While there I had a chance to read the Boston Globe sports page, which I remembered fondly from my college days in the early 1980s. It started as a pleasant déjà vu; however, after a couple articles I couldn’t help but remember the strange dichotomy of the Boston media.

Boston has always been a passionate sports town. During the Celtics’ Larry Bird era, I remember enjoying the passion but detesting the arrogance. I can still recall legendary announcer Johnny Most, after an Opening Day win, saying something to the effect of, “I can’t see this team losing a game all year.”

They can ride a winner in Boston and they can jeer a goat (as Bill Buckner will attest). This is particularly true of the media. Of course, the majority of the fans tend to be very loyal. And I was very glad that they finally got their retribution over the Yankees.

Right now, with the resurgence of the Celtics and Bruins, they have a top team in all 4 major sports. Is there another city or area that can boast as powerful a line up? With Tom Brady returning to the Patriots, you could make an argument for all being top five teams within a calendar year.

Of course, in the paper, little had changed. The Globe still arrogantly belittles a lesser team like the Islanders as “lowly”, but then jumps on the Bruins and Celtics for “slumping”. Most towns would be happy to have slumping teams like the Bruins and the Celtics.

I’m all for appropriate criticism, but Boston does seem a bit spoiled right now. Perhaps the city should appreciate what it has at this moment a little more. History has shown that nothing lasts forever. And what appears to be a good move on the surface may come back to bite you. As everyone knows, Boston IS susceptible to curses.

So, one must ask, is Matt Cassel the next Bambino?

• December 1, 2008 -- December (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• November 14, 2008 -- Cassel Comes of Age (0)
• February 26, 2009 -- Around the Horn, Sort of (5)
• November 13, 2008 -- Lakers Lesson Learned (0)

We’ve been awfully quiet for the last two weeks, and I apologize. It was not my intention to slag, but I went to visit my family over the holidays only to discover that they had a miserable internet connection that made it impossible for me to do just about anything. Then I became one of the countless victims of weather-cancelled travel on my return flight to Los Angeles, delaying my return to normality. I am now home safe and sound in LA, ready to tackle 2009!

I wanted to finish 2008 with my “Best Of” sporting highlights of the finished year; instead, I will say my final farewell from the new year. To be slightly different, I’ll only countdown my Top 5, all in brief except for the all important #1.

Nate’s Top 5 Sporting Moments of 2008

5. Rivalry Renewed! The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers once again meet in the NBA Finals with the Celts completing their return to excellence in a dominating dismantling of the Lake Show.

4. The New York Giants upset the then 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII as Eli Manning emerges from his big brother’s shadow in one truly brilliant play,

3. Perennial American League East doormat Tampa Bay executes one of the most remarkable worst-to-first turnarounds in sports history as the Rays not only win their division but advance to the World Series.

2. Usain Bolt shatters the 100-meter world record with a time of 9.69 seconds at the Beijing Olympics. And it looked like he pulled up at the end!

My #1 sports moment of the year actually has two parts: the greater, more encompassing accomplishment and one specific moment in particular.

1b. 2008 was a terrible year for most people, as the global economy plummeted and war continues to rage in Iraq and Afghanistan. But for two weeks in August, the world’s attention was focused on happier affairs as all eyes turned towards the Beijing Olympics, and, in that first glorious week, on one man: Michael Phelps. The world needed Michael Phelps, and he delivered.

Phelps’s pursuit of eight gold medals in one Olympic Games was captivating and inspiring, quite simply everything that both sports in general and the Olympics in particular aspire to be. One could not help but root for him, and with each successive victory, whether massive or by the narrowest of margins, one’s awe grew. That he did so in record form almost every race was the icing on the cake.

1a. As amazing as Phelps’s eight gold medals were, one race in particular stands out: the 4 x 100-meter Freestyle Relay. It wasn’t his closest race (that honor belongs to the 100-meter Butterfly); ironically, the miracle and greatest excitement didn’t even belong to Phelps, but to his teammate Jason Lezak. Lezak, so close so many times before, swam the race of his life, making up more than a half-body length on Frenchman Alain Bernard in world-record split time. That Bernard’s trash-talking was stuffed down his throat made the victory even sweeter.

I remember every second of Lezak’s swim in perfect clarity, leaping to my feet as I realized he was gaining ground even before the commentators announced he was doing so. Watching that race still gives me goosebumps, so I believe the perfect way to end 2008 is to revisit it one more time here:

• February 10, 2009 -- Poor Economy Doing It to Manny and the Mets (1)
• November 7, 2008 -- Are NFL Payrolls Inversely Proportional to On-Field Success? (0)
• January 26, 2009 -- Clippers Clipped (0)
• December 21, 2008 -- The Hate List (9)
• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)

Last week, I‘m in a sports bar the Flyers are losing a hockey game, the Steelers rallying against the Cowboys and the Yankees paying another mediocre player 80 million bucks. Mmm…Flyer, Cowboys, Yankees, I hate them all. Being a nostalgic guy, I started reviewing my personal sports hate list and it’s muti-decade evolution.

It dawned on me; I can’t be the only guy in America who maintains and regularly updates a such a list? Or can I?

Not a difficult task. Just ask yourself ‘Who do I Hate?’. There is no wrong answer, but like any legitimate endeavor—there are rules…

1.) The Hater must have a logical basis for his or her hate.

For example, you can’t hate the Denver Bronco’s just for wearing hideous uniforms but you can hate them if you once lived there and endured the very overrated “Orange Crush” defense.—they didn’t appreciate me calling them the Orange Slush—and because their hideous uniforms remind you of Mr. Ed on steroids.

2.) The Hater must prove undying loyalty and love for one particular team or city.

For example, if a hater hails from Boston and calls himself a Patsy fan, he must defend Bellidick and the Cheaters vociferously. Patriot haters know New England’s success of the last decade will forever be tainted and their rise on the Universal Hate Barometer—located atop a rowhouse in Philadelphia, where else?—eclipses that of the “Raidas” during the ‘70’s and the Cryboys for, oh, the last 40 years. The Cowboys, in fact, are the only team never to fall on the UHB. Probably a safe bet that status will never change given the UHB’s home

3.) The Hater cannot be a Yankees or Notre Dame fan.

If you are so much of a loser to root for teams with built in advantages for winning you cannot legitimately hate those of us who root for teams that struggle for years or decades in between seasons of success.

4.) The Hater cannot love a natural or otherwise determined rival of her beloved team.

There is no fence sitting in Hateball. If you love the Clippers, you cannot have a soft spot in your heart for the Lakers. If you love the Flyers you cannot think the Penguin’s logo is cute because it reminds you of Tennessee Tuxedo.

So, who do you hate?

Next week… the beginning of my Hate List.

• November 7, 2008 -- Are NFL Payrolls Inversely Proportional to On-Field Success? (0)
• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• April 29, 2009 -- The Hate List: 4/29/09 – My Top Two Most Hated Sports Teams (11)
• March 9, 2009 -- The Hate List: 3/9/09 – NFL Teams (16)
• February 14, 2009 -- The Hate List: 2/14/09 (4)

In the AFC, less teams are alive, but the battles are just as close. Ignoring tie-breakers, three teams (the Jets, Patriots and Dolphins) are still tied for the East lead. In the Wild Card race, the Ravens are also at 9-5 and the Colts only a game ahead at 10-4. And the Pittsburgh Steelers are now only a game back of the mighty Titans after Tennessee’s stunning upset at the hands of the now 7-7 Texans (who, if they win out and stretch their streak to 6 in a row, will achieve their first ever winning season).

And as if the overall tightness of the playoff races didn’t already make Week 16 thrilling enough, first and second place are on the line in both conferences, with Pittsburgh visiting Tennessee and Carolina visiting the Giants (on Sunday night). Wow.

Does it get any better than this?

• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• December 1, 2008 -- December (0)
• January 24, 2009 -- U Kan Koach in the NFL (.com)! (3)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)

Today Junior Seau has come out of retirement a second time to rejoin the New England Patriots’ injury-decimated defense. The Seau signing comes only two days after another former Patriot, Rosevelt Colvin, also rejoined the Pats to help with the team’s end of season playoff-push stretch drive. The big question is not whether it will be enough for the Patriots, but whether doing so is enough of anything for these two players?

Alas for Colvin, and particularly Seau, the Patriots to which they return is a far cry from that of last year. Although the addition of the two linebackers may be enough to garner New England a playoff berth–and potentially even the division title–the cards are stacked against the Pats returning to the Super Bowl. As far as Matt Cassel has come this year, his performance last weekend against the Steelers proves Cassel is still no Tom Brady.

Which begs the question, what is motivating Seau and Colvin to return? Colvin’s availability, at least, was not planned. He was cut by the Patriots in February, signed with the Texans, and then released again in August. But Seau’s retirement was announced and intentional… again. The first time Junior returned, it was because he felt like he had a great opportunity with the Patriots of finally winning a Super Bowl (Colvin already has a Super Bowl victory under his belt). This year, that chance doesn’t seem to be there.

Junior has always been such a class guy that even many Patriot haters last year acquiesced that Seau receiving a ring would have been the one positive of a New England championship. The now 39-year old linebacker managed to deliver some pretty decent numbers in 2007, so with that Super Bowl carrot appearing a lot further away this season than it did last, football fans have cause to hope that this latest comeback is not just another case of a player unwilling or unable to say enough is enough.

• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• December 1, 2008 -- December (0)
• November 26, 2008 -- Fair Punishment? (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• November 14, 2008 -- Cassel Comes of Age (0)

NFL: Last week, I looked at the parity now existing in the National Football League.  Of course, as even as teams are, the playoffs will still only hold twelve teams.  The postseason picture grew a little clearer this past weekend.  In the AFC, one favorite coming into the season, the Chargers, dropped completely out of contention, another, the Patriots, slipped to a game out of a playoff spot, and a third, the Colts rose into one.  Denver showed a strong resurgence and Pittsburgh reiterated that they are the one team capable of challenging the Titans.  The NFC picture is as murky as ever, with eleven teams still in contention.  The Giants and Cardinals are pretty secure, but the South has replaced the East as the division to beat.

NCAA Football: The BCS is as big a mess as ever, with Oklahoma passing Texas for the second spot despite having lost to the Longhorns.  We could be looking at four undefeated teams going into bowl season, two of which will be playing in BCS bowls but not against each other (Alabama and Utah) and a third (Boise State) which is at least receiving consideration, although few expect a second non-”big six” conference team to win an at-large bid.  So much for every week being a playoff, as the BCS supporters posit as a rationale for their irrational system.

NHL: Looking back over the first few weeks of this site, I realized I have yet to post on hockey.  I don’t have a good reason why not–I enjoy the puck immensely.  A quarter season has passed already.  Last year’s Stanley Cup Finalists are both playing strong, although Detroit has been eclipsed by the absolutely stellar play of the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh overshadowed by the New York Rangers and by the Boston Bruins’ return to prominence.  This week features a major show down between the Rangers and Penguins. The Rangers are definitely a good team, but considering that New York has played two more games than anyone else in the league, three more than any other team in its own division, and four more than Pittsburgh, it’s time to see if they truly are that much better than the rest of the conference or if their high point total is an additional games played advantage.

NBA: Lakers. Celtics. ‘Nuff said (with an apologetic nod to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers). Finals rematch, anyone?

NCAA Basketball: So far, North Carolina has justified its unanimous pre-season #1 ranking, dominating even with National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough having played minimal minutes to date due to injury.  Meanwhile, the Big East set a record this week with eight teams being ranked in the AP Poll.  That’s half of the sixteen team league and just under a third of the ranked teams.  Wow.  

A most wonderful time of the year, indeed!

• December 19, 2008 -- Nate’s Most Intriguing Bowl Matchups (2)
• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• December 9, 2008 -- Football Coaches Have A Sense of Humor (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)

$15,000?  That’s it?  Both players deserved a suspension.  $15,000 is a drop in the bucket to top-tier athletes, neither a significant punishment nor a deterrent to other players for future brawls.  Football is a rough game in which tempers are bound to fly sooner or later, but if the NFL wants to maintain discipline, it needs to levy stricter punishments so that the players realize they will be held accountable for their actions.

The only thing fair about this decision is that the same fine was meted out to both players.  Crowder and Light were equally out-of-line and deserved the same punishment

• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• March 9, 2009 -- The Hate List: 3/9/09 – NFL Teams (16)
• December 5, 2008 -- New England Reunion (0)
• November 14, 2008 -- Cassel Comes of Age (0)

While even a one game difference in the standings at this point in the season can be a major obstacle to overcome in the playoff hunt, that level of parity means a vast majority of teams still have a viable chance at the postseason.  Like any season, this year has had both its surprises (the Dolphins) and its disappointments (the Chargers, who probably have been the least lucky team so far this year, and the Packers, who most likely are ruing the decision not to let Brett Favre unretire with them).  Somehow the Broncos, easily the most overrated team in all of the NFL, still have the inside track in the AFC West, despite being exposed numerous times in recent weeks.  Also, somewhat amazingly, the Patriots have kept themselves in the playoff hunt, having at various times this year shown both just how good a quarterback Tom Brady actually is (when he went down with injury) and just how good a coach Bill Belichick is (in developing Matt Cassel while leading his team to the degree of success they’ve managed to achieve without Brady).

What it all comes down to with that many teams still in competition is that the last five weeks of the regular season should be very exciting indeed.

• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• December 1, 2008 -- December (0)
• November 16, 2008 -- Bizzare Stat of the Week (0)
• November 14, 2008 -- Cassel Comes of Age (0)

Cassel’s numbers were excellent by any measure, let alone for a quarterback just figuring out his sea legs.  He completed 30 of 51 passes for 400 yards, rushed for 62 yards on 8 carries, and threw 3 touchdowns.  But what stood out the most was the poise he showed when the Patriots got the ball back down by 7 with 1:04 on the clock and no timeouts.  Cassel engineered a perfect drive, calmly marching his team down the field and tying the game with one second remaining on a beautiful sideline touchdown pass to Randy Moss.

We’ve seen the Patriots come back like that many times before, but with a different man at the helm.  If you didn’t know otherwise, if you couldn’t read the name on the jersey, you would have assumed that was Tom Brady on the field.  The poise was there.  The execution was there.  Quite simply, the drive was that good.

Flashback to Week 2 and the Patriots and their fans had reason to be concerned.  Cassel was nervous and untested, and he looked it.  But each week he has improved, growing more confident with every game.  One could already see how far he had come in last weekend’s game versus the Buffalo Bills.  But last night against the Jets was something different; his transition into a viable, dangerous starting quarterback was complete.  If not for losing the overtime coin toss, the Patriots could easily have won the game.

Sure, Cassel still has a lot to learn, and, sure, Brady will once again be the starter next season after he has healed.  Considering, however, that the 2008 season looked absolutely hopeless for New England after Tom Brady went down in Week 1, the Patriots right now have to be feeling pretty good about themselves, sitting pretty at 6-4 and second place in the AFC East.  Not great, and a far cry from the squad that went 16-0 in the regular season last year, but in playoff contention, a remarkable feat with their franchise player out for the year.  And the development of Matt Cassel is a large reason why.

• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• May 9, 2009 -- Reply to “Open Letter to Brett Favre” (1)
• May 7, 2009 -- Open Letter to Brett Favre (2)
• November 7, 2008 -- Are NFL Payrolls Inversely Proportional to On-Field Success? (0)

Big East Dominance

The ACC may hold the top spot in North Carolina, but the Big East owns the poll overall, with seven teams ranked.  That translates to better than one out of every four ranked teams coming just from that conference alone.  #2 Connecticut leads the pack, which also includes two other teams in the Top 5, #3 Louisville and #5 Pittsburgh.

Of course, what tends to happen when a league has numerous teams that good is that the beat up on each other when the season turns to conference play.  While such a situation doesn’t bode well for more than one, maybe two, squads staying at the top of the rankings, it still isn’t the instant championship death it would be in football.  The Big East should be well situated come March to send several teams deep into the tournament.

Coming in a distant second is the ACC, with four ranked teams.

Davidson Rewarded

Last year’s Cinderella of the tournament, Davidson, is back in the Top 25, starting the year at #20.  Davidson’s run was one of the most exciting in recent years.  They may not have made the Final Four like the George Mason Patriots did in 2006, but the difference between those two teams was quickly apparent.  The Patriots were a good team on a miraculous Cinderella run; the Wildcats, a great team fully capable of playing at such a high level day in, day out, for an entire season.  With George Mason, one constantly wondered when the run would end; with Davidson, one came truly to believe they could continue to win.

Mid-majors continue to make their mark each year, and Davidson last year was no fluke.  The preseason ranking is well-deserved.  Don’t be surprised if the Wildcats follow in Gonzaga’s footsteps as a perennial Top 25 team (the Zags start the season at #10).

Comparison to the USA Today Coaches Poll

The Top 25 teams are identical between the two polls, even if the specific rankings differ.  North Carolina is the unanimous #1 in both; #2 – 4 also stay the same.  Only five teams show significant (more than one or two spots) variance: Duke (#8 AP, #5 USA Today), USC (#18 AP, #21 USA Today), Wake Forest (#21 AP, #24 USA Today), Georgetown (#22 AP, #18 USA Today) and, the big mover, Wisconsin (#25 AP, #21 USA Today–at four spots, the Badgers have the largest variance of any school ranked).

• January 20, 2009 -- Domination (5)
• November 21, 2008 -- Early Season UCLA Blues (0)
• November 10, 2008 -- Pitstop at Perfection on the Road to 65 (0)
• February 22, 2009 -- Live!: Big East Dominance (0)
• November 16, 2008 -- BCS Credibility Shattered (Again) (0)