Wednesday, October 29, 2008

A Quick Thanks to the Captain

Gratitude is something that is often lost on us sports fans. Super Bowls meld quickly into March Madness which meld into Nba Finals and before we know it the leaves are falling and it is time for another World Series. With this seemingly never ending process of championships followed by parades, Sports Illustrated covers, and eventually ring and banner ceremonies it is easy to under estimate the importance that each title might have on a player, its fans, and its city.

Gratitude for a singular accomplishment has become even more difficult to put into context for us Boston fans when six championships, won in three separate sports, have been one in the past seven calendar years. This accomplishment is a remarkable one and when you stop to think that Philadelphia fans tonight are hoping to win their first professional crown in a quarter century in this evening’s World Series game 5, it is even more illuminating.

This brings us to last night at the TD Banknorth Garden where just for a moment the sports world stopped its fever-pitched, non-stop, forward motion for a few moments and we got to see the realization of a life long dream. Paul Pierce came into Boston with high expectations. A first round pick from a highly regarded Kansas program, Pierce seemed to fit nicely in the Celtic tradition of bringing in players with winning pedigrees. But while Pierce showed flashes of brilliance over his Celtic career, it wasn’t until the team finally made its mind to build around Pierce with the addition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen that we saw a fully happy Pierce who seemed to be for the first time in his NBA career comfortable in his role as leader of the Celtics.

Last night, we saw the ultimate sign of that comfort when Pierce, visibly overcome with tears moments earlier, made the decision to ask for the microphone and stand at midcourt and address the Garden crowd. And while the speech will never be confused with Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest man” speech or even confused with an above average high school graduation speech—it was undoubtedly heartfelt and spilling over with gratitude. And because it for a minute forced all of us to think about what we once dreamed of, or perhaps still do dream of, for all of those who saw it, it was something we all can be thankful for.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Celtics Second Act Begins Tonight at the Garden

With a straight and vertical trajectory, the Celtics banner will take mere moments to find its way tonight from ground level to the ceiling. It was all most that quick in which the team’s fortune rose from that of an NBA lottery constant, to a playoff certainty, and finally to a champion.

But now as the Celtics embark on their second consecutive season of play back at the top of the NBA hierarchy, after over twenty years of being consistently removed from it, fans must recognize that much like the way in which cool fall temperatures are forcing us to close ours, the window of potential championship contention for the Celtics is not limitless and narrows more and more each season.
In fact, a poll of NBA general managers that came out this week may indicate that word around the league is that the Lakers, with the return of a healthy Andrew Bynum, have edged ahead of the Celtics in the race for the 2008 – 2009 crown. The same poll put the Celtics as favorites to come out of the east but trailing considerably in votes for the title behind Kobe’s squad.

What does all of this mean? Well nothing for certain accept that time moves on and with it past glories become just that, things in the past. So after a long awaited and well deserved ceremony takes place tonight on the Garden parquet around 7:38 PM the role of the Celtics turns from champions to defenders. The opportunity to defend is an awesome one and brings with it 82 unique and separate opportunities to prove that the Celtics are still a championship quality outfit while trying to fight off a nightly attempt by their opponent to knock the defending champion down a notch or two.

Rocker Warren Zevon once instructed us to “enjoy every sandwich.” Likewise, the Celtics and their fans should realize the fleeting nature of championship quality teams and enjoy each game that the C’s play at this level and try hard not too look too far ahead. Because as Patriots fans learned the hard way early last month, each team, no matter how dominant, is only one play away from having the script of their season thrown out and forced to be rewritten.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Back to the Blogging!

I’ve been very neglectful of the blog recently so I’m going to do my best to pick up my posts once again.

I want to first do some catching up on my trip to New York a couple weeks back.

We arrived in New York on Friday afternoon, May 9. We had tickets to the Conan O’Brien Taping at NBC Studios so after a quick lunch at one of Manhattan’s countless diners we trudged through the pouring rain to Rockefeller Center.

This was my second Conan taping so the process was not new to me. You have to arrive by 4:15 PM where you are then given a wristband and told to hang around until 5:00 PM or so when you are let in.

Once in the studios, there is a ten minute highlight reel of Conan’s greatest hits followed by a warm up comedian who while repetitive on a second visit has to be given credit for affectively working the crowd. The highlight of his warm-up act is always when he is given the sign that Conan is ready, generally one of the producers pointing to his nose, the comedian replies “okay Conan has finished his coke lets get the show going.”

Conan then comes out and spends two or three minutes chatting with the crowd. What you immediately notice from O’Brien is his non-stop energy. Whether he is chatting with the crowd, chatting with guests, or watching his skits on the big screen, O’Brien is non-stop enthusiasm. Maybe the “coke” joke doesn’t fall too far from the truth.

But in all seriousness, O’Brien in both of my taping experiences has shown himself to be nothing less than a professional. Once the tape starts to roll there are no stops and starts. Conan’s years of experience have seemed to given him an ease on camera that few will ever achieve.

The guests on this particular episode were Saturday Night Live funnyman, Seth Myers, actress Becky Newton from TV’s “Ugly Betty,” and teen-rock-sensation “Tokyo Hotel.” The band ironically hail from Germany.

No matter what guests appear on the particular taping you are in attendance for, the price can’t be beat—tickets are free. And to add to this all audience members were given free tee-shirts too! If you are interested in tickets to a Conan O’Brien taping call 212.664-3056 for more information. Shows tape Monday through Friday and are generally booked four to six weeks ahead of time and I’d call daily to get the up-to-date info that can and will change at a moment’s notice.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

A Forgettable Game Four

In an attempt to bolster the amount of posts on the blog here are some thoughts on the Celtics game last night:
-Paul Pierce needs to step up his play on the offensive end. Pierce’s defense on Lebron James has been tremendous but when everything else hits the fan offensively a captain must step up and keep his ship afloat. Obviously Pierce and Ray Allen can’t get their shots going against Cleveland but Pierce has the ability to take it to the hoop and at least draw some free throws. If the Celtics are to win this series Pierce must do more to stimulate the C’s offense.

-James Posey is a certified playoff performer. He won’t score twenty or dish off ten assists but Posey has made frequent and crucial contributions each time he’s taken the court. From his clutch 3-pointer in game one to his stingy defense on James throughout the series, Posey is proving his worth and then some; and to add to this he is doing it all in his hometown.
- Kendrick Perkins has miraculously turned himself into Mark Price at the free throw line. If anyone going into the playoffs said Perk would shoot around 90% from the line they would have been hauled off in a padded suit. But although his contributions from the charity stripe have been monumental Perkin’s ability to assert himself in the post hasn’t been as apparent to me as it was in the regular season.
- To me the Celtics consistent rotation or lack there of has been their greatest Achilles' heel in the post season. If I were Doc Rivers I would ensure that all players touch the hardwood in the opening quarter to gage what game they are sporting. Sam Cassell has shown the ability to at times take over games and at other times run, or maybe a better word would be walk, the offense into the ground. A quick insertion of Cassell, Leon Poe, P.J. Brown, and Glen Davis would let Rivers sense what player he can expect in a given game and adapt his rotation accordingly. Because if anything has proven consistent in the C’s post season it has been inconsistency amongst River’s bench support.
- If Ray Allen and Paul Pierce can’t hit a shot and if Sam Cassell has morphed into a John Starks-like hot-and-cold shooter—would it kill the C’s to start a quarter with Eddie House just to see what his outside shot could do to jump-start the C’s at times fledgling offense? Rivers opted to start game four’s final frame with the rebounding duo of Davis and Brown but imagine what an impact a couple of quick shots from House would have made on the team?
- Did anyone read about or see Lebron Jame’s yell at his Mother after Pierce fouled him going into the crowd last night? Apparently Lebron was upset his Mother tried to insert herself into the game by making such a visible display of emotion. I’m no marketing genius but I smell a Campbell’s Soup commercial with Lebron and his over-charged Mother trying to fend off those bullies from hurting her baby.

Monday, May 5, 2008

C's Wait Until the Last Minute to Ace the Hawks

It was like going to a friend’s birthday party on December 24—you were required to go but your mind was firmly placed in the future. It was those emotions that summed up the feelings surrounding Boston Celtics fans after yesterday’s resounding game 7 victory by their team over the ever-feisty Atlanta Hawks.

Game 7s are usually occasions that are granted immediate and eternal resting places in our sports memory banks. But this will not be the case with the 2008 NBA First Round game 7 between a top ranked Celtics team striving to regain their perch as the most storied franchise in pro basketball history and an Atlanta Hawks squad who submitted a “present” when class began on Sunday but registered little more than a peep for the remainder of the afternoon. There is no room for celebrating what should have been inevitable —a series victory by a number one seed over an eight seed in an opening round playoff series.

This leaves us with the question of how to evaluate the Celtics victory Sunday. And it is my opinion that it was a case of a top-of-their-class student pulling an all-nighter before submitting an A plus power-point presentation in freshman history class. To be sure the passage of the course was necessary but the goal—that of a degree for the student and a championship for the Celtics—are still ahead and will require much work and increasing levels of performance as time goes on.

Sunday was a day of accomplishing a goal most believed would have been completed much earlier. It is now completed and even with a good deal of momentum moving forward. But looming in the immediate future lie tests that will demand greater and greater quality. And if the Celtics hope to ace the tests posed to them by the likes of those taught by Prof. James, Prof. Billups, or Dean Bryant it is clear that their performance must not only improve but become timelier.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Bruins Leave Fans with More Questions than Answers

I’ve always tried as hard as I can to subscribe to the notion of a game being a “good loss.” To me, sports are simple one team wins and another loses. Sports are cut and dry to me and if you are looking for “sentimental victories” your team is too far away from the championship level to be all that relevant. I realize such a stance is a somewhat harsh one so I try and try to look “for the bright side” in defeat and cling on to what might bring promise for the next game or season.

Which brings me to the 2007-2008 Bruins. Admittedly, I am not nor have I ever been the biggest hockey fan. Growing up in the hotbed of hockey that Massachusetts is and attending the college hockey power-house that Boston College has become I’ve always been at an arm’s length of being an avid hockey fan and at times a bit closer.
Saturday night’s game six victory over the Montreal Canadians was without a doubt the most exciting hockey game I’ve ever attended live. I’d even say it was one of the top two or three sports events I’ve attended at the new Boston Garden.

From the moment I arrived at North Station approximately one and a half hour before the game, Bruins fans and Canadians fans alike were packed into the area and carrying on with a game time-like-intensity. This intensity carried through the opening face-off and right through the end of the game.

The third period of Saturday’s game that saw the Bruins score four goals and battle back to hang on for victory was a thing of beauty to be a part of. With seemingly every fan on their feet for the duration of the last period the Garden was rocking and it brought up memories of hearing stories of when hockey ruled supreme in Beantown and the so-named “gallery Gods” ruled the Old Garden in a way that those of us growing up watching hockey in the past generation cannot relate to.

But on the heels of a crushing 5-0 defeat last night to the Canadians came the end to an exciting, albeit short, playoffs for the Bruins. And still there are many questions left unanswered by Boston’s NHL entry. Is this the start of a new generation of exciting new Bruins that will bring hart-stopping playoff action for years to come? Or is this a blip on a seemingly blank radar that the Bruins have not been able to register on since Raymond Bourque traded his Bruins uniform for Stanley Cup glory in Colorado?

All that is for certain now is that for one week the Bruins became more than just another tenant at the Boston Garden. They like the 2007 – 2008 Celtics dusted off years of mostly irrelevant play to grip the imagination of an oversaturated Boston sport’s scene. But if the Bruins hope to stay relevant they must do more than simply force a game seven opening round playoff. Their pivotal victories in the future must include not only games but series. If they accomplish this than maybe, just maybe, they can reclaim their stature as piers with the other professionals in town.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Face-to-Face with a Great Value

If you are one to buy tickets to concerts and sporting events a website worth saving on your favorites is www.fvtix.com. Fvtix.com attempts to be a central hub for on sale dates as well as presale ticket information for events going on sale nationally.
The site has recently offered presale codes for NBA and NHL playoff tickets, Pearl Jam, as well as many other exciting events.

If you are trying to land tickets to that “must see” event than www.fvtix.com is a good place to start your search.

The Cheif Returns to Boston

I was very excited when I learned that Robert Parrish would be attending a signing at Borders on School St in Boston. I had the opportunity to meet “The Chief” when I was much younger and I can’t say the meeting was all too memorable. It took place at a Boston College High School Card Show and my lone memory of that day was a listless Parish moving methodically through a crowd of people signing autographs and collecting money unenthusiastically.

I’m happy to say that my second run in with Robert Parrish was much more memorable. Generally bookstore appearances require that you purchase a set product such as a book or DVD and that you only have that one particular item autographed. In this case, the item was supposed to be the newly released 1985-1986 Boston Celtics DVD Box Set. But unfortunately for Borders and as it turned out fortunately for us fans the DVDs never arrived. So as a result it was determined that anything we could bring to the event we could get signed. A quick five minute walk later, my friend Rob and I had official NBA basketballs and were in line to meet the Hall-of-Famer.

Parrish seemed to be genuinely enjoying his time back in Boston and the opportunity to meet a handful of his many fans. I asked Parrish if he’d been following the NBA and he said he was. Parrish said that he was pulling for the Celtics but if they were eliminated then he likes the Phoenix Suns. I also asked Parrish if he talks to Larry Bird or Kevin McHale and he said that he does but he had not talked to them in the past year.
We finally were able to pose for a picture with Parrish and I told him that I finally was able to feel short next to him. Parrish displayed his booming laugh and said “I’m still waiting to feel short.”

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Ripken Continues to Impress

Whenever meeting someone with the stature of Cal Ripken Jr., one always runs the risk of having whatever image they have built of such a person ruined. But in the case of Ripken, I’d wager all I have that one would walk away from that encounter with their positive opinion of Ripken maintained, more likely increased.

Ripken appeared Wednesday at the Borders Books and Music on School St and happily greeted and signed for approximately 200 fans. Ripken whose 2007 book “Get in the Game” was just released in paperback is making his way across the country on a promotional tour.

Greeting each fan with a handshake and a warm welcome , Ripken was more than happy to personalize and autograph as many books as fans were able to put in front of him. I got the chance to talk with Ripken for a few minutes and he came across as being sincere and interested in everything that was said to him. When one fan asked if he was tired of signing autographs Ripken replied “this is the easy part; hitting a 90 mile-per-hour pitch is the hard part.”

Watching the energy Ripken exuded with each fan it was easy to see how he was able to play game-after-game and break baseball’s record for consecutive games. Ripken’s new book pledges to give readers eight steps towards getting their life on track. While I can’t guarantee it will work for you, I do know that Ripken is someone worth looking up to.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Tickets: Radiohead on sale Saturday

Radiohead will be making their much awaited return to the Boston area this summer with a show at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, MA. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow, Saturday April 12, at 10:00 AM through www.ticketmaster.com

Good luck.

Stix Boston: Big on Price, Small on Portions

Stix Restaurant, 35 Stanhope St, http://www.stixboston.com/ – 2/5

It may come as no surprise to you that one of Back Bay’s newest restaurants caters to those worried about finding a trendy place to eat and not so worried about how much it will cost. And Stix seems to be capitalizing on both the former and the latter.

Stix scores points on ingenuity; the centerpiece of its menu is a series of small plates that contain all kinds of meats and vegetables over skewers. Such a meal is not necessarily a novel one but what Stix does to separate itself is to infuse the sticks with a series of seasonings that add a remarkable amount of flavor to the food. These small plates try to encompass different geographic areas which range from Vermont all the way to Thailand and back. We were able to try the Chicken on Mango Curry Stix and the Waffled Bacon on Honey Bourbon Stix. Both were very tasty especially the waffle plate.

The problem with Stix and the reason I can’t foresee myself returning there is the combination of high price and small quantities. Both small plates were made up of 3 sticks each with about three or four inches of actual food on them. Albeit delicious, each rang in at $9 each and after spending $19 on two plates I was not full and needed to go then find a hardier finale to my dinner experience.

Trendy, yes. Cost-effective, absolutely not. That is Stix in a nutshell.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Night Two at Fenway

2008 Alex Record: 1-1 (04/08 W5-0, 04/09 L7-2)

A few thoughts on my second visit to Fenway in as many days:

Mike Timlin is scheduled to come off of the disabled list either today or Friday and if last night’s performances were any indication of who might be sent down to replace him it would seem the field has been narrowed to two--Bryan Corey and Javier Lopez. Corey looked ineffective last night and was only able to record one out while surrendering two runs. Lopez didn’t fair much better in recording two outs and surrendering a ninth inning solo homerun. David Aardsma on the other hand looked quite affective as he submitted 1-2/3 innings of scoreless relief after replacing Lester with one out in the sixth. Aardsma in my opinion deserves to stay on the 25 man roster and if I was Theo Epstein I would probably option Lopez. I realize having Lopez’s presence as a lefty is important but I believe Corey can pitch in more types of situations and for longer outings if need be.

Sean Casey’s worth to the team became quite apparent last night as the wily veteran was able to come right off the bench after Mike Lowell’s hand injury and record two hits for the Sox. Casey clearly struggled a bit in his first appearance in Toronto but for the duration of a 162 game season it is this scribe’s opinion that he will continue to make crucial contributions throughout the season.


Similarly, Kevin Youkilis continued to show why his $4 million contract is one of the best bargains in baseball as he deftly switched corner infield positions without missing a beat both in the field and at the plate. Well he did switch gloves so maybe he missed a half a beat but who is keeping track?

There has been much talk of the effect of the Red Sox early travel on their performance and to me it is having the greatest impact on David Ortiz. Ortiz as a designated hitter requires more than any other player a routine and this on-again-off again start to the season has not helped him in any way. Ortiz gets four or five chances to contribute in a game as a DH and if he struggles at the plate he can’t make up for it in the field. The next couple of weeks for the Red Sox are jam-packed with games and my bet is that his sub .100 batting average will be at least .250 by May 1.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Presale: WBCN River Rave

This year on June 1, at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, MA, WBCN in Boston is returning to it's tradition of having a summer concert. This year's River Rave includes the return of Stone Temple Pilots as well as Everlast, Filter, and several more bands that will be announced on a later date.

The website for the presale is: http://ticketsus.at/WBCN?CTY=37&LID=RiverRave&DURL=http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/010040753E0BEA2E

Enjoy.

Paradise: Take 2

When I was little most nights between April and September were spent listening to Red Sox broadcasts on the radio. I probably spent more time during those years with Red Sox announcers Joe Castiglione and Jerry Trupiano than I did with most of my family and friends.

The dream then was always of winning a World Series. For a young boy it always seemed possible. Although try as I may I could never envision what a World Series celebration would look like. What it would feel like. How it would unfold.

Although yesterday’s Opening Day World Series Ring Ceremony was in fact the team’s second such celebration in four years, it was the first I was able to experience live and it was thus far the highlight of a lifetime of going to sporting events. And finally I was able to experience first hand the proper World Series celebration I had been dreaming about for most of my life.

Surely over the past four years there have been rolling rallies, playoff sendoffs, and playoff games, but to me any true Red Sox celebration must and should take place in the most storied ballpark in baseball.

From the first note of the Boston Pops, straight through the unveiling of the new championship banner, and right on through Bill Buckner’s first pitch it was pure and unadulterated heaven for Boston baseball fans. For those lucky enough to attend either the 2004 or 2007 championship celebrations—cherish each and every moment of those memories. For Boston fans lucky enough to be around in 2008 we are truly realizing every dream we could have ever wished for.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Free Ice Cream!

Thanks to the Boston Red Sox not only do many of us get to skip out of work today but we also get….fre ice cream too! This is all most too good to be true.

J.P. Licks is offering a free small ice cream to customers during business hours today, April 8, during business hours.

J.P. Licks stores are located at:

Jamaica Plain, 659 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, (617) 524-6740

Coolidge Corner, 311 Harvard Street, Brookline, (617) 738-8252

Davis Square, 4A College Ave, Somerville, (617) 666-5079

Newbury Street, 352 Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 236-1666

Newton Centre, 46 Langley Road, Newton Centre, (617) 244-0666

Mission Hill, 1618 Tremont Street, One Brigham Circle, Boston, (617) 566-6676

West Roxbury, 661 VFW Parkway, Chestnut Hill, (617) 325-1516


Go Red Sox and go get a free cone, would you?

Go for the Gold

Another great website to turn to for your entertainment needs is www.goldstar.com. Goldstar is a national organization that sells to its customer’s tickets to theater, concerts, sporting events, and parties at steep discounts. The discounts are generally 50% off but every once in a while a free event pops up on their site.

I found Goldstar earlier this year and I’ve benefited from its use several times all ready. Once on their site, all you have to do is register with an e-mail, enter your zip code, and then start searching for events in your area.

In the Boston area, I’ve found several of the local theaters in affiliation with Goldstar not too mention the Bruins, the New England Arena Football League franchise, as well as dozens of other opportunities.

You can register for their e-mail newsletter that way you will be the first to know about discounted events going on sale in your area. You can use your credit card to order and the tickets will either be mailed or held at the box office the same way they would be if you ordered directly from the venue.


Good luck with Goldstar—I think you will find it to be yet another great source for savings.

Monday, April 7, 2008

And That's Just the Half of It

Another great site worth checking out if you are looking to save a few pennies is www.halfoffdeals.com. Half Off Deals offers its customers a number of gift certificate options that they sell for—you guessed it—half price.

The site mainly offers restaurant certificates but also offers entertainment options, spas, and more. The site is nation wide and asks you to enter your zip code and then it will list a series of certificate options for you to choose from.

The majority of certificates I’ve found are $50 certificates sold at the discount of $25 but there are some other denominations offered depending on the particular certificate. You pay with your credit card, usually add $2-$3 for shipping, and your certificate will arrive in 7-10 business days. I can attest the site is legit and while I can’t guarantee what is available in your area I’d highly recommend you at least check out the site.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Tickets! Get Your Tickets!

Just a quick update on some events that are going on sale this weekend via ticketmaster.com:

Pearl Jam will be playing at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, MA, on Monday June 30, and the tickets for the concert went on sale Friday morning at 10:00 AM.

R.E.M. will also be playing the Tweeter Center on Friday June 13 with Modest Mouse and The National and tickets for this go on sale Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.

The Counting Crows August 2, concert with Maroon 5 at the Tweeter Center go on sale Saturday morning also at 10:00 AM.

And finally because apparently there are at least a few people still willing to pay to see him, George Michael will be playing the TD Banknorth Garden on Friday June 27 and tickets for his show went on sale at 10:00 AM this morning.

With Wow Savings Are Only a Click Away

Ever wish you could stretch your wallet just a bit farther? Ever go to a store and see something you want but wish it was just a bit cheaper? Well now you are in luck. There is now a great on-line resource for consumers where they can find a one-stop location for printable coupons.

Wow Coupons (http://www.wow-coupons.com/) offers its users an array of coupons that will ensure savings across all types of businesses. Going out for lunch? Well print a $2 off of a regular sandwich at Quiznos or Subway. Need a new read? Then print coupons ranging anywhere from 20%-40% off of books at Borders or Barnes and Noble

From coupons on retail to restaurants to travel Wow Coupons has you covered. And best of all it is free and requires little more from you than a printer and an internet connection. Many of these coupons have expiration dates so make sure you check the coupon before printing it. Also some coupons require that you register with the company’s website but none that I saw require any cost and generally only require you register for their e-mail newsletter.

Good luck and good savings.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Canseco Lacking a Bit of Juice

I just returned from the Jose Canseco book signing on School St and there wasn’t too much exciting to report from it. There are people who are shy and then there are people who are virtually silent—Canseco comes from the latter camp. It seemed like Canseco barely took the time to lift his head in between signatures and periodically he would mumble a “hey how’s it going” or “thanks for coming out.” Canseco was flanked by a female companion and a bodyguard and was not allowing for fans to take pictures with him—although fans were welcome to take them from a distance.

There was a good crowd at the event that I’d estimate in the vicinity of 100 or 200 people. The line moved quickly and while Canseco never displayed outwardly rude words or behavior he also did nothing to endear himself to fans.

McCormick & Schmick's Goes Happy

When thinking of a place to grab a cheap meal, McCormick & Schmick's is surely not one of the first restaurants that comes to mind. But as I discovered last night, McCormick & Schmick's bar menu does in fact lend itself to those of us light in the wallet.

From the hours of 3:00 – 6:30 PM and then again from 9:00PM – 12:00 AM, Schmick's opens up a small number of meals and appetizers all under $5. The most popular of these items is the $1.95 half pound hamburger with fries. I did not try the burger but did try the mini potato skins (also $1.95) and the wings ($3.95). The portions of the potato skins and wings were on the small side but for their price one couldn’t reasonably expect much more. The menu also offers a spinach dip, ham and cheese sandwich, as well as other items all for $4.95 or less.

The kicker and potential deal breaker for some with McCormick & Schmick's “happy hour” menu is that the prices of drinks are average if not a bit above average. The beers run from $5.25 to $5.75 per pint and the miniature bottles of soda are $2.50. One must spend $2.50 on a beverage to buy from the bar menu but if you are looking for a few high end beers and some cheap food this might be one of the best deals in Boston.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Counting Crows Presale

I am always receiving e-mails or messages with presales and deals for tickets so I am going to from now on attempt to pass as many as I can along to each of you.

The first one I have is for presale tickets to see The Counting Crows with Maroon 5 at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, MA on August 2. The presale password is “rock” and this offer is good from Thursday April 3, starting at 10:00 AM and running through April 3 at 10:00 PM on http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Presales are tricky things and don’t always offer the best tickets. I won’t be purchasing tickets to this show because I’ll be seeing Bruce Springsteen on August 2 at Gillette Stadium but if I were going to attempt to buy tickets I’d look for tickets in the first two sets of sections. Sections 1-3 run directly in front of the stage and I believe sections 4-9 run directly behind these. Anything in sections 1-9 should be a good location anything beyond that I would not consider a very good location. Presales generally contain a set of tickets that are allotted by the venue and promoter and contrary to what you might think don’t always contain the best tickets—stick with sections 1-9 and you should be in good shape.

The Counting Crows have a new album out that sounds like a good one—there single “You Can’t Count on Me” is a catchy song with good rock hooks. I’m not huge on Maroon 5 but people seem to like them so maybe you do too.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Alex in the Boston Globe

I hope you all had a great weekend! Please find below the text of a Boston Globe article I was quoted in from Sunday's edition.

New technologies empower the vision impaired
High-tech solutions help blind "see" their way in the business world
March 30, 2008
As technophiles go, Alex Gray is on the cutting edge. With an array of high-tech gizmos at his fingertips, Gray can match his clothing using a portablecolor detector, weigh himself on his talking scale, and check the time on his talking wristwatch. His cell phone talks. So does his GPS system, his digitalbook reader, and his computer, which can convert text into speech. But Gray isn't really a futuristic techno-geek. He is blind.
"I'm certainly lucky," the 24-year-old Quincy man says of the technology that helped him land a job as a liaison for the Massachusetts Housing and ShelterAlliance in Boston. "The more skills I develop and the more technology I use, the more valuable I am as a person" and as an employee. At a time when 70percent of all legally blind, working-age individuals are unemployed, new technologies are improving the lives and the job opportunities for the visionimpaired. "I couldn't have looked for a job if it weren't for this technology," says Jim Denham, the assistive technology coordinator for Perkins Schoolfor the Blind in Watertown.
Like many blind job seekers, Denham uses a screen reader to browse the internet, send emails, and read documents. An optical scanner allows him to converttext documents into speech, and a handheld GPS-equipped computer lets him read text messages, check his calendar, find his location, and take notes inBraille. "It's really empowering," he says of the devices. "If you're going to compete in a sighted world, you need technology to level the playing field."
Gayle Yarnall thinks so too. "Between your technology and your attitude, there's not much you can't do," says Yarnall, the blind president and founder ofAdaptive Technology Consulting in Amesbury, which provides consulting, support, and training to the vision impaired and learning disabled.
While all that technology may seem cutting edge, the future promises even bigger breakthroughs for blind job seekers. This January, Nokia unveiled a cellphone that turns the text on photographed documents into speech. The device allows users to read any photographed document, including menus, newspapers,and money. Ray Kurzweil, who developed both the first software to convert text to speech in the 1970s and the software used in the Nokia phone, predictsa future in which artificial vision systems installed in eyeglasses will allow blind individuals to actually "see" objects. "We're working on softwarethat will recognize objects, logos, and faces," says Kurzweil, noting that the technology may soon also be used to map the interior of homes, offices,and other buildings.
Farther ahead on the horizon, Kurzweil says, are driverless cars that will turn sightless commuters into vehicle owners. Yet even with all those advancesin technology, blind job seekers still face some difficult challenges. Screen readers, which once let users easily scan the internet for jobs, cannot readthe distorted codes needed to gain access to some websites, says Brian Charlson, vice president of computer training services for the Carroll Center forthe Blind in Newton. Web animation, mislabeled photos, and offbeat web designs confound the screen readers even more.
The biggest challenge, however, may be in persuading employers that blind job seekers are as skilled as their sighted counterparts, he says. "There's aquiet discrimination," notes Charlson, who also is blind. The issue is getting employers to understand that with proper technology, there are few jobsblind applicants can't handle. "Employers may wonder how you can use a computer if you can't read the screen. They may worry about the paperwork you needto read or how you will take notes," says Paul Schroeder, vice president of programs and policy for the American Federation for the Blind. That's why it'scrucial to educate employers about screen readers, optical scanners, and handheld note-taking devices.
Gray doesn't wait for employers to ask how he will handle a task. He is eager to explain the technology and quick to highlight his skills. "I'm of the mindsetthat anything is possible when you are blind if you are willing to work at it and realize that you are a capable person," he says. "You have to be ableto see yourself as a person, rather than as a blind person."©

Friday, March 28, 2008

Weekend, Willy Wonka, and Whiskey's

Greetings to all and my apologies for taking so long to post. I hope that everyone had a great work week and that they are looking forward to their weekends!
Here are a few thoughts for now and I hope to once again return to regular posts albeit in smaller portions.

In terms of a quick head’s up both Bruce Springsteen’s concert at Gillette Stadium in August and Dave Matthews Band’s shows at the Tweeter Center go on sale tomorrow morning on ticketmaster.com. Both I promise you will be worth the price of admission.

I got to meet Gene Wilder last night at the Borders Bookstore in the Back Bay. Like all of us, I grew up watching Willy Wanka time and time again so it was definitely a true honor to meet one of the top comedic actors of the twentieth century. It was very interesting to observe Wilder off the camera—to be sure I was not expecting the out going liveliness of Wilder’s on screen characters but he was much more shy and reserved than I would have expected. It is always interesting for me to observe celebrities in the real world and while Wilder did nothing to disappoint me with rudeness it was interesting to observe him—I once again realized celebrities are in the end people first.

After the signing we headed down Boylston St to Whiskey’s for our dinner. I had been to Whiskey’s for drinks before but this was the first time I had eaten there. We decided to split two sandwiches and we went with the Dixie chicken sandwich (a chicken topped with cheddar, bacon, and barbeque sauce on ciabatta bread) and the Cajon Caesar rollup. Both were very good and combined with some of the fresher fries I’ve had in a while the meal was more than solid. The service was a different story—it took us about 15 minutes before we were waited on but once she arrived our waitress was friendly and attentive. The price was fair and the two sandwiches and two sodas came to $21 before tip. I’d give Whiskey’s a respectable 3/5.

Okay that is all for now—I hope you all have a good weekend!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Billy's Brings Delicious Eats to the Waterfront

Billy Tse Restaurant, 240 Commercial St, Boston, MA 4.5/5

If anyone is looking for a great spot to grab Chinese food in Boston they need not look any further than Billy Tse at 240 Commercial St. It is ironic that one can find such great Chinese food in the North End but once you taste the food you’ll soon forget you are in an area more known for pizzas and pastas than it is for egg rolls and rice noodles.

We arrived at Billy’s around 6:45 on Saturday night and were welcomed in with great hospitality and service. About 10 – 15 minutes after arriving at the restaurant we were seated, with drinks, and with food—this was quite an accomplishment especially on a Saturday night.

The prices for Billy’s are quite fair—around $8-9 for noodle plates and $11-13 for those with meat--and considering the large portions one could even consider them a bargain. We tried the Kung Pao Chicken which was extremely fresh and accompanied by crisp vegetables. The sesame chicken was also great and delivered a very sweet option to contrast with the spicy Kung Pao.

The service is friendly and attentive and as mentioned above fast. Its location—smack dab on Boston’s waterfront—is a very scenic one but unfortunately we weren’t able to take advantage of the surroundings this past Saturday because of the flooding rain and early March temperature.

If one is longing for a new destination on their Boston Chinese food map than they should circle Billy Tse as their next stop.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Celtics, Champs, Chills, and More

Here are some thoughts that are rattling around my head this afternoon.
Kevin Garnett is officially back. He might have missed nine games with an injured abdomen but last night against the Detroit Pistons one could hardly tell he had ever missed a beat. Garnett’s intensity is so great that it has the ability to have an early March regular season game seem as though it is a playoff game seven. No matter what Al Jefferson ends up being as a basketball player it will be hard to argue with Ainge’s trade simply based on the life that has returned to Celtics games as a result of Garnett’s presence.

Steve Phillips of ESPN brought up the amazing fact in Thursday’s broadcast of the Red Sox spring training game against the Dodgers that 23 players out of the 25 players from the Red Sox 2007 roster are still around going into 2008 spring training. That is a 92% pretension rate. In the free agent era, I can’t remember when a championship team went into the next season with so many hold-overs.

The contrast of the 2007 retention rate was even more illuminated by the fact that the Dodgers starter Thursday was former Sox hurler Derrick Lowe. With the mass exodus of 2004 that was led by Pedro Martinez and Lowe it is hard to believe that the Red Sox are still under essentially the same exact ownership and management.

During the same ESPN broadcast the fact was brought up that every Red Sox home spring training game since 2003 has been sold out. Every game has been sold out at Fenway Park during this same exact time. It is hard to imagine this streak coming to an end any time soon.

And now for the creepy portion of this post--MSNBC had a special last night entitled “The Mind of Manson” chronicling the the life and times of Charles Manson. The program relied heavily on a 1987 Today Show broadcast which featured an interview with Manson and analysis from a former F.B.I. crime profiler. I have to admit that watching this interview was one of the most chilling, yet gripping, things I’ve watched in a while. People the likes of Manson often seem inhuman and beyond comprehension and while the program did nothing to completely remove this about Manson—it was fascinating to hear the psychological analysis of the interview that was provided throughout the program.

If anyone is looking for something to do this weekend they might want to look into the Harpoon Brewery’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The cover of $15 is a bit steep but it does include a free pint glass and hours of music. For anyone busy the actual St. Patrick’s Day weekend it might be a nice alternative.

One week until I leave for Florida and Red Sox Spring Training!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

"In Bruges" is Murderously Funny

“In Bruges” (In theaters now) 3.5/5

In a film year marked thus far by action and drama more than anything else, “In Bruges” offers film fans a rare treat—a film both funny and thoughtful. Picking up where “Juno” left off, In Bruges deals with a much different subject matter than Juno did-- Irish hit men and their ability to deal with the after effects of their craft; however, the film’s effectiveness draws from the same strengths that Juno relied on—an ability to interweave whit and thought into something that transcends the modern one note comedy.

In Bruges stars a two man hit men team of Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) who are forced to travel to the Belgian town of Bruges in an attempt to hide out from their most recent murder. While in Bruges, the two men are forced to put up with the other’s biting sense of humor while they gradually come to terms with their violent craft. The two hit men are contracted by Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and they eventually come face to face with him in a hilarious confrontation that somehow makes a blood-soaked gun fight a light and humorous affair. The seriousness of the film is not always at the forefront of the film and is often lost in a storm of one-liners but small snapshots throughout the movie give us glimpses of the struggles that the characters, especially Ray, face.
All of this mixes with a splash of drugs, midgets, and sex to produce a movie that will keep you guessing, and most likely laughing, for its duration.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Boxing Poised to Take a Big Swing

Is boxing on its way back?

The “sweet science” has taken its blows over the past decade or so but it seems at least to this fan that it is beginning to turn the corner. 2007 saw many highlights in the sport of boxing and 2008 does not show any signs that boxing will be slowing down.

The real jumping off point for boxing came last May 5 when Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather squared off in the highest grossing fight in boxing history. And while the fight, dubbed by promoters as “The World Awaits,” still has some fight fans waiting for the unrealistic expectations fans had for the fight to be met—it is undeniable that De LA Hoya v. Mayweather delivered a much needed shot in the arm to the fight game. HBO’s innovative coverage of the fight especially their creation of a television series dubbed “24/7” brought fans closer to the lead-up to a major fight than they had ever been before. The fact that it was a good, solid, clean, fight did little to subdue the frustration of those casual fans who threw down $54.99 expecting “The Rumble in the Jungle,” Hagler v. Hearns, and Ward v. Gatti all rolled into one—but for those more expert fans the fight was a competitive one that thankfully did nothing to embarrass the sport. And a lack of embarrassment as sad as it may sound is a step in the right direction after the Mike Tyson era.
The fall also saw a series of competitive and exciting fights that continued to give those fans anteing-up $44.99 or more per show their money’s worth. September’s Jermain Taylor v. Kelly Pavlik’s eight round thriller that saw Pavlik take a step on to boxing’s big stage with a knockout victory while at the same time giving Taylor his first defeat. In addition, Mayweather returned to boxing’s main stage in December where he knocked out British favorite Ricky Hatton in a competitive and at times very exciting bout. This past weekend Kelly Pavlik once again defeated Jermain Taylor in a unanimous decision in a fight that most in attendance seem to agree was a competitive one.

This coming weekend boxing’s spotlight returns to what used to be its main stage-a heavyweight championship bout. With every Tyson embarrassment the heavyweight division lost a bit more of its respect and while American fans rightfully shifted their focus towards lower weight classes what has emerged is an international hold on the heavyweight crown—a title that for decades was considered something owed to someone born in America as much as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is.

The two participants in this weekend’s heavyweight unification bout are Ukrainian born Wladimir Klitschko (49-3) and Russian born Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1). The fight seeks to unify the heavyweight championship for the first time since 1999 when Lennox Lewis was able to. Luckily for fight fans the night’s events will be broadcast on HBO and you will not need to fork over $44.99 or more to take in the match. And to add to the night’s events HBO will be airing a documentary on Joe Louis before the fight. The documentary should serve as a perfect display of where the title once was and where it is now.

The fight is not drawing nearly as much attention as De La Hoya v. Mayweather did or even Hatton v. Mayweather was able to but it has the potential to provide the sport something it hasn’t had in years—a competitive and exciting heavyweight title fight. And with a setting of Madison Square Garden, known around the world as the “Mecca of boxing,” boxing couldn’t ask for a better host. All the cards are in place for boxing to take another big step forward—all that is needed is for both fighters to show up willing to mix it up.

Boxing has come a ways over the past year but there are few things that it could benefit more from than a great fight from the heavyweight division. And while there is no guarantee that the match up will provide such entertainment at least the bout gives us something to look forward to while we wait for Floyd Mayweather to first strap on wrestling trunks at March’s WWE Wrestlemania XIV and then hopefully take on Oscar De La Hoya one more time in the fall.

Start Spreading the News...

I hope that each of you had a great President’s Day Weekend. Hopefully you had Monday off or at the very least had a quiet day.

This past weekend found me down in New York, New York. I went down to visit with my former Jesuit Volunteer Corps roommates Sarah and Ben as well as take in all that Gotham City has to offer.
My friend, Mairead, and I took an Amtrak down Friday night in time to catch our old Boston College friend, Greg Johnson, finish up his comedy routine. Greg hosts a variety show at a bar, Rififfi, that is in the East Village at 332 East 11th St. Greg along with his co-host Larry Murphy just won a city-wide award for best variety comedy show in all of New York. The show has drawn a bunch of name comics and Friday night Eugene Mirman who was just featured in an HBO special was performing. Friday night Sarah and I also got to check out the restaurant, Three of Cups, which is a pretty good choice for Italian dining in the East Village. I went for the gnocchi in a plum tomato sauce and it was a solid choice.

Saturday morning I made my maiden voyage to Long Island where I got to visit my friend Sarah’s homeland. After overwhelming her poor dog, Bailey, with energy and attention for a few hours we returned to Manhattan. We met up with Ben and headed over for another first for me—Vietnamese dining. We went to Saigon Grill which if I understand correctly has a few locations in New York. I went with the ginger honey chicken which was very good. And in what might come as a surprise to most of you who know me I was even daring enough to try some coconut shrimp and peanut beef wantons. I have to admit that I was a fan of all of the food.

Sunday Sarah and I went over to Midtown Manhattan to try to get tickets at the half price ticket booth on Broadway. We were lucky enough to snag a pair of orchestra seats to see Tom Stoppard’s “Rock N Roll.” The play focuses on the relationship between Czechoslovakia and communism as it begins to fade away in the second half of the twentieth century. The play weaves in rock hits from such legends as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and U2 to serve as a backdrop from which the play can be viewed. Rock N Roll is one of the more talked about plays on Broadway in 2008 and it is worthy of the attention. It runs through February at the Jacobs Theater on 45th St and Broadway.

Monday I met up with Ben and got to check out Mud Coffee which is the restaurant he works for. Mud is a very trendy spot in the East Village. While Ben and I were eating lunch sitting one table behind us were Saturday Night Live stars Rachel Dratch and Will Forte. It is definitely worth checking out if you are in Manhattan’s East Village.

The weekend wrapped up with our attendance of a live taping of the Late Night with Conan O’Brien Show. Guests on the show Monday were actor and comedian Larry “The Cable Guy,” Project Runway host Tim Gunn, and blue grass singer Jim Lauderdale. The tickets to the Conan tapings are free and tickets can be obtained through the NBC Show Tickets box office at (212) 664-3056. The tickets are generally booked 4-6 weeks ahead of the show date and are randomly opened up so it is best to constantly check for their availability.

I’d highly recommend anyone attend one of the tapings. The show is very impressive to watch and even more impressive is the ease that Conan displays in working through the show. At our taping there were no pauses or retakes and Conan was as funny and charismatic as he seems on TV. Before the show, Conan spent about five minutes warming up the crowd and even hugged a few lucky male fans and encouraged them to do the same to each other—it was quite an icebreaker. The whole experience lasts about two and a half hours and allowed us to get to the Port Authority for an 8:00 bus back to Boston.

All and all it was a very full and exciting long weekend.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Italian Food, Ice Hockey, and Interesting Thoughts

Good Friday morning to each and all! I hope each of you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Here are a few thoughts for the long weekend.

I was lucky enough to take in two dinners this week at two of the finest restaurants that Boston’s North End has to offer. Tuesday night before I went to the Bruin’s game I went to La Brace at 76 Salem St. I had found out about La Brace through Restaurant.com where you can actually purchase discounted $25 gift certificates for hundreds of restaurants nation wide. Looking at the menu, I wasn’t exactly sure what to order but after asking the hostess and owner, Gail, she put my thoughts to rest. Gail had her chef whip up what she referred to as “chicken alla Scotty.” It was a sort of chicken with ziti that was in a delicious garlic, cream, sauce. My friend, Pat, ordered the gnocchi Bolognese and that was also delicious. I’d highly recommend La Brace and give it a 4/5 rating.

Pat and I then headed over to the TD Banknorth Garden for the Bruins game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The game came down to a very exciting finish that saw the Bruins score two late goals off the stick of Sean Thornton to fall just short of the Hurricanes 3-2. I hadn’t been to a Bruins game in several years so it was exciting to make it to the Garden to see them. And it was even more exciting when we were able to sneak down from the balcony to the loge and be virtually right on top of the ice for the final period.

We then left the Garden to a very snowy Boston and headed over to the Hard Rock Café for a couple of drinks. The Hard Rock was virtually empty as a result of the weather and it being a Tuesday night but the bartender still served up a mighty mudslide. The Hard Rock’s new Fanual Hall location makes it a great place to stop by for a drink while shopping or passing through to the common or North End.

Last night, I had the big Valentine’s Dinner at 5 North Square which has the same address as its name. We arrived a bit early at 5:30 and beat the dinner crowd. We were whisked away to their famous “Table #30” which was really nice and is set aside in a small nook right in front of a window that overlooks the North End streets. I ordered the cavatelli positano which consisted of ziti in a four cheese marinara sauce with basil. You throw in a bit of chicken and this was the best meal I’ve had so far in 2008. Lauren had the capallini alla romano which was an angel hair pasta with sun dried tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. The service at 5 North Square was great and I’d give it my highest mark of 5/5.

I can’t emphasize enough how great of a resource Restaurant.com is. 5 North Square was also on Restaurant.com and with their certificates you can often enjoy a meal for two including the tip for under $25.

Lauren and I then headed over to the Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont St to take in their production of “The Little Dog Laughed.” The play’s plot which centered on a closeted homosexual actor and his struggle to come out while remain unaffected in his career. The play was very funny; however, the acting was not entirely convincing. I’d give the show a passing grade of 3/5.

This afternoon my friend, Mairead, and I are heading down to New York on Amtrak. We’ll be heading down tonight to see our friend Greg Johnson perform his comedy show. I’ll also be meeting up with my Jesuit Volunteer Corps roommates Sarah and Ben and the four of us will be heading to the Conan O’Brien taping this Monday. Guest scheduled to attend the taping are comedian Larry “The Cable Guy” and Project Runway fashion expert, Tim Gunn. I’m very excited about the weekend and I’ll be sure to have a full report when I return.

For now take care and I hope each and every one of you has a splendid President’s Day weekend!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Pucks, Paws, and Politics

I first want to congratulate the 2008 Beanpot Champion Boston College Eagles men’s hockey team! BC was able to sneak by Harvard in a thrilling 6-5 overtime win that saw freshmen Nick Petrecki score his first two college goals in Monday’s victory. The second of Petrecki’s goals came a little over seven minutes into the overtime period. The victory gave the Eagles their first Beanpot Championship since 2004 and hopefully can serve as a catalyst for the #7 ranked Eagles as they begin to wrap up the regular season and move towards the Hockey East Tournament.

If anyone is stuck on their couch tonight and can’t find anything to watch, I highly recommend tuning into the 2008 Westminster Kennel Club dog show broadcast on USA Network from 8:00 – 11:00 PM. For anyone who has a soft spot for a slobber-mouthed-four-legged friend I promise you will enjoy it. Tonight is the “best in show” portion of the competition which is akin to the gold medal round for those in the K9 world. I watched portions of the opening “best of breed” round last night and you really get to learn a lot about the history behind the different breeds of dog as well as witness each dog’s outright unpredictability.

Today also marks another notable competition—this one in the realm of the two legged—with what is being referred to as the “Potomac Primary.” Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia will be casting their votes for President and Illinois Senator Barack Obama and Arizona Senator John McCain are expected to garner the majority of victories in the 3 Mid-Atlantic States. It would seem Obama is poised to receive the greatest amount of support due to the high number of African American voters who traditionally turn out in the region. As always in this unpredictable 2008 Primary Season, predictions have proven to be about as valuable as the paper printed on them. Not sure how that analogy translates to the internet age but I’ll stick with it.

I will be heading to the TD Banknorth Garden tonight to watch the Boston Bruins take on the Carolina Panthers. It will be my first Bruins game in several years and I’m looking forward to witnessing the action in the heart of the “hub of hockey.” I’m hoping to throw in a little North End dinner before the game to make it an unbeatable one-two-punch.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Monday Thoughts

A very good Monday to each and all of you. Here are a few things that are on my mind this afternoon.

I first want to wish BC hockey the best of luck in their Beanpot Championship match against Harvard tonight. After a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over BU last Monday this is the best chance BC has had to hoist the Beanpot Trophy in a few years. Hat’s off to Harvard for a victory last week over a Northeastern squad that went into the game as a clear favorite but hopefully it will be only BC fans who are taking their hats off tonight.

BC basketball had a very hard fought loss to Duke this past Saturday 90-80. The game clearly displayed the best and worst that the 2007-2008 Eagle’s hoop squad has to offer. As for the highlights, Tyrese Rice’s ability to make plays both penetrating to the rim and hitting shots from all over the court was apparent. BC’s energy and athleticism was also apparent with the 4 freshmen running all over the court. As for the lowlights, the Eagle’s inconsistency couldn’t have come at a worse time than it did late in the second half. Whether it was a result of Duke’s deep bench catching up with the Eagle’s traditionally thin bench or whether it was simply the #2 ranked Duke simply out playing BC I’m not sure. But what I am sure of is that the Eagle’s will need to face the Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament to have the chance to beat Duke for the first time since 1985. The Duke winning streak over the Eagle’s has now replaced Miami’s former football winning streak as the biggest “monkey on the back” in BC sports.

The race for the Democratic Nomination for President continues to heat up. It appears that the rest of February will continue to favor Illinois Senator Barack Obama with a combination of caucuses, whose structure has proven to favor the traditionally more zealous Obama supporters, and votes in areas with large numbers of African Americans. The looming March 4th Texas and Ohio Primaries are New York Senator Hillary Clinton’s next and best opportunities to lock up huge numbers of delegates. But as this primary and caucus cycle has proven so far merely winning a state does not guarantee separation from the other candidate because of the proportional distribution of delegates based on the congressional districts of each state. Look for the race to remain “too close to call” through the 22nd of April when the Pennsylvania Primary is held.

If you are looking for something to do this Friday or Saturday night I’d highly recommend you head over to Jamaica Plains to check out the Footlight Club Community Theater’s production of Neil Simon’s “rumors.” The two and a half hour non-stop comedy will leave you laughing and glad you invested the mere $20 ticket price. The Footlight Club is actually America’s oldest community theater and you can read more about them at www.footlight.org.

Three days until….no not Valentine’s Day but rather until pitchers and catchers must report to Red Sox Spring Training in Ft. Myers! It might not seem like it with the frigid single digit temperatures we are “enjoying” today in Boston but spring is on its way!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Wes Welker Wins Over Fans at Macy's

The Macy’s Downtown Location in cooperation with Sports Radio 850 AM WEEI hosted a public appearance yesterday by New England Patriots Wide Receiver, Wes Welker.

I had the opportunity to attend the event last night and even got to meet Wes Welker. I arrived to the event around 4:30 PM which was one half hour before the 5:00 PM start time. Welker arrived shortly after 5:00 PM and answered a few questions.

Welker, wearing a Boston Red Sox hat, displayed great appreciation to the approximately 250 fans who were in attendance. Welker seemed upbeat on the heels of his team’s 17-14 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. Looking back on his first season in New England, Welker said “I’m just happy to be on a…very successful team.” The pause to me seemed to indicate Welker was instinctively going to refer to the Patriots as a “championship team” but for obvious reasons he left that out. Welker appeared to me to be a friendly man who was hesitant to talk on the microphone but very gracious and charming when talking person to person.

Welker then went on to say that he had become a Red Sox fan since arriving in New England but that he hadn’t made it to a game yet.
At 5:30 PM, I made it to the front of the line and met Welker. After shaking his hand and thanking him for coming, I asked him if I could get an autograph for a friend who hadn’t been able to make it. I told him that “she might cry if she doesn’t get one.” Welker said “you would make her cry” and I shot back “no Mr. Welker I think it would be you that would make her cry.”

I then asked him about the recent retirement of Bobby Knight, the basketball coach of his alma mater, Texas Tech. Welker said “I was disappointed to read that.” I then said to him well I’m sure you are “no stranger to playing for a disciplinarian to which Welker laughed and said “no I am very familiar.” I shook Welker’s hand, said goodbye, and then moved away from the table.

Welker answered a few questions as I was making my way out of Macy’s. He said that he had been a soccer player growing up and “that I always saw myself playing that (soccer) when I grew up.” Welker said that the hardest hit of the previous season had come from a Giant in the Super Bowl but that “I can’t remember who hit me—I guess I’ll have to check the film.”

The "Diving Bell" Strikes Just the Right Note

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" 5/5, In Theaters Now.


It is rare in this day and age for a movie to have the ability to change your way of thinking not only for the period that you are watching it but for a lifetime; however, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is such a movie.

Based on the book with the same name, The Diving Bell remarkably captures the true story of magazine editor, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who after suffering a stroke is left with full mental capacity but little other physical ability. Bauby is forced to communicate through his ability to blink and in this fashion he is able to use his one functioning eye to slowly express himself. This French language film follows Bauby from the time of his stroke through his recovery. It captures Bauby’s past through a series of flashbacks and follows him all the way through the finish of his autobiography that is dictated blink-by-blink to his oh-so-patient occupational therapist.

The Diving Bell is a tale of loss and recovery; a tale of frustration and eventual appreciation. More than this, it is a story that will leave you off a better person. And it is the best movie I’ve witnessed in recent memory.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Super Bowl Thoughts

One has to take their hat off to the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. They were certainly the best team on the field during last night’s Super Bowl.

If you were a Patriots fan there are countless things you could look back towards as keys to the crushing defeat but I will choose to focus on one in particular. Late in the second quarter the Patriots faced a 4th and 13 from the Giants 31 yard line. The conventional wisdom would hold here that one should attempt a field goal. Regardless of whom your kicker is, a 48 yard field goal in warm, dry, conditions should and must be something your team can rely on.

But what Bill Belichick opted to do in this situation was to keep his offense on the field and try to pick up a first down. The Patriots were unsuccessful.

The Giants ultimately ran out the half with the Patriots leading 7-3. It didn’t seem like much at the time but with a final score of Giants 17, Patriots 14 it was all that separated the two teams.
Bill Belichick is still one of the greatest coaches in NFL history but to squander the chance at 3 points in what should have been a “no brainer” smacks of poor coaching. 4th and short yardage is difficult enough to accomplish but 4th and 13 within field goal range? I still can’t begin to imagine what he is thinking.

The Patriots overwhelming beginning to 2007 was sparked by a crushing playoff defeat at the hands of the Colts. Let’s hope a similarly deflating loss can serve as a catalyst to a great 2008.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Weekend Thoughts

Here are a few thoughts for the weekend:

Governor Deval Patrick tried and tried last night to capture the excitement his 2006 campaign brought to Massachusetts. And while his attempts were not completely wasted, the duty of legislating is never quite as exciting as the art of campaigning is. Patrick’s personal story is a strong one and he is right to use it; however, the next year must bring more legislative accomplishments for him or else we may have to hear it retold in full each January while he remains in office. After struggling to overcome an initial learning curve within Beacon Hill during his first year look for Patrick to have far greater success in 2008 than he did in 2007. Patrick is too charismatic and intelligent to be kept back forever and look for him to form several political partnerships in order to have his agenda met. This may begin with a partnership with Senate President Murray regarding casinos within the commonwealth.

Minnesota Timberwolves games are now becoming a sort of family reunion for Boston sports fans, even more so for those of us with Boston College ties. If you tune in to tonight’s game at 7:30 PM on FSNE you get the multiple pleasures of seeing all those poor ex-celtics who went from the cold of Beantown to the even colder climate of Minnesota in exchange for Kevin Garnett only to see their former team emerge into an Eastern Conference powerhouse. In addition to checking in with old Celtic friends Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomez, Jerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, and Theo Ratliff, fans will be able to witness former fan favorite and oft-traded Antoine Walker return once again in another team’s uniform. The game will finally mark a return visit from former Boston College star Craig Smith who is finding a definite role as a second year forward in Minnesota.

Saturday’s 4:00 PM tip-off between Boston College and Virginia Tech will be a crucial opportunity for the Eagles to put themselves back on the winning track against the Hokies of Virginia Tech. The Hokies who lost 81-62 to Duke Thursday night will have less than 48 hours to prepare for the game while the Eagles have had one full week to focus on Virginia Tech after their embarrassing defeat in Charlottesville last Saturday. Hopefully the young Eagles squad will be able to take the frustrations of last Saturday’s defeat out on the Hokies and improve BC’s ACC record to 4-1.

Saturday’s Democratic Primary in South Carolina still appears to be Barack Obama’s to lose. As the campaign becomes more and more heated, Obama must stay strong and hold on in South Carolina to ensure life moving towards “Super Duper Tuesday” on February 5.

With the Super Bowl off week, I’ll be taking the first football free Sunday I’ve had in a while to go see “Spamalot” at the Boston Opera House this Sunday afternoon. The matinee performance will mark the end of Spamalot’s nearly two week stay in Boston. And while this scribe has a long way to go in his Monty Python education, it is a safe bet that the musical’s comedy will ensure an enjoyable afternoon.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Much At Stake for Obama in South Carolina

With the eyes of the political world firmly focused on it, South Carolina is set to hold its Democratic Primary this Saturday. South Carolina, combining with the January 29 Florida Primary, will likely serve as the one-two punch that will leave the Democratic field ready for what is now being referred to as “Super Duper Tuesday” on February 5 where over 50% of the party’s delegates will be selected. And while February 5 is being thought by most as the deciding day for Democrats, the results from South Carolina will go a long way in shaping the momentum that Democrats carry with them going into February 5.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama is said to be the favorite going into Saturday’s primary. Obama, who holds leads in the majority of polls in South Carolina, is anticipated to capture a great deal of support from the large African American population that makes up South Carolina. A win for Obama would help the Illinois Senator to stop the bleeding that he has suffered from back-to-back defeats at the hands of New York Senator Hillary Clinton in both New Hampshire and Nevada.

Clinton, who faces double-digit-deficits in many South Carolina polls, will need to surmount a last minute comeback the way she was able to in New Hampshire if she is to capture victory Saturday. Although Clinton trails in South Carolina, a Clinton defeat in the Palmetto State has the potential to be quickly overshadowed by a victory three days later in Florida. Clinton enjoys a double-digit lead in the majority of Florida polls and thus it is safe to assume that without a mishap Clinton’s Florida leads would only benefit from a win in South Carolina.

Obama, on the other hand, would seem to suffer greatly from a defeat in South Carolina. A third straight defeat by the New York Senator would leave Obama to have to scrap for a long-shot victory in Florida to stop the bleeding before the all-important February 5 contest.

The bottom line for Obama is that he must win in South Carolina or run the risk of being steam-rolled by Clinton in to and out of February 5.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

An Anniversary Worth Celebrating

Five years ago to this day Theo Epstein made an under the radar signing of then free agent and little regarded former Minnesota Twin David Ortiz. At that time, the Red Sox were looking to fill several positions throughout their lineup and hoped that by stock-piling bats they would be able to fill their needs.

Then Ortiz was a young, unproven, first basemen who had never got a chance to be an every day player in his five seasons in Minnesota. Five years, two World Series Championships, and countless walk-off memories later David Ortiz is now the face of Red Sox Nation and has etched himself into the rarified air of Sox legends such as Teddy Ballgame, Yaz, or Pudge. It is safe to say that Ortiz has met and exceeded not only the needs Epstein desired in the winter of 2003 but anything he could have ever dreamed of from the man we now call Pappy.

On the heels of another Patriots Super Bowl appearance, Boston fans should take a moment or two away from football thoughts to celebrate the five years they have shared with Ortiz and look forward to whatever unforgettable memories he has in store for us in the future.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Allen's Ankle Key to Celtics Success

After dropping two consecutive games to the Washington Wizards, the Celtics bounced back last night with an exciting 100-90 victory over the Pacific Conference leading Portland Trailblazers.

While the victory and the opponent were noteworthy perhaps the most important outcome of last night’s game was the reemergence of Ray Allen’s scoring touch. Allen who led the Celtics with 35 points seemed to regain the offensive form that fans had become accustomed to going back to his days at Uconn.
Allen, who has been struggling with an ankle injury for over a month now, has proven to be vital to his squad’s offensive success. With Allen’s sharp-shooting in place the Celtics perimeter offense opens up allowing teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to flow freely through the offensive unit and rely on the ability to kick out to a waiting Allen to shoot the three. Without Allen at the top of his game, the Celtics ability to spread the ball all around the offensive end and find open men has suffered.

Ankle injuries take on an added importance when they occur with those who rely on their jump shot. Allen is such a player and it will be Allen’s ability to recover from his injury and improve this season’s career low field goal percentage that will go a long way in determining if the Celtics can maintain the break-neck pace that they have started the 2007-2008 season with.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Vote No on Santana

The discussions between the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins concerning Johan Santana are said to continue; however, a resolution does not seem imminent. The Red Sox seem to be staying strong with their two packages—one containing Jacoby Elsberry and the other John Lester.

The new wrinkle in the Santana talks have the chances of the Yankees landing the Twin’s ace diminishing and have the New York Mets joining the Red Sox as front-runners for Santana’s services.
The introduction of the Mets into the Santana talks may be the most beneficial thing for Red Sox fans to come out of the talks since their introduction over a month ago. Red Sox fans should be cheering for Santana to be wearing a Mets uniform for two main reasons.

The first reason seems to be shared by both Red Sox management as well as their fans. This is that they are both head-over-heels in love with their seemingly endless array of young talent. Names like Ellsbury, Pedroia, and Buchholz keep fans at the edge of their seat with their fresh faces and boundless energy while at the same time bringing smiles to the faces of management with their rookie minimum salaries. With Theo Epstein’s high success rate of placing prospects into careers as productive major leaguers, it would seem difficult to export four or more bargain-basement-priced prospects for Santana who is said to command a seven year contract for $20 million annually.

What the Mets introduction into the Santana talks allows the Red Sox to do is maintain a poker face at the trade table while keeping their fingers crossed under it that Santana quickly becomes a Met. The Red Sox’s best interest is for the possibility of Santana wearing a Yankees uniform to be eliminated. What a Twins-Mets trade would do is move Santana to a more permanent home in Queens as a Met and not allow for a high stakes game of poker to play out during the trade deadline in July.

It is the belief here that the Red Sox interest in Santana has always lie more in keeping him out of pin stripes and thus risk swinging the edge in the A.L. East south to the Bronx than it ever was in having him in a Red Sox uniform. The trade doesn’t make sense for a couple of reasons-one that Santana’s perceived demands for a seven year contract makes it harder and harder for them to stand strong during negotiations for free agents after handing out a six year $100 million plus contract to Daisuke Matsuzaka. The company line had always been four year contracts or less for high priced free agents and signing Santana to a potential seven year $140 million contract would likely hurt the Red Sox negotiating position in the future. Additionally, a seven year contract for Santana would leave the Red Sox on the hook for $20 million a year until Santana is 35 years old while on the other hand Matsuzaka’s contract expires upon him reaching the age of 32.

But in terms of the on-going cold war struggle between the Red Sox and Yankees, one team cannot show weakness publicly. The Red Sox have postured long enough in the Santana talks and they now have the perfect out—an interested party not wearing pin stripes. Furthermore, a Red Sox withdrawal from trade talks allows them to claim that they couldn’t stomach the cost of Santana and that they want to keep building their winning tradition from within. Both serve to strengthen the Red Sox image and distance themselves from moving ever closer to the spend thrift Yankees.

Epstein’s genius has always derived from his ability to receive equal if not superior returns on his investments whether they are via trade or through free agency. The risk of forfeiting three or four low cost, high yield, prospects in return for the services of a pitcher who you will have to pay $20 million up until his 35th birthday does not seem like one Epstein should or hopefully will make.

Michigan Predictions: McCain Squeakes by Romney

In what would seem to be a very Romney friendly environment, Arizona Senator John McCain is set to narrowly defeat the former Massachusetts Governor in the state his father, George Romney, once served as a three term governor. Riding the wave of momentum that his New Hampshire victory breathed into his campaign, John McCain should defeat Romney by somewhere in the range of three to five points.

McCain’s likely victory in Michigan will put him at the front of the Republican field as the focus shifts to Saturday’s South Carolina Primary and beyond. In South Carolina both Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson will return to being viable competitors making the Michigan contest that much more important for either McCain or Romney to win.

Romney gained late momentum this week by his capitalizing on a McCain statement that the jobs that once made Michigan the center of the auto industry were gone and “were never coming back.” Romney pounced at this McCain statement and countered that America could overcome any adversity and that Michagan’s jobs could be reclaimed with the right leader.

But even withstanding this late Romney momentum, McCain should emerge victorious much in the same way he did last week in New Hampshire—by harnessing the strength of a 2000 victory in Michigan with his many endorsements by both newspapers and elected officials. This combined with a splash of the Arizona Senator's famous “straight talk” should give McCain a winning recipe in Michigan.

The Democratic contest in Michigan carries little weight due to the decision of the Democratic National Committee to strip Michigan of its convention delegates due to a decision of the Michigan State Legislature to move up their primary ahead of DNC’s regulated primary and caucus schedule. New York Senator Hillary Clinton was the only candidate to keep her name on the Michigan ballot and it is likely that because of this and her New Hampshire victory she will claim victory tonight. Both Illinois Senator Barack Obama and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards are making last minute attempts to put their names on the ballot but it is unclear what if any impact a victory for any Democrat in Michigan will have nationally.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

The Mac is Back

Returning to the exact same spot he occupied eight years ago, Arizona Senator John McCain claimed victory in last night’s “first in the nation” New Hampshire Primary. Relying heavily on his “straight talk” and ability to connect with the last-minute voters in the Granite State, McCain catapulted his campaign towards the top of the Republican field with 37% of the vote verses former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s 32%.

Addressing a crowded ballroom of supporters, McCain congratulated all candidates both Republican and Democrat as well as their supporters. “You stood up for what you believe in” McCain said “and I commend you for that.”

McCain now joins Romney and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as those with victories so far in 2008 and sets up what will be a hotly contested January and February on the Republican side. Michigan will be the next stop for the Republicans and there McCain and Huckabee are battling for first and Romney is third in the state where his father, George Romney, served as a three-time governor.

But as for Tuesday the night was McCain’s and the 71-year-old will now have to take the momentum he was unsuccessful in harnessing from his 2000 victory in New Hampshire and direct it towards future success in 2008.

Heart Tops Change in New Hampshire

In one of the bigger political upsets in recent memory, Hillary Clinton, facing predictions of a defeat that some predicted would reach double-digits and cripple her 2008 chances, soared back to the top of the Democratic standings last night with a hard-fought victory over Illinois Senator Barack Obama. The Clinton victory, 40%-36%, over Obama breathed necessary life into the New York senator’s campaign and allows her to remain in a neck-and-neck battle with Obama for her party’s nomination.

Brandishing herself as the candidate with “heart,” Clinton carved her way to victory beginning with a Saturday night debate performance that saw her alternate between a candidate willing to attack those labeling her as the “status quo” and one willing to admit somewhat jokingly that her feelings were hurt when she was labeled as unlikable. This performance combined with a Monday speech that saw Clinton’s emotions bring her to the brink of tears seemed to be the fuel that energized Clinton to victory in New Hampshire.

Clinton is likely to continue championing herself as the candidate with “heart” while Obama continues to define himself as the candidate most willing to embrace “change.” The emails each candidate sent today reflect these themes with Clinton’s subject of “thank you from the bottom of my heart” and Obama’s attempting to emphasize the difficulty in creating change by stating “we knew this would be hard.”

Finishing in his familiar third place position, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards lagged far behind Clinton and Obama with only 17% of the Granite State electorate. Vowing to stay in the race, Edwards enthusiastically told supporters “we’re in this until the convention.”

Not withstanding next week’s Michigan Primary, The focus of the Democrats seems to have shifted towards the January 19 Nevada Primary and the South Carolina Primary to be held one week later. Michigan is caught in a battle with the Democratic National Committee over deciding to move their primary forward and ahead of traditional front-of-the-line deciders such as South Carolina. Because of this, the DNC is threatening to strip Michigan of some of its convention delegates. This threat is keeping most of the Democrats public attention away from Michigan.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Food for Thought: Part I

I have always marveled at the power of quotes. Quotes have always had the ability to help me to either open my thinking into a new way of looking at the situation or conversely sharpen previously held beliefs with a new perspective.

With this in mind, I launch the first in an occasional series of quotes that will follow with questions that relate to the 2008 election and beyond.

”My illness helped me to see that what was missing in society is what was missing in me: a little heart, a lot of brotherhood. The ’80’s were about acquiring — acquiring wealth, power, prestige. I know. I acquired more wealth, power, and prestige than most. But you can acquire all you want and still feel empty. What power wouldn’t I trade for a little more time with my family? What price wouldn’t I pay for an evening with friends? It took a deadly illness to put me eye to eye with that truth, but it is a truth that the country, caught up in its ruthless ambitions and moral decay, can learn on my dime. I don’t know who will lead us through the ’90s, but they must be made to speak to this spiritual vacuum at the heart of American society, this tumor of the soul.” Lee Atwater, 1991.



Today brings with it the “first in the nation” New Hampshire primary that is likely to have the single greatest impact that any event has had yet so far in the 2008 election cycle. And while it is unlikely that anyone reading this will have the opportunity to vote in New Hampshire nor the time to campaign for a candidate before the polls close tonight, we will each have the opportunity to make our mark in this election before it is all said and done.

Each generation brings with it unique challenges and opportunities that will require genuine leadership in order to face the former and make the most of the latter. While this is neither the time nor place for a specific endorsement, it is always timely for each of us to give thought to what exactly we hope to find in our next president.

I propose to each of you as a frame for such thought the above quote by former Republican and Reagan and Bush era strategist, Lee Atwater. Atwater who nearing death converted to Catholicism gave this quote from his deathbed. Atwater’s main assertion in the quote is that as the 1990’s began there was a “spiritual vacuum” in America.

Whether you agree with Atwater’s assertion or not, two questions can be used by any of us in relation to this quote to magnify who exactly we feel will bring the most to the position of commander and chief. Atwater asserts that the 1980’s were about “acquiring” and the 1990’s were about curing America’s “spiritual vacuum.” Before you decide which candidate you will vote for, I recommend you define exactly what it is that you believe our nation faces as its greatest problem in 2008. Once you have determined that singular problem then decide which candidate you feel is best to address this.

I extend to you the further question of which candidate may have the ability to envision the problem before it happens instead of Atwater’s late realization. And which candidate’s experience makes them best positioned to not only envision this problem but communicate it to the public and execute its solution.

It is my hope and also my opinion that the completion of these exercises will go a long way in making your decision in 2008.

Monday, January 7, 2008

New Hampshire Predictions: Ringing in Both the New and the Old in the Granite State

The wave of momentum Barack Obama road out of Iowa on shows no signs of stopping. Even with a less-than-impressive performance in Saturday’s ABC-Facebook sponsored debate, Obama continues to excite and thrill audiences alike with his call for change and refusal to get mixed up in political wrangling. This rising swell of popularity will push Obama to a double-digit victory over Clinton that could swell to as much as fifteen points in New Hampshire's "first in the nation" primary.

While it is always foolish to count a Clinton out, especially in New Hampshire the place Bill was labeled “the comeback kid,” Obama’s momentum seems too strong for Hillary and will likely leave her like her husband Bill was in 1992, in second place.

With a defeat, Clinton will be forced to seriously reassess her fledgling campaign and begin to scrap together a plan to remain viable. She will likely look past South Carolina where the overwhelming number of black voters combined with Obama’s ever-growing serge of popularity will make him the clear front-runner there. Clinton’s best and perhaps last hope may lie in the one-two-combination of Florida’s January 29 primary followed by the all-important Super Tuesday primaries of February 5.

John Edwards continues to hang around like that one last person refusing to leave your holiday party. Clearly Edwards was invited by his 2004 performance and his early fundraising but his welcome and more so his chances of victory grow less and less by the minute. Edwards’s renewed energy has been apparent in the minutes immediately following Iowa straight on through his weekend appearances in New Hampshire; however, after finishing seven points off the lead in Iowa look for that margin to at least double in New Hampshire.

On the Republican side look for Arizona Senator John McCain to claim his first victory of 2008 by a margin of somewhere in the range of five to ten points. McCain’s likely victory will position himself and Huckabee as the two front-runners in the national race and further serve to push Mitt Romney farther down the political ladder. The margin of McCain’s victory and whether Huckabee can crack the top three in New Hampshire should tell us a lot as the campaign shifts its focus south towards South Carolina.

Mitt Romney, barring a last minute catastrophe, should claim the silver medal in the Granite state. A second place finish for Romney in New Hampshire does not do much to reenergize Romney’s sinking campaign but if he is to let Huckabee slip ahead of him in New Hampshire Romney may never find his name ahead of Huckabee’s for the duration of the race.

Governor Mike Huckabee can’t really put too much faith in a victory in New Hampshire; however, the position he finishes in and the margin of victory between him and those ahead of him may give him some added muscle heading to South Carolina. Second place should be Huckabee’s goal and if he’s left with the silver medal Huckabee should consider himself a winner.

In terms of other GOP hopefuls, Mayor Rudy Giuliani would consider it a success for him to finish in the top four in New Hampshire. Giuliani’s front-runner status has been stripped from him and he’s putting all of his stock in a Nixon-like “secret plan” to pile up victories in late January and early February.

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson much like his southern, ex-senator, Democratic, counter-part, John Edwards remains in the race hoping for something or someone to break allowing him once again to climb a top the polls. A third place finish in Iowa put a pulse back in Thomson’s campaign; however, it still is in need of constant monitoring to see when it might give its last breath. A victory for Thompson would find himself on the medal stand in New Hampshire claiming one of the top three spots. If Thompson was to finish fifth or worse he may need to ready once again his withdrawal speech and endorsement of John McCain.

BCS Prediction: Tigers Won't Be Tamed

Prediction: LSU 20, Ohio State 14

When the LSU Tigers take the field tonight in New Orleans against the Ohio State Buckeyes much will be at stake. Appearing in the BCS National Championship game for the second time in consecutive years, the Buckeyes will be trying to prove that their humiliating defeat to fellow SEC opponent Florida last year was the exception, not the rule. LSU on the other hand, has not tasted the national championship in four years, and will be looking to send its 25 seniors out on top.

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has the clear experience advantage over LSU head man Les Miles as the two teams head into play. Tressel, coach of the 2002 national champion Buckeye's squad, has had much success in January and adds to his championship a convincing BCS Bowl resume that includes victories over Miami and Notre Dame. The glaring weakness on his BCS resume is last year’s debacle against Florida. For Miles, tonight’s game will be his first step on to the national championship stage; however, Miles, like Tressel, possesses a BCS victory over the Irish, his coming last year.

The game will likely come down to a match up between the stingy defense of Ohio State which leads the country in points allowed per game, allowing only a paltry 10.7 points per game and the veteran leadership of LSU’s offense. The defense is led by junior linebacker, Jim Laurinaitis, an All-American and recipient of the Butkus award, given to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker. The defense is also anchored by a fellow All-American, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, who will attempt to keep up with the Tiger’s speed on offense.

It will likely be this same speed of LSU that will continue to frustrate the Buckeyes as the game goes on. Matt Flynn, the veteran play caller for LSU, has at his disposal an assortment of offensive options. Add to this LSU’s talented defensive unit led by All-American Glenn Dorsey and the Tiger’s bite will simply be too much for Ohio State.

Neither team is that much better than the other. The game will be a low scoring affair that should stay competitive right up until the last whistle. Because of this it would be unwarranted to predict a blowout; however, the SEC’s ability to produce superior speed and athleticism will be enough for LSU to win the game and throw the last and biggest party of the college football year close to home on Bourbon St.

Thoughts From a Wild Weekend

Here are some thoughts from the NFL’s Wild Card weekend that saw the number of those with championship dreams cut from twelve to eight after the completion of four opening round games.

Watching Walpole High’s Todd Collins do battle with former Xaverian high school stand-out Matt Hasselbeck, I was immediately brought back to a Saturday night in September of 1994 where I saw Collins lead the Michigan Wolverines to a hardy victory over Hasselbeck and his Boston College Eagles. While then Collins was the proven starter and Hasselbeck was a back-up who reserved his passes for the occasional fake field goal , these roles have reversed with Hasselbeck, the younger but more experienced starter, leading his Seahawks to a 35-14 victory over Collins, the until recently, seldom-used, veteran quarterback.

The Redskins defeat brought to an end a story-book end to the season of both Collins and the Redskins that saw them win four straight games to qualify for the post season on the last weekend of the regular season.
This weekend also brought front and center the fact that the Seahawks are now led by Hasselbeck and no longer former league MVP Sean Alexander. Hasselbeck’s poise in the pocket and ability to throw to all areas of the field will make Hasselbeck a difficult challenge for Packers coaches to defend this coming weekend.

The real question coming out of Saturday night’s match up between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers is which offensive unit is the real Jaguars offense? Is it the effective offensive unit that displayed the ability to throw and run both during the first half and late drives in the forth quarter? Or is it the dismal sputtering unit that looked ineffective for most of the second half? The answer to this question will go a long way to determine whether or how much the Patriots win by on Saturday night.

For all those inclined to debate the merits of Eli Manning against his brother Peyton, Sunday served as a good measuring stick to use while examining this debate. While it will be difficult, some might say impossible, for Eli to top the record-breaking career of brother, Peyton, Eli took a small step towards earning the playoff stripes that have only come recently to older brother. Eli, pressured intensely throughout the first half, managed to keep his head in the game and make short range, precise, passes that ushered the Giants to victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday afternoon. Eli’s victory will help to further the merits of the selected few who predict similar career success for Peyton’s younger brother. Like most things in life, the answer to whether Eli will ever match or surpass his brother probably lies somewhere in the middle. What is unquestionable, however, is that it will take a Peyton-like performance of 2007 on Eli’s part to defeat the Cowboys this weekend in Dallas.

It was also apparent Sunday afternoon how difficult it must be for San Diego fans to foster realistic Super Bowl dreams in 2008. Gone is the home field advantage of 2007 which would have only required the Chargers to leave tropical Southern California to play in the Super Bowl. And in its place stairs directly in the face of the Chargers a date this weekend against the defending champion Colts and a potential trip to play the Patriots in Foxboro in the AFC Championship game. If Norv Turner and the bolts can pull this off than they will be truly worthy of the title champion.

The Republican Rematch in New Hampshire

For the second time in two nights, Republican presidential hopefuls took the stage last night in New Hampshire. The tone of last night’s debate was equally aggressive, however, its focus Sunday shifted away from one that seemed to exclusively focus on diminishing the hopes of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in a tag team effort towards a one-for-all and all-for-one last pitch to woo undecided voters.

Mitt Romney, while not escaping completely the attacks of his competition, seemed more ready Sunday to fight back and handle the swipes of his competitors. Sticking to his belief that the campaign should rest on issues and not personal attacks, Romney is now trying to embrace Iowa’s singular call for change by brandishing himself as the Washington outsider most likely to implement change. With the polls reflecting a gain by Senator John McCain over the weekend, Romney must do all he can between now and the close of polls Tuesday to convince the Granite state electorate he is their candidate.

Whereas Saturday night’s debate left Romney seeming helpless against the bullying attacks of his competition, Sunday allowed him to display his trademark cool and if not gain momentum going into Tuesday hopefully stop the bleeding that his fledgling campaign has displayed ever since the days leading up to Iowa.

Sunday’s Fox News debate is unlikely to have as much impact on New Hampshire voters as the previous night’s ABC and Facebook sponsored debate was for a few reasons. First, the casual voter wanting to invest their time wisely would have likely opted to tune in for Saturday’s Republican and Democratic double-header that saw each set of candidates debate for one and one half hour intervals one after the other. Secondly, the Sunday news cycle is a brisk one this time of year with the networks going head-to-head with their talk shows including NBC’s Meet the Press, ABC’s This Week, and CBS’s Face the Nation. Saturday’s debate was discussed at length in all of these talk shows and as a result of its occurring at night Fox’s debate will be left for the less fertile political grounds of ABC’s Good Morning America or NBC’s Today Show.

Finally, Fox News is unlikely to draw in as many independent voters as ABC was likely to have and it might be just this undecided, independent, portion of the electorate that may swing New Hampshire.

What this means is that Romney’s improved Sunday debate performance may not have the ability to overcome the damage that was done to him Saturday night. Senator John McCain is leading in most New Hampshire polls and Governor Mike Huckabee is even cutting into Romney’s numbers as Huckabee tries to make a long-shot attempt at second or third place in New Hampshire. Even withstanding Romney’s little discussed victory in Saturday’s Wyoming Caucus he must either win or have a strong, close, second place finish in New Hampshire to have the momentum to have any success in later states.

All the signs point against a Romney victory Tuesday; it is now up to him to do what he can between now and Tuesday night to prove the pundits wrong.