Good start against a great team

Here we go. The NBA season is underway and it starts with the Celtics winning over the much-hyped Miami Heat, 88-80. After LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined their buddy Dwayne Wade in Miami, the Heat are a very formidable team with way too many weapons for a defense to deal with completely. We did learn one thing about the new Triumvirate tonight, though: they're beatable. The Celtics proved that tonight with this victory. Ray Allen led the way with 20 points while shooting 5 for 8 from long range. Paul Pierce chipped in with 19 points and 9 rebounds, while point guard Rajon Rondo racked up 17 assists. It's safe to say that without Rondo, the Celtics wouldn't have been able to do much offensively. The speedy Rondo created countless opportunities for the C's offense leading to many a bucket.

Tonight was a beginning to a journey for another try at banner 18 for the Celtics, after losing in a heartbreaking game 7 to the hated Lakers last June in Los Angeles. The Celtics retained their aging Big Three as they think (and I hope) the old veterans can lead the way on another championship run.

So, one game is in the books, and it goes in as a W. A big win against a big contender is just the beginning to what should be a great year in the NBA (and hopefully for the Celtics, too).

Deep in the Heart of Texas

No Phillies. No Yankees. This should be a fun World Series. As I was in New York over the weekend, me and my parents listened to game 6 of the Yankees, Rangers series in the car. The Yankees were down 6-1 in the bottom of the 9th inning. There were two outs and Alex Rodriguez was coming to the plate. At this moment, I realized something: we were in the Bronx, home of the Yankees. Rodriguez struck out looking on a curveball from Neftali Feliz and, as we were clapping and fist bumping about a Yankee-less Fall Classic, we saw exit signs towards Yankee Stadium. We drove by the ballpark just after their season was ended, in an eerily coincidental scenario.

While all that was happening, down in Arlington, the Rangers were dismantling the team with the $206-million payroll in a series in which the Pinstripes were outplayed in all games but one. The young, charismatic underdogs beat the hated Yankees. For this World Series, I'm not in a position in which I extremely dislike one (or both) of the teams. Without the Phillies or Yankees, I'm not in a position to root against anyone.

The Rangers, a team propelled by an explosive offense and surprisingly good pitching staff, upended the Yanks en route to their first World Series ever. Until this year, they had never won a playoff series, let alone been to the Fall Classic. Here they are, now playing deep into October (and, if necessary, November) as they battle the Giants for the title of World Champions.

Still Kayaking in McCovey Cove.

Well, I was wrong about my NLCS pick, but I'm not too torn up about it. I guessed that the Giants would lose to the Phillies in the National League Championship series that ended last night, but that's not how it played out. The truth is, I couldn't be happier with the crew from San Fran in the World Series. The Phillies were in the World Series the last two years and, I don't really know why, but I don't like them. I'm happy to have some new blood representing the NL in the Fall Classic this year. Behind great efforts from starters including Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez, the Giants disposed of the Phillies in 6 games.

The MVP of the series was the definitely-deserving Cody Ross. After joining the Giants late in the year, Ross hit for a .350 batting average in the series (7 for 20) with three home runs, 5 RBIs, and 3 doubles. His first hit of the series was also the Giants' first of the series and the first hit surrendered by the formerly-untouchable Roy Halladay. It also was a home run that put the Giants up in game 1 of the series.

So, after not winning the World Series since 1954 and not appearing in one since 2002, the underdog Giants have clawed their way back to the Fall Classic. They must be going crazy by the Bay.

Welcome back, Deion.

When the Patriots unloaded the two-ton piece of baggage that takes the shape of Randy Moss, waves of panic were sent through Foxboro and the rest of the country. How could they succeed offensively without a legitimate deep threat? How could they survive with someone like Moss to "spread the field"? How would they open up the middle of the field now that defenses didn't have to worry about Moss running down the sideline? The people that asked these questions (which included myself, initially) obviously didn't take into account the fact that the Patriots quarterback was Tom Brady, a man who won 3 Super Bowls without Moss. Moss had become a cancer in the locker room and, although maybe not so on paper, getting rid of him helped the team. 

The newly re-acquired Branch celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown.

The subtraction of Moss also lead to the [re]-addition of one of my absolute favorite Patriots of all time ("all time" being, of course, the timespan of my fan-hood, which is only the last 10 years). This player is, of course, wide receiver Deion Branch. The MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, Branch was one of Brady's favorite targets during the 4 years in which the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls. The Patriots traded him to the Seahawks after a contract dispute in 2006, but Brady seemed to love having him back yesterday. Branch had nine catches for 98 yards and a score that brought the Patriots within three during the fourth quarter of their dramatic comeback win in overtime against the Ravens.

The greatest thing about the "Branch: in, Moss: out" situation is what we heard post game about what concerns the players had about feeling appreciated and cared about by the team. We didn't hear anything. Deion Branch is exactly what Randy Moss wasn't, a team player who is happy to be playing the game, not worrying about himself. That is what they got rid of with Moss and that is precisely why the Patriots are better without him.

The Final Out...

Halladay's Gem

NLCS Preview

This year's National League Championship Series (NLCS) will kick off on Saturday with the Giants and Phillies facing off in Philly for the right to play in the Fall Classic. Here's a look at how those two teams match up and who I think has the edge right now.
Both of these teams have absolutely dominant starting pitching, and, in the so-called "Year of the Pitcher," these teams fit the bill.
In game 1, Roy Halladay (PHI) will be pitching opposite Tim Lincecum (SF). This is as good as a pitching matchup can get. The man with two no-hitters this year, one of them in his last start against the Reds (Halladay), is matched up against "The Freak," who has won the last two National league Cy Young Awards. This should be a great, low-scoring game, and an amazing way to begin what should be a very hard-fought series.
Behind Halladay, the Phillies have Roy Oswalt, a mid-season acquisition who has been stellar since coming over from the Astros, and Cole Hamels. After Lincecum, the Giants have Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez (who is 2-0 against the Phils this year), and rookie Madison Bumgarner. The pitching matchups will be exceptional, with every starter from either side both solid and pretty reliable.
The offenses are where the discrepancies lie between the two. The Giants, although they have a sensational rookie catcher in Buster Posey, lack the depth to stay with Philly offensively. The Phils, on the other hand, have all kinds of depth. From Shane Victorino to Jayson Werth, the Phillies can hit, hit, hit.
Another edge the Phillies have is experience. They have made the World Series the past two years and have retained most of their starting players from those two teams. Only one regular, Placido Polanco, is new to the team this year, and he played in the 2006 World Series as a Tiger.

Between the dynamic offense and amount of playoff experience of the Phillies, this series does not phavor the Giants.

Prediction: Phillies in 6.

That's why they call him "Doc"...

During this past offseason, the winter of 2009-2010, there was a lot of speculation as to whether or not Roy Halladay was going to be traded. He had played about 10 seasons in Toronto for the Blue Jays and been simply phenomenal. His team, however, was just the opposite. Playing in the same division as the powerhouse Yankees and Red Sox, the Blue Jays never made the playoffs even with a pitcher as good as Halladay.

In the offseason, there was talk of Halladay being traded to a potential playoff contender. A deal was made that sent Halladay to the Phillies in exchange for a few prospects. Finally, he would be able to play for a high-quality baseball team. Halladay pitched well through the regular season, and the Phillies, behind a solid pitching staff and an explosive offense, made the postseason. Halladay was their best pitcher, so he was to start Game 1 of their series against the Reds. At long last, Halladay had reached the post season. Boy, did he make the most of that opportunity. In his first postseason start, he hurled a no-hitter. Striking out 8 while stifling a potent Cincinnati offense, Halladay didn't allow one hit and only allowed one baserunner (a walk to Jay Bruce in the fifth).

Not only is this amazing because of Halladay's postseason experience up to that point (or lack thereof), but Halladay is only the second player EVER to throw a no-hitter during the playoffs, after Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series.

My diagnosis of Roy "Doc" Halladay? Filthy.

Defining "special"

In football, there are three types of plays that make up the game. The first two are pretty obvious, offense and defense. The third, and not so obvious, is special teams. On Monday night, the Patriots showed the world just how special special teams can be. It started with the beginning of the second half. Down 7-6, after being walked on for thirty minutes by the Dolphins, they kicked into gear. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Brandon Tate, using an amazing block from Sammy Morris and a fast pair of legs bolted into the end zone for a 103 yard kickoff return while bolting the patriots into the lead.

Then, a little bit later, the Dolphins were punting in their own territory and just as the kick was being fired off, it was blocked. Patrick Chung, who talk about in a minute, came in and got a forearm on the football, blocking it before it was recovered by the Patriots, who took over inside the Dolphins' 30, who got another score.

A little later still, when the Patriots had a lead that was just starting to seem comfortable, the Dolphins kicking team came out for a field goal try. Can you guess what happens next? If you said "they made the field goal to claw a little closer to the Pats".....you'd be wrong. The field goal was blocked, AGAIN. By Patrick Chung, AGAIN. This time, it was picked up by cornerback Kyle Arrington and returned all the way for a touchdown. Now, back to Chung. He played the game of his life. Not only did he get two huge special teams plays, he also managed to intercept a Chad Henne pass and return it 51 yards for a score. Hopefully, this will silence any critics of the Patriots and their defensive and special teams schemes, as it more than definitely should.