ESPN Mag delivers all-Boston issue

Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff
http://www.boston.com/

Sweet rings, sweet cover about Boston's winnahs, and sweet distraction from the submerging Red Sox. Or as Kevin Garnett put it in a classic commercial for ESPN Mag back in the day before he was part of the Boston sports scene, it's tastefully done.

While the suspicion here is that this week's all-Boston issue will include more references to "Beantown'' than most true Bostonians would ever actually say -- that would be one or greater -- a glimpse at the table of contents suggests it should be appealing overall even to the most parochial Boston fan.

Hey, anything with an article about Boston sports titled "Decade of Dominance" is off to a good start as far as I'm concerned. Also, Bill Simmons -- Grantland Sports Guy these days -- returns to the magazine to write a back-page piece on why the issue was a bad idea.

I know there's a punch line there, but I'm not finding it. So let's consider five other articles included in the issue, in order of appeal:

The Front Office Diaries -- A look inside the thinking of the Red Sox farm system featuring the scouting reports on some of the team’s best homegrown players, such as Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, and Jonathan Papelbon. Sounds like required reading for those howling without context or a clue that Theo Epstein should be fired.

How to Rob Fenway Park -- Chuck Hogan’s novel “Prince of Thieves” was turned into “The Town,” a well-reviewed and wholly Boston movie directed by and starring Ben Affleck. (Jeremy Renner, a Modesto, California native, had the most accurate Boston accent in the movie, however.) Following the movie’s release, there was a string of copycat bank and armed car robberies utilizing techniques seen in the movie. But no one has tried to copy the film’s heist of Fenway Park -- yet. Other than perhaps John Lackey every fifth day.

Bruins in the Bean -- This photo essay will show why the Stanley Cup champion Bruins are the most Bostonian of all the pro athletes in the Hub, with vignettes of their daily lives and what they love about Boston. No wisecrack here. Could not agree more with the premise.

Debating Boston -- Artie Lange (a Yankees fan) and Denis Leary face off to argue that Boston’s sports teams are awful and amazing, respectively. Then they rip apart the other’s view. Kudos to ESPN for going with two legitimately funny personalities to rep the two fan bases rather than, say, Billy Crystal and Lenny Clarke.

Who Does Tom Brady Think He Is? -- An examination of why Tom Brady is hard to relate to and "insufferable." Presumably co-bylined by Terrell Suggs and Bridget Moynahan.

Regarding that last article, I'm going to do what Brady does so well: pass. But I am looking forward to checking the issue out. It should arrive in subscribers' mail boxes today or tomorrow and is available on the newsstand Friday.

Mount Champions

From: http://www.weei.com/

Van Damme Friday - Sudden Death Tribute - Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Winners

After watching the Pittsburgh Penguins get knocked out in game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning the Twitterverse was on fire with Penguins fans sobbing over the loss and pointing out that if the team had Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the line up, the score would have been different.

Yes having Crosby and Malkin - two of the top players in the league in the lineup would have helped the Pens a lot - but from our stand point it just seemed like they didn’t get any timely big saves from Marc Andre Fleury (.899 SV% in the series) and that he was outdueled by 41 year old, Dwayne Roloson. With the Pittsburgh goaltending letting the team down, that brings us to this great flashback.

Sudden Death

is a classic Jean-Claude Van Damme movie that came out in 1995. Van Damme plays a Canadian born firefighter living in Pittsburgh who is removed from active duty and ends up handling the fire security at the Igloo. The movie takes place during Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals, and if that isn't dramatic enough, there is a terrorist plot. Van Damme discovers the plot and attempts to foil it through beating up the Pens mascot, Iceburgh - as well as dressing up as a Penguins goalie to make the above save.



He eventually fights to get kicked out of the game and proceeds to kick more ass in the dressing room while wearing goalie pads. All of this saves the US Vice President and the arena from blowing up. This movie may be the reason Barack Obama has not attended a hockey game at the Verizon Center.

Lunar eclipse a good astrological sign in Boston - BRUINS Win STANLEY CUP

When the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, ending an 86-year title drought, there was a total lunar eclipse that turned the full moon red in the sky. In 2011, during the Largest Red Full Lunar Eclipse the Boston Bruins Won the STANLEY CUP!!!!!

LETS GO BRUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Highlights from NHL’s Outdoor Winter Classic 2010 – Flyers vs. Bruins

January 2, 2010 – Dr. Rush
From: http://thepuckdoctors.com/

Outdoor hockey is all about bringing fans and players back to their roots. Shinny games on an outdoor rink is where pretty much all NHL players developed their love for the game, and where they played countless hours with family and friends. So everyone here at The Puck Doctors thinks the idea of playing NHL games outdoors should be more than just an annual ritual and more like a requisite for each team at least once. The conditions may not be perfect and are weather dependant, but management should recognize the value in having their players take part in an outdoor game.

In more cases than not, the outdoor classic games rejuvenate the spark and passion for the game in the players that take part. On the first day of the New Year for 2010, it was the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins that played the winter classic at Fenway Park in Boston (Home of the Red Sox). Here are the highlights from the game for those of you that missed it:

First Skate at Fenway Park

Posted by Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff
From: http://www.boston.com/

(Bobby Orr, Milt Schmidt, and Terry O'Reilly / Reuters)

Years ago, Ray Bourque got the chance to take batting practice at Fenway Park.

Cranked four over the Green Monster, he said.

But what would he have said if someone that day had told him one day he'd go ice skating at Fenway Park?

"You're crazy," Bourque said Friday after being one of the first to go ice skating on the rink that has been constructed at Fenway for the NHL's Winter Classic on Jan. 1.

"But I really think the NHL has a great thing going here. Never would I have thought I would see a rink in the middle of Fenway Park," said Bourque, who played 1,518 games from 1979 to 2000 for the Bruins and had 1,506 points and 395 goals.

It was hockey weather indeed at the historic ballpark on Yawkey Way, and Bourque was one of many Bruins legends who donned sweaters with the spoked B and skates despite extremely chilly temps.

The lineup included Cam Neely, Ken Hodge, Terry O'Reilly, Rick Middleton, Bob and Don Sweeney, and Bobby Orr. A youth hockey team from Somerville also participated, and even Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek laced up a pair of loaners and tested the ice.

"It's nice. The ice is only going to get better," Bourque said. "It's a special place to play that game. I'm jealous."

The significance of the Winter Classic not only coming to Boston but involving two of the city's historic franchises was not lost on Neely, who played 525 games for the Bruins from 1986 to 1996.

"Two organizations that are kind of original within their respective sports, it's kind of neat to see them come together like this," Neely said.

Many players were asked if skating outdoors at Fenway brought back memories of playing outdoor hockey as youths.

"It's similar, but different," Neely said. "We're used to skating with a bunch of trees around you and you've got to watch out for leaves in the ice, but it does bring it back, skating outdoors."

One current Bruin, Milan Lucic, also attended, although he did not skate because he is still recovering from an ankle injury. However, he said he'll give his teammates -- who begin a three-game road trip tonight in Chicago -- some intel on the rink, including sun glare and other issues they may have to deal with on gameday.

9 year old scores greatest goal in Boston this season

By Greg Wyshynski

Oliver Wahlstrom's shootout attempt in the Boston Bruins "TD Bank Mini 1-on-1" competition begins as expected: Deliberate skating to the puck before picking up speed into the zone. But once he gets between the faceoff circles ... well, let's just say we wouldn't have been shocked to see him pull a rabbit out of his helmet before sawing a woman in half. This is hockey magic.

Not too shabby for a 9 year old, eh? Your heart has to go out to the goalie, though, who's probably still frozen in his crease as we speak.

Wahlstrom plays for the Portland Junior Pirate Pee-Wee Major 97s, a team of 12-year-old players based in Maine. The team told us this morning that Wahlstrom is just 9 years old, playing up with older competition. One look at this goal, and you can see why. It also doesn't hurt that his father, Joakim Wahlstrom, was a 10-year veteran of the Swedish Elite League.

According to NESN, that stunning tally came during the taping of the TD Bank Mini 1-on-1, a series that will debut during the first intermission of the Bruins' game against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 29. It's also shown in-game at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Heck of a goal by Wahlstrom. Wonder if it could have beaten a goalie of slightly larger stature? Not that we'd want to see Wahlstrom try that trick-shot on Bruins netminder Tim Thomas(notes), who'd probably skate out the crease and bulldog the lad if the puck flew by him.

Stick-tap to Total Pro Sports for the initial story.

Bruins Continue to Dominate

The Bruins have continued to dominate the East Coast and are still second overall in the NHL. Their last game against the St. Louis Blues was a little sloppy on defense but they were able to tighten up their game by the last period and win 6 - 3. Blake Wheeler had another great game for the Bruins scoring two goals. His second goal was probably the most fun to watch as it was short handed and he skated through four Blues players before taking a shot, which was blocked by Manny Legace, yet he was able to get the rebound and score.

MacDaddy will be taking some time off until the next year, so have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, Glorious Kwanza, and a Happy New Year!

Enjoy the highlights of the game.

Bruins Continue their Winning Ways

The Bruins continue to lead the Eastern Conference with the second best record of the entire NHL. They beat the Tampa Bay Lightning last night 3 to 1, however the score does not reflect how close the game actually was. It was an ugly win, but a win nevertheless. The Lightning scored first, 1 minute 12 seconds into the first period. It took the Bruins a period and a half to wake up and then tie the game. After that it was all Bruins.

Bruins Continue on their Winning Streak

Bruins continue on their winning streak beating their long time rivals, the Montreal Canadians in overtime. This was an important win because it solidified their status as a team to be reckoned with. The Canadians have dominated the Bruins over the last couple of years and this was an important win for the Bruins to improve their overall pschye and belief in themselves. To be truthful this wasn't just a regular game, both sides would have gained a lot from this win. Alas, the Bruins defeated the Habs:

On the Canadians home ice.
After they just celebrated retiring Patrick Roy's number.
This was the Canadians 100th year in the NHL and the first home game against the Bruins.
Mike Komisarek is out for 6-8 weeks due to the fight with Milan Lucic in the teams last meeting where Boston humiliated them with a 6 to 1 win.


A great game to watch, if you weren't able to here are the highlights.



The Bruins are now first in the Eastern Conference, second in the entire NHL in terms of points.

Bruins First in Conference

The Bruins beat their long time rivals the Montreal Canadiens last night to maintain their lead in the Eastern Conference. But to say they beat them would not be doing justice to the Bruins. They humiliated them with a 6 to 1 win, scoring the first three goals in the first period. But what makes it more remarkable is that they had played a late game in Chicago the night before that went into OT and wound up in a shoot out. Their plane landed at Hanscom Airport at 3:30 am the next morning. The Canadiens spent the night before in Boston and were able to get a good nights rest.

Here is a an example of the pluck and determination shown by this great team. Milan Lucic had scored a goal moments before this clip. Evidently Komisarek had had enough...



I know it is early in the season, but I am seeing great things ahead this year.

Hit of Year

Milan Lucic #17 for the Bruins, is off to a great start this year he had his first career hat trick this past Saturday against the Avalanche. He is always entertaining to watch with his spirited play, but no more so than the Bruins last game vs. Toronto on 10/23.