No Sunday night recaps. These shows are becoming more and more irrelevant, in my opinion, as they’re just the same guys saying the same things they’ve already said on a couple other shows elsewhere. I’ll continue to tape them, and perhaps watch them while doing the links on Monday morning, but it’s getting too much to stay up and transcribe the shows until 1:00 AM and then get up at 5:30 AM to do the links. If while watching the tapes, anything of note happens, I’ll mention it. If anyone wants to take on the task of reviewing and transcribing the shows, you’re welcome to do it. Last night, Sports Final did have a nice video tribute to the Red Sox amazing up and down regular season.
Sometime this week this site will have its one millionth visitor. This will likely happen Wednesday or Thursday. Thanks again to all who have made that mark possible.
Turnovers will almost always kill a team’s chances. Yesterday was no exception. Tom Curran looks at a game that the Patriots should have won, despite having nine starters out due to injury. Nick Cafardo looks at frustrating results by the offense, especially on the final drive of the game. Alan Greenberg lauds the Patriots effort, even if the “bloodless Bill Belichick” wasn’t happy with losing the game. Michael Felger says this one was gift wrapped for the Pats, but they couldn’t get the wrapping off. He also has four points of question on the final drive. Ian M. Clark notes that the defense did its job, the offense was what let the team down in Washington. Michael Parente looks at the Patriots just not having quite enough to pull out the win. Ron Borges is full of admiration for the way that the Patriots played yesterday, saying:
Because they refused to acknowledge the difficult circumstances they were in, the Patriots rose to the occasion. They didn't win, but they were not losers. They just didn't score enough points.
Kevin Mannix says the Patriots defense did the job it was supposed to on the Redskins passing game. Jeff Jacobs writes about Tedy Bruschi and the Pats having nothing to do with any injury excuses. Jim Donaldson has a decent column expressing the conflict that fans might have in trying to deal with a loss that was likely to be expected, but was frustrating nonetheless. Michael Smith looks at Tom Brady, taking the loss characteristically hard. George Kimball looks at the turnovers yesterday, but especially at the Patriots inability to jump on the loose ball. Joe Burris looks at things from the Washington perspective, happy to be at 3-1. Donaldson looks at the Redskins, happy knowing that they dodged a bullet. Karen Guregian looks at the non-catch by Laveranues Coles which allowed the Pats to get the ball back one more time. Michael Gee looks at a decent outing from David Givens, who could’ve had a much bigger afternoon with a couple sharper passes. Parente shows that it was mistakes not injuries that did the Patriots in yesterday. Smith looks at the decision not to have Adam Vinatieri try the 55 yard field goal at the end…a decision the kicker agreed with. Greenberg has a look at Tom Brady, toughing it out. In the Herald pay columns, Michael Gee looks at the Patriots taking the shorthanded loss pretty hard, not taking comfort in coming close. George Kimball writes about Tom Brady being hard on himself for the loss yesterday, knowing it was a game they should’ve won. Donaldson questions Brady’s decision making in the loss. Curran looks at the three makeshift starters on the offensive line, who more than held their own yesterday. Guregian looks at the mild uproar over a hit laid by Patriots fullback Larry Centers. Felger’s notebook looks at Mike Cloud being eligible to join the Patriots starting today. Cafardo’s notebook looks at Centers being in the middle of a few things yesterday. Curran’s notebook also looks at Centers.
David Heuschkel looks at the fourth consecutive meaningless regular season finale in Tampa for the Sox. Jeff Horrigan says the loss in the finale of the regular season just gives the team another thing to bounce back from. Steven Krasner looks at Bill Mueller winning the batting title. Bob Hohler looks at a record breaking season for the Sox. Gordon Edes has a feature-like article looking at the job Grady Little has done for the Red Sox. Dan Shaughnessy looks at the opposing manager in the first round of the playoffs, Ken Macha. Perhaps it was the influence of Eddie Andelman, but at the beginning of the season, Tony Massarotti was one of the harshest critics of Theo Epstein, today, he has a glowing article on the Sox GM. Howard Bryant looks at the opposing GM, Billy Beane, the object of the Red Sox pursuit prior to giving Epstein the job. Sean McAdam looks at a very different postseason fate for Tim Wakefield this time around. Massarotti looks at Mueller winning the batting title yesterday. Bob Halloran knocks those who criticized the Sox for the “over the top” celebration on Thursday night. John Tomase looks at how Boston has changed but not beaten Grady Little. The Globe continues to shove Bucky Dent down our throats. C’mon, today isn’t even the official anniversary. Bill Burt examines what Carl Yastrzemski and Jeremy Fuller have in common. Krasner’s notebook looks at Wakefield getting the game two start. Horrigan’s notebook also looks at Wakefield. Hohler’s notebook looks at batting champion Mueller.
Shira Springer looks at Celtics training camp starting today…well sort of. Only players with less than four years of experience are allowed to start camp today. All others cannot report until Thursday. Non-roster invitees to camp include Mateen Cleaves. Mark Murphy reports on the Celtics annual season ticket holder barbecue.
ABC has Packers/Bears at 9:00. Curse devotees can watch the 1978 Sox/Yankees playoff game on ESPN Classic at 9:00.
Boston Sports Media Watch 