Author: @fhmccabe

Irish Eyes Are Smiling: The Open Championship

Irish Eyes Are Smiling: The Open Championship

Posted by | Jul 19, 2019 |

I am a very proud American, but being an Irish American is especially sweet right now. ‘The Old Sod’ is bleeding green more than ever this weekend as the 148th Open Championship is being played at Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland). The Passion The Irish and, in general, Europeans are passionate folk. They hug, kiss, laugh, cry and love a bit harder from this guy’s perspective. I often joke about people that are “good huggers”. They are not that many. For some reason, Irish Americans (many of my friends and family included) are a bit hardened for some reason. Emotion...

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Z-Day: Chara’s Stanley Scenarios

Z-Day: Chara’s Stanley Scenarios

Posted by | Jun 6, 2019 | ,

Stanley Cup Game 5 is upon us. Puck drops in a few hours. Biggest questions and concern on Bruins fans’ minds? What is Captain Zdeno Chara’s status? After taking a brutal deflected puck to the face last game, his future in this series is uncertain. Is his jaw broken? Shattered? Did it land somewhere in the upper deck of TD Garden? Does Jack Edwards steal it off the ice and now it sits on his mantel from insanity? No one knows for sure. Speculation across the board and the Bruins are have gone darker than Wayne Gretsky’s dye job...

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Something’s Bruin

Something’s Bruin

Posted by | Jun 3, 2019 | ,

Let me kick this whole thing off with some straight honesty. I am not a hockey guy. From my vey cheap seats, here is what I know… Icing is something that goes on a cake. The crease is a place where you wipe. The neutral zone is a description of my high school (ok, and college….and global) sex life… Why? Anyway. Playoff hockey is the best. Really. THE best. I’m a football guy by nature, but lets face some facts. Baseball completely sucks. Basketball is baseball’s younger, junkie brother. BUT, hockey – playoffs in particular -might just be the...

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OPENING DAY FEEL GOOD STORY: Another Ring for Steve Pearce

OPENING DAY FEEL GOOD STORY: Another Ring for Steve Pearce

Posted by | Mar 28, 2019 | ,

Hello Red Sox Nation! Today is the big day all fans look forward to each year. The true beginning of Spring; Red Sox Opening Day. The Sox will meet the Seattle Mariners and remain on the road until the much anticipated Home Opener at Fenway on April 9 for our World Champions. Here is a feel good story from Spring Training heading in to this season about 2018 World Series MVP, Steve Pearce. My brother-in-law, Paul, and my nephew, Matt, have made going to Spring Training an annual tradition over the past few years. Matt is 10 years old...

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GRONK: I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed

GRONK: I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed

Posted by | Mar 24, 2019 | ,

Oh Robbie. Robbie, Robbie, Robbie. Why? Why wreck a perfectly crappy early Spring Sunday with this announcement? Why? Let me start with two sentiments. Thank you and Good Luck. You have been a mainstay in this dynasty for a decade-ish and the Patriots (and the NFL) have been better with you in their lives. You are a stud. You are a freak of nature. You (gulp) “were” the man. Except for Tom ‘Effin’ Brady, you have been the best thing this franchise has seen since Stanley the Steamer or Hog Hannah. We will miss you. You are beloved. You...

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The 2018 US Ryder Cup Team as Kids

The 2018 US Ryder Cup Team as Kids

Posted by | Sep 28, 2018 |

The Ryder Cup. In this golf fan’s humble opinion, it is second only to The Master’s. Perhaps one of the greatest events in SPORTS, not just golf, the Ryder Cup is about patriotism. It’s about America. Us versus them. It’s absolutely awesome and you don’t even need to like this weird game of hitting a small white ball with a stick to appreciate it. The 92nd edition of the Cup opened this morning just outside Paris, France… at 2:00 am, and yours truly actually dragged myself out of a deep slumber to tune in. Now, I can’t get out...

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Miami’s Vice: Why Tom Brady Can’t Beat the Dolphins Down South?

Miami’s Vice: Why Tom Brady Can’t Beat the Dolphins Down South?

Posted by | Dec 12, 2017 | ,

Well, that one sucked.  Patriots lose 27-20 in the so-called “Magic City” of Miami Florida last night in what can only be described as a lackluster performance.  Worried?  Not at all.  Confused?  Yes, I have to say I am. What is it about our South Beach semi-rivals that we cannot seem to overcome when we visit their City of Skin? In particular, why can’t Sir Thomas win in “The Birdcage“? A losing career record when visiting ‘Little Cuba’ (ok, I am officially out of Miami monikers)? Is Tom Part Porpoise? Is Miami to TB12 what the NY Yankees were...

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Another Ladies’ Night in Buffalo

Another Ladies’ Night in Buffalo

Posted by | Dec 3, 2017 | ,

“Well it ain’t much all right I know But it’s the only song I know 2 a.m. and the traffic’s slow Another ladies’s night in Buffalo” -David Lee Roth Per usual, DLR gets it right. Buffalo, for lack of a better adjective, sucks. As I type these first few sentences, I have just witnessed Rob Gronkowski get screwed again. Why? Because he is the greatest tight end in history and no one can cover him without foul. Sure, he tried to drive a defender in to the ground so hard he would reach the 7th Circle of Hell. So...

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40 Hours with the Patriots

40 Hours with the Patriots

Posted by | Oct 8, 2017 |

‘Don’t be jealous,’ my Mom used to say. Jealousy, as an emotion, is weak and useless. I was taught to always cheer people on and be happy when good things happen. Well, this week, my Mom admitted she was jealous. As a sports fan – specifically a die-hard New England Patriots fan –  I got the opportunity of a lifetime.  Through the team, my new best friends, Draft Kings, Weber Shandwick and some good old-fashioned fate I was able to be a part of the Patriots experience, up close and personal.  The invite to travel, stay, play and be...

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TOP 10 – Hefner Edition: If Playmates Were Patriots

TOP 10 – Hefner Edition: If Playmates Were Patriots

Posted by | Sep 29, 2017 |

If Tom Brady is, in fact, the Greatest of All Time as an NFL Quarterback, then the late Hugh Hefner is certainly the GOAT of the flesh industry (although, Dave ‘El Pres’ Portnoy is chasing a legend). Hefner, the brains and (anything-but-blue) balls behind the American dream that was Playboy Magazine, passed away at the tender age of 91 this week; no doubt with a giant smile on his face.  This legend spent more than half of a century rocking a velvet robe and a captain’s hat while smiling and sauntering around the globe’s most beautiful women.  Not only...

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Meet Sweet Feet: A Conversation with James White

Meet Sweet Feet: A Conversation with James White

Posted by | Sep 21, 2017 |

James White has become an integral part of the juggernaut that is the New England Patriots offense.  Drafted in 2014, White quickly demonstrated that he would be a special member of this team. He’s even had a few memorable plays, ya know, like this one? Can’t Beat Sweet Feet A multiple threat, running back White has delivered on the biggest stage and evolved in to a fan favorite; for his on- and off-field actions. White recently took over as as the face of Mayo Bowl, the highly successful charity event benefitting Boston Medical Center  hosted by former Patriots linebacker Jerod...

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For the Love of the Game…

For the Love of the Game…

Posted by | Sep 9, 2017 | , ,

It’s game day. Your buddies are over your house. Pacing the room with excitement for kickoff. Running to the fridge to grab another round of beers. High-fiving when the Patriots score. Maybe toss the pigskin around the yard at halftime? Nothing better, right? Meet Matt Matt will never be able to do any of these game day routines. Matt is 8 years old and holds a diagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).  SMA is a disease that robs people of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, eat, or...

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Lowell’s Take on McGregor-Mayweather

Lowell’s Take on McGregor-Mayweather

Posted by | Aug 25, 2017 |

A little off the grid here for the readers of Boston Sports Extra, but one of the biggest (and sure to be disappointing) sporting events is just hours away. Conor McGregor versus Floyd Mayweather.  Mixed Martial Arts versus Boxing.  Ireland versus Badhumanistan. Vegas odds have this publicity debacle going all Mayweather (+400 last I checked).  As a proud Irish-American, I am certainly pulling for “The Notorious” (not to mention I have never been a fan of domestic abusers…but I digress). Lowell’s Irish Boxing Heritage Anyway, today I am here to speak on behalf of the City of Lowell, Massachusetts.  Lowell...

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Rapping with Rapaport

Rapping with Rapaport

Posted by | Aug 18, 2017 |

I had the pleasure of interviewing actor, author, activist, coffee spokesmodel, podcaster, fantasy football analyst and hard core New Yorker Michael Rapaport earlier this week. Michael has had a very versatile and interesting career in the past 20+ years. The fiery red head brings a ton of energy to everything he does. In addition to being in some cult classic movies like True Romance and Beautiful Girls, Rapaport has delved into the world of the sports and rap music throughout his career. Nice work if you can get it. And despite his deep and proud Big Apple swagger, Rapaport...

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An Open Letter to a Patriots Legend

An Open Letter to a Patriots Legend

Posted by | Aug 12, 2017 |

The Perfect Time to Express my Feelings About a True Patriot It is hard to believe you are no longer a part of the game. You have given the fans of New England so many memories to cherish. I remember the day you first entered Patriots training camp.  Just amazing to watch. My initial impression?  No way that someone that enormous could play the game, but boy was I wrong. As a physical specimen, you had it all: size, speed, strength.  But your most admirable quality was an insatiable will to win at all costs. I followed your career...

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