2010-2011 NBA Preview

In case you missed it, the landscape of the NBA underwent a formation right on par with the Jurassic period shift to the Cretaceous period over the summer. It seems like the events that unfolded were indeed as drastic as the extinction of dinosaur's which made those pre-historic shifts so remarkable.

Alright, maybe it wasn't quite that insane. After all, other than the Miami Heat's trio of  the LeBron/Bosh/D-Wade superstar signings, did any other franchise change their fortunes in that dramatic of fashion? You could say the New York Knicks might have been the second biggest winner, wooing Amar'e Stoudemire to head east. Stoudemire is a great player, particularly at the offensive end, but will the Knicks go from the lottery to the NBA finals by just adding him? Certainly not.  And none of the Heat's signee's actually wound up with the largest payday this summer. You'll be surprised when you find out who did at the bottom of this article.

So finally, tonight, the games will actually count and we can start to move away from the Summer of the Decision and focus on actual basketball again.

I've made my feelings on LeBron very well known: he's a self-absorbed punk who thinks he's bigger than the game of basketball.  That being said, he's still very easily a top 3 talent in the league. Will his numbers reflect that as he shares the spotlight with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh? Doubtful, although remember, he's been taking notes about everything that's been said about him this summer.

The Heat are going to be a very good team, there's no question about that. But let's not forget who the defending champions are: the Los Angeles Lakers, who, oh by the way, still have Kobe Bryant on their side. The Boston Celtics, the runners-up last Spring, didn't go anywhere either. And there are still plenty of other legitimate threats to keep the Heat off of this pedestal they feel as though they're on, including the Orlando Magic, who happen to play within the same division.

I'm done dedicating my time to a team that hasn't won anything yet. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Here is how I forsee the Association shaking out in the 2010-2011 season:

Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat
2. Boston Celtics
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Orlando Magic
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. New York Knicks
7. Milwaukee Bucks
8. Indiana Pacers
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9. Charlotte Bobcats
10. Washington Wizards
11. New Jersey Nets
12. Detroit Pistons
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
14. Philadelphia 76ers
15. Toronto Raptors

Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Dallas Mavericks
3. Seattle SuperSonics Oklahoma City Thunder
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Utah Jazz
6. Portland Trail Blazers
7. Houston Rockets
8. Los Angeles Clippers
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9. Phoenix Suns
10. Golden State Warriors
11. Denver Nuggets
12. Memphis Grizzlies
13. Sacramento Kings
14. New Orleans Hornets
15. Minnesota Timberwolves

Eastern Conference Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Heat over Pacers
Celtics over Bucks
Bulls over Knicks
Magic over Hawks

Semifinals
Magic over Heat
Celtics over Bulls


Eastern Finals
Celtics over Magic

Western Conference Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Lakers over Clippers
Mavericks over Rockets
Thunder over Trail Blazers
Jazz over Spurs

Semifinals
Lakers over Jazz
Mavericks over Thunder

Western Finals
Mavericks over Lakers

2011 NBA Championship: Boston Celtics over Dallas Mavericks

That's right, the Celtics are bringing back banner 18 this season. After falling mere minutes short of the feat last season, the Celtics return with a deeper-than-ever supporting cast to compliment their own "Big 3", not to mention Rajon Rondo, who has established himself as one of the NBA's premier point guards. It's not a stretch to call Rondo the Celtics' best player. He's a match-up mis-match, in that no matter how you try to cover him, he can still find ways to beat you. Whether he's fearlessly driving the lane, doing some sort of crazy reverse lay-up, or putting up a floater, or dishing out to his plethora of options along the perimeter, Rondo is one of a kind when it comes to the point guard position. As long as Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen are here, and healthy, the Celtics are going to have a shot.

Worried about the loss of Kendrick Perkins until at least February? That's alright, Shaquille O'Neal is here to hold the fort until he returns. Jermaine O'Neal also joins the front court rotation along with the returning Glen "Big Baby" Davis. In the backcourt, Rondo and Allen are fortified by Nate Robinson, Marquis Daniels, and old friend Delonte West. If you don't think the Celtics added West as a move to get underneath LeBron's skin, well, you're probably right. But it's always a pleasure to bring those rumors up, even if they are far-fetched.

Stepfather with stepson?

Awards

Most Valuable Player: Dirk Nowizki, Mavericks

Rookie of the Year: John Wall, Wizards

Coach of the Year: Greg Poppovich, Spurs

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Magic

Sixth Man of the Year: Shaquille O'Neal, Celtics

Look for the versatile German to take home his second MVP honors.

He still needs to work on his offensive game, but there isn't a better defender in the world right now that Dwight Howard.

The Big 6th Man?

1st Team All-NBA: Deron Williams, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard

2nd Team All-NBA: Rajon Rondo, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Amar'e Stoudemire

3rd Team All-NBA: Steve Nash, Brandon Jennings, Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson, Al Horford

Anyways, in honor of the Celtics 18th banner that they'll take home, here are 18 other thoughts on the most anticipated season in recent memory.

1. It's going to be one helluva rookie class. With 2009 1st overall pick Blake Griffin still eligible, he and John Wall will have to duke it out to see who ultimately gets the honors. Don't sleep on the Kings' DeMarcus Cousins, either, who with Tyreke Evans at the very least make the Kings an "interesting" team out west.

2. Kevin Durant has made the leap to the second best player in the faster than we ever thought possible. His experiences with Team USA this summer proved that he is indeed ready to compete for championships. However.....

3. Don't get me wrong. Love Durant. Love Russell Westbrook. Love what the Thunder are doing. But they're still a piece or two away from having a legitimate shot at the NBA title. Is Serge Ibaka the answer down low? The early reviews out of the Sooner State do sound promising, but it's really too soon to tell. Let's see how the Thunder adapt from being the hunters to the hunted. 

(And if the Thunder do win the title while Durant's still there, they'd better throw a parade up in Seattle. But that's for another time).

4. So how are Wade, LeBron, and Bosh going to co-exist on South Beach? The Heat will finish with the best record in the regular season, 61-21. But without any legitimate answers for a bona fide NBA center, they're looking at a flameout in round 2 to the Magic. There won't be any alpha dog issues for the Heat this season, but if they do wind up losing in the playoffs and get off to a sluggish start next season, we could have a very interesting situation in Miami. 

5. That's not a misprint above, there will indeed be two Los Angeles teams in the playoffs this spring. With Blake Griffin finally able to be unleashed, the continued emergence of Eric Gordon, and a bounce-back season from Baron Davis, the Clip Show is ready to get back to the post-season. Although the Lakers will show them who owns the city in round 1.

6. The Indiana Pacers are also ready for a return to the post-season. Very underrated off-season pickup of Darren Collison to pair with star forward Danny Granger and 7'2" Roy Hibbert becoming a force down low, the rebuilding project that Larry Legend has overseen is ready for the first step back to respectability.

7. The Minnesota Timberwolves will finish with the NBA's worst record, 18-64. Toronto will finish worst in the East, 20-62. 

8. The Knicks, after years of gutting their roster for the Summer of the Decision, will finally return to the post-season. It's not exactly how they drew it all up, but they'll definitely be a fun team to watch. Amar'e reunited with former Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni will turn the Knicks into a lesser version of the Suns. The difference, obviously, being Steve Nash.

9. Why Dallas in the representing the West? The urgency has never been higher. Like the Celtics in the East, this is the deepest version of the Mavs to date. Tyson Chandler immediately improves the front court defense, a full season with Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler, Dirk Nowitzki showing no signs of slowing down, Jason Kidd proving he isn't done yet....All these 50 win seasons have gotta add up to something.

10. Why not the Lakers? Nothing more than a gut feeling. What's going on with Andrew Bynum's knees? Kobe is still Kobe, and he'll remind us all year long that he's still Kobe. It's nothing more than going out on a limb.

11. When LeBron James returns to Cleveland December 2, it will be unlike any other homecoming we have ever seen. You think Favre back in Green Bay was bad? Damon back in Boston? This will be in a whole other galaxy. LeBron will get things thrown at him. People will get way too personal in the insults. Am I saying it's right? No. Will I feel sorry for LeBron? Not in the least.

12. I'm not sure what's going to wind up happening with Carmelo in Denver, or with Chris Paul in New Orleans. But the situations are already so damning that the seasons are over there before they even start.

13. The Bulls are going to be a very exciting team to watch. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah was already a dynamite combination, and adding defense-first coach Tom Thibodeau and Carlos Boozer (eventually) joining up front, they are going to be a very strong team in the Eastern Conference. Probably a year or two away from becoming a serious contender for a title, but it's safe to say that this will be their best squad since MJ split town in '98. 

14. LeBron won't admit that he was wrong in the way he went about "The Decision".

15. God forbid it came down to a Lakers-Heat finals, I would swallow my pride and root for the Lakers. As would any other self-respecting NBA fan.

16. First coach fired: Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies. George Karl will also resign at some point this season.

17. Evan Turner of the 76ers (2nd overall) will prove to be the biggest bust of this draft.

18. Seriously, Fuck LeBron. Let's watch some basketball

Answer to Trivia: Joe Johnson, Hawks.

Pats vs. Chargers: Week 7

I said it yesterday, and I'll say it again. It's not how you win, it's that you win. The Pats looked uglier yesterday than South Park's rendition of Sarah Jessica Parker, I'll be the first to admit it. They did not deserve to win that game. Yet it always seems that those are the kinds of games that will ultimately go to the better team, regardless of who outplayed who. Add it all up, and the Patriots are 5-1 this morning, tied with the J-E-T-S and Steel City for the best record in the NFL after escaping San Diego with a 23-20 victory.

The Chargers, as has become characteristic over the past several years, shot themselves in the foot a few too many times to have any chance at winning. Year in, year out, they always seem to have an elite collection of talent, but nobody on the roster has any idea how to seize "the moment". That's why they're considered the Dallas Cowboys of the AFC. If you look at the numbers, and just the numbers, you could say with relative ease that Philip Rivers is the best quarterback from the 2004 draft, which also featured Eli Manning and Ben Rapelisberger Roethlisberger in the first round. (JP Losman was also a 1st rounder in '04, but we'll leave him off this list because, well, he's kinda in the UFL now).

38 total yards of offense in the 1st half left Patriots with visions that couldn't have been much better than this one.

But Rivers's lack of success late in games, let alone in the post-season, is what keeps him consistently ranked no. 3 on the list. Sure, Rivers managed 336 passing yards yesterday with a depleted receiving corps and did manage to lead the Chargers to 17 4th quarter points. But it was all too-little, way too-late. When Rivers and the Chargers got the gift of starting their final drive just shy of midfield, he led them close but not close enough to having a shot at the game-tying field goal. As usual, San Diego self-imploded.

Add up all the San Diego miscues and it's no wonder the Patriots wound up surviving. The ultimately-ruled backwards pass/fumble to Jacob Hester; the first career catch/first career fumble for Richard Goodman; the unsportsmanlike penalty that got the Patriots 17-play 3rd quarter drive kick-started; the false-start on the potential game-tying field goal; and Kris Wilson's fumble, which caused anyone from Hingham to wonder"why would they ever give Kris Wilson the ball?

(Was that in poor taste? Hell's gonna be something else).

If you look at the game as a chess-match, who would you rather have moving the pieces around? Bill Belichick or Norv Turner? Exactly.

It's alright, Norv. It's not like you're behind the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West or anything.

The lack of a ground game has to be concerning for the Pats, with a combined 48 yards rushing (24 apiece) for BJGE and Danny Woodhead. I'm a huge fan of both of these guys in their own rights, but are either of them the answer long term as a full-time, workhorse back? That's something that will be answered over the course of the season. But I maintain what I say that Woodhead is more than a gimmick, and definitely has a role on this team moving forward, likely as Kevin Faulk's heir apparent.

Bottom line is this: would you rather have the Patriots be firing on all cylinders but wind up losing, say, 35-31, or would you rather have them unravel a stink bomb like yesterday's and still manage the W? At the end of the day, all they count in the National Football League is wins and losses. So in the words of Ron Burgundy, go fuck yourself, San Diego. Gus Johnson might call them the "San Diego SuperChargers" in Madden '11, but there's nothing super going on in the suburbs of Tijuana right now. 5-1 is 5-1, and in a year where it looks increasingly as though there are no elite teams, that's definitely something to hold your head high on.

It's not 2007 anymore. The Patriots aren't going to be blowing anyone out by 30. That being said, this team looks increasingly capable of winning close games that could go either way, something that ultimately befell that historic '07 squad. The offense can't possibly be as inept yesterday as it was the rest of the way.

Needless to say, it's gonna be a helluva trick-or-treat when Randy Moss comes rolling back to town on Sunday with the Vikings. A team which is in complete and utter disarray. General Disarray if you will. Two South Park references in one blog? It's time to stop typing.

Ramblin' Man-10/23/10

-Alright, so I was wrong on the Yankees winning the ALCS. And I couldn't be happier. It bodes real well for the Rangers down the line here that Cliff Lee only had to make one start in the series. You've gotta figure he'll need to make a minimum of two for them to have a chance against the winner of the Giants/Phillies series, so the fresher he is, the better.

-Texas becomes the 28th franchise to play in a World Series. Only two teams remain who've yet to play to the pinnacle of October. Can you name them? Answers at bottom of page.

-The Josh Hamilton Story continues. An ALCS MVP to add to his comeback display, with the potential of a regular season MVP as well. The only question now is who plays his character in the inevitable movie?

-The Phillies have such a tremendous advantage when it comes to talent over the Giants, especially in their lineup. But where has Jimmy Rollins been? Ryan Howard?  Jayson Werth? If these guys wake up back in Philly, you've got to like their chances to come back from the 3-1 series deficit. In doing so, they would become the first team since the '07 Red Sox to come back from that hole.  We won't see Halladay or Lincecum again this series, which hurts the Giants more than it does the Phillies. Oswalt vs. Sanchez in Game 6 tonight, Hamels vs. Cain in Game 7 tomorrow.  I'm sticking to my guns and saying Philly takes this one in 7.

-Now that the Cubs have hired their new manager, Mike Quade, I think it's safe to say Girardi returns to the Bronx next season. Although I think the Yankees biggest priority has to be bringing back Derek Jeter, no? Say what you will about Jeter, but as far as Yankees go, he's got to be the most likable. Plays the game the right way, a class-act, team-first kind of guy, always plays his heart out, never involved in any PED allegations, maintains a clean life off the field. Did I really just spend that much time praising Derek Jeter? Moving on.

-How bout them Bruins huh? Timmy Thomas back to playing out of his mind, bringing back fond memories of his Vezina campaign of 2008-2009. Was that really just two years ago? Thomas may be 36, but he's really only been a full-time NHLer since 2005, so he has considerably less wear-and-tear than your typical 36 year old netminder. His numbers to date are just surreal:  4-0, 0.75 GAA, .978 SV%, 1 shutout (and he should have two, if not for that puck-handling gaffe against the Caps). I know I wrote last week that Tuukka was the key to the Bruins success, and he still may be, but as long as Thomas is playing like this there is absolutely no reason to shake things up. It's a great thing to have two top-10 goaltenders.

TIMMAY. Oh wrong one.

There we go.

-The B's are off to their best start in God knows how long, and I hate to nitpick things, but Blake Wheeler still looks lost at sea. I've never seen someone with so much size play so soft. Last year I jokingly referred to Wheeler, Michael Ryder, and Dennis Wideman as the "Big 3". Wideman's gone, Ryder apparently got the memo that he was Providence bound if his play didn't improve substantially, and now we're left with Wheeler. Still just 24, he can't be completely written off just yet. He's showed that he can be productive at this level, but he really needs to adapt his game and play to his strengths or else he'll be exiled right on out of the Hub.

-Speaking of Wideman, we actually were able to get Nathan Horton for him? Really? Not to mention Greg Campbell, who looks like he could be the best 4th line center the Bruins have had in recent years. I know, that's like saying "Curtis Leskanic could be the best 6th inning reliever the Sox have had in some time", but he's not afraid to drop the gloves and maybe even has a pulse offensively. We'll see.

-As much as I hate the Steelers, if James Harrison had retired because of his fine, that would've been a damn shame. In terms of the big hits from last week that drew fines, I had the least amount of a problem with Harrison's. He's a physical player, playing a physical game. Obviously head-first hits shouldn't be allowed, but it seemed to me Harrison was leading with his shoulders and his helmet just happened to make contact with Cleveland's Mohammad Massaqoui's.

-LeBron James simply does not get it. At all. His latest comments which can be read here, continue to illustrate that he is either far more immature than previously thought, or he's getting worse advice than George Bush got when it came to handling Iraq.  LeBron needs to understand that it's not so much his departure from Cleveland that has everyone in angst, but the manner in which he did so on national TV, and not notifying the Cavs first. The sooner he realizes his mistakes there and comes clean about them, the sooner people can "get over it". LeBron is, to put it bluntly, a huge pussy. I've said it before, and I'll say it again (God forbid) it comes down to Lakers-Heat in the finals, dammit I'm going with LA.

Get over yourself LeBron, and then people may get over your "Decision".

-And lastly, what's up with the MNF ratings from last Monday? Come on people, Trent Edwards vs. Kerry Collins? You'd rather watch that than Cliff Lee vs. the Yankees? Shameful, absolutely shameful.


-Answers to trivia: Seattle Mariners and Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.

Pats vs. Ravens: Week 6

There's something different this season. Maybe it's not actually all that different. It wasn't all too long ago, after all, that those Dynastic Patriots ran terror over the NFL. But there's definitely something about these Patriots that continue to remind us all more and more of the Glory Days edition.  Yesterday was the exact kind of game that last season the Patriots would have lost. Being down 20-10 early in the 4th quarter, I have no doubt that last year this is the kind of game where the Patriots would have rolled over and let the Ravens rock. There was something missing last year. And many were wondering if whatever it was would ever return for the Belichick/Brady Pats.

Maybe it's the return of Deion Branch. Maybe it's the emergence of role players a la Danny Woodhead. Maybe it's the defense growing up faster than we ever could have imagined. But whatever it is, Belichick, Brady, and the rest seem to have their swagger back.

It all beings with Tom Brady, the man who's been here since the very beginning. Statistically speaking, Brady delivered a rather pedestrian performance, at least by his standards. He completed 27 of 44 passes (61%),  combined with a touchdown strike and two interceptions, although one of those picks was on a Hail Mary play at the end of regulation. But as has become the norm with Brady, he did his best work when it mattered most. He led them in to field goal range to tie the game at 20 with just under 2 minutes remaining.  And if that wasn't enough, he did it again as time wound down in overtime, completing the 30th 4th quarter/OT comeback of his career.

Also of note had to be Brady getting all up in Terrell "T-Sizzle" Suggs' grill during the aforementioned 4th quarter drive. Who knows what exactly was said, but I'll tell ya, it takes some serious balls to talk shit with Suggs, or anyone on that Ravens D for that matter. This prompted Suggs to suggest after the game that he "couldn't wait" to see the Patriots again [in the playoffs].  Brady struck back this morning on WEEI's "Dennis
& Callahan" morning show that "they talk a lot for beating us once in 9 years". That's the kind of talk you can get away with if you're a two-time Super Bowl MVP, I suppose.

Speaking of Super Bowl MVP's, how about the return of Deion Branch eh? I've made it this far through the blog without mentioning Randy Moss, but I think I'll have to break that silence here. This is not to slight Moss, one of my favorite Patriot players of all-time, but it warrants mentioning that Branch had as many catches (9) in his Patriots Debut, Part II than Moss in his four games with the Pats earlier this season. Many people questioned the re-acquisition of Branch, pointing out his lack of productivity in Seattle. And that's a very fair point. Branch never had more than 53 catches in a season for the Seahawks, never topped 725 yards receiving, and never reeled in more than 4 touchdown catches in a single season. Throw in the fact that those numbers were all attained way back in 2006, his first season in the former land of the Supersonics, and it would definitely be fair to throw a "washed-up" label on Branch.

"What if?" is such a fun question to ask when it comes to sports. So, what if Deion had never left Foxboro?

But you know what? You can never be too sure how a player, in any sport, will react to returning to a comfortable environment. With all due respect to Matt Hasslebeck, he's not even in the same galaxy as Tom Brady. Throw in his oft-injured tendencies, and Branch never was quite able to replicate his New England success on the West Coast.  It's really true for any person, in any setting, to perform their best when they're back at home. Go listen to "Homecoming" by Kanye West or "The Boys Are Back In Town" by Thin Lizzy (and if you really want to get into it, "Homeward Bound" by Simon & Garfunkel), and you'll understand. Branch's 9 receptions yesterday were his most since--wait for it--Super Bowl XXXIX, when he won MVP honors with his 11 catch performance. Welcome back, indeed, Deion.

Aside from Aaron Hernandez, you want to know about another mid-to late round rookie having a sensational season? Zoltan Mesko, the punter. His 65-yard moon shot in overtime yesterday practically went into orbit, and wound up being key in the field position battle that ultimately won the Patriots the game.

Ken Walter he isn't, Zoltan Mesko is 3rd in the NFL in net punt average.

On the subject of Hernandez, let's hope yesterdays drops, which truly couldn't have come at worse times, were just a blip on the Radar. Hernandez has looked like one of the steals of the draft thus far, emerging as a reliable target for Brady. I'm really not in the mood for another Chad Jackson-type flameout.

Moving on, how about the Danny Woodhead story? As I wrote a few weeks ago, this is no gimmick. He gained 115 yards from scrimmage yesterday (63 rushing on 11 carries, 52 receiving on 5 catches) continuing to emerge as the Patriots most versatile weapon.  While technically he isn't a rookie, this is his first extended chance to shine in the NFL.  He's making the most of the opportunity, and then some. And the fact that he was cast off by the Jets just makes it even sweeter.

Wrapping things up here, I've gotta say I'm shocked the Ravens sat on the ball in the 4th quarter rather than being aggressive in the passing game. Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason were both having field days picking on the youngn's Kyle Arrington and Devin McCourty, but for whatever reason Baltimore seemed happy with the conservative approach of pounding the ball with Ray Rice.  We all know what happened last time Rice faced off against the Pats, but yesterday it clearly wasn't happening for Raymundo. He did manage 88 yards, but it came on 28 carries for a ho-hum 3.1 yards per carry. The Pats definitely caught a break with the Ravens play-calling down the stretch.

And finally, it's easy to say Belichick made the right decision since they won, but I would have had Gostkowski try for the potential of a 62 yard field goal at the end of regulation. I know, I know, that's 1 yard shy of the NFL record. Gostkowski's career long is just 53 yards. But he was flat out KILLING the ball yesterday on his kickoffs, and the wind was blowing in his favor.  Without the greatest deep threat of all-time still on our side, you've got to figure the odds of a successful kick are at least somewhat greater than a Hail Mary.

Next up for the Pats:  A trip to San Diego to visit the struggling Chargers (2-4). Brady is 1-2 at San Diego in his career, with the one win coming in the 2006 postseason. You likely remember that one as the Troy Brown game.

Ramblin' Man-10/15/10

Alright, we've had a little layoff between blogs here. My apologies to the fans. But during the hiatus, a new idea occurred to me:  at the end of every week (or Friday, in this case), why not tackle all of the burning issues of the week and sum them all up into one blog? That's not to say I won't continue to write regular features; I will. But several people have approached me about this idea, so hey let's do this. It is October, after all.

And isn't October the best sports month of the year? Think about it: the NFL season is in full swing, the NHL is in the embryonic period of its season, the NBA is right around the corner, and a little thing called "October Baseball". It really doesn't get much better than this if you care about sports.

In homage to the Allman Brothers song "Ramblin' Man", this space will basically be just me rambling, thinking out loud, thinking outside the box.  So without further ado, it's time to ramble.

-ALCS starts tonight, with the NLCS tomorrow. Even without the Red Sox in it, I have a good amount of interest. I did get 3 of my final 4, after all.  Would I rather accomplish that line in March? Of course. But it'll still be some great baseball as we head towards November.

-As much as I hate to say it, but the better Cliff Lee pitches against the Yankees, the more likely it is he joins them in the off-season. Don't think New York has forgotten about last October. Lee went 2-0 in the World Series against the Bombers as a member of the Phillies, compiling a 2.81 ERA while striking out 13 batters in 16 innings. Lee's headed for a big pay day, whether it's in the Bronx or not. I'd like to say the Sox have a chance, but with these recent Lackey and Beckett mega-deals, well, you know......Moving on.

-As far as the series itself goes, I'm picking the Rangers with my heart but the Yankees with my head. Sorry, the head prevails. This one goes to New York, 4-2. The Rangers could regret not starting Lee until Game 3. Do they really think they have a shot at re-signing Lee? May as well get as much as you can from him.

-The Giants-Phillies series is a match-up of  quite possibly the top two rotations in all of baseball. The Phillies rotation, led by Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, finished at or near the top of the National League in nearly every starting pitching category in the regular season. Their 73 wins from the rotation topped the NL, while the 1035 1/3 innings logged by the starters led all of baseball. Philadelphia's starters also walked only 239 batters, best in the NL. The Giants, meanwhile, boast two-time reining NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, who is complimented by Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez. If you make the case that the pitching will cancel out, this one comes down to the lineups, where the Phillies are leaps and bounds ahead of the Giants. So I'm sticking to my pick and going with the Phillies, where we'll get a rematch of the World Series for the first time since 1977-78, when the Yankees beat the Dodgers in consecutive seasons.

Roy Halladay put to rest any questions people had about his lack of post-season experience with a no-hitter in the NLDS vs. Atlanta

-It's entirely possible somebody's already come up with this nickname for LeBron, and if so I apologize, but isn't "Prince James" entirely fitting? I mean, wasn't he "King James" in Cleveland? Welp he's pretty clearly the prince to Dwayne Wade's king right now.

-Vikings-Cowboys this weekend? Prior to the season, this matchup was definitely in play for an NFC Championship preview. Now? It's an elimination game, and the winner isn't necessarily guaranteed to play into January either. How is this even possible? The amount of talent on these two teams is breathtaking. What it comes down to must be Wade Phillips and Brad Childress.

-The Bruins are back from their European Vacation, where they looked like a punching bag one game and a definite Cup contender the next. It's only a small sample, obviously, but if Tuukka Rask goes all Andrew Raycroft/Hannu Toivenen on us, reservations for Lord Stanley this spring are definitely on hold. At least they turned Dennis Wideman into something, as Nathan Horton definitely looks motivated playing for a real hockey market. The Bruins make their North American debut tomorrow against the Devils in New Jersey. And if you haven't seen the New Jersey-themed "South Park" from this past week, I recommend you stop reading this blog and do so immediately.

It's nice to have former Vezina winner Tim Thomas in the fold, but Tuukka Rask is the man for the job.

-Ben Roethlisberger returns to the gridiron this weekend. Quite the double standard by the Steelers. Santonio Holmes, an emerging receiver in this league, gets caught smoking weed? Exiled for a measly 4th round pick. Roethlisberger becomes involved in rape allegations for the second time? Sit out 4 games and come right on back.

-October 26 just can't come soon enough. Has their been an NBA season more anticipated than this one? With the possible exception of MJ's return from baseball for the 1995-96 season, I say no.

Real Quick 2010 Baseball Playoff Predictions

Alright so today's been a rough day so far, it's raining fucking tits down here, the whole Moss thing, I've got two tests the next two days, and I'm about to write a playoff prediction that doesn't involve the Red Sox for just the second time since 2002. Whatever. It is what it is, to say the least.

American League Division Series


Tampa Bay over Texas, 3-1

Love Cliff Lee for Texas, it's too bad he can't pitch all 5 games. How quickly can Josh Hamilton get reintegrated for the Rangers?


New York over Minnesota, 3-0

Too much offense for the Yankees, not enough starting pitching for the Twins. The Bombers should continue their ownership over the Twinkies in October. Justin Morneau could have made a difference.

National League Division Series

Philadelphia over Cincinnati, 3-0

Think Roy Halladay is pumped up for his first post-season trip? I'm not buying the argument that he doesn't have any October experience. He's been facing the Sox and Yankees his whole career.

San Francisco over Atlanta, 3-2

The only series I see going 5 games. The clock strikes midnight for Bobby Cox, in what has been a truly remarkable run. Tim Lincecum is really good too.


American League Championship Series

Tampa Bay over New York, 4-3

Not quite the same flair as the other AL East match-up we've seen here before, but clearly the two most talented squads in the AL. How strange is it that Tampa, with still one of the younger rosters in baseball, is about to have its window shut on a championship run with this team? If you're going to own a sports team, just listen to what Herm Edwards says about "playing to win the game". Damn shame Tampa's roster is going to get gutted.


National League Championship Series

Philadelphia over San Francisco, 4-2

As good as San Fran's pitching staff is, Philly's just might be even better. Let's not forget, both Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels have pitched in the World Series before. This one comes down to offense (or a lack thereof) for the Giants.

World Series

Philadelphia over Tampa Bay, 4-1

And Philly takes the rematch of the 2008 championship. Good job, City of Brotherly Love. You have yourselves a dynasty. Too bad they'll still find something to complain about. Philly is really the only NL club that can compete with any AL club offensively, and their pitching this year is undoubtedly superior to what it was in last year's Fall Classic.

Moss Back to Minny

So I'm watching the ESPN "30 for 30" special on the 2004 Red Sox last night, when, about half way through, I get a text message saying "they better not trade Moss....". What the hell? There's no way this can be true. This text came from the same person who told me the Pats acquired Shawne Merriman last fall. I proceeded told about a million people between Rhode Island and Hingham about this Merriman deal, and we know how that turned out.  Anyways, I start scouring through the usual sources. ESPN, SI, WEEI, etc. The reports are all based off of a Fox Sports reporter, Jay Glazer. While this is not a personal shot at Glazer, the company he works for, um, isn't exactly noted for its journalistic integrity. But as the night rolls on, more and more outlets are starting to publish stories about it, and it's just making less and less sense for me. How can the Patriots be shortsighted enough to trade Randy freakin' Moss, one of the top 5 or so receivers of ALL-TIME? I go to bed, hoping cooler heads will prevail.....

.....And wake up to the worst possible scenario. It was like finding out a nightmare you just had was in fact reality.  Randy Moss had indeed been dealt to the Minnesota Vikings, his original team, for a 3rd round pick in 2011.

How exactly did we get to this point? Moss has been doing his best Rodney Dangerfield since February, basically claiming he's getting no respect from the Patriots. He's been extremely vocal about his desire for a new contract, and how he felt as though the Patriots were already planning on moving on without him. It came out last night  that Moss requested a trade following the Week 1 win over the Bengals. I have a hard time believing that one, because if he's saying all these things throughout the off-season, why not make the demands then?

And assuming the Patriots were really going to move on from Moss in the off-season, in some ways it does make sense to trade him now.  It works A. If you're getting sufficient value for him or B. If you can find a capable replacement for him or C. If he's going to become such a distraction to the team it's addition by subtraction.  All three of those things can be written off immediately, particularly the first two.  You're not getting sufficient value for Moss in the form of a draft pick, unless it's a first rounder and that team is destined for a top-10 selection. Minnesota doesn't fit that criteria. You're certainly not going to get a capable replacement for Moss, because, frankly, they don't exist, unless Houston suddenly decides to move Andre Johnson, or Indy parts ways with Reggie Wayne.

The argument can be made that Moss would have had a detrimental attitude towards the team, but the fact remains he's in a contract year, playing for what's likely to be his last mega-payday in the NFL. Is he that stubborn to flick on the "I play when I want to play" switch? Moss may be be a headcase, but that's not to say his head isn't functioning properly. He knows what's at stake here.

Moss knows a thing or two about splitting through NFC North defenses.

One could also point out that the Patriots have won without elite wideouts before, and that actually their receiving corps is even better now than the 01-04 stretch thanks to the additions of Welker and the tight ends.  I agree, the Patriots got it done with the likes of Troy Brown and David Patten before. Want to know what the difference was? They actually had a running game in those days.  It's easy to forget, but Antowain Smith was actually a very solid running back in 2001, gaining 1,157 yards to go along with 12 TD's. He wasn't as much of a factor in 2003 during the second run, no, but when the Pats won it all in 2004 they featured Corey Dillon in the backfield, who, much like Moss once upon a time, was coming from a bad situation (Cincinnati, in this case) to a good one in New England and got hooked up the rejuvenation machine. Dillon had the best season of his career, rushing for 1,635 yards with 12 scores.

And taking the Glory Days example a step further, let's not forget that the Patriots in those days were a defense-centric football team. Playmakers lined the field, from the line to the linebackers to the secondary. Are we supposed to believe in this group of defenders currently based in New England?

Trying to draw a conclusion justifying the trade of Randy Moss is just part of the Bill Belichick experience. BB has made bold moves involving star players before; Lawyer Milloy, Deion Branch, Richard Seymour, just to name a few. But Moss unquestionably transcends what any of them could do on the football field for the Patriots.  The mere presence of Moss was a bonus for the Patriots offense.  Defensive coordinators would gameplan specifically for him, enabling the successes of other receivers.  I have no idea what Belichick's thought process was on making this deal, and I don't think anyone else does either. Maybe stories will emerge within the next few days and weeks that the Patriots simply could not have carried on with Moss.  As I wrote about a few days ago, something had to have been going on when Moss ended the Dolphins game with a goose-egg in the receptions column for the first time in his Patriots career.

It's also ironic that Randy Moss will finally be catching balls from Brett Favre, who has long coveted Moss as a teammate. Green Bay fans just might be as upset about this deal as New Englanders. Pats fans will get a look first hand at the Favre-Moss combo on Halloween (could there have been a better date for this game?), when the Vikings come to Foxboro.

It definitely appears that we're back to the days of Tom Brady's favorite target being "the open receiver".  He's just going to have to look a little harder now, because half the defense won't be focused in on no. 81 anymore.  There's simply no way you improve as a team by trading away Randy Moss.

Pats vs. Dolphins

Last night had to have been the most encouraging Patriots game in I don't even know how long.  Seriously, it felt like we were in the middle of the Super Bowl run last night. I kept waiting for a direct snap to Faulk, followed by him lofting it up for Brady in the end zone, or for the field goal unit to come on the field and Troy Brown sneak on at the very last second and wind up catching a ball from Vinatieri for a TD.  But I digress. The Patriots became the first team in NFL history to score in six different ways. That's right, count 'em. Six (6) different ways. A passing TD, rushing TD, kick return TD, blocked field goal return TD, a pick-6, and a field goal (two of them), all adding up to a 41-14 romp for the Pats.

Tom Brady was his usual accurate self, completing 19 of 24 passes. He only threw for 153 yards, which in any other game would have been dooming, but it really wasn't necessary on this night. Eight of his completions were to Wes Welker, who continues to impress in his comeback from ACL surgery. Welker now has 26 catches on the season, putting him on pace for 104. For those keeping score at home, that would be his fourth consecutive 100+ catch campaign. Only former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison has ever had four such seasons in a row.

For the second consecutive game, BenJarvus Green-Ellis did an admirable job running the ball. The third year, undrafted back out of Ole Miss gained 76 yards on 16 carries, including a 12 yard scamper for a score early in the 3rd quarter. What's really impressed me about Green-Ellis has been his ability to keep moving forward at all times.  He hits the hole fast, and he hits it hard, seemingly running downhill.  No unnecessary sidestepping, just good old-fashioned power running. Basically, he's the anti-Laurence Maroney.

Danny Woodhead was great as a changeup back, carrying the ball 8 times for 36 yards. He also caught Tom Brady's lone touchdown pass of the night. Woodhead is more than just a gimmick, people.  Belichick knows what he's doing when he acquires white skill-position players.  I'm not saying he's going to make us forget about Kevin Faulk, let's be realistic, but he definitely gives them yet another weapon on offense that no defense seems to know how to handle quite yet. 

And where do we even begin with the defense and special teams?  Jerod Mayo looks like he is back with a vengeance, racking up 16 tackles in perhaps his finest performance since his defensive rookie of the year campaign in 2008. If Mayo continues to emerge as a force at linebacker, it would do wonders for the entire defensive unit.

Rob Ninkovich had a career night, intercepting the first two passes of his five year career,  both halting what had been lengthy Miami drives. I had to make sure that it was actually Ninkovich wearing no. 50, and not its previous tenant, Mike Vrabel.

Pretty good job by the secondary shutting down Brandon Marshall, limiting him to just 5 catches for 50 yards, all in the second half.  Devin McCourty looks like he can play in this league, other than his unnecessary pass interference on Brian Hartline in the 1st half. The ball was clearly out of Hartline's reach, sailing out of bounds, but McCourty fell on top of him thus taking away from the ball entirely. Hey, rookie mistake. The kid's learning faster than anyone could have imagined he would. Gotta wonder what's happening with Darius Butler too. I don't know how many snaps he played, if any, but I barely saw him on the field at all. 

Brandon Tate returned his second kickoff on the year, giving him more than 30 other whole NFL teams. Only Seattle's Leon Washington has also return two.

Brandon Tate's electrical play has lessened the burden on Moss and Welker in the receiving game so far. And he's not doing a bad Devin Hester impression either.

Saving the best for last here, last night belonged to Patrick Chung. The second year safety out of Oregon is looking like our best playmaker on defense, and boy is he active on special teams. He blocked not one, but two kicks last night--a field goal and a punt--to go along with his pick-six late in the game to put the exclamation point on the Patriots victory.  Like so many early-round draft picks by Belichick before, a lot of the general population scratched their heads when they heard his name called in the second round in 2009. But like so many of said picks, he is quickly justifying his value, a reminder that Bill Belichick is indeed one of the premier talent evaluators of all-time.  Chung had 16 tackles opening week against Cincinnati, and now has interceptions in consecutive weeks.  Did we find ourselves a Troy Polamalu? The sky appears to be the limit for this guy.

One last thing about last night. It has to be a little concerning that Randy Moss ended the game with no catches, and only one target.  I know, I know, we didn't even need him last night.  But Moss isn't one to accept being an afterthought, and he's already been vociferous in his claims that the Patriots don't want him here after the season. It's definitely something worth keeping an eye on during this bye week.

Sox Season Finale

How fitting that John Lackey turns in one of his best starts of the season in a meaningless game?  In an 8-4 Red Sox win over the Yankees, Lackey's line consisted of two earned over 7 2/3 innings with 10 K's. Not a bad way to go out in the first season of what's looking like a Lackey-luster signing for the Sox.

In other shocking news, JD Drew hit a home run, which shouldn't be all that shocking seeing as how nothing was on the line. It's what he does. Post all-star break, Drew has hit an abysmal .232, including a .198 stretch in August when the Sox still had a puncher's chance to make things happen this year. With all of the injuries Boston suffered to key players such as Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis, you'd like to think Drew, who makes more money than the two of them combined, would step up and play like he's worth the $14 million per year salary he embezzles makes from the Red Sox. Through 4 years, it's safe to say the Drew signing has not worked out. At all. He's been the epitome of average, to at times below average, and if the Red Sox could find a taker for his expiring contract, by all means, go ahead and do it.

At least the Sox were able to prevent the Yankees from winning the AL East, meaning they'll have to open post-season play in Minnesota as the AL Wild-Card. Although it should be noted that the Yankees have had Minnesota's number in the postseason of late, knocking them out in the ALDS in 2003, 2004, and most recently 2009.

Another sign of encouragement from today has to be Jed Lowrie's two home runs, continuing his very respectable 2010 campaign.  Once written off as a failed prospect, Lowrie, who's still just 26, finished up his season with 9 home runs, including 5 in September.  Overall for the year, Lowrie wound up with a .287 average and an .861 OPS, including a 1.026 OPS against right-handed pitching. Moving forward, Lowrie has proved that he at least deserves to have his name kept in the conversation when it comes to the Red Sox shortstop of the future.  Boston has been playing shortstop roulette since trading Nomar Garciaparra away in 2004, with a rather confounding list of replacements since then: Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez (twice), Julio Lugo, Alex Cora, Nick Green, and Marco Scutaro. No disrespect to Cabrera, of course, he of 2004 fame, but the Red Sox could really use a bona fide double play partner for Dustin Pedroia down the line here. Why not give Lowrie a shot to grab hold of the reigns in Spring Training?

Julio Lugo never lived up to expectations after signing a 4 year, $36 million deal prior to the 2007 season.

So at last, this frustrating campaign has come to a close, with the Red Sox posting an 89-73 record. As I said before the season, they could win anywhere between 85-110 games and I really wouldn't be surprised with either extreme. I wish I had been closer to the higher number, but that's what injuries can do to a good ball club. Somehow, they still managed to finish second in all of baseball in runs scored, with 818, trailing only the Yankees (859). Of course, they gave up 744 runs, seventh most in all of baseball, which is ironic because of all the "run-prevention" that Theo Epstein and Co. were preaching before the season.  I never drank the run prevention-Kool Aid, Theo, but I'm still sick. Big off-season coming up in Boston.

Top 10 Boston Athletes: 2000-2009

What a decade we're coming off of here in Boston. You know the drill. Three Super Bowls, two World Series, one NBA Championship, not to mention countless of other postseason trips which provided plenty of thrill rides, most notably those 18-0 Patriots of 2007.  And we haven't even talked about the 86-year World Series drought the Red Sox snapped. Does anyone realize how much of a treat it was to go through a 10 year stretch of sustained success from all of our professional sports teams? Sure, the Celtics were pretty dreadful for a few years before the Big 3 assembled. The Bruins never made a Stanley Cup finals, but at the very least were competitive in the regular season for the majority of the decade.


With all of the success of the teams, this was obviously a difficult decision process. Not as hard as LeBron's decision, sure, but to cut it down to just 10 players who meant the most to this city over the past 10 years? Easier said than done.

In constructing this list, I took several criterion into account. Winning, obviously, held the most value. Tenure with the team was also important, although in some cases the impact brought over just a 2-3 year span could have meant just as much as playing all 10 years here. Personal statistics also factored in greatly to the list, which made it difficult to include players such as offensive linemen (sorry, Matt Light. Actually, isn't he the one who got man-handled by the Giants D-Line in Super Bowl XLII. Moving on....).

Anyways, those three traits were given the most consideration when constructing the list. So with out further ado, the list:

10. Randy Moss and Wes Welker, WR, Patriots

How can you have one without the other? Two totally different receivers in the way they play the game, but both equally important to the success of Tom Brady and the record-setting Patriots offense of 2007. Moss set an NFL record with 23 touchdown receptions during that campaign, and through the end of the 2009 season had reeled in 148 touchdown catches. That's good enough for 2nd on the all-time list, behind only former 49ers great Jerry Rice.

Welker's contributions have not come so much in the end zone, but he was every bit as important to the Patriots explosive offense in 2007. Cast aside as too small early in his career, in 2007 Welker had the first of three consecutive 100+ reception seasons, becoming the first Patriot to have 3 in a row in the process. In 2009, Welker caught 123 passes overall, 2nd most in NFL history in a single season (Marvin Harrison, 143, 2002).

Welker and Moss are the only players on this list without a ring, which is remarkable in a number of ways. Hopefully someday they'll get to hoist Vince along with the rest of the Patriots.

9. Pedro Martinez, Pitcher, Red Sox

"Wake up the Bambino, I'll drill him in the ass". There have been few pitchers in the history of baseball quite like Pedro Martinez, and it may be some time before we see one again. His fearlessness on the mound, his ability to throw inside and take control of the plate, and a don't-fuck-with-me-or-you'll-be-sorry attitude are only part of what made him so special. His finest work came in 2000, when he won his 2nd consecutive Cy Young award with the Sox (3rd overall) with an 18-6, 1.74 ERA, 284 strikeout line. Martinez was never again quite as dominant as he was in that 2000 season, but he left Sox fans with several more fond memories, most notably throwing Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground during an altercation in the 2003 ALCS. Martinez also won Game 3 of the 2004 World Series for the Red Sox, which would prove to be his final start in a Red Sox uniform.

8. Kevin Garnett, Power Forward, Celtics

Look at his statistical contributions to the Green, and you may not find much. But as is often the case, statistics can often be deceiving in judging a player's impact, both in a positive and negative manner. To truly appreciate KG, you had to watch him play. You had to watch him anchor a relentless Celtics defense en route to the 2008 NBA title to get a real idea of just how much he meant to the entire Celtics franchise. In many ways, it always had been and still was Paul Pierce's team. But Kevin Garnett was the driving force behind the basketball renaissance in Boston, leading the Celtics to their 17th NBA title but their first since 1986. Unfortunately, KG's knees have failed to cooperate with him since that magical run, and he missed the entire 2009 postseason title defense. But the fact are the facts: With a healthy Kevin Garnett in the lineup, the Celtics are 7-1 in postseason series.

7. Richard Seymour, DL, Patriots

  

Picked in the 1st round, 6th overall by Bill Belichick in the 2001 NFL draft, Seymour instantly became one of the NFL's premier defensive lineman. From early in his career playing on the inside, to later on shifting to defensive end to accommodate the Patriots switch to the 3-4 defense, Seymour was equally effective against both the run and the pass. He accumulated 39 sacks during his 8 years in New England, which came to a stunning end a week before the start of the regular season in 2009, when he was sent to hell traded to Oakland for a 1st round pick in 2011.

 

6. Rodney Harrison, Safety, Patriots

One of the most ferocious hitters in NFL history, Harrison has at times garnered the reputation of a dirty player. The critics can say what they want, but once Belichick swooped Harrison off the waiver-wire prior to the 2003 season, he became one of the staples on the heralded Patriots D that was so essential to winning those 3 championships in 4 seasons. Harrison is the only player in NFL history to record both 30 sacks as well as 30 interceptions, which is a tribute to how versatile he was out there for the Patriots.  Harrison is likely best remembered for intercepting Eagles QB Donovan McNabb to clinch Super Bowl XXXIX, proceeding to "fly like an eagle" as part of his celebration.

5. Paul Pierce, Forward, Celtics

"Truth" be told, there isn't much Paul Pierce hasn't seen in his days as a Celtic. The constant losing early on. His near fatal stabbing at a night club in 2000. The surprising run to the conference finals in 2002 with running mate Antoine Walker. The fun 2005 team with rookies Al Jefferson, Tony Allen, and Delonte West that also featured Gary Payton and the return of 'Toine. The 24-58 campaign of 2007 in which the Celtics lost 18 in a row at one point, and it appeared as though Pierce may be on his way out of town. But in the summer of '07, Pierce's fortunes took a turn for the better, when the Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to assist Pierce in returning the Celtics to glory. It all culminated with Pierce being named MVP of the 2008 finals. Not bad for someone who just a year earlier had been contemplating finishing his career elsewhere. Through it all, Pierce has established himself as one of the all-time Celtic greats, no easy task considering the history of the team. He is currently third on the Celtics all-time scoring list, trailing only John Havlicek and Larry Bird. Pierce has averaged 22.5 points per game for his career, starting in 881 out of the 884 contests he has played in. He is also a remarkable 3-point shooter, knocking down almost 37% of his shots from downtown. No questions asked, Paul Pierce has been the best Celtic since Larry Legend's retirement.

4. Manny Ramirez, LF, Red Sox

Say what you will about former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette, but when he signed Ramirez to an 8 year, $160 million contract prior to the 2001 season, he was bringing in one of the best pure hitters in baseball history.  And while the Duqe may have gotten more than he bargained for, Ramirez did his part and lived up to his reputation as one of the all-time great hitters. In parts of 8 seasons at Fenway, Ramirez struck 274 home runs with 868 RBI, a .312 batting average and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) just shy of 1.000, at .999. Ramirez may be remembered for his quirks and oddities both on and off the field, but there's no question about it that when he was locked in and hitting, few were ever better than he was. The peak of Ramirez's Red Sox career came in 2004, when he was named World Series MVP.

3. Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, LB, Patriots

Much like Moss and Welker, you can't have one without the other. Bruschi and Vrabel were the leaders of the Patriots defense that won Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, and 2004. From a statistical standpoint, obviously, they both excelled. Vrabel was a top pass-rusher in the league, while Bruschi was more a stay at home linebacker who was great in pass coverage. Vrabel was also known for his versatility in goal line situations--on offense. In his Patriots career, he caught 10 passes while lining up in a goal line set-and all 10 went for touchdowns. This included 2 such plays in the Super Bowl, in XXXVIII and again the following year in XXXIX. Bruschi draws lots of inspiration for his comeback from a stroke following the Super Bowl against the Eagles, which nearly left him paralyzed, and made it back in time to play 9 games the following season. After the 2008 season, Vrabel was traded to the Chiefs and Bruschi retired, leaving a huge void in the Patriots linebacking corps. No matter who steps up and ultimately fills those shoes, good luck trying to establish the pedigree of Vrabel and Brushchi.

 

2. David Ortiz, DH, Red Sox

Back in the winter of 2003, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein was new on the job. As he filled out the roster, he took a flier on several veteran free agents who hadn't been garnering much interest elsewhere. Jeremy Giambi, Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, and  David Ortiz, most notably. With all due respect to Millar and Mueller, has there ever been a better scrap-heap pick up than Big Papi? Since becoming a full-time player midway through the 2003 season, Ortiz has clubbed 291 home runs and driven in 932 runs, all while batting .286 with a .958 OPS. In 2006, he became the Red Sox single-season home run leader (54), breaking Jimmie Foxx's record of 50 set way back in 1938. But more than anything else, Ortiz is remembered for his post-season heroics in 2004. During the ALCS, when the Red Sox were trailing 3-0 to the Yankees, Ortiz's walk-off hits ended both Games 4 and 5, injecting life back into the Red Sox and enabling them to complete the greatest comeback in baseball history.

1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

On an early fall evening late in September 2001, the Patriots, along with the rest of NFL, were participating in the first game action since the September 11 attacks of earlier in the month. Late in the game, with the Patriots losing 10-3 to the Jets, quarterback Drew Bledsoe was flushed from the pocket while trying to lead a Patriots comeback. As he scrambled towards the sideline, he was layed out maliciously by New York linebacker Mo Lewis. Bledsoe would leave the game, and entered Tom Brady.  The Patriots wound up losing the game by the score of 10-3, dropping to 0-2. Brady, the 6th round pick in 2000 out of Michigan, would have to guide the Patriots in Bledsoe's absence. Seems impossible, right? The Pats finished the regular season 11-5, including winning their final 6 in a row, to earn the AFC East crown. From there, they would sweep their 3 playoff games, winning Super Bowl XXXVI on the final drive of the game in which Brady lead the Patriots into field goal range, where Adam Vinatieri took care of business. 

And from there, Brady has gone on win two more super bowls, including two super bowl MVP honors, win the 2007 MVP award (in which he threw for a league record 50 touchdown passes) and become a lock for the pro football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Not bad for the 6th round pick, 199th overall, right? Brady is 97-30 as a starter in the NFL, not to mention a 14-4 mark in the postseason. He has thrown for 233 touchdown passes in his career (19th all-time), amassing 31,602 yards (28th all-time) during that span. He had spend the majority of his career with average-to-below average receivers to throw to, until the additions of Moss and Welker in 2007, making his passing numbers look even more impressive. No.12 Shouldn't be stepping away anytime soon, either, recently signing a new contract that will keep him a Patriot through 2014.

Ranking Brady #1 was by far the easiest decision on this list, anyone with half a brain could've come to that conclusion.  And with that, the list is completed. Let the debating begin....

Honorable Mentions: Ray Allen, Guard, Celtics; Zdeno Chara, D, Bruins; Curt Schilling, P, Red Sox; Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox; Troy Brown, WR, Patriots; Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots.

Maybe Next Decade: Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox; Tyler Seguin, C, Bruins; Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots; Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics.