Last Call NHL Playoff Predictions: Stanley Cup

Cowboy Up?

by Gabe Souza
Editorial. Photos by AP News

Something’s missing.

Things are slightly awry in Beantown, and though things might be turning the corner, the bottom line is that Theo Epstein’s Red Sox are off to a stumbling fourth place start.

It’s been a confusing go so far for the Sox. One night the vaunted pitching and defense looks like it could win you a championship. John Lester has been nearly unhittable in his last seven starts, including the only Sox win over the Yankees a few weekends ago.

At other times, however, it’s been atrocious at best. Josh Beckett has an abysmal 7.29 ERA and supposed slick fielder Adrian Beltre is looking more like the reincarnation of Edgar Renteria – though he might finally be coming through.

These aren’t the Boston Red Sox that won the World Series just three years ago and they certainly aren’t the Idiots that broke the curse in 2004.

Musical Backfields

by Nick Traicoff
Editorial. Photos by AP News

As the opening waves of free agency begin to settle, running backs have easily experienced the greatest fluctuation of any position.  

Faces of franchises, former Pro Bowlers, and backups oozing with potential were released into the wild, the majority of them questionably lodging in already crowded situations. In doing so, they have passed over many vacant jobs of promise--openings that continue to exist.  

Let’s take a look at the many meaningful fantasy implications free agency has held for four specific plowhorses—two of which are former first-round stalwarts who’ve fallen from grace, the other two hoping to find themselves among this prestigious crowd in the near future.

Thomas Jones:

The 31 year-old Thomas “Biceps” Jones provided the offseason with one of its first big splashes. 

Playing in 2009’s most run-heavy offense, the Jets’ veteran was fed the ball a whopping 331 times.  He feasted royally behind arguably the top run-blocking offensive line in the league, amassing a career best 1402 rushing yards while breaking the franchise rushing touchdown record (13) which he had set the year prior by crossing the plane 14 times.  

Rushing for over 1,000 yards in 5 consecutive seasons, one of only three active backs to do so, Jones now ranks second in rushing yardage totals over that span, trailing only a man who will be discussed later.  So how did the Jets re-pay their yardage-raking, history-making, and record breaking plowhorse? By refusing to pay his bonus and sending him packing.

But backs of Jones’ pedigree don’t tend to last too long in the open market, and given the many muddied backfields throughout the NFL, Biceps unsurprisingly found work rather easy to come by.  Where he decided to settle, however, proves quite surprising.

Last Call's Hub Hot Spots

Last Call's Ian Tasso broke down and ranked Boston's Top Sports Bars…check it out:

"Hub Hot Spots"

Last Call NBA Playoff Predictions: Conference Finals

Last Call NHL Playoff Predictions: Conference Finals

Philadelphia - Where Failure Is an Option

by Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

I wasn’t going to do it. I felt bad, to be honest. Which is weird, because usually when it comes to sports, I'm a soulless bastard.

Regardless, the Bruins had somehow taken the form of Jesus on Ice, went up 3-0, and I felt bad about writing one of these. I was about halfway through, and scrapped it.

But then something amazing happened. It came when Dan Carcillo was skating around somewhere, or being a bitch at some point, his floppy mullet flailing in the air, that stupid tooth-less smile on his face – and I realized something.

God, do I hate Philadelphia.

Then, Philly went and won game four, giving me a little extra time to fish through and find some extra reasons why Philadelphia sucks.

And then my dad dropped 180 bucks – of his hard earned money - to bring me and my sister to watch game five.

And Philly went and won.

And that’s when I decided this had to be written. For my dad, for his 180 bucks, and for the city of Boston. Because we need this. And Philly needs this. Because they suck.

So without further ado, here are ten reasons why Philadelphia sucks ass.

Last Call on Air - The Return of Tappen

May 6, 2010
Tasso, Bartlett, Liebman
Special Guest: NESN Bruins Analyst
Kathryn Tappen

AFC East Draft Breakdown

by Tom Nieradka

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Almost more than any other division so far, the AFC East has been very active this offseason, adding big-time free agents and instant impact draft picks. But, how is this all going to play out, and is anyone going to be able to topple the Patriots from the top of the division this year?

Let's take a look.

4. Buffalo Bills:

I was not a fan of the Bills draft style this season.

They used their first pick, nine overall, to go out and grab the best running back in the draft in CJ Spiller. No question this guy is a playmaker, but the problem here lies in the fact that the Bills already have two effective running backs. Fred Jackson ran for 1,000 yards last season, and Marshawn Lynch is only one year removed from doing the same thing. 

There was no reason for the Bills to grab this running back when they had such huge needs, primarily at quarterback and on the offensive line.

A Rush of Blood to the Head

By Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Let’s go back to the start: March 7, 2010 -- The Boston Bruins, playing on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins, lose their first line center Marc Savard after a questionable hit from Penguins grinder Matt Cooke.

Savard had just taken a shot from above the circles when Cooke raised his shoulder and struck Savard in the head. Savard was on the ice for several minutes, being attended to by a Penguins team doctor, before being carried off. He would be diagnosed with a Grade 2 concussion.

The Bruins were livid.

"A guy like that has to be suspended," Bruins head coach Claude Julien said. "That's the way I see it because it's an elbow to the head from the blind side, and that's exactly the example they show, what we've got to get out of this game."

Last Call on Air - Tanguay Returns

April 29, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Souza, Tam, Nieradka
Special Guest: Comcast Sports Net New England
Gary Tanguay

State of the Nation - Stumbling Start

May 2, 2010

Tasso, Herman

Last Call NBA Playoff Predictions: 2nd Round

Last Call NHL Playoff Predictions: 2nd Round