Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Los Angeles Clippers officially waived Sam Cassell today.

The Celtics have been rumored for several weeks to a top candidate to sign the 15-year NBA veteran.

“After weighing all of the options and after conversations with Sam we believe this is the best solution for this team,” Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor said in a press release. “We know and appreciate the many contributions Sam made during the last three years, and we wish him nothing but the best.”

In 38 games played this season, Cassell averaged 12.8 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 25.7 minutes per game. In his 15th NBA season, Cassell had missed the last four games with a sprained right wrist while missing 12 games earlier in the season with a strained left calf.

Cassell averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 assists in 2005-06 when the Clippers came within one game of the Western Conference Finals. During the Clippers’ 2006 Playoff run, Cassell averaged 18.0 points, 5.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 33.7 minutes in 12 games played.

The 6-foot-3 185 pound point guard has played with both Kevin Garnett (in Minnesota, 2003-05) and Ray Allen (in Milwaukee, 1998-2003). Cassell was an second-team All-NBA selection in 2003-04.

He won an NBA championship with the Houston Rockets as a rookie in 1993-94 and another in 1994-95..

A comment posted by DBoisver in the recent “Colvin Can’t Hang On” entry got me thinking:

You're the General Manager of an NFL team, and you have two standout players facing free agency. One is a shutdown cornerback who has proven himself as a clutch performer, that rare breed who actually raises his level of play in the post-season? He has 5-career playoff picks in 14-games, 3 of which have been returned for touchdowns, which ties him with the Raiders Willie Brown for the most in NFL history.

Compare and contrast that to Mr. Regular Season. Not to demean this future Hall-of-Famer receiver's accomplishments, but these were his playoff stats last year: 7-receptions, 94-yards and 1-TD in 3-games. Including those, his playoff numbers stand at 42-receptions, 817-yards and 10-TD’s in 11-games, an average of nearly 4-catches, 74-yards and 1-TD per contest. Good, but certainly not worthy of his typical regular season totals when healthy.

Those figures get less imposing when you subtract his one truly monster playoff performance: a 9-catch, 188-yard, 2-TD performance vs. the hapless Rams defense in 2000. Subtract that superb effort, and you have a 3-catch, 63-yard, 1-TD per playoff game performer. Good, but far from great. Oh yeah…one more thing. The receiver just turned 31-years old while the cornerback is 4-years younger.

So I ask you, Patriots fans...why are most of you so eager to retain an older guy who fares worse in the playoffs than the regular season, and who plays a less valuable position on the field than the younger, more clutch performer? Why does most of Patriots Nation have no problem with retaining Randy Moss while letting Asante Samuel walk away?

Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff

Wow, I miss talking about hockey! Did you guys miss me?

My focus has been completely on the Bruins, who returned home from their best February road trip (4-0-1) since 1996 to shut out the Division leading Ottawa Senators 4-0 on trade deadline day.

The Bruins stood "pat" and did not make a move on the final day trades were allowed in the NHL - but for me, I'm okay with that. I like what this team has to offer. While I don't think they are perfect and still have small holes, I just don't think giving up a lot of the youth and future would have been worth it. From what I understand Atlanta was asking way too much for the rental of Marian Hossa and let's be honest did anyone think that Brad Richards would waive his no-trade clause to come to Beantown? Nope, didn't think so.

I like the core, youth and coaching staff of this team. Youngsters Milan Lucic, David Krecji, Vladimir Sobotka and Mark Stuart have all chipped in during the team's many injuries and continue to make their presence known on the ice. Whether they were winning face offs, scoring goals, blocking shots, laying out some big hits and even clinching victories with shoot out goals, each one of them has contributed in some way.

How about Glen Metropolit? Was there anyone in Boston that thought the center would be contributing as much as he has with 11 goals and 16 assists? But more importantly it's been the penalty kill of Metropolit and PJ Axelsson that helps put the duo on the map. You want proof? Just look at the highlights from the Tampa Bay game on Feb. 23. On the penalty kill, Metropolit intercepted the puck at his own blue line and broke into the offensive zone while being hooked all the way to the net and not only did he have the presence of mind to drop the puck back, but Axelsson picked up the puck and slapped a goal past Johan Holmqvist to secure Boston's 5-3 win to end the road trip.

From Marc Savard, Zdeno Chara and Marco Sturm to Chuck Kobasew, Aaron Ward and Phil Kessel the Bruins have shown they can battle back from tough losses. In fact the longest losing streak was 6 games dating back to Dec. 18 - 29, which during that time it wasn't until the games on Dec. 22 and 23 that the Black and Gold suffered their first back-to-back regulation losses on the season. At that time in the season the Bruins were the only team to yet lose back-to-back games in regulation. Boston is currently riding a four game winning streak and look to extend it to five when they host the "new look" Penguins on Saturday for the matinee match up.

I may have blinders on when I look at this team, but the way the Bruins completed the road trip and dismantled the Senators Tuesday night, I have faith in this team. The defensemen were throwing their bodies in front of the net trying to capture the loose pucks and prevent Ottawa's powerhouse offense from getting good looks on second attempts - that's playoff hockey, not regular season hockey.

With 20 games left to play, I think this team knows what's at stake and they are not ready to collapse like they did last year. I honestly think this team has too much pride, desire and chemistry to allow that to happen.

Adding to the excitement of the recent successful road trip, good news came out of the Bruins practice facility - Patrice Bergeron had started skating on Sunday. Granted it was only for 10 minutes, but seeing the center on the ice for the first time since he suffered a Grade 3 concussion on Oct. 27, just the tenth game of the season, was such a great sight for this Bruins fan. Bergeron has upped his ice time to 20 minutes and looks forward to making it to 30 in the near future.

While no timeline has been given for Bergeron or even Andrew Alberts, also out with a concussion, to return to the team; both players have been on the ice recently and are making strides. As a fan, I want Bergeron and Alberts to take their time and not rush their rehabilitation. The team needs Bergeron no doubt, but they have been holding their own and sticking around in the playoff hunt. But honestly, what a big boost it would be for this team to have Bergeron return in time for the playoffs.

Told you I missed talking about hockey! What do you guys think? Should the Bruins have made a move at the trade deadline? Do they have what it takes to make the playoffs? If they do, how far will they go? Com'on I know you missed me ... let's talk some hockey!

Posted by Chaz Scoggins, Sun Staff

Bill Lee, ever the maverick, must be mellowing in his old age.

After a preview of a documentary on his life last fall, Lee all but said he’d refuse induction into the Red Sox Hall of Fame, were he ever to be selected. Something about the Red Sox kissing his posterior, if I remember correctly. Lee, who is third on the all-time Red Sox list in victories by a lefthander with 94, felt he should have been inducted long ago.

But when the seventh class of Red Sox Hall of Famers was announced this week, Lee was on the list. I’m sure the Red Sox would not have included him without contacting him first, so Lee must have agreed to be inducted. Of course, what he might say about the Red Sox at the induction ceremonies next Nov. 7 is something else entirely. The irreverent Lee is nothing if not unpredictable. But I hope that, for once in his wild, wild life, Lee takes the high road in his speech.

For the first time the Red Sox are inducting a scout into their Hall of Fame. George Digby scouted for the Red Sox for 50 years from 1944-94 and discovered five-time batting king and Hall of Famer Wade Boggs and lifetime .303 hitter Mike Greenwell, among others. This recognition for scouts is long overdue. For years writers have been lobbying the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown to create a wing for scouts, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. At least the Red Sox are correcting this oversight.

Other former Sox players being inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame are Greenwell, who has not returned to Fenway since playing his last game for the Red Sox in 1996; good-hitting pitcher Wes Ferrell (1934-37), who had a pair of 20-win seasons for the team; shortstop Everett Scott (1914-21), who played for three World Series champs and once held the record for consecutive games played with 1,307; Mo Vaughn, the AL’s MVP in 1995; and pitcher Frank Sullivan (1953-60), who was a two-time All-Star.

I’ve known Lee, Greenwell, and Vaughn for years. I’m looking forward most to meeting Sullivan, who has a terrific sense of humor and should be a hilarious interview. Among Sullivan’s bon mots:

After the Red Sox plane landed at Logan Airport following a miserable road trip, Sullivan cracked: “Scatter as soon as you get off the plane, men, so they don’t get us all with one burst.”
When Sullivan pitched on Opening Day in 1960 and manager Billy Jurges read out the starting lineup, Sullivan quipped: “Is that the best you can do for me?”

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James is questionable for returning to tonight's game. He left the game with 4:24 left in the second quarter with a right ankle sprain.

James is two points away from 10,000 career points.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Boston Celtics didn’t add a point guard, but they did sign free agent center/forward P.J. Brown prior to tonight’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Brown has not played all season, and he had contemplated retirement before making the decision to pursue a championship with the Celtics.

“There are rare moments and opportunities that come in this league when you have a chance to win a championship,” said Brown, who added the Celtics have come after him hard since the off-season. “I think this team gives me that chance.”

The 6-foot-11 239-pound 38-year-old played 72 games (49 starts) for the Chicago Bulls in 2006-07. He averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while averaging 20.2 minutes per contest.

Brown has averaged 9.2 points and 7.8 rebounds over his 15-year NBA career. Since entering the NBA in 1993-94, he has played for the New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and New Orleans Hornets as well as the Bulls.

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said the team looked at Brown before the season and considered adding him then, but Brown wasn’t sure what he wanted to do and the team couldn’t wait.

Rivers raved about Brown’s presence in the locker room. Brown has expressed a willingness to play whatever role the team needs him to play even if that means sitting on the bench and being a cheerleader, River said.

“If you can add character and class and stability to your locker room, if you can you should do it,” Rivers said of Brown’s addition.

Brown, who lives just outside of New Orleans, said a big turning point in his decision was when he was contacted by Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett during their trip to New Orleans for the All-Star weekend.

He also said he plans to be ready to practice as early as tomorrow, but he admits he is not in NBA shape. Brown said he has been working out and doing some track work while in semi-retirement.

Neither he nor Rivers offered a timetable for him being able to see game action.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

No...We’re not turning this into a political blog. What we ARE doing, however, is jazzing up the look yet again and adding some talent to the roster.

Obvious bias aside, I think we have the most visually attractive sports blog going. Compare our look to anything the big newspapers are doing locally or nationally, and we bury them. Yet our internet geeks are far from satisfied, so sometime in the near future, you’re going to log on here and see a dynamic new look, design and even color scheme. I got a sneak peek last night and really liked what I saw.

The other change you’ll notice is in the number of contributors. Award-winning Lowell Sun writers David Pevear and Chaz Scoggins have been given the keys to the blog kingdom and will contribute posts from time to time. In fact, Dave has already given us a Red Sox post down below. He’s also the longest tenured Patriots beat writer in Massachusetts, so we can’t wait to see his views on here. And what can you say about Chaz? Is there a more knowledgeable baseball writer in the area? Doubt it!

Combine those two with the fine work Lynn Worthy and Gayle Simone already do, and SportsTalk will become even more of a must-see sports destination. The best part: YOU get to interact with all of us in a forum where your opinion carries just as much weight as everyone else’s. Ultimately, I’d love to see the entire Sun staff posting here, giving us the most comprehensive Pro, College and high school coverage and blog not only in the Merrimack Valley, but all of New England.

Then again, we already have that, don’t you think?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

What promises to be a tumultuous off-season for the New England Patriots claimed another roster victim.

Surprisingly, Tedy Bruschi (possible retirement announcement coming) is not the first linebacker vacating the position. That honor goes to Rosevelt Colvin, who didn’t exactly go voluntarily. The Pats big free agent acquisition of 2002 would have counted $7.6-million against the salary cap, so the team released him this afternoon. They could always work out a deal for less money, but like Donte Stallworth last week, had they been able to agree on a lower number, they’d have likely done so already.

New England is now very thin at a position that was expected to see more transition anyway. Bruschi is expected to announce his decision soon on whether to retire (I’m guessing yes) and Junior Seau isn’t exactly a spring chicken, even though I think he’ll be back. All signs point to the draft yielding a player or two at linebacker, but Bill Belichick hasn’t exactly been known to draft at the spot, nor does he generally draft where the obvious need is, opting instead to acquire low cost veterans via free agency.

Either way, it’s clear the Patriots need some new blood at LB. I’d be very surprised if you don’t see an acquisition soon AND at the draft.

That’s the view from here…how do you see it? Surprised by the Colvin move? What do you think Bruschi’s going to do? Seau? Should the Pats fill through veteran acquisitions or look to get younger via the draft?

Posted by David Pevear, Sun Staff

So what happens after your team wins two World Series titles in four years? Apparently, nothing interesting.

The Red Sox are conducting their 2008 spring training in Fort Myers, Fla. Smiles and sunshine pour over NESN countless hours each day. The world is a wonderful place because the Boston Red Sox are in it. But is anything really happening in Fort Myers besides the sun and Manny rising each morning and all giving thanks to their maker for allowing them to play for Tito?

There were no real big off-season signings by the Red Sox like last year, when Daisuke Matsuzaka, J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo all arrived in Fort Myers lugging millions and burdens of expectations. If they so choose on Opening Day, the Red Sox can start the same nine players they did in Game 4 of the World Series last October.

The Red Sox did sign Bartolo Colon to a minor-league contract on Monday, two years too late to qualify as big news, unless you are measuring the news in accordance with Colon’s weight. He is 7-13 since winning the 2005 American League Cy Young Award as an Angel. He is a round 34-year-old with an unreliable right shoulder who, perhaps, could pitch some of the innings that the non-sculpted 41-year-old with the wobbly right shoulder was being counted on to pitch. But really, aren’t those innings what Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz are for?

Lester and Buchholz are really the only important stories in this Red Sox camp. The sooner they are ready to handle significant innings, the greater the Red Sox will be.

Quick trivia question; who is Rondel Menendez and why should football fans care about him?

Tick-tick-tick. I’m waiting for your answer. No, he’s not Lyle and Erik’s long, lost brother.

Give up yet? You have no clue, do you? I wouldn’t expect you to.

Rondel Menendez is a former Eastern Kentucky wide receiver who never played a down of NFL football and wasn’t even good enough to make it in the European League. He also happens to posses the fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL scouting combine history.

Faster than Herschel Walker. Faster than “Prime Time” Deion Sanders. Faster than world class hurdler Renaldo “Skeets” Nehemiah. Faster than Olympic gold medal winning sprinter Johnny “Lam” Jones.

I mention Menendez’ speed because football’s annual dog and pony show, aka the scouting combine, has taken place in Indianapolis over the last week. In the process, hundreds of prospects have been more heavily scrutinized than Britney Spears during child visitation, minus the helicopter footage, of course.

They’ve stripped down to their boxers. Had every body part measured and evaluated. Been poked and prodded by every known medical device. Undergone intelligence and personality testing. If Katie Couric ever became an NFL General Manager, they’d probably have to undergo a televised colonoscopy, too.

Oh yeah, they’ve also had their football skills and athletic abilities put to the test. And this is where our friend, Mr. Menendez comes in.

You see, I’ve always been fascinated by football’s talent evaluators and how much stock they give someone’s speed in the 40. I get the agility drills. I get the strength tests. I get the skills evaluation. I even get the intelligence testing, though I’m thinking at most positions besides quarterback, a low IQ is preferable to a high one. I mean, you don’t often find Mensa candidates willing to subject their bodies to the violent collisions, often compared to high speed car crashes, which football players must endure multiple times on game day.

But someone’s time in the 40? I don’t see how that’s relevant. Not when they’re running on a smooth surface, with track shoes, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, no football to protect, and nobody meaning to cause physical harm in hot pursuit. How realistic is that?

You really want to impress me? Put on the helmet and shoulder pads, tuck a football under your arm and try running 40-yards after you’ve been smacked around by 300-pounders nearly as fast as you are for 3 ½ quarters.

Case in point; Jerry Rice, who was never considered a true speed-burner. Can you think of one time in the prime of his career when Rice got caught from behind after catching a pass and breaking clear in the secondary?

You know what’s even more useless? Timing quarterbacks in the 40. I could care less how fast a signal-caller runs. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning would be hard-pressed to beat Jenny Craig castoff Kirstie Alley in a footrace, yet they’re better than noted speedster Michael “Bow-Wow” Vick at avoiding a pass rush.

The only agility test I’d put a quarterback through is the Patches O’Houlihan Dodgeball Drill; drop the QB back 7-yards deep in the pocket while four scouts holding wrenches begin rushing at him. The talent evaluators will then make a throwing motion, but only one will actually release the wrench. Give me the passer who can side-step metal projectiles over the “deer in the headlights” with sprinter’s speed any day of the week.

Just as the Average Joe’s team was wise to remember the five “D’s” of Dodgeball (dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge), NFL talent evaluators would be wise to remember the five “F’s” of football; false forty foot-speed fires front-offices!

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

News Flash: The Red Sox and manager Terry Francona agree on a 3-year contract extension, with another 2-years in options available. While terms of the deal were not released, WBZ-TV’s Dan Roche, who broke the story this morning, says Francona will become one of the highest paid managers in baseball, though the value does not eclipse Joe Torre’s 3-year, $13-million contract with the Dodgers. In a statement, Francona called Boston the best city to manage baseball in.

The View from Mt. Olympus: Well-deserved…and probably long overdue!

Francona is the best Sox manager of my lifetime, as the two World Series will attest to. How he’s able to juggle the players, media, management and fans without losing his sanity is beyond me. Here’s a man who led the team to its first championship in 86-years, in the process doing something never before done in the history of the sport (come back from 3-0 down, to the Yankees, no less!), and yet every yahoo on talk radio thinks he/she can do a better job.

Imagine getting second-guessed as often as this guy does in public on an almost daily basis? Even when the Sox win, you can guarantee at least a handful of bozos complaining about a move or non-move in the 6th inning of a meaningless mid-summer game. I know I’d snap under that king of pressure and scrutiny!

Other than Torre, there isn’t an active manager in the game with more World Series titles than Tito. And if he gets as much time in Boston as his former arch-rival did in New York, he may match that total yet!

That’s the view from here…how do you see it? What took so long? Or did the Red Sox commit too many years to this deal? Should it have been a shorter contract? Who is the best Sox manager you’ve seen?

Updated News Flash: ESPN is reporting the Red Sox are about to ink Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract. If healthy, a big IF, the 2005 Cy Young winner could pay huge dividends and fill the void left by Curt Schilling's injury...All in all, a great, great gamble by Theo Epstein!

In case any of you doubt the quality of athletics here in the Merrimack Valley, I call attention to the MIAA winter sports tournaments.

Now, we already know how great the local wrestling programs are. Just look to Lowell (defending State and New England champ which grapples Tuesday for another state crown), Chelmsford and Methuen comprising 3-of-the-4 Division 1 North Sectional finalists and Greater Lawrence a power in Division 2. But check out the basketball seedings released today;

Boys Division 1 North consists of Lowell at #2, Central (4), Chelmsford (9), Acton-Boxboro (13) and Andover (17). In Division 2, North Andover checks in at #3, along with Westford (5), Dracut (7) and Concord-Carlisle (9). Division 3 boasts Wilmington as the top seed, not to mention Bedford (3), Shawsheen (5), Greater Lowell (9) and Greater Lawrence (14). Not to be outdone, Austin Prep is the #2 seed in Division 4, followed by Lowell Catholic (8) and Tyngsboro (14).

Think there’s a drop off where the Girls are concerned? Think again! Check out the top of Division 1; Acton Boxboro (1), Lowell (2) and Andover (3) stand above the rest, followed by Central Catholic (8), Methuen (10) and Billerica (12). Let me summarize in case you missed that; 5 of the top 12 seeds are MVC schools, and the top seed is Acton-Boxboro. Some lucky local school’s fans are going to the Garden!

How about Division 2 you ask? Westford (2), Tewksbury (9) and North Andover (14) represent quite well, as do Wilmington (6) and Bedford (9) in Division 3. Capping the Valley’s strong showing are Shawsheen Tech (6), Lowell Catholic (10) and Greater Lawrence (12) in Division 4.

Congrats to all the local schools making the region proud. Check the Lowell Sun for tournament schedules and get out there to support as many of these teams as you can. Of course, if you wish to cheer them all on, you don’t have a prayer…there are far too many of them!

And by the way, join us this coming Monday on SportsTalk Live as we break down the brackets and talk to some of the local coaches!

OK gang...which of these teams has a chance to play at the Garden? Is there a state champ in the bunch?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

No Kidding, the Cavaliers may have found a way to make a big push in the East.

Cleveland’s superstar LeBron James had made comments in recent weeks about wanting to get Jason Kidd in Cleveland. Instead of completing one blockbuster trade the Cavs have reportedly retooled their roster with a pair of deadline deals to bring in four additions in Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, and Joe Smith.

Former Celtics West and Szczerbiak are on their way to Cleveland in exchange for Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble, according to The Seattle Times.

West and Szczerbiak got shipped to Seattle from Boston on draft night in part of the deal that landed the Celtics Ray Allen.

Wallace, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Smith come to Cleveland by way of the Chicago Bulls. Chicago will reportedly acquire Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden from Cleveland in the deal.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the deal is all part of a three-team 11-player deal between the Bulls, Cavaliers, and Supersonics.

Cleveland currently has a record of 30-24 right with the Toronto Raptors (29-34) for the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics (41-11), Detroit Pistons (39-15), and Orland Magic (34-22).

The Celtics host the Cavaliers next Wednesday at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The New England Riptide selected UCLA pitcher Anjelica Selden in the first round (fourth overall), Creighton catcher TJ Eadus in the third round (14th pick), and University of Alabama utility player Jordan Praytor (21st pick) in the fourth round of the National Pro Fastptich (NPF) Draft yesterday.

All drafted players must wait until after the end of their college season to sign with NPF teams. Including the drafted players, the Riptide now have 16 players on the 2008 roster.

Selden, the ace pitcher for the sixth-ranked Bruins, is the all-time strikeout leader at UCLA and she was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection in 2007. Selden had a 17-11 record with 213 strikeouts in 171 innings last year. The native of Vacaville, Calif., was a NFCA All-American and Easton All-American in 2006.

Eadus, a native of Tucson, Ariz., started 49 games at catcher for Creighton. She set a single-season school record for home runs (16) and hit .291. She gunned down 14 of 33 would-be base stealers. Eadus was a Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection.

Eadus will give New England a second catcher to go along with KJ Kelley. The Riptide did not re-sign catcher Shelley Prochaska following last season.

Praytor led the Crimson Tide in walks, stolen bases, and hits while batting .367 last year. She was also named to the All-SEC First Team as well as a NFCA All-South Region First Team. Praytor is a native of Vancouver, Wa.

New England plans to begin camp in the middle of May, the Riptide start the regular season on the road against the NPF Champion Washington Glory on May 29.

Testifying to a few things I’ve seen and heard while hoping not to mis-remember any important facts;

I’ve been playing fantasy baseball for a decade now. In that time, this Red Sox fan can proudly attest to NEVER selecting a single New York Yankee. In fact, in the leagues where the drafts are automatically done by computer, I once ended up with Alex Rodriguez (usually the top-rated player) only to promptly trade him away before the regular season started. I’ve since begun eliminating all Evil Empire players from my draft board to ensure none of them graces my roster, even temporarily, ever again.

However, there’s going to be an exception to the rule in 2008. Andy Pettitte stays on the board, and if he’s available when his projected stats indicate he should be drafted, I’ll be proud to click on his name. Take that Roger the Dodger!

So let’s see if I scored this correctly; Clemens threw his wife, mother, best friend and agents under the bus during the course of his Congressional testimony, all to protect his image. Somewhere, John McNamara is raising a toast and telling anyone within earshot; “see, I told you the liar asked out in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series!”

That NBA Slam Dunk Contest has come a long way since the days when Dr. J, Michael, Dominique and Kobe ruled the roost. Now, not only do most superstars skip the spectacle, but the ones like Dwight Howard who do enter don’t even have to dunk the ball to win. A simple throw-in, provided you’re wearing a Superman cape while doing so, will get you the trophy and paycheck.

The new career of the Mill City’s resident boxing legend recently led him on a journey to his ancestors’ homeland. “Irish” Micky Ward spent four days in Ireland last month for negotiations to train Super Bantamweight Bernard Dunne. The former European Champion, who hasn’t fought since losing his title last August, is looking toward a return to the ring sometime this spring. Dunne, who sports a professional record of 24-1 and is ranked 9th by the WBO, had been trained by the legendary Freddie Roach when fighting in the United States, but was under the tutelage of Harry Hawkins across the Atlantic. After the loss in August, Dunne’s handlers wanted the Lowell legend to take over the reins.

Before leaving for Ireland, Ward expressed reservations about being so far away from his family for such an extended period of time, though he would have likely taken the job if the price was right. Ultimately, Dunne decided to stick with Hawkins and Ward is perfectly happy with the memories of a land he’d never before seen.

“The scenery was beautiful,” said Micky of the Galway coast. “I didn’t get a chance to do much sight-seeing, but the house I would have stayed at was right near the water. I’d go back in a heartbeat. I’m definitely taking a trip there again.”

Of course, had he gotten the training gig, the language may have been a difficult hurdle to overcome. According to Ward, “they spoke the old language, the real Gaelic. Even their English was hard to understand with the accents. They might as well have been speaking Greek,” he laughed.

Suffice it to say, the missed opportunity was a learning experience. Others will likely follow, so you’d better bone up on your languages there, Mick. And if a Greek boxer ever does require your services, I can think of one sports scribe who’d love to spend a couple of months on a Mediterranean Island acting as interpreter!

(The following was written by SportsTalk regular Dana Boisvert. I'd asked him to pitch in with a report because there's no way I could do the event justice with my usual wisecracks...like the title of this post which was mine, not Dana's. Sorry DB...couldn't resist!)

The 50th edition of the Great American Race is in the history books and, while the race had it's moments of "calm before the storm" the ending of the race provided the ultimate display of teamwork in what is the ultimate individual sport.

Early on in the race you could tell that the drivers were getting used to the first 500-mile Daytona race in the new car. Although all the drivers competed in a 150-mile qualifying race on Thursday those were run much earlier in the day- the 500 was started around 3:30 (note to NASCAR - as you showed all of the fantastic finishes of past 500's note that they finished in DAYLIGHT. Please start the actual race at 1:00!!! OK - enough of that rant) and ended about 4
hours later in darkness.

Dale Earnhardt Jr, the fan favorite in his new green machine had a good run but inexplicably passed up not one but two chances to come in for fresh tires during cautions making him a sitting duck.

All day long the Toyotas of Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart were stout and they had a very good chance of getting the win as Busch led the most laps in the race and Stewart was out in front at the start of the final lap with his teammate Busch behind him along with the Dodges of Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch. But in the final moments of that last lap Busch got out from behind his teammate and when Stewart went down low to draft with Busch the 2 Penske Dodges of Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch combined to pass the two Toyotas bringing Roger Penske his first Daytona 500 win after 14(!?!?) Indy 500 wins. Stewart ended up 3rd and Kyle Busch placed fourth.

What of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson? Well-suspension problems ended Gordon's day early and Johnson just didn't have a great car all day and ended up in a late-race accident.

What I think was especially great about this finish (besides that an American make won the 50th race) is that, prior to the race, the Dodge cars were assumed to not be as fast as the other makes. Not only did they finish 1-2 but also finished 5-6-7-8 with Reed Sorenson, Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne, and Robby Gordon finishing just ahead of the afore-mentioned Dale Jr. Greg Biffle in a Ford finished 10th.

Not quite as exciting as last year's near-photo finish between Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin but for someone like yours truly who has always followed the Penske cars (and Ryan Newman in particular) it was the best finish I've seen in the Great American Race. Now I am upset that I missed a chance to attend this edition as I did the 47th and 48th. Maybe I'll be back for #51.
I encourage everyone who gets a chance to attend a race at Daytona (even if you don't enjoy the racing at Loudon) as it truly is a spectacle that has to be seen in person.

The Latest SpyGate Developments: Matt Walsh reportedly has tapes but won’t turn them over until he gets a better immunity deal and former Rams player Willie Gary has filed a $100-million lawsuit against the Patriots for allegedly filming his team’s walkthrough practice the day before the Super Bowl.

The View from Mt. Olympus: You starting to get the impression this will never go away?

I blame two parties for this nonsense continuing long after it should have ended. 1) The NFL for not coming out early and admitting cheating and taping is rampant in the sport…what’s past is past…from here on out, it won’t be tolerated and will be more severely punished than what happened to the Patriots and 2) Above all else, I blame Bill Belichick for being arrogant enough to have a cameraman on the field after being told to cut it out. Having been warned by the league in a general letter, Belichick still had a guy taping Jets signals from the sidelines the very first week of the season. It’s as if he dared Eric Mangini to rat him out, which of course, Mangini did.

Now, the Patriots reputation and possibly legacy (would they have beaten the Giants in the Super Bowl had they videotaped the first encounter?) will remain in question with nonstop accusations and stories like the two I’ve just mentioned. Worst of all, we don’t have another Super Bowl win or 19-0 record to shut people up with.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

As we pointed out in today’s paper, Boston Celtics second-year point guard Rajon Rondo has held his own through the All-Star break.

He will also be playing on the “Sophomore” team in tonight’s Rookie Challenge in New Orleans as part of All-Star weekend.

Rondo has cited the confidence the organization has had in him as part of the reason he hasn’t felt any extra pressure on him this season, his first year as the starting point guard. Specifically, he mentioned director of basketball operations/general manager Danny Ainge and head coach Doc Rivers.

Reportedly, Ainge even drew the line at not including Rondo in the Kevin Garnett trade talks this past summer.

Here are just a few of the statements Ainge and Rivers made to The Sun since acquiring Rondo on draft night in June of 2006.

During the 2006-07 preseason Ainge said to The Sun about deciding between Rondo and Marcus Williams: "We just thought that Rajon was a better athlete and Marcus was a better passer, but we thought that Rajon was a terrific passer also and a little younger and probably had a better upside."

On scouting Rondo in College: "I thought at Kentucky I could see what he could do. I could see his vision, I could see defense. I could see things about him that I thought he had a chance to be a special player, but he just hadn't put it all together."

Rivers spoke to The Sun last June about the growth of Rondo’s game in comparison to San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker’s improvement.

Rivers on the comparison: "I want Rondo 's game to evolve for Rondo. I don't ever like to put Tony Parker or Michael Jordan tags. You know what I mean? He's going to be his own type of player. It will have some similarities to Tony, no doubt about it, because they both have speed. It's so easy to just look at the speed and say they fit, but there are some similarities."

Note: In 2004-05, Parker hit just 27.6 percent of his three-point shots (his career 3-point shooting percentage during the regular season is 31.8 percent).

Last season Rondo, who played in 78 games, shot 41.8 percent from the field, but was just 6 of 29 (20.7 percent) from downtown. He shot 28.3 percent from behind the arch (49.3 percent overall) in two seasons at the University of Kentucky.

Rivers on Parker becoming more dangerous: "The thing that's changed (Parker) is that shot, not that he doesn't shoot. He does shoot it. Teams were going under and they couldn't do it anymore. What people don't realize is the reason he's getting to the basket more is because he can shoot. The reason he struggled early is because he couldn't shoot.

"The fact that he's added the shot has made them defend him differently and that's allowed him to get to the basket more, which is what he wants to do to begin with. It will be the same for Rajon in that way."

On becoming a better shooter: “It takes time. Hell, what is this Tony's fifth year? Sixth year? People think -- and it's a wrong thought -- that you can go and work and shoot a million shots a day and then the following season your shot is fine. That doesn't happen. It improves. And I'd be very surprised if Rajon didn't come back an improved shooter."

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen will replace Washington Wizards forward Caron Butler on the Eastern Conference All-Star Game, the NBA announced tonight.

Butler is currently out with a left hip flexor strain. The NBA All-Star Game takes place on Sunday, in New Orleans, and it will be televised on TNT at 8 p.m.

Allen will join Celtics forward Paul Pierce on the Eastern Conference squad, and Celtics head coach Doc Rivers will coach the East. Kevin Garnett was voted to the team, but he will not play because of an abdominal strain. Point guard Rajon Rondo will play in the Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam on Friday.

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The Boston Celtics injuries continue to pile up through the first half against the New York Knicks at TD Banknorth Garden.

The Celtics came into the game with starting power forward Kevin Garnett (strained abdominal) and starting center Kendrick Perkins (strained left shoulder) unavailable, but they can add forwards Brian Scalabrine and Glen Davis to the list.

Scalabrine left the court after playing 2:37. He has a strained groin and will not return. Davis went down in the second quarter under the Celtics basket. The rookie big man has a strained left quadricep.

Celtics backup center Scot Pollard is still working his way back after missing several games with left ankle soreness.

The All-Star break doesn't seem able to get here fast enough for the Celtics.

Boston did lead 53-40 at the half.

Please feel free to share your favorite recollections of today’s testimony, as I may have the same “memory issues” Andy Pettitte has and may have forgotten a few of the highlights;

***Usually, events with this much buildup disappoint. Not so in this case, as the he said/she said has been everything I’d hoped for and more. The only thing missing was the lie detector hooked up to the participants. Had they had that, I could have died and gone to heaven!

***Apparently, there are a lot of things going on in The Rocket’s master bedroom that he’s unaware of. Someone may want to perform paternity tests on Koby, Kory, Kamala, Kumbaya…whatever the K-kids names are.

***How nice of Clemens to “do y’all a favor” by inviting the nanny to his house. He should have been as helpful in advising his attorneys to turn over the information to the committee in a timely manner.

***I wondered what on earth Clemens’ attorneys were thinking allowing their client to give recorded and sworn testimony on numerous occasions. Now that I’ve seen them in action, I get it…they’re as dumb as their client, believing that the louder you shout or more indignant you seem in your statement, the more believable you are. I don’t believe they’ve done their client any favors today.

***Even though I expected it, it’s still disheartening to see many of our elected officials acting as prosecutors or defense attorneys instead of searching for the truth. The one guy (Dan Burton?) should be on the Rocket’s payroll.

***Hope Debbie Clemens can scrub those Greyhound tire marks off her back. What kind of a man throws his wife under the bus, whether he’s guilty or not guilty of the accusations? Is the Hall of Fame really that important, Roger?

***Thank you Andy Pettitte, for telling the truth. You’re more man than your best friend could ever dream of being, no matter how much he puffs out his chest and acts the macho man!

(I’ll keep adding to this list as things unfold in the afternoon session)

***Clemens keeps looking at his notes while speaking. McNamee seems to be answering off the cuff. Realizing that all witnesses are coached extensively, I still get the impression McNamee is much more sure of his story than the Texas Con Man. (can't believe I waited this long to use that nickname!)

***Roger Cossack just made a great point on ESPN; wouldn't it have been nice to see Andy Pettitte there today so we could see his demeanor and Clemens' as one best bud had to basically call the other a liar.

***In watching the post-hearings coverage, I can't believe how much of a sleezeball Clemens' lousy-rug-wearing attorney comes off as...every bad Hollywood stereotype rolled up into one neat package.

Sharing some opinions now that I can finally think about sports again without curling into the fetal position and muttering David Tyree’s name over and over again;

Hope the trio of Patriots offensive linemen had a good time at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Their next stop should be Mexico, where they can perfect the matador style they worked on in Arizona. Ole!

Enough negativity; have you noticed how well the Celtics are playing against the “superior” Western Conference? 16-0 is the current mark, and that includes Kevin Garnett-less victories over the Spurs and Mavericks, not to mention a pair of “W’s” over the Lakers when KG was still in the lineup. Of course, the Lakers are a different team now that Pau Gasol is aboard to ride shotgun for Kobe Bryant. For my money, they’re the favorite out West.

Tell me you’re not intrigued by the possibility of a Celtics-Lakers Finals 21-years after their last title tango. Those folks you see praying at the altar are NBA Commissioner David Stern and the league’s marketing reps.

Manny Ramirez, who’s reportedly been working out like a dog all off-season, vows to show up to spring training on-time. Amazing what the dangled carrot of a $20-million contract option will do to a professional athlete who’s already made more money than he knows what to do with.

Can’t wait to see Roger Clemens in front of Congress Wednesday. I don’t care how much those phonies fawn over him, The Rocket simply isn’t quick-witted enough to avoid making a fool of himself. I’m guessing by the second inning of questioning, Clemens will have taken so many hits he’ll ask out of the hearings with a pulled jaw muscle.

Early fantasy baseball advice; third baseman Alex Gordon of the Royals and Twins starting pitcher Francisco Liriano are way undervalued in a few of the rankings I’ve seen. Conversely, don’t get duped into wasting early picks on Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips or former Haverhill High standout Carlos Pena. Players who experience breakout seasons at the ages of 26 and 29, respectively, are to be avoided like sobriety checkpoints on St. Patrick’s Day.

Am I the only one who’s getting that “it comes along once in a generation” feeling about this Lowell High Boys Basketball squad? Not only are they beating good teams, they’re crushing them and breaking their will with suffocating defense when the need arises. It also seems there’s a different hero every night, a hallmark of most championship teams.

The best defensive player of the bunch, David Brown, takes his job quite seriously. While appearing on our SunTalk Live broadcast a couple of weeks ago, the senior co-captain talked about relishing the challenge of guarding the opposing team’s top gun and trying to keep him below his season’s scoring average. Like all great defenders, he takes it personally when a basket is scored on him.

One more quick note on Brown; he’s as good at answering questions with eloquent, made for TV responses as any athlete I’ve ever covered, pros included.

Still trying to decipher exactly who Amy Winehouse was thanking during her Grammy speech. But for what it’s worth, I thought her performance was the best of the night, the lyrics and music a cross between Bob Dylan and James Brown. Hopefully, she lives long enough to entertain us as long as the other two have.

That’s the view from here...how do you see things?

You can never have enough pitching. You can never have enough pitching. You can never have enough pitching. You can never have enough pitching. You can never have enough pitching. (write this on the blackboard 500 times)

I doesn’t matter how many times you say it, you can never say it enough. This was reinforced to me when news of Curt Schilling’s injury broke. I’d been amused by Sox fans saying we didn’t “need” Johan Santana because pitching was already our strong point. “We have Beckett, Dice-K, Schilling, Wakefield and either Lester or Buchholz,” they’d say, forgetting of course, that Schilling and Wakefield have a ton of mileage on them and are coming off arm injuries, and that Lester and Buchholz have yet to prove they can survive an entire major league season.

Now we have the career-threatening injury to Schilling and suddenly, the rotation has more question marks than answers. Let’s pray Beckett, who wasn’t exactly an iron horse before coming to Boston, doesn’t develop any arm problems or blisters, or there’s going to be a lot more people than just me questioning why the Sox didn’t pay the price for Santana.

There’s a reason legit aces make big money. The Yankees will rediscover why when their young arms fail to last the season or live up to their billing. I have a feeling the Sox will realize the same thing.

What’s your take on the Schilling injury? Is he done or can he come back? Are you confident in the Sox rotation with both Lester and Buchholz in it? Can Dice-K live up to his billing?

OK. I think I’m over my post-Super Bowl depression. That sick feeling in my stomach is pretty much gone, though if I ponder what happened long enough, it does return long enough to remind me how it felt to get “kicked in the jimmies” on NBA draft night or when Grady Little suffered his infamous brain cramp in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS.

So now I can get back to the business of writing about sports, and we’ll kick things off by taking a quick peek at the NBA, particularly the Western Conference. I can’t wait for the playoffs to start, because every series on the left coast has the potential to be memorable. Even the lower seeds are going to make noise. While I think the East, health permitting, is the Celtics’ to lose (unless the Cavaliers wake up and get LeBron James some help), I can see any number of teams emerging out West.

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers were playing great ball even before landing Pau Gasol. Now, they’re a legit threat to make the Finals (wouldn’t Celtics-Lakers be awesome?), especially with Kobe playing like a man possessed. I'll put their top four (Bryant, Gasol, Odom and Bynum) up against anybody's.

Responding to that maneuver, the Suns went for broke this year and next (they had to...Steve Nash's body only has so many hits left in it) by trading for Shaquille O’Neal. Like the Gasol trade for L.A., I think this one improves Phoenix immensely. Sure, Shaq is a shadow of his former self. But I believe his remaining strengths are exactly what Phoenix needs; namely, toughness and leadership.

Of course, you can never count the Spurs out, though I see a team aging rapidly. Plus, they were never able to go back-to-back anyway, so I see an upset on their horizon. The Mavericks, finalists just two years ago, have fallen out of the upper echelon in my eyes, unless they make a play for Jason Kidd.

As if the top four teams (in my eyes) aren’t scary enough, take a look at the rest of the playoff race. Either Utah (32-18) or Denver (29-19) will get an automatic division title berth. New Orleans (33-15) looks intriguing. Right now, Houston (29-20) and Golden St. are tied for the 8th and final spot, barely ahead of Portland (28-20). To give you perspective, the 10th place Trail Blazers would be the #4 seed in where the sun rises.

And in case you still doubt the Celtics’ legitimacy, consider that they’re still undefeated against this monster conference.

That’s the view from here…how do you see the NBA season thus far? Which are the teams to watch? Which are pretenders?

Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff

The folks at Comcast SportsNet have announced the launch of even more Celtics-related features.

As of Wednesday, all Celtics telecasts (home and away) can be seen in High Definition on Comcast SportsNet's new dedicated HD channel, Comcast Channel 852 or 779 (check listings for specific channel).

Celtics On Demand, featuring live game replays (posted for 24 hours) and original Celtics content, will be available to all Comcast subscribers.

Comcast SportsNet's first road game telecast will happen on Friday, Feb. 8, when the Celtics visit the Minnesota Timberwolves. Please note that while road game telecasts are available immediately only on Comcast cable systems, Comcast SportsNet is working with all cable operators to make HD road game telecasts available to all consumers. More details will follow over the coming weeks.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Rocky III. That’s what came to mind Sunday night as I searched for a way to explain what had happened.

The Patriots used to be Rocky Balboa, the lovable underdog who captured a nation’s imagination with an improbable rise to the top featuring a blue-collar work ethic and humility the Average Joe could identify with. The Rams (and later the Colts) were Apollo Creed, flashy and arrogant, at least until they stepped into the ring against the heavyweight slugger who took every blow, never backed down, and ultimately willed himself to victory. The Pats, like the Italian Stallion, always won because they were tougher than any opponent.

Then came Rocky III. The lovable underdog had transformed into a fat cat; the big mansion, celebrity appearances and gaudy exhibitions against the likes of Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan) softening the champ until a younger, hungrier opponent stepped into the ring and forced him to dig deep for that something extra, only to find there was nothing there. He’d gone soft.

And much like Rocky Balboa against Clubber Lang, the Patriots went into battle against the New York Giants without the key ingredient from their previous title fights; the eye of the tiger!

The main reason the Giants are Super Bowl champions today is because they wanted it more, and played like they did. Talent wise, this should have been no a knockout. The Patriots were better than their New York counterparts in every key area. Even the Giants strength, the defensive line, should have been neutralized by a New England offensive front featuring three Pro Bowlers, not to mention the best quarterback in the game and an arsenal of weapons at his disposal that would make General Petraeus envious.

Yet when the G-Men went Clubber Lang and started throwing haymakers, the Pats couldn’t muster up the resolve to do anything about it. Eye of the tiger? That was long gone, lost in the shuffle of television tributes, magazine covers, supermodels and premature talk about the greatest team in history. (On that last one, yours truly stands guilty as charged, your honor!)

Tell me Tom Brady didn’t resemble the Italian Stallion of the first fight in Rocky III? Just like the champ stood there taking every Mr. T blow to the head without answer, Brady kept getting knocked down only to rise with that Peyton Manning “what just happened” look on his face. I’ll give you that he may have been hurt more than we know. But where was the fire? Where was the passion?

In retrospect, we should have sensed something the second Fox flashed a camera shot of Giselle at the game. Since beginning their relationship sometime last winter, the Brazilian goddess had been less visible around Tom Terrific’s playground than Giuliani supporters in the primaries. Yet leading to the game “we’ll remember the rest of our lives” (Brady’s words), the star QB was videotaped more often near the starlet’s home in the Big Apple than his place of employment in Foxboro. When the camera found Giselle at University of Phoenix Stadium, we should have known something was awry. Even Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo must have cringed.

Mind you, I’m not blaming Brady for the loss. I’m simply pointing out how the Patriots had gone from an image of pounding a side of beef in a meat cooler to having Victoria’s Secret model girlfriends sipping wine in a luxury suite. The eye of the tiger was gone, replaced by a palate for Pinot Noir.

Balboa recaptured his title at the end of Rocky III. Perhaps the Patriots can do the same. Just don’t expect to see Tom Brady and Peyton Manning sprinting in slow-mo at the beach any time soon.

What's your take on why the Patriots lost? I'll be more than happy to discuss specific plays and decisions that proved pivotal to the outcome in the comments section, but I really think the Pats lost their way a little and got overconfident.

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

Statement released by the New England Patriots Saturday night regarding the latest taping accusations:

“The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams’ walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 is absolutely false. Any suggestion to the contrary is untrue.”

What do I believe? Not sure right now. To be honest, when the story broke I found it perfectly believable because of the Patriots prior actions. Would you put it past them, especially when that kind of stuff goes on all the time in the pro and college game? I certainly wouldn't.

However, the relatively quick response and categorical denial leads me to have some doubts. From what I understand, Matt Walsh might be a disgruntled former employee, so perhaps this is a way to get revenge. If you read the stories, he keeps hinting at having information, yet provides none. Walsh even states he's afraid of legal action, but if you're telling the truth, why fear legal action? Honestly, it sounds more to me like a guy crying out for attention because nobody contacted him in the past about his role as a Patriots video employee.

Walsh will need to come up with some type of evidence for further punishment to stick or this will simply be an open ended debate between Patriots lovers and haters.

That's the view from here...how do you see it? Just another attempt to diminish the Pats success? Or a legit claim that tarnishes a storybook Super Bowl upset in 2002?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

You think Super Bowl XLII is big for the Patriots? HA! A 19-0 season, along with sports immortality, is nothing compared to what’s at stake for The Victim; his mere existence!!!

If you remember a couple of weeks back, we told you how our peerless pigskin prognosticator was promised a change to a more respectable name should he put together back-to-back winning seasons by following up a stellar 2006 gambling campaign with another above .500 mark. Now, with just one game remaining to play, the biggest game of them all, The Victim is holding steady at one game above the break-even point.

Had the Packers covered the 7-point spread against the Giants, this discussion would already be moot. Instead, Brett Favre played like Brett Favre and Eli Manning morphed into Tom Brady. As a result, this lovable loser’s identity is still alive.

So with everything riding on this one, final game, who will our fearless football forecaster select? (Drum roll please):

NY Giants (+12) over New England

So with a chance, after all these years, to free himself of the burden of this demeaning identity, our friend is siding with Coughlin and Manning over Brady and Belichick. Now you understand why we called him The Victim in the first place!!!!

Conference Championships: 1-1
Playoff record: 3-7
Season record: 52-51-2
Past Super Bowls: 0-2

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

I’ve spent the last few days (actually, the last 7-years) trying to chill out many Patriots fans “offended” about Plaxico Burress’ prediction or the black “funeral” suits the Giants wore to Arizona. They’re almost as riled about this as they were back in 2002 when the Steelers packed their suitcases for New Orleans before playing New England in the AFC Championship.

Well, guess what; the Patriots are just as guilty of being confident. (I’m quite sure the Pats traveling secretary had been making New Orleans arrangements in 2002 as well). They may not publicly predict victory, but behind the scenes, the wheels are in motion for a championship celebration and financial windfall.

No, I’m not talking about Mayor Menino’s plans for a Super Bowl parade. (Did you really think cities wait till after the game to plan these things?) I’m talking about a New York Post report that the Patriots have already applied for trademarks on “19-0” and “19-0 The Perfect Season.” Similar to Pat Riley copywriting “Three-peat” or Michael Buffer declaring “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” as his own, be prepared for an onslaught of team sponsored memorabilia featuring those themes.

Might the gesture give the Giants a little added motivational boost? Maybe. Many will have you believe the Patriots draw inspiration from “overconfident” opponents doing silly little things like daring to think they can win. Me? I tend to listed to what Bill Belichick says on the topic; the game will be (and always has been) decided by which team plays best ON the field.

So lighten up on the poor Giants. Even if deep down inside they know they’re going to get beat, they’re at least confident enough in their team to believe they have a chance to win. Forgive them their verbal trespasses, because as the “trademark” story show, the Patriots commit the sin of overconfidence, or smart business practices, as much as any team.

What do you make of all this "bulletin board" nonsense? Does any of it really matter come gametime? Are you surprised that the Patriots front office would do something like this when Bill Belichick works so hard to keep his players from doing anything to rile the opposition?

Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

So let’s see;

We have troops dying in the midst of civil war in Iraq…more young Americans in Afghanistan searching for Osama Bin Laden while battling a resurgent Taliban…gas near $3 a gallon...health costs spiraling out of control...foreclosures at record highs…and an economy on the verge of recession, if not already there.

And yet, an esteemed Senator from the wonderful state of Pennsylvania has nothing better to do than ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to appear before congress and explain why he destroyed the SpyGate tapes confiscated from the Patriots during their week 1 game against the Jets. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the matter could put the league's antitrust exemption at risk.

That's right; not the fact players are shooting themselves up with illegal substances...not the fact the league is slowly but surely moving to monopolize video coverage of its sports...and certainly not the fact franchises have been holding cities and states hostage for brand new stadiums that don't benefit anybody but team owners and the league. Nope, it's the "pressing" issue of SpyGate that has the Eagles fan angry at the commish.

Specter may be Republican, but in this case, he’s making a donkey of himself!