, I filled one out just for fun) are the result of buying into the “strongest conference in the country� b.s.

In fact, I think all the big conferences are overrated. It’s clear the mid-majors have closed the gap considerably. I never remember this many hotly contested games the opening weekend, and it’s ridiculous to think there aren’t more teams from these smaller conferences capable of the same type of showing in a 1-game elimination tournament.

I say, put a cap on the number of entries from any single league. That’ll make the regular season and conference tournaments even more meaningful, as well as open up the field to all these exciting teams shut out so the power conferences can gobble up even more money.

Billy Packer is nothing but a shill for the big boys. How great was it to see the Missouri Valley Conference clubs make a fool out of him for complaining about the number of teams invited to the Big Dance? Either he doesn’t know the game as well as a lead network analyst should, or more likely, he’s too far in the pockets of the bigs to be an unbiased observer.

BC has a legit chance at the Final Four. As a matter of fact, the opening round scare might have been the best thing to happen to them. Tournament history is full of teams that got a huge scare in what should have been an easy game only to move onto the final weekend. I have the Eagles Indianapolis bound and saw nothing this past weekend to change my mind. (For the record, my Final Four contains Duke, UCLA, BC and UConn, with the Huskies edging the Blue Devils for the big prize)

Finally, the NCAA needs to institute a playoff system for Division 1 football as well. Forget this crap about not enough time for the kids to study. Every other NCAA sport, including all the other football divisions, has a playoff. If the kids at UMass-Amherst, Northeastern and UNH can complete their studies and compete in a tournament, so can the USC’s, Miami’s and Notre Dame’s of the world. It’s time for the hypocrites in the NCAA offices to put the bowl games and the greedy big conferences out of business.

Start a tournament to declare the “NCAA Champion� and if teams don’t want to enter, let them compete for their own “Betty Crocker Cake Mix� trophy or whatever corporate sponsor wants to sponsor a fake national champion. Eventually, everyone will fall into place and compete for the real prize. Remember, it wasn’t too long ago that the NIT was the most prestigious post-season basketball tournament. We know how that turned out, and it’s time for the people who run college sports to do the same for football!

That’s my take….what’s yours? Is BC Final Four bound? Is there anyone out there who can make a legitimate argument against a football playoff system? What’s your Final Four?

News Flash: Reports out of Dallas indicate the Cowboys have come to agreement with troubled wide receiver, Terrell Owens. While the individuals involved have yet to comment, an announcement is expected in the next couple of days.

Teddy’s Take: Well, it’s official. Bill Parcells has completely lost his mind! In the spirit of full disclosure, let me first say I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid and I’ve been a huge Parcells fan since he transformed the Patriots from a national joke into a legitimate NFL franchise. That’s why I’m totally disgusted with this development.

Maybe it’s the spirit of March “Madness� or maybe The Tuna just can’t handle the fact his former protégé, Bill Belichick, is now regarded as a better coach, but this move makes absolutely no sense. Parcells is the ultimate “team first� coach while T.O. is the ultimate “me first� player.

I mean, think about it. Any contract is going to be loaded with incentives and behavior clauses. So what does Parcells think will happen the first time (of what is sure to be dozens) that Drew Bledsoe fails to spot a wide open T.O. and throws to someone else. Does he really expect Owens to say “great, we got a first down. I don’t care if that one less reception costs me a quarter of a million� or will he pull a Private Pyle from the movie Full Metal Jacket?

It’s just not worth it. Parcells would be wiser to hand over an extra half a mill to Adam Vinatieri, a stand-up guy who can win a game or two with his foot rather than a selfish jerk who can cost his team the season with his tongue!

What do you think? Would you want Owens on your team? Do you think Bill Belichick even gave it a second thought? What’s the over/under date on T.O.’s first explosion?

News Flash: The Patriots sign free agent wide receiver Reche Caldwell. The former San Diego Charger is a 4-year veteran with 76-career receptions, good for 950-yards and 7-touchdowns.

Teddy’s Take: Well, at least the Pats are on the free agency scoreboard, though this appears to be more of a field goal than a touchdown.

While very identical to David Givens in size, Caldwell is a completely different receiver, known more for his speed than his hands. Those expecting him to fill Givens’ shoes will most likely be disappointed. It’s more likely Bill Belichick has only made up for the loss of Andre Davis here.

Caldwell’s career totals would be a good year for a number one receiver, but he is only 26-years old and was a 2nd round draft choice out of Florida, so perhaps there’s some upside there. I’d still like to see the Pats make a run at a legit #2 receiver, and the betting here is they will, be it Keyshawn Johnson or possibly Eric Moulds once the Bills release him. Of course, with only Deion Branch, Bethel Johnson and now Caldwell on the roster, New England could very well chase both Keyshawn and Moulds as well as look to add a youngster through the draft.

So what do you think gang? Is this a good signing? Does anyone other than Fantasy Football geeks even know who Caldwell is? For extra credit, what is the proper pronunciation of Reche Caldwell’s first name? (spelled phonetically, of course!)

News Flash: Mexico beats the United States 2-1, knocking the country that invented the game out of the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

Teddy’s Take: Abner Doubleday is turning over in his grave, as we speak. How embarrassing!

First our basketball team gets beaten like a red-headed stepchild at the last Olympics. Now our baseball nine takes a worse whuppin than a rented mule at this joke of an international baseball tournament. The only saving grace is we won’t suffer the indignity of watching Fidel Castro make like Red Auerbach and light up a stogie at our expense.

Hey look. I know this thing was a poorly put together endeavor and that the U.S. didn’t take it as seriously as some of the Latin American countries. But even a South Korean team loaded with a bunch of no-names cleaned our clock on the diamond. Save for a completely bogus call on a tag-up play, we would have lost to Japan as well and gone 0-3 in the qualifying round. And that doesn’t even include the biggest disgrace of them all, an 8-6 preliminary round loss to a Canadian team led by Adam Stern. Adam Freakin’ Stern!!!!

Is it just me? Am I the only one embarrassed by the Americans’ showing in the World Baseball Classic? Should we have seen this coming? Does anyone care?

News Flash: Willie McGinest joins the ever-growing list of former Patriots, signing a 3-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. The 12-year veteran, released just last week, wasted little time re-uniting with his former defensive coordinator, current Browns Head Coach, Romeo Crennel.

Teddy’s Take: Take a deep breath and repeat after me…In Bill we trust! In Bill we trust! In Bill we trust!

Bill Belichick’s success has led to an enormous reserve of good will from the Foxboro football faithful, and at no time since the release of Lawyer Milloy has the leader of the Patriots dynasty had to draw on so much of that good will. McGinest is by far the most popular of last year’s Pats to sign with another team and many Pats fans, including this one, are sad to see him go.

Let’s be clear. Big Willie may indeed be past his prime, and until we’ve seen who’s brought in through free agency and the draft, it’s way too early to comment on New England’s off-season. But as of right now, the scorecard reads; Outgoing-5 Incoming-0, and if Adam Vinatieri is the next to go, it will look like a loss no matter who the newcomers are.

Yes, the current system forces roster turnover, but you can’t continue losing key contributors without bringing in solid replacements and expect to win in the NFL. No amount of Belichick’s coaching genius, of which there’s plenty, could turn Chad Brown and Monte Beisel into good defensive players in ’05 and unless quality players are brought in to replace McGinest, David Givens and whoever else may leave, the Lombardi trophy won’t return to Foxboro anytime soon.

That’s my take…what’s yours? Should we be worried about the direction the Patriots are headed in? Is this just a byproduct of the modern NFL where dynasties don’t last more than a few years at a time? How confident are you about keeping Adam Vinatieri?

O.K. fantasy baseball players, admit it. How many times have you laughed at an owner in your league for using a draft pick on a guy you’ve never heard of, only to have that “no-name‿ turn into a stud by year’s end and be ranked in the top-50 the following year? If that’s happened, shame on you for not doing your homework, but fear not. I’m here to help.

I’ve long held the theory that in fantasy sports, it’s better to draft a guy a year early than a year late. So while some owners use mid and late round picks on the Kenny Rogers, Steve Finleys , Tori Hunters, and Jermaine Dyes of the world (steady if unspectacular performers on the career downside), I’ve used rounds 15-25 of my draft to gamble on future studs like Eric Gagne, Johan Santana, Miguel Cabrera, and Chase Utley.

Now I’m not saying you won’t end up with your share of stiffs using this strategy. But if you show some patience, the value of using a late-round pick on a stud while building a strong roster earlier in the draft is unmistakable. The other key, or course, is to know exactly when to give up on a promising youngster or exhibit patience. (I’m still kicking myself for dropping Santana because the Twins wasted him in middle relief the early part of 2003, the year before he won the Cy Young!)

With that in mind, here are five youngsters (listed alphabetically) worth serious consideration in the final rounds of your fantasy draft (those of you in my league, consider this a favor!):

Matt Cain (SF)-Starting Pitcher
Edwin Encarnacion (CIN)-Third Baseman
Jeremy Hermida (FLA)-Outfielder
Ian Kinsler (TEX)-Second Baseman
Chris Ray (BAL)-Relief Pitcher

There are a few other sleepers still hibernating on my list, but you don’t expect me to give away all my secrets, do you?

What do you guys and gals think of this strategy? What are some of the great steals of your past drafts? Are there any other young studs out there worth taking a late-round flyer on?

News Flash: The Red Sox sign manager Terry Francona to a 2-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the agreement runs through the 2008 season.

Teddy’s Take: Well-deserved! Francona is a notch above most Sox managers (pardon the pun) and is perfect for this high pressure job. Despite running a clubhouse that sometimes borders on circus-like and dealing with a very demanding front office, the man they call Tito keeps an even keel, a trait his players greatly respect.

He rarely calls a player out in public, keeps what happens in the locker room in the locker room, and his patience and steadfast attitude were a big reason why the Sox made that historic comeback and broke the dreaded curse in 2004.

Scores of Red Sox fans, sports reporters and talk show callers think they can do a better job and don’t hesitate to say so. Like every manager, Francona makes questionable moves, some that turn out O.K. and some that end in disaster. I’ve scratched my head more than once at one of his moves and I’ll no doubt continue to do so on this blog. That’s what sports fans do.

But the fact remains, none of us has ever won a World Series, and neither has any other BoSox manager in the last 88-years. Most in fact, (Grady Little, John McNamara, Darrell Johnson, Don Zimmer, etc.) have blown it when presented with the opportunity. Tito didn’t, and in my book, that counts for something!

That’s my take….what’s yours? Did Francona deserve an extension? Should he have gotten one sooner? Is he a good manager or can any old schmo win with that roster and payroll?

News Flash: David Givens agrees to a 4-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. The deal is worth $24-million and includes an $8-million signing bonus. The 25-year old wide receiver becomes the 4th Patriot to leave the team via free agency, joining Matt Chatham (Jets), Christian Fauria (Redskins) and Andre Davis (Bills).

Teddy’s Take: Imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, and the Patriots are now all the rage. It may have taken a few years, but the rest of the NFL has finally realized New England’s dynasty is no fluke, and that perhaps hiring their coaches and players is the best way to turn a team around in a hurry.

The Givens defection doesn’t really come as a surprise to people in the know. He’s young, tough, talented and a winner. Players like that command good money on the open market, money the Patriots generally don’t match, especially for the team’s #2 receiver.
That said, Givens does leave behind some pretty big shoes to fill. Right now, the only receivers on the roster are Deion Branch and Bethel Johnson, so expect some free agency and draft moves to re-stock the pass catching positions.

That’s my take…..what’s yours? Should the Pats have made a better effort to sign Givens? Should they have even let him become a free agent in the first place? Now what? Where should Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli turn to address the need and give Tom Brady a full complement of weapons?

Many people believe the Super Bowl has become a national holiday, and in a way, they’re right. Each year friends and family gather around the television set for a day of eating, drinking and screaming, much like Christmas and Thanksgiving.

But the problem with Super Sunday is that it falls on a day of the week where most people don’t work anyway. As any good union member or government employee will tell you, what’s a holiday without a day off from work? That’s why for my money, March Madness is the true American sporting holiday, a month long celebration where worker productivity dips lower than the President’s approval rating.

Raise your hands. Who out there has ever participated in a March Madness pool or worked at a company that ran one? That 90% of you with your hands in the air, go throw on some deodorant and start studying your brackets. You only have until noon Thursday. The rest of you pay attention. I’m here to help.

First, get a real job. Any company worth its weight will have at least one employee shirking his responsibilities to pass out and collect brackets, those white sheets of paper with lots of little lines containing the names of 65 colleges written so small you’d swear your local optometrist is sponsoring the tournament. The winner of the pool and the prize money is the person who fills in the most lines correctly along the way to picking the champion. Of course in more unscrupulous places, the winner might also be the person who runs the pool and is therefore able to manipulate the results, but that’s a story for another day.

There really is no sure-fire formula for winning one of these things, but there are four categories most contestants fall into. I’ll list them in descending order of their chances;

Number one is the “Sports Geek.‿ This is the guy who can name every player on the Oral Roberts roster, but hesitates if you ask him the name of his 3-year old daughter. The next category is the “Educated Guesser.‿ That’s the person who’s somewhat knowledgeable about college basketball, but actually takes a night off from watching it on TV to celebrate a loved one’s birthday.

The third is the “Clueless Co-Worker.‿ The size of the jackpot is completely dependant on how many of these poor saps the person running the pool can sucker into sacrificing their hard earned money in the name of “office spirit.‿ Only rarely will someone from this category win the pool, but there’s almost always one or two who do better than the “Sports Geek‿ and the “Educated Guesser,‿ thus leading to a few chuckles around the water cooler.

The final category is the “Sports Blogger.‿ That’s the idiot who enters year after year, convinces himself he really has a chance, then watches in horror as by the first weekend, his bracket has more “X’s‿ than Jennifer Lopez.

So please forgive me if this year, I save myself the trouble of filling out those stupid brackets. Instead, I’ll sit back and enjoy the games, rooting for the underdog every step of the way. In the process, maybe I’ll remember that March Madness got its name from the unpredictable basketball games, and not from the anger I feel when ripping my entry to shreds.

What category do you fall into? Have you ever won a March Madness pool? And what’s your Final Four this year? Hop online and tell us what you think!

Figured we could have some fun with our favorite New Yorkers while waiting for March Madness to officially begin. Feel free to send in your own photo captions. Just remember, we have to keep it somewhat clean to avoid the censors.

While on the subject of the Evil Empire, did you know the team that eventually became the New York Yankees began as the Baltimore Orioles in 1901, and played their first home game April 26th, beating Boston (of course) 10-6 at Orioles Park? The team eventually moved to New York and became the Highlanders before being permanently renamed Yankees.

Today’s Trivia Question: In what year did Pinstripes become incorporated into the Yankees/Highlanders/Orioles uniform?

Last Week’s Trivia Question: Which player’s lawsuit cleared the way to free agency in the NFL?

Answer: Reggie White

Allow me a minute to respond to a topic addressed this week by readers of this blog as well as sports radio callers; the reluctance of some NFL teams to sell naming rights to their stadiums in order to generate more revenue. The franchise garnering the most attention is Cincinnati, which plays in Paul Brown Stadium.

Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I applaud the Bengals and the Brown family for their stance. I wish more teams would show the same respect for tradition and history.

Paul Brown is one of the most revered figures in professional football history. For those of you who don’t know, he was so beloved in Cleveland that the Browns were named in his honor. The affection is matched in Cincinnati, where the man credited with inventing many of the modern coaching principles moved to the front office and helped build 2 Super Bowl teams.

So why then is his son being vilified for not selling naming rights to the stadium named in his honor? Are a couple of million dollars a year really worth it to guys with hundred million dollar operations? What would you do if you were him?

I find such talk particularly curious coming from Boston area sports fans, the same fans who were enraged when the name of the “New Garden� was sold, first to Shawmut (Shawmut Center), then Fleet (FleetCenter). Closer to home, I remember one person recently writing to the Lowell Sun and suggesting the naming rights to Tsongas Arena be sold to a corporation and the money used to help keep the Lock Monsters in town. Imagine that! Removing the name of the guy most responsible for shaping the vision that turned Lowell into what it is today and not a clone of Lawrence. Hogwash! And don’t even get me started on what would happen if John Henry and company ever decided to put Fenway Park up for bid.

As for our NFL franchise I can only hope that one day (hopefully in the very distant future), when Bob Kraft has left this earth, his sons find it in them to tell Gillette and any other corporation interested in slapping their name all over the football stadium in Foxboro that history, tradition and honor are no longer for sale around these parts.

Wouldn’t it be something if parents could one day take their kids to a Patriots game, tell them all about this generous man who gave millions to local charities, a man who helped save football for New England and put the Patriots on the map, the same man who this beautiful stadium was renamed after; Robert Kraft Stadium.

That’s my take….let me hear yours! Do you agree? Have I changed any minds or am I just an old man who can’t let go?

News Flash: The Bruins trade Sergei Samsonov to Edmonton for Marty Reasoner, Yan Stastny and a 2nd round draft pick. B’s General Manager Mike O’Connell was quoted as saying; “We still want to give ourselves a chance to get in the playoffs. I think we’ve done that.� He also said; “Marty is an excellent playmaker and we were looking to increase our opportunities to score.�

Teddy’s Take: I’m going to assume O’Connell was busting a gut trying not to laugh out loud as he made these ridiculous statements. “Marty is an excellent playmaker and we were looking to increase our opportunities to score?� The guy kills me! He should embark on a career in stand-up comedy as soon as he’s canned in April.

Reasoner has 9-goals and 17-assists through 58-games in this, his 7th NHL season. The sad part is he’s on pace to shatter his career highs of 11-goals and 20-assists in 70-games back in 2002-03. Stastny is so obscure his player card on ESPN.com doesn’t even have a picture.

Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. What have the Bruins won with him? Blah, blah, blah! Hey, I know Sergei needed to go because he was a free agent at the end of the year and was going to skip town for nothing. But couldn’t O’Connell have done the decent thing for the next GM and unloaded him for a couple of better draft picks? This season is done and so is Iron Mike’s tenure. Too bad he couldn’t have given us a parting gift and allowed his replacement the opportunity to draft a couple of prospects.

That’s my take…..what’s yours? Is this a good deal for the Black and Gold? Do they still have a chance at the playoffs? Does anyone even care anymore? Who wouldn’t rather have Thornton and Samsonov back and trade Jacobs, O’Connell and Sinden instead?

News Flash: NFL owners accept the deal proposed by the players union, extending the collective bargaining agreement another six years through 2011. The final vote was 30-2, with only Cincinnati and Buffalo voting against it.

Teddy’s Take: It’s about time! After weeks of posturing and threats, league owners decided to make like John Lennon and give peace a chance. Now we can go back to worrying about the important stuff….free agency, the draft, and what the Patriots must do to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Route 1.

I’ve already stated my opinions plenty of times…..what do you think of the labor deal? Did it really have to take this long to get done? Who won in the end? What does it mean to the Patriots?

Get those keyboards tapping and have your voice heard…your comments just might land you in next Tuesday’s Lowell Sun!

News Flash: Lowell High stuns undefeated Andover in the Girls North Sectional Basketball Semi-Finals. The Red Raiders rebounded from a 10-point deficit with 10-minutes remaining on the way to the 44-42 overtime victory. Dave Pevear recaps the instant classic in Wednesday’s Lowell Sun.

Teddy’s Take: Lowell High’s lady hoopsters are in the process of writing a fairy tale ending to their magical season. They were disappointed at being given the 5th seed in the sectional, which meant they would have to go through a tough Central Catholic squad on the road. An amazing comeback from a 16-point deficit earned the Red Raiders an even tougher assignment…..a date with the Andover dynasty. Mission accomplished!

The girls play for the North title on their home court this Saturday. A victory there advances Lowell to the state semis, so get on out to Tsongas Arena and support the local team. You’re going to catch a talented, gritty team in the process.

Now then all you Lowell sports historians; where does this victory rank on Lowell High’s all-time list? Better than some of those classic football battles against Lawrence? Up there with the Boys Basketball run over Cambridge Ringe & Latin, Don Bosco and Lexington in the 80’s?

News Flash: A new book due to be released later this month lists evidence Barry Bonds took a wide variety of illegal performance enhancing drugs over a 5-year period beginning in 1998. The authors, the two reporters who broke the BALCO story, also claim the McGwire-Sosa home run chase of 1998 was the main motivation behind Bonds’ use of steroids.

Teddy’s Take: Allow me to pat myself on the back for a moment, since I guessed at the same motivation in the Bonds Market Crashing posting back on February 20th. (Hey…it’s not too often I say something intelligent!)

Anyway, much of the information in the book isn’t new. Most of it has been out there since the San Francisco reporters obtained grand jury testimony back in 2003. But the timing could prove very interesting.

In the last couple of years, Bonds has hinted of retiring because he’s sick of all the steroid talk. Throw in the fact he only played 14-games in 2004 because of a knee injury, and the fact he still hasn’t taken the field this spring because of that balky (or is it BALCO) knee, and I’m starting to wonder if he might not just say “the hell with it all� and leave the game for good.

The guessing here is Barry struggles through another injury riddled year in ’06, blasts enough long balls to pass the Babe but not Hammerin Hank, and rides off into the sunset as the most controversial player of all time, leaving us to debate whether he should become a Hall of Famer.

That’s my take….what’s yours? Was Bonds justified in juicing? Did he juice? Will he stick around and stay healthy long enough to become the all-time home run king? Does he belong in the Hall of Fame?

My dear guests, welcome to Fantasy Island. No, not the cheesy old TV show, but the beginning of our regular fantasy sports feature.

Every so often, I’ll make like Mister Rourke, minus the white suit of course, and try to help your fantasy sports dreams come true by offering tips that could mean the difference between being your league’s champ or chump.

The sports we’ll focus on are baseball and football. No hoops, hockey, NASCAR or golf. The big boys play fantasy baseball and football. If you’re in any other type of league, you seriously need to get a life. Take the husband, wife or significant other out, spend a day with the kids, walk the dog, do something. Just get a life!

Now then, the first topic we’ll approach is this dreaded World Baseball Classic and how to handle starting pitchers who appear in it. Relievers will be working by a different set of rules, but I’d monitor some of their workloads as well if I were you.

The guys I’ll name shouldn’t be avoided at all costs, but I would definitely downgrade any starter who makes multiple appearances in the WBC. I’ve only mentioned hurlers I think are worth drafting. If you need me to tell you to avoid Bruce Chen or any Rockies starting pitcher, then you’re beyond help anyway.

So without any further ado, here are the pitchers to downgrade on your rankings:

Erik Bedard (BAL), Daniel Cabrera (BAL), Bartolo Colon (LAA), Francisco Liriano (MIN), Pedro Martinez (NYM), Odalis Perez (LAD), Oliver Perez (PIT), Javier Vazquez (CWS), Jake Peavy (SD), Dontrelle Willis (FLA), Freddy Garcia (CWS), Johan Santana (MIN), Carlos Zambrano (CHC)

Now how much to drop them on your list depends on how much they pitch, if they pitch and how much value they have anyway. Obviously, Johan Santana is on a different planet than Odalis Perez, and if Jake Peavy or Pedro somehow drop to the middle rounds, you’d be crazy not to pounce on them. That said, proceed very cautiously with these potential studs. The fantasy life you save may be your own!

How will you deal with WBC participants? Did I miss any big names? Should offensive players be treated any differently? Tell me what you think!

Time to open the envelope and reveal a few award winning thoughts while wondering exactly what inspired the normally gorgeous Charlize Theron to wear that ridiculous gown:

An optimist will see David Wells’ 15-wins in 2005 and be happy he wants to remain with the Red Sox. I see a soon to be 43-year old, overweight pitcher coming off knee surgery, a 4.45 ERA, and a .296 batting average against. Guess that makes me a pessimist, huh?

Another negative side effect of Wells’ change of heart might be Jon Papelbon being shifted to the bullpen, or worse, back to the minors. You can never have enough pitching, but I’d rather take a chance on the new blood in 2006.

However, I must object to some of the lofty expectations placed on the “young� righty. A well-known Boston scribe, appearing on 7Sports Xtra, compared him to Roger Clemens. Please! Papelbon is already 25-years old. At the age of 25, Clemens won his first Cy Young. Josh Beckett is also 25, and he already had his breakthrough moment 3 World Series ago. To paraphrase Bill Parcells, can we wait a bit before we induct Papelbon in the Hall of Fame?

Can we also do away with the Tim Wakefield “personal catcher� experiment? I know Jason Varitek needs more rest, but do we really want to see John Flaherty, Josh Bard or Ken Huckaby starting a potential playoff game like Doug Mirabelli did in ’04? Give ‘Tek two days off a week no matter who’s pitching, and have him prepared to catch Wake in the playoffs should the need arise.

Our prayers go out to Kirby Puckett and his loved ones. Prior to Derek Jeter, Kirby was the best clutch playoff performer these eyes have seen.

I know Paula Abdul lost her home run swing a few years back, but she didn’t deserve the Barry Bonds impersonation. Personally, I thought Bonds looked more like Tina Turner in the “Private Dancer� days.

I wish some of my teachers granted me as many extensions as the NFL has received in its labor squabble. Paul Tagliabue and Gene Upshaw seem to have stolen my high school motto; “Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow.�

As I’ve been saying for a while, the real battle isn’t players vs. owners. It’s owners vs. owners, with our own Bob Kraft playing a front and center role for the big-market boys not so eager to share more wealth with the small-town contingent.

Enjoyed reading the Sparring Partners back and forth between Chaz Scoggins and Barry Scanlon last week. While I agree the balance of power appears to have shifted out west, I believe the top teams in Hockey East are still good enough to win a one game playoff on any given day.

To Chaz and Barry’s list of BC, BU and Maine, let me also add UNH as an eastern threat. The Wildcats have only lost once in their last nine face-offs, and their Saturday night spanking of the Eagles knocked BC down from first to third in the final standings.

Blaise MacDonald’s UMass-Lowell squad couldn’t have gotten a worse first round draw than former River Hawks coach Tim Whitehead and Maine. The Black Bears held a 19-4 goals advantage during their 3-game regular season sweep of the Mill City pucksters.

Tiger Woods has now won 5-of his last-8 stroke play tournaments dating back to last year. Might be time to make room for another green jacket in Eldrick’s closet, don’t you think?

Finally, it’s nice to see Lowell’s own Micky Ward getting some face time on the cover of EA Sports’ new boxing game, Fight Night 3. However, the TV commercial showing Ward getting knocked out is a bit insulting to a guy who never ended a fight on his back. When asked, Micky laughs it off, but I wonder how Mr. Gatti would have reacted if he were the one sent to la-la land?

That’s my take...what's yours?

Time to answer some reader feedback while wondering how much a dolled up Barry Bonds would fetch in the market…..the meat market, that is;

In response to Mrs. Andrei Kirilenko offering her dear hubby a free groupie pass, ALP wonders;

“Is this one "groupie" per year or one night to be unfaithful per year? He could find one "groupie" and s/he could follow him to different cities...I see nothing here related to the sex of said "groupie"... :-)‿

Seeing as how Masha Lopatova never clarified the ground rules, Andrei should push for the year-long endeavor, unless of course the “Misses‿ starts brandishing the “Bobbit‿ knife. Then again, looking at close-ups of Kirilenko’s mug, I’m thinking the issue might be moot anyway.

In relation to the NFL labor situation, Christo says;

“The small market teams are only a small market team because they don't promote, execute revenue enhancing ideas to the fullest, have bad management and are content in fielding mediocre product.‿

Christo gets no argument from me when it comes to Bill Bidwell and his pathetic Arizona Cardinals. However, I believe some better examples are the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts. Like most NFL small market teams, these are well run operations intent on putting a champion on the field. But without revenue sharing, there is no way they can compete with large market teams like the Giants, Redskins, Cowboys and yes, our own Patriots, who draw huge corporate revenues and local TV money. I’d hate to see football end up like Major League Baseball where the KC Royals, Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates have as good a chance to win the Super Bowl as they do the World Series.

GreekThunder2 (love the name) chimes in on the Patriots free agents;

“McGinest is gonna stay but Vinatieri is as good as gone I think. Somebody is gonna give him ridiculous money b/c he is still the best at what he does‿

I originally disagreed with you on Vinatieri, but if the story about the Pats low-balling him with $2-mill a year/no bonus money offer is true, I think Adam may just see what’s out there in free agency. Chances are, he’s gonna like what he sees.

Legend Killer would like to know;

“Who walks around with a bigger sense of unachieved entitlement....1) Anna Nicole Smith, 2) Paris Hilton, or 3) Kevin Federline?‿

Such difficult questions. I’ll say Federline. At least Paris’ family worked for their fortune. Anna Nicole was accomplished in the “nude performance arts‿ before marrying into her old money. As best I can tell, Federline is no different than the guy who drops his last quarter into a slot machine at the casino, pulls the lever, and watches in shock as trip sevens come up. If Britney hadn’t come along, that backup dancer was headed for a promising career frolicking as one of the seven dwarfs in some Disney World parade.

As usual, any Red Sox mention is sure to draw the predictable back and forth between Red Sox Nation and Evil Empire enthusiasts. This week’s exchange featured a new visitor, ROG, using my Manny post to take a few shots at Johnny Damon;

“Please between you and I we both know that he's on the downward spiral. In deep center at Yankee Stadium JD is going to need a double cutoff just to get the ball back to second. What little arm he has left will be spent by the end of this year!!! Another over priced ballplayer that Mr. I Buy CHAMPIONSHIPS for a Living paid for!!‿

I hate to agree with Yankees fans, but ROG, Rerun and other Sox lovers need to wake up and stop believing the constant propaganda that comes out of Yawkey Way. Instead of ripping Johnny Damon for leaving and not being worth it, why can’t we just thank him and wish him well for playing his butt off for four years and helping achieve something many people never saw in a lifetime?

Why is it that Johnny Damon is on a “downward spiral‿ and not worthy of a 4-year contract at the age of 32, when two years ago the same management group wholeheartedly endorsed a guaranteed 4-year contract for 32-year old catcher, Jason Varitek. Was anyone worried about Curt Schilling’s “downside‿ when they traded for him and gave him a 3-year extension at the tender age of 37? Will anyone say he wasn’t worth the money even if he never gives us more than that one magical year? Anyone care to bet whether Damon is a productive player long after Mike Lowell (32), Mark Loretta (34) and David Wells (42) have waved the glory years buh-bye?

Come on Sox fans….wake up! Let’s stop acting like a bunch of college town yahoos and more like the sophisticated big city sports fans we claim to be. It’s o.k. to question management from time to time.

And finally, the answer to our last trivia question; Since 1980, only four major leaguers have won a career triple crown. (At least one batting title, one HR and one RBI crown) Can you name all four?

T2 got 3 of the 4….A-Rod, Manny, and Paula Abdul….I mean Barry Bonds. The one he missed, and I’m sure he wasn’t alone, is Andres Galarraga.

Today’s question: Which player’s lawsuit is the one that cleared the way for free agency in the National Football League?

Good luck and thank you for playing SunBlog Trivia…..now get those keyboards tapping and send me some comments!!!!

Posted By: LYNN WORTHY, Sun Staff

The lowdown: This week former University of Texas quarterback Vince Young garnered criticism and attention for reportedly having an alarmingly shaky showing on the Wonderlic test at the NFL combine. Original reports were that he scored a 6 and was allowed to retake the test and got a 16. The average score is supposedly around 20.

The response: ESPN.com reported that Young finally commented on the subject on Friday.

"It hurts a little bit, and I think it's very disrespectful. But it's cool, it's cool," Young said. "I know what I can do, and I'm going to continue doing what I'm doing."

He went on to say, "I don't really care about the criticism, because I'm pretty much used to it. There's always something about Vince. ... I feel like I've overcome all of that, turned out pretty good, so I want to continue to do that in the NFL as well.

What to look for: Folks with microphones debated Vince Young’s intelligence for the better part of two days, and the truth is all that talk means nothing. Please, who can actually justify giving one exam in Indianapolis the power to undo a national championship and a list of accolades stretching almost as long as football field and includes Heisman Trophy runner-up.

As for the results of the Wonderlic, unless they measure accuracy, arm strength, mobility, pocket presence, reading defenses, or audibling at the line of scrimmage, it means about as much as a fortune cookie. After all, Dan Marino scored a 16 and Brian Griese rolled out a 39.

If anything, the Wonderlic might be an excuse for a team looking to avoid a public relations hit by not drafting Young.

What do you think the future holds for Vince Young?

News Flash: Signs point to the Patriots cutting veteran Willie McGinest within the next couple of days, whether a new labor deal is reached or not. The move is expected because “Big Willie‿ would cost New England roughly $8-million against the salary cap in 2006, a figure both sides agree is too much for the Pats system to handle.

Teddy’s Take: Similar to the Adam Vinatieri situation, this is another example where I can’t see the Patriots and their star player not finding common ground. McGinest realizes this is part of the business, and the 12-year veteran never expected the final year of his contract to be picked up. He also sounds quite willing to reach some type of reasonable agreement that would allow him to finish his career in Foxboro.

The key word, of course, is “reasonable.‿ What if some team makes McGinest an offer more outrageous than some of the outfits at the Academy Awards? Does Willie take the hometown discount then? Does one of Bill Belichick’s disciples like Romeo Crennel or Eric Mangini make a big push for a veteran who could show the youngsters what it takes to win?

The guessing here is number-55 is back with the Patriots when all is said and done, though much like Vinatieri, there may be a few anxious moments along the way.

News Flash: NBA star Andrei Kirilenko’s wife tells ESPN the Magazine she allots her husband one groupie per year. Former Russian pop star, Masha Lopatova says “It’s the same way raising children - If I tell my child, ‘No pizza, no pizza, no pizza,’ what does he want more than anything? Pizza.‿

Teddy’s Take: If I were Andrei, I’d start to worry a bit about what Masha is doing when he’s on the road. A woman this forgiving must surely have a few secrets of her own, wouldn’t you say?

How about it guys? Does this sound like a typical wife? Ladies, are you willing to be as generous wth your hubbies? Or is Kirilenko just so ugly she feels safe making that offer? Pizza, anyone?

News Flash: NFL players and owners agree to extend the deadline for free agency by three days, giving both sides some extra time to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

Teddy’s Take: Now there’s a shock! Just hours after unanimously rejecting the players’ latest proposal, Paul Tagliabue and the owners are ready to sit back down at the bargaining table with them. I understand this is all part of the negotiating process, but is it really necessary? Can we just do away with all the “doomsday talk……sit down together in a room…..realize you’re all making a ton of money off the sport…..and get a deal done that’s fair and reasonable for both sides!

News Flash: NFL owners unanimously reject the players’ union proposal. As a result, the salary cap will stand at $94.5 million for the 2006 season. With free agency set to begin tomorrow, hundreds of players are in danger of being cut. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue calls the situation “about as dire as dire can be.�

Teddy’s Take: The two sides are engaging in a dangerous game of chicken here, one that threatens to permanently alter the way the league does business. As one anonymous owner put it earlier this week, “we’re going to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.�

Right now, ownership appears to have the upper hand. But a closer look shows the players winning in the long run and teams potentially losing millions in value. Despite the spin being put out there about players getting cut on "Bloody Thursday" as a result of the failed labor talks, most of those guys were going to be cap casualties anyway. Perhaps a star or two in his prime is released, or a current free agent won’t get as big a score as in years past, but that’s a one year proposition.

Fast forward to 2007, a year without a salary cap. Think owners who’ve had the benefit of fixed salary costs might be in for some culture shock when there are no limits on what a team can spend? Think the players, after years of slavery compared to the Club Med environment MLB and NBA players live in will ever go for a salary cap again?

If the difference, as reported, is only 4-percent, then two sides that have lived in labor peace for 12-years should be able to bridge that gap without a problem. Unfortunately, I think the real issue here could be a revenue sharing battle between big and small market teams, with players refusing to settle on their cut before knowing exactly what that cut entails. True, owners are entitled to as much money as they can get from whatever revenue sources are out there. But if they think the players and the product aren’t the main reason that money comes in and their franchises values have skyrocketed since 1993, they’re about to find out, and find out the hard way, that they are flat out wrong.

That’s my take……what’s yours?

News Flash: Manny Ramirez finally reports to spring training. Manny confirms he will not play in the World Baseball Classic, but sidesteps questions about whether he’s happy to still be with the Red Sox. “I’m here� said Ramirez, adding “I get paid to play baseball even if I like it or not.�

Teddy’s Take: Sounds like an unhappy camper who will do his best to act professionally. The guess here is there will come at least one or two points in the season where Manny will act up a bit and miss a few games due to “injury.� Of course, that’s no different than any other year.

The quotes about "being here even if I don't like it" will be repeated ad nauseum the next few days, but for me, here’s the most interesting thing Ramirez said today;

"I got a beautiful career going on and I'm not gonna let little things like this mess [up] all the things that I accomplished because I think when I finish my career I'm gonna be a special player and I'm not gonna let nobody stop that and that's me. I got a goal for myself and I'm now gonna accomplish that."

A lot of people think Manny is basically a big, dumb kid. While I can’t vouch for his IQ, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand he’s a genius when it comes to his profession. He may be goofy and immature at times, but he’s also incredibly driven and focused no matter what’s going on around him. That, more than anything, explains why he’s a future Hall of Famer and why I, for one, am happy he’s still a member of the Boston Red Sox.

That’s my take……let’s hear yours! Who knows, you may end up in next Tuesday’s Lowell Sun.

Yesterday’s Trivia Answer: The agreement instituting the NFL salary cap was signed in 1993. The first year with a cap was 1994. (Good work Louis Cypher!)

Today’s question; Since 1980, only four major leaguers have won a career triple crown. (At least one batting title, one HR and one RBI crown) Can you name all four?

News Flash: The United States Supreme Court hears arguments in the case of Anna Nicole Smith trying to get a share of her deceased husband’s estate. The then 26-year old stripper married 89-year old billionaire industrialist J. Howard Marshall in 1994. Marshall died a year later (I wonder of what?) and Smith has been battling his son over the money ever since.

Teddy’s Take: I know this has nothing to do with sports (unless you consider sex the oldest game of them all), but sometimes a topic comes up I just have to make a wise comment about.

I’ll leave the legal wrangling to the experts. All I’m going to say is if the court rules in Anna Nicole’s favor and Chief Justice Roberts has a sense of humor, he should order the multi-million dollar settlement be paid in ones!

That's my take....feel free to chime in with any one-liners of your own!