Author: fasted86

Trivia #2 answer: Kansas

Briefly.

You do realize that daylight savings is ridiculous, right?

Trivia #1: Who was Christopher Pallies?

Trivia #2: From February 3, 2001 through February 25, 2019, which school has been ranked in the AP poll (men’s college hoops) for 199 consecutive pools? No multiple choice!

Is it me or is Zdeno Chara’s stick 9 feet long?

Last Saturday night the Bruins and Devils played nearly 7 ½ minutes without a stoppage in play. DYK the longest such stretch in the NHL is 14:24 and it came just after the first 39 seconds of the game? Capitals/Penguins Mar 11, 2011.

How about a good story? Sisters Caroline (5) and Leia (8) of Humboldt county in northern California were told “no” when they told their mother they wanted to go for a walk. They then disappeared and were found 44 hours later in the woods in what was described as “rugged terrain with extreme conditions.” The girls reportedly were dehydrated, cold, but well. It was also reported that survival training the girls got with their local 4-H club helped keep them “safe and sound.”

No sweat! 6-6, 260-pound edge rusher out of Mississippi State, Montez Sweat, ran a 4.41 in 40 at the NFL Combine on Sunday. His time would have been eighth-best among all wide receivers at this year’s combine and only one running back ran faster.

In 2017, Bud Light led all other beers in US sales at $5,658,343,137. In a distance second was Coors Light at $2,362,787,374. Leading non-light beers was Budweiser at $1,969,795,178. Here comes the king, here comes the big #1.

Trivia question #2 hint: It’s not U Maine.

Headline of the week: “Billionaire diamond trader dies during penis enhancement procedure”

I just really do not know what to say about the Jekyll and Hyde Celtics.

“Hey, watch this!” – A Texas man died after he injured himself while reportedly sliding down an apartment stairwell while helping a friend move.

So the Sox’ Steven Wright denies purposely taking PEDs? Ya, and I think he denied beating his wife a couple of years ago. Get rid of the bum!

Speaking of Steven Wright… I have a microwave fireplace. I can sit in front of the fire all night long in eight minutes!

Southern California’s Santa Anita Park postponed horse racing indefinitely Tuesday so experts could study its dirt surface following the deaths of 21 horses since the Arcadia CA., track’s winter meet began Dec. 26.

You have to wonder about the thought process of some. An Air Force major’s wife went missing on Friday, March 1^st. After a search of his home police found an ax, shovel, heavy duty trash bags, two five-gallon jugs of gasoline and a portable burn barrel, all purchased the day after the wife went missing. The torn up receipt was also found in the home. Dude!

If you can do anything in life, be kind, be respectful. Both will get you places in life. (at least that’s what someone told me…)

R.I.P. – King Kong Bundy (61) , former WWE legend

Cheap plug: If you’re really bored this weekend, hop online and bid on something – qtego.net/qlink/bgc2019annualcelebration

Trivia #1 answer: Who was Christopher Pallies? – King Kong Bundy

Trivia #2 answer: From February 3, 2001 through February 25, 2019, which school has been ranked in the AP poll (men’s college hoops) for 199 consecutive polls? No multiple choice!

“When I get off of this mountain, you know where I want to go?
Straight down the Mississippi River, to the Gulf of Mexico
To Lake Charles Louisiana, little Bessie, girl that I once knew
She told me just to come by, if there’s anything she could do”

Briefly. 

Trivia #1: What was the first television show to be captioned for deaf viewers? – The Mary Tyler Moore Show, M*A*S*H, The French Chef, All in the Family, The Lawrence Welk Show?

Trivia #2: Dwayne Wade hit a buzzer beater to beat the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Combined, how many career, game-ending buzzer beaters do the Warriors’ Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have?

Trivia #3: What is the nickname of Edinboro University (Edinboro, Pennsylvania)? 

First discovered by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1858, Wallace’s giant bee – or Megachile pluto – is as long as a human thumb and has a 2 ½ inch wingspan (nearly 4 times the size of a European honey bee). On January 25, one was sighted in Indonesia for the first time in 38 years. 

Charlie Coyle, good for him! Last week he was traded to his hometown team, the Bruins. A lifelong dream of his. 

Speaking of the Bruins, great win last night, completely shutting down the best offense in hockey. Can they do it in a 7-game series? I don’t know but I hope so! 

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. 

A complaint was filed with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association against former Green Bay Packers coach, Mike McCarthy. McCarthy launched into a “verbal tirade” against a high school basketball referee this week after his stepson’s team lost by one point, according to the report. Dude. 

The temperature did not reach 70 degrees in downtown Los Angeles for all of February for the first time in 132 years. 

I know you have been wondering so… Hanley Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Indians. DYK that a report surfaced in June 2018 that Ramirez was in some way connected to a federal and state investigation involving a drug ring operating out of Lawrence, MA. He was unexpectedly released by the Red Sox just a few weeks earlier.

CC Sabathia. Another one announcing his retirement at this coming season’s end. Get ready for yet another farewell tour. Please, honor me in my last series in your ballpark. Shower me with gifts. Tell me I’m great. What a buffoon. 

So I have always thought the word “buffoon” to be attributed to a male. I don’t know, just me. Is there a female equivalent of a buffoon? 

DOH! The team manager for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania men’s basketball team forgot to pack the uniforms for the Crimson Hawks Athletic Conference Western Division title game. Host Edinboro University lent the team their old uniforms before losing to them 87-59.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: A University of Wisconsin fraternity was suspended by the school after pledges were forced to wear ‘Dora the Explorer’ backpacks because the requirement is equivalent to hazing.

This week’s sign of the apocalypse, part deux: A vegan bride made the decision to disinvite any wedding guest who did not adopt a vegan lifestyle permanently. The disinvited guests included her mother and two cousins, who were set to be bridesmaids. The bride wrote “…some family members were told they are not invited to my wedding because we don’t want to host murderers.” 

From 8:30am last Thursday til 3:00am on Friday, the city of Baltimore saw 14 shootings, 5 of them fatal. 

Belated R.I.P. to Boston Globe beat writer Nick Cafardo (62) – Nick dropped dead from an embolism outside of the Red Sox clubhouse in Ft. Myers. There are some great reads out there of what a great guy (and writer )he was. Another one, too early. 

Trivia #1 answer: What was the first television show to be captioned for deaf viewers? – The Mary Tyler Moore show, M*A*S*H, The French Chef, All in the Family, The Lawrence Welk Show? – The French Chef

Trivia #2 answer: Dwayne Wade hit a buzzer beater to beat the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Combined, how many game-ending buzzer beaters do the Warriors’ Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have?  – Zero

Trivia #3 answer: What is the nickname of Edinboro University (Edinboro, Pennsylvania)? – The Fighting Scots 

“Maybe I’ll be there to shake your hand
Maybe I’ll be there to share the land
That they’ll be giving away
When we all live together, talkin’ ‘bout together , now”

Briefly. 

February. It’s the shortest month but often seems like the longest. (especially to us northern folks) 

Trivia #1: In 1975, the Red Sox’ Jim Rice finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting and third in the MVP voting. The Sox’ Fred Lynn won both. Who came in second in the MVP voting?

Trivia #2: How did  the “Teddy Bear” get its name?

Trivia #3: Who was the only president to be a bachelor his whole life? Grover Cleveland, James Polk, Calvin Coolidge, James Buchanan, Richard Sprague? 

Where have all the “Bobs” gone in MLB? Over the last 20 years, there have been only five Bobs to debut in the big leagues, and none since 2008. Of the more than 19,400 players in MLB history, 561 (2.9%) have had the given name Robert, and more than half of those have officially gone by ‘Bob.’ It appears that sometime during the 1970’s, Robs began appearing. There are dozens and dozens Robs, Robbys and Bobbys currently in the minors but no Bobs (zero) to be found. 

Throw-in trivia: Who was the first Major Leaguer to go by the name ‘Rob?’ 

Great Celtics game last night, tough loss. Hey Kyrie, tuck in your shirt! God, I hate that!

Did you see Duke’s Zion Williamson go down on Wednesday night? Mild knee sprain but what was strange was that his foot blew right through the bottom of his sneaker. What a black eye for Nike! (Nike stock didn’t take the hit people thought it would dropping a mere 1% yesterday on a day where the Dow lost .5%) 

If a thin layer of ice covered the pavement and the pavement was painted red, would it be black ice or red ice? 

Alex Chu, a freshman lacrosse player from Wheaton College, is six feet tall, 265 lbs. and has a head circumference of above 25 inches. His problem? There is no helmet that fits him so he can’t play. Ya, I know a few guys like that. 

Two backcountry skiers were killed in an avalanche last Saturday in Colorado in an area known as “Death Pass.” The Colorado Avalanche Information Center had issued a special avalanche advisory on Twitter for parts of the region due to “several powerful storms” impacting Colorado through the weekend. In the past decade, the agency has said that February has been the most dangerous month for avalanches in the state. OK, backcountry skiers are a rare breed, I get it but “avalanche advisory”, “most dangerous month” and “Death Pass?” Ya, I ain’t going. 

Trivia #1 hint: He played for the Kansas City Royals.

Throw-in trivia hint: The left-hander debuted in 1965 

Northeastern, so? The Sox start today. 

The locals here know of a hockey rink in Lawrence, in the heart of the Merrimack Valley, called the ‘Valley Forum.’ I was thinking, what a great name for the hockey rink. 

In a related story. 60 Minutes. What a lazy name for a television program. That guy should have been fired. 

While I do like the yellow first down line in football, I think the red streak tracking a golf ball is even better. 

I saw a list of the 25 greatest voices in rock ‘n roll history. The Who’s Roger Daltry was not listed. I immediately dismissed the entire list. 

The new football league, the AAF, airs on the NFL Network. Go figure! 

Trivia #1 answer: In 1975, the Red Sox’ Jim Rice finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting and third in the MVP voting. The Sox’ Fred Lynn won both. Who came in second in the MVP voting? – Kansas City’s John Mayberry

Trivia #2 answer: How did  the “Teddy Bear” get its name? Theodore Roosevelt in 1903

Trivia #3 answer: Who was the only president to be a bachelor his whole life? Grover Cleveland, James Polk, Calvin Coolidge, James Buchanan, Richard Sprague? – James Buchanan

Throw-in trivia answer: Who was the first Major Leaguer to go by the name ‘Rob?’ – Richard Frank “Rob” Gardner 

“So I’m sailing for tomorrow my dreams are a dyin’
And my love is anchor tied to you with a silver chain
I have my ship and all her flags are a flyin’
She is all I have left and music is her name”

Briefly. 

Trivia #1: Who was the first goalie to shoot and score a goal? Ron Hextall, Martin Brodeur, Curtis Joseph, Patrick Roy, Kip Manseau, Bernie Parent

Trivia #2: Who played on five different MLB teams, coached three different MLB teams as well as in Japan and currently serves as the Athletic Director at Sacred Heart University?

Trivia #3: What former MLB player once threw 250 pitches in 17 innings of the quarterfinals of the 1998 summer high school baseball tournament, one day after a 148-pitch complete-game shutout?

Trivia #4: This weekend’s Genesis Open has had previous names in the past. Which of these was not one of them? – Nissan Open, Pacific Open, Los Angeles Open, Nissan Open?

4 trivia questions! Again?! 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Major League Baseball has decided to rename the disabled list as the “injured list” out of concern that the term “disabled” for injured players falsely conflates disabilities with injuries and an inability to participate in sports. 

For the first time in American history, one of the leading causes of deaths – vehicle crash – has been supplanted by opioid overdoses. According to a new report from the National Safety Council, Americans are more likely to die from a drug overdose than they are to die in a car crash. 

So on Tuesday the Celtics, without Kyrie and fresh on back-to-back pathetic outings, beat the red-hot Sixers. Meanwhile, the same day they announce top offensive player David Pastrnak will be out for at least a couple of weeks, the Bruins end the Blackhawks winning streak. Go figure! 

Quote of the week: “I always wanted to go to Switzerland and see what the army does with those wee red knives.” – Billy Connolly 

Who is Nick GIlder? 

2020 Tokyo Olympic medals will be made of recycled materials. Organizers said in a statement on Feb 8 that they expect to collect enough obsolete electronic devices (discarded smartphones, digital cameras and other obsolete handheld games and laptops) by the end of March to reach the amount that will be required to manufacture all Olympic and Paralympic medals. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, you’re doing it wrong. Hooters has announced that its annual “Shred Your Ex” promotion is back, during which customers can destroy a photo of an ex in exchange for 10 free boneless wings – with the purchase of any 10 wings – to enjoy at a participating Hooters location on Feb 14^th. (sorry to be late with the news… hope you enjoyed!) 

Trivia question #2 hint: He once coached the Red Sox.
Trivia question #3 hint: He once pitched for the Red Sox. 

Unsigned reliever Craig Kimbrel might not get everyone’s love and he did have some shaky appearances last season but DYK he has averaged 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings, has been an all-star in seven of eight full seasons and his 91% career save percentage is superior to Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. 

Headline of the week: “Fitness model bit by pig.” – I’m sure the guy resents that remark. 

Trivia #1 answer: Who was the first goalie to shoot and score a goal? Ron Hextall, Martin Brodeur, Curtis Joseph, Patrick Roy, Kip Manseau, Bernie Parent – Ron Hextall

Trivia #2 answer: Who played on five different MLB teams, coached three different MLB teams as well as in Japan and currently serves as the Athletic Director at Sacred Heart University? – Robert “Bobby V” Valentine (“Valentine” – come on, try to keep up)

Trivia #3 answer: What former MLB player once threw 250 pitches in 17 innings of the quarterfinals of the 1998 summer high school baseball tournament, one day after a 148-pitch complete-game shutout? – Daisuke “Dice-K” Matsuzaka

Trivia #4 answer: This weekend’s Genesis Open had previous names in the past. Which of these was not one of them? – Nissan Open, Pacific Open, Los Angeles Open, Nissan Open? – Pacific Open 

“Danger in the shape of somethin’ wild
Stranger dressed in black, she’s a hungry child
No one knows who she is or what her name is
I don’t know where she came from or what her game is

Hot child in the city

Hot child in the city

Runnin’ wild and lookin’ pretty
Hot child in the city” 

(by Nick Gilder) 

That’s all I got…

Briefly. (hmmm) 

Trivia: Who are the top five in games played by a pitcher in a Red sox uniform? 

After the Bruins and Celtics each won on Sunday afternoon was there any question that the Patriots would win? 

Also on Sunday, Mookie Betts won Chris Paul’s 2019 CP3 Celebrity Invitational (bowling). 

If Sports Illustrated can get away with giving the “Sportsman of the Year” award to the Golden State Warriors, I say give the Super Bowl MVP to the Pats “D”. 

Speaking of the Patriots’ defense, it will be debated forever. Has it been Brady, Belichick or both of them for the past 18 years? 

Check the numbers – Punting yardage 417, offensive yardage 260, punts 9, third down conversions 3. 

The Patriots allowed a total of 122 rushing yards in their three playoff games. 

Super Bowl? What Super Bowl, say those in New Orleans. Now, we all know March 14 (3-14) is PI Day. New Orleans has added a new event to their calendar. January 20 will now be known as “No-PI Day.” (you may have to think about that for a minute) 

Not only do the Super Bowl winners get more money this year than last, $180,000 which is up $6,000 from last year, but they get more of it in their pockets due to the fact that Georgia has a lower tax rate than last year’s location, Minnesota. 

Going out on top, you’re doing it wrong. 17 seconds into the final run of her career, Lindsey Vonn (babe) crashed during the final event of her Super-G career on Tuesday at the world championships in Sweden. 

You have to make a deposit in order to make a withdrawal. 

The Sox’ equipment trucks headed south on Monday. In a related story, we turn the clocks ahead in four weeks. 

Tuukka is now the winningest goalie in Bruins’ franchise history (252). Speaking of Bruins franchise history, Patrice Bergeron became just the 5^th player to play in his 1,000^th game with the Bruins. That’s a lotta chowdah! 

The Virginia Tech Men’s basketball team beat North Caroline State on Saturday by a score of 47-24. The 24 po1nts was the lowest by a D1 team in the shot clock era. Meanwhile, The University of Virginia now has 9 games allowing fewer than 60 points, tops in D1. 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Two sisters, Anna and Lucy DeCinque, self-described as “the world’s most identical twins” aim to get pregnant by their shared boyfriend and, if the law would allow it, marry him. Lucky guy? I’m not so sure… 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse, part deux: a 27-year old Indian man, Raphael Samuel, announced via social media that he is going to sue his parents, claiming he didn’t give his explicit consent to bring him into the world. He is a follower of antinatalism, an ideology that believes it is morally wrong for people to procreate and takes a nihilistic approach towards human life, saying that humanity brings only suffering. Oh, by the way, both his parents are lawyers. 

Trivia answer: Who are the top five in games played by a pitcher in a Red sox uniform? Bob Stanley (637), Tim Wakefield (590), Jonathan Papelbon (396), Mike Timlin (394), Derek Lowe (384) – Roger Clemens had 383. 

R.I.P. Frank Robinson (83) – MLB’s first African-American manager, Rookie of the Year in 1956, the only player to win MVP in both the AL and NL and won the triple crown in 1966 with Baltimore. Robinson was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility and hit 586 homeruns (10^th all-time). DYK: Robinson has the captain of a high school state championship basketball team with Bill Russell in Oakland.

R.I.P. Henry A. Jaume, Sr (65) – Died Sunday at 1pm hours before the Super Bowl. Why the mention? He was an Army vet, police officer, native of New Orleans and a Saints fan. His obituary read “Determined not to watch Super Bowl LIII”

“I wish that I could fly
Into the sky
So very high
Just like a dragonfly
I’d fly above the trees
Over the seas
In all degrees
To anywhere I please

I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah, yeah, yeah”

Briefly. 

A new personal best: Consecutive days alive! Let’s all enjoy! 

Trivia #1: Which team scored a record 35 points in one quarter in a Super Bowl? Washington, Dallas, San Francisco, LA Rams, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Oakland

Trivia #2: Name the two AFC players and four NFC players who won Offensive Player of the Week honors twice this past regular season. (no one won it three times)

Trivia #3: What city has hosted the Super Bowl the most times?

Trivia #4: Who was the first quarterback to throw for 400+ yards in a Super Bowl? Roger Staubach, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Kenny Stabler 

DYK: At every Super Bowl, two Lombardi trophies are present in the unfortunate event that one is accidentally destroyed in the celebrations.
DYK: Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest U.S. food consumption day, following Thanksgiving.
DYK: With all their recent championships, Bill Belichick and Nick Saban have never won it all in the same year. 

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” reads the unofficial motto of the US Postal Service. However, this past Wednesday, the USPS suspended service in some areas including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and parts of Illinois because of “extreme weather conditions” as the polar vortex rolled through. 

Did you see any of the Pro Bowl? They don’t tackle! It’s like two-hand touch. Pathetic.

You don’t like the numbers you got in the pool? Remember, the Pats beat Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII by a score of 32-29. 

You may have heard this but the entire Rams team have a total of 5 years Super Bowl experience. Tom Brady has 8. 

Two big changes coming to Tampa’s Tropicana Field this baseball season. First, it will become the first cash-free sports venue in North America. Accepted payment methods will be credit cards, mobile pay and Rays gift cards. It is intended to cut transaction times in half at concession stands, team stores, etc. Also, another change to the ballpark experience is the elimination of more than 5,000 seats from the upper deck. The intent here is to create a more “intimate” experience for the fans. Capacity will be at 25,000-26,000 seats, 10,000 fewer than any other MLB stadium. You watch, they still won’t sellout. 

So Pats fans have a “been there, done that” attitude, eh? 35,000 fans showed up in Foxboro in relatively cold weather to send the team off. I understand in LA about 11 fans did the same for their team. 

Someone told me it takes five sheep to make one sweater. I didn’t even know they could crochet! 

I wouldn’t want to be a Saints fan, I get that.  But really, they have no argument, other than that the referees involved should be fired (executed?). It wasn’t even the last play of the game and there was no guarantee the call would have led to a win.

Quote of the week: “It is not how old you are, but how you are old. “ – Jules Renard 

Trivia #1 answer: Which team scored a record 35 points in one Super Bowl quarter? Washington, Dallas, San Francisco, LA Rams, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Oakland – Washington in SB XXII

Trivia #2 answer: Name the 2 AFC players and 4 NFC players who won Offensive Player of the Week honors twice this past regular season. (no one won it three times) – AFC: Patrick Mahomes, Ben Roethlisberger – NFC: Todd Gurley, Drew Brees, Amari Cooper, Ryan Fitzpatrick

Trivia #3 answer: What city has hosted the Super Bowl the most times? Tie – Miami and New Orleans 10x each

Trivia #4 answer: Who was the first quarterback to throw for 400+ yards in a Super Bowl? Kurt Warner (414 in 2000) 

In case I don’t see you tomorrow, “Happy Groundhog Day!” 

“I’m Mister White Christmas, I’m Mister Snow.
I’m Mister Icicle, I’m Mister Ten Below.
Friends call me Snow Miser, whatever I touch,
turns to snow in my clutch.
I’m too much.”

Briefly. 

Roy Halladay, recently voted into the MLB HOF, will have a logo-less baseball cap on his plaque. Halladay, killed in a plane crash in 2017, played 12 seasons with Toronto and 4 with the Phillies though with the Phillies threw a postseason no-hitter, just the second time that has been done and a perfect game. Roy’s widow announced the family’s decision. My take? Bitch! DYK: Halladay himself said in a 2016 visit to Toronto that he would go in as a member of the Blue Jays. Honor the guy’s wishes! 

Trivia #1: Which team’s logo did each of these players go into the MLB Hall of Fame with? Mike Piazza (Dodgers or Mets), Randy Johnson (Mariners or Diamondbacks), Greg Maddux (Cubs or Braves), Andre Dawson (Expos or Cubs) 

I know, I know, it’s Super Bowl season. BTW, I can’t wait for Sunday! What? The Super Bowl isn’t until a week from Sunday? Damn! 

Trivia #2: Who holds the record for most career Super Bowl fumbles? John Elway, Roger Staubach, Chuck Foreman, Jim Kelly, Fran Tarkenton, Tom Brady? 

Really, how can you root for Rams’ coach McVay with that haircut? 

How about the Rams’ Greg Zuerlein’s 92-yard game winning field goal. Right down the middle. 

Tony Romo. Too bad you couldn’t play football as well as you can analyze football. Question? Does he stay in the booth or get a coaching gig? 

The New England Revolution signed Justin Rennicks as a homegrown player. What da heck does that mean? 

I’m sure, somewhere along the way, I’ve mentioned Steve Gleason, former New Orleans’ Saints player, and his battle with ALS. On the night the New Orleans Superdome reopened after hurricane Katrina, it was Gleason who blocked a punt for the Saints and brought the house down. Fox did a nice piece on him last Sunday. Diagnosed in 2011, Gleason has helped raise millions of dollars in the fight against ALS. Last year he became the first NFL player to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. 

So the word is out that Greg Shiano is going to be the next defensive coordinator of the Pats. That tells me that Belichick just flat out loves the guy as is because I don’t see him taking time out during the playoffs to do an interview. Gotta be a Rutgers thing.

If you recall, I featured Foreigner’s “Cold as Ice” last week. If you recall, when CBS was going to a commercial break early in Sunday’s Pats/Chiefs game, what did we hear??? 

Quote of the week: “We want the ball!” – Matthew Slater 

You golf aficionados probably know but, aside from the new LPGA rules allowing players to leave the stick in while putting and the new requirement to drop balls from knee height, DYK many players are arguing that the biggest rule is “no lining up.” Rule 10.2(b)4 prohibits caddies from standing behind the golfer once the player has begun to address their ball in preparation of taking a stroke.

I eat fresh blueberries. I like ‘em. On the container for this particular brand the label reads “the berry that cares.” What da heck does that mean?! 

I have a week to change this but for now – Pats 33, Rams 20 – games ends with a pick-6. 

R.I.P. Maryann Rorke (78) – my aunt, as beautiful a person as there was.

R.I.P. Larry “LP” Panaro (92) – one of the greatest!

R.I.P. Dennis Duval (55), HHS Class of ’81. Too young, too young 

Trivia #1: Which team’s logo did each of these players go into the MLB Hall of Fame with? Mike Piazza (Dodgers, Mets), Randy Johnson (Mariners, Diamondbacks), Greg Maddux (Cubs, Braves), Andre Dawson (Expos, Cubs) – Piazza – Mets, Johnson – Diamondbacks, Maddux – Cubs, Dawson – Expos

Trivia #2: Who holds the record for most career Super Bowl fumbles? John Elway, Roger Staubach, Chuck Foreman, Jim Kelly, Fran Tarkenton, Tom Brady? Roger Staubach (5) 

“Gonna hitch a ride
Head for the other side
Leave it all behind
Never change my mind
Gonna sail away
Sun lights another day
Freedom on my mind
Carry me away for the last time”

Briefly. (maybe I should change this??) 

Another Black Monday this past Monday as the Bruins lost, in OT, to the Frozen Evil Empire while the Celtics lost to the lowly Nets. Brutal.

Trivia #1: Name the two people the AFC and NFC Championship trophies are named after.

Trivia #2: Name the NFL franchise that submitted a name change to the NFL league offices but cancelled the change because of an abrupt newspaper headline? 

The Patriots used man coverage 51.6 percent of coverage snaps, tops in the NFL. Look for more zone coverage on Sunday. Classic Belichick. 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: Costco has sold out of the 26 lb. mac & cheese tub that has a 20-year shelf life. 

I know, one play does not make for a game however, Sean Payton’s call on the fake punt last Sunday did turn that game around. Ballsy, and it worked! 

I hope you enjoyed National Pizza Week this past week. 

Could this be the highest scoring championship weekend of all-time? 

The word “rooves”, though not standard, is acceptable as the plural of “roof.” However, “gooves” is not an acceptable word as the plural for “goof.” Two goofs are two goofs, period. 

Unranked Syracuse’s OT upset victory over #1 Duke was the Blue Devils first home loss as a #1 team to an opponent other than North Carolina. 

The most googled food in 2018 was Unicorn Cake. Really. White cake with rainbow sprinkles, topped with many dollops of buttercream. 

Going out a winner, you’re doing it wrong. 31-year old Andy Murray lost in the opening round of the Australian Open, his first opening round loss in a Glam Slam tournament in a decade. Earlier in the week Murray announced he would be retiring in 2019.

A report organized by EAT, a Swedish non-profit seeking to improve the food system, says that red meat is linked to increased health problems and consumption should be limited, but we knew that. They go on to say that producing red meat takes up land and feed to raise the cattle, which also emit the greenhouse gases. In layman’s terms, an overabundance of cow farts are bad for the environment. Eat more chicken! 

Just not right. A highly intoxicated customer went into a Waffle House in Lithonia, GA. He proceeded to pass out with his head on the counter. One employee placed salt, a slice of cheese and a squirt of ketchup on the back of the customer’s head, while the other was behind him propping his arms up like a puppet. Footage has since been removed from Instagram and both employees have been fired. 

In a related story, a KFC employee in Florida was arrested for battery and fired from her job after tossing a couple boxes of chicken and biscuits at a customer in the drive-thru. What’s wrong with these people? 

Now, back to Cody Parkey. Remember him? The Chicago Bears’ kicker who double-doinked a field goal that would have won the game over the Eagles? The Goose Island Beer Company in Chicago staged a challenge such that any fan who went down and kicked a 43-yard field goal would get free beer for one year. None of the 101 who tried made the field goal. Since no one won, the company decided to donate $20,000 to a charity of Parkey’s choosing. Nice. Search for the video (google.com). Classic. 

Few things in life are more useless than a 1^stquarter basketball score, a 7-day forecast (especially in New England) or how the stock market is doing at 11:00am on any given day. 

Quote of the week: “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. 

R.I.P. Mike Barry (67) – just a flat-out, good guy. What a smile he had! 

Trivia #1 answer: Name the two people the AFC and NFC Championship trophies are named after. – AFC – Lamar Hunt, founder and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and founder of the AFL; NFC – George Halas, longtime owner and coach of the Chicago Bears

Trivia #2 answer: Name the NFL franchise that submitted a name change to the NFL league offices but cancelled the change because of an abrupt newspaper headline? In 1970, the Patriots submitted the name “Bay State Patriots.” Press releases were sent out and the morning headline read: “BS Patriots to hire Bell as coach.” Shortly thereafter, the “New England Patriots” was submitted instead. 

“I’ve seen it before
It happens all the time
You’re closing the door
You leave the world behind

You’re digging for gold
Yet throwing away
A fortune in feelings
But someday you’ll pay”

Briefly. (kinda, not) 

In 2009, the Saints finished 13-3 with losses to the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Panthers. They then beat the Colts in the Super Bowl. In 2018, the Saints finished 13-3 and lost to those same three teams. Will we see a SB rematch with the Colts? 

Trivia #1: The Patriots are 10-1 following a first-round bye. Who was the only team to beat them?

Trivia #2: Antonio Brown led the NFL in receiving yards despite missing the final two games of the regular season. Who is the other player in the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in receiving yards despite missing two or more games? (tough one) 

Strava, the social network for athletes, has discovered that Saturday, January 12 (tomorrow) is the fateful day for New Year’s resolutions. According to the study, about 80 percent of people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions. So, are you there yet?? 

In all due respect to Scal, Tommy Heinsohn is back! Well, almost. During last Friday night’s Celtics broadcast, Mike Gorman and Scal got Heinsohn on the phone during the second quarter. Insightful as always, it was good to hear him again. 

Speaking of the Celtics, it was Black Thursday last night as both the Celtics’ and Bruins’ winning streaks came to a halt. 

So Chicago Bears’ kicker Cody Parkey’s missed field goal was tipped? Lucky for him though it may have been ruled that way too late, after his reputation was sealed. 

Speaking of Parkey, Kobe Bryant showed his support on Twitter tweeting; “We’ve all been there Cody…” What?! We have? You have? Not quite Kobe. Very few athletes had a moment like Cody Parkey had last Sunday. As Chris Collingsworth called it; “a double doink!” 

Watch closely on Sunday during the Pats/Chargers game. The NFL’s first female referee, Sarah Thomas, who debuted in 2015, will become the first female referee to officiate a playoff game.

Also on Sunday will be the California Strong Celebrity Softball Game at Pepperdine University to raise funds for Californians impacted by dual tragedies in the fall – the Oct. 7 shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks and all of the wildfires. Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich, who lost his home in a fire along with teammates Ryan Braun, Mike Moustakas and team owner Mike Attanasio, are some of the organizers. Also participating in the game are the likes of Justin Turner, Eric Hosmer, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Jamie Foxx, Reggie Miller (Braun’s neighbor), Adam Sandler and Charlie Sheen. All proceeds will go directly to victims. Nice! 

Pitchers and catchers report in 5 weeks. 

People ask me all the time about Mets’ superstar, Tim Tebow (never). 31-year old Tebow just got engaged to the 2017 Miss Universe winner, 23-year old Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. 

Robbery, you’re doing it wrong. Eric Cupernell, from MA, was caught red-handed on Tuesday stealing valuables from a house. He has been convicted of burglary 50 times! 

The Red Sox will be holding auditions for new talent to fill approximately 17 spots to perform the national anthem this spring at JetBlue Park. If you can carry a tune, be at the park in Fort Myers, FL on January 16 (5-7pm) or the 17^th (4-7pm). Good luck! 

Ticket prices at Monday’s College Football National championship were at historic lows – $177 the morning of the game and as low as $126 the week prior. Face value was $475. By comparison, last year’s ‘Bama/Georgia game tix were roughly $1,700. The location might have had something to do with that, Santa Clara California. That’s quite a trip for Clemson/Alabama fans to make clear across the country. That and, aren’t we all sick of Alabama (and Clemson?)? 

Did you see Deshaun Watson on the Clemson sideline Monday night? Hey, it’s not like he has to watch game film in preparation for this weekend or anything. 

Dallas Cowboys’ receiver, Allen Hurns. I saw him lying there on the field, face down, with his right foot facing as if he was on his back. Neither of the commentators mentioned it and I then watched the replay. That was, and is, the last time I will watch either the replay or that picture of him lying on the field. Gruesome. 

Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft has been awarded Israel‘s 2019 Genesis prize. Widely known as the “Jewish Nobel” prize, it is granted each year to a person recognized as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews through professional achievement and commitment to Jewish values. The $1 million award will be donated to initiatives combating anti-Semitism, other forms of prejudices and what some portray as attempts to delegitimize Israel.  

R.I.P. The Captain, Daryl Dragon of Captain and Tenille (76) of renal failure.

R.I.P. Verna Bloom (80) from complications of dementia. Bloom played Mrs. Marion (Dean) Wormer in the 1978 classic, Animal House. DYK, she was also Clint Eastwood’s lover in High Plains Drifter? 

Trivia #1: The Patriots are 10-1 following a first-round bye. Who was the only team to beat them? – The New York Football Jets in 2010.

Trivia #2: Antonio Brown led the NFL in receiving yards despite missing the final two games of the regular season. Who is the other player in the Superbowl era to lead the NFL in receiving yards despite missing two or more games? – Josh Gordon in 2013. 

“Mother, do you think they’ll drop the bomb?
Mother, do you think they’ll like this song?
Mother, do you think they’ll try to break my balls?
Ooh, aah, mother, should I build a wall?”