Dear NFL, Tom Brady Is Here To Destroy You

Tom Brady's reign of terror is in full bloom.

Are you happy?

You pissed off the man with the flowing locks.

Now Tom Brady is going to destroy you!

If you thought 2007 was an assault of biblical proportions, just wait for this post season!

You have already witnessed his wicked ways thus far this season.

You said he would miss Randy Moss. Well he proved you wrong yet again.

Moss factor?

Excuse me.

Since Randall Moss committed career suicide, not once but twice this year, Tom Brady has just set two NFL records.  He has extended his NFL record to 8 straight games with 2+ TD passes and no interceptions. He also shattered Bernie Kosar’s record with 319 consecutive pass attempts without a pick.

Ho-Hum.

Just another day at the office for #12.

Applause For The Patriots

My Patriots season tickets arrived with an added bonus.

This is third installment of the Season Ticket Trilogy entitled, Applause for the Patriots.

You may have read the other chapters of this saga, Patriots Not In Focus With Season Ticket Holders and Silence Broken: Patriots Finally Respond, Sort Of . To say these articles have stirred up a hornets’ nest is an understatement.

For the haters, who think I am arrogant Patriots fan and I am entitled to royal treatment, enjoy reading this (Unless you think my writing sucks as many of you have said. If so, please leave this site and return to the BSMW message board gang-lands).

I would like to tell the imposter who posed as the Stacey James from the Patriots; my season ticket package arrived in the mail today as promised. No Revolution tickets or Phantom Gourmet tickets, just tickets to the team I love.

Beside the tickets, information packet, and pins, there was something very cool and unexpected included in the envelope.

Hey, I give credit where credit is due. As I have stated in the previous trilogy entries, I am not asking for the world, just a little something.

Just a small gesture.

The Patriots answered with eight drink coasters that were made from the recycled turf of Gillette Stadium.

Patriots Focus Group Gate: I Got “Canned”

This is the place I call my Patriots home since 2002.

As you all know, I got snubbed from the Patriots focus group this past week and to say the least, I was not happy.

There is nothing like feeling important to a sports organization that you have supported for 16 years not just as a fan but as a paying customer aka season ticket holder.

However, there is nothing worse than feeling the polar opposite, when the team/company/business/organization that you love snubs your chance to voice your opinion.

The feeling of being a valued customer.

In my last article, Patriots Not In Focus With Season Ticket Holders, I went on a rant of how I have been treated as a New England Patriots Season Ticket holder during “Focus Group Gate.”

I feel like I have been snubbed.

Left in the cold.

Being the last kid chosen in gym class for kick ball(insert cheesy saying of abandonment here).

Out Of Focus: Patriots Don’t Give Back To Season Ticket Holders

The Invitation.

Just when you thought the Patriots would turn the corner, they let their season ticket holders down yet again. This time in the guise of a Season Ticket Holder Focus Group.

I was estatic! I have been a season ticket holder since 1994 and I have been cheering on the Flying Elvis for 16 years. Finally, the Patriots wanted to hear my opinions and experiences sitting in Section 336.

The $100 Pats Pro Shop sweetner was a nice hook for people to fill out the questionnaire to be “considered” for the focus group too. However, I was more excited to have the organization finally lend me their ears.

Not so fast.

After filling out the focus group information and getting time off of work, I get an email today saying that I wouldn’t be needed(after two of my inquires about additional information went unanswered).  To lessen the blow they offered me $10 off of a $50 purchase at the Patriots Pro Shop.

They were nice enough to even include a convenient link as well!

You have to be friggin’ kidding me!

Nice parting gift, I guess you ran out of Turtle Wax!

You basically tell me that my opinion is not valuable enough for your precious little focus group and now you want me to buy some merchandise!?

The Black Crowes: Hampton Beach Casino 06.06.10

The Robinson Brothers are back together to stay.

When you go to a Black Crowes show, you never know what you are going to get.

They are one of the few bands that change their set lists NIGHTLY.

You could have seen them play down in Hyannis on Friday and then see a completely different performance at the Hampton Beach Casino two nights later.

And never be disappointed.

I didn’t see them on the Cape, but damn they rocked the Casino. Rock 101 was broadcasting the show, so the crowd seemed even more amped for the performance.

For those who do not know the Black Crowes, the best way to describe them is by  sticking the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Rolling Stones into a blender and pressing high speed.

They are bluesy, melodic, and rocking all at the same time.

If you don’t find yourself dancing, tapping your feet, or clapping your hands, you must not be alive.

Blogapalooza: One Of My Defining Moments

Hanging with my new old friends, Jon Fucile and Ryan Durling. We all write for BST&N.

I don’t have children, but this may be the closest thing to it.

You give birth to an idea.

It grows.

It crawls.

It walks.

It runs.

It does things that amaze you.

Sunday May 2, 2010 is the first birthday of a dream that became a reality.

Boston Sports Blogapalooza made me feel like a proud papa.

Review: Alice In Chains at the Orpheum Theater 03.14.10

AIC performs "Rooster" at the Orpheum Theater in Boston.

I have been looking forward to this concert for months. I finally was going to see one of my all time favorite bands, Alice in Chains live.

I have been a huge fan of AIC since they came on to the scene in the early 90’s. Their tapes/CD’s were staples in my music collection and part of the soundtrack for my college years at UMASS-Lowell.  People on campus or the shuttle bus could probably hear “Dirt”, “Them Bones”, and “Man in the Box” blaring on my walkman and/or discman at any given time.

Sure they were dark and not exactly cheery but that was grunge. Alice In Chains led by the screeching sounds of guitarist Jerry Cantrell and the haunting vocals of Layne Staley were going to be a band that would stay relevant for years to come.

However, Layne Staley had demons and addictions. He ended up losing his battle with drugs especially heroin and crack. Layne passed away on April 5, 2002.

So what of the future of Alice In Chains?

Jerry Cantrell, the heart and soul of AIC, went on to a successful solo career. His albums “Boggy Depot” and “Degradation Trip” were very Alice In Chains influenced but still had a sound of its own.

I was a huge fan of Jerry’s work and was luck to get tickets for him when he opened up for Nickleback in 2002. I never heard the Alice in Chains songs live and when I did, I was out of my mind. Jerry and his band, which included unknown William Duvall, were doing complete justice to every Cantrell and Alice in Chains song they played.

I hoped that perhaps Jerry and the rest of AIC would get back together, but who would sing?

Little did we know that he was with the band the whole time.

Could William Duvall be AIC’s Brian Johnson?

Tales Of The Green: Bird Breaks McHale’s Nine Day Old Record

McHale scored 56 against Detroit but only enjoyed the record for 9 days.

On March 3, 1985, Kevin McHale one of the Celtics’ famed “Big Three” had the game of his life versus the Detroit Pistons. McHale left the game with 1:25 remaining with 56 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks, and four assists. The Celtics crushed the Pistons 138-129 at the Garden.

Kevin McHale broke the Boston Celtics’ record for most points in a single game which was held by Larry Bird. Bird scored 53 two years earlier.

Larry praised McHale’s performance by saying, “There aren’t too many times you have an opportunity to score that many points. Kevin will probably not score that many again. Today he was awesome; he deserved it.”

Bird added, “He should have gone for 60.”

Indeed, McHale should have gone for 60. No record is safe with Larry Joe Bird on your team.

The Celtics would travel to New Orleans to face the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985.

New Orleans is known as the “Big Easy” and Larry Bird made it look very easy on this night.

The 10,079 people who crammed into the tiny University of New Orleans arena had no idea what they were about to witness.

Just nine short days after McHale broke his team record for scoring, Larry Bird put on a shooting performance for the ages.

It was an offensive clinic and Bird was the teacher.

Sox Lore: Captain Carl And The Crown

Hugh Duffy was the first Boston Triple Crown Winner.

Believe it or not, it has been 43 years since a major league baseball player captured the Triple Crown. The jewels in this elusive crown are batting average, home runs, and runs batted in.

Only a blessed few are in this elite class. Sixteen men, yes only sixteen men in the history of major league baseball have achieved such an incredible individual feat.

The first ball player to wear the Triple Crown was Paul Hines of the Providence Grays in 1878. The center fielder had 4 home runs, 50 RBI, and a .358 average. These numbers are far from eye popping due to fewer games and lack of statistical upkeep.

The first player from a Boston based club could say he was the top offensive player in baseball. His name was Hugh Duffy who played center field for the Boston Beaneaters. The Rhode Island native clouted 18 homers drove in 145 RBI and had an incredible .440 batting average.

The next Boston slugger to dominate the offensive stat sheet was you guessed it, The Splendid Splinter. Ted Williams has two Triple Crowns in his trophy case. Teddy Ballgame won his first in 1942 before going into the service. He batted .356 with 36 round trippers and 137 RBI.

Ironically, Ted Williams did not win the Triple Crown in 1941 when he eclipsed the .400 BA mark by hitting an astonishing .406. He is the last player to achieve such a milestone

Even a world war couldn’t even tarnish Williams’ offensive dominance. His second year back on the diamond, Williams hit .343 with 32 home runs and knocked in 114 runs. The Splendid Splinter terrorized opposing pitching to be the king of the batter’s box yet again.

The last player to win the Triple Crown ironically was the man who replaced Williams in left field.

Tales Of The Green: Bird Overcomes Headache To Pain Pacers

Bird and Person battled in an epic and deciding Game Five in the '91 NBA Playoffs.

In the ’90-’91 season, the Celtics were still one of the top teams in the NBA. They finished with a 56-26 record under head coach Chris Ford and won the Atlantic division. However, everything wasn’t rosy for the Celtics especially with Larry Bird.

Age and injuries were catching up with the “Big Three”. Kevin McHale only played 68 games, Robert Parrish miraculously stayed healthy and only missed one game, and Larry Bird missed 22 games to due to a compressed nerve in his back. This would be the injury that would cause Larry Legend to retire after the following season.

Bird, at age 34, would still have a productive season. He averaged 38 minutes per game, 19.4 points (which led the team), 7.2 assists, and 7.6 boards. However, he was a far cry from the Larry Bird of old.

The Celtics faced the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs that season. Boston would split the first two games at the Garden before traveling to Indiana for Games 3 and 4. The Celtics would take Game 3 112-105, but they couldn’t close out the scrappy Pacers in Game 4. The series was tied 2-2 and set up a winner take all Game 5 back in Boston.

Larry Bird spent the night of May 4, 1991 in the hospital in traction due to his insufferable back pain. No one really thought Bird would be able to play in the deciding Game Five versus the upstart Pacers.

However, as people learned throughout Bird’s whole career, never count him out.