Say it ain't so Tom

Here is thing with Tom wearing a Yankee's hat. If Tom was a full fledged Yankee's fan, it would make me unhappy, but I could understand, if maybe he didn't like a team growing up, he lives in NY, ect. My main problem is that he wears Red Sox hats too. In college, he played in one of the greatest rivalries in sports. You think he ever wore a Buckaye's hat when he was in Columbus? I don't think so. You can't have it both ways Tom. Either your with them or your with us.

Here's the Inside Track article:

Say it ain’t so, Tom!
The ever-vigilant paparazzi snapped New England Patriots [team stats] QB/QT Tom Brady [stats] sashaying through the streets of New York City yesterday shamelessly sporting a New York Yankees cap!
Tom and his galpal, soon to be ex-Victoria’s Secret model Gisele Bundchen, were strolling hand-in-hand in the West Village when he was snapped committing the horrid topper transgression.
Red Sox [team stats] Nation was shocked and appalled and - as is our way - making excuses for the Bronx Bombers blasphemy.
“We know that Tom has an array of Red Sox caps from which to choose,” said team spokesguy Dr. Charles Steinberg. “But we fully respect that he needed to wear a suitable disguise for his own health and protection. We don’t doubt that he’s a card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation.”
Perhaps Tom was wearing the hat as a sympathy gesture. Alex Rodriguez & Co. are, after all, in last place.
But avid Brady Bunchers know this isn’t the first time No. 12 has committed the ultimate in homer heresy. We told you way back in 2003 that Tom was sporting a Pinstripes lid when our ever-vigilant spies spotted him fueling up at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Foxboro.
At the time, the excuse was that it was a gesture of solidarity with then-Yankees rookie Drew Henson, who, like Tom, is a former quarterback for the University of Michigan. Of course, that lame-o rationalization has gone by the boards now that Henson has ditched MLB for the NFL to play third-string quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
And although Tom has sported a Sox cap on numerous occasions - including during a Super Bowl XXXVIII press conference - and he was in the Fenway stands rooting for Josh Beckett [stats] & Co. on Opening Day, he has been busted in Bombers’ mode before. He was also, need we remind you, caught in flagrante with A-Rod at Tao in NYC, shortly after the Yankees third baseman was declared Public Enemy No. 1 for slapping Bronson Arroyo!
Of course, most of Tom’s Yankee-lovin’ has come when he’s been conveniently outside the jurisdiction. And now that the lovesick stud has semi-permanently relocated himself to the Big Apple - to be closer to Gi - he’s apparently in a New York (Yankees) state of mind!

This cheered me up...

Ugh. This rainy, shitty morning perfectly amplified my mood. First of all, I can no longer get out of my bed in the morning. (I am actually thinking of taking off my featherbed to make my bed less comfortable), then, I do the good old 50 yard dash to the bus (which, at very least, ammused my bus drive), then, I get to work a full 1/2 hour early (which is not a bad thing, except its an unpaid 1/2 hour spent in this god forsaken cube), I head over to Dunkin Donuts for an ice coffee, find 37 people in front of me, and end up settleing for a Metro ice coffee and corn muffin which are not nearly as satisfying. But of course, none of these things are the real reason I am in a terrible mood this morning, the real reason I am in a bad mood is this.

Jonathan Papelbon is human after all. I know deep down I knew it all along, but with every blown save, a certian sense of smugness is lost. For example, I liked reminding all those Yankees fans out there of the pretty ERA that looked something like this, 0.00. I mean, that is a good looking ERA right there. A 1.74 ERA is good too, just not quite as pretty.

Tell me those pictures don't hurt your heart a little...

Glasper learns the hard lessons of football

I don't understand where the trainers and doctor was on this? The coach should have no say at all whether a player is ready or not.

A few afternoon links from Katie...

First, the TMQ is amazed by the Patriots. Me too, TMQ, me too.

New England: Traditionally the Belichick brain trust banks a high draft choice every year. In the 2006 draft, you knew Belichick was worried because it was smoke 'em if you got 'em -- the Patriots used every pick. This weekend the Flying Elvii returned to their previous management pattern, giving up a late first-rounder to bank San Francisco's 2008 first pick, then giving up a late third-round choice to bank Oakland's 2008 third. If the Patriots are banking picks again, that means Belichick thinks his roster is reloaded: which appears to be the case. Last season, New England nearly won the AFC championship despite having volunteers from the audience at wide receiver. Now Tom Brady will be throwing to Donte' Stallworth, Wes Welker and a perhaps-recharged Randy Moss, while the Pats' roster has gotten stronger in other areas, too. Plus New England is holding two extra high draft picks for 2008. How do these guys do it so much better than everyone else?

Moss is annoying, but if his head is screwed on straight he is potentially a major acquisition. You have to think Belichick is challenging himself here. Minnesota couldn't manage Moss, Oakland couldn't manage Moss, most NFL coaches were afraid even to try: if Belichick turns Moss into a team player who hustles, this will be yet more proof he is football's best-ever coach. Note that New England gave twice as much -- a second-round choice -- to obtain Welker as the fourth-rounder it gave for Moss. Who would have guessed a couple years ago that on the open market, Wes Welker would have double the trade value of Randy Moss? And note that with all those decent quarterbacks available in the mid- to late rounds, New England didn't draft one. Brady's understudy continues to be Matt Cassel, who has not been a starting quarterback since high school.

Jason Stark talks about the importance of April.

*We all know how I feel about him, but I mean, how great is Tom Brady? Tom restructured his contract so that they could add Randy Moss and still come in under the cap.

*Dan Shaugnessy says that love is blind when it comes to us Boston fans. Here is the thing with this article, he starts off strong, saying that we are blind when it comes to the Patriots acquiring Randy Moss, and that if the Sox had signed Barry Bonds this off season, we would have gotten on the bandwagon, and if the Sox sign Roger Clemens, then he'll go back to being the Rocket we all know and love.

First of all, on Barry, I will never, ever, root for Barry Bonds. It has nothing to do with steriods, because, who really knows who is on and who is off and who has been on the juice. Do I think Bonds cheated? Yes. Am I sure that all my favorite players never did? No. So, I don't hate Barry Bonds because he's a cheater. I hate Barry Bonds because he's a dick.

Dan then says to bring on Terrell Owens. Um, no, because Rodney already says that he would never let T.O. in the locker room. And, whatever Rodney says goes. (which, if anyone can find the Rodney quote about T.O. and wants to put in the comments, please do).

As for Roger, I think we've all accepted the fact that one stat is the most important to Roger, the $$. It was never about being a Yankee for Rog, it was about the $$. Sure he wants to be close to Koby, Kole, Krispy, Knight, Kreme, but, when it comes down to it, $20 mil for a few months work isn't a bad deal. I don't think its about the love of the game for Roger, I think its about a love of the zero's adding up at the end of his bank account statement. That being said, what team out there has a comparable rotation to Schill, Beckett, Dice-K, Rog, and Wake? Um, no one. For Roger, it's about the money, for me, a lowly entry level customer service rep making 30 grand, it's about walking into Yankee Stadium wearing my 2007 World Series shirt. And if Roger is going to get me there, well, I'm that easy. (But I will, under no circumstances, own a Clemens shirt).

As for A-Rod, I personally always really liked him when he was a Mariner and a Ranger. I think that he was stupid to give up the chance to be the greatest SS of all time to be a Yankee. I think it isn't his fault he signed that deal that would cripple any team's payroll not in NY or Boston. I think it would be hard for me to cheer for him. That being said, if Barry ends up hitting 777 and A-Rod can hit 778, I'd take it.

Then there is Bill Laimbeer and Ulf Samuelsson. Now, most of the time I don't pay too much attention to what goes on on Causeway Street, (except Disney on Ice, I love Disney on Ice). There aren't any NHL or NBA teams that I like more than the C's and B's, those sports just aren't quite my thing. But, I know two things. And that is that everytime a WNBA game comes up during a channel check and Bill Laimbeer is coaching, my dad makes a comment not appropriate for others ears, and that Ulf hurt Cam Neeley, and that the name Samuelsson still makes Bruin's fans everywhere cringe, so, to say that they could have suited up for the hometown team and been accepted, is well, bullshit.

And, also Dan, we didn't turn on Johnny, Johnny turned on us. We would have been fine if he signed with any of 29 teams. There's just one that isn't okay, and he knew that and did it anyway. I'm pretty sure I could live pretty well for the rest of my life on the 40 mil the Sox were offering, so, I'm sorry if I'm not oozing with sympathy.

Manny is Manny, you can either get annoyed when he doesn't run out a ground ball, or you can accept .300-35-120 and move on. Sometimes it is better to move on.

We can be negative about Randy and his past transgressions, or, we can trust that Bill and Scott knew what they were doing, and that Tom wouldn't go through the trouble of restructuring his contract for someone that wasn't worth the effort. Personally, I love the idea of Moss and Stallworth lining up on opposite sidelines and a fully healed Malroney in the backfield. Also, I don't agree with the fact that this move solidifies that Troy Brown is gone. Troy can play defense and our defense backs have't been the most durable in years past. If Troy wants to play, Troy will be on the Patriots.

*The Pats also signed a bunch of college undrafted free agents yesterday, outlined in Reiss's blog.

*Chris Carter says Randy will be fine in Foxboro.

*David Brown (who writes from some newspaper called South Coast Today?) has a good response to the media over reacting over the Patriots drafting /signing. (I really liked this one).

*Rob Bradford talked to Papelbon who, poor guy, only makes 400,000 grand this year, talks about his future with in the game. (He will be eligable for arbitration after 2008).

*Tavarez wants Dice-K to teach him how to throw a cut fastball. Edes also has this...

Papelbon's younger brother, Josh Papelbon, was not perfect in April, but he came close. The younger Papelbon, pitching for Single A Greenville in the South Atlantic League, had five saves, and held opponents scoreless in eight of his nine outings. He allowed three earned runs in the one outing he was scored upon, so he has an ERA of 2.61 . . . Sunday was Jacoby Ellsbury's first day off this season. The Portland outfielder has hit safely in a career-high 13 consecutive games, batting .404 (23 for 57). He has reached base in 23 straight contests dating to Aug. 27, 2006. His .455 average (30 for 66) leads all minor leaguers, and he ranks first in the Eastern League with 30 hits, 10 doubles, and a .507 on-base percentage. Ellsbury has started 15 of Portland's 16 games this season.

Think Lester and Josh hung out when he was in Greenville? I'd like to think so. Also, some weekend this summer we should do a little Portland Road Trip, and go shopping in Freeport. (Northface, Coach, and Dooney and Bourke outlet. What more could you possibly want?)