The promise and the possibility

One year ago, the Bruins found themselves somewhere they hadn't been in 10 years -- the second round of the NHL playoffs.

After an epic sweep of the Montreal Canadiens, it seemed the B's were finally started to gain some recognition in a city they once ruled. As the top-seed in the East, maybe it was finally Boston's year. After all, the Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots had all won ... why not the Bruins? Fans chanted "We Want the Cup" during every playoff game in the Garden. The Bruins looked fast, strong, tough. A team that could win it all -- but, then something happened. The dream season so many fans had waited for suddenly ended with a Game 7 overtime loss at home. A heartbreak for the lone franchise out. But was it really a missed opportunity?

The slow start for the Bruins was undoubtedly disappointing. The trading of Phil Kessel, recent Vezina winner Tim Thomas' under-performing in net, and just the overall lack of Boston's ability to score was a complete 180 from their dream season just a year ago. It looked like a return to the postseason was deeply in jeopardy.

But here we all are now, on the brink of the second round. And somehow, as a No. 6 seed, the B's finds themselves with home ice advantage once again. Hosing the No. 7 Philadelphia Flyers, Boston is ready to make amends for what they know was a postseason that should have gone further. Fans are ready to believe again. What better time than now?

And despite all their shortcomings during the regular season, I know I still believe. I believe in this team as much as I did at this time last year. The best thing about sports has always been the unpredictability and the possibility. Maybe what's as remarkable is knowing that for all the injuries and unfortunate setbacks the team faced this season, they're still back where they were a year ago. But hopefully, they'll be happier ending this time around.

It's what the Bruins deserves.

Final Project: Hockey in the Hawkeye State

There are no professional sports teams in Iowa.

In a state with a population of just under three million, it's not unusual to see a diverse mix of teams represented throughout. Such representations might range from a New York Yankees baseball cap to a Los Angeles Lakers basketball jersey. While the state may not have its own professional sports identity, there's one thing Iowans do have: undeniable passion for the game.

One of the strongest examples might be at college sporting events. At the University of Iowa, football and basketball garner a large turnout, while other sports such as wrestling and volleyball, also boasts some decent attendance numbers as well.

With the rise in popularity in neighboring Illinois for the Chicago Blackhawks, many people aren't shying away from showing their dedication to the team. Jerseys and hats are popping up more frequently than in years' past.

However, unlike with baseball, basketball, and football, there is no hockey program at Iowa. Despite numerous junior league teams located throughout the state, there are no NCAA Division-I teams at any of the surrounding institutions.

If the Hawkeye faithful are as passionate about sports as they seem to be, would a DI hockey program at Iowa be so out of the question? Could it be successful? Could it thrive in a state that’s surrounded by a strong talent pool in bordering territories? What would it take to for a hockey program to be created?

Growth in Iowa
Hockey is undoubtedly a sport better taught at a young age.

The USHL, a junior hockey league, currently has four teams located within the state stretching from Cedar Rapids all the way to Sioux City, on the opposite side of the state. However, it’s still questionable as to whether that's even enough.

Health and Sports Studies PhD candidate, Nik Dickerson is an avid hockey fan. The Rochester, New York native came to Iowa for graduate school and was a little surprised to find there wasn't a hockey team. Nevertheless, he didn't completely ditch his hockey roots behind. In his spare time, he competes in an adult recreation league in Cedar Rapids.

He believes that if hockey were to gain popularity, it would need to have more coverage.

"I would say you would probably have to start at the youth level, try to generate interest there," he said. "Also promoting the Roughriders more might be helpful so people could gain more exposure to somewhat elite hockey."

UI senior and former hockey player Jordan Loperena agrees. He said there might not be enough statewide interest, which might prove difficult in justifying any school having a DI hockey program.

"The popularity of hockey really seems to be concentrated into the towns around the state that have USHL Junior "A" teams," he said. "I know that hockey is primarily popular in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, even Mason City who has an NAHL Junior "A" team, but it’s not really the slightest bit popular outside of those cities or even in the smaller surrounding towns."

If there's no interest, there's no fan base to reach out to. It's also makes it difficult to recruit in-state talent if children grow up choosing to play other sports instead.

'Opportunity at Iowa...'
Despite the sport being wildly successful in surrounding states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, hockey hasn't reached the same popularity in Iowa, which could explain one reason for the lack of DI programs.

However, Iowa still has a club hockey team in the Iowa IceHawks. They are part of the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Conference (MACHA) and play in the Division-II American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).

The team currently has enough members to fill two rosters (a Gold and a Black team), perhaps a sign that lack of participation isn’t nearly as much of a factor as often thought to be.

For some of the players, including Loperena who had to stop playing because of injury, the idea of a club team can be beneficial for those who wish to continue playing the sport at a less competitive level.

"I actually partially chose Iowa because I would have the opportunity to play hockey here, even though it was only at the D-II level," he said. "I had been in contact with the coaching staff during my senior year and had been updating them on my stats and strength records.

"My goal all along was to play hockey at the highest possible level at the university I chose to attend and I was going to have that opportunity at Iowa."

The IceHawks play at the ice rink located at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, just outside Iowa City. This has proven to be a bit problematic because it hinders the team's ability to generate revenue because they cannot charge spectators who walk through the mall and happen to watch their games.

For a sport as expensive as it is, finances are a major factor. Another issue is the location of the rink. With no other facilities available on campus, it can be a bit difficult for student-athletes to have to travel off-campus for practice or a game.

Future of Hockey at Iowa
Could the University of Iowa ever have a DI hockey program?

"There’s not been any discussion at the athletic department level as far as I know," Associate Athletic Director Mark Abbott said. "I'm not aware of anyone coming to us saying ‘we’d really like to start an intercollegiate hockey team at the university.'"

If someone were to attempt to do that though, they'd have to go through a lengthy request process. Abbot estimated that it'd likely be around two years for a team to be put in place if passed through the athletic department today.

In order for a club team to be elevated to varsity status, it has to pass six criteria to even be considered:

• Participation
• Recruiting Potential
• Competition
• Financial Responsibilities
• Facilities Management
• Compliance with Title IX

The two biggest factors currently against Iowa are Title IX and the lack of facilities and financial responsibility.

"Adding another sport would require we pay more scholarships," Abbott said. "Our bill now is approaching $8 million dollars a year. So to add another intercollegiate sport would add coaching staff salary and benefits. We'd have to have equipment and supplies, playing and practice uniforms, expenses for officials, etc."

Still some are hopeful for a future in which the Hawkeyes could one day have a hockey program. The potential seems to be there.

"I think that if Iowa had a NCAA DI hockey program that played within walking distance or cambus ride from downtown, that it would be a successful program,” Loperena said. “To be honest, college hockey atmospheres at most DI hockey schools are crazy. It would be a great, rowdy atmosphere especially if it didn't conflict with the football schedule, which basketball doesn't, so I would imagine hockey wouldn't either."

Winter Classic at Kinnick?

While it's nearly impossible to imagine Kinnick Stadium hosting a Winter Classic (in which two teams play outdoor), it’d perhaps be the perfect stepping stone to actually generating interest and buzz for the sport.

“I do think you could get people to go to something like that particularly if it involved the Blackhawks or two rival Iowa teams,” Dickerson said. “I think that could be a good starting point to raise awareness, to get people to finally start talking about hockey in Iowa.”

A bay bay, Jason Bay's time over in Boston?

According to numerous reporters, Jason Bay is apparently ready to "move on" from the Boston Red Sox after rejecting their latest offer of 4-year/$60 million deal.

First reported by foxsports.com, Bay's agent Joe Urbon was quote as saying:

"We don't agree with their evaluation of the player. Frankly, we have other offers on the table that are of greater interest to Jason."

This includes a supposed 4-year/$65 million offered by the New York Mets. The only other known offer to Bay as of this moment. The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham offered his analysis on the situation.

Theo Epstein has not yet chosen to comment on the situation.

This could simply be an aggressive strategy by Urbon to try and shake some more money out of the Red Sox. In many negotiations, things are said that later prove not to be true. Then again, perhaps the Red Sox simply don't think Bay is worth a major investment.

He is 31 and struck out 162 times last season and is, at best, a fair outfielder. There are indications that the Sox question whether Bay can stay healthy and productive over the course of a long-term contract.

If Epstein goes out and signs Matt Holliday, what happens to Bay won't be of much concern to Red Sox fans. Good luck with the JV team in New York. But if the Red Sox pass on Bay and Holliday and try a platoon with Jeremy Hermida, the populace will not be pleased.

I'll have to agree with Abraham in this scenario. However, if Bay indeed signs elsewhere -- I won't soon forget the great job he did filling in for Manny Ramirez at left field. He may have become more well-known with his time as a Red Sox but his ability to adjust to the pressure in playing in a baseball driven city like Boston is impressive. Thank you and good luck.

Still waiting on some holiday cheer...

I'm still waiting to hear some good news from the Red Sox front office. It hasn't happened yet this off-season. In Theo we trust?

*Photo from www.bostondirtdogs.com

Cut the hate, football fans...

After one of the biggest football games of the year, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow let it all out on Saturday.

In one of the more memorable scenes from the No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama showdown — other than watching Alabama's Mark Ingram doing the “Gator Chomp” on national television as the game was winding down — was witnessing Tebow sitting on the sideline with tears.

For Gator haters, it was a moment to treasure. Shortly afterwards, there were jokes all over the Internet about Tebow's sensitivity and even knocks to his manhood because he was caught crying after a game. It was a youtube sensation even before the game was over.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't understand the hate.

But what I do understand is that jealousy breeds contempt.

Maybe that's a start to figuring it out. Tebow has been too good for too long in his college career with Florida. He won the Heisman his sophomore season and led the Gators to a National championship the past two out of four years. Man, what a jerk for wanting to win and being good at it ...?

Perhaps another piece is what he does off the field. The media often publicize his trips overseas with his parents to help underprivileged children. Or his strong religious beliefs as demonstrated with “John 16 33" during the SEC Championship game. Ah yes, he’s a real jackass for that ...?

Nope, I still don't see it nor do I understand it. Where does the hate come from?

Tebow is essentially one of the best collegiate quarterbacks to ever grace the field while his character off the field reflects his humbling persona. Opposing fans may hate him but I guarantee you, if they could take a first pick in selecting their QB, it'd be him.

As the Crimson Tide began their celebration early in the waning minutes of the game, the camera zoned in on Tebow watching the action unfold on the field. The Gators were down 32-13, the deficit was just too big to overcome. Tears filled the 22-year-old's eyes.

People found ways to mock him during this moment. I just found it heartbreaking.

For someone who had given so much to his school and their football program, how could anyone not expect him to cry in the disappointing loss?

I can only imagine how much it hurt to know that in his final season with the Gators, he couldn't help lead them to another BCS Championship game. He had been their staple for success for so long but had finally come up short for once.

All fans want their teams to want to win. All athletes want to do is win, even if they've won it all before. So please tell me, what’s the difference with Tebow?

He showed fire. He showed emotion. He wanted it just as bad as any Gator fan could possibly tell you. If people are going to hate on a player, at least find someone actually worthy of that dishonor.

Bruins + Fenway = SUCCESS

As if I needed anymore reminder of what is to come in 26 days. I would much rather attend this than an Iowa bowl game. This is once-in-a-lifetime. Whether I find cheap tickets or risk paying $300+ for one remains to be seen. Either way, I am counting down the days until I see my beloved Bruins playing in my beloved Fenway Park.

Welcome Home..

Despite struggling offensively early in the season, the Boston Bruins were able to find their scoring touch. The timing couldn't have been planned any better.

With the return of Phil Kessel to the TD Banknorth Garden for the first time since he was a member of the B's last season, Boston managed to outscore the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-2 en route to the win.

The Bruins looked strong in many facets of the game despite still allowing two goals. As expected, Kessel was booed thoroughly throughout the game and practically every time he touched the puck. There were also the classy taunts of "Kes-sel, Kes-sel" that could be heard all around the arena.

As Kessel said during a postgame interview:

"You hear it, but it didn't get to me. I've got to be better. You figure when you are dealt that's going to happen. It's part of the game."

Interestingly enough, the two teams play again in a re-match on Thursday in Boston. Highlights of the game are below:

Kessels returns to Boston

Well, speaking of the devil (from the previous post), tonight former Bruins first-round pick, Phil Kessel makes his return to Boston as the Bruins hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs at the TD Banknorth Garden.

After holding out for a contract and eventually signing with the Leafs and some recent comments made public by Marc Savard, it'll be interesting to see what type of reaction Kessel receives as he steps onto the ice.

I'll put my money on him getting booed every time the puck touches his stick. If that is the reaction of the Bruins faithful, I wouldn't be surprised. To be honest, I feel as though it's well-deserved. Kessel didn't leave on good terms and it's only gotten worse. Why wouldn't you boo him?

Photo from www.zimbio.com

Kessel hasn't cut all ties with Boston just yet...

When Bruins center Marc Savard signed a 7-year extension, it was a little surprising to me. After all, he is 32-year-old already. However, I trust that GM Peter Chiarelli knows what he is doing and that this will only benefit the B's in the future.

I came across this from WEEI's Graig Woodburn.

You can count ex-Bruin Phil Kessel among those who were disappointed when Bruins center Marc Savard inked a seven-year contract extension this week. Speaking on the Dale & Holley Show on Thursday, Savard said he and Kessel have stayed in touch after his former linemate was traded to Toronto in September, and that he heard from his ex-teammate during his contract negotiations with Boston.

"We've texted a lot," Savard said. "He was obviously one of the guys telling me to wait and not sign."

The 32-year-old admitted that Kessel had a hard time learning some of lessons that Savard experienced upon his arrival in Boston in 2006-07.

"Some things he did reminded me of myself a lot," said Savard. "It's a humbling experience especially when you are young like that, I think he handled it well. He went through some tough times. As Toronto gets better, he'll get better."

I don't see how Phil Kessel isn't public enemy No. 1 in Boston. I really don't. He's just asking for fans in Beantown to turn against him. Although, I could already see that tide turning when he held out signing an offer early in the off-season. Kessel, what are you doing?!

Class assignment: Race and Gender in Sports Media

I've known I've wanted to be a sports journalist since the 10th grade.

My passion and desire have never really wavered from trying to accomplish that goal. However, I can admit this: I've had some doubts. I always knew in the back of my mind that it could be hard to break into the field because of the fact that it was mostly male dominated.

University of Central Florida professor Richard Lapchick conducted a study and came up with "The 2008 Racial and Gender Report Card of the Associated Press Sports Editors."
To be quite honest, there wasn't really anything that completely shocked me.

- 94 percent of sports editors are white males? All right.
- 93 percent of columnists were men? Okay.
- 91 percent of sports reporters are men? Cool beans.

These weren't things I didn’t know because well, I did. I was reminded every day when watching ESPN or picking up the sports section of a newspaper. I knew women were a rarity, as were minorities. I guess I'm special because I get to fill both voids.

I wasn't shocked by Lapchick's study but maybe a little disheartened at the progress that's been made since 2006. While it obviously hasn't been a big enough differential to see a major difference, it just goes to show the honestly and severity of the situation.

I'll never fully understand the belief that women do not as much about sports as men. Nor will I understand why minorities seem to fall short in terms of being sports journalists.

At the end of the day, it should be about who is the most qualified candidate for the position. But in the real world it doesn't work that way because if that was the case, many people would be out of a job and things would be messy.

Affirmative action is something that was supposed to help level the playing field. However, those who don't agree with it often argued that it promotes the opposite of what it's trying to advocate by giving the other side an unfair advantage.

In truth, it's hard to know what needs to be changed in the sports world. Society has often viewed men as the superior athlete, men as the ones who can show aggression and competitiveness. Women who show that same type of behavior have their sexuality questioned with negative stereotypes developing.

It's a bit unfortunate the study was only conducted between two years because I'd be really curious to see what the progress is in a bigger gap, such as 10 years. I'm hoping things will be more evened out by that time but the fact of the matter is, I just don't know.

Despite not knowing the answer, I've chosen to believe that things will get better. It'll just take time. It could be a long time but I’m not going to let some type of statistic stop me from my dream. People are going to think what they want to and the world isn’t always going to be fair ... but sometimes, you just have to put it behind you.

Twitter Part Deux: Revenge of the Tweet

Earlier in my blog, I wrote a post how athletes need to be careful with how they handle Twitter. For those who don't know, Twitter allows for a person to post (in 140 words or less) anything at any given time from well, anywhere they have an Internet connection. As the popularity of Twitter increases, more and more people are finding themselves on the social networking site.

This also includes journalists. Twitter allows for instant breaking news stories to circulate around the Internet in the blink of an eye. With the ever popular "Trend List" on the side bar, people can click on a word and get every status that is associated with it. In a sense, journalists can tweet their own stories in hopes of gaining a broader audience. Another good thing about Twitter is the ability to network. By clicking one button, person 'A' can "follow" person 'B' which allows for 'A' to then keep up on everything 'B' tweets. Re-tweeting is also essential in networking on Twitter and vital to helping journalists get their message or story across.

However, there is also a danger in posting on Twitter. Journalists, especially those with a large contingent of followers, usually find themselves re-tweeted helping pass along their message to an even greater number of people on the social networking site. The danger in that is with 140 words or less, those journalists better be sure what they're saying is correct. Perhaps that's the most difficult thing about Twitter, knowing who to trust.

I tend to follow sports writers because I'd like to be updated on current news events. Generally, they are the same people who only tweet about their specialty in regards to whatever sport it is they cover. If journalists wants to use Twitter, they have to be responsible about what they post while trying to build that relationship of trust with their "followers." It's hard to say where to go in terms of trying to reach readers who don't know the difference between a good and a bad tweets. I'd like to think it's a mix of the journalists (for not posting false or wrong information) and the reader (for double-checking if something sounds wrong).

Maybe a checks and balancing system would work? In a way, Twitter would be a good outlet because it does allow for a person to reply to another's tweet, even if they aren't "following" them. At some point, you'd assume that person would check to see what types of responses they are getting and perhaps notice if they'd made a mistake with someone catching it.

With that said, it is difficult to draw the line between breaking-news stories and hearsay/gossip. One notable example was the shocking death of Michael Jackson. While TMZ reported it, many people on Twitter were still confused as to whether it were true or not. They re-tweeted it but also stated their doubt alongside. Twitter is a good medium for voicing opinion and sharing news but at the end of the day, it's up to a journalist to use their best judgment on what to post.

How the TD Banknorth Garden goes from B's to C's

I've seen this video a few times before but I never get sick of it. When you think about it, the time and effort put forth, it's a pretty sweet deal especially for Boston fans. The Boston Globe's Tony Massarotti gives us the run down:

Things to be thankful for...

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving (or Slapsgiving -- for those who know what that references, bonus points).

So last night while making mashed potatoes and attempting my first Thanksgiving dinner away from home with my friend Lacey, I got to thinking about the things I was grateful for -- including growing up in the greatest sports city there is. Here below are my list of things I am thankful for as a Boston sports fan:

1.The return of Patrice Bergeron.
After suffering a devastating concussion in 2007, many people weren't sure if he would ever be the same again. Drafted as a 18-year-old in the 2nd round (45th overall) of the 2003 NHL draft, Bergeron was an early candidate for the Calder Trophy for the league's top rookie. While he lost out to then-teammate and former Bruins goaltender Andrew Raycroft, it's Bergeron who has gotten the last laugh.

At only 24, the Quebec native keeps continuing to impress but it isn't necessarily the numbers he's putting up, but rather the little things he does so well. It wouldn't surprise me if after Zdeno Chara, Bergeron was named the next captain of the B's. In a sense, #37 reminds me a little bit of the great Hall of Famer and former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman. Hopefully Bergeron's career will have the same longevity.

All I have to say about this clip is "CONCUSS THIS!"



2. Tom Brady being ... well, Tom Brady.
I'll admit it, I'm not the biggest football fan. In fact, football isn't even in my top 3 favorite sports. However, being born and raised in Massachusetts, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the New England Patriots.

I was so happy for them in 2001 when they beat the St. Louis Rams, pissed when they lost Super Bowl XLII to the New ork Giants in 2007, and then shocked when Brady when down within the first few minutes of the first game of the 2008 season. The Pats were New England's pride and joy (well until the Red Sox and Celtics came along later in this decade, but that's another story).

While the Patriots currently sit at 7-3 and on top of the AFL East once again, simply seeing Brady throw those touchdowns to Randy Moss and Wes Welker is a marvelous sight. Unlike last year when good health wasn't with New England, I'm thankful to see a very rejuvenated Tom Brady back on the field.

3.Rasheed Wallace in Celtic green.
The best (and maybe worst) thing about Wallace is that he's the type of player who you hate if he's not on your team but love when he is. During the 2008 playoffs when he was still a member of the Detroit Pistons, he lashed out after Game 5 and was fined $25,000 for these comments:

"All that bullshit-ass calls they had out there. With Mike [Callahan] and Kenny [Mauer] -- you've all seen that shit. You saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the floor and they're calling that shit. That shit ain't basketball out there. It's all fucking entertainment. You all should know that shit. It's all fucking entertainment."

His usage of profanity and 70s talk is simply awesome, ya dig? But even more great is his passion as a basketball player. To be angry after a loss, to voice your displeasure, to let your teammates know you care -- what else could you ask for? So with that said, I'm glad 'Sheed is a Boston Celtic playing with the "Big Three" rather than against them. He may be 35 but he still has plenty of game left. But if -- for whatever reason -- he doesn't prove to be the player the C's hoped he would be, at least he can still provide some type of entertainment:



4. Boston University hockey winning it all.
Ever since I was in the 8th grade, I've been in love with BU hockey. It all started with my school crush on then-goaltender Sean Fields but regardless, seeing the Terriers and getting into the Bruins at the same thing, one thing was abundantly clear: I was in love with the sport of hockey. For whatever reason, it was always ALWAYS BU hockey -- no other collegiate program ever caught my attention the way theirs did.

Fast forwarding to 2009, BU had an amazing year. After watching rival Boston College win the NCAA championship the previous season, it seemed the Terriers were playing with a chip on their shoulder. They had a dynamic team with Hobey Baker Award winner (hockey's version of the Heisman) Matt Gilroy, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft, Colin Wilson, and freshman sensation goalie Kieran Millan.

All year they had been favored to win it all. However, during the title game, as the top seeded squad they found themselves in a bit of trouble against No. 4 Miami (Ohio). Things were looking grim. It seemed the Terriers were about to be upset. Instead, after scoring two goals in the last minute to tie it up and then scoring in overtime, BU somehow managed to pull it off and win their first NCAA championship since 1995.

This clip may be a little long but I promise you it's very much worth watching all the way through. Easily one of the best hockey games I have ever seen.



5.[In progress:] Theo Epstein, boy genius.
While everyone generally stuffs their face on Thanksgiving, Theo usually does his best work then (cough *Curt Schilling* cough). However, it's asking a lot for him to try to get Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Roy Halladay but who knows? People in Boston believe in Theo and I don't think he'll disappoint.

However, no deal has been set yet. The 32-year-old righty is undoubtedly on the top of a lot of team's list as the No. 1 player to acquire this off-season. So for now, this spot is reserved for Theo if he manages to steal away Halladay from the Blue Jays and the other MLB teams.

(He'll smile once he's in a Boston uniform...)

*Photos from Sports Illustrated, www.MLBdailydish.com and www.photos.upi.com

Hey now, don't dream it's over..

EDIT: As it turns out, Alex Gonzalez has signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. There goes one member of the supposed 2010 Red Sox line-up...

The Boston Globe's Chad Finn attempts to predict the starting line-up for the 2010 Boston Red Sox ... in November.

It's actually quite an interesting read especially since Mr. Finn can't seem to let go of the idea that Boston should acquire San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (an idea he's held onto for the past three seasons).

Anyway, I'll post his predictions (link here for the entire article). In about three or four months, we can all see how close (or not) he came to actually getting it right.

LINEUP
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF. There certainly is every expectation that he'll be back for his third full season at age 26 . . . but parting with him in a deal for Gonzalez and signing Mike Cameron for a year or two wouldn't be the craziest idea ever floated, would it?

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B. I suspect his performance last year (.296/.371/.447) will represent his typical season, and given all that he provides, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It's OK to admit the MVP award was a bit serendipitous.

3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B. I've explained my feelings on this before, and nothing has changed: It is going to take a bounty of riches to get Gonzalez from the Padres, in part because he is a wonderful, underpaid player in the heart of his prime, and in part because new Padres GM Jed Hoyer probably has as much familiarity with the Red Sox farm system as anyone not named Theo Epstein. But I'll shout it again: He is worth it. Give them Clay Buchholz, Ryan Westmoreland, Casey Kelly, and another SoxProspects.com favorite or two, and do not look back.

4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B. Defensively, he's an excellent first baseman and merely a good third baseman . . . yet with Youk at third, the Gold Glove-winning Gonzalez at first, and Mike Lowell a pleasant memory, the Sox are a much better team offensively and defensively.

5. Victor Martinez, C. Glad to see he got a cursory vote in the AL MVP race, because the only disappointing aspect about his time with the Red Sox thus far is that he hasn't figured out a way to clone himself.

6. David Ortiz, DH. Is it too much to ask from Papi in 2010 for last year's production (28 homers, 99 RBIs) with a 30-point hike in batting average and more consistency? Given his .866 OPS in the second half, I don't think it is.

7. J.D. Drew, RF. I'm a J.D. convert -- do I need to get Theo to cite his OPS again for you non-believers? -- and I like him even better when he saves his surgeries for the offseason.

8. Jeremy Hermida/Xavier Nady, LF. Obviously, I don't think Bay is coming back, though the odds are probably close to 50-50 and I do hope I'm wrong. It just seems to me that he's going to get five years and $80 million somewhere -- from Arte Moreno, perhaps? -- and the Sox are not going to be willing to make that kind of commitment to a 31-year-old player whose value is primarily tied up in his power. Nady, 30, is an interesting sleeper coming off his elbow injury; he had a .919 OPS for the '08 Pirates before being dealt near midseason to the Yankees. His teammate, some guy named Bay, was at .894 before he too was traded.

9. Alex Gonzalez, SS. There are some pretty wild rumors about the options the Sox are considering a short, such as signing off-the-charts defender Adrian Beltre to play there (bad idea) or picking up an Orlando Hudson-type and moving Pedroia back to his original position (worse idea). I refuse to believe they're going to sign Marco Scutaro, who will be 35 and coming off the one above-average year of his career, especially since he's a Type A free agent. Unless they surprise us and decide someone like Orlando Cabrera is worth a one-year stopgap, you have to figure Gonzalez will return at a discounted rate, even if Francona did candidly suggest in a recent interview that he's skeptical of what "Gonzi" can provide offensively.

STARTING ROTATION
LHP Jon Lester. As untouchable as untouchable gets. Next question.

RHP Josh Beckett. I'm very curious as to what the Sox believe he will be into his early 30s -- remember, there was concern about the condition of his shoulder when they traded for him before the 2006 season, and he does have his share of mysterious injuries. If we start hearing about serious discussions concerning a contract extension, that will be an encouraging hint that they think he will continue to pitch at his borderline-ace level.

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka. The lesson has been learned. Mark him down for 14-18 mostly aesthetically unpleasing wins.

RHP Rich Harden. I'd rather have Ben Sheets, but I suspect he's heading to Texas. The hard-throwing 27-year-old was relatively healthy last season, making 26 starts for the Cubs (though he pitched just 141 innings), and his strikeout rate (10.9 per nine innings) would have led the NL had he pitched enough innings. That's the kind of guy you take a gamble on.

RHP Tim Wakefield. Until the inevitable injury, then someone from the Bowden/Tazawa/Doubront crew gets a shot. Or would you prefer Paul Byrd, the three-quel? Didn't think so.

BULLPEN
RHP Jonathan Papelbon. A 1.85 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, 38 saves . . . we should all have such a lousy year. Anyway, next winter is when the real trade rumors will begin.

LHP Hideki Okajima. With his 2.72 career ERA and 1.12 WHIP in three seasons, he'd rank high on the list of the most under-appreciated athletes in Boston. Maybe at the top.

RHP Daniel Bard. Obviously the heir to Papelbon, but the 4.74 ERA and .823 OPS-against in the second half suggest he's not quite ready for the closer's throne.

RHP Kiko Calero. A Type B free agent who at age 34 had a sneaky-great season for the Marlins. But this happens only if Manny Delcarmen is dealt -- perhaps to Florida in a package for Cody Ross or Dan Uggla. I tried to come up with another free agent reliever who might appeal to the Sox, but I saw the names Bobby Howry, Chad Fox, Alan Embree, and Brandon Lyon on the list, flashed back to April '03, and two hours later, woke up in a pool of sweat and tears.

RHP Ramon Ramirez: He had his Wasdin moments, giving up seven homers in a bullpen-high 69.2 innings, but with a 2.84 ERA and a 165 adjusted ERA, he was essentially everything the Sox thought they were getting when they swiped him from the Royals for Coco Crisp. His reputation was that he was death on lefties, but he held righthanders to a .623 OPS and one home run in 127 plate appearances.

RHP Takashi Saito. His WHIP the last three seasons: 0.71, 1.19, 1.35. And he'll be 40 in February. On the other hand, he had a 1.08 ERA and a .638 OPS-against in the second half, he wants to be back, and the Sox seem to want him back.

LHP Dustin Richardson. Outstanding strikeout numbers in Double and Triple A last season (97 in 74 innings), but a rarity among lefties in that he lacks decent breaking stuff and his command comes and goes. Have to figure he'll get a crack at a bullpen job unless Lowell is dealt for a lefty. I can't see the Sox signing Mike Gonzalez since he's a Type A.

BENCH
C Jason Varitek. Please, Tito, resist the urge to overplay him. Meaning more than once a week. Twice at the most. No, make it once.

LF Nady/Hermida. Nady has a career .854 OPS against lefties. Hermida has a career .792 OPS against righties. Gary Roenicke had a career .816 OPS against lefties. John Lowenstein had a career .764 OPS against righthanders. Did I mention the MLB Network has been showing the 1979 World Series a lot lately?

SS Jed Lowrie. I know, they want him to play and prove his health at Pawtucket. But Nick Green probably won't be back, the free agent market is pathetic -- I almost talked myself into Bobby "I Think I Broke It" Crosby at this spot -- and if he's healthy, there's probably no more promising option than Lowrie.

INF/OF acquired in a deal for Lowell and/or Delcarmen: Hey, it took me to the 25th man to come up with my first cop-out. That's pretty good for me. There are few free agent options that look like a decent fit -- Nomahhhh!!! No? They apparently have some interest in Rick Ankiel, who is mildly intriguing despite a .672 OPS last season at age 29. And I bet Ryan Kalish has a role with this team -- perhaps a meaningful one -- before the summer breeze is gone. Wouldn't mind a second year of the Rocco Baldelli experience, either.

Halladay a Red Sox?

What's the best way to respond after watching your most hated enemy win the World Series?

Come back stronger the next year. Well, at least that's how it is supposed to work. Reumor has it that Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is heavily in pursuit of acquiring Toronto ace Roy Halladay.

The 32-year-old is a six-time All-Star and 2003 Cy Young winner. He's spend his entire career as a Blue Jay after Toronto drafted him 17th overall in the 1995 MLB draft. In his career he is 148-76 with a 3.43 ERA, 1495 strikeouts, 49 complete games, and 15 shutouts. These are numbers he's put up with mediocre teams behind him while in Toronto.

Having Halladay alongside with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester would be a huge boost in Boston's rotation. However, in taking away the face of a franchise, obviously there's a big price to pay.

According to the NY Daily News:

The Red Sox are "putting on a full-court press" to acquire Roy Halladay, according to a source, and are hoping to add the former Cy Young winner to the top of their rotation to go with Josh Beckett and Jon Lester.

"They would love to get it wrapped up before the winter meetings (beginning Dec. 7)," the source said of the Red Sox, who made a big push to deal for Halladay last summer.

... To land Halladay, Boston would likely have to give up Clay Buchholz, the organization's top young pitcher, as well as Casey Kelly, the pitcher/shortstop who signed with the Red Sox in 2008 after being recruited by Tennessee to play quarterback. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is said to be smitten with Kelly, which could be a sticking point in talks with Toronto if Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos insists on the 20-year-old being included in a deal.

However, according to Foxsport's Ken Rosenthal, it doesn't look as though the Sox are quite ready to give up on their future in order to win now:

But one rival executive says there is "no way" the Sox will give up both right-hander Clay Buchholz and pitcher/shortstop Casey Kelly in such a deal.

They might not give up either.

Kelly was the stumbling block in the Halladay discussions between the teams last summer, when the Jays' price was higher due to the potential for Halladay to influence two pennant races — and the reluctance of then-Jays G.M. J.P Ricciardi to trade within the division.

Although the Sox have yet to decide upon Kelly's position, they consider him a vital part of their future. Buchholz, meanwhile, projects as part of the Sox's 2010 rotation — and their rotation for the following four years as well.

So I guess the Theo is in a little bit of a rut. Do you gamble on the future in order to win now? Or do you try to invest faith in your players now and assume they can get the job done? It took New York $430 millions in the off-season for three players but they won a World Series. Should the Sox follow a similar path or take the road less traveled?

*Photo from www.bostondirtdogs.com

B's extend winning streak to three!

It seems as though the Boston Bruins are starting to look a little more like their former selves. The B's have strung together their first three-game winning streak of the season. Patrice Bergeron dished four assists, while Milan Lucic, Mark Recchi, Marco Sturm, and Blake Wheeler all scored a goal in the 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The game also marked the return of Marc Savard, who had been out for over a month with a broken left foot.

Highlights of the game below. Also, I highly suggest checking out an impressive save by St. Louis goaltender Steve Mason at the 3:20 mark.

Take Heart Bruins fans...

Boston Globe sports writer Tony Massarotti recently penned quite the article about the Bruins and their chances for a Stanley Cup this season.

Here's the link: http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2009/11/for_bs_story_has_been_penned.html

All isn't lost so early in the season as the Pittsburgh Penguins proved last year. The Pens had a slow start but obviously, went on to win it all. That's something I've always found interesting. It isn't necessarily how you start but how you finish that could be the bigger key in success. Can the Bruins do it? I still have a lot of hope. Will they? That's another story.

Bruins finally show some signs of former selves..

Well this is the Boston Bruins team I had been expecting to see this season. A 3-0 shutout of defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins is an awesome achievement especially after such a rocky start. Maybe this is the time the B's turn it all around?

Reason why I think the Bruins luck might be changing? Please check at 2:58 of the video:

Anything you can do I can do better? Vincent Equitable Media Questions..

Part 2 of my assignment for class.
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After having taking classes such as "Women, Sport, and Culture" and "Inequality in Sport" and even writing as a sports reporter for The Daily Iowan, I have probably seen and (discussed) the difference in equitable media coverage of male and female athletics way more than I would like to. I've even experienced it with the DI on some occasions.

In John Vincent's study he found that the coverage of female athletics were far less than that of male sports. Surprising? Not really. This is because of socially constructed sex stereotypes that many people have in their minds. Stereotypes of how men and women should be. Men should be athletes. They should show aggressiveness and competitiveness while women should sit at home and be graceful and look nice (not something I believe in). For many years, that's what people believed (maybe still do) and that's what been reinforced by society.

In his piece, one fact that stood out to me was that he cited that only 10 percentage of print coverage is dedicated to female athletics while male sport seem to get all the glory. As he states:

"Research has indicated that female athletes competing in the traditionally 'gender-appropriate' individual sports such as swimming, diving, gymnastics, and tennis, which represent a narrow, culturally stereotyped view of female athleticism, receive more electronic and print media coverage."

Ironically, I have covered all three of those sports in my time as a reporter for the DI. Sometimes it's frustrated when the front page is dominated by Iowa football, men's basketball, or wrestling. However, ever now and then a female sports story will take the front page.

He uses examples of how Anna Kournikova and Danica Patrick, good athletes but not necessarily the best, and often they get media coverage. It's generally because they can balance their athleticism with sexuality. Vincent makes a point to discuss how weak media coverage is of women's athletics despite the increasing trend of more female getting into sports. Because of social construction, women are taught to be graceful and fill a heterosexual familiar role which is often challenge by the notion of sport.

As much as I'd love to believe that one day, things can become equal, I am still skeptical. Even with my time at the DI (almost two years), I've only covered women's sports. I really hope that's more of a coincidence rather than intentional. Vincent did make a brief mention of lack of women in sports journalism and I know with the DI, out of almost 16 people, only 3 are female (or even take a look at the breakdown of students in Sports Reporting and Writing). It sometimes confuses me to see how men react to knowing a girl can know a lot about sports.

I think media outlets are often under pressure to have to do what their audience wants (or what they think they want) and there's just such a big difference in demand for women's sport as opposed to men's. Who wouldn't want to big up a newspaper with a big front page story of how the Boston Celtics won the NBA champion as opposed to a front page with the WNBA champion, Detroit Shock. Basically, I think if people want more equitable coverage, they have to do a lot of work in destroying pre-conceived socially constructed notions about how sex and gender work. Is it accepted for women? Absolutely not. But will in change? Only time will tell.

West High girls' basketball attempt to bounce back

An assignment for my Sports Reporting and Writing class. A season preview for the IC West High School girls' varsity basketball team.
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Most basketball head coaches couldn't even imagine the thought of losing their best player — especially one that leads the team in points, rebounds, and steals.

But for B.J. Mayer that's exactly what happened. However instead of uncertainty, he sensed opportunity.

Mayer, the head coach of the West High School girls' varsity basketball team, believes that despite graduating five seniors — including all-state selection Emma Krieger Kittle — his squad can still compete with other top teams in the Mississippi Valley league.

His roster this season has decreased not only in size but experience as well. However, Mayer believes that speed and quickness can still be used an advantage on the court.

"We want to just be able to try to wear teams down," he said. "We feel with our ten kids we're going to be able to run kids in and out and not lose a lot of depth and intensity."

Last year, the Women of Troy made a run at the state championship but were eliminated by Ankeny to finish the season 16-6.

Krieger Kittle and Madison Sadecky were the team's two top scorers, averaging 15.3 ppg and 10.4 ppg to lead the way for West High. With their departure, Mayer hopes to implement a different game plan. He wants to rely more on the three-point shot.

Senior Kristin Fomon looks to pave the way as she shot 26.8 percent from behind the arc last season, second on the team behind Sadecky who shot 38.9 percent.

Defensively, sophomore Tatum Klein looks to see some action. Mayer named her as the team's "best defender." Klein was the only underclassmen listed on the varsity roster last year.

Mayer hopes that as the season progresses and players become more comfortable, they'll be right where they need to be in order to make another playoff run.

"Obviously we want to continue to get better," he said. "I think that's going to be the biggest challenge for us, by playing as many young kids as we're going to be playing who did not get a lot of experience in the past couple of years.

"It's just going to have to keep taking steps forward and hopefully by the end of the year, be plying as good as we can in the end."

West High kicks off their season by traveling to Fairfield for a non-conference season opener on Nov. 24.