Rumors swirl that Blink 182 is on the verge of breaking up! Am I two or is this scandelous?!

BLINK BOYS BREAK UP!

Coyne's Clippings

Spring Training stuff is starting to roll in, and Dan Shaughnessy still can't get over David Ortiz's performance last October... can you blame him? The guy was Mr. Clutch, or at C.H.B. called him, Senior Octubre.

And when did Northeastern guard Jose Juan Barea go from being this cool little dude who's a good player in the America East Conference, to an NBA prospect?! Did I miss something here, does the kid not play in the America East... at Northeastern... the best player in the league (and only legit NBA prospect) is Taylor Coppenrath (Vermont) and that's only because his team has gotten exposure in the NCAA Tournament the past couple of years. Jose Cuervo has a better chance of getting drafted come June.

Birthday Suggestions

Not many articles worth posting recently. The whole steroids stuff I'm sick of, heck, I'd heard enough back in December. And I don't care that the hockey season is done. I mean I care about the friends I have who work in the NHL, but I could care less about hockey, the college game is more fun to me anyway! In case you were wondering (March 16) here's what's hot according to me. For some reason I need to replenish the old music selection, so here's what I could use...

Rusted Root - Their new live cd with a mostly black cover and some blue artwork on the front


New Dave Matthews Live Album - DMB Live Vol. 3, 8.27.2000 Meadows Music Theatre, the cd release date is actually March 17, so maybe I'll buy it with a gift certificate. There's also this live cd I don't have. It's from their show on 12.8.98 in Worcester, MA. Either one would be fine, but the Hartford show looks like a better one, plus I think I might have been at it.


The CD called All Points Bulletin by Dispatch. It’s a live recording from the free Boston concert last summer. It’s about $20 and comes with 2 cds and a DVD! You could also probably order it through their website, www.dispatchmusic.com but I couldn't find the direct link.


Also the book Travels with Barley: A Journey Through Beer Culture in America by Ken Wells. ISBN: 074323278X

Hope you find it helpful! I have to stress that Dispatch cd if I had to pick one as it looks really hot!

Coyne's Clippings

Good-guy Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal credits the Daily Hampshire Gazette (which is all Matt Vautour) in getting information on UMass head coach Steve Lappas' basketball contract. He wrote all about it in his preview on the big UMass-URI game tonite. Of course the Journal being the crappy paper it is messed up the headline (stupid editors!). At least the Springfield Republican doesn't have nickel and dime mistakes like that!

Also, Dan Shaughnessy checks in with a letter to Vince Lombardi that's nifty.

Remember, we don't have parades anymore, this was a "Rolling Rally"!

Tom Brady has won three Super Bowl in four years... it's pretty notable. Not just in New England sports history, or in NFL sports history, but in SPORTS history. How many people have led their team to a championship three times in four years? Troy Aikman and Michael Jordan come to mind, and the players on the UConn women's basketball team that are going for their fourth title in four years don't count, we're talking professional sports here.

He's probably wouldn't have the flip-flop issue fellow Bay Stater John Kerry did...

Patriots "Rolling Rally"

Coyne's Clippings

Another "Rolling Rally" was held through the streets of Boston as the Patriots paraded down Boylston Street...

Bob Ryan calls the Pats game at Saint Louis the turning point of the season. It followed the Pittsburgh loss, and with injuries, the team came through with a convincing road win. He also had this...

They were a legitimate model for all teams to follow -- all.

That's right. I cannot offer any empirical data to support my thesis, only anecdotal evidence based on my travels, both inside and outside of Boston. I believe it is a given that the Patriots are held up by every college and high school football coach as the epitome of T-E-A-M play. Who could possibly doubt that? But I further believe it doesn't stop there. I believe they also are being held up by college and high school coaches of every team sport as the model for how to approach and play whatever game it is. The Patriots are a brand name, a symbol, a connotation even. What a phenomenal legacy.

SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS

And the Patriots win again... was there ever any doubt? Onto the clippings!

Dan Shaughnessy calls the Patriots a dynasty, he also had a great article in Sunday's paper about how if Tom Brady were in any other profession, he would be the best at it. It's a cool read.


Everyone's favorite columinst (Bob Ryan) calls the Patriots the Team of the Century, of course the century is only five years old but he's right so far. Ryan also calls the Patriots the D-word, dominant not a dynasty. Of course today's cover of the Boston Herald says otherwise...


Rhode Island scribe, (Bryant basketball beat writer) Mike Parente, has the scoop I have yet to see in the Boston papers about Tom Brady getting a contract extension soon that will keep him in a Patriots uni for life. My guess is a 10-year, $100 million-dollar deal.

How about Bryant men's basketball by the way, ranked No. 10 nationally last week, they had two more victories and should move up in the polls! They're mostly healthy and playing their best basketball of the year! Who's better than that program! Of course, having All-World guard John Williams (Springfield, Mass. / Longmeadow High School) isn't too shabby either!

Back to football and the Patriots since this will probably be the last time I write about them til next fall. The New York Times had an interesting article complete with this line...

Boston, a city once haunted by a cursed baseball team and an irrelevant football team, has been rendered the hub of the professional sports universe in the new millennium. New England has won back-to-back Super Bowl titles, adding to the giddiness over the Red Sox' winning their first World Series since 1918 last October.

And how about this article by this guy from the Westchester (N.Y.) Journal News (I think he also writes for USA Today). Author Ian O'Connor says the Pats duo of Brady and Belichick is better than Jeter and Torre. Also, the Boston Herald has a look at the breakup of the trio as Defensive Coordinator Romeo goes to Cleveland and Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis goes to Notre Dame.

Adam has REALIZED his destiny...

No party is complete with out a cake... of course this one served dual purpose as it was also a birthday cake. Yet another example of what Adam has to look forward to in married life!

A Riveting, intense game... but we all knew who was going to win... Thanks to Beth for the great photos!

And the winners!

And the losers from Game One at halftime...

A happy Brian Francis...

and yes he is No. 1, of course it was his birthday too so...

Adam was all smiles!

Steve was fired up after the game!

Another one

Steve and I were happy... Chuckie even called us from Missouri which was cool because he got to talk with everyone at Tim and Luchini's.

And the Patriots win again... New England rejoices...