Red Sox, Yankees

RED SOX – YANKEES SERIES PREVIEW

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As we expected, the last week has been a massive test for the Red Sox. Three games in Houston were immediately followed by a three game home stand against the Indians. Unfortunately, they have come away from those six games with a 2-4 record. Things are not about to get much easier as they travel to a Yankees team who are 28-9 in their last 37 games.

5/30 Chris Sale vs. J.A. Happ (L) 7:05 pm NESN

5/31 Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Domingo German (R) 7:05 pm NESN

6/1 Rick Porcello vs. TBD 7:15 pm NESN

6/2 David Price vs. Masahiro Tanaka (R) 2:10 pm ESPN

NOTABLE NUMBERS

PITCHERS

After allowing just an average of three runs per game in Houston, the Red Sox allowed the Indians to score a whopping 26 runs in their three game home stand. Nine of those runs came off stand-in starter Ryan Weber, but the majority of the rest of the damage came off the bullpen. Porcello allowed five runs to score (three earned), with the remaining 12 runs being dealt to the pen. That is a major concern for a Red Sox team who have been fighting to get consistency from their starters for most of this season.

After a rough last two games against the Indians the Yankees need to bounce back immediately. The good news is that Chris Sale has an extremely good history against the Yankees and in Yankee Stadium. In 105 2/3 career innings against the Yankees, he has allowed just 22 earned runs (1.87 ERA). In Yankee Stadium he has a 2.36 ERA in 53 1/3 innings.

Domingo German has been the ace in the pack for the Yankees this season, especially at home, where he has a 1.69 ERA this season. However, he was hit hard by the Kansas City Royals in his last start on the road. German allowed four home runs off him, with seven earned in total. The Red Sox will be hoping they can exploit the same part of his game that the Royal did so capably last time out.

HITTERS

This will be the first time Michael Chavis has faced the Yankees in his young career. The rookie infielder has 10 home runs already this season, to go with a .269 batting average. Chavis has been pretty equal with his home run distribution. Six have come against righties, four against lefties, five at home and five on the road. How he performs in the next four games could give Red Sox fans a glimpse into the character behind the stats.

The Yankees rank sixth in the majors in home runs, seventh in batting average and eighth in slugging percentage. However, they have had some struggles against left-handed pitchers. They rank 21st in batting average, 27th in home runs, and 23rd in slugging percentage. Those are very promising numbers considering the Yankees have three lefties on the mound in this series.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Pitching: The entire equation has switched in the last couple of weeks. It was no long ago we were looking for better performances from the starters. All four starters going in this series allowed three or less earned runs in their last start. However, as I mentioned above the bullpen struggled massively against the Indians. Bullpen performance can be wildly inconsistent, but many felt it was a real weakness for the Red Sox entering the season. It would be great to see some dominant performances from the bullpen in this series. Especially in a stadium where the Red Sox could have potential playoff games.

Hitting: The Red Sox need a few more hitters to step up, especially with Mitch Moreland hitting the IL. Chavis, Bogaerts, Martinez, Devers and Betts are all pulling their weight. Christian Vazquez has been impressive when left-handed pitchers have been on the mound but then there are some question marks. They will want more out of Benintendi and someone to step up and make the gap left by Moreland their role. Whether that is Steve Pearce or someone else it does not matter, but someone needs to step up and fill the gap.

EXPECTATIONS

After a rough week the Red Sox really need to turn it around in New York. The Yankees are currently on a fantastic run of form, but that will just motivate this Red Sox team even more. The positive for the Red Sox is that the Yankees numbers with left-handed pitchers on the mound is significantly less than stellar.

There is no way to look at this other than the Red Sox need to at worst split this series. The Red Sox are 7.5 games behind the Yankees entering this series. Slipping further behind would not be a disaster, but it would be a problem. This Yankees team is missing some key pieces and is still tearing up the diamond. If their stars come back and click, the Red Sox need to be in touching distance to have a real shot.

The importance of Julian Edelman

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Julian Edelman Is a Massive asset for the Patriots

Julian Edelman’s impact on the Patriots is massive. The three-time Super Bowl Champion, and most recently Super Bowl MVP, has come up in big spots in big games. He’s also earned the trust of quarterback Tom Brady. Edelman brings that power and drive to the offense on the receiving side, and the chemistry between him and Brady is so good it’s the best in the league. He has a career 30 touchdowns and 5390 yards. His memorable catches are many, especially during the Super Bowl win against the Falcons.

Edelman comes up in big spots

When the offense was struggling last season it was Edelman who stepped up big and delivered, just as online gambling sites anticipated. He and Brady always stay on the same page and workout together consistently. Without Edelman Brady would have few reliable targets to throw too. If defenders double cover Edelman it makes way for other receivers to step up and get open. Edelman can do anything from running, catching, and even throwing. When Amendola was on the team, those two had great chemistry and made defenses work harder.

Via Boston Herald

First-round pick N’Keal Harry is already working with Edelman and Brady. Edelman can teach the new guys techniques and advantages they can use during the games. Harry is learning from the best. From the coach all the way to the players. As Edelman singed his contract extension last week, it’s clear he’s here because Brady is here and they both want to win more championships. Without Edelman, it would be much harder for Brady to find guys open and get the offense going. Edelman finished the Super Bowl with 10 catches for 140 yards. It was very low scoring, but he was always in the right place at the right time.

The Super Bowl catch against the Atlanta Falcons will go down as the greatest Super Bowl catch of all time. It is even better than the David Tyree catch in Super Bowl XLII. The Tyree catch is probably second, but in general, having number 11 on the Patriots is so huge. Brady is going to be 42 in August and needs a reliable receiver out there catching passes and making big plays. Julian Edelman sure is that.

Meet Bryan Rockwood, the New Uprising Writer

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Hey there! I’m new here so I’ll introduce myself real quick. My name is Bryan Rockwood and I will be joining the Boston Sports Extra team to discuss the Uprising.

I am a software developer by trade, and a video game enthusiast on my time. I went to school in upstate New York with a dream to become a video game developer. A quick 4 years later I realized I wasn’t quite cut out for it. What I did find out though, was that I was quite good at discussing games instead of playing them. After a couple of articles on my personal site, I knew it was time to try something bigger. So here I am now, bringing in some fresh insights into OWL and the Boston Uprising.

As someone who grew up in Massachusetts, Boston sports are near and dear to my heart. When the news came out that Bob Kraft would be pouring money into a Boston OWL team, I couldn’t believe it. There would be a full fledged location-based esports league for a game that I love watching. Every other league that I have watched was named after an organization like TeamSoloMid or Fnatic. But now, I could add another Boston jersey to my collection to sit next to Gronk and Bergeron.

I was lucky enough to go to the Grand Finals last year at the Barclays Center. And let me tell you, that was the defining moment for me to really start investing myself into the Overwatch League. So I started to slowly do just that. I began playing more, started watching more highlights, and kept reading a lot of Reddit threads in hopes to improve as a player. I learned pretty quickly that I just didn’t have it to make it as a competitor. So I swapped to the next best thing and started writing about Overwatch.

I’m still very much a rookie on this front, but this is some of the most fun I have had doing “work” and I can’t wait to start a new journey here at BSE.

Overwatch Grand Finals
Overwatch Grand Finals from Bryan Rockwood


I currently live in New Jersey with my girlfriend and our puppy Maisie.
Be sure to follow Brock on twitter for more breakdowns and analysis #BostonUp


boston celtics schedule 2019-2020

Boston Celtics: Potential 2019-2020 Roster

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Power Through Draft Picks

For the past several seasons the Boston Celtics have been in a position of power. The Celtics “Big Three” of the late oughts were parlayed into an abundance of first round picks by GM Danny Ainge. One of those picks was traded for Kyrie Irving, who instantly propelled the Celtics to the next level. When Irving’s late season injury kept him out of the 2017-2018 playoffs, the young Boston core stepped up. The future looked bright for the Boston Celtics.

Unfortunately, the Kyrie Irving situation may not have worked in Boston, but the bigger question is: Will any big free agent acquisition end up working out for the Celtics? The situation doesn’t look as promising with Irving reportedly wanting out of Boston, which would hurt the Celtics trade prospects. Losing Kyrie would also make it difficult to lure another marquee player who might be reluctant to take on Irving’s 2017-2019 role. Players also seem to be keying in on a city’s marketability, and even the weather. There’s a reason we only seem to hear about New York or Los Angeles as potential landing spots for superstar free agents.

The situation between the Boston Celtics and All-NBA point guard Kyrie Irving didn’t exactly go as Celtics fans would have hoped the past two seasons. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

A Realistic Future

Imagine a scenario in which the Celtics lose Kyrie Irving next season. Let’s also assume Al Horford and Aaron Baynes pick up their 2019-2020 player options. Finally, we’ll assume the Celtics retain Terry Rozier through their unmatched qualifying offer via Rozier’s restricted free agency. These three scenarios are not only plausible, but possible. The roster might look familiar, but the salary cap situation might surprise you.

Six roster spots on the Boston Celtics are contractually-bound. Those six players – Gordon Hayward, Jason Tatum, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Guerschon Yabusele and Robert Williams – account for over $64 million, or 59% of the salary cap. If we add Horford and Baynes’ player options the salary cap climbs to over $100 million, or 92% of the salary cap. Finally, Rozier’s qualifying offer is nearly $4.3 million, however, the cap number would be nearly $9.2 million. Rozier’s contract would put the Boston Celtics salary cap over $109.9 million; the NBA salary cap is $109 million.

Celtics
The Boston Celtics are looking for a big rebound from former All-Star small forward Gordon Hayward, who accounts for more than a quarter of the team’s salary cap in 2019-2020. (Image: MLG Highlights Youtube)

A Reasonable Roster

It’s clear after crunching the numbers the Celtics will be over the salary cap. The good news is the luxury tax is $132 million in 2019-2020, so ownership has the flexibility to sign their draft picks and perhaps take on a veteran minimum contract.

With the money essentially allocated the question becomes who actually fills out the Celtics roster in 2019-2020? With positions like shooting guard (Jaylen Brown), small forward (Gordon Hayward; Jason Tatum) and power forward/center (Al Horford; Aaron Baynes) set, the focus becomes point guard. Justin Mantegani wrote a great piece for Boston Sports Extra highlighting the need at point guard and possible solutions.

The Celtics are set at positions like small forward, center and shooting guard, begging the question: Who will play point guard for Boston?

The Need For Depth

Questions about the point guard position are pressing, no pun intended, but even more pressing is Boston’s depth. As it stands according to the aforementioned scenario, the Celtics would enter the 2019-2020 season with Smart and Baynes as their only reliable veteran bench players. The rest would comprise of Guerschon Yabusele, Robert Williams and the Celtics’ 2019 draft picks. Perhaps, instead of concentrating on landing marquee superstars, the focus should be acquiring veterans to help the Celtics young core.

The Celtics have budding young stars in Tatum and Brown. The team has veteran All-Stars in Hayward and Horford, and the heart of the team in Marcus Smart. Boston even has raw potential in Yabusele and Williams, not to mention their incoming draft picks. The biggest issue for the Celtics is depth, especially at the point guard position. With Boston’s star point guard Kyrie Irving all but gone, that’s where the focus needs to be.

How to Start your Football Career

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If you are a young football fan, you may dream of one day becoming a professional player. The journey to being paid for playing football can be a long one, but if you have the motivation and enthusiasm, then it is a career worth pursuing. If you are looking for ways to start your football career, this guide gives you some tips.

Motivation

Ask yourself why you want to be a professional footballer. Is it because you want celebrity status, fame and lots of money? Or, is it because you love being part of a team and enjoy the sport. Just wanting the fame and fortune of being a professional football player is not enough to see you succeed. You need to eat, sleep, and breathe the game and have a genuine enthusiasm for the sport to motivate you and keep moving forward.

Training

To become a professional football player of any rank, you need to put in many solid hours of training. That means having the discipline to practise your ball skills daily, as well as working on your overall levels of fitness. During a match, players can cover long distances, so cardio and endurance training is key to having good stamina.

If you want to get the best out of your training, you might like to hire a personal trainer who specialises in football. It can also be difficult to commit to a full-time job if you are training hard, or have joined a local club. If you are temporarily short on funds, you may need to find part-time work, or reach out to a company such as Bonsai Finance who can provide short term loans.

As well as training, you also need to follow a stretching and conditioning routine to keep your bones and muscles working well, and preventing you from becoming injured.

Put More Effort on the Pitch

This may seem obvious, but to progress your career in football, you need to put all your effort into the match you are playing. It can be easy to slow down towards the end of a match when you are running out of steam; however, this is a chance for you to shine. Giving it your all will benefit your team, and get you noticed by your coach, as well as any talent scouts that happen to be there.

Analyse your Skills

No player is perfect, and while you may be great at some football skills, there will be other areas that you could improve upon. The best players are always analysing their skills to discover how they can do something better. Even just a small improvement in something that you can already do well can make a difference in your next match.

Join a Local Team

Get a flavour of being part of a team by playing for your school, college, or university. You might try to get selected for your local football club and begin playing regularly. Once you have a place in a local team, your raw talent could get spotted by a scout, or you will be noticed by other teams and may be asked to join them.

Set Goals

Having a clear set of goal in place helps you to keep track of your progress. At the beginning of your career, your goals might be to train every day, to improve one of your skills, or to play in matches more often. As you achieve these things, your goals will change; for example, you might try to achieve 90 percent accuracy when taking penalties, or being the lead goal scorer for your team. Setting goals is important because it gives you something to strive for, which makes you a better player. It also helps to improve your confidence, and that can make a difference in important matches.

Nutrition

Without proper nutrition for your body, you are unlikely to get the best out of your training. You will need healthy sources of energy to keep you fit and well. Make sure you eat a healthy footballer’s diet with the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats. This helps to keep your body energised for your training and matches, helps with recovery, and ensure your body is in top condition to endure the rigours of the sport.

Rest

You are training hard, so your body also needs quality rest in between. Make sure you get enough sleep every night, otherwise over time you could become fatigued and more prone to injuries.

Confidence and Mental Stamina

Football is not just a physical game. Much of it is mental, and that mental pressure increases the further you get in your career. The pressure of constant training, of doing your job well on the pitch, and holding your nerve while you take penalties or play in front of a crowd can all be a drain on your mental health. Self-belief is vital to improve your mental strength and improve your confidence. Know that you are good at what you do, work, and get advice from your coaches, reward yourself when you achieve the goals you set, and your confidence will grow as a player.

Determination

You need to have a strong determination if you want to become a professional football player. Keep your eyes on your goal, empower yourself by putting in the training, and take knock-backs on the chin. Don’t expect results straight away. If you feel like all your efforts are not paying off, hang on in there and keep trying. Having a determination to succeed is something that will keep you in the game, and get you noticed over other players who do not share your determination.

Being a professional footballer is something that many aspire to, yet it can be difficult to achieve. However, if you have the skills, passion, and dedication, you have what it takes to join a club and get paid for playing your favourite sport. Keep up the motivation and enjoy your football, and who knows where it might take you.

Why Marcus Smart is the Celtics’ MVP

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After a tumultuous season for the Celtics, we begin the offseason discussion. With a few key pieces of last season set to hit free agency, we must look at what the Celtics need to hold on to. There is no player on this team that is more valuable than Marcus Smart. While an unpopular opinion, a case can be made that Smart was the team MVP last season. Here’s why:

Smart has expertly defend high-caliber players like LeBron James

All-NBA Defensive First Team

When you here the name Marcus Smart, you probably think of how great a defender he is. Smart made his first All-NBA defensive first team this year. However, Marcus ‘Winning Plays’ Smart has been putting on the clamps all five years he’s been on the C’s. Averaging 1.6 steals in his career, Smart is sneakily good at pickpocketing the ball. His biggest impact is that Marcus’ defensive plays always seem to alter the course of the game in favor of the C’s.

Marcus Smart: Locker Room Leader

Smart doesn’t receive enough praise for his leadership qualities. For one, he brings a competitive edge to the team. This edge is sometimes the difference between them winning and losing. The Marcus Smart mentality also is a huge help come playoff season, which is why the Celtics have enjoyed recent postseason success. Smart is also a leader in the fact that he is always on his teammate’s side. Kyrie Irving is a great example. Many times this season analysts have pointed to Kyrie’s leadership as a source of the team’s woes. When Marcus Samrt was asked about this, he said the claims were ‘B.S.’. Even if Kyrie is a bad teammate, Smart was not willing to throw him under the bus. That’s leadership right there.

He is the prototypical Boston athlete

When we talk about what a Boston athlete should be, we often think of Tom Brady. Highly competitive, chip on his shoulder, and always seems to find ways to win. Bruins Defenseman Zdeno Chara and Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia are other examples of this. For the Celtics, their version of the ‘Boston Athlete’ is Marcus Smart. Smart has always played like he wasn’t getting enough appreciation (he wasn’t). He also is always competing, all the way down to the final seconds. It’s this reason alone why Marcus Smart is the team’s MVP, and its not even close.

Boston Bruins

GAME 2-STANLEY CUP FINALS| Boston Bruins vs St. Louis Blues

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After a wild comeback that included a very angry Torey Krug, the Boston Bruins took Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals and defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-2.  Despite the slow start that saw the Bruins looking a bit rusty after an 11-day layoff, they quickly found their legs and dominated the rest of the game. Tonight, Boston will be looking to keep the momentum going as they face a St. Louis team who will no doubt come out looking to take at least one game at the TD Garden.

Boston Bruins
(Photo Credits: AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

EVERY LINE COUNTS

Monday night’s game saw great plays from all lines, with contributions from the back end to the first line.  With the Bruins down 2-0, both defensemen Connor Clifton and Charlie McAvoy got Boston on board, tying up the game. Blue-liner Sean Kuraly once again notched the winning goal that moved the Bruins ahead of the Blues. Brad Marchand placed the final nail on the coffin when he scored an empty netter, making the final score 4-2.

PUSHBACK

Expect continued strong shifts from all Bruins lines tonight, and a more ready Blues team, who undoubtedly will make adjustments to their game. Boston held practice yesterday and will hold an optional pregame skate this morning. For St. Louis, Jordan Binnington will most likely get the start in net. The rookie goaltender made 34 saves, and understandably looked less than happy with the goals that squeaked by him. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask made 18 saves, and now has .940 save percentage in the post season, with a 1.85 goals against average.

Boston Bruins
(Photo Credits: AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Players to watch: Brayden Schen and Vladimir Tarasenko.  Blues Coach Craig Berube stated Robert Thomas will sit out for tonight’s game. Thomas was famously hit by Torey Krug in a shot heard around the hockey world. St. Louis has been in this position before when they faced the San Jose Sharks, dropping Game One to battle back to win the Western Conference. The Bruins will continue to play a fast and more physical game as they look to once again get through the Blues big defense.

LOOKING AHEAD

“We knew what our best game looks like and we’re confident we can win. We know the first one wasn’t what we wanted and we’re going to respond and tie the series up. That’s our plan and we’re just going to keep taking it one day at a time.”

Blues Forward Ryan O’Reilly

“We weren’t too happy with the way the game was going….weren’t playing our game and I think after the second goal, our guys, that kind of woke us up. We needed something good to happen and it did.”

Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy

WHEN TO WATCH:  Tonight with puck drop just after 8:00 pm, TD Garden, Boston

WHERE TO WATCH: NBCSN

Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BOSTON UPRISING OFF TANK RICHARD “rCk” KANERVA

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New to Overwatch? Get caught up on everything Overwatch League by reading our introduction.

After a 4-3 record in Stage 1 and losing their first round playoff matchup to the Vancouver Titans, the Boston Uprising seemed to have a clear path forward. Keep on grinding, focus on scrims, and scrape by on just making playoffs. That’s what most teams would have bunkered down with. But conventional wisdom isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

In a move that surprised Overwatch League observers worldwide, the Boston Uprising traded fan favorite off tank Lucas “Note” Meissner to the Dallas Fuel for fellow off tank Richard “rCk” Kanerva. Note, one of the few holdovers from Boston’s season 1 roster, was lauded for his consistent and serviceable play. Conversely, rCk had a reputation for his ability to flex off the traditional DVa role. Importantly, the Finn could play Sombra, the very kryptonite used against the Uprising all season.

With the trade happening just days before Stage 2, rCk had little time to join the Uprising and adjust to the new surroundings. Interestingly, he had just ended Stage 2 by being reverse swept by his new teammates. That had to make the whole situation just a bit more stressful. Boston Sports Extra got the opportunity to speak to rCk about how the trade and transition happened. We also got to speak about the future of the team.

Boston Sports Extra’s LoadScr33n: What was your first reaction to hearing you were being traded to Boston?

Richard “rCk” Kanerva: My first reaction was kind of sad and confused at the beginning because I didn’t understand why I was being traded to Boston after performing well with Dallas. But after a couple of days of practicing, I felt like this was going to be good after all and I would be a good fit in Boston.

LoadScr33n: What were those few days like between being told you were traded and the start of stage 2? What did the team do to integrate you given the short period of time before the first match?

rCk: I was scared because I only had 4 days of practice with a new team in a completely different work environment. The team did a great job of welcoming me in and I felt better after a few days. Everyone was super friendly and understanding and we got along straight away.​

LoadScr33n: In your first match against Atlanta, on Eichenwalde, you were left alone on the payload as overtime started. Everyone else had been picked off and the Reign were steps from pushing the cart to win the series. What went through your head as you picked off Poko and hit a 2k with the self-destruct? How do you stay focused in high pressure situations like that?

​rCk: The only thing that went through my mind was that I needed a big bomb to be able to clutch the situation. I needed a new mech because I had no health left and I needed to get picks with the bomb and hope that my teammates would respawn fast enough to give support afterwards. At that point when I used Self-destruct I knew there was no place for them to hide after using all their abilities/cooldowns.​ To be able to stay focused in a situation like that you just have to focus on your fundamentals and how badly you want to win and find out your enemies’ weaknesses.

LoadScr33n: Boston became the first team to pull off three consecutive reverse sweeps. Having been on the receiving end of one of them, what’s it like being on the winning end of not one, but two since you joined the Uprising?

rCk: I’ve always been a competitive person and I understand the hunger of winning while you’re at a disadvantage. It’s the best feeling ever to be able to reverse sweep and win the series like that but it’s the worst feeling to lose like that. I was hoping to win both matches that we reverse swept with Boston in a clean 4-0 but reverse sweeping not once but three times is pretty exciting.​

LoadScr33n: How would you describe your role on the team after the first few matches? How has the transition been?

rCk: I kept the same role that I had in Dallas that I was very comfortable in and I’m happy to bring it to Boston with me. I think my communication skills are great so I help with shot calling and making plans. Also, because I’m a really flexible off-tank player with a large hero pool, I help the team by changing my playstyle depending on what composition we play against. The transition has been very good and I’m liking the fact that I can be more of a playmaker for them.

LoadScr33n: What do you think is a realistic expectation for this team in this upcoming stage and for the season? What do you see as the biggest challenges to accomplishing those goals?

rCk: I think we are a great team and there’s tons of potential. Like every team, we have a few small issues but if we work hard and we put in the time and overcome them we could be a top-5 team for sure. Our whole team thrives to be better and continue learning. The biggest challenge is to understand that everything good comes with hard work and those who practice more in the right environment will improve greatly. #BostonUp #RiseUp

Everyone at Boston Sports Extra appreciates rCk taking the time to speak with us. At 7-7, Boston sits at 12th place in the league. Missing the Stage 2 playoffs, the team has its work cut out for them. Stage 3 begins next Friday, June 7th at 8:45pm. Uprising are hosting a free watch party at the Hard Rock cafe for fans. Get there early.

For more Boston Uprising content and gameday banter, follow Loadscr33n on Twitter #BostonUp

How to Follow Your Favorite Team in Boston

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Boston is a hub of sporting activity from the famous Red Sox to the Boston Patriots. These teams are part of the city’s pride, and for many residents of Boston, supporting these teams is an integral part of their lives. If you want to take part and follow your favorite Boston sporting team, here are some ways that you can get involved.

  • Take Up Sports

Sometimes, you want to do more than watch your favorite team from the sidelines, whether you love golf, football or baseball, and this is why many people take up the sports that they support. You should look at local Boston sporting clubs and teams which you can join. Not only this but playing a sport will give you some idea of how your favorite team runs and will give you more knowledge of the game so that you can understand the rules of matches better. However, if you are going to take up a sport, it is crucial that you have the right equipment as this will help you to be successful. If you are looking to get into golf, for example, PXG can provide you with performance level clubs that focus on accuracy and distance.

  • See Home Matches

You should also decide to see your favorite teams at their home matches as this is the best way to support them within your city and to honor their home grounds. Although you may not be able to travel to away matches, going to home matches with friends and family can be a great day out where you can connect with other people in your area that are just as passionate about sports such as golf, football, and horse racing as you are. Doing so will also allow you to keep up with your team’s wins and losses in person, without having to rely on internet access and applications – you can see history being made for yourself.

  • Join Fan Clubs

You should also consider joining local fan groups in your area which work to support your favorite team. These fan clubs often have discounts to go to events as well, as well as merchandise created specifically for the group. These fan clubs often have forums and physical meet-ups too, meaning that you have a safe space to discuss all of your sports-related opinions with like-minded people who also have an interest in the sport that you love. If you are a local team, or simply just someone who wants to meet other sports lovers, you should consider setting up a fan club in your local area.

  • Volunteer at their Home Grounds

You should also make an effort to volunteer at your home grounds or to make financial donations. These contribute to the strength of the club and allow it to be run smoothly so that you and other fans can get the best out of it. Many supporters of clubs such as the Red Sox give up their time to help their club, and their donations are contributed towards vehicles and other equipment which can help them to succeed.

The Big Bad Bruins are Back

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The Boston Bruins showed a bit of rust in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. That was to be expected after having ten days off. In the first period they ended with only eight shots on goal and down 1-0. It didn’t take long to shake that rust off, however. After going down 2-0 early in the second period the Bruins finally found life. Goals from defensemen Connor Clifton and Charlie McAvoy tied the game at 2, and the St. Louis Blues wouldn’t score again. Meanwhile, Sean Kuraly would score the go-ahead goal and Brad Marchand sealed the game with an empty netter. In the last two periods the Bruins out-shot the Blues 30-12 and beat them 4-2 to take a 1-0 series lead.

That Old Feeling

In a rematch of the Stanley Cup Finals from 1970 it’s appropriate that this game had a feeling of ‘70s hockey. It was physical and the referees let the boys play. Also appropriate is the Bruins felt like their brutally physical ‘70s counterparts. Just as they were nicknamed in that era, last night the Big Bad Bruins returned. At one point Brad Marchand made a play on goal and Blues goalie Jordan Binnington hit Marchand with his stick, losing it in the play. After the play was blown dead, Marchand skated past Binnington, giving him a shoulder bump along the way. That was one of the friendlier interactions of the night.

Changing Momentum

Photo by Bob DeChiara

The key moment in the game came from defenseman Torey Krug. While in the Bruins defensive zone, in front of Tuukka Rask in net, Krug and Blues forward David Perron got into a wrestling match. It started with a couple of hacks of the sticks, then Perron began shoving Krug from behind several times while Krug stood his ground. Perron fell on top of Krug and pushed his head down once before trying to get back to his feet, pulling Krug’s head back twice and yanking his helmet off. Krug, not backing down, held Perron’s right leg, causing both of them to fall down again. Perron then successfully got back to his skates, straddled over Krug, and pushed his head back down, before skating after the puck, now in the Blues defensive zone.

Torey Krug was clearly angry. He got to his skates, flew up the ice, and with no helmet he ran full-speed into rookie forward Robert Thomas, knocking both of them down. No penalty was called on any of it. The wrestling match was questionable, but Krug’s hit on Thomas was legal. Thomas had the puck, the hit was shoulder to shoulder, and while Krug’s skates did come off the ice it wasn’t until after the contact. The Big Bad Bruins, led by Torey Krug of all people, were back in force in Game 1.

David Backes perfectly summed it up after the game. “That gave me goosebumps. He doesn’t have a helmet on but he goes right up the ice and lays a big hit. He thinks he’s playing thirty, forty years ago.”

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