Posted on Fri, May 18, 2012
In Praise of the PawSox.
While the Sox have surprised us and have appeared to right the ship, so to speak, it is also promising to stop and take a look at how well the Pawtucket Red Sox are doing so far this season. Just 39 games in, the PawSox boast the best record in the International League with a 25-14 record. They are also winners 9 of their last 11. Pawtucket has served up such recent talent as Will Middlebrooks and Daniel Nava in recent weeks, and Dice-K is getting some rehab starts in for Pawtucket, although the results there are not as impressive. (Boston Sports U18)
What about Youk?
And because we can’t go a single week in this town without a crisis of some sort involving the Red Sox, there is talk that the return of Kevin Youkilis looming and the play of Will Middlebrooks, there is talk that the Sox should entertain offers to trade Youk at this point. Adding to that, rumors swirled this weeks that Manager Bobby V. wanted to do just that as early as Spring Training. (Fenway Nation)
Settle Down, It’s Not A Witch Hunt
Last week’s big piece of drama surrounded Josh Beckett, his sore muscles, skipped start, and decision to hit the links. Some have suggested that the local media has unfairly gone after Beckett and blown this story out of proportion. However, others point to what Beckett’s seemingly poor decision making really says about his committment to being a member of the Sox pitching staff. (Sports Girl Kat)
As KG Goes, So Go The Celtics
Sure KG knows how to trash talk from time to time, but he’s leading this C’s team when it counts! Garnett’s play has been strong at both ends of the court, which this teams frankly needs if they are to continue in the playoffs. The Celtics blew the 76ers away in Game 3, with KG putting in a 27 point, 13 rebound performance, joined by Paul Pierce with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Rayon Rondo, with 23 points and 14 assists. That’s the type of hunger we need to see from these players in order for this team to make it! (Boston Sports then and now)
The Legend of Larry Continues
This week, Larry Bird was named the NBA’s Executive of the Year. What makes this honor unique is that now Larry-Legend is the ONLY person to ever receive the NBA’s Executive of the Year, Coach and the Year, and Player of the Year honors! It’s also an added bonus to watch his Indiana Pacers take it to the Miami Heat. (CLNS Radio)
USA, USA, USA!
The NHL certainly has its share of talent from all nations, but more and more American stars are making their mark on the game. To most of us who follow college hockey and have been watching these guys for years as they develop through an increasingly competitive US College Hockey system, this is no surprise.
These American players are also gaining key positions of leadership on their teams as three of the remaining four teams left in this year’s playoffs are captained by American-born players. Ryan Callahan of the New York Rangers,—Rochester, New York—Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils—Minneapolis, Minnesota—and Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings—Ithaca, New York are those three, the Canadian native Shane Doan and his Phoenix Coyotes are the only thing standing in the way of the NHL’s second ever American-born Stanley Cup winning Captain. (Bruins Daily)
Posted on Fri, May 11, 2012
Celtics Finish Off Hawks in Six, Face 76ers on Saturday
The Hawks made a game of it at the end, but the Celtics held on as the clock ran out to defeat Atlanta 83-80 last night to take the series 4 games to 2. The Celtics now move on to the second round where they will face the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kevin Garnett was key in game 6, scoring a game high 28 points with 14 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 steals, only 1 foul. So much for being the “dirtiest player in the league” according the owner of the Hawks. Paul Pierce contributed with 18 points and 7 assists, while Rajon Rondo added 14 points and 8 assists. (CLNS Radio)
Remembering Carl Beane
Earlier this week, the voice of Fenway Park was silenced. Long-time public address announcer Carl Beane passed away earlier this week in an auto accident in Sturbridge.
As news of his passing spread, many fans and players took to social media to share fond memories of the man who has been welcoming us to games with “Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, Welcome to Fenway Park” since 2003. (Boston Sports U18)
Best Place for Bard?
What’s your biggest complaint with the Red Sox pitching staff this week?
Beckett? Bard? Pick your poison. Daniel Bard earned the 5th spot in the starting rotation in spring training, but the results have not been great. Is he better suited returning to his role as a set-up man? Should he close? Should he even be a part of this pitching staff. (Boston Sports Then and Now)
Check Us Out at the Cannons Game
Don’t forget to catch Sportaholics.com in the Boston Cannons FanZone at Harvard Stadium on Saturday. This week Cannons will face the Hamilton Nationals in a rematch of the 2011 MLL Championship. Game time is 7PM.
Posted on Wed, May 09, 2012
By Kelly Robinson
In early April, we mentioned attending baseball games in our blog, “
Save with 5 Affordable Activities for Families in New England.” We couldn’t be more excited about this season's Futures Collegiate Baseball League. Here are the top five reasons why you and your family should check out an FCBL game this summer:
1. It’s Growing
The league has added five more teams for the 2012 season. This will give New Englanders more opportunities to check out games in Leominster, Pittsfield, Lynn, and Brockton Mass, along with Old Orchard Beach in Maine.
2. Fresh Players
With freshman, sophomore, and junior collegiate players making up the roster, fans will get to watch many future MLB players during their “underdog” years. Baseball fans will love creating a fandom for players as they’re beginning their career. MLB scout day is July 26 and could pick up your favorite players!
3. Affordable
Single game tickets are very affordable, and there are many pecial deals and events by teams throughout the season. Some include - the “
All-You-Can-Eat Home Run BBQ” with the Silver Knights, and family night every Monday and Tuesday with the Mavericks. For season ticket holders, fans can experience even more perks, such as the “Weekend Flex Pack” with the Titans, and a private batting practice event with the Navigators.
And Sportaholics.com makes seeing a FCBL game even more affordable this summer with two great deals:
4. Closer to the Action
The FCBL stadiums are smaller compared to the Major League stadiums. For fans, this means they won’t be stuck in the nosebleed seats or behind a pole. Even better, you may actually get to choose where you sit. When was the last time you enjoyed front-row seats at Fenway?
5. Great for Families
The FCLB games have tons of promotional giveaways and events that are sure to keep the entire family entertained. The Pittsfield Suns, for example, have everything from Color Wars and Toilet Paper Night, to BYOF (bring your own fireworks) and Olympics Night. With activities tailored specifically to kids and families, this is the perfect answer for how to spend time this summer.
Be sure to check out
www.thefuturesleague.comfor more info about the teams, schedule, and news about the league and don't forget that Sportaholics.com rings you the best deals onFCBL tickets!
Posted on Fri, May 04, 2012
Ortiz Impressive in April
The Red Sox have started to turn things around and figured out how to string together several wins in a row. One of the biggest contributors to the team’s recent success has been David Ortiz. Fenway Nation has named Ortiz the “FN Player O’Month” for April based in his .405 batting average, 6 home runs and 20 RBIs for the month. His on-base percentage was a stunning .457.It was Ortiz’ best April since 2008, and is currently on pace to hit 36 home runs. (Fenway Nation)
We Saw the ‘Truth” in Game Two
Many thought that all hope was lost after the Celtics lost Game One to Atlanta and Rajon Rondo was suspended for Game Two because he bumped an official as the game was ending. Oh, and Ray Allen would once again be watching this one from the sidelines.
But Paul Pierce is still the captain of this team and came through like all good leaders do in times of crisis. Pierce scored 36 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Celtics to victory and to tie the series at a game apiece. (CLNS Radio)
Patriots Bulk Up on D
The Patriots did a lot to toughen up their defense in the NFL Draft, with 6 of their 7 picks being used on defensive players. New England drafted the following players:
1st Round (Pick 21) Chandler Jones (DE, Syracuse)
1st Round (Pick 25) Dont’a Hightower (LB, Alabama)
2nd Round (Pick 48) Tavon Wilson (S, Illinois)
3rd Round (Pick 90) Jake Bequette (DE, Arkansas)
6th Round (Pick 197) Nate Ebner (DB, Ohio State)
7th Round (Pick 224) Alfonzo Dennard (CB, Nebraska)
7th Round (Pick 235) Jeremy Ebert (WR, Northwestern)
New England also signed the following unrestricted free agents:
Jeremiah Warren, OL, South Florida
Markus Zusevics, OT, Iowa
Marcus Forston, DL, Miami
Brad Herman, TE, Iowa
Matt Roark, WR, Kentucky
Justin Francis, DE/OLB, Rutgers
Brandon Bolden, RB, Ole Miss
To learn more about each of the newest additions to the Patriots, be sure to visit Pats Propaganda.
BC Eagles Dismiss Harris
Look for 2012 to be another rough season in the ACC for BC football as the team has parted ways with their all-time leading rusher. It was announced earlier this week that running back Montel Harris was being dismissed from the team for violating team rules, however, details have been vague as to what that really means. (Boston Sports U18)
Remembering Junior Seau
This week brought the devastating news that former Patriots player Junior Seau took his own life. Seau played in the NFL for 20 seasons, and his death has once again brought focus on the need for further study and understanding of Chronic Traumatic Encephelopathy (CTE), an area of research that has been led by doctor’s here in Boston at BU’s School of Medicine and the Sports Legacy Institute. While it is too soon to know for sure if CTE played a role in Seau’s death, take a moment to check out this compilation of videos that celebrate Seau’s life and career. (Boston Sports Then and Now)
Posted on Fri, Apr 27, 2012
Do you still love the Red Sox? Do you even still like them?
The Red Sox have been struggling so far this season. That’s perfectly clear. But people are starting to ask questions. Now we all know that New England fans are a rough bunch, but it’s really starting to feel as though people are much more fed up than usual. Is it the players’ attitudes? How the team is being managed? The pathetic display versus the Yankees?
Do you feel as though the team cares more about selling merchandise than fielding a competitive team? (Boston Sports Radio.net)
Oh wait, this is why the Sox may be so bad right now!
Yes, we know, we’re less than a month into the MLB season, but it’s just that there’s so much blame to go around. You could point
fingers at:
1. The bullpen
2. Ownership
3. Injuries
4. The will to win
(or lack thereof)
5. Bobby Valentine
(Boston Sports U18)
And what of all those Red Sox injuries…
It does appear as though they pile up with this team, doesn’t it. To see how the current Red Sox team is already starting to resemble a trauma unit, check out Fenway Nation.
Round 1 of the NFL Draft is in the books.
The Patriots traded up twice in last night’s first round and selected two very talented defensive players. The Pats selected 21st pick overall Chandler Jones, DE from Syracuse with the 21st overall pick and then Dont’a Hightower, LB from Alabama with the 25th overall pick. (Boston Sports Then and Now). Looking for more Pats Draft Coverage? Head over to Pats Propaganda for additional coverage.
No repeat for the B’s
Too soon? It’s too soon. If you really feel the need to torture yourself over the end of the Bruins season, visit Bruins Daily and Bruins Hockey Now. We suggest that you start out with small amounts of Bruins news at first.
Posted on Fri, Apr 20, 2012
A Day with The Cup
Discover Card has narrowed down the many applicants in their Discover;s Day with the Cup contest. You can view the final three contestants online on the Contest Facebook Page. There are some very moving stories. If you had a day to spend with the Stanley Cup, what would you do? (Sports Girl Kat)
Bruins Fall to Capitals, Series tied 2-2
Despite the fact that the Bruins outshot the Capitals 45-21 in last night’s Game 4, they could just not get the puck past Holtby as Washington came away with a 2-1 victory. Boston and Washington will meet again in Game 5 Saturday afternoon in Boston. (Bruins Daily)
How Milan Lucic became "Looch"
Here’s a great video find! Check out a teen Milan Lucic showing his boxing moves. So that’s where he learned to fight like that! Check out the poor kid that he’s boxing again in that video. Looking at Lucic now, he should hold his head high that he lived to tell everyone that he once fought “Looch!” (Boston Sports Then and Now)
100 Years of Fenway Park: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!
Today is the official celebration of the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. Yesterday, the team offered free tours. As theRed Sox host the New York Yankees and their 718th consecutive sellout game, m
any notable former players, coaches, and staff will be on hand. Many great (and not so great) memories have been made at the old ballpark over the years. What are your favorites? (CLNS Radio)
Fenway Festivities
The Sox have been in town since last Friday, and not only has there been the regular excitement in that areas this week surrounding the annual Patriot’s Day/ Boston Marathon/Morning Red Sox game extravaganza, there is an added buzz as the team celebrates Fenway Park’s 100th birthday with a special ceremony today prior to their game versus the Yankees. Of course, that doesn’t account for all of the drama that’s been going on over at Yawkee Way this week, but aren’t we used to that by now! (Fenway Nation)
Did you know there’s a baseball Beanpot too?
The Beanpot’s not just for hockey. There is College Basbeall Beanpot as well, and this year, the title goes to the Minutemen of the University of Massachusetts. UMAss defeated Harvard by a score of 8-7 earlier this week to capture their 5th overall Beanpot title. Congratulations to UMass. (Boston Sports U18)
Posted on Wed, Apr 18, 2012
- “Lose it” – If you are trying to watch your daily
calorie intake this app is for you! When you open the application initially it prompts you for some information about yourself. Your weight, your age, your gender, etc. It then gives you a few options to choose from: maintain weight, lose ½ lb a week, lose 1 lb a week, etc. Based off of this information the app sets you up with a recommended calorie intake. It separates your meals into breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. It offers the nutrition facts for tons of brand name food at grocery stores as well as meals at restaurants! There is also a barcode scan option for the foods you can’t find on the extensive lists. Another awesome feature of this application is that you can add your exercise which is factored in as calories burned. I use this application religiously and after a day of working out and eating healthy I can tell you that there’s really no better feeling then seeing that extra 200 calories left over for a few chocolate chip cookies at the end of the night!
Price: FREE!
- “MapMyRUN” – This application has a built in GPS great for runners (or walkers!) to track their outdoor routes. You simply press the “start” button at the beginning of your workout and it tracks your distance, speed, time, elevation, calories burned, etc. all on an interactive map! When you’re finished with your workout this application gives you the option to easily share your workouts with your friends via Twitter and Facebook. You can also manually log in work outs after the fact if you’re not inclined to take your expensive phone on a run with you! This application saves your past work outs so you know exactly which routes to pursue whether you want a light 2 mile walk, or a 5 mile run with elevated terrain. There is also a small “nutrition” section similar to Lose It where you can track your eating habits.
Price: FREE!
- “Fitness Pro” – For regular gym goers that need an exercise guide for workouts, this is the application is a must have! This application includes 450+ photos of real people demonstrating different work out moves and also has written instructions if you need them. It’s broken into easy categories so you can find exactly what you’re looking for (ab workouts, arms, chest, legs, etc). It gives you the option to log the exercises and amount of each you have done every day to create detailed fitness plans to reference for the future. There are also work out moves that you can try at home for the times you can’t make it to the gym, but some do require equipment!
Price: FREE!
- “Yoga Stretch” –This application is a yoga class within
your phone. Not only can yousearch through different yoga poses, this application also offers a personal instructor that walks you step by step through the poses with audio and music (you can even use your owniTunes!) If you’re a “skilled” yoga-ist (not sure if this is a real term but you catch my drift!) you can customize your own yoga session OR there is an option to play an hour long preloaded session with the instructor that I mentioned earlier. With the instructor’s soothing voice and the option to choose your own music this application is a perfect work out on your own terms!Price: $.99
- “Mi Meals” – After downloading numerous free “grocery list” apps, and they just weren’t cutting it, is when I came across Mi Meals. After recently moving into my own apartment, I needed something where I could store the meals that I was pinning and that I could take along to the grocery store with me unlike a paper list bound to get lost in the confines of my purse among receipts and tissues. This application is magical because it not only lets you plan out meals for your whole week, but with a tap of your finger it adds all the ingredients to a shopping list for you. After you’ve entered a meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner and you really like it, and plan to have it again in the future you can add it to the “Favorite Meals” tab. With this application I don’t have to worry about rushing around after work to plan a meal – tempted to eat out - I will have already planned it the week before and stocked up on the ingredients that my grocery list helped me to remember!
Price: $1.99
Posted on Tue, Apr 17, 2012
Hello Fellow ‘Sportaholics’ –
My name is Will Gillespie and I am the President and CEO of Sportaholics.com. I always wanted to have one website I could go to for deals on the things that interested me: sports events and outdoor recreation. Through research, I found many deal-of-the-day sites that offered those types of listings, but they were infrequent and interspersed with restaurants, trips, spas, and deals on consumer goods. I became frustrated having to wait for the deals I was interested in. So I created Sportaholics.com. Sportaholics.com is singularly focused on providing sports fans and recreational enthusiasts (including families with active children) great deals on the things they are looking for. We offer tickets to many professional and collegiate sporting events, and discounts on all kinds of recreational outings.
Sportaholics.com is also a local company. We only cater to New England, and we support local sports teams, youth organizations, and charities.
We are a new company in a saturated landscape of deal sites, but I hope our local focus and targeted offerings resonate. I welcome suggestions on potential listings, and hope we can continue to grow our stable of offerings. Let us know how we are doing at info@sportaholics.com.
Thanks!
Will Gillespie
President/CEO
Sportaholics.com
Posted on Sat, Apr 14, 2012
Who had Kelly as the OT scorer?
The Bruins made us wait for it Thursday night, but after playing 60 scoreless minutes of hockey versus the Capitals, we were rewarded with a Chris Kelly game-winning goal 1 minute and 18 seconds into the extra period! The Bruins peppered the Caps net with 29 shots during regulation, but it only takes one! (Bruins Daily)
We know that was exciting, but don’t hurt the players!
David Krejci was nearly squashed in the celebration that ensued following Kelly’s OT winner. As players and fans celebrated, a piece of glass fell into the rink flattening Krejci. While he is reporting a sore neck, expect to see him in Saturday’s Game 2. (Boston Sports Then and Now)
Home Sweet Home
The Fenway Home Opener couldn’t have come soon enough for the 2012 Red Sox, who stumbled home with a 1-5 record to start their season. Luckily, the bats were connecting yesterday as the team had 16 hits in support of starter Josh Beckett. Boston extended a franchise-best streak of eight straight home-opening victories with an easy 12-2 victory over the Rays on Friday. (Boston Sports U18)
No Jacoby, No! Say it Aint So!
It was not all good news coming out of the Fens yesterday and Boston’s big win may have come with a big loss. News is that Jacoby Ellsbury, one of the few players who really seemed to give it his all down the stretch last September, is now out for 6-8 weeks with a dislocated right shoulder. (Fenway Nation)
Where’s Waldo…I mean, Ray Allen?
Ray Allen did not travel with the team to Toronto and there is a great deal of speculation as to when fans will see him take the court next. Allen’s initial ankle injury came on March 12. He then played five games, but then sat the next six. It doesn’t appear as though it has been bothering him too much in the appearances he has made, but questions about his health remain. (State of the Celtics)
Blogging Aint Easy!
Your favorite sports blogger has it much harder than you think. Sure, they get to write about sports all of the time, but many of them have to balance their passion for sports writing with a second and sometimes third career. Finding the time to research and write a great column can be tough. Appreciate your favorite bloggers! (Sports Girl Kat)
Posted on Fri, Apr 06, 2012
Boston College Men’s Hockey to Play for National Championship
The BC Eagles defeated Minnesota last night by a score of 6-1 to earn a shot at their fourth national title in just five years. BC will face Ferris State University. The Bulldogs defeated Union by a score of 3-2 yesterday to advance to the title game. (Boston Sports U18)
Sox Fall Short in Season Opener in Detroit
Despite a great performance from Jon Lester and scoring two runs in the ninth to tie the game, the Red Sox fell to the Detroit Tigers yesterday afternoon by a score of 3-2. (Fenway Nation)
Big Week Ahead for Celtics
The Celtics are coming off two difficult losses and now have a rough week ahead of them as the team prepares to face the Pacers and Sixers on consecutive nights, a day off, and then they face the Heat and Hawks on consecutive nights. (Boston Sports Then and Now)
2011-2012 Bruins Season a Roller Coaster Ride for Players and Fans Alike
The 2011-2012 Bruins regular season is about to wrap up and it’s certainly been a season of highs and lows. A very rough start by the defending Stanley Cup Champions was followed by a 21-3-1 run during November and December followed by an inconsistent second half of the season.
For several Bruins players, including Chris Kelly, Beniot Pouliot, Zdeno Chara, Rich Peverley, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, and Tyler Seguin, it’s also been a year of great personal achievements. (Bruins Daily)