There Is No Doubt The Referees Are Manipulating Celtics Magic Series

I understand that it is bad for the league financially to have the Celtics and Lakers sweep their respective series, but it is equally disgraceful to see the referees manipulate games….which they are doing.

And Im not the only one who thinks so.

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy predicted that the Phoenix Suns would get beneficial calls in game 4 and he was right. The Suns won the game and evened the series.

Before game 5 of the Celtics / Magic series Tim Donaghy said that the refs would favor the Magic...and he was right.

Last night, we saw Kendrick Perkins gets two questionable technical fouls while Dwight Howard was tossing elbows like someone from the WWE and got away with it.

Tim Donaghy told SI.com that the refs are trained that way because it helps the league financially.

Donaghy said, "if you really sit down and look at some of the calls, you're going to realize something funny is going on. Never do they say they want this to be the outcome, but they do put you in a room and tell you what to look for.”

Its All About The V

What has been the common denominator over the past few gems thrown by Red Sox pitchers? Jason Varitek.

He was behind the plate for the past two games against the Rays and he was behind the plate for Dice Ks one hitter against Philadelphia.

I remember a few years ago, people were talking about how different the pitching staff will be when Varitek is gone.

At first, I thought it was bs. But I think we are starting to see how important he really is.

Dont get me wrong. Victor Martinez isnt a bad catcher. But Jason Varitek has the "intangibles" that people so often speak of.

Theres a reason why he has caught four no hitters in his career. There is a reason why Dice K went from throwing two garbage games to a one hitter in the span of three games.

Dont ask me to explain the intangibles. All you have to do is watch the games and see the results. I think that explains it all.

Guess Who's Back

You're looking at the man whose testimony may finally put Roger Clemens behind bars.  Brian McNamee testified yesterday before the grand jury investigating Roger Clemens for perjury.

All I can say is, BRING HIM DOWN. Clemens is a disgrace to baseball and deserves all hell.

On a side note, Brian McNamee is a creepy dude. He sold the space on his necktie to a nutritional supplement company.

Hey, some heros wear capes. Some dress like bats. Some have 21st century mullets and sell advertising space on their ties.

VIDEO: Jason Williams Drops F Bombs On Reporters

Gee, you think the Orlando Magic are a little frustrated right now? After Saturday nights loss, Jason Williams snapped at reporters who were standing too close to his locker.

A little testy are we? Haha

Reminds me of those bitter, crazy old men on the T who get pissed when you sit next to them and incidentally touch their leg.

Theo Epstein Wears Disguise At Pearl Jam Concert

When the Red Sox first hired Theo Eptsein, some critics were saying he was too young…to immature.

Naaaaaahhhhhh.

(photos courtesy of: Big League Stew)

David Ortiz Tied For Red Sox Lead In Home Runs. LEAVE BIG PAPI ALONE!!!

 I am so tempted to make a Chris Crocker type LEAVE PAPI ALONE video (for those of you living under a rock, Chris Crocker was the freak who made the famous “leave Brittney Spears alone” video).

David Ortiz is tied with Dustin Pedroia for most home runs on the Red Sox this season. Its time to leave David Ortiz alone.

I guess the saying is true that “history to the people of Boston is yesterdays newspaper.”

Doesn’t anyone remember what happened last year? He started the season as cold as ice (worse than this season) and still ended up with 28 home runs and 99 rbi.

Yet when he started this season slow people were demanding that he be released.

Next season (if he is still with the Sox) when he starts off slow start, grab a Dunkin Donuts decaf and wait.

Ms Cleo Predicts Lebron James To Play For Wizards

Ive always wondered why psychics dont play the lottery. Now I know why. They pull crap out of thin air.

Ms Cleo predicts Lebron James will be playing for the Washington Wizards next season.

Run Prevention? Red Sox Are Last In Runs Allowed This Season

The Boston Red Sox have allowed more total runs and earned runs than any other team in the AL.

So is run prevention simply not working or was all the offseason talk about run prevention a lie?

My theory, as I have stated here before, is that Theo and his gang of nerds made a conscious decision to consider 2010 a “bridge year” and basically gave up on trying to win a World Series this season.

They signed mediocre talent (Mike Cameron, Marco Scutaro, Jeremy Hermida, Adrian Beltre) to fill the gaps until their prospects are ready for the big leagues—which wont happen until 2011 or 2012.

How do you sell mediocre talent and a hopeless team to a fanbase that wants another World Series title? Any good PR company will tell you to sugar coat your mission statement and come up with a slogan.

Hence “run prevention.”

The problem is, numbers don’t lie. But Theo does.

Jonathan Papelbon Redeemed Himself….And No One Seemed To Notice

Um….did anyone notice that Jonathan Papelbon came into the game last night and got the save ONE NIGHT after blowing a game that was being called one of the most devastated loses of the season.

Its gotta be tough being a closer these days.  When you screw up, your name is mud.  When you do your job no one notices.

Maybe its because it happened on the same night the Celtics went up 2- 0 on the Magic and Mike Lowell basically asked for a ticket out of town.

Or maybe its because it happened at the end of a 4-hour 9-minute game, which by the way was the longest nine-inning game in the majors this season (it was over 5 hours long if you count the rain delay).

Mike Lowells Comments Sound More Like A Suicide Note

Mike Lowell discussed his current role with Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe and said some things that sound more like a suicidal rant than an interview.

Lowell said:

“I think sometimes you feel like the team might be better off if you’re not on it. I just eat up a roster spot, I really do.”

“I think it’s a little unfortunate, but I think somewhat it’s painfully evident I don’t really have a role on the team”

“If anything, it’s a good feeling that I’ve had so many teammates come up to me and they say they sympathize with my situation.”

“But it’s not good or bad, it’s just reality. I don’t know what else to do.’’

Lowell sounds like a broken man--a man who sees the end of his career in sight and would rather be put out his misery than continue to watch his career die a slow death.

Different players handle things differently. Jason Varitek sees the end and is approaching it gracefully. Mike Lowell is having a hard time and may be damaging his legacy in the process.

Lowell should take the high road, like Varitek, and let his career die a graceful, natural death. What he said yesterday is out of character and hurtful to the team.

We are hearing this stuff for the first time. Who knows how long this kind of stuff has been uttered behind closed doors.

Letter To The Boston Red Sox Regarding Dice K

Dear Boston Red Sox,

Looks like Dice K threw another stinker last night huh?

It made me think…remember that story about the adopted child from Russia who was sent back to Russia with a note from his adopted parents?

Well it worked. The kid ended up in Russia and the family lived happily ever after.

Just a thought…have you considered doing something like that with Dice K?

He really sucks this year and is REALLY frustrating to watch.

When I look at the pitching preview in the newspaper and see that Dice K is pitching, I get the feeling that I used to get around fifth period in middle school knowing that the bully would be waiting outside for me.

Enough is enough. Sometimes you have to cut your loses and move on. Those parents did. They moved on and seem better of for it.

At least consider it.

Sincerely,
Masshole Sports

What The Frig Was That?

Bruins fans seem to be struggling to figure out exactly how they blew this series.

Listening to talk radio over the past couple of days Ive heard everything from “Claude Julien has to go” to “Zdeno Chara is a waste of space and has got to go” and even one dumb bastard saying that the Bruins “will never win a Stanley Cup as long as Jeremy Jacobs owns this team.”

All of those statements are stupid and idiotic. Why is it that the dumbest fans among us seem to be the only ones calling into talk radio?

Anyway, trying to figure out how the Bruins lost this series is like trying to figure out how the 2004 Yankees lost to the Red Sox after going up 3 – 0 in the ALCS.

When Dave Roberts stole that base in game 4 with the Red Sox down 3 – 0 in the series, most of Red Sox Nation believed the Red Sox had a chance.

When Simon Gagne scored the overtime game-winning goal in Game 4 with the Flyers down 3 – 0 in the series (in his first game back from his broken foot) Im sure Flyers fans had a similar feeling.

I know the Flyers players had that feeling. After the Game 4 win, Flyers goalie Brian Boucher said "We're back in this thing. We feel good about ourselves and now the pressure is on them.”

The bottom line is that the Bruins got beat by a team who believed it was THEIR TIME, even if they were down in the series 3 – 0, even if they were down 3 – 0 in game 7.

So don’t count me as one of those Bruins fans struggling to find a reason as to why the Bruins blew this series. The reality is that the Bruins didn’t lose the series...the Flyers won the series.

The Understatement Of The Year

The King Dethroned...But Thats Not The Real Story

SportsCenter has been banging the drum that Lebron doesn’t come up big in big games.

They keep showing the highlights of him turning over the ball nine times.

They have also been discussing (at nauseam) where Lebron will end up next season.

What was lost in last nights game was the fact that the Celtics played unbelievable team defense. They are playing at, or maybe even above, the level they played at in 2008.

The Celtics seem to be a team on a mission.

Lets not forget, Doc Rivers is probably going to leave at the end of the season. Ray Allen probably wont resign here. There is the possibility that this is the last hurrah for the Big Three.

Yet all the national media is talking about is Queen James.

The Celtics are the story. I wish ESPN would see that. The Cavs didn’t lose this series. The “aging” Celtics won it. Because whether the national media will talk about it or not, the Celtics are going for one more championship before their window closes.

Day Of Reckoning For Bruins

A win tonight and everything that has happened in the past year will be validated.

The trading of Phil Kessel to Toronto for draft picks. The lack of a big trade at the trading deadline. Signing Claude Julien to a long term contract extension.

A loss tonight and they end the season exactly the way they did last year.  Lets not forget, last year the Bruins also mad it to game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals (and lost to Carolina in overtime).

Last year was considered a successful season but if the Bruins lose this year, it will be a collapse of epic proportions.  One that has only happened twice in the history of the NHL.

So a loss tonight and this season will be a failure.  But hey, there is always next year....hmmm that sounds familiar.

WTF Was That?

Marc Savards dramatic return to the Bruins in Game 1 gave the Bruins a huge emotional lift and propelled the Bruins to a 3 – 0 lead in this series.

Then came the triumphant (and dramatic) return of Simon Gagne for the Flyers.

After missing about a month with a broken foot, Simon Gagne returned in Game 4 and scored the game winning overtime goal to avoid a series sweep and may have propelled the Flyers to a historic comeback.

It doesn’t stop there. In his second game back, Gagne scored twice to bring the series to 3 games to 2.

Sometimes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, its about the intangibles. A team with mediocre talent can will themselves to victory. We saw what Marc Savards return did for the Bruins. Well, now we are seeing what Simon Gagnes return is doing for the Flyers.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are filled with drama. When the drama favors the home team, it is something we embrace and tell our kids about. When it favors the other team, it sucks.  I want this series to be over.

VIDEO: Mayor Tom Menino Confuses Adam Vinatieri With Jason Varitek

During the unveiling of the new Bobby Orr statue in front of the TD Bank Garden Tuesday, Mayor Tom Menino mistakenly proclaimed that Jason Varitek was the clutch kicker for the Patriots who clinched so many important games.

And he had a hard time with the word “iconic.” Way to steal the spot light away from Bobby Orr.

Menino seems more like the guy selling Boston Herald on the corner of Canal Street than the mayor of Boston.

Heres the must see video:

Bruins Are One Win Away From Conference Finals !

The stars are aligned. The Bruins haven’t lost a home game this post season. Mark Recchi is on fire. Marc Savard is back. Tuukka is playing out of his mind, similar to Patrick Roy in his rookie year (Montreal won the Stanley Cup in Roys rookie year).

The Bruins havent made it to the Conference Finals since 1992. Tonight is the night. FINISH THEM AND LETS PARTY LIKE ITS 1992!!!!

Alex Rodriguez' Most Embarrassing Picture

A Rod cant even scratch his crotch like a normal person. What the frig is wrong with this guy? Why cant he just be normal? Guys typically dont smile while adjusting their nuts.

God, he is so easy to dislike. And its not because he's a Yankee and its not because of envy.

Arod is just a tool.

VIDEO: Reporter Says Tiger Woods Has Bulging "Dick" Instead Of Bulging Disc

Freudian slip or just a twisted sense of humor?

Where Are They Now: Adam Oates

I have no idea what Adam Oates is up to these days, but here he is in an NHL commercial he did back in the day.

Portrait Of A Flyers Fan

So I was trolling the Flyers Fanclub website and found lots of pictures of dudes in their mid twenties holding up beers and posing for cameras.  I dug a little deeper and found these gems.

These guys are making the Broad Street Bullies proud.

This Is The Reason People Hate Pink Red Sox Hats

You MUST listen to this audio:
Ask A Pink Hat

Adolfo from The Toucher and Rich Show on 98.5 walks around outside Fenway Park after games, finds people wearing pink hats and asks them questions about the Red Sox.

This woman makes me sick to my stomach.

She cant name any pitchers on the Red Sox. Well, technically she says “ummm…the Asian guy” so she kinda gets one. But I don’t know if shes referring to Okajima or Matsuzaka.

She thinks the infield is the shape of an octagon and she thinks Josh Beckett plays first base.

They are asking her these questions as she is exiting Fenway Park. The kicker is that she doesn’t even know the name of the Los Angeles baseball team. SHE JUST WALKED OUT OF A RED SOX vs ANGELS GAME.

Kinda makes you wonder what was she doing at the park?  Was she even watching the game?  WTF WTF WTF!!!  Fenway Park isnt a night club.  Fenway Park isnt a bar room.

It is sickening to think that seats at Fenway Park are being wasted on people as clueless as her.

Watch Out Bruins, Philadelphia Fans Are Crazy. Remember These Losers?

We have all heard about the loser who ran onto the field during a Phillies game and got tased. Well, it turns out he had called his dad moments before he ran onto the field .

He said, “Dad, can I run on the field?” To which his father responded, “I don't think you should, son.”

That isn’t the first moronic incident involving a Philadelphia fan.

Last month, a Phillies fan was arrested for intentionally puking on the 11-year-old girl.

Allegedly, the scum bag was being escorted out of the park for being unruly and he leaned over, put two fingers down his throat and vomited on the daughter of the guy who complained about him.

A few years ago, Flyers fans almost booed Sarah Palin out of the building when she was dropping the ceremonial first puck.

Back in 2001 a Flyers fan broke the glass and fought Tie Domi INSIDE the penalty box.

And finally, before the 2009 World Series, a female Phillies fan put up an ad on craiglslist offering sex for World Series tickets.

So what can we expect tonight when the Bruins play the Flyers in Philadelphia?

Well, most Flyers fans are creative or intelligent enough to make signs to hold up in the crowd. I dunno, maybe some scumbag will throw his false teeth onto the ice so Daniel Carcillo can put them into his mouth and bite Marc Savard back?

Maybe they will throw pacifiers onto the ice for Marc Savard to suck on considering he is teething. Actually, I shouldnt give them that much credit.

Maybe we will see a Flyers fan stick his fingers down his throat and puke on a Bruins fan. That seems more like their style.

Honestly, NOTHING would surprise me.

Was It Wrong For Marc Savard To Bite Daniel Carcillo? Hell No.

In the second period of last nights game, there was a bit of a scrum behind the Flyers net and Daniel Carcillo claims that Marc Savard bit him in that scrum.

Marc Savard isn’t exactly denying it. Savard said, “under the pile there, he tried to pull out my front teeth. If that’s a bite, I don’t know.”

Carcillo of course had something to say. He said, "the last time I was bit was in grade school. It's not a good feeling and it's pretty cowardly."

HAHA HAHA. My only beef here is that Savard didn’t pull a “Mike Tyson” and bit Carcillos friggin ear off.

Carcillo shouldn’t be taking jabs at a guy who is coming off of a concussion. Sure hockey is a tough sport, but there is sportsmanship in hockey.

Was it right for the Sensei of Cobra Kai to tell Johnny to sweep the leg when he knew that Danielson had a bum knee?  Sure, it was within the rules but there has to be an element of sportsmanship in even the most violent sports.

Daniel Carcillo shouldn’t have had his hand in the face of a guy who is coming off of a concussion period.

And obviously Marc Savard agrees with me.