Oh, The Places They'll Go

BY BEN BARKER
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

The top five MLB Free Agents in 2010, and where they’ll play in 2011:

#5 Adam Dunn

Chicago White Sox

Adam Dunn has made it very clear that he doesn't want to be a full time DH at this point in his career.

Chicago will probably re-sign Paul Konerko, but even if they do, Dunn and Konerko could split time at first and DH.

This would be key for the White Sox, as they need some more power in the middle of their order. Konerko went off last year, but will need some help in 2011. Dunn has been offered arbitration by the Nationals, but will certainly decline and sign elsewhere.

Look for him to land in the windy city with a 3-4 year deal hovering around 10 million annually.

#4 Adrian Beltre

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Nobody is smiling more this off-season than Adrian Beltre.

This guy looked to be circling the drain as a legitimate power hitter in the MLB … and then 2010 happened.

Last year Beltre battled through injuries and almost single-handedly propelled the Red Sox into the playoffs. Brandon Wood didn’t work out for the Halo’s last season, and they’ll look for an external replacement for 2011. Nobody fits that mold better than Beltre, a guy who can do it with his bat, and his glove.

Beltre has made it clear that he’d like to return to the West Coast, and I can’t think of a better fit than the Angels.

Week 6; NHL Power Rankings

BY JESSE LIEBMAN
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

Last Call On-Air: John Havlicek

November 19, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Liebman, Souza 
   Special Guest: Celtics all-time leading scorer, 8-time NBA Champ and 13-time All Star
      John Havlicek

Last Call On-Air: Kathryn Tappen

November 19, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Liebman, Souza 
   Special Guest: NESN Bruins Analyst
      Kathryn Tappen

Last Call On-Air: Tanguay Strikes Again

November 12, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Liebman, Souza 
   Special Guest: Comcast Sports Net
      Gary Tanguay

Last Call On-Air: Donaldson Returns

November 12, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Liebman, Souza 
   Special Guest: Proidence Journal, Sports Writer
      Jim Donaldson

Last Call On-Air: Ryan Durling

November 5, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Liebman, Souza 
   Special Guest: Bruins writer and Biz Director, SomethingsBruin.net
      Ryan Durling 

Last Call On-Air: Gary Washburn

October 29, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Liebman, Souza 
   Special Guest: Boston Globe National NBA Writer
      Gary Washburn 

Don't Look Now...

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

BY GABE SOUZA
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

It was second and goal on the three-yard line, midway through the third quarter, with the Patriots cruising 17-3.

But New England's quarterback doesn't settle for cruising.

In recent years he might have lobbed a few spirals in the direction of Randy Moss -- who may, or may not have caught them.

But this was not the time for that. This was time for No. 12 to take back his team, to do what he would've done in the Super Bowl-winning years of 2001-04.

Tom Brady rushed to the line of scrimmage, gave center Dan Koppen a quick pat, took the snap, and used every inch of his 6-foot-4 frame to pile-drive his way into the end zone.

The touchdown gave the Patriots a commanding 20-point lead over Pittsburgh, a team many deemed the best in the NFL.

Almost immediately, over 64,000 Terrible Towel-waving fans fell silent.

Big Bad Tom, with his golden locks and growing scruff, leapt up, raised the ball, and with one giant scream, spiked it to the ground in celebration, instantly refreshing memories of the historic Snow-Bowl win nine long years ago.

And when that pigskin pounded the turf Sunday night, it sent a shock wave through Heinz Field, the repercussions of which were felt throughout the NFL.

The message was clear: Tom Brady is back.

Week 5; NHL Power Rankings

BY JESSE LIEBMAN
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

Well, That was Embarrassing

BY TOM NIERADKA
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

Sunday night, as I was watching the Dallas Cowboys get rocked by the Packers, I thought to myself…I'm almost embarrassed for the Cowboys right now.

Nothing went right for them, and I just couldn't stop laughing at their misfortune.

So I thought to myself that so far this year, there have been quite a few really odd things that have happened, more so than usual even. Looking back week nine, after much deliberation I was able to compile a list of the top five most embarrassing and ridiculous moments from the games this past week.

5. Hapless Vikings rally from 14-point deficit to beat the hapless Cardinals, accidently   make Brad Childress look good.

There has been a lot of press about the Vikings this week, mostly related to everyone wanting Brad Childress to be fired, including the players who have had enough of his “BS”. Percy Harvin apparently almost came to blows with Childress during an argument where Childress suggested that Harvin wasn't trying hard enough at practice.

All I can say about that fight is that Childress is lucky he checked himself before he wrecked himself.

Back to the game, up until the last five minutes everything was going according to plan. The Vikes were about to lose to the woeful Derek Anderson and the Cardinals, and seal the fate of their perennially terrible coach.

However even the best laid plans can often go bad, and in this case Brett Favre actually decided to avoid throwing interceptions, and instead hit Visanthe Shiancoe for a 25 yard TD in regulation to tie the game, then setting up the game winning field goal in overtime.

But wait, winning is good right?

Week 4; NHL Power Rankings

BY JESSE LIEBMAN
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

CSN Stores - They've Got Just About Everything

BY IAN TASSO

Here at Last Call – we're all about sports. It’s what we do, it’s what we’ve always done, and it’s what we’ll continue to do. We know that, and so do you.

But we also know the most important part about sports is conditioning and preparation, because without those, you’re no better than the competition.

That’s why Last Call has teamed up with CSN Stores, an online realtor with over 200 stores, selling everything form barstools to barbells.

In the coming weeks, we here at Last Call will be checking out some of their fitness products, and letting you know the who’s who and what’s what about some of the cool stuff they’ve got – from treadmills to yoga mats and everything in between.

Be sure to stay tuned – you’re not going to want to miss this.

And in the meantime, be sure to check out CSN Stores, for all your fitness – and home furnishing – needs.

Week 8: NFL Power Rankings

BY DARREN GROVE
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

These New Patriots Of Old

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

There’s a new team on top in the NFL.

Five straight wins – four of them within the conference – and the New England Patriots are back on top, boasting an NFL best 6-1 record seven games into the season.

It’s been a while since New England has been there – five long seasons to be exact. A city once atop the football world has taken a seat on the bus of “above-average mediocrity” that seemingly has reached its final destination: 2010.

With instinctive and aggressive athletes like Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes ravaging the middle of the field, thoughts of 2004’s Homeland Defense flicker through my head.

With a versatile, “get just as many points as we need and nothing more” offense stomping up and down the field, it feels like I stepped in a Time Machine and punched 2001 into the dashboard.

But it’s been a long time coming – and a process that was far from easy.

Let’s be honest: the 2009-10 season wasn’t an easy one for our New England Patriots.

Beloved stars Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison were turned away in the offseason, defensive stalwarts Mike Vrabel and Richard Seymour were shipped off just before the season began, and Wes Welker limped away just before it ended.

Week 3: NHL Power Rankings

BY JESSE LIEBMAN
EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP NEWS