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CLOSED!! ? The Official 2006 Sports Thread ? CLOSED!!

Discussion in 'Archive: Boston, MA' started by DarthWormie, Apr 10, 2006.

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  1. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Today's injury report changes:

    Patriots: LB Don Davis (lower leg) was upgraded from questionable to probable.

    Vikings: WR Troy Williamson (concussion) was downgraded from probable to questionable.
     
  2. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    The Red Sox announced that 2007 ticket prices for most seats will remain unchanged from 2006. The only seats that will see an increase are the so-called "premium" seating areas, including dugout seats, field boxes, the EMC Club, and the State Street Pavillion. Ticket prices for the "Green Monster" and right field roof deck tables will be announced at a later date. The Red Sox will also continue their special $7 ticket price for active-duty military personnel.
     
  3. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/10/28/passing_of_a_celtics_legend/

    A true legend of Boston sports, Arnold "Red" Auerbach, has passed away at the age of 89. He holds the honor of being one of the few men, if not only man, to be inducted into his sport's Hall of Fame twice, once as a coach and a second time as a contributor. He won 9 NBA titles as Celtics head coach, a record he now shares with Phil Jackson, and won 7 more running the front office, the last in 1986. "Red" was well-known for his trademark cigar, which he would light up after Celtics victories. He will be missed in Boston.
     
  4. DarthMoby

    DarthMoby Jedi Padawan star 4

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    Apr 10, 2002
    R.I.P. Red, you were truly a legend.
     
  5. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Missed most of the Patriots game last night (reason to be explained in the "random" thread), but I did hear that except for a big punt return by the Vikings (which was answered by Maroney's big kickoff return), it was total domination by the Patriots. 300+ yards & 4 TDs from Brady and a 4 INT, 4 sack (including a "sacktrick" on one series) performance by the defense keyed the 31-7 blowout.

    Short week for the Pats, and Indy comes to town for a Sunday night tilt. The Colts' run defense hasn't been very good all year, so look for Dillon and Maroney to have a field day. [face_devil]
     
  6. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Michael Felger's report card

    Mostly As...the low grades were a B+ for the offensive line (not bad, considering there were two rookies on the right side of the line) and a B for the special teams (could've been higher if not for the big punt return by the Vikings).
     
  7. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    This week's power rankings:

    ESPN: #3
    CBS SportsLine: #3
    Fox Sports: #3
    Sports Illustrated: #3
    Football Outsiders: #6

    A convincing win against a perceived good team generally means you'll improve in the experts' eyes, especially when a team that was ahead of you loses (as Denver did against the Colts). Dr. Z at SI sums it up the best in his comment about the Colts this week: "The ballots are open: Which was more impressive, what the Colts did to Denver or what the Patriots did to Minnesota? A tough one. Indy worked against a better defense, but its own defense got punished by an undrafted rookie named Mike Bell. But why ask theoretical questions when this will be answered in Foxboro on Sunday night?"
     
  8. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Be prepared for a lengthy injury report post. Parting w/ the posting norm, I'll give the Patriots' injury report first rather than the visiting team's, even though it's the Colts for this game:

    Questionable: CB Willie Andrews (thigh), WR Reche Caldwell (knee), LB Don Davis (lower leg), RB Kevin Faulk (ankle), WR Jabar Gaffney (hand), TE Daniel Graham (ankle), CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist), OL Russ Hochstein (knee), WR Chad Jackson (hamstring), OT Nick Kaczur (shoulder), TE Garrett Mills (thigh), OG Stephen Neal (shoulder), DL Richard Seymour (left elbow), CB Antwain Spann (shoulder), TE David Thomas (hand), DE Ty Warren (shoulder), S Eugene Wilson (hamstring)
    Probable: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder)

    A total of 17 players are listed as questionable for the Patriots. The additions to the report from the end of last week are Caldwell, Gaffney, Jackson, Mills, and Thomas. Andrews, Davis, Faulk, and Spann have been downgraded to questionable after being listed as probable at the end of last week. As usual, every player except Brady was reported to have missed at least a portion of team drills. Mike Reiss said in his blog that this list could be perceived as a salvo fired in the direction of Colts president Bill Polian, who has lodged complaints to the league office against the Patriots in the past.

    The Colts -- surprise -- also list 17 questionable players:

    Out: DT Montae Reagor (head)
    Questionable: RB Joseph Addai (wrist), LB Gary Brackett (knee), OT Ryan Diem (upper arm), DE Dwight Freeney (shoulder), CB Matt Giordano (calf), CB Nicholas Harper (knee), WR Aaron Moorehead (back), LB Rob Morris (hamstring), LB Keith O'Neil (ankle), DT Darrell Reid (abdomen), RB Dominic Rhodes (lower back), S Bob Sanders (knee), P Hunter Smith (right groin), WR Brandon Stokley (knee), TE Ben Utecht (lower back), K Adam Vinatieri (right groin), WR Terrence Wilkins (knee)

    Reagor, Diem, Giordano, Harper, Morris, O'Neil, Sanders, and Stokely were reported to have missed a portion of team drills.
     
  9. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    The infield that helped the Red Sox come within one miscue of tying the major league record for fewest errors in a season (the record is 65 held by the 2003 Seattle Mariners) was surprisingly snubbed for the American League Gold Glove awards. The winners:

    P Kenny Rogers (DET)
    C Ivan Rodriguez (DET)
    1B Mark Teixeira (TEX)
    2B Mark Grudzielanek (KC)
    SS Derek Jeter (NYY)
    3B Eric Chavez (OAK)
    OF Torii Hunter (MIN), Ichiro Suzuki (SEA), Vernon Wells (TOR)

    Jeter's Gold Glove nod over Alex Gonzalez is especially surprising, but while Jeter had more than twice as many errors as Gonzalez (15 to 7), Jeter also had considerably more fielding chances (610 to 475).
     
  10. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Today's injury report changes:

    The Patriots added three players, as follows:

    Questionable: OT Matt Light (hand), RB Laurence Maroney (thigh)
    Probable: QB Matt Cassel (right shoulder)

    Light and Maroney were reported to have missed at least a portion of team drills. While today's changes could be considered part of the back-and-forth with the Colts, Mike Reiss reports that Light had some of the fingers on his right hand wrapped in the locker room.

    The Colts reported that CB Nicholas Harper (questionable, knee) and S Bob Sanders (questionable, knee) returned to practice today after missing at least a portion of team drills yesterday.
     
  11. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    No changes to the injury report today for the Patriots.

    The Colts upgraded K Adam Vinatieri and P Hunter Smith, both listed with right groin injuries, from questionable to probable. The Colts also reported that S Bob Sanders (questionable, knee) missed a portion of team drills today. Sanders was not reported to have missed a portion of team drills yesterday.

    In Red Sox news, the Globe reported that first base coach Bill Haselman would not return for 2007.
     
  12. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    The thing that can be said about this weekend's Patriots and Boston College games is that they were very similar, in that both teams tried to get too cute in the second half and that turnovers were the difference. That being said, I was surprised that the Patriots abandoned the run in the second half. Maybe they thought they had no answer for the Colts' passing attack and had to match them score for score, especially with Rodney Harrison out, but they did seem to find it when they switched coverage from man to their version of the "Tampa Two". Anyway, both the Pats and BC are 7-2 (with the losses coming in the same weeks) and both teams have what figure to be easy home games this weekend, BC against Duke and the Pats against the Jets.

    The bright side of the weekend was the New England Revolution, as a goal in the fourth minute by Taylor Twellman held up for a 1-0 win against the Eastern Conference's top seed, DC United. The Revs advance to MLS Cup for the second straight year, where they will play the Houston Dynamo on Sunday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park, home of FC Dallas.
     
  13. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Michael Felger's report card

    The telling thing is that Felger said the game came down to quarterback play and coaching...Brady flunked, and the coaches got a D-. The linebackers were just about the lone bright spot, getting an A- for their play.

    I'd be remiss in letting this game go without mentioning that Troy Brown passed the great Stanley Morgan for #1 on the Patriots' career receptions list. Troy Brown has been a model Patriot throughout his career, so he's most deserving of the new record. Way to go Troy! :D
     
  14. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Various contract and roster-related items...

    The Patriots have claimed S Rashad Baker off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings. The move should not be construed as replacing an apparently injured Rodney Harrison, as the Patriots have released CB Antwain Spann to make room for Baker.

    The Spanish-language Endi.com is reporting that the Red Sox have re-signed free agent utility infielder Alex Cora to a new two-year deal. I also missed one other item last week: The Sox have picked up the 2007 renewing club option on knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

    EDIT: In late contract news, the Sox have declined to pick up the club option on right-handed reliever Keith Foulke. Foulke now has 48 hours to exercise his player option or else the closer for the 2004 championship team will become a free agent.
     
  15. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Mike Reiss quoted a league source as saying that safety Rodney Harrison suffered a broken scapula (shoulder blade) in Sunday night's game against the Colts. The injury will not require surgery; however, no timetable was given for Harrison's return to action.
     
  16. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Power rankings:

    ESPN: #4
    CBS SportsLine: #7
    Fox Sports: #3
    Sports Illustrated: #2
    Football Outsiders: #8

    Were the Patriots that bad Sunday night, or were the Colts that good? Only Pete Prisco @ CBS SportsLine thought the Pats were bad enough to merit a big drop in his ranking. Dr. Z at Sports Illustrated even thought that the Colts and Patriots are close enough to give the Patriots his #2 spot after the Bears' loss to the Dolphins. Pete Prisco, however, does ask, "Even though (the Patriots) lost to the Colts, don't you get the feeling they'll see each other again down the road?"
     
  17. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    This week's injury report (it's shorter this week, trust me [face_laugh]):

    Jets

    Questionable: FB B.J. Askew (foot), CB David Barrett (hip), WR Laveranues Coles (calf), WR Tim Dwight (thigh), RB Cedric Houston (knee), WR Justin McCareins (foot)
    Probable: RB Kevan Barlow (calf), LB Matt Chatham (foot), CB Andre Dyson (ankle), OL Pete Kendall (knee), QB Chad Pennington (calf), QB Patrick Ramsey (thigh)

    Only the players listed as questionable for the Jets were reported to have missed practice.

    Patriots

    Out: S Rodney Harrison (shoulder)
    Questionable: TE Daniel Graham (ankle), CB Ellis Hobbs (wrist), OL Russ Hochstein (knee), RB Laurence Maroney (ankle), TE Garrett Mills (thigh), G Stephen Neal (shoulder), DL Richard Seymour (left elbow), DE Ty Warren (shoulder), S Eugene Wilson (hamstring)
    Probable: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder)

    Every player listed for the Patriots except for Brady was reported to have missed at least a portion of team drills.

    Players no longer listed for the Patriots include S Willie Andrews, WR Reche Caldwell, QB Matt Cassel, LB Don Davis, RB Kevin Faulk, WR Jabar Gaffney, WR Chad Jackson, OT Nick Kaczur, OT Matt Light, and TE David Thomas. CB Antwain Spann was also listed last week, but has since been reassigned to the practice squad after clearing waivers.

    Additionally, it has been reported that S Rodney Harrison will be out indefinitely.

    In a bit of good news today, FB Patrick Pass, who has been on the PUP list, participated in practice for the first time this season.

    In Celtics news, F Al Jefferson has undergone an emergency appendectomy and will miss the next 3-6 weeks. Also, C Theo Ratliff is expected to play tonight at the Garden against the Charlotte Bobcats after missing the first three games of the season.
     
  18. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, citing MLB sources, is reporting that the Red Sox may have won the bidding for the posting rights to World Baseball Classic MVP Daisuke (pronounced DICE-kay) Matsuzaka, the gyroballer for the Seibu Lions in Japan, for between $38M and $45M. Bidding for the posting rights ended yesterday, and the Seibu Lions have until Tuesday to indicate whether they have accepted the high bid, without being told which team posted the high bid. If the Lions accept the high bid, the winning major league club then has 30 days to negotiate a contract with the player. If the Lions do not accept the high bid, or if a deal cannot be reached with Matsuzaka, he will remain with his Japanese club next year and become a free agent when his contract expires in the spring of 2008.

    Also, the Herald's Tony Massarotti is reporting that Keith Foulke has declined his $3.75M player option to remain with the Red Sox and will become a free agent.
     
  19. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Major League Baseball announced today that Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez and designated hitter David Ortiz have been awarded American League Silver Slugger awards, which are given to the best offensive players in each league at their positions. This is "Big Papi's" third Silver Slugger, while Ramirez won for the eighth consecutive year and ninth overall. The American League winners:

    DH: David Ortiz (BOS)
    C: Joe Mauer (MIN)
    1B: Justin Morneau (MIN)
    2B: Robinson Cano (NYY)
    SS: Derek Jeter (NYY)
    3B: Joe Crede (CWS)
    OF: Jermaine Dye (CWS)
    OF: Vladimir Guerrero (LAA)
    OF: Manny Ramirez (BOS)
     
  20. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    As a matter of correction, I have been told by someone on IRC that Daisuke Matsuzaka has denied throwing the gyroball in interviews, but if he actually was, I believe the scrutiny of American super slow-motion replay will bear that out. Mike Adams gave an "official" scouting report on Matsuzaka on WEEI's "Planet Mikey" last night: he has a "rising" fastball that tops out in the low to mid 90s, a filthy slider, and a splitter that has good separation from his fastball. The downside is that he is not very big physically, so some would question whether he can stand up to working on only four days rest rather than the five days rest that is customary for starting pitchers in Japan.
     
  21. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    The Boston College men's basketball team, ranked #15 in the nation in the pre-season, served notice last night that the graduations of power forward Craig Smith and point guard Louis Hinnant won't hurt them, as they romped to an 86-47 win against the Wildcats of the University of New Hampshire in the season opener at Conte Forum. The Eagles have seemingly found their Craig Smith replacement in another undersized but rotund power forward, freshman Shamari Spears, who led all scorers with 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in his college debut. Small forward and All-American candidate Jared Dudley, assuming the senior leadership role, added 19 points. By way of a preview, sophomore guard Tyrese Rice, who was the primary scorer off the bench last season, has slid into the role of starting point guard.
     
  22. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Pats blew another one, unfortunately. The Jets scored 14 points on turnovers, and fending off a late charge by Brady and the offense, it was enough for the Jets to win 17-14. The Patriots had a streak of 57 games without consecutive losses working, and had they won today, they would've been in a position to at least tie the record of 60 games without consecutive losses held by the 49ers.

    The BC football team, however, won handily over Duke last night, setting up a showdown with Maryland this coming Saturday with the lead in the ACC's Atlantic Division on the line if Virginia Tech can also beat Wake Forest, who BC lost to last weekend.
     
  23. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Taylor Twellman scored a goal in the 113th minute (23rd minute of overtime) to give the New England Revolution a 1-0 lead, but then the Houston Dynamo's Brian Ching answered just seconds later to tie the game up at 1-1. There was no other scoring in overtime, so MLS Cup 2006 came down to penalty kicks. Both teams had goals in the first two rounds of kicks, but then the Revolution's Pat Noonan missed his kick in the third round after Houston's Dwayne De Rosario scored to give the Dynamo a goal advantage. Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis then came up with a big save on Brad Davis in the fourth round of penalty kicks, after which Taylor Twellman scored on his kick to tie the match. Brian Ching scored on his kick in the fifth round, meaning Jay Heaps would have to make his kick to send it into extra kicks. Heaps' kick was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad, however, giving the Dynamo a 4-3 penalty kick win. Twellman's goal in overtime ended a 346 minute scoreless stretch by the Revolution in MLS Cup play.

    All in all, a bad day for the Kraft family. :(
     
  24. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    Major League Baseball started handing out the major postseason awards today with the announcement of the Rookie of the Year awards. The American League Rookie of the Year was Detroit Tigers right-handed starter Justin Verlander, who received 26 of 28 first place votes. Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon received 20 second place votes and 3 third place votes for 63 points, finishing 70 points behind Verlander for second place. Minnesota Twins lefty Francisco Liriano and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis received the other first place votes.

    Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, a former Red Sox prospect, won the Rookie of the Year award in the National League.
     
  25. Wildstar02301

    Wildstar02301 Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Aug 7, 2003
    http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=22433&pcid=43

    The NFL announced that next Sunday's game against the Bears, which was a candidate to be flex-scheduled into the NBC 8:15 PM ET time slot, would be moved instead to the 4:15 PM ET late afternoon time slot on Fox. The flex-scheduled prime-time game for Week 12 will be the Philadelphia Eagles @ the Indianapolis Colts.
     
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