Red Sox players may be enjoying their off-season, but for the men and women who work in the front office, there is much to do. This time of year, when free agency is in full swing and trade rumors are rolling, is called the “hot stove.” In Boston, the hot stove season is always exciting as management tries to improve the team. Since the new owners took over in 2002, the Red Sox have had the resources to add almost any player they wanted.The 2006 off-season saw the Sox acquire Japanese superstar Daisuke Matsuzaka. Principle owners Larry Lucchino, John Henry and Tom Warner put up a $51 million posting fee, just to get exclusive rights to talk to Matsuzaka.

After the negotiations were complete, Dice-k was signed to a six-year $52 million contract. This proved the Red Sox owners would stop at nothing to acquire a player that they thought could help the team. Continue reading →

Adam “Pacman” Jones is expected to return to the field this Sunday, Dec. 7, as the Dallas Cowboys take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Jones, who was suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the League’s Conduct Policy after getting into a fight with his appointed security guard, was also suspended an extra two games by Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones.As the player who led the Cowboys in passes defended this season, Jones (Adam) will be an important addition to the team as they look to make their drive to the playoffs.

Although it will be beneficial for the Cowboys to have him back, Jones is well aware of the precarious situation that he finds himself in as a result of his actions.  While this has been the most recent of Jones’ off-field mishaps, he has an ever growing list and police record that NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, took into account as he handed down the suspension.  Continue reading →

When it comes to deciding the Most Valuable Player in each league in Major League Baseball, certain things come into play. Many of the sports writers from around the country who cast these votes have guidelines for whom and what makes a player the MVP.

Many believe the person has to be on a contending team throughout the season, and that player has to be able to carry them throughout certain periods of the long, 162-game marathon. Statistically, the player has to be near the top of every category, while playing enough games to warrant consideration.

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia fits all of the criteria and more; yet surprises everyone by doing it. Listed at 5-foot-9, he has always been looked at as someone who couldn’t get it done in the big leagues. Even as early as last spring when he first made his MLB debut, people were calling for his replacement. Continue reading →

Chicago Cubs fans have been down this road before, looking like the team to beat in the National League coming down the final stretch of a season.  Many Chicagoans have suffered through the agony and defeat of making it so far, only to lose at the very end.  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim enter the postseason representing the American League, and are perennial favorites having won their division the past two years. Unfortunately, for Cubs fans, this road to the postseason leads to a dark and dreary place.

In 2003, all the Cubs needed to do was win games six or seven to advance to the World Series.  With stud aces Kerry Wood and Mark Prior taking the hill, all looked well for Chicago.

In game six, they had a 3-0 lead with only five outs to go, when the lovable losers blew it again. This time, however, with a little help from one of their fans.  The infamous Steve Bartman reached over into the field of play taking a probable out from the grasp of left fielder Moises Alou.  Then Alex Gonzalez made a crucial error at short, and the Florida Marlins went off to an eight-run inning that Cubs fans will never forget.  Continue reading →

BOSTON–Boston has not been the “hub of hockey” since the 70s when Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito were drinking from Lord Stanley’s Cup. Besides the early 90s when the Bruins finished first in the Eastern Conference and made a finals appearance, there hasn’t been much to get excited about. Just plenty of early round playoff exits and major disappointment.In recent years, the TD Banknorth Garden has drawn better attendance for children’s ice shows, such as Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey. I understand that the last Bruins championship parade through Boston was 1972, but they should at least outdraw Mickey Mouse.

With the Red Sox recent exit from the post-season by the new look Tampa Bay Rays, normally Boston sports fans would turn their attention to the Patriots. Only every time I tune in to see Tom Brady and the Patriots high flying offense, I get some guy named Casell who looks like he hasn’t started a meaningful game since high school. Since this is an actual reality with Tom Brady going down only 19 minutes into the season and having a starting quarterback who usually carries a clipbord, there has been no better time to watch Boston Bruins Hockey. Continue reading →

The Suffolk Men’s hockey team opened up its season this past weekend with a couple of exhibition games in the Dunkin Donuts Tournament at Becker College. The men’s team prepares for another long, grueling season after finishing last year with a 7-15-2 overall record.

The men did qualify for postseason play, but were ultimately eliminated in the semi-finals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs by Wentworth Institute of Technology. Although the team lost some of its key senior leaders from last season, they have some good young players coming in to help complement a core group of veteran players on offense and defense. They also have a strong young goaltender in sophomore Jeff Rose, who played well between the pipes last year as a freshman. The Ram’s lost the first game of the tournament to Nichols College in a hard-fought, 4-1 decision. The team fell behind early as the Bison scored a mere 46 seconds into the game. Continue reading →

BOSTON — As all NHL players knows, the playoffs are a long and grueling process, extending from the start of April to mid-June if you make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. All rounds of the playoffs are best of seven series. The players will hook, grab, and really try anything within the rules of the game to reach that final series. For some teams, their playoff pushes began back in February and have been playing at an extremely high level since.

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs featured very strong teams, all with a chance to make that final push. The match-ups in the Western Conference were Detroit Red Wings/Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks/Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild/ Colorado Avalanche, and the Dallas Stars/ Anaheim Ducks. Continue reading →

BOSTON — The Suffolk Club Hockey Team is off to a rough start in their second season after dropping their second straight game out of the last three. The Rams played the Berklee Icecats, who played a fundamentally sound game.

Unfortunately, the Rams were missing many key players due a scheduling mistake made by the league. With only eight skaters and a goalie, far below normal for a team to keep a competitive edge, Suffolk looked tired and unfocused in the second period. Continue reading →