Rivers May Have Torn ACL

StearnsAccording to Butch Stearns of WFXT TV FOX 25 in Boston San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has a torn ACL and will attempt to play on it Sunday afternoon in Foxboro.The Chargers have reported the injury as a “sprained MCL” but according to a source Stearns claims the QB has the much more serious ACL tear. The source also told Stearns that it will severely limit Rivers side to side movement.

Now for those of you who don’t know, Stearns is one of the biggest flaming idiots in all of Boston sports. Check that, in all of sports. This is the same moron who talked over the star spangled banner during his on field pre-game report prior to a Red Sox- Indians playoff game this fall. Not to mention his on going battles with Curt Schilling over Stearns stupidity. So if this turns up to be false, either before, during or after the game I won’t be surprised.

If he does get it right, it will just go to show you even a blind squirrel can find a nut on occasion.

Red Sox Radio Listeners: Your Prayers Have Been Answered

Good riddanceGuess what Red Sox fans? Our ears will no longer have to hear the awful announcing that comes out of the mouth of Glenn Geffner on the radio.

The Florida Marlins announced today that they have hired Geffner to be one of their play-by-play announcers for the upcoming 2008 season. Geffner will also host the pregame and postgame shows as well.

“The Florida Marlins organization is thrilled to welcome Glenn and his family back to South Florida,” Marlins senior vice president of communications and broadcasting P.J. Loyello said. “Although we received significant interest from many qualified candidates, Glenn’s impressive baseball background, coupled with his desire to be an active member of our organization and community, made him the right choice. Fans across the Florida Marlins Radio Network will enjoy listening to longtime great Dave Van Horne and Glenn for many years to come, starting with our first broadcast on March 1.”

Somewhere right now, Joe Castiglione is celebrating Geffner’s departure. I also have to wonder what Lou over at 38cliches.com is going to do with his time now.

hat tipto JD from SporTech Matter for the link.

Statement On Moss’ Restraining Order

The attorney representing Rachelle Washington, the Florida woman who filed a temporary restraining order against Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, has issued a statement in the case.

David McGill’s statement comes from NBCSports.com. 

“For the past 11 years, Ms. Washington has cared deeply for Mr. Moss and has been there for him throughout all of his trials and tribulations. However, she refuses to be further disrespected by him. It has never been her intention to hurt Mr. Moss in any way. However, she has suffered mental and physical harm as a result of his actions. She simply wants him to take responsibility for what he has done. As a battery victim, she has shown great strength throughout this entire ordeal.

“Ms. Washington has been unfairly characterized as someone simply seeking financial gain. In fact, it was Mr. Moss’ representatives who first contacted our office to offer a “six figure” settlement with hopes of not having this incident become public record.

“We have heard Mr. Moss’ statement regarding the incident. He has acknowledged that he was at Ms. Washington’s Florida residence and that he was “guilty” of an “accident” which occurred. However, Mr. Moss fails to mention how his reckless and degrading conduct rendered Ms. Washington unable to drive her vehicle to seek medical attention. As the evidence will show, there is serious doubt that Mr. Moss is capable of recalling with clarity the exact details of what transpired that evening. As Mr. Moss has previously stated, “Do your homework and check his resume.

“We look forward to presenting all of the evidence at the court hearing on January 28, 2008.”

Continue reading →

Finals? But I Didn’t Even Study – It’s Our Conference Finals Picks

The NFL playoffs are back on Sunday with a pair of games for the AFC and NFC Conference Championships. For football fans in the northeast this is a great weekend because the Patriots are back on the field against that pack of yipping yorkies, the Chargers. That team reminds me of my brothers dog because neither of them will shut the hell up. And like my brothers dog a good smack with a newspaper and putting him in his room does the trick.

It’s also a great day for Giants fans because Elisha Manning has all of a sudden morphed into into a manly quarterback and the Giants are playing some very good ball. But they have to go into historic Lambeau Field and come out with a win to go to the Super Bowl. I kinda feel bad for Jets fans, I mean they’ll be drunk again which sometimes isn’t so bad, but their top division rival and the guys they share the back pages with are both still playing and that has to suck as bad as the Colts did last Sunday.

So here’s the breakdown:

AFC logo

Sunday January 20, 2008 at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA

San Diego at New England (-14) at 3 P.M. on CBS.

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

  • Ian: Patriots 34, Chargers, 21

  • Steve: Patriots 28, Chargers, 10

 

NFC logo

Sunday January 20, 2008 at Lambeau Field, Green Bay WI

New York Giants at Green Bay (-7) at 6:30 P.M. on FOX.

Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

  • Ian: Packers 21, Giants, 17

  • Steve: Packers 24, Giants, 20

NESN To Increase Red Sox Spring Training Coverage

NESN logosWhile NESN hasn’t announced what Red Sox Grapefruit League games they are going to cover, they did announce that they will cover the Red Sox spring training like they never have before.

Tom Caron will be down at the Fort hosting a new show called Red Sox Spring Break Live.

On Red Sox Spring Break Live, host Tom Caron will spend two hours interviewing players, management and analysts from the Red Sox’ spring training complex in Fort Myers, Fla.

The show will air live at 10 a.m. on training days. It will be re-aired at 3:30 p.m. on training days. In the evenings, the station will run a condensed, 30-minute version of Caron’s morning show.

While the show will be live while most people are at work, I sense that people will be making good use of their TIVO’s or DVR’s to have something to watch when they arrive home from the daily grind. I see this as a great opportunity to the fans as most of our spring training news comes via the local Boston papers. Now the fans will be able to see live (or on tape) the happenings at spring training. Of course nothing beats going to spring training if you’re lucky enough.

As for me, I’ve been to the Red Sox spring training camp a few times but way back when it was in Winter Haven as it was a short drive from where I attended college in Lakeland, FL. I’ve also been to numerous spring training games when I was in college as well because the Detroit Tigers trained and still train in Lakeland as well.

Red Sox News & Notes – 1/17

Red Sox News & Notes @ SOX & Dawgs

The start times for the Boston Red Sox games at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan have been announced.

Exhibition games:

  • March 22nd – Red Sox vs Hanshin Tigers (exhibition game), 12:07 PM Japan time, 11:07 PM March 21 ET
  • March 23rd – Red Sox vs Yomiuri Giants (exhibition game), 7:07 PM Japan time, 6:07 AM ET

Ricoh MLB Opening Series Japan LogoRicoh Major League Baseball Opening Series

  • March 25th – Red Sox vs Oakland A’s, 7:07 PM Japan time, 6:07 AM Eastern time
  • March 26th – Red Sox vs Oakland A’s, 7:07 PM Japan time, 6:07 AM Eastern time

So folks, if you want to catch the Red Sox on their opening day this year, you’re going to have to get up bright and early. Hopefully if they are quick games, you can watch the whole game then head to work. Just make sure to drink a lot of coffee.

The Red Sox made their deal with Doug Mirabelli official yesterday. It’s a 1-year $550,000 deal. Mirabelli can also make $275,000 in roster bonuses, $150,000 in conditioning bonuses and $1.25 million depending on the number of games he plays and starts.

Celtics Extinguish Blazers, 100-90

The Boston Celtics halted their first two-game losing streak of the season as they cooled off the red hot Portland Trail Blazers 100-90 Wednesday night at the TD BankNorth Garden.

Ray Allen goes to the hoop against Portland - Getty PhotoCeltics guard Ray Allen got back into a groove with his best game in a while as he dropped 35 points on Portland. The Celtics also got 26 points and 7 boards from Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce added 12 points and 8 rebounds and Eddie House, who started for an injured Rajon Rondo was the fourth Green teamer in double figures with 10 points as Boston improved to 31-6.

The Trailer Blazers, who sport the NBA’s youngest team, came in red hot with just one loss in their last 14 games. They were led by Brandon Roy’s 22 points, Jarrett Jack and Travis Outlaw each had 17 points and LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 16 points as Portland dropped to 23-15.

Boston’s Leon Poe missed tonight’s game as his girlfriend, Lloren Cook gave birth to a baby boy earlier today.

The Celtics host the 76ers on Friday at the Garden.

Paw Prints – Women’s Roundball & Gridiron News

Paw Prints @ SOX & Dawgs

Mel Thomas shooting a 3 - Courant PhotoWell I have some good news and bad news regarding a few UConn athletes.

The bad news is that women’s basketball player Mel Thomas has been lost for the season with a torn ACL and torn lateral meniscus. Thomas suffered the injury with 1:52 left in last night’s win over the Syracuse Orange. Unfortunately for her, the injury will end her UConn career.

She is the second UConn starter to suffer a torn ACL this season.

The good news is that football player Donald Thomas was asked to participate in the East-West Shrine game that’s being held at the University of Houston’s Robertson Stadium on Saturday night. The game starts at 7 PM and is being broadcast nationally on ESPN2. Thomas will play for the East squad and will be wearing #74.

Tippett Named Finalist For HOF

Andre Tippett, a 5-time Pro Bowler as a New England Patriots linebacker, has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is Tippett’s second consecutive year as a finalist and he is one of 14 former modern-era players up for consideration.

Andre TippettThe Hall of Fame’s 44-member Selection Committee will chose between four and seven of those former players for induction into the Hall’s Class of 2008 on February 2nd in Phoenix Arizona.

Tippett, a linebacker with the team from 1982-92, made 5 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1984-88 and was named to the NFL’s 1980’s All-Decade team. Tippett, a second round pick in 1982 out of Iowa, holds the franchise record with 100 career sacks and 18.5 sacks in a season. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999, where he is one of ten members to be honored by the team.

Tippett currently works for team as it’s executive director of community affairs.

Youk, Lopez & Synder File For Arbitration

Kevin Youkilis - SOX & Dawgs illustrationThis updates comes to us from Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe:

Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis and relief pitchers Javier Lopez and Kyle Snyder are among the 110 big-league players who have filed for salary arbitration, according to information released by the players’ union. The three were the only players on the Sox roster eligible for arbitration.

Salary figures are exchanged on the 18th, with hearings scheduled from Feb.1 to 21.Youkilis and Lopez are arbitration-eligible for the first time. Snyder signed last January for $535,000 and avoided arbitration in 2007. Youkilis was paid $424,500 last season after he and the Sox could not come to contract terms and he was renewed at that figure by the club; he figures to get a substantial bump.

I would have to think that Youkilis will get a one year deal in the range of $4-6 million, Lopez around $550,000 and Synder $850,000. In the history of Theo Epstein’s regime as general manager of the Red Sox, no player has ended up going to arbitration. Let’s hope Theo can continue this streak.