CALLING ALL SPORTS                                                                                       11/3/09

The Red Sox aren’t playing. The Damn Yankees are though, and about to win their first World Series since 2000. The Patriots aren’t playing. They have a bye week. The Dolphins are coming to town. For action we have only the undefeated Celtics, who are devouring foes like a hungry beast. However the contests are so one-sided that a few glimpses will do. The Bruins are playing, but poorly, hovering around .500 and not scoring (Phil Kessel, come back). They aren’t worthy to be watched yet.

 

So where does that leave us? Well, waiting for the Patriots return to give us our proper sports jones. Bring on Miami. Hurry up Sunday.

 

Michael Holley on WEEI last week predicted that the Patriots will win out. Dale Arnold said incredulously “14-2?” Yep. The Dolphins should be a test, but with their one dimensional offense, the Pats will stack the line of scrimmage and make Chad Henne beat them. The Patriots should fricassee and flay the Dolphs. Indy away and New Orleans too, will tell how good these large lads of New England are.

 

When Matt Light is healthy, I’d expect the Pats to put Sebastian Vollmer at extra left tackle for both pass protection and running plays. Offensive linemen are being used by the Pats to serve as tight ends, blocking tight ends.

 

The secondary is starting to get more cohesive. And younger. Darius Butler and Pat Chung have had interceptions. Their development is crucial to the success of that secondary. A better pass rush is starting to help. More blitzing. The Pats may not need to score 35 points anymore to assure a win.

 

NFL OVAL TEAM

() Tom Cable, the Oakland Raiders coach, has had his ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend reveal that he is physically abusive. It’ll be surprising if Cable is not at least suspended (NFL has to protect its image). Al Davis may just fire Cable, who needs counseling.

 

() Arizona beats the New York Giants in New Jersey and then goes home and loses to the Jake Delhomme led Carolina Panthers. The Jake ‘Not the Snake’ who threw 3 INTs the week before vs. the Bills. Oh well, maybe it means that everyone is beating the Giants.

 

() Whether you like Brett Favre or not, you have to tip your cap to him after he led his Minnesota Vikings to an easy win over his old Green Bay teammates. Generalissimo Favre is definitely not retired or dead. Though he’s haunting the Packers and their fans.

 

() Ted Ginn, Jr., whose family helped raise Patriot Pierre Woods, had kick returns of 100 and 101 yards against the Jets. A team record. The two returns for TDs in one quarter

PUT SOME   SOUTH   IN YOUR MOUTH

 

 

 

wasn’t even a record. Travis Williams did it for the Packers in 1967. Ginn almost single-handedly shot down the Jets. Jason Taylor had a fumble return for a TD. 21 points but none by the offense.

 

() Jacksonville (Scobie) and Cleveland (Dawson) had extra points blocked in losses. Philly (Akers) had an extra point kick blocked in a win.

 

() Noticed that Donovan McNabb was credited with a reception Sunday vs. the Giants. Sure enough the NFL Network’s replay showed Justin Tuck deflecting McNabb’s pass, almost intercepting it for a sure TD, and McNabb pulling the ball away from Tuck.

 

() Ex-Patriot FB Heath Evans was doing a bang up job for the Saints (3 TDs) before an ACL injury ended his year. So who did New Orleans add? Ex-Pat/Navy FB Kyle Eckel.

 

() Mike Reiss (ESPNboston.com – 11/2) had this info on his Patriots blog:

DL Richard Seymour (Raiders) — In seven games, has totaled 25 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

LB Mike Vrabel (Chiefs) — Has a sack, forced fumble and three passes defended, as well as 28 tackles, in seven games.

 

() Reiss also explained (10/29) how the Patriots keep some players on their practice squad from jumping to another team’s active roster – they pay them extra money. Reiss mentioned C Ryan Wendell ($170,000) and DL Titus Adams ($150,000) as examples. Standard pay is $88,400.

 

NFL QUIZ

Who leads the NFL in passing yards and is tied for TD passes (16)?

 

BULLETS

• Great news that the Celtics have signed Rajon Rondo to a 5 year $55 million deal. The Celtics could not afford to let Rondo go on the open market and Monday was the deadline for a deal. Rondo is the oil that makes the Celtics’ engine run smoothly, fluidly. It always makes me laugh when I recall a draft night blunder by Dickie V, who was certain Rondo was a wasted pick (actually a trade from Phoenix). Any chance that the Celtics win another championship or more depends on Rondo feeding the Methuselahs.

• Comcast is making a big splash signing Sean McAdam, Tom E. Curran, Joe Haggerty and former Pro Jo sports editor Art Martone. The proof will be in the viewing.

• Karen Guregian (Herald – 11/1) noted that Hebrew National is offering football fans free franks any time an NFL player is found snacking on a hot dog during a game.

• Name and Game of the Week: Will Snyderwine made 5 FGs and Duke beat Virginia 28-17. Duke beat Virginia in football!!!! Al Groh is growling.

• And I am saddened (huh!) to report that Navy was beaten by Temple last Sunday 27-24. Another basketball power wins at football. Temple is now Bowl eligible (last Bowl for Temple was 1979!) Somewhere ex-Navy Seabee Buffalo Steve is stifling a sob. (From an item in the NCAA Footnotes - Globe of 11/1)

      Sportzine is also available at jimdawsonsports.com (Thanks Buffalo Steve)

WORLD SERIOUS

It has been almost painful to witness this World Series without the Red Sox. So understand that writing about it is equally difficult. Some people think there’ll be a seventh game. Not me. Last I looked, Andy Pettitte had just pitched another playoff series clincher (5 now?). He gets another chance on Wednesday, going on 3 days rest (see Mr. Yankee fan’s e-mail comments). So the Phillies have a chance. But I think they’re toast in Gotham.

 

Who gets the MVP for the Yankees? Originally I thought maybe Mariano Rivera. They suggested on WEEI that it might be Derek Jeter. I hate the Yankees and want to see Philly beat them. I don’t hate Derek Jeter, who has to be recognized for his career and his current World Series contributions. As a Sox fan I don’t care who gets MVP. However I do respect some of the NY players like Jeter, Rivera and Pettitte. Oh and Jorge Posada, who is one of the most dangerous RBI men in the clutch. Go Phillies!

 

E-MAIL

Jim,
Excellent ‘Zine.
As Patriot fans watch the maturation of second-year man Meriweather and early contributions by rookies Edelman (he’ll be back),Vollmer, Chung and Tate, we have to
be feeling pretty good about the ‘youngins’ the Patriots have drafted these last two
years. Pretty damn good youth movement on the Pats.
Celts starting strong. 
Cliff Lee wouldn’t be a free agent in 2010, would he?
Brad    

Those Patriot ‘youngins’ will be on stage again Sunday and hopefully will deliver good performances. The Celtics look nasty. Buckle up and get ready for a tremendous ride. We don’t need no stinkin’ Cliff Lee. Only kidding, Cliff, baby. I want Adrian Gonzalez -    Z

 

RE: Belichick in Churchill’s WII bunker - the report was that Bill found everything historically and remarkably accurate and authentic except for the cigar. Where’s Monica Lewinsky when you need her?

The Boud

Poor Monica – forever the butt of jokes re cigars. Or is that the mouth of. Never mind. - Z

 

Re whether Mr. Yankee watched the Giants game or the clincher versus the Angels:

Hey Jim,
To answer your question and a bit more: I was using the remote just a bit. I pretty much stayed on baseball game and switched in between innings. I didn’t stay too long on football though –you know about superstitions and all. A few thoughts about upcoming series since you didn’t say much although I really didn’t expect you to.
** Yanks have to keep any and I mean ANY decisions away from Girardi –anytime he has to make a decision he has no clue! Hopefully they can keep him out of game. He over manages way too much –he seems to look for the reliever who will give up the hit!! Game 3 of ALCS –still don’t get the move taking Robertson out.
** Activate Hinske–not Guzman –that was a wasted position in ALCS –they already had Gardner for the speed position but had no big hitter off bench.
** Gotta get Tex and Swisher hitting again although they both showed signs in Game 6!
** Game 2–Who’s Your Daddy!! Yanks should have ZIMMER come in and throw out first ball!!
** One last thing for now –Did I mention to keep Girardi out of any big important decisions??
Jim Dwyer

 

BTW, in that last game vs. the Angels, did you notice anything odd when A-Rod went into 2B to try and break up the DP? It appeared that he put his hands up and hit Aybar between the legs. Hope Aybar was wearing a cup. Aybar looked pissed.    -   Z

 

Yes i saw hands go up and then later arod patted him on the back –i didnt notice where he had hit him tho –good eyes !
Jim Dwyer

 

And this is the press release on a new book by Sean Sweeney, sports writer/editor, a Sportzine reader and former blogger at sportspages.com:

 

Fitchburg author rights a terrible sporting wrong in time travel novel

Just picture it for a second: Babe Ruth was never traded from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees, and the 1919 World Series wasn’t thrown by the Chicago White Sox. Then, in a bit of irony, Ruth is swapped for Shoeless Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver.

Could it have happened?

That’s the gist of Fitchburg author Sean Sweeney’s, writing under the pseudonym John Fitch V, newest novel, Turning Back The Clock, set to be released in October 2009. Sweeney has chosen the print-on-demand imprint CreateSpace, a division of Amazon.com, as the publisher.

The alternative history novel is originally set in October 2003, just after the Red Sox lose the American League Championship Series to the Yankees. But protagonist Greg Patterson, as he goes to sleep on that dreaded night, has a vision of going through time and changing the fortunes of Red Sox Nation. As he begins his research the next day, he finds that two of the greatest scandals in the history of baseball – the Sale of Babe Ruth and the Black Sox Scandal – could be linked together.

 

Greg and his friend, Brandon Roy, then embark on a time traveling journey that must be kept secret: No one must know what they are trying to do, for if they fail the mission, the status quo – the Yankees continuing to dominate the Red Sox – would continue.

 

Turning Back The Clock has a little bit of everything for every reader – sports and adventure for the guys, a little love story for the girls – and is a must have for any Red Sox fan that wanted the team to prevail before 2004.

 

NFL QUIZ ANSWER

Houston’s Matt Schaub (2342 yards passing). Schaub is tied with Favre and Brees for TD passes with 16. (Suggested by an item in the Globe’s 11/1 NFL Update by Jim McBride)