Beantown Sports Guys

Randy Moss waived by Minnesota Vikings

Randy Moss has just been waived by the Minnesota Vikings. No details on the what and why yet, just coming through. Check NFL.com for more updates.

Why does Tiger Woods get to say no thank you to the police?

Riddle me this: you get into a car accident and plow over a fire hydrant and slam into a tree, knock yourself unconscious, and have to be pulled out of your SUV by your wife and when the police ask to interview you you simply tell them "I'll talk to you guys tomorrow". And then say that again. And then again. What's wrong with this scenario?

What is wrong is no one would get away with it unless they were Tiger Woods.

You wouldn't be able to go the night without talking to the police so they could continue their investigation. You wouldn't be able to ignore the police, even with the help of a lawyer. You wouldn't be able to just release a statement about how "you messed up".

Because you're not Tiger Woods.

Why aren't pro athletes held to the same standard as you and I? Look at Plaxico Burress: his sentence was extremely harsh, there is precedent in cases like his where he would simply get probation. But he got 18 months and his NFL career is likely over. The judge hit him with as harsh a sentence as possible because the mayor of New York wanted to send a message.

Look at Donte Stallworth. He was driving under the influence and killed a man running to a bus late at night in Miami. Granted, it was dark, the man ran quickly in front of his car and wasn't in a crosswalk, but if Stallworth was sober perhaps that man would still be alive. And what was his sentence? A slap on the wrist.

It goes both ways but too many times it goes the wrong way. I don't care what the reasons for Tiger's evasion of the police here. He should man up and be interviewed and answer every single question and sit at the police station as long as they ask him to. But he doesn't have to.

Because he is Tiger Woods.

Breaking News: Pats offensive coordinator McDaniels hired as head coach of Broncos

It's being reported that Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels has just been hired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. Terms are not being reported at this time.

Some may think the gaudy offensive numbers Brady and Moss put up last season are the reason why so many teams were after McDaniels; however, the real testament to his worthiness is what he did this season with QB Matt Cassel, who pushed the Patriots to an 11-5 record and almost into the playoffs.

This will just add another wrinkle into the contentious rivalry between the Broncos and the Patriots, who are scheduled to play each other in Denver in the 2009 season.

Breaking News: Don Imus is still a racist

Don Imus is still a racist. I don't care that he has a black producer. Or that he has two black co-hosts. He's a racist, and always will be. The latest Imus controversy occurred Monday morning when sportscaster Warner Wolf told Imus that Adam "Pacman" Jones wanted people to start calling him by his birth given name Adam Jones or simply Mr. Jones, dropping his old Pacman nickname in hopes that people will see that he is trying to be a good guy. That is a subject for another day.

Read the following and let me know if you are buying the bull that Imus is shoveling:

"He's been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005," Wolf said.

"What color is he?" Imus asked.

"He's African-American," Wolf responded.

"Well, there you go," Imus said. "Now we know."

Well, now we know what? What his race is? Or "Well there you go" as in "Wow, that is shocking" in a sarcastic tone? I'll take the latter thank you very much. I think we do know, I think we do know that it's quite apparent that Imus learned nothing about him running his mouth about the Rutgers University women's basketball team when he said there were some "nappy headed hos" on that team.

Even more preposterous is Imus trying to turn it all around today. Today he said Jones was arrested six times because police were "picking on him."

"He's a football player. He is a lovely kid. He was out there having fun," Imus said

Imus said he was defending blacks with his Monday remarks.

"What people should be outraged about is that they arrest blacks for no reason, and I mean there's no reason to arrest this kid six times," he said. "They shoot blacks for no reason."

Are you kidding me? Honestly? Any casual fan of football knows that Pacman Jones has a history of problems. Brought onto himself. By himself. Not because of the color of his skin. He's been troubled for a while, and we'll see if he really does snap out of it. For now, he's on the right path. That said, for Imus to say he is "a lovely kid" and "he was out there having fun" is Imus in damage control. And whoever is his PR guy needs to be fired, because no one believes what he is shoveling. Imus realized that he screwed up royally again, and this is how he is trying to get out of it.

Look, no one believes Jones is a good kid. Absolutely no one. For Imus to ask what color he is one day, and then the next profess how good of a guy he is and that he was just having fun, it just goes to show you that Imus is an even bigger moron and racist than we thought. He played it off as if he didn't know what the color of his skin is and today he is defending him, as if he were right there next to him at the club? Doesn't anyone find this a little ironic? Oh wait, I'm sure he was doing it to bring light to the fact that he is targeted because he is black, right?

Hey Don, why don't you tell the people that were in the nightclub during the shooting that Jones was just having fun? That when he threw his cash (reported as over $81,000) in the air and flipped out on the 40 stripper that were trying to collect it that he was just having fun? Why don't you tell the victims of that shooting that it was all in good fun? How about you walk up to Tommy Urbanski and his family and tell them it was all in good fun?

As long as people like Don Imus have a public voice, there will always be racism. Imus is a racist prejudiced old man that needs to be pulled off the air immediately. For good.

Breaking News: Tiger Woods out for the year

Tiger Woods is out for the remainder of the 2008 golf year, as he suffered a double stress fracture in his left leg two weeks ago, the same leg he has been playing on with a torn ACL, a shredded ligament he has been dealing with quietly for over 10 months . His injuries will require season ending surgery.

Woods came from behind to beat Rocco Mediate in an 18 hole playoff round, followed by a 1-hole sudden death playoff to win the 2008 US Open.

Breaking News: Brett Favre Retiring

The famed face and arm of the Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre, has decided to retire.

It's being reported by ESPN's Christ Mortensen that Favre would have committed to multiple years if the Packers and Randy Moss could have come to agreement. After Moss re-signed with the Patriots on Monday, Favre's mind was made up for him.

Favre retires with gaudy numbers: 61,655 yards, 5,377 completions in 8,758 attempts for a 61% career completion percentage, 442 touchdowns and 288 interceptions.

A first ballot Hall of Famer if I have ever seen one, Favre leaves the Packers on his terms. Being a fan of the game and a fan of Favre, I would have liked to see him stay around for a few more seasons. He put the Packers in a great position by building up his core of young rookies and handing them off to Aaron Rodgers.

The torch has been passed, and I think Rodgers will make Brett proud.

Thanks Brett, even though you beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl in '96.

Belichick fined $500,000, Pats fined $250,000, Pats to lose 1st rounder or 2nd and 3rd rounders

The ruling from Commissioner Goodell regarding Tapegate has come down: Belichick was fined $500,000, the Patriots organization was fined $250,000, and the Patriots will lose either a 1st round draft pick or their 2nd and 3rd round draft picks in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Shortly after the ruling came down, Belichick issued a statement about the ruling:

Text of the statement from New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick after he was fined $500,000 for stealing an opponent's signals:

I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career.

As the commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress.

Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect.

With tonight's resolution, I will not be offering any further comments on this matter. We are moving on with our preparations for Sunday's game.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press)

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80251b7e&template=with-video&confirm=true

Goodell's statement regarding Tapegate sheds a little light on why he chose to take such action against Belichick and the Patriots rather than other possibilities people have been suggesting:

“This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field,” Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to the Patriots.

"I specifically considered whether to impose a suspension on Coach Belichick," Goodell also wrote. "I have determined not to do so, largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/final_ruling.html

The draft pick thing is semi confusing to me. If they don't make the playoffs, do they take the 2nd round pick and their third round pick as well as the third round pick they acquired from Oakland? The Globes Mike Reiss sheds a little light on it:

The Patriots will lose their 2008 first-round draft choice if they make the playoffs, or their second- and third-round draft choices if they don't make the playoffs.

But as part of trades the Patriots made during the 2007 draft, the team had already acquired some extra draft choices -- the San Francisco 49ers' 2008 first-round draft pick, and the Oakland Raiders' 2008 third-round draft pick.

So as of right now, the Patriots have a total of nine draft picks in 2008 -- two apiece in the first and third rounds, and one each in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.

The picks to be surrendered would be the Patriots' own, not the picks they acquired in trades.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/2008_draft_pick.html

From the sounds of what Reiss is reporting the Pats will lose either one pick (their own first rounder, which should be in the high 20s), or their own 2nd round pick (again, high 20s) and their own 3rd rounder, but not the one they got from Oakland.

John Clayton is saying it's not enough, but I disagree. It doesn't cripple a franchise, it doesn't create a massive competitive unbalance throughout the entire league by bumping every other team up in the draft. It hurts them on multiple fronts: front office, head coach, and in the draft. Clayton is making it sound like the Patriots had a buffer and planned that if they got caught it didn't matter because they were stacking picks. Whether you believe Belichick or not, a misinterpretation of a rule and an decent explanation to the Commissioner is the reason why the ruling is what it is.

One the one hand, I agree that the Patriots perceivably got off a bit easy; but overall, I think the punishment fit the crime. It makes sense and is something as a huge Patriots fan I can support.

Breaking News: Doctor now optimistic Everett will walk again

Buffalo Bills Tight End Kevin Everett is already showing signs of progress after suffering a potential life threatening injury during the Bills season opener vs. the Denver Broncos.

It was first reported that it was unlikely Everett would ever walk again, but it appears that Everett could be much more of a fighter than people gave him credit. I realize judgments were not being made on Everett's character, rather people were concerned because of the severity of his injury; however, sometimes it's important not to rush to judgment.

"Based on our experience, the fact that he's moving so well, so early after such a catastrophic injury means he will walk again," Green told The Associated Press by telephone from Miami.

   "It's totally spectacular, totally unexpected," Green said.

ESPN not only had a great article about this, but a video interview with former Detroit Lions guard Mike Utley, who was paralyzed from the chest down over 16 years ago, and chimed in about his thoughts and feelings about Everett's injuries.

This is amazing; even though it is too early to celebrate, it is never too early to have signs of hope.   

Breaking News: Raiders and 1st pick overall Russell agree to contract

It's being reported right now that QB JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders have reached a 6 year deal which he will sign on Tuesday. It is being reported that the deal is worth over $68 million, $37.4 of which is guaranteed money.

Russell was the last first round draft pick to reach a deal.   

Rookie Buchholz pitches no-no against Orioles

Clay Buchholz is something special. Now that he threw a no-hitter for the Red Sox tonight at Fenway, New Hampshire Fisher Cats Manager Bill Masse would see that.

In just his second major league start, rookie phenom Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter, a few hours after being called up by the Red Sox to help the team out because of an ailing Tim Wakefield. Buchholz is the 17th rookie to throw a no-hitter and became the third since 1900 to throw a no-hitter in his first or second major league start.

At the end of June when Buchholz was pitching for the Portland Seadogs, the Double A affiliate for the Red Sox, the local fans cheered him on and gave him a standing ovation. The reaction from Manager Bill Masse was legendary, and not to be forgotten for a long time. His reaction was angry and childish, which led to dozens of letters being written to the Union Leader, the major newspaper in New Hampshire, to try and get Masse to see the light. Below is an excerpt from that article, snagged from another blog that grabbed it before the newspaper started charging $2.50 to read articles over 30 days old:

Clay Buchholz, the No. 3 prospect in the Red Sox organization, threw a four-hitter over 6.1 innings, leading Portland to a 5-4 Eastern League win over New Hampshire before a solid Monday night gathering of 6,831.

 To Buchholz’ surprise, he left yesterday’s game to a standing ovation, after surrendering his fourth hit, a clean single to left by Chip Cannon on his 91st delivery to the plate with one out in the seventh inning.

“I didn’t expect it, but it was nice,” he said.

In the Fisher Cats’ clubhouse after the game, Masse questioned the local fans’ loyalty to the hometown team.

“I think it’s sad,” Masse said. “We’re not playing the Boston Red Sox. We’re playing the Portland Sea Dogs. Unless you’re from that area, you root for your hometown team. This is New Hampshire’s team, Manchester’s team and to see Clay Buchholz get a standing ovation was absolutely disgraceful.”

When told that many of the fans in attendance attend Red Sox games or follow the Red Sox, Masse said, “We’re not playing the Boston Red Sox. It’s Manchester against Portland. There’s not a park in the world that would have given him (Buchholz) a standing ovation for throwing six innings for one run and 11 strikeouts. I guess I will never understand how you can root for the Fisher Cats when we don’t play Portland and root for them when we do play them.”

http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/?p=10389

Buchholz is special for sure, missing a perfect game by 3 walks and doing it in 116 pitches, he gave the Sox something to revel in and look forward to now: young pitching talent in September.

Buchholz was the shining star from the September callups, but he wasn't the only one. Outfielders Brandon Moss and Jacoby Ellsbury both did their part in helping the Sox beat down the Orioles 10-0. With the always spot on defense by Coco Crisp and an amazingly impossible play by Dustin Pedroia, you knew Buchholz was in good hands.

My hat goes off to the Baltimore Orioles as well. They could have pulled some bush league move like try to bunt to break up the no hitter at the end of it, even when Buchholz's changeup was downright nasty, but they didn't. They did their best to make contact, and you had no doubt they wouldn't pull a move like that. And that isn't something I could say for the Yankees.