Last Call On-Air - Brad Marchand

October 29, 2010
Tasso, Liebman, Souza 
   Special Guest: Boston Bruins Forward
      Brad Marchand

Last Call On-Air - Heath Evans

October 29, 2010
Tasso, Barker 
  Special Guest: New Orleans Saint's Fullback, Ex-Patriot
  Heath Evans

Week 2: NHL Power Rankings

BY JESSE LIEBMAN
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

Week 6; NFL Power Rankings

BY DARREN GROVE
PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

From Inside the Locker Room: Celtics' Chemistry Key

Editor's Note: This article and accompanying photos were originally featured in Emerson College's The Berkeley Beacon: http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/

BY GABE SOUZA

EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY JESSE LIEBMAN

Nate Robinson slinked into the Celtics locker room Tuesday night, his 5-foot-9 frame sliding along the mahogany walls, his diminutive size dwarfed by human skyscrapers like Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal, each in the seven-foot range.

Robinson had just come from the parquet floor in Boston's TD Garden where the Celtics held an open practice for their fans.

Hundreds of green-clad die-hards gathered under the Garden's historical rafters, an NBA record 17 championship banners waving above them, as they cheered on their gladiators in a friendly scrimmage.

Robinson did his best to appease the excited crowd, displaying deft moves all afternoon, splitting defenders in the lane, his ball-handling skills so slick the basketball seemed like a yo-yo in his control. 

But Robinson did more than just steal the show on the floor - he also stole teammate Ray Allen's sneakers and promptly threw them into the crowd, much to the delight of fans.

Those who follow the team closely may be aware of Nate's series of Twitter videos that display his prankster antics, everything from high-flying dunks over the 7-foot-2 Shaquille O'Neal to dumping salt in the big man's water during lunch break.

As we assembled to enter the locker room toting microphones, video cameras, and tape recorders, it hit me.

It may have been the new Garden, but the old aura was still there.

Something About That Green...

BY GABE SOUZA
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

It gets me. It gets me Every single time I'm there.

When I look up to the rafters of the TD Garden, it sends a chill down my spine.

I hear the voice of Johnny Most, the famous Celtics announcer. I recall countless conversations with seasoned basketball fans, all of whom remember the guys in green dominating the hardwood.

It seems to grab any player or fan who enters the hallowed parquet floor. It’s not the regulation side hardwood, the leprechaun at midcourt, or the 20,000 raucous Beantown fans. It’s the 17 NBA Championship banners.

That’s right, count them. Seventeen. 

That’s the third most of any team in any professional sport, just behind the Yankees’ 27 in baseball and the Montreal Canadiens’ 24 in hockey.

First, 1965-1966 catches your eye. That year the Celtics breezed by the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one. But getting to the Finals was the hardest part and produced perhaps one of the most famous radio calls in sports history.

Up by one point in the final five seconds of Game 7 of the ’65 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, forward John Havlicek would go down in basketball lore for one play.

“Five seconds left, Boston only has a one point lead,” Most crackled into the radio. “Greer putting the ball into play. He gets it out deep and…Havlicek steals it! He stole the ball, Havlicek stole the ball! It’s all over! It’s all over and Johnny Havlicek is being mobbed on the floor.”

Most was the voice of the Celtics from 1953-1990. If you listen closely, you can still here his voice, cracking with excitement, swooping throughout the rafters of the Garden.

Pre-Season NHL Power Rankings

BY JESSE LIEBMAN
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

Has Brett Gone Too Favre?

BY WES GREELEY
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS


Brett Favre has been in the news a lot recently. A lot.

But just a few days ago, some new news regarding the “not-so-maybe-kinda-yes-no-retired-or-not” Minnesota Vikings quarterback was brought to the attention of the media.

It has been alleged that the quarterback for the purple and white sent lewd photographs of himself to Jets’ trainers, one of his former teams. The main witness in this case is Jenn Sterger and two Jets’ massage therapists who told Deadspin.com about said texts, and are willing to work with the NFL in getting to the bottom of it. 

The NFL will pursue the investigation if they find enough substance for the case.

Favre is aware of the allegations but has neither confirmed nor denied his actions. He has simply stated that he is “sorry” that he has become a distraction. He has also stated that he is willing to work with commissioner Roger Goodell on the matter. If he is found to have gone against the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, immediate action will take place, but Favre will have the option to appeal, a process that takes ten days.

The difficulties with this case include Favre’s 289 consecutive game streak – one which would come to an end should he be suspended – as well as Pittsburg Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisburger’s actions which caused him to be suspended 4 games for accusations of “improper behavior” at a bar even though he was found not guilty.

So now the question is “Which stakeholders will be affected most by the decision of whether or not to punish Brett Favre?”

You Can't Win 'Em All

Editor's Note: This article was originally featured in Emerson College's The Berkeley Beacon: http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/

BY IAN TASSO
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS


The stadium was tense.

Over 42,000 stood together on their feet, their towels flapping in the air as they poured down thunderous cheers like rain from a blackened cloud. 

As their closer came to the set, he held more than just a stitched baseball in his glove. He held the hopes of a city; the dreams of a generation. 

Almost in slow motion, San Francisco's hero exhaled, his pulse thumping in tune with the hundreds of thousands watching. And then, like the ticking hand of a grandfather clock, he made his first movement, beginning his wind-up, one that seemed to take longer than the game itself. 

As he released the ball, time seemed to slow, every rotation bringing the fans closer to a dream that had been held on ice for weeks. Like a tiger eyeing his prey, the batter's eyes widened as the ball approached, his grip tightening around the bat. 

And then it all went silent-a stadium full of fans holding their collective breath for an instant.

His swing seemed to last a lifetime, thousands of eyes glued to the action, thousands more looking away. But as the ball slammed into the catcher's glove, the sound of popping leather acted like a starter's gun at a track meet, signaling a celebration that bordered on pandemonium. 

With a Giant exhale, the stadium erupted in cheers. 

Fireworks and fists shot through the air like synchronized beacons of hope, the intervals between the booming explosions filled in with excitement and screaming. 

Red Sox Obituary

BY GABE SOUZA
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

The 2010 Boston Red Sox, who, until recently, held hope that they would win the Wild Card and make the World Series, died the night of Tuesday, Sept. 29, in the aftermath of huge battle victories for the Rays of Tampa Bay and Yankees of New York. The Sox team was eight months old.

Until recently, the deceased spoke of beating up on Marino Rivera in the ninth inning, watching the Laser Show return to the field and being scared by a large first baseman’s manly beard. But, a slew of injuries derailed the Sox and ultimately led to their death.

A family spokesman said that a wake will be open to the public and will take place at Fenway Park in Boston at the close of the Major League Baseball season. Doctors said the deceased had been vibrant and "full of life" as recently as the morning of Sept. 26, clinging to statistically teasing possibilities of making the playoffs.

The false hopes instilled in the Sox by a number of positive preseason predictions led to great disappointment in recent weeks. The numerous injuries weakened and made vulnerable to attack the once invincible soul.        

Week 4; NFL Power Rankings

BY DARREN GROVE
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

Bye Bye Beantown

BY GABE SOUZA
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS.

It hurts. It stings deep down in my blue-and-white-wearing, musket-carrying, super bowl ring-brandishing, chip-on-my-shoulder Patriot heart.

Randy Moss’ departure from New England is an open wound that won’t heal for a long time. It pains more than long time leading tackler Mike Vrabel’s departure to the Kansas City Chiefs a few years ago. It throbs worse than pro-bowler Richard Seymour’s departure for the bottomless pit of Al Davis-guarded black and silver.

Like the true Boston sports fan I am, I could mourn this loss for days, be vulgar to Patriots management and swear to never support them again. (Only to relent and watch next Sunday when the take on the Ravens.)

And while it took much self-persuasion to not do the above, I will not. I will not repeatedly bash Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick for their thick-headedness in letting a Hall of Famer leave to inevitably suffer with attention-whoring quarterback Brett Favre. I’m better than that. (Or at least I’m going to try to be for this piece, although I think trading Moss is probably the most bone-headed decision they’ve ever made. My In-Belichick-We-Trust is wearing thin.)