Dave Jageler was joined by Mike Adams for the third day in a row. Right off the top, Sean Grande (who doubles as programming director) called in, and was talking with Adams about rumors in the media room last night at the Celtics game about who will be joining Adams on the morning show. Word was that someone would be defecting from WEEI. Adams would only say there is someone coming over to join him, but he’s sworn to the person that he would not reveal who it is. (Later, word was that former Big Show intern “Candy” would be joining Adams. What her role will be isn’t clear…perhaps a “flash girl” type role.) Ron Hobson joined Dale Arnold for three hours mostly devoted to Terry O’Reilly and the possibility of the Expos playing in Boston. At the end of the show, they had Red Sox executive vice president of business affairs Mike Dee on the show, and he dismissed the Expos rumors, citing neighborhood and operational concerns. The Big Show was Steve DeOssie and Levan Reid with the Big O, and the leadoff topic was the MasterCard greatest MLB moment. They all agreed it was a sham as well. Will McDonough and Pete Brock joined Butch Stearns on the McDonough group.

Mike Fine reviews last night’s Celtics/Mavs game. Peter May writes about Vin Baker for ESPN.com Jonathon Comey says the Pats are in awe of the Broncos. Eric McHugh says the game will be won in the trenches. His notebook updates us on Leonard Myers and other injuries. Tom King has more on the Patriots finding their way. Mike Loftus asks some current Bruins about Terry O’Reilly. He also provides some injury updates.

HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” next week will have the “coming out” of former NFL defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo. I’d never heard of the guy before. ESPN’s Sterling Sharpe, a former teammate of Tuaolo was interviewed for the show, and says: Had he come out on a Monday, with Wednesday, Thursday, Friday practices, He’d have never gotten to the other team.” Asked if his own guys would’ve cheap-shotted him, Sharpe went on to say “He would have never gotten to the game on Sunday.” “He’s done.” Other segments include features on former boxer Rodney Cummings, who rose from a life of youth crime to become a Prosecuting attorney, a look at the just how overweight American kids are, and why, as finally a sitdown with Johnnie Cochran and Cyrus Mehri, who recently released a report criticizing NFL hiring practices and threatening the league with a lawsuit unless more minority candidates are given opportunities. The show airs for the first time next Tuesday, Oct 29 from 10:00-11:00 PM

How about this story from the NY Daily News today that claims discussions are underway for the Expos to play a certain number of home games at Fenway next year. Is this another NY fantasy story, like Pedro’s sore shoulder? How come no one in the Boston papers has run with this? This could be another way for the Red Sox ownership to raise some money, getting some of the gate when the Red Sox are out of town.

Terry O’Reilly gets his number retired tonight. The papers devote much coverage to the affable and humble Bruins legend. John Powers and Stephen Harris have features on his career. Kevin Paul Dupont looks at the famous O’Reilly intensity. Steve Conroy looks at his roots and upbringing. Jim Hoban collects some of his most memorable battles. Karen Guregian has a Q&A session with O’Reilly. The Herald has an immense collection of other articles today. Yesterday, The Lawrence Eagle-Tribune ran a first-hand account written by O’Reilly talking about the honor of getting his number retired.

Tony Massarotti and Jeff Horrigan get Dan Duquette to endorse his cousin Jim for the Red Sox GM job. David Heuschkel has a more extensive account on Jim Duquette. All you hear about is that he’s more affable and friendly than his cousin. It gets annoying. During every update on 1510 yesterday, Debbi Wrobleski made sure to say something along the lines of “Don’t worry, MLB sources say Jim is much more personable than his cousin Dan.” I think I’m safe in saying the average fan couldn’t care less how the GM treats the media. They care if he puts together a championship team, period. The needless, continued shots at Dan Duquette are petty and disgusting. I don’t mean to single out Wrobleski here, she’s just the one that caught my attention yesterday by saying that same line probably about 15 times over the course of the afternoon. I’m sure Duquette wasn’t fun to cover, and didn’t make their jobs any easier. He even admitted in the Herald piece today that Jim is “more outgoing”. So he is. It doesn’t mean he’d be a better GM than Dan was. It only means maybe he’ll make the media’s job easier, and ultimately, that’s what they care about.

Bob Ryan is still obsessed with Francisco Rodriguez. Ryan also disagrees with the MasterCard top 10 baseball moments and says the younger fans have no sense of history. Steve Buckley agrees with Ryan and lectures us on the difference between an “event” (Ripken) and a “moment” (Bobby Thomson’s 1951 “Shot heard ’round the world”) Tony Massarotti gets some Mo Vaughn bashing out of the Angels locker room. Jeff Horrigan and Bob Hohler report on the Giants evening the series last night. Good thing there was an arrest in the sniper case last night, D&C would’ve been totally miserable today otherwise. Yesterday Chad Finn had a nice article on the late Lyman Bostock, an rising Angel cut down before his prime.

Nick Cafardo catches up with second year cornerback Leonard Myers, almost ready to come back from a double groin injury. Tom Curran examines what the Patriots offense will try to do against the Broncos. Alan Greenberg checks in with Tom Brady about what needs to be done. Mike Reiss looks at what the coaches are doing to turn things around, starting at the top. Among Michael Felger’s notes is Lawyer Milloy observing that Belichick’s smile has gone back into hibernation. In his notebook, Cafardo has the team’s intensity rising, and injury updates. In Curran’s notebook, Richard Seymour realizes the Patriots need to dominate up front. Jennifer Levitz reports on an 18 year Patriot season ticket holder who lost his tickets after selling one games worth on eBay.

Steve Bulpett reports on last night’s Celtics/Mavericks preseason game. Shira Springer says Mark Cuban has a new e-mail buddy…new Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck. Bulpett’s notebook has more advice from Cuban to the C’s new ownership, and details of some exchanges from the court and fans.

NESN has Bruins/Senators (and the O’Reilly ceremony) at 7:00. Fox has game 5 of the World Series at 8:00. TNT has an NBA preseason double header with Mavericks/Magic and 8:00 and Bucks/Lakers at 10:30. ESPN has N.C. State/Clemson college football at 7:30. ESPN2 has Canadiens/Flyers at 7:00 and BYU/Colorado State college football at 10:30. FSNE has NE Tailgate at 7:00.

Baseball baseball baseball. Gordon Edes and Bob Hohler decide to do some job sharing and combine to do three articles as a pair. A few relevant Red Sox items. First in the Red Sox notebook, they report on the Marlins proposing a trade for Trot Nixon and Shea Hillenbrand, and surgery for Lou Merloni. The twosome also have an article on the GM search, Jim Duquette and Ron Schueler are a couple names that might actually be interested in the position. The article also notes that Mike Port won’t be “formally” interviewed. David Heuschkel reports another name that turned down the Sox, Diamondbacks assistant GM Sandy Johnson. His exact quote when asked by his boss if he’d like to be interviewed? `It’s very flattering but not something I’m interested in pursuing at all.’ ouch. An “unnamed” source, (is there any other kind) an AL executive….called the Sox search “a mess”. Sean McAdam reports that former Rockies GM Bob Gebhard is also a candidate. Jeff Horrigan also reports on the process. Scott Van Voorhis has the Sox bringing their plans to put seats on the Green Monster to City Hall. John Tomase outlines Mike Port’s role in assembling the current Angels.

As for the World Series, Tony Massarotti says the Angels are America’s team. Steve Buckley says that the Giants are fading fast despite Bonds. Bob Ryan looks at the relentless Angels offense. Bob Hohler files a game report. Sean McAdam lauds Scott Spiezio for filling the void left by Mo Vaughn. Bob Ryan also looks at the West Coast baseball culture. Also, Buckley and Edes/Hohler have stories on Willie Mays. Dennis & Callahan spent much of the first hour lavishing praise on the Angels on their character, the way they play the game, and bashing Bonds and the Giants. It’s interesting that for years the Angels have been considered underachievers. Garrett Anderson has been called too laid back, and guys like Salmon and Erstad have been criticized in the past as well. All of a sudden, they “get it” and play the game right. D&C bashed Nomar and Manny for not playing with the attitude of these guys.

Michael Felger hopes the Patriots enjoyed their time off. (Probably not as much as you did, Mike) Felger gives us a few things to consider for the upcoming weeks. Nick Cafardo says they needs to get tough, and goes through the guys that need to step up, namely the lines. Jim Donaldson says its unthinkable to have a Belichick team that can’t play defense. Rich Thompson catches up with Deion Branch.

Dan Shaughnessy writes about Vin Baker. He gets Wallace and Papile to try to be encouraging about Baker. He also notes that Wallace’s neck is on the line for this one, which is rather unfair, since it seems pretty public knowledge that neither Wallace nor coach O’Brien wanted to make the trade. Gus Martins profiles Tony Battie who is not threatened by Baker. Shaughnessy files a brief notebook in the Globe, and Martins a little bit longer one for the Herald, in which Jim O’Brien notes that Baker’s preseason stats last year “mirror exactly what they are now”.

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell examines at the Bruins fast start. Steve Conroy looks at the on-fire Glen Murray.

Before I get another 100 e-mails on the topic…the Simmons/Upton Bell/Bob Gamere thing was a JOKE. I guess I need to either add more humor, or eliminate trying it altogether.

FSNE has Celtics/Mavericks preseason action at 7:00. Fox has game 4 of the World Series at 8:00.

Another new trend in sports radio seems to be the expanded show. No longer is one or two guys on a show simply enough. The Big Show was the first locally to go to a “Bigger” format, (thus its name) bringing in a group of three to debate and engage in arguments and get the show rolling. The trend picked up steam with the advent of Sunday football shows and with the panel type discussions of Sports Final, Sports Xtra, New England Sports Tonight and even The Best Damn Sports Show Period. These shows all featured a bigger “roundtable” type discussions. Now on sports radio, shows that have traditionally been twosomes are being expanded more and more. Dale & Neumy have Kevin Mannix and Ron Hobson in on Tuesdays, as they did today, and add Scott Zolak on Fridays. Eddie and Jags’ show often adds the third man in the booth, usually either Nick Cafardo or Tony Massarotti. The McDonough group, which has been composed of three panelists since its beginning in a Big Show type style, has occasionally in the last few weeks gone to four panelists. Today was the “Young Guns” threesome of Mike Giardi, Bill Simmons and Michael Smith. The Big Show was made up of Ordway, Steve DeOssie and the newlywed, Michael Felger, freshly back from Mexico.

Bill Simmons and Glen Ordway may be polar opposites on most levels. On their opinion of the Celtics and Vin Baker, they are identical twins. Both today talked about how terrible Baker has looked, both stated that he looks like the worst player on the Celtics roster. Both expressed a gloomy outlook for the season. They also both talked about Gaston and how he will not pay for a player to take Kedrick Brown’s roster spot and allow him to go on the disabled list. It was eery. Speaking of Simmons, John Molori is reporting that 1510 has him paired with Grace Jones for a new 10-12 morning show….

Eric McHugh addresses 10 questions for the final 10 games of the Patriots season. Gregg Easterbrook tees up Tuesday Morning Quarterback. Bill Simmons rambles and still hates Vin Baker. Mike Fine looks at J.R. Bremer. Sean McAdam says he’d rather watch David Eckstein than Barry Bonds. Michael Felger submitted a Patriots report card to the Sporting News while on his honeymoon.

Alan Greenberg has an occasionally hilarious look at Patriots offensive lineman Grey Ruegamer. Jim Donaldson tries to be cute and say that Patriots should’ve traded Brady and kept Bledsoe. Kevin Mannix assesses the changes that the Patriots need to make. Nick Cafardo looks at the status of possible additions to the Patriots, and emphasizes the importance of the QB coach position. Jon Couture is a Bledsoe guy.

Steve Buckley takes his usual look at history, and goes back to the last bay area World Series. He mentions the earthquake and that “Those of us in the pressbox who had never experienced an earthquake feared for our lives.” Can’t you picture Buckley diving under the nearest table and cowering in fear? Gordon Edes looks at the series shift back to Pac Bell park and how that will effect scoring. Bob Ryan is infatuated with Francisco Rodriguez. He compares him to Pedro in the article, among others. Tony Massarotti looks at the amazing postseason records of the Hernandez half-brothers. Bob Hohler looks closer at Livan Hernandez, who will face Ramon Ortiz in tonight’s game 3. Allen Lessels has the story of two Concord, NH guys playing big roles in the Giants’ World Series run.

Dan Shaughnessy throws his support behind candidate Port in the race for Sox GM. If he gets the job, does this mean shank won’t rip him when Nomar and Pedro leave as free agents in a couple years? In talking about the qualities needed for the job, Shaughnessy mentions the perils, including, “Add intense media scrutiny to the mix. Check the clip files of Lou Gorman and Dan Duquette, both of whom were royally roasted by the knights of the keyboard and nitwit radio.” Dan also introduces a phenomena he refers to as “Gammons youth”. Apparently any young baseball executive who knows prospects and likes to build a farm system is a member of this club. Finally, Dan did make me laugh by referring to Philadelphia’s Mike ”Don’t Call Me Fatty” Arbuckle. I was gonna use that line…speaking of Arbuckle, Bob Hohler and Gordon Edes combine with Associated Press reports to craft the Globe’s notebook, which has the latest on Arbuckle and other notes of interest. David Heuschkel also has a brief piece on the GM search and a possible explanation why the A’s owner hasn’t returned calls. Meanwhile, the Newark Star-Ledger speculated yesterday that the real reason that the Red Sox haven’t been able to contact Billy Beane is because he actually has an interest in trying to put together a group to buy the A’s.

Sunday, Charlie Pierce had a lengthy piece on Celtic Kedrick Brown in the Boston Globe Magazine. Rich Thompson reports on Tony Delk’s transition to point guard. Shira Springer looks at Jim O’Brien’s lineups and attitude in her notebook. Thompson also touches on this in his notebook.

Steve Conroy and Nancy Marrapese-Burrell report on the scorching Bruins win last night in Toronto. Conroy wins the notebook battle.

Jim Baker looks at Fox’s World Series coverage. Bill Griffith suggests a couple additions to The Place’s Boston sports video, and confirms the Michael Holley book story first reported here. John Molori catches up with Mike Adams for a preview of what his morning show is going to be like. Referring to the still unannounced 10-12 show, Adams says in the article that he heard the show was going to be Bill Simmons and Gene Lavanchy. How many people are going to be speculated for that gig? Simmons, Lavanchy, Steve Burton, Ron Borges, Debbi Wrobleski, Greg Dickerson… OK, I was told not to reveal this, but one of my 1510 sources says that Simmons is a mortal lock to host a 10-12 show on 1510 with Upton Bell and Bob Gamere…

FOX has World Series game three at 8:00. Tuesday night means ESPN’s EOE block…

As a mild diversion during the bye-week, I turn to the e-mailbag, and pull out this submission from Kevin Henkin, who lays out some of the unwritten rules to being a Boston sports media member. Feel free to send in your own submissions. They could be strung together and featured in a future side article. Onto Kevin’s e-mail:

Imagine you are an out of town sports media figure who is just coming to Boston. Considering all of the unwritten rules that seem to apply to Boston sports coverage, I figured I’d write a few of them down as a future resource:

Rule #1) At all times, wildly overreact to losing streaks of any kind. Make sure to bring up every past failure of the team as a comparison and assume that history is repeating itself. Portray the coaches as Forest Gump-like buffoons and point out how well the team would be doing if they had only listened to your expert advice in the first place.

Rule #2) If you bombed on your pre-season predictions, cling to the few that were accurate and remind everyone how right you were. Otherwise, use league parity, lazy players, and injuries as excuses or pretend that the other predictions were never made. If a local team starts off well that you had predicted to fail, lay low and wait until their first losing streak, then gloat and berate anyone who had been optimistic about the team.

Rule #3) If someone else breaks a controversial story, make sure you pile it on with a lynch mob mentality. The story must be beaten into the ground for at least four days. For extra effect, use especially insulting terms like “piece of junk” and “duplicitous pond scum”, which will guarantee extra talk radio and Sunday night sports final appearances. When players complain about the hostile media environment in Boston, you must ridicule them as thin-skinned and weak and then lobby the GM to trade or release them.

Rule #4) When an athlete leaves town and does well with their new team, make sure you exaggerate their new accomplishments and point out how well the local team would be doing if they still had that player. Develop a catch-phrase for this situation and glibly recite it whenever showing highlights of the player. Assert that the player is a shoe-in for the MVP of the league and that their new team will undoubtedly win the championship, most likely beating their Boston counterpart on the way. On rare occasions, this works with coaches as well. Also, the drama and hyperbole must automatically be doubled if a New York team is involved.

Rule #5) Bad trades are never forgiven under any circumstances and must be brought up any time that player is prominently involved in a local game or playoff appearance. Even if the trade was blessed by the media at the time, only hindsight vision is applicable and the trade should be bashed based on how it turned out years down the road rather than on circumstances when the trade was made.

Rule #6) If a local player does not like you; be sure to use your media standing as a way to get even. Bash the player personally, calling him silly nicknames and insulting his personal life. Gloat when they do not play well. Also, be sure to ignore any acts of charity and community involvement that the player is involved in. If they are traded, be sure to revisit your grudge whenever they return to town with another team (unless Rule #4 applies, then do not acknowledge the player’s success in any way). If anyone points out your vendetta, defend yourself by saying that you want the Boston sports fans to be aware of this player’s weaknesses and cannot be bullied by negative players because of your integrity.

Soccer dominates the Boston sports pages this morning. Who would’ve ever thunk it? Frank Dell’Apa and Gus Martins file the game stories. Jackie MacMullan writes that despite the loss, the Revolution won over many fans. George Kimball looks at the future of coach Steve Nichol, as well as striker Taylor Twellman. There are many more articles on pages in the Herald and Globe.

The World Series is the other hot topic this Monday morning. Gordon Edes and Jeff Horrigan report on Anaheim’s epic 11-10 win last night. Steve Buckley says this game might revitalize Baseball. Bob Ryan looks at the “positively fictional” Francisco Rodriguez. Tony Massarotti notes that Rodriguez, not even 21, has as many postseason victories as the Red Sox have had in the last 16 years. Sean McAdam and Bob Hohler look at longtime Angel Tim Salmon’s turn in the spotlight. Edes also talked with Mike Port about Gene Autry. Edes’ notebook has another look at the Red Sox losing Eckstein and a shot by the Anaheim fans at Mo Vaughn. Horrigan has a brief piece on the Sox receiving permission to interview Phillies assistant GM Mike Arbuckle. Sean McAdam also has information on this.

Tom Curran has an entertaining feature on the story behind many of the Patriots choices of uniform numbers. With Howard Bryant’s book on the Red Sox still fresh in many minds, yesterday Curran also noted that not many of the Patriots black players have benefited from the team’s Super Bowl victory, endorsement-wise. Kevin Mannix has Charlie Weis making good use of the bye-week. Michael Smith has an article on the father of Patriots rookie Daniel Graham, Tom, who played in the NFL for the Broncos, coming out for the game next weekend. Ron Borges’ article today can only be described as damning the Patriots front office with faint praise. Michael Gee writes that Tom Brady had to look in admiration at Drew Bledsoe’s performance yesterday. Yesterday, Michael Smith had praise for the Patriots rookie class, a contrast from his Globe colleague Nick Cafardo’s article last week saying none of the rookies except Branch had shown anything. Bill Burt also said the Patriots have gotten too flashy. Will McDonough solicited a group of experts to give Tom Brady advice on how to get through his tough stretch.

Steve Bulpett has a look at Celtics second-year assistant coach Frank Vogel. Shira Springer has Antoine Walker doing all he can to keep Vin Baker in the the game and enthusiastic. Bulpett’s notebook has a look at last night’s preseason loss.

NESN has Bruins/Maple Leafs at 7:30. ABC has Colts/Steelers on Monday Night Football at 9:00.

NECN’s Sports Late Night had its usual plentiful package of highlights from the sports world. Chris Collins was a busy guy today, not only hosting the show tonight, but reporting from the MLS championship earlier today. Other events featured included NFL, World Series, Celtics preseason, Bruins, and the Head of the Charles regatta. Ronnie Lippett was also in studio to analyze what the Patriots need to do. The running game needs to get going, a guy like Antowain Smith can wear out a defense come the 5th quarter. Lippett feels that guys have “taken it upon themselves to do their own thing instead of doing the team thing.” They need to refocus, and get back to the things that drove them last year. They have to “create big hits and bust those guys up.” He thinks they’ve relaxed, laid back after their success. He also called Donald Hayes a “knucklehead” for his comments to Nick Cafardo this past week. He’s surprised Hayes didn’t get cut. Collins thinks something could happen this week. Someone’s got to pay for this.

WBZ’s Sports Final was broadcast from The Place in Boston and Bob Lobel reflected on the things that have changed since the last time they broadcast from there, in May. He said Drew Bledsoe is a possible MVP and almost certain Pro Bowl starter. He kicked it down to Steve Burton in Miami, reporting on the Bills/Dolphins game. Burton caught up with Bledsoe, Eric Moulds and Peerless Price, a happy bunch after winning today. Moulds gushed over Bledsoe, Drew said he “sure as heck” wants to beat the Patriots in a couple weeks. Burton asked them if New England made a mistake getting rid of Drew, Bledsoe said they did what they thought they needed to do, he hasn’t talked to Belichick since the trade. He says Brady will be back, he is a hard worker and will be fine. Moulds and Price sounded like they’re looking past Detroit and onto the Patriots. Moulds says Drew is totally different from what he had been told, he’s always cracking jokes on them, and Drew said he loves playing with these guys. They’re improving every week and they can go a long way. Price says Drew earns his money, and Moulds says he’ll take Drew over Donovan McNabb any day of the week. Lippett does think they’ll get back on track for next week.

Lobel said afterwards that Drew is a totally different guy. He is relaxed, has no pressure on him, and is a totally different guy, and re-said that Drew is likely the MVP of the NFL. The Boston sports video was shown “for the last time”. I’ve seen this thing probably 6-8 times now over the last couple years and still get goosebumps.

Steve DeOssie and Scott Zolak were in for the next segment to talk about the reborn Drew Bledsoe. Dan Roche led the discussion back in the studio, and Zolak presented a Bledsoe-autographed Bills mini-helmet to Lobel in appreciation Zolak making it onto the video. Onto Drew…looks reborn, DeOssie noted that sometimes it takes a change of scenery to revitalize someone. Roche asked if the year off might’ve helped him, Zolak said it’s more about the guys he has around him. To try to stop Drew, DeOssie said you need to blitz him, confuse him in the secondary, but he’s learned over the years so it’s getting more difficult to fool him. Zolak said Bledsoe learned a lot from Brady last year, he’s emotional, running into the end zone on touchdowns, walking the sidelines. He’s also licking his chops to play the Patriots according to Zolak. Playoff talk ensued, its going to be real difficult to win a wild card, Patriots need to win the division, DeOssie said today might be the beginning of the end for Miami with Jay Fiedler out and Lucas looking horrible today. Zolak said Brady needs to put the bad things behind him, just listen to his coaches, he has good ones, get back to the short passing game. DeOssie added the Offensive line needs to be settled, and added they need to play like they did when they weren’t respected.

The last segment was a session with Terry O’Reilly, who is getting his number retired when the Bruins come home this week. O’Reilly said it is overwhelming to have his number up there with all the greats, Orr, Bourque, etc. He joked that this should give hope to all those boys who can’t skate out there. He was always the last one to make the team growing up, and really had to work hard every night. Lobel noted his offensive numbers are not overwhelming, but the penalty minutes are. O’Reilly noted the difference in the game then, that a “policeman” was necessary on each team at that time, that was his role. Back then it wasn’t considered smart to turn away from a fight or confrontation. Last year when Bourque’s number was retired, he thought about all the greats, and was in awe. There are few things in life that top him having his number raised with the greats is the greatest honor he’ll ever receive. The night he went into the stands in New York, he doesn’t regret, one the fans really attacked one of his teammates, and Terry went after the guy and handed him over to the Madison Square Garden security. He told a story about hitting some pucks before practice one day and having one bounce up and gave him a cut over the eye, and was all bloody. His teammates were coming into practice and he was coming off all bloodied without anyone else being on the ice with him. John Flore from the Sopranos was the last bit.

WHDH’s Sports Xtra had Gene Lavanchy leading off with Revolution highlights. Kip Lewis led a game recap comparable to the weekly Patriot wrapups. After Celtics and NFL highlights, a talk with Ty Law talking about the team losing some of its edge. He doesn’t know if they started believing the hype or what, but now maybe they’ll do better with being the underdog again. Changes need to be made everywhere. Need to go back to what they do best: Hard nosed, smashmouth football. Asked if people are figuring out their defense, Law said they haven’t been able to stop the running game and it all starts there, missed tackles are key, but everyone needs to be around the ball, last year there where alot of missed tackles, but there were 7-8 other guys right there to make up for it.

An interview with Terry O’Reilly was also featured on this program. He talked about always being the last guy on the team growing up, and that the coaches kept him because he worked so hard. His skills were very rough, was a goalie until he was 12, started skating as a forward the next year, and turned pro at 19, so not a lot of development time there. The only skater worse them him in the league was Terry Crisp. O’Reilly had to put more into the game because of his “skating skill deficit”. He was also asked about the Madison Square Garden incident, and wants to go on record to say it wasn’t him with the shoe, it was Mike Milbury. He also talked about being in a fight with a guy, and O’Reilly’s shoulder popped out, and the other guy (Ryan Walter?) instead of “wiping the ice with him” let him go. He was clearly fighting back tears when talking about how he’ll feel when his number goes up on Thursday.

Fred Smerlas and Tim Fox were in to talk Patriots next. With some time to look at the team, Smerlas looked back to last year. It took time to come together, despite many doubters of Brady. Now, they need to get back to fundamentals and realize they don’t have the talent to overcome penalties and mistakes to win. Fox said they’ll be doing some self-scouting and figuring out the problems. Smerlas brought up the name of Donald Hayes, and they all talked about how terrible it is that he can’t learn the plays, and isn’t taking blame for it. As for the mental mistakes, Fox feels that sort of thing can spread from one player to the whole team. Smerlas said an established player needs to do something this week, set the tone. They then looked at the upcoming schedule. Lavanchy says they need to go 3-1 in these tough games to have a chance to make the playoffs, Fox feels at the least they need 2-2. Smerlas said the Patriots need to come out and establish themselves physically and mentally. Make a stand. Terrell Owens was brought up next. Fox doesn’t know how his coach puts up with him. If he were facing him, he would’ve gotten him later in the game. Smerlas agreed that in his day, Owens would’ve had to pay the price.

The next segment was on Mike Port, and trying to make a case that he should be named Sox GM. Lavanchy said if the world was a fair place, Port would already have the job. Port said he’s not letting the process control him as he goes about his duties from day to day. Lavanchy noted he’s the only person who has actually said he wants the job. They went through the candidates that have turned down the Sox, and Lavanchy again said the best person for the job is right there, doing the job. He went through Port’s role in building the Angels farm system which produced Salmon, Anderson, Erstad and Percival. Port handed off credit for those to those around him. Then they looked at his midseason trades for Floyd and Howry. Lavanchy also lauded Port for working well with Lucchino and that he’s honest and “doesn’t try to fool the fans with doubletalk.” Lavanchy ended up with an appeal to Larry Lucchino and urged him to hire Mike Port as the team’s GM.

On Fox25’s Sports Sunday Butch Stearns led off pumping up the MLS championship. Levan Reid reporting from Gillette. Then it was onto the NFL highlights, Stearns says the Bills and Bledsoe are a better team than the Patriots and Brady. Right now. Drew talked after the game how huge a win this was for the Bills, but if they had lost it wouldn’t change their mindset, they feel that they can play with anyone.

Jerry Remy, who played for the Angels talked about the atmosphere out there, there’s no passion, a little better now. Then only big crowds when Nolan Ryan was pitching, or Boston or New York came to town. It’s much different from the east coast, he’s grateful to them as they’re the team he came to the big leagues with. Still some out there that he was associated with out there, and he feels good for them. The Angels don’t strike out, they put the bat on the ball, keep innings alive. He was teammates on the Angels with Bobby Bonds, and Barry would be around sometimes. Bonds doesn’t have the best reputation, but he plays the game hard every night, and he respects that.

An interview with Curt Gowdy, done by Rob Nikoleski was up next. He spends 6 months here and 6 in Florida, he recalled his first talk with Ted WIlliams about fishing. Ted was a perfectionist. Everything had to be just perfect. Gowdy was the voice of the Red Sox from 1951-65 and then went to NBC for the baseball game of the week, and called AFL games. He was there for the “Heidi game” and recalled having to re-call the game because the network didn’t tape it after they went to the movie. He remembered thinking the Jets could beat the Colts, but Howard Cosell told him the Jets had no chance in the Super Bowl. On nationally televised Red Sox games, he recalled being accused of being a homer, and having nasty things written to him and about him in the papers. He wanted to quit, but his wife talked him out it, saying he had the best job in the world. He agreed and stayed on the job.

NESN’s Tom Carron joined Dave Jageler on today’s WWZN afternoon show. A mixed bag of talk, from Bruins (I forgot to mention the streaker who injured himself crawling over the boards and had to be carried off the ice on a stretcher) to Celtics, Jageler was again the fill-in PA announcer last night, to the Red Sox GM, Tony Massarotti called in the from the airport to again report his disgust with the Yankee and Steinbrenner for denying the Sox permission to talk to Gene Michael. He feels strongly that Michael was/is interested in the job, despite the press release, and the Yankees are just being difficult. The McDonough group was manned by Sean along with Ron Borges and Tim Fox. Sean spent some time in the first hour sort of complaining about the station’s relationship with the Globe. He doesn’t think it’s enough of a two-way relationship, and that the Globe gets more out of the partnership by virtue of its reporters getting publicity and extra money by appearing on the show, and the station doesn’t really get enough in return from the Globe. He wants Bill Griffith to give them more plugs. He did make sure to clarify that he was speaking for himself only, and not on behalf of station management. Greg Dickerson filled in for Glen Ordway on the Big Show and was joined by Steve DeOssie and Bill Burt. Patriots talk in the first hour, with Brady/Bledsoe a hot topic.

I was able to get in touch with Michael Holley finally, and he confirmed that he is taking a year away from the Globe in order to do a book on the Patriots. He noted that he sure hopes it “will not turn out to be the inside tale of an 8-8 team.”

Scott Van Voorhis has word on a price hike on Red Sox tickets. Mike Fine reports on the Sox GM search. Gordon Edes hosted an on-line chat at Boston.com. And no, I am not “Media Critic”. Edes is pretty good in this chat and expressed his surprise at the headline “Duquette blew it” on his article about Eckstein yesterday.

Jim Fennell has details on the Celtics loss last night in Manchester. Gary Fitz also reports on the game, noting the NH crowd was a bit friendlier than perhaps the Fleetcenter would have been. Mike Fine loves Waltah…Rob Bradford has more on Vinnie’s struggles.

Del Jones waves goodbye to the Patriots for the weekend. Jones reports on Deion Branch in his notebook. Over at Boston.com, Nick Cafardo answered his mailbag on Boston.com. As usual, it’s pretty entertaining, and though credit is deserved for printing the letters that are critical of Nick, his answers reflect that he doesn’t seem to take criticism too well. Take his answer to “Ed Johnson”. Johnson spent the time to write out a detailed critique of Nick, and was brushed off pretty quickly. Cafardo chides another fan for his lack of maturity. I’m not sure the hijinks on Sports Final qualify as mature behavior, either.

Because 75% of its users connect to ESPN.com with a high-speed connection, the site plans to launch a free video-clip service in the next few weeks. ESPN Motion, currently available for the site’s Insider subscribers, will allow video clips to be displayed on the ESPN.com main page.