Super Bowl XLIV: Colts vs Saints

The Indianapolis Colts attempt to win their 2nd Super Bowl in 4 years today in Miami, but the New Orleans Saints are standing in their way. These have been the NFL's best teams over the course of the season and both deserve to be here, but who will leave as champs? Will Peyton Manning put the finishing touches on another incredible individual year? Will Drew Brees lead the Saints to the glory less than 5 years after Hurricane Katrina put the city under water? Who will be the hero and who will be the goat? Who will walk away with MVP honors? What will be the best commercial? Will your squares hit for some money? We'll find out all of these answers in just a few hours as opening kickoff is set to take place at 6:20 pm. Make your pre-game predictions and give your feedback during and after the XLIV edition of the Super Bowl right here!

RBSF HOF: WALPOLE JOE

Real Boston Sports Fans this week named Walpole Joe as the 5th member of the RBSF Hall of Fame. WJ joins previous inductees DK, Luke, GMAC and JBS. The hardcore hockey fan has proven to be opinionated and knowledgeable, two traits that helped him join this select group. Congratulations WJ on an honor well-deserved. A look at Walpole Joe's Hall of Fame plaque.....

Name: Brian Kelley. Hometown: Brookline (MA). Currently Resides: Norwood (MA). 1st Boston Championship of Your Lifetime: 1970 Bruins. Favorite Team: Boston Bruins. Favorite All-Time Boston Athlete: Ray Bourque (perfect pro, perfect teammate). Favorite Current Boston Athletes: Bruins-Patrice Bergeron, Celtics-Kevin Garnett, Patriots-Kevin Faulk, Red Sox-None. I Hate...Canadiens fans, Lakers fans, Jets fans, PEDs, MLB, pretty much everything that is over-hyped, over-talked about, overrated, the lack of respect for the 1960 Miracle on Ice team, NCAA bowl system, Jeremy Jacobs, ridiculous ticket prices for pro sports, I could go on all night.....Favorite Boston Sports Moment: Patriots beat Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI and 1984 Celtics championship over detestable Lakers. Best Boston Sports Moment Experienced Live:1986 Celtics parade. What could be better than skipping high school, marching around downtown Boston with a banner with a bunch of friends, chanting, yelling, and listening to Larry Bird, Bill Walton and the rest of the '86 team? Spent two days of in-school suspension during the summer to make up for skipping school, but it was well worth it.

Sox Notes: Will Beckett be Re-Signed?

In this edition of the Boston Red Sox Weekly Post we ask a question that could affect the franchise for years to come: Do the Sox plan on bringing back Josh Beckett beyond 2010? With Jon Lester and John Lackey already wrapped up for the foreseeable future, giving Beckett (who will turn 30 this May) a similar deal to those guys would seem to guarantee Boston a formidable rotation for years to come. That is, of course, if Beckett could stay healthy for the life of his deal, something that is clearly a concern for Theo Epstein and company. Are the odds of Clay Buchholz or Casey Kelly (to name two) becoming a legit top 3 starter over the next few years better than the odds of Beckett staying healthy for the life of a 4-year extension? If the Red Sox determine the answer is yes, it's safe to assume they will get all they can out of Beckett this coming season and then watch him walk when it's through.....Also this week: The Red Sox announced their non-roster invitees for spring training. Along with top prospects Kelly, Lars Anderson and Ryan Kalish, several relief pitchers with major league experience will be attending. This includes Joe Nelson, Brian Shouse and Jorge Sosa.....Is Nomar Garciaparra really retiring? And if so, how will he be remembered in Boston?.....The Spring Training opener is less than a month away!.....these and any other issues regarding our favorite baseball team are open for discussion right here!.....

B's Notes: What's Wrong Here?

In this edition of the Boston Bruins Weekly Post one very simple question is being asked: What's wrong with the B's? Injuries have certainly hurt the Bruins this year, but we're long past the point of being able to blame everything on injuries. 55 games into the season and the team's leading scorer (Patrice Bergeron) has just 33 points. Not good. Some key players are playing significantly worse than last year, while some have simply failed to improve. The only Bruins actually playing above expectations so far are Bergeron and Tuukka Rask. That's 2 out of 25, not good. At this point the B's own 1st round pick is beginning to look nearly as valuable as that of the Maple Leafs that they will own. So is there any salvaging this season? Absolutely. The good news is that they are still just a few points out of the playoffs and not much separates #6 from #12 in the East, and in the NHL a hot goalie can carry the team in the playoffs. Any chance to make the postseason in the NHL is certainly worth it, especially when they made such a leap in regaining a following in these parts last season. To lose that in just 1 season would be a major blow to the entire organization, and head's will most certainly roll this summer.....Also this week: Are ex-NHL stars like Peter Forsberg or Jaromir Jagr possible additions after the Olympics?.....I had no problem with Claude Julien calling out Dennis Wideman, but blaming his comments on the media somehow was very disappointing. Nothing he said wasn't true and there was no reason why he shouldn't have stood behind it.....I realize the outcome has already been decided, but I hate how Tim Thomas sprints off the ice after a game-winning goal is scored against him.....these and any other issues on your sports mind are open for discussion right here in MWM.....

MWM: Sleeping with the Ally

In this edition of Mid-Week Miscellaneous we take a look at the recently uncovered trend of sleeping with the wives/girlfriends of teammates in the soccer world. England captain John Terry was found to be having an affair with the ex-girlfriend of a teammate, which prompted former US star Eric Wynalda to go public about team captain John Harkes having an affair with Wynalda's wife back in 1998 (leading to Harkes exclusion from the World Cup team). Just how common is this? Is it a problem in other sports as well? Dennis Eckersley wife left him for teammate Rick Manning when he was with the Indians in the 70's, and there have been rumors about the wives of baseball players Ryne Sandberg and Troy O'Leary's wives straying with husband's teammates. Cheating with a teammate's spouse seems the best way to ruin a team and a marriage at the same time. So how common do people think this is? I have no answers, just asking.....Also this week: The Winter Olympics are only a week away! What are people excited for (if anything)?.....did anyone realize the New Jersey Nets have 4 wins? Seriously, 4.....did anyone watch the Pro Bowl this year?.....these and any other issues on your sports mind are open for discussion right here in MWM.....

Happy 80th Birthday: Jim Loscutoff

Today we wish a very Happy Birthday to 7-time NBA champion Jim Loscutoff, who turns 80 today. Jungle Jim played all 9 NBA seasons (1955-1964) as a member of the Celtics, a defensive standout on the teams anchored by Bill Russell. Although he posted very modest statistics in his career (6.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, .345 FG%) the Celtics wanted to honor him after his career for what he brought to their many title teams. Loscutoff, however, wanted future Celtics to wear his #18 (and it would later be retired in honor of Dave Cowens) so the Celtics raised his other nickname, Louscy, to the rafters instead. Here's a wishing a humble champ a happy 80th, with many more to come.

Ladder Challenge: Vinatieri vs Cronin

In the last edition of Ladder Challenge it was Stanley Morgan defeating Billy Sullivan with 57% of the vote in a battle of Patriots legends, maintaining his spot at #65 on the Ladder. Fittingly, with the Super Bowl this coming Sunday, Adam Vinatieri (#52) will be competing this week, trying to hold off Joe Cronin (#59). As great as Cronin was, Automatic Adam is responsible for some of the greatest sports moments of my life, and thus he gets my endorsement in this week's battle of Boston's #4's. So who has your support in this week's battle? (and remember, the most votes in the comments section is the tie-breaker, so be sure to share your thoughts!)

Pats Notes: Vince Wilfork = Mo Vaughn?

In this edition of the New England Patriots Weekly Post the topic is Vince Wilfork, and the odds of his staying in Foxboro. If asked this same question 2 weeks ago I'd guess the odds would be pretty good, but I no longer feel that way. Sine then Vince Wilfork has turned into Mo Vaughn just prior to his departure a dozen years ago, and that's not a good thing. First he started talking about how the franchise tag would be a "slap in the face", then an ex-teammate (Asante Samuel) tried to tell him that the Patriots don't care about him. Finally, and this is the real "Mo factor", he began talking to the media about how much he's "always wanted" to play for specific other teams. In Vaughn's case it was just about every team in the majors, in Wilfork's case it was the Dolphins and Buccaneers. At the end of the day Mo Vaughn signed with the Angels for big bucks and left Boston, and I now wont be a bit surprised (I'm sorry to say) if Vince Wilfork follows suit this year......Also this week: Questions about the CBA? Click here.....Wes Welker to undergo surgery this week.....should Tim Tebow be on the Pats radar?.....these and any other issues involving our favorite football team are open for discussion right here!.....

Celts Notes: Boston Bench Unacceptable

In this edition of the Boston Celtics Weekly Post I attempted to come up with a legitimate reason for the C's struggles of late. My analysis leads me back to the Boston bench, where this year's crop has been downright disappointing. In 2008 the Boston bench was solid when called upon, mostly because they were not called upon often. P.J. Brown and Eddie House had defined roles which they excelled in during short spurts. The only bench player with an expanded role was James Posey, who filled his role well. This year much more is being asked of the bench due to both injuries and attempting to limit minutes for some aging starters, but the bench is still built for only limited roles in short spurts. The bench player who could fill a more expanded role was Marquis Daniels, who has been injured for some time. Rasheed Wallace has not offered an inside presence on offense or defense, yet his minutes have not diminished. No other player has been consistent enough to be a difference maker. If this does not change the starters are going to have to take on more minutes once again, something I no longer know if they're capable of.....Also this week: Ray Allen for Monta Ellis?.....Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo join Kevin Garnett as East All Stars.....How has getting swept by the Magic, Hawks and Lakers last week affected your confidence?.....these and any other issues involving our favorite basketball team are open for discussion right here!.....

Sorry for Taking a Timeout!

Sorry for taking a timeout on the site. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to keep the site up to date while managing all of the other things going on in life. Thanks to everyone for their patience and loyalty during this time. Hopefully this will be the last extended break on the site! - DK

KG Named an All Star Starter

Kevin Garnett has been voted by the fans to start in this year's NBA All Star game for the East. This will be KG's 13th All Star appearance, having made the team every year a game was played except for his rookie year. Only the Cavs' Shaquille O'Neal has more appearances (15) out of active players. He was the 2003 All Star MVP when he poured in 37 points, the 4th highest total in history. Garnett has missed Boston's last 10 games and his personal numbers are down, but the fans annually prove that who deserves to make the team has very little to do with who is voted in. The game will be played February 14 in Dallas. Reserves will be named later this month with both Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo seeming to have an excellence chance of joining Garnett on the East roster.

Mid-Week Miscellaneous

As always, there is plenty to discuss in this edition of Mid-Week Miscellaneous.....Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, has returned to practice with the Eagles after sitting out last season while fighting a rare form of cancer in his leg. He hopes to be ready to play in the fall, and needless to say the entire country should be behind the man once dubbed on this site as "a beast".....If the Bay State is going to be represented in March Madness this year it appears that Harvard (12-3, 1-0) and Northeastern (12-7, 7-1) will have the best shot at attending the big dance.....Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Games: February 12. Are you excited yet?.....these and any other topics on your sports mind are open for discussion right here in MWM.....

Coach Julien Slams Wideman

Clearly frustrated by his team's uninspired play this season, and especially of late (they have won just 1 of their last 6 games), B's coach Claude Julien found himself a punching bag today: Dennis Wideman. Last season Wideman's totals were 13-37-50, +32 in 79 games. This year: 3-11-14, -8 (his minus-8 +/- is the worst on the B's roster). Julien's main point seemed to revolve around a lack of "compete level" on Wideman's behalf. He said that he has the potential to be a top 2 defenseman and is playing like a 5 or 6. He also indicated that these problems are not restricted to games, as poor practice habits have led to poor game performance. Julien did take some blame himself saying, "I've got to find a way to get this guy to perform, because he's too good of a player for us to watch him play that way." Apparently calling out Wideman publicly is an attempt at getting "this guy to perform"...let's hope it's a successful one. There is no doubt that the B's need Wideman (among many, many others) to start picking up his game big time if this team is going to start resembling the squad that was the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs last year.

Big Baby Displays Potty Mouth

During tonight's Celtics/Pistons game, Boston forward Glen Davis could be very clearly heard using obscene language toward a Detroit fan during a break in play. This season is quickly becoming one to forget for Davis, who was shelved until Christmas after breaking is right thumb in a fight with a friend just prior to the start of the season. Now he we likely be fined heavily and have his reputation further tarnished by this latest incident. While he's certainly not the first athlete to say something vulgar to a fan, he is the first one I remember having his comment recorded so clearly by the live broadcast of the game. Perhaps Big Baby should stop worrying about being called fat by an opposing fan and start worrying about contributing more than the measly 5.8 points per game he's currently giving the Celtics.

Ladder Challenge: Morgan vs Sullivan

In last week's Ladder Challenge it was Curt Schilling defeating Kevin Garnett with 66% of the vote to retain his spot at #61 on the Ladder and improve his Challenge record to 3-0-0. This week Patriots founder Billy Sullivan (#66) attempts to move up 1 spot when he takes on one of his former employees, Stanley Morgan (#65). As big of a Stanley Morgan fan as I was, the original owner of the Pats gets my vote this week. Who has your support in this week's battle? (Remember, the most votes in the comments section is the tie-breaker, so be sure to share your thoughts!)

Pats Notes: 2010 AFC East Favorites?

Despite the season being over, there is still plenty to discuss in this edition of the New England Patriots Weekly Post.....Since winning the Super Bowl in 2001 the Pats have not won the AFC East every season, but as far as I can remember they have been the pre-season division favorites every year. Will that change in 2010? With the Jets appearing to return all key players and the Pats possibly being without several important players (i.e. Wes Welker), it would seem Rex Ryan's team will end the Pats streak.....The first 2010 NFL Mock Draft from Mel Kiper Jr. has the Patriots taking Clemson DE/OLB Ricky Sapp at #22.....Despite Welker, Tom Brady and Randy Moss all pulling out of the Pro Bowl for injury reasons, the Pats will still be represented by Logan Mankins, Vince Wilfork and Brandon Meriweather.....these and any other topics involving our favorite football team are open for discussion right here!

Celts Notes: Ray Votes "No" on Fans

As always, plenty to talk about in this edition of the Boston Celtics Weekly Post.....Ray Allen has come out against the fan vote counting 100% toward deciding the All Star starters. As any reader of this site knows, I could not agree more! As with the BCS, I like the idea of ridiculous choices like Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady starting because it shows how flawed the system is (with the BCS it was 3 undefeated teams without a chance to play for a title). Hopefully somebody is listening to Ray because they've been ignoring me for year.....Speaking of Ray Allen, I've heard many folks recently say he should be traded. Who exactly do people think Boston can get back for him?.....Rasheed Wallace has been a major disappointment so far in Boston. I'm hoping when KG returns and he goes back to the bench he will be able to be effective in small spurts at least.....these and any other topics involving our favorite basketball team are open for discussion right here!