I beg for forgiveness from those who checked in with any regularity this last week only to find the cupboard was left barren of fresh and delicious trinkets of wisdom, and all that remained was the discarded old, moldy and previously read blogs. The monotony of life reigned this past seven days along with additional hours at work which left me without the proper amount of time to coherently compose a posting and now even today’s blog is late, very late. Dismay no more, in a football-centric version of The Sports Don’s Sunday Musings, I have returned to writing incessantly and without any recognition of a word limit. I appreciate your patience.

To read any of my previous musings, click here.

1.) Matt Cassel was traded alongside Mike Vrabel yesterday, and while I anticipated a bountiful return from the Kansas City Chiefs, all New England received was a second round pick. Really? That’s it? When I heard the Pats were only receiving a single Chiefs pick in return, I immediately assumed it was their first round pick (number three overall), and even then my initial reaction was, “good deal for KC”. After months of supposition that New England would obtain multiple high picks, the Pats gave up their suddenly prized backup for a single second round pick. It appears the franchise that is always one step ahead of its competition just got hosed. This is the same Matt Cassel who is heralded as a much better option for a team in need of a quarterback than anything they’d get in the draft, finished in the top ten in QB rating, touchdowns, yards and completion percentage of those who played in 13 or more games under center in 2008, and is still only 26-years old. Almost two years ago, Matt Schaub was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Houston Texans for two second round picks, and Schaub only threw 27 passes the season previous to the swap. Three days ago, Sage Rosenfels was traded from the Texans to the Minnesota Vikings for a fourth-round pick. You’re telling me Cassel and Vrabel were only worth a two-round upgrade over Sage? I live in a sports world were the motto is “In Bill We Trust” so I’m assuming another shoe will drop at some point. If this is it, I can’t believe it.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings: Volume IV"

OK. So I lied. In last week’s musings I apologized for a sudden lack of blogs due to an increased workload at my paid writing job and I was back, better than ever and writing incessantly. If you haven’t noticed, and I’d be disappointed if you didn’t, another seven days has gone by without a new posting. Well, now, I truly have returned. You have my word. Following this edition of The Sports Don’s Sunday Musings, make sure you tune in later in the week for a blog about the impending superstardom of the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo, a look at the post Seattle Mariner careers of Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez (at the suggestion of my buddy Taco) and whatever else my twisted sports mind can conjure. As always, thank you for your support.

To read any of my past blogs, click here.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings: Volume V"

Injuries are sweeping through the Boston Celtics locker-room quicker than the Rage Virus infected London in 28 Days Later. Since their February 8th home-defeat against the Spurs, the Celtics have lost Tony Allen, Kevin Garnett, Brian Scalabrine, Rajon Rondo and Big Baby Davis to one ailment or another. Tonight in Miami, Boston will dress a group of ten players that includes a pair of newcomers who have been on the team less than two weeks, two rookies who never play, and a second-year guard who no one knows if Doc even likes and recently returned from a DUI suspension.

The recent acquisitions of Starbury and Mikki Moore have morphed into something more vital than previously anticipated as the players in front of the duo on the depth chart have both succumbed to the fashionable injury bug that has plagued the team. The loss of the bench players hurts, but is not nearly as painful as KG’s absence or severe as Rondo’s.

Continue reading "Injuries Slow Celtics - Accentuate Rondo’s Awesomeness"

After a J.D. Drew-like stint on the disabled list of blog writing, I, like baseball, have returned. For real this time. Let me begin by expressing my sincerest apologies to my readers whom I promised a return to the spotlight weeks ago only to vanish like a ninja once again. Thanks as always for your support and readership. Without getting too mushy-gushy, welcome to the first of a seven-part series previewing each division, day by day, leading up to an all encompassing culmination piece on opening night next Sunday.

Preview numero uno, my beloved American League East. The best division in the game.

1. BOSTON RED SOX (95-67, second place and AL Wild Card in 2008)

Although it took seven games, the Red Sox were another steppingstone for the Tampa Bay Rays during their meteoric rise in ‘08. But the fact Boston even made it to a Game 7 of the American League Championship Series was a true testament of the level of talent Theo & Co. have collected. While Mike Lowell was out, David Ortiz and Josh Beckett were battling injury, and with Jason Varitek unable to hit a fastball if it was the size of a bus in last season’s ALCS, the Sox enter 2009 rejuvenated, with an enviable pitching staff, and a slue of injury plagued players Boston hopes will make a significant impact.

Continue reading "The Sports Don Returns with His 2009 AL East Preview"

It’s Day Two of The Sports Don’s 2009 Baseball Preview, and I present perhaps the toughest division in baseball to predict. The American League Central could finish in any order, and I wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised. And yes, that includes the upstart Kansas City Royals winning the division for the first time since 1985 when George Brett was 32, and the Royals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

I don’t foresee that miraculous event actually occurring, but the Royals and their youthful core could make some noise in a division that features strong Minnesota pitching and a few scary lineups.

To read yesterday’s AL East Preview, click here.

1. MINNESOTA TWINS (88-75, second place in 2008)

Continue reading "The Sports Don's 2009 AL Central Preview"

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won the American League West by 21 games in 2008, a margin 13 1/2 games wider than the next largest difference which was the Chicago Cubs’ 7 1/2 game lead over National League Wild Card winner Milwaukee. With the departures of some key Angels and the acquisitions of some big name players by the other teams in the West, the race will tighter, but don’t expect Texas, Oakland or Seattle to leapfrog Los Angeles who should capture their fifth division title in six years.

To read Monday’s AL East Preview, click here.

To read yesterday’s AL Central Preview, click here.

1. LOS ANGELES ANGELS (100-62, first place and lost in the ALDS in ‘08)

The golden prize of free agency left the West Coast when Mark Teixeira signed a megadeal with the New York Yankees rather than returning to the Angels which has left a gapping hole in the middle of Los Angeles’ lineup. Kendry Morales will step in at first base but will only put up half the power numbers Teixeira did. The Angels signed Bobby Abreu late in the offseason to aid the offense, and a lot of people think this will be the year Howie Kendrick will display his potential. Vladimir Guerrero produced the lowest numbers of his career last season and is perhaps showing his age despite hitting 27 homeruns and driving in 91.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's 2009 AL West Preview"