Sports of Boston

Joe Boisture, the purported future of the program at the position, backed out of his verbal commitment to the school, citing distance concerns. The Saline, Michigan native has switched his commitment to Michigan State, where his grandfather once coached...

Let’s go pick-by-pick through the second round (picks 31-60), including the Celtics only pick of the draft at No. 58. Round 2 — 31. Sacramento Kings: Jeff Pendergraph – F – Arizona State Solid overall player who has a ton of experience...

Is it just me, or is it a whole lot of fun to compare the Yankees and Red Sox organizations? On the one hand, an enlightened despotism under Theo, the boy-king, and on the other, a treacherous, backbiting cabal ruled by the madness of King George...

Daisuke Matsuzaka’s ineffectiveness has conveniently turned into a weak shoulder and stint on the disabled list, opening up a rotation spot for John Smoltz, the 20-year Brave who the Sox signed up in the off-season despite knowing he needed rehabilitation for his shoulder...

Last night I witnessed greatness unfold when my LSU Tigers came back to defeat the University of Texas in Game One of the College World Series. The game would need extra frames to decide the outcome, as Matty “Ice” Ott came in and put an end to the madness in the 11th inning...

The Red Sox took advantage of a weaker portion of their schedule by winning both series this past week against the Marlins and Braves...

I’d prefer to title this “How the Yankees have had bad timing against Boston.” Yes, it’s well documented that the Yankees have lost all eight meetings so far against the Red Sox...

In the conclusion to their three game series against Atlanta, the Red Sox decided to go out with a bang. Going into the bottom of the 9th tied 5-5, Boston SS Nick Green came up to bat. Green was already 0-2 on the day and he knew he had to get something started. Instead, he finished things off...

Now that we are approximately two and a half months in to the baseball season, each player’s statistics have begun to hold a little bit more weight. Thus, we can begin to analyze some of the more unlikely numbers of the season so far...

Phil Jackson won his 10th NBA Championship Sunday night, setting the NBA record for most as a head coach. He passed Celtics legend Red Auerbach, who won nine NBA titles as a head coach, including a record eight in a row...

First, allow me to congratulate the Lakers. Like it or not, the Celtics’ chief rival won their 15th NBA Title Sunday night. Kobe Bryant won his fourth title, and more importantly, Phil Jackson won his 10th Larry O’Brien Trophy as a head coach, passing Red Auerbach for most in NBA history...

The Red Sox rolled into rainy Philadelphia for Game 2 of their weekend series, still without the benefit of the DH, and with Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound...

The Lakers haven’t even lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy yet and already the NBA rumor mill is heating up. The latest gossip is the possibility of a trade that would send Shaquille O’Neal from the Phoenix Suns to the Cavs in exchange for bottom feeders Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic...

Josh Beckett took the mound in the fourth inning with a 4-1 lead, and had really stifled the Phillies to that point. Then, he unraveled in the inning, and forked over the lead as a three-run lead became a one-run deficit...

Not much happened this season for Gabe Pruitt in his second year in the NBA. He saw some action here and there but never really found much of a role with the team this season. His role was diminished further after the acquisition of Stephon Marbury...

Entering Friday’s game, Jon Lester was on quite a roll. He was coming off two straight wins, with 22 strikeouts over 16 innings. It seems that Jon Lester has finally found his form of 2008, except the 2009 version may be even better...

Just imagine if the Bruins got their hands on the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals…but they didn’t, and it’s time to congratulate the Penguins on hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup for the third time in team history...

Tim Wakefield entered Wednesday’s game against the Yankees tied for the team lead in wins with a 7-3 record, but has not pitched well as of late. In his previous three outings, Wake was 2-1 with 14 ER allowed in 17.1 innings pitched...

The issues surrounding the Patriots as they enter this week’s mandatory mini-camp are more focused on off-the-field happenings...

The Red Sox have a great problem on their hands. They have a strong five-man rotation with two pitchers (Clay Buchholz and John Smoltz) knocking on the door and ready to contribute right away. The logical move would be to trade Brad Penny, but why fix something that isn’t broken...

Patriots fans have cast their votes. Today, the Patriots announced that fullback Jim Nance has earned the honor of becoming the 14th player and the first running back to be inducted into the team’s hall of fame. Nance played for the Patriots from 1965-1971, and was named to the Pro Bowl twice...

David Ortiz, mired in an awful season-long slump entered Tuesday night’s game against the Yankees on a modest six-game hitting streak. He extended his streak to seven games, but more importantly he hit his third HR of the season to the deepest part of the ballpark (straightaway center field)...

The Eagles search for a quarterback continues as theyrecieved a commitment from25 year old David Shinskie. Shinskie, who was going to play football and baseball at Football Championship Subdivision’s Delaware, instead opted to pitch in the Minnesota Twins minor league system...

David Ortiz got his eyes checked Monday and received drops for dry eyes, but his vision checked out very well and is not the reason for his season-long struggle. Dry eyes can cause excessive blinking, which can throw off a hitter’s timing. We will see if the drops help...

Yay! Zack Greinke finally had his first bad start of the season in a 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays. I can now finally re-name the “Best Pitchers” section of the Wrap-Up...

The usually wild Daisuke Matsuzaka finally had his pitches at or near the strike zone, but the Rangers jumped all over him for 10 hits and five runs in 5.2 IP to beat the Sox 6-3 and win the series...

Red Sox “shortstop” Julio Lugo is currently splitting time with Nick Green at shortstop, and he’s not happy. Lugo began the year on the DL, and when Jed Lowrie went down, Green took over and has played pretty well. Lugo, meanwhile, is back and healthy, but isn’t playing everyday...

It got to the point where you knew you were watching something special. As soon as you get into the seventh inning with a perfect game still intact, you start to think if you may see something highly unusual on the mound...

It’s no secret that David Ortiz, despite his 1-4 effort Friday, has the worst batting average in the American League at .188. Boston.com set up a pretty nifty program to track David Ortiz’s batting average through the season and graph it against the team’s overall batting average...

The first place Texas Rangers rolled into Fenway Park for a weekend series on Friday night, having lost their last eight games in Boston. But, those were the old Rangers with their customary awful pitching...

The Braves have been a busy team lately (cutting ties with Tom Glavine and trading for Nate McClouth). They also called up super-prospect Tommy Hanson, and in an effort to revamp their rotation, appear to be targeting Red Sox starter Brad Penny...

Josh Beckett was dazzling on the mound Wednesday night, going the first six frames without allowing a hit. Usually in a no-hitter, you start thinking about it after four innings, and you get excited after six...

Little leaguer Colby Gage, 12, from Adams, Massachusetts performed a feat no pitcher in major league history has ever done. He threw a perfect game and retired every batter he faced by strikeout. That’s right, 18 hitters up, and 18 hitters down by way of the K (I couldn’t resist, Orsillo)...

First, we blamed injuries. Then, we pointed out that he probably stopped taking steroids. David Ortiz thinks he might know the real reason for his struggles in 2009, however. His eyesight. “I’ve been thinking about getting my eyes checked — for real,” he said...

OK, so the Matt Wieters experiment isn’t looking good so far (.182 avg, 0 RBI), but hey, these things just need time baby. In one of my leagues, I was offered a trade. It was Angels’ 1B Kendry Morales for Colorado 3B Garrett Atkins...

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about the status ofJerry Remy, but it appears heis very much alive and well as he continues to recover from the effects of lung cancer surgery...

Terry Francona finally made the move I thought he should, moving David Ortiz down from the prized third spot to sixth...

Often seen as the East’s third best team, the Magic took down the cagey Celtics and the mighty Cavaliers to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995, completing the odyssey Saturday night with a 103-90 win over the Cavs in Game 6...

The Red Sox will look to avoid a sweep today at the hands of the Blue Jays, just a week after completing a sweep of the Jays in Fenway Park. On the mound for the Sox will be Jon Lester, who needs to avoid allowing the big inning...

After a very strong 2008 season, Jon Lester entered 2009 with high expectations, but has yet to live up to them. Well, he hasn’t even come close. In his first 10 starts, Lester was 3-5 with a 6.07 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP...

Dodgers manager Joe Torre told reporters Friday that slugger Manny Ramirez should skip the All-Star Game if voted in. Manny was suspended for 50 games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy...

What’s the easiest way to end a season-killing nine-game losing streak? Catch knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on a really bad night. Friday, Wakefield took the mound against the Jays in Toronto, and put together a decent outing through four innings...

Last summer I made a very early and bold prediction that the Celtics would repeat as champions again and that Tony Allen was going to develop into their dominant sixth man...

Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs expects the NHL’s third annual Winter Classic, played outdoors on Jan. 1, to be held at Fenway Park. Jacobs believes an official announcement from the league could come in July...

The Patriots signed former Detroit Lions linebacker Paris Lenon on Wednesday to help a depleted linebacker corps. The Patriots needed some linebacker help after missing out on Jason Taylor and Ray Lewis, and the injury to third round pick Tyrone McKenzie...

David Ortiz finally hit one out! It barely cleared the wall in center, but sometimesthe right bounceis all a hitter needs to get going and break the slump. However, Big Papi’s slump continues, perhaps unsurprisingly, as he has not been hitting the ball well and continues to strike out...

First allow me to thank all of our service men and women who have died in combat while protecting our country. Without all of their sacrifices, there’s a chance this blog (or any other for that matter) would not exist...

Did anything seem off with Brady Penny’s performance Monday against the Twins? Nothing should, as he lumbered through 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs to improve his record to 5-1. But what you may not have noticed was that Penny was very sick while on the mound...

Kevin Youkilis hit a deep foul ball (that looked like a home run) in the fifth inning. After the second replay review in as many days, the umpires confirmed the ball was foul. Youkilis then flied out to right, and was obviously fuming as he headed to the dugout...

Daisuke Matsuzaka made his long awaited return to the mound Friday night in his first start since April 14. Dice-K spent more than a month on the DL due to right arm fatigue, which stemmed from his stupid involvment in the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan...

Tom Brady and supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen may be expecting their first child, according to a report from RadarOnline.com. The couple got married in February, and again in April...

The Red Sox reportedly turned down a deal that would’ve sent relief pitcher Manny Delcarmen to the Washington Nationals for first baseman Nick Johnson. The Nats need to improve their bullpen, and word is the Sox want to improve their power, especially if David Ortiz never comes around...

In what seemed like an eternity, over the course of 149 long at bats, David Ortiz finally cracked the big one in at bat #150...

Former Patriots linebacker Eric Naposki and his former lover were charged in the 1994 murder of a multimillionaire in Southern California. Naposki and that lover, Nanette McNeal, were arrested by authorities on Wednesday for the murder of William Francis McLaughlin...

Fresh off the heels (athankyou) of his release from federal prison for dog fighting, Michael Vick has returned to his home in Atlanta to serve out the remaining two months of his 23 month sentence...

In what seemed like an eternity, over the course of 149 long at bats, David Ortiz finally cracked the big one in at bat #150...

Former Patriots linebacker Eric Naposki and his former lover were charged in the 1994 murder of a multimillionaire in Southern California. Naposki and that lover, Nanette McNeal, were arrested by authorities on Wednesday for the murder of William Francis McLaughlin...

Fresh off the heels (athankyou) of his release from federal prison for dog fighting, Michael Vick has returned to his home in Atlanta to serve out the remaining two months of his 23 month sentence...

When the knuckleball is not working for Tim Wakefield, he can be one of the worst pitchers in baseball. When it’s on, he’snearly unhittable. In his previous start, he allowed 11 hits and seven runs in a loss against the Angels...

OK, this just isn’t as fun now that the Celtics aren’t in the playoffs. But, we have our duty, which is to provide our “expert” picks regarding the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. In the East, we have the invincible Cleveland Cavaliers vs...

According to the Boston Herald, Matt Light is being sued by the host, Jacob Herman II, of the exclusive Blue Room of Ultra 88, a Mohegan Sun nightclub in CT. Apparently, Herman was “trying to protect the patrons” when a scrum broke out...

With David Ortiz sitting out for the second straight game while he “rests,” the Red Sox needed some pop from other parts of the lineup (though Ortiz has provided none so far, anyway). They found it in a likely source: Jason Bay, who finished 1-4 with a two-run HR in the second inning...

Since the 2002-2003 season, Boston University basketball has been shut out from the elusive automatic bid guaranteeing entry into the 65-team NCAA tournament, which is a single elimination tournament that takes place in the greatest month of the year, culminating the end of the college basketball...

Rays manager Joe Maddon made a critical mistake in his lineup card before Sunday’s game against the Indians. The Rays penciled in Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria to play third base, while Maddon had intended Longoria play DH...

One thing that all fantasy owners have in common is that we tend to elevate our panic levels to critical conditions. Due to this, we may lose faith in under-performing players and quickly rid ourselves of the burden...

David Ortiz has now been benched, at least for a couple days. But, who could blame Terry Francona? Papi was coming off a horrible game that has punctuated his season, going 0-7 with three strikeouts and 12 men left on base Thursday night against the Angels...

After some BP today, Kevin Youkilis and the Red Sox realized that it will take some additional time for his strained oblique to recover and have placed him on the 15-day DL. Infielder Gil Velazquez has been called up. Jeff Bailey will take over first base duties for Youkilis during his DL stint...

Free agent defensive end Jason Taylor has decided to re-sign with the Miami Dolphins after being cut by the Redskins earlier in the off-season. Taylor preferred playing near his home in South Florida, and joins a Dolphins squad coming off a successful 11-5 season...

Celtics captain Paul Pierce was named to the All-NBA second team Wednesday afternoon. Pierce was named to the All-NBA third team in 2002, 2003, and 2008. Kevin Garnett, an All-NBA first team selection last year, finished 17th in balloting...

The Bruins exploded out of the gate in Game 6, fended off some awesome play by the Hurricanes, and had just enough to come out with the 4-2 win...

In a game largely controlled by the Orlando Magic, the Celtics came through when it counted, and delivered a 92-88 win. Ray Allen drilled a three-pointer with 1:20 left in the fourth quarter to give the Celtics their first lead since the opening minutes...

If you don’t have tickets, and can manage an 8PM start this Thursday, May 14, this game is going to be one to see. Tickets go on sale at 11AM tomorrow (May 13th). Details will be on Ticketmaster.com and bostonbruins.com in the morning. Bring your voice! © Chris for Sports of Boston, 2009...

First, Happy Mother’s Day! Without mothers’ efforts, these athletes we love to watch would not be where they are. So thank you! Mothers around New England will be treated to a full slate of action Sunday, with the Celtics, Bruins, and Red Sox all scheduled to play...

The team that crushed the Montreal Canadiens has come back to play at last against the Hurricanes. The Bruins shutout the Carolina Hurricanes in convincing fashion with a 4-0 victory. The Bruins started out the game with strong play on both ends of the rink...

The Celtics were in control of Game 4 for much of the second half, but Orlando would not go away. With just a few seconds left in the game, the Magic found themselves up by one point...