Bomb Threat — Who's the Culprit?

New segment for the male, age 16-infinity demographic. Bomb threat. We'll post a set of bombs for you. Your goal is to figure out who the culprit is that brought the bombs to the party. When you think you've cracked the code, just click "Read More" and check for yourself. Who planted these bombs?

Bookie Tips: UNC vs. Duke, 7 PM

Saturday Special: I like Duke today to beat the Tar heels. This is going to be a great game and I know it is going to be a close one. Whenever I see a team with Austin Rivers and the Plumlee bros on it as the dog, I have no choice but to take it. Plus they are home and the Crazies will be in full effect, nothing to see here Rivers and his silky for 20.

The Pick: Duke (+2)

Tweet of the Day — Jack Edwards

Seems like maybe the NESN crew had a drink-up before today's matinee between the Bruins and Islanders. Either than or Jack Edwards (@RealJackEdwards) is just a real weird cat. I guess "both" is the only adequate answer in this situation.

Anyway, real tough loss for the Bruins today. Frustrating in every way. Officials blowing, Nabokov standing on his dick and Tuukka Rask going down with an injury that does not look good. Anton Khudobin, our top goaltending prospect, is also down with an injury right now. Not looking good for the Bruins. The injury bug is striking hard.

 

MLB Adjusts Playoff Format, Expands to Ten Teams

We all remember the horrible feeling of the last night of last season. As the Baltimore Orioles celebrated their walk-off victory, the Boston Red Sox trudged off the field to watch the Tampa Bay Rays officially dash their playoff hopes a few minutes later.

If history were to repeat itself in the exact same fashion this fall — a virtual impossibility, but for the sake of exhibition — the Boston Red Sox would not be headed for their winter vacations. Instead, if the same scenario arises, the Sox will be headed to Tampa for a one-game playoff to determine who advances to the ALDS.

Major League Baseball announced last night that it has expanded its playoff format to ten teams. An extra wildcard team will make the playoffs on each side, and a one-game wildcard round will be played in both the American and National Leagues.

What are the pros and the cons of this new format?

Starting with the pros, as I just mentioned, it can give a shot to teams who might deserve it. I'm not saying the Red Sox deserved it. But teams like the Atlanta Braves last season in the National League can be given a shot that they fell just short of. In the American League, it can finally give a chance to someone outside of the American League East division to be that final team into the ALDS round. After all, it's nearly always some combination of two out of the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays these days.

The cons, though, are the ones that really jump out at me. Whenever a change like this is made, I can't help thinking about the repercussions that could come with it.

For one, I hate the notion of regularly deciding a playoff round in baseball with a one-game series. I already hate the idea that a team has to play a five-game series — a mere three wins — after a season which called for 162 games to determine the most worthy clubs. That long schedule is a clear indication that baseball requires a large sample size to determine who the best ball clubs are. So you allot teams a mere five-game series to prove it in the playoffs? And now a one-game series just to get there? I really dislike the idea of a single elimination in a sport like baseball. A tie-breaker is one thing, but we're talking about the first round of the playoffs now.

That leads me to my second big concern about this system. In many cases, this game will be similar to a tie-breaker. The two teams will be very close — if not identical — in the win-loss columns. In those cases, it can be somewhat of a toss-up and a one-game playoff is simply the equivalent of breaking the tie between those two teams. But what if it isn't so close? What if the Red Sox come in with a dominant record — say they have won 99 games — but trail the Yankees, who won 100. The next best wildcard team, for instance, may have only won 85 games. Boston finished 14 games ahead of this random fifth team, but they now have to bring their season down to a one-game playoff against them? What if the Red Sox, because of days rest, have been forced into a situation where their fourth or fifth starter is going up against the opposition's first? The situation can get pretty dicey.

Having said all of that, the change has been made and there is nothing that can be done. One thing that will definitely be a positive effect from the change is that winning your division has become much more meaningful. At the end of the regular season, we will now see teams — the most notable example, again, being the AL East — fighting to the finish line to win their division. Because the bottom line is this. If you don't win your division, you're playing a one-game playoff.

We won't see the rules in action until the fall, obviously. There is still a long summer of baseball ahead of us. But as we reach the end of that long summer and start turning the pages into the autumn season, these rule changes will unquestionably lead to a slightly different brand of baseball being watched from August through October.

How do you like the new rules? Vote 1 if you hate them more than you hate LeBron James. Vote 10 if this is the best thing since sliced bread.

  

Bookie Tips: Lakers vs. Kings, 10:30 PM

I've decided to be nice. I'll give you a little inside info and throw in a parlay I'm taking for the night. Coming off the 3-team win last night I feel pretty confident in winning you fellas some cash tonight. Bottom line is the Kings suck and as long as Kobe is a Laker, I'll take them every day and two times on Friday. Kobe goes for 30.

The Pick: Lakers (-10)

3 Team Prayer: Youngstown (+6), Georgia State (-1), Lakers(-10)
  

Tweet of the Day — Kate Upton

Didn't really see any incredibly entertaining tweets from my list of athletes today, so I was trying to think of a solution. An idea came to me. Why not make Friday a Kate Upton (@KateUpton) day? I mean she's pretty much every man's favorite woman. So I'll leave it to you. Should Fridays be Kate Upton days as far as Tweet of the Day is concerned? Vote 1 for hell no, we don't want to see tweets and pics from Kate Upton. Vote 10 for every day should be Kate Upton day.

Luke Scott's Jealousy of Boston Finally Boils Over

"[Red Sox] fans come in and they take over the city. They're ruthless. They're vulgar. They cause trouble. They talk about your family. Swear at you. Who likes that? When people do that, it just gives you more incentive to beat them. Then when things like [the last game of last season] happen, you celebrate even more."

That's what Luke Scott of the Tampa Bay Rays had to say about the fans of the Boston Red Sox. Scott played for Baltimore last year when the Orioles beat the Sox on the final night of the season. A few minutes later, Evan Longoria's walk-off homer for Tampa Bay officially eliminated Boston from playoff contention.

Luke Scott called that night "the greatest night in baseball history."

Look, Luke... I'm sorry you've been stuck in shitty-ass Baltimore for the last four years. Congrats on getting out to Tampa, by the way. You won't have to worry about vulgar fans there — you'll just have an empty ballpark instead.

All I'm seeing here is a guy who can't accept the reality of professional sports. I'm also seeing a guy who makes rash generalizations about an entire fan base on the basis of a few select instances. Everyone knows that Boston is a crazy sports town. Everyone is aware that Fenway Park fills up with a bunch of Massholes every night who slug way too many beers and get all aggressive and shit. But you want to know something about those Massholes? They would give their own blood, sweat and tears (and many of us have done so, with any combination of those three things) for their team. They're going to be angry when they lose. They'll be thrilled when they win. When their players succeed, they will praise them. But when they start sucking, Boston fans aren't going to let you off the hook.

That's reality. But Luke Scott clearly prefers to play baseball without any pressure, without any fans, without the element of allegiance. Tampa is the perfect spot for him, in that case. Like I said, the fans there won't be insulting his family and swearing (God forbid!) at him. Because there won't be any fans in the ballpark at all.

Disliking the Boston fan base is a personal choice, and he has every right to have that feeling. But the last night of last season was "the greatest night in baseball history?" Really bro? You know your career is bad when the highlight of it is winning Game #162 of a season in which you missed the playoffs for the billionth year in a row.

Whatever floats your boat, man. Keep flaunting your .000 career postseason batting average.
 

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Version 2.0

Here's your mock draft that was promised earlier this week. Modifications have been made due to new NFL combine results. Changed picks from the last draft have been starred.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck/QB, Stanford
With an aging Peyton Manning, this pick becomes the most obvious in the draft as the Colts look for Peyton’s successor. The big question that arises is what the Colts do with Peyton, as it seemingly has become not feasible to keep both Luck and Manning. Look for the Colts to explore their options with dealing Peyton, which could be enticing to a team such as the Redskins, whose fans have grown restless due to the lack of production at the quarterback position. One thing needs to be said — they cannot go another year with Rex Grossman under center. It just can’t happen.

2. St. Louis Rams: TRADE to Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III/QB, Baylor
Trade alert. I think this trade makes lots of sense for the Rams to trade down to the No. 4 pick. They're trying to find weapons to put around franchise quarterback and former No. 1 pick Sam Bradford, and Justin Blackmon or Matt Kalil will still be available at that fourth pick. I believe that Robert Griffin’s stock will rise to the No. 2 spot, as skill positions such as a quarterback are valued highly in drafts. The Colt McCoy era ends in Cleveland, even though I am not sold on riding a quarterback off until he has the essential weapons around him, which McCoy never got. Thoughts go off in my head about Tim Couch, the last busted QB the Browns tried to draft high, but Griffin III seems to have a can’t miss arm and mobility — you saw what Cam Newton did this year with those same attributes. Those should translate over nicely in the NFL.

NBA Second Half: The NBA's Six-Foot-Eleven Albatross

It's been a while Boston sports fans, but Ed B. is back and ready to talk about the NBA. It's been a strange first half of the season, with a lockout, blocked trades, Linsanity, and the faltering Celtics (but more on that Sunday).

After a sub-par All-Star weekend (it seems like fans have been saying this on loop for five years now), NBA fans look forward to the exciting second half of the shortened season. There are many interesting story lines this season, one of which regarding Dwight Howard, the center of the Orland Magic.

Howard's situation affects many teams who are waiting to pull the trigger on moves but are reluctant to in the hopes that the gifted big man may join their squad. The "Dwight Saga" has implications on nearly every NBA squad, and the longer it continues, the longer teams will wait to make crucial roster moves.

Howard, like most petulant NBA players that plague today's game, wants out of Orlando for various reasons; the Magic management is not building around him enough (understandable), he wants to play with friends (inexcusable), he wants to play in a bigger market to expand his brand (ditto). Do you think Jordan wanted to play with friends over winning? Magic? Bird? Not a chance, because they wanted to win on their own merit. That's why we never saw a big three of Magic, Isiah Thomas, and Mark Aguirre back in the day; although great friends, they wanted to win and be immortalized. They realized that the future legendary status was much more important than temporary fun with friends.

Dwight's main point, however, has always been that the Magic (specifically GM Otis Smith) haven't provided him with enough pieces to make a serious run. On top of that, the gang that did make a run to the finals was blown up the next season with Hedo Turkoglu's departure. Although Howard has other motives for leaving Orlando, the Magic are not helping their own cause by giving Howard peanuts to work with. Howard is a top-five player in the league, and while great, cannot do it alone. He needs more than MIP candidate Ryan Anderson to truly lead the team past the Heat and Bulls.

The era of disgruntled stars is in full-swing, but sports fans must remember that there are some basic things a team should do to keep its most valuable commodities happy, say building a solid core around one of the game's best. Athletes also have a responsibility, however, to realize that the contracts they sign go both ways, and optimal effort has to be given to the team, along with respect. Remember when Chris Bosh tweeted, "Where should I go?" while still a member of the Raptors? On a scale of 1 to 10, with one being keeping your elbows off the dinner table and ten being spitting in the host's face, it was about an eight. If you're dead set on leaving because of lack of talent around you, fine; but you don't have to stoop to outrageous levels of disrespect to do it.

Howard needs some help in Orlando, and if Smith and management get it for him, the ball is squarely in Howard's court; if he stays with a better supporting crew, fans can infer that his intentions were winning and winning only from the beginning. However, if he does get some talent around him and still decides to leave to play with friends or to boost his brand, he would be no better than Lebron James or Carmelo Anthony. As fans, we can only hope that Howard puts his foot down on the petulance-riddled NBA and brings about a new era.

Bookie Tip: Washington vs. USC, 10:30 PM

Tonight I love the Huskies over USC. The Huskies are coming in hot looking to keep the 4-game win streak alive, while the Trojans are a sinking ship coming in losing their last 8. This seems like a sure fire bet to me, Huskies are looking at the tournament while the Trojans are packing it in. Ross of Washington is coming off a bad game so I see him lighting it up tonight. Take it cause Nate Robinson told you to.

The Pick: Washington (-7.5)

PS — If I had to parlay, gun to my head: San Diego (-3), Wash (-7.5), UC Davis (+15).
 

Tweet of the Day — Chad Ochocinco

Chad Ochocinco (@ochocinco) seems to have a couple of problems with his wife-to-be (or so we think?) Evelyn Lozada (@EvelynLozada). Understandably, she wants Chad to change his last name back to Johnson when they get married. No one wants to randomly be named Evelyn Ochocinco. But now this? Fighting over the car keys, Evelyn stealing them behind Ocho's back? What does a man need to do to simply have uninhibited access to the keys to his Prius? I see this relationship having some speed bumps. Hopefully the number of speed bumps is limited to around the number of catches Ochocinco had this season. If they manage that, then clear skies ahead.
 

Jason Varitek: Forever a Part of the Red Sox Family

When Jason Varitek retired this week, all of Red Sox Nation became nostalgic. Do I speak on behalf of all of New England when I say thank you? I believe so. Thank you, 'Tek, for a remarkable run through the years at Fenway Park.

He was the definition of a winner. He is the only baseball player to play in the Little League World Series, College World Series, Major League Baseball World Series, the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic.

He played in more postseason games than any Red Sox player in club history. He caught more games than any catcher in Red Sox history, breaking Carlton Fisk's long-standing record. He is the only catcher in the history of Major League Baseball to catch four no-hitters.

And to the best of my knowledge, he is the only player in Red Sox history to punch A-Rod in the face.

It all started back in 1997, when the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners signed the papers on what turned into one of the more lopsided trades in history. Boston shipped reliever Heathcliff Slocumb (in fairness, Slocumb was a beast in MLB Triple Play '97) to Seattle in exchange for young prospects Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe.

Five years later, it was Derek Lowe throwing a no-hitter to Jason Varitek. And two years after that, it was that same battery winning the series-clinching Game 4 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The iconic image above comes from earlier in that same magical season. On July 24th, 2004, the Red Sox found themselves trailing the New York Yankees 3-0 in the third inning of a game at Fenway Park. When Bronson Arroyo clocked Alex Rodriguez with a pitch and A-Rod inched his way toward the mound, Varitek stood his ground and protected his pitcher. It led to the brawl that Red Sox Nation remembers as the turning point in the long, long history of the Sox-Yanks rivalry.

Players were ejected and emotions finally calmed down, but the excitement was only beginning. Varitek watched from the clubhouse as the Yankees built a 9-4 lead by the time the top half of the sixth inning had concluded.

Cue: Start of epic run through history.

A sixth-inning rally made the deficit manageable, and the Sox were up against a 10-8 margin entering the bottom of the ninth. Although Varitek wasn't a part of this comeback on the field, he was certainly one of the men who sparked the ignition of the monster truck that became known as "The Idiots."

Just to give you a splash of nostalgia — Kevin Millar singled home Nomar Garciaparra in that ninth inning. A few minutes later, Bill Mueller blasted a two-run homer to deliver a blown save and a loss to Mariano Rivera and shoot the underdog idiots into a streak they would never forget.

Throughout Varitek's career, it was one memory like this after another. Prior to all of these festivities, he guided Hideo Nomo (2001) and Lowe (2002) into the history books by catching their no-hit performances. After the curse was snapped in 2004, he went on to lead the way for Clay Buchholz (2007) and Jon Lester (2008), who both threw their only no-hitters to the captain.

His .256 career batting average is less than stellar. But when you look back at his 757 career RBIs and think about how many of them were absolute history-changers for the Red Sox, it's pretty tough to fight the chills that rush down your spine.

No catcher will ever truly look the same behind the plate. His widespread stance that was hardly a squat. His loosely-knit catcher's mitt that magically stayed together, pitch after pitch. The way his mask would slide half way off his face on a throw down to second base. The way he jumped into a pitcher's arms after reaching the pinnacle of the baseball world.

His time as a player for the Red Sox has come to an end, but he will forever be a part of the Red Sox family. Whether he returns as a coach or a manager, or simply lives on in our hearts forever, his presence will remain. His sheer numbers may not qualify his jersey number to be retired, but let's be real for a moment.

Could you really read these stories, think back on the memories, and say the retirement of No. 33 is unjust?

I can't hang his number from the edge of the balcony at Fenway Park. Neither can you.

What we can do, however, is be thankful and appreciative of a career that molded our experience as Red Sox fans.

Thank you, 'Tek. Thank you for everything.
  

Bookie Tip: Ohio State vs. Northwesten, 8:30 PM

Looking to get off the loss last night, I like Northwestern against the Buckeyes tonight. They're the dog and they're on the bubble for their first ever appearance in the NCAA tourney. ESPN has the Wildcats as first four in. This game is pivotal to them solidifying their chance of popping their big dance cherry. The Buckeyes are struggling. Sullinger has been held in single digits in consecutive games for the first time in his career. I think this is going to be a close one.

The Pick: Northwestern (+7.5)

Tweet of the Day — Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) wants to know how this works. Can anyone help him? I think it just means you only get older once every four years, right? Like if my birthday was on February 29th, then I wouldn't be 20 years old. I would be 5. That's really the only logical way something this outrageous could work. Groundbreaking question McCourty has raised here. The mark of an innovator.

  

Red Sox Outlook: Starting Rotation

Last September's horrendous collapse is still the taste lingering in most Red Sox fans' mouths. I understand. It's a tough one to shake off. But try to gather yourself and look at the positives. In my series of Red Sox outlooks, I'll try to look at the bright side as we approach that beloved Opening Day once again.

Everyone knows who Boston's top three gunners are. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz — in no particular order — will be called upon to lead the Sox rotation into the fire in 2012. There may be some minor question marks within that group of three, but the major question marks (followed by exclamation points) rest in the fourth and fifth slots of the starting rotation.

Daniel Bard is expected — well, the Red Sox are hoping, at least — to succeed as the No. 4 starter. Bard has been dominant for stretches of his brief career in Boston thus far, but his entire tenure has been spent as a setup man to the departed Jonathan Papelbon, who dons the white and red of the Philadelphia Phillies. Bard — a 26-year-old fireballer who is now being called upon to open the door to his prime — is being converted to a starting pitcher this preseason.

For me, there are two main questions about Bard's transition to the starting role. The first of those two questions will be his stamina — how long can he sustain his stellar velocity? Will he be losing gas from his fastball by the fifth and sixth innings? Can a guy who has always come in for an inning or two be successful going eight, nine frames in an exceptional performance? That will be one of the big questions for Bard. Assuming he can maintain that velocity deep into outings, there remains a second concern — his repertoire. Does he have enough pitches to be effective on the second and third trips through an opposing lineup? In the past, Bard has been able to rely on his fastball and the occasional slider to ring up batter after batter. But if he is unable to fine-tune his change-up and effectively mix up his pitches, will hitters adjust on their second and third attempts?

The fifth starter is an even bigger question than the fourth. Will it be Felix Doubront? Alfredo Aceves? Andrew Miller? All of those guys showed promise last season, but Aceves may be best suited to assume the role. Can Daisuke Matsuzaka return to form and be effective? There's no telling the answers to these questions just yet, but there is always optimism.

I will say this. If these pitchers — the aforementioned top four, in particular — can pitch close to their capability, then Boston can experience a pretty special season. I'll discuss the full package in a later outlook, complete with predictions for their win totals and more. But we have seen what these guys are capable of. Lester and Buchholz have each thrown no-hitters. Both of them were Cy Young contenders in the middle of last season. Beckett and Bard have each displayed periods of dominance and periods of weakness. If dominance can prevail, the sky is the limit for this pitching staff.

There may be uncertainty, but don't look at it in such a bad light. Uncertainty means just that — you are uncertain. It could be bad. It could be good. Never forget the positive side of uncertainty. It just might be good, after all. Opening Day will be here before we know it.

Get Your Chowder Shirts Here!

If you haven't checked out the Chowdah Shop yet, now would be a great time to do so. We just released our first two shirts of the Beantown Chowder era. Both of them are pretty simple, but there is no cooler way to support the blog than to rock these bad boys around town. As a note, either of these shirts could get removed by the website within 24 hours due to potential copyright violations, so you may only have tonight to buy em. So don't blame me if they're gone when you come back tomorrow! Buying mine right now!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE SHOP

UPDATE — The shirt on the left has been removed, so you missed your chance to get that. The shirt on the right, though, is still kickin'.
  

Bookie Tip: UConn vs. Providence, 7 PM

Riding high off that W last night, I feel pretty confident that the Huskies will pull through tonight. I put the house on this game, they have the Huskies at (-5). They are too good to continue to lose. Coming off a tough one with 'Cuse I see this game going in their favor. Plus Shabazz Napier lit a fire under the team's ass which seems to have brought up their level of play.

PS — Providence has sucked ever since Ryan Gomes left.

The Pick: UConn (-5)
 

Tweet of the Day — BenJarvus Green-Ellis

BenJarvus Green-Ellis (@TheLawFirmBJGE) ended up tweeting a few minutes later that he settled for Corn Pops, but this is unacceptable. First class organization like the Patriots, and we can't even ensure a constant supply of Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the offseason? That's when you know it's bad.

 

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Version 1.0

I'm Jack City, I'll be writing some NFL posts here for Chowdah. Here's my first go-around at an NFL first round mock draft, with modifications to come as the date draws closer. This is my first version of my draft with in-depth analysis on who's projected where and why they're in those spots.

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck/QB, Stanford
With an aging Peyton Manning, this pick becomes the most obvious in the draft as the Colts look for Peyton’s successor. The big question that arises is what the Colts do with Peyton, as it seemingly has become not feasible to keep both Luck and Manning. Look for the Colts to explore their options with dealing Peyton, which could be enticing to a team such as the Redskins, whose fans have grown restless due to the lack of production at the quarterback position. One thing needs to be said — they cannot go another year with Rex Grossman under center. It just can’t happen.

2. St. Louis Rams: TRADE to Cleveland Browns: Robert Griffin III/QB, Baylor
Trade alert. I think this trade makes lots of sense for the Rams to trade down to the No. 4 pick. They're trying to find weapons to put around franchise quarterback and former No. 1 pick Sam Bradford, and Justin Blackmon or Matt Kalil will still be available at that fourth pick. I believe that Robert Griffin’s stock will rise to the No. 2 spot, as skill positions such as a quarterback are valued highly in drafts. The Colt McCoy era ends in Cleveland, even though I am not sold on riding a quarterback off until he has the essential weapons around him, which McCoy never got. Thoughts go off in my head about Tim Couch, the last busted QB the Browns tried to draft high, but Griffin III seems to have a can’t miss arm and mobility — you saw what Cam Newton did this year with those same attributes. Those should translate over nicely in the NFL.

Who Said Boston College's Luke Kuechly Wasn't Big Enough, Fast Enough, Strong Enough?

Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly was a ball-hawking tackling machine during his three seasons as an Eagle. In his junior season last fall, he smashed his own school record for tackles in a season by racking up 191 of them. That total helped him break the ACC record for tackles in a career, etching a final tally of 532 into the books. His stellar season helped him reap several awards, including the highly renowned Butkus Award for being the best linebacker in college football.

Despite all of these accolades, NFL scouts have maintained their doubts about Kuechly's size, speed and strength in his move from the college scene to the NFL.

After Kuechly's eye-popping performance at the NFL Combine on Monday, however, many of the critics are starting to eat their own words.

Everyone knows that the former BC Eagle has an uncanny nose for the ball and an astronomical football IQ. His athleticism, though, was on full display during his combine workouts. In fact, Kuechly proved to be one of the most athletic among the linebackers — and all positions, for that matter — present at the 2012 combine.

After many emphasized the disadvantages of his small stature, Kuechly measured in at 6'3" and an impressive 242 pounds, showing that he has bulked up since the end of the college football season.

In the 40-yard dash, Kuechly ran a blistering 4.58 time, slating him third among linebackers.

On the bench press, he performed 27 reps — a very impressive number for a guy who was deemed to lack strength and muscle. His total placed him sixth among linebackers.

Kuechly's vertical jump notched a height of 38 inches, good for third-best among linebackers.

His broad jump distance of 10 feet, three inches ranked him fifth among his fellow linebackers.

His time for the three-cone drill (6.92 seconds) placed him fourth among linebackers, his 20-yard shuttle time (4.12 seconds) ranked him third, and he notched the best time among all linebackers in the 60-yard shuttle (11.43 seconds).

Pretty good for a kid who lacks athleticism.

For the local fans here at Boston College and throughout New England, there was never much doubt that Kuechly would translate to the NFL level. We've seen him play, we've seen his commitment, and we've seen his instincts in action. For some of us at the Heights, we've even seen his study habits and his profanity-free language choices. As Boston College coach Frank Spaziani and the rest of the Eagles refer to him, he's "Superboy."

The combine spread that same belief around the nation. After his impressive performance on Monday, it's a certainty that Kuechly will be drafted in the first round. I'd be stunned if he isn't gone by the 15th selection (Philadelphia). He might even go at No. 11 to the Kansas City Chiefs or No. 13 to the Arizona Cardinals. I suppose he could go to anyone — who wouldn't want Superboy?

There's one thing that I've been sure of for a while — and others are becoming convinced of it this week — Luke Kuechly is going to be a very good inside linebacker in the National Football League.

I look forward to purchasing his jersey... unless it's one of those teams from New York.

Gambling Tip: Hoyas vs. Fighting Irish, 7 PM

My name is Bobby Booze and I'm the gambling writer for Chowdah. I'll give you the gambling tips to win you some some beer money for the week. Here's my first one.

Tonight I like the Hoyas against Notre Dame, it’s not just because I go to BC. Trust Me. Notre Dame is coming off a loss to St. Johns who is having a rough season and G-Town is looking to keep up where they left off against Nova last week. ND is 5-8 against the spread on the road, so I like the odds.

PS. Hollis Thompson has a silky ass Jimmy.

The Pick: G-Town (-6)
  

Bruins Add Rolston, Zanon as Deadline Passes

Bruins fans anxiously waited throughout the day today to hear what kind of trade general manager Peter Chiarelli would swing in an effort to make his team more poised for a Stanley Cup run. Just as the 3 p.m. ET deadline struck, Boston hammered out two deals in quick succession to provide the depth that they were likely seeking.

First, the Bruins shipped prospects Yannick Riendeau and Marc Cantin to the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau.

Rolston is the biggest piece in the trade, while it is likely that Mottau never sees the ice for the black and gold. Rolston — who turned 39 last week — spent several seasons with the Bruins earlier in his career, but is well over the hill when it comes to production on the ice. He will look to be a depth player for the Bruins, and he likely won't figure into the lineup if/when Boston returns to full health.

A few minutes after completing that deal, the Bruins completed what is being reported as a one-for-one swap with the Minnesota Wild. The B's send young defenseman Steven Kampfer to the Wild in exchange for veteran defenseman Greg Zanon. Zanon is known as a shot-blocking defenseman and has finished near the top of the NHL each of the past few seasons in that category. He has blocked 104 shots this season, which now ranks him second on the Bruins roster behind Dennis Seidenberg.

The real question — how did Boston do this deadline? I mentioned yesterday that I wasn't expecting a big name to be brought in, but that Peter Chiarelli could still make a move. And I expected him to. With Johnny Boychuk now concussed and Rich Peverley and Nathan Horton still out of the lineup, the Bruins needed some depth on both the forward and defensive fronts.

Zanon brings a lot more to the table than Kampfer, and for that reason, I love the trade with Minnesota. Kampfer is a defensive liability, and he is not the type of player Boston needs to step into the defensive rotation when one of their six defensemen goes down. On top of that, the Bruins have several young defensemen in their minor league system that will be breaking onto the NHL scene int he next few years. Kampfer is expendable. Zanon, on the other hand, is a strong defensive defenseman who can be counted on to step up when needed. In addition, he may create some healthy competition along the blue line with Joe Corvo playing poorly of late.

As for Rolston, don't expect him to bring a ton of spark. Still, he is a veteran who has been in the league for a long time. He's the type of player you would prefer to place next to young guys on a temporary third line — Caron, Hennessy and Camper, for example, is a line far too inexperienced to succeed.

Boston's objective will still be to get healthy by the playoffs and get everyone playing up to their potential. As much as anyone may like these deadline moves, there is a chance that none of these acquired players will be a part of the playoff equation if Boychuk, Peverley and Horton all return.

Until that time, it will be up to Brian Rolston and Greg Zanon to find their spot in the Bruins locker room and prepare themselves for what may be a rigorous journey over the next few months.

Tweet of the Day — NHL Trade Deadline

Tweet of the Day is a segment that I'll be throwing up every day, as long as there is an interesting tweet on my timeline. I constructed a list on Twitter full of all the athletes, celebrities and other public figures that I follow. You know, the people you would actually be interested in reading tweets from. Unlike me (@SirDRob) or Beantown Chowder (@BeantownChowder).

Normally I'll pick stupid, funny, obnoxious or outrageous types of tweets from athletes who either can't spell, can't formulate words, or are too goofy to be taken seriously whatsoever. But today, I'm going with this John Buccigross (@Buccigross) tweet in honor of the NHL trade deadline. The clock is rapidly ticking down to 3 p.m. ET, when the final latch is closed on the trade market for the 2011-12 NHL season.

Buccigross has a good point here. Where have teams' balls gone? Grow some stones or show em if you got em, right? No one ever won anything by being mediocre. A lot of people may have questioned the Bruins sending away one of their better prospects last deadline in Joe Colborne. But let's face the music. Colborne wasn't becoming what we hoped he would. Instead of hanging on to a false sense of hope, we send him away. We send away Blake Wheeler — fine, he wasn't a huge hit in Boston. But a lot of people questioned the decision to get rid of Mark Stuart, a fan-favorite who played a solid role in our team defense. A prototypical Bruin. Taking those chances, however, brought home the first Stanley Cup that Boston has seen in 39 years.

I'm not saying the Bruins should mortgage their future to land a Rick Nash type of player. In fact, I already expressed my thoughts that I don't believe they will do that. They might land a smaller-name — and I do expect a minor deal to be made of some sort — but I'm not expecting the big fish to be reeled in. No major shake-ups.

But as an NHL fan — teams around the league should grow some stones. Why aren't the Leafs getting Rick Nash? Why aren't the Rangers or Sharks making the push to get to the next level and achieve the elite status that might lead to a Cup at long last? Why are teams so scared to part ways with their pieces? If you didn't win the Cup last year, then your team can be improved. Better yet, any team can always be improved. Let's see some action!

As Deadline Approaches, Where Do Bruins Stand?

At 3 p.m. ET on Monday afternoon, the NHL trade deadline will have finally arrived and teams around the league will have either missed or taken advantage of their final shot to land a player that will improve their chances. A week ago, most Bruins fans would have considered it imperative that the team land a big name. What does the scene look like now after the B's gathered seven points on a six-game road swing?

There are plenty of names on the market this year. Yesterday, Rick Nash's agent threw a wrench into the mix when he stated that he hopes for a trade before the deadline. Dustin Brown of the LA Kings was rumored to be a hot commodity — and one that Boston was interested in, as well — but several reports have said he is no longer available. Tuomo Ruutu was taken out of the field when Carolina signed him to a new deal, but players like Ray Whitney, Shane Doan and even Jerome Iginla may still be on the block. Will any of them be donning black and gold by the end of the week?

In short, my knee-jerk reaction to that question is a negative. Peter Chiarelli has been very careful to make sure his team chemistry is exactly what he wants, and he has never really overpaid for a huge name at the deadline. The closest thing would be going out and getting Tomas Kaberle last season — and although we won the cup, Bruins fans would likely agree that Kaberle didn't exactly work out as planned.

Right now, despite their relatively successful road trip, the Bruins roster is not good enough to compete for another championship. The reason, of course, is the absence of both Nathan Horton and Rich Peverley. This team cannot win consistently with Carter Camper, Jordan Caron and Josh Hennessy playing regular shifts. Getting healthy will be the biggest obstacle, and that is the viewpoint the front office likely holds, as well.

A trade would probably make their team more formidable right now. But to Cam Neely, Peter Chiarelli and company, their team is exactly what they want come playoff time if their injured players can recover by then. Rich Peverley is expected back before the playoffs. Shawn Thornton missed Saturday's game against Ottawa, but his injury shouldn't keep him out long. The real question lies in the concussion situation that Nathan Horton is currently fighting.

Even when Peverley comes back, are the Bruins a tad shy of where they need to be as long as Horton is sidelined? After all, this is the guy who buried a Game 5 double-overtime winner and a Game 7 overtime winner against Montreal last season, only to follow it up with a late-third period Game 7 winner against Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference Finals. Needless to say, he brings an element of clutch play and timely scoring that the Bruins will need in the months of May and June. And on top of all of that, he is the piece that makes fellow linemates David Krejci and Milan Lucic really click.

When you think about it that way, the B's may be better served to go out and get a replacement for Horton. Peter Chiarelli has voiced those ideas already and mentioned that it was a possibility. But when it comes down to it, the Bruins' management group will be very careful when it comes to removing current pieces of the puzzle.

This is a team that won the Stanley Cup last June. You can be sure that Chiarelli won't go breaking up the core members of that group as a last-ditch effort to improve.

Just remember — they still are pretty damn good.

Welcome to Beantown Chowder

Ladies and gentlemen, the show has returned. Some of you likely remember the days of Ultimate Boston and the memories that came with those times. Our readership wasn't all that big, but we had a good group of faithful readers who interacted and sparked some interesting conversation. This time around, we're hoping to grow a little bit further.

It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight. But we love the blogging game nonetheless, and we live and die by the Boston sports scene. It won't be all sports analysis all the time, though. We will be looking into some ways to get new, creative segments that can be featured on somewhat of a regular basis. Remember Who Dat? and Cage Fight posts? Those creative types of things with a touch of humor should be coming back around. For those of you who gamble, we have our sports gambling specialist — Bobby Booze is the name — who will drop the tips for you to bring in the cash. The kid won three hundo last summer, including a victory on Keegan Bradley in the US Open. Who the hell bets on one guy to win a golf tournament from the start? Bobby Booze does.

You'll get all of this and more. My name is DRob, and I'm the creator and founder of the site. I may be the one who writes a majority of the posts, but my fellow writers will be contributors, too. Average Joe was a member of the Ultimate Boston team, and he will be on board for Beantown Chowder as well. We might be interested in adding some more writers, so make sure you visit the Become a Writer application. Give us something unique — a reason why you're worth a shot.

Let's get this party started. You can visit the Chowdah Shop through the link at the top of the page. The shop is the same as the old Ultimate store, but we will add more new products in the future. I'm looking forward to kick-starting blogging career part two.