Patriots Best in NFL History? Not Yet!

Randy Moss, whose acquisition was just one key to the Patriots’ perfect 16-0 season, celebrates his second-quarter TD with Russ Hochstein Saturday night.

The New England Patriots concluded their 2007 regular season in perfect fashion last night. They defeated a heated and motivated New York Football Giant team 30-35 where the season began in East Rutherford, NJ. The Patriots led by Tom Brady and Randy Moss have been untouchable all season long. Last night - they faced one of their most difficult challenges. They were behind by 12 points late in the game, but rallied back to score 3 unanswered Touchdowns. The best a 65 yard pass from Brady to Moss. That pass was a record breaker for both. Brady set and NFL record for TD passes and Moss broke the season high TD reception record.

The Pats are not satisfied. Neither are their fans. One step at a time. They won the Eastern Division, clinched playoff home field advantage and won every game they played. That means nothing unless they are able to run the table in the playoffs, which begins in two weeks. The Pats are led by one of the largest hard-assed coaches in NFL history. Bill Belichick is the best coach and a hard ass - YES! He made Moss a better player and has motivated this team at every stage of its development.

So - none of the achievements that this wonderful football team has experienced means squat unless they win the Super Bowl. Celebrate the 16 wins - 19 regular season wins in the regular season. Celebrate the fact that we as Boston sports fans have an opportunity to see a Professional Sports Hat Trick this year. BUT - do not celebrate until February 3, 2008!

Hang in there boys and girls. The fun has just begun. Take it as the Pats take it - ONE GAME AT A TIME!!!!!

Yoo Hooooo Yooooo Hooooo A Captains Life for MEEEEE!!

Red Sox Team Captain Jason Varitek faces off with another noted captain, Captain Hook, Dec. 27, 2007 at the Magic Kingdom theme park. Varitek is vacationing with family and friends at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The Official Yawkey League Baseball by Nacona!

The Thomas A. Yawkey Baseball League unfolds its 2008 Official League Baseball.

These balls are produced by the Nacona Sporting Goods Company based in Fall River, MA. A very reasonable price has been established for these top quailty baseballs. They can be compared to the Diamond I - Pro Ball that goes for $60 per dozen. The same baseballs are being used in the new Professional Baseball League Established in Israel.

If you or your league are interested in purchasing baseballs for your program please contact: Mike Freire @ mfreire@verizon.net

SI Honors Boston - City of Champs in 2007!

Since Oct. 1, Massachusetts teams have graced the cover of Sports Illustrated seven times.

Click on each for a larger image.

Here is Santa Belichick. This is on the cover of this weeks SI.

In Memory of Dapper!

Many say this is the end of an ERA! Yes - it is. I am speaking of - the passing of one great Bostonian Albert L. "Dapper" O'Neil. I met Dapper long time ago in another century. He was a brash outspoken and sometimes abrasive public figure. Dapper always spoke his mind and stood for the working class people of this City - no matter what their race.


He ran for and won a seat on the Boston City Council 16 times - while I ran and lost twice. Councillor O'Neil took me under his wing during my campaign for Council in 1979. I was 25 then and learned a great deal about the behind the sense of government. The lessons I learned from Dapper during that campaign are forever etched in my memory. Over the years we developed a tremendous friendship.


Dapper was a man's - man! He always stood by me in my efforts to promote quality amateur baseball thru the Mill Stream and Yawkey Leagues.


Councillor O'Neil's final years out the public eye may have caused many to forget about him. He will be buried as a WWII Hero with full Military Honors on Christmas Eve. Dapper has been missed in City Hall. I will miss his calls and conveyance of advice and good wishes.


Good bye my good friend! Your historic service to the people of Boston will long be remembered!

Merry Christmas from Boston to the Universe!

A Merry Christmas wish from The Red Sox

City Bats.com

City Bats New Web Page

http://www.citybats.com/

Welcome to City Bats, home of the "Yankees Suck" bat! This wood baseball bat says what is really on your mind, the chant that can be heard at Fenway Park and many other places, that the Yankees suck! Here are just a few ideas of how to use the bats, but feel free to come up with you own too! TRUE BASEBALL FANATICS: You may be a Red Sox fan (the 2004 and 2007 World Series Champions, keeping the curse reversed), a member of Red Sox nation, or maybe a fan of the game of baseball, but if you are not a Yankee fan, then you are a Yankee hater!

This is a great Christmas gift idea for the true Red Sox Fan and or Yankee Hater. Get one for your belated Christmas gift list!

More memories of 2007 Sox Season - Highland Mint Singed Pictures

Mike Lowell holds his MVP Trophy High.

Play Off MVP - Mike Lowell.

Jacoby leaping at the 420 mark - a new era in the Red Sox OF!

If Interested Contact:

James Kaus

Account Executive The Highland Mint

jkaus@thehighlandmint.com

888-560-2727

15 Down and 2 To Go for Perfect Season.

Pats survive Jets 20-10 at rainy - frosty Foxboro encounter.

Pats now 15-0!

Pats Weather Hype, Keep Perfect

By Karen Guregian: Monday, December 17, 2007

Boston Herald General Sports Reporter and Columnist

FOXBORO - The expectation was for a slaughter, the kind in which you’re begging the referee to stop the fight. In that sense, the game between the Patriots [team stats] and Jets, the alleged instigators of Camera-gate, was a colossal dud. The grudge match did not even remotely live up to all the hype.

At this stage of the Pats’ unbeaten season, however, style points don’t matter. Nor does the degree of revenge.

The most important issue to come out of yesterday’s 20-10 victory over their hated rivals at rainy, wind-swept Gillette Stadium was this: The Pats are just two wins away from completing a perfect regular season. They became just the second team in the NFL’s 88-year history to start the season with 14 wins, joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins [team stats].

Standing in the way of the Pats’ chase of immortality are the no-longer-winless Dolphinsand the New York Giants.

“It feels good to get 14 consecutive like that. It feels good. We’ve had a good year,” linebacker Tedy Bruschi [stats] said following the win. “I’ll feel good about it tonight and move on, because there’s two big regular-season games left that we want to perform well in. Miami is going to come in here. They’re in our division. Let’s play them hard, and see what happens.”

The Patriots also sewed up the top seed in the AFC and home field for the playoffs, not that the issue ever really has been in doubt.

Judging by the size of the grin on Bill Belichick’s face following the win, he seemed pleased enough by his team’s effort. No blowout was needed to settle any old scores or soothe any old wounds. Given the weather conditions, he probably was thrilled for any kind of win against his former protege.

“Coach Belichick emphasized all week being mentally and physically ready to go out there and play 60 minutes of football,” receiver Randy Moss said. “I don’t know what personal vendetta he had against (Jets coach Eric) Mangini, but he didn’t express it all week. Anything he had was definitely kept inside. As far as preparing his team to go out there and play 60 minutes with the weather conditions, that’s one thing that we’ve done this week, knowing what we had to do to get the win.”

In a rare game in which quarterback Tom Brady [stats] (14-for-27 for 140 yards, interception) did not throw a touchdown pass and Moss (five catches for 79 yards) did not score, this was an instance when running back Laurence Maroney [stats] finally was used as something more than a prop (26 carries, 104 yards, touchdown).

“That’s what we’re going to need the rest of the season,” Brady said of Maroney’s output. “Hopefully Laurence gained some confidence. He just hasn’t had quite the opportunity he would like, but I know he was excited today.”

The special teams also contributed, as Stephen Gostkowski kicked a pair of field goals and Kelley Washington made a huge play, blocking a punt to set up Maroney’s second-quarter touchdown. That countered the touchdown the Jets scored on a blocked punt return by David Bowens earlier in the game.

The defense, meanwhile, really rose to the challenge while Mangini was playing musical chairs with his quarterbacks.

Kellen Clemens started but was injured during the first series. Then Mangini opted for a rotation with Brad Smith, who ran the option, and Chad Pennington [stats].

No matter. With the exception of Leon Washington [stats] taking one play 49 yards off the option, the Pats defense was stellar, allowing just three points and again coming up big in the red zone.

60 Days to Spring Training!!!!

The above pics were taken by me at Spring Training 2007. My favorite is the one with Johnny Pesky. He is the BEST!

Red Sox Spring Training is just 60 days away! I know for some of you that might seem a bit lame for me to be looking forward to that instead of Christmas. YES - I love Christmas and all the family and happy gatherings. BUT - it is Spring Training that I look forward to every season. Since 1995 - I have been going to FLA to enjoy the warm weather - the early bird specials and half price drinks. Most importantly - I get a chance to scout all the new talent on the teams who assemble to play Grape Fruit League Baseball.

I have had an opportunity over the years to visit the Training Locations for: The Atlanta Braves @ Disney Wide World of Sports; Houston Astros @ Kissimmee/Osceola County Stadium; Cleveland Indians @ Winter Haven; Detroit Tigers @ Lakeland; Kansas City Royals when they played at Baseball City outside of Disney; Washington Nationals @ Space Coast Field; Tampa Bay Rays at The Dome in St. Pete; Philadelphia Phillies @ Clearwater; Cincinnati Reds @ Sarasota; Minnasota Twins @ Ft Myers and the Boston Red Sox at City of Palms Park in Ft Myers.

This is a labor of baseball love. I viewed the World Baseball Classic in the Spring of 2006 at the Disney Wide World of Sports. That was a tremendous opportunity. Contrary to the detractors, the baseball Classic was fun and competitive. The multi-cultural interaction was great!

Sox Tickets for 2008 went on sale this Saturday. I was able obtain tickets for 8 games of the 11 they will play in Ft Myers. All were standing room in the new pavilion they constructed in right field.

We will also see some college games in Ft Myers. Many local colleges and universities participate in a tournament just outside the Red Sox Training Center. It is nice. Even those who like ladies softball can take in some contests while in the area.

For those of you who have the vacation time and the interest - I say Come on Down! Spring training is the best!!!!

Roger ROID Rage!

A Man for All teams and Seasons - The "Rocket" Man -- Roger Clemens has been added to the long list of baseball cheaters, who used enhancement drugs. Roger left the Red Sox as a mediocre pitcher in 1997. The GM for the Sox said Roger was all done. Well The Rocket Man and his Trainers found a way to rejuvenate the once lofty right hander to MLB prominence. Clemens miraculously bounced back in 1998 to win the Cy Young and become the TOP pitcher in MLB History. He paved his way to the Yankees & Astros and made his way back to NYC in 2007 for his last hurrah. Thanks to Steroids - Roger was able to reach the 300 Plus win level and make hundreds of millions of dollars as a CHEAT!

I loved this man. I worshiped him and excitedly cheered him as he stood at 3rd Base when the All century Team was announced at Fenway park in 1999 All Star Game. BUT - I must state my sincere disappointment and disgust for what Clemens and many other players have done to make more money and break records set by legitimate players of the past.

SHAME on you Roger! Your great records and accomplishment in baseball will forever be tainted by what you did. All you had to do was stay in shape in the off season from 1994 to 1997. All you had to do was appreciate the $5 Million - 5 year deal the Sox gave you and show up to Spring Training ON TIME. All you had to do was be the pitcher you were before you became Fat & Lazy! It is all on you Rocket. Not The Red Sox, who you said on many occasions - disrespected you. The fans of Red Sox nation adored and loved you. You spit in their eye by not doing your best the last 5 years you were in town.

I am disgusted and upset. I will never look at you as the Basebal Icon you once were!

GOD Speaking to Manning - Romo & Brady!

Indy QB - Payton Manning

Dallas Cowboy QB - Tony Romo

NE Patriots QB - Tom Brady

God asks Peyton Manning first: "What do you believe?"

Peyton thinks long and hard, looks God in the eye, and says, "I believe in hard work, and in staying true to family and friends. I believe in giving. I was lucky, but I always tried to do right by my fans." God can't help but see the essential goodness of Manning, andoffers him a seat to his left.

Then God turns to Tony Romo and says, "What do you believe?" Tony says, "I believe passion, discipline, courage and honor are the fundamentals of life. I, too, have been lucky, but win or lose, I've always tried to be a true sportsman, both on and off the playing fields." God is greatly moved by Tony's sincere eloquence, and he offers him a seat to his right.

Finally, God turns to Tom Brady: "And you, Tom, what do you believe?" Tom replies, "I believe you're in my seat."

Patriots 27 Point Favorites. Most in NFL History!!

The NE Patriots are mammoth favorites over the Jets on Sunday. Yes - 27 points! That is the largest spread ever established in the history of the NFL. The Pats have a lot on their mind as they approach this encounter with the man who exposed the Spy Gate matter. Eric Mangini is now on the block. His team has dumped the 2007 season and are on the verge of the worst beating in their history.


The Pats have Brady and Company tuned up to thrump the Jets. Much a do about nothing - this is just another notch on the cannon enroute of an undefeated season for the Patriots. Look for snow, sleet and freezing rain and win # 16 for the Patriots on Sunday!

Yaz Tribute - 1967 Triple Crown Winner

Yaz - 1967 - Triple Crown Winner!

The best season ever put together by a Red Sox player and one of the most astounding seasons in Major League History. The Man They Called Yaz hit for the Triple Crown in 1967 and brought his Sox out of the basement to first place in the OLD American league. Remember, there were no Wild Cards and NO Divisional or ALCS Series to get to the Wold Championship. You won the Pennant and played the World Series.

Yaz did it all in 1967. The only thing the Sox & Yaz did not accomplish was win the World Series. They lost 4-3 in games to St. Louis. 2007 is the 40th Anniversary of that great year. Here is a nice tribute assembled to commemorate those hallowed days.

Patriots Hang In There in Baltimore - Still Perfect!

Patriots rally in final minutes to beat Ravens 27-24, stay unbeaten

BALTIMORE (AP) The New England Patriots are still perfect, but looking mighty vulnerable.
New England pulled off its greatest escape thus far to become the sixth team in NFL history to start a season with 12 victories. For the second straight week, it was a struggle against a losing team, but the incredibly resourceful Patriots got Tom Brady's 8-yard touchdown pass to Jabar Gaffney with 44 seconds left to beat the Baltimore Ravens 27-24 Monday night.

The winning drive in the final minutes covered 73 yards and required two fourth-down conversions, one on a defensive holding penalty 6 seconds before Gaffney beat Dawan Landry in the left corner of the end zone.

Driven to distraction by a Baltimore defense at times reminiscent of the 2000 unit that led the Ravens (4-8) to a Super Bowl victory, Brady came through late - as he always seems to
Eight days after edging Philadelphia 31-28, the Patriots barely kept alive their pursuit of the only unblemished record in NFL history, Miami's 17-0 in 1972.

With Pittsburgh (9-3) up next, the Patriots must recapture some of their record-setting ways from earlier in the season to keep their flawless record intact.

How does he look in a Sox Uniform?

The Hot Stove is smoking with news from The Twin Cities! Santana DOES look good in a Sox uniform - But at what cost. $150 million and a trade including Jacoby? I doubt it! I would take a pass on this one and take my chances with the rotation we currently have!

Report: Ellsbury Offered for Santana
Seeking to land left-hander, Red Sox up ante to Twins
By Ian Browne / MLB.com

Red Sox Headlines
• Report: Ellsbury offered for Santana
• Timlin, Gagne offered arbitration
• Sox exploring all options at Meetings
• Red Sox mull arbitration on six free agents
• Reports: Red Sox gain in Santana race
• More Red Sox Headlines
MLB Headlines
• Report: Ellsbury offered for Santana
• Astros sign Matsui to three-year contract
• Padres closing in on Peavy extension
• Cubs to aggressively search for right fielder
• Phillies offer Rowand arbitration
• More MLB Headlines

BOSTON -- The battle for Twins ace left-hander Johan Santana is gaining more intrigue by the day. The latest wrinkle is that the Red Sox might now be willing to include top center-field prospect Jacoby Ellsbury in their offer to Minnesota as a response to the Yankees recently putting stud pitching prospect Phil Hughes in their package.

ESPN.com -- citing sources -- reported Sunday that Boston had backed off its refusal to include Ellsbury. But if Ellsbury is to be in the deal, the Red Sox will pull back left-handed starter Jon Lester.

With the Winter Meetings set to begin in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, the Santana sweepstakes figure to take center stage.

The Twins will have to weigh which offer entices them more: Hughes, center fielder Melky Cabrera and an additional prospect from the Yankees or Boston's offer, which could include Ellsbury, Minor League shortstop Jed Lowrie and a pitching prospect such as Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden.

There are other teams who are also in the mix, including the Angels, Dodgers and Mets, although at this point, the Red Sox and the Yankees -- rivals always -- seem to be the most heavily involved. The Yankees told Newsday that they have set a Monday deadline to complete any deal.

The Yankees and Red Sox -- who traditionally have the two highest payrolls in the Major Leagues -- would also seem to be in the best position to sign Santana to a contract extension if a trade can be worked out.

Santana, who will be 29 next season, has a no-trade clause and is all but certain to seek a contract extension before agreeing to be moved.

Several reports have stated that Santana could seek as much as $150 million over six years.
Ellsbury rose to prominence for the Red Sox down the stretch in 2007, filling in for the injured Manny Ramirez and hitting .361 in September. Beginning with Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, Ellsbury supplanted Coco Crisp in center field and the Red Sox didn't lose another game. Ellsbury stepped up in the World Series, going 7-for-16.

The Red Sox were trying to trade Crisp instead of Ellsbury, but the Twins repeatedly rebuffed those attempts.

At the end of the day, the Twins could always mull over all the offers and decide they are better off keeping Santana.