Christian Mielcarek's Boston Red Sox fan blog

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"

I have to admit, this edition of The Sports Don’s Sunday Musings was harder for me to compile than the previous two weeks. Maybe it’s because I’m still bull over Steven the Black Jack Dealer cheating me out of all of my money at Foxwoods or perhaps it’s because I’m trying to remember to DVR Dark Days in Monkey City. Either way, I still managed to ramble on especially long this weekend so I’ll keep the words typed in the remainder of my intro to a minimum...here it is.

In case you missed them, here are Edition I and Edition II.

1.) In my last blog, I pontificated on Major League Baseball’s steroid era and the subsequent reaction by the majority of those who have graced the world with their opinion. The gist of my argument was regardless of the transgressions committed by an unfortunate number of ballplayers, fans and the media alike cannot comprehend the immense pressure which accompanies a professional athlete day-to-day and more simply, everyone errs, including you. It may be idealistic, but I believe that in most situations in life, everyone deserves a second chance. Although, with every lie that escapes his lip-gloss coated mouth, I’m beginning to think Alex Rodriguez shouldn’t be given another opportunity to speak. The contradictions presented during last Tuesday’s press conference were innumerable, and it seems more lies are revealed with each day that passes. With Thursday’s post, I put my status as a person deserving of an opinion on the line, and though his actions haven’t stripped me of that right, the deceitful A-Rod is making me look like a burro for defending him. Rodriguez asked the media to allow his mistake to remain in the past while he and his teammates enjoy “the best season of their lives”, but with every mistruth he utters, the saga is prolonged and his respectability further diminishes. If A-Rod truly wants the remainder of his career to be judged solely on what he does from this point forward, this point forward needs to begin truthfully and immediately. As Wilson advised last night on a rerun of Home Improvement, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Rodriguez continues to stumble and, alas, he’s looking like the burro.

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

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make, you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” – Matthew 7: 1-3

Yes, that’s correct. I just quoted the Bible. Enjoy it, because the only other biblical reference I’ll make is when I inevitably tell the story of how Larry Bird created the world in six days and rested on the seventh to watch Tom Brady win the Super Bowl. The reason I’m recruiting an Apostle is because I want to show each and every one of my readers that I’m not messing around. Enough is enough. We’re a forgiving culture. Let’s check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.

I’m as big a fan of a good crucifixion as the next guy, but the mass hysteria is getting a tad ridiculous. Call me a sympathizer if you will, but I’m casting my vote for simply moving on from this whole debacle as quickly as possible. It was all deplorable, but hopefully it will soon be over. I was disgusted by the recent Alex Rodriguez news. I’m disappointed that my boyhood heroes are continually being marred by scandal. I wish I never heard the phrase “performance-enhancing drugs” 65,384,923 times. I, like many others, also wish professional athletes were impervious to greed, peer pressure and bad judgment. I can also admit I will never understand the demands of being a professional athlete, and that’s why I am willing to forgive those who have gone astray and tarnished the sanctity of the game. It’s easy to sit in our sofas and berate the sinners when we view ourselves as saints. Before we strip them all of a second chance, let’s take a moment to look at ourselves and question what we would have done in their situation.

Continue reading "Sympathy for the Steroid Devils"

Another week has come and gone, and there is another Sunday crossword to make me feel like college was a waste of money and another week of sports in our memory banks. From the aftermath of Alex Rodriguez’ steroid scandal to a NBA player looking like the lovechild of a Georgetown basketball coach and a patriotic Muppet, there’s much to talk about and a whole lot more on my mind.

If you'd like to read my ramblings from last week, click here.

I present to you the second edition of The Sports Don’s Sunday Musings...

1.) Bill Madden, a columnist for the New York Daily News, recently stated that Alex Rodriguez should be dismissed from the Yankees in one form or another following his recent admittance to taking performance-enhancing drugs. This is not sympathy for the devil, but Madden’s cry for A-Rod’s removal is insane, and the likelihood of the Steinbrenners orchestrating such a move is highly improbable. The often controversial third baseman is too talented and worth far too much money for the Yankees to simply part ways with him merely for shaming the game. Madden must know better than this. He’s published four baseball related books, two solely on the Yankees, so he should realize that they would never banish Rodriguez for his illegal deeds. In Madden’s time covering sports, Steve Howe (alcohol, cocaine), Doc Gooden (cocaine), Darryl Strawberry (alcohol, cocaine, spousal abuse), Jason Giambi (steroids), Andy Pettitte (amphetamines, steroids, HGH), Mickey Mantle (alcohol) and Billy Martin (alcohol) have all had controversial off the field issues either prior to or during their tenure in the Bronx. So why shouldn't A-Rod be allowed to remain in pinstripes?

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

Brett Lorenzo Favre, the beloved gunslinger from Southern Mississippi who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, made his first pass completion on his way to prominence as a Packer to himself and adorned a New York Jets uniform in his final season, announced his retirement yesterday…again.

For those of you who do not tune into ESPN during the NFL season, didn’t yesterday or at any point over the last few off-seasons, have missed one previous Favre retirement and copious amounts of gushing over old #4. The recipient of three MVP awards and owner of multiple passing accolades appears to finally be done, and I say good riddance. Maybe the man love will finally stop.

Favre holds the NFL record for most career wins (181), passing touchdowns (464), completions (5,720), attempts (9,280) and yards (65,127). He owns these records not because he’s the greatest quarterback of all-time, but because, and let me make this overwhelmingly clear, HE REFUSED TO GO AWAY. Favre also holds the mark for consecutive starts for a QB at an uber-impressive 291, but that loosely translates into he played forever, and this is thus why he holds so many records.

Continue reading "Favre Retires. Finally. I Think."

One of the great things about sports is that every week fans are provided with a plethora of new topics to think about and discuss. Along with my other posts, starting today, and continuing every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I am going to supply my readership with an opportunity to peer inside my oversized cranium and take a peek at what I’m mulling over.

These are the five sports questions I’ve been pondering this week and will continue to think about while I eat my breakfast and fail at the Sunday crossword. I present to you the inaugural edition of The Sports Don’s Sunday Musings...

1.) Former Gonzaga standout and current NBA bust Adam Morrison was traded alongside Shannon Brown to the Los Angeles Lakers last night for Vladimir Radmanovic. Morrison is further proof that a great college game doesn’t necessarily translate into a stellar professional career, and this has me thinking, was the 2006 NBA draft the worst of all-time? Of the 60 players selected in that year’s draft, just Portland’s Brandon Roy (pick #6) has been an all-star, and only Boston’s Rajon Rondo (#21) and Utah’s Paul Millsap (#47) have had seasons warranting all-star consideration. Morrison was the third pick, and Brown was choice number 25 in a draft that saw Italy’s Andrea Bargnani go first to Toronto. I challenge you to find one worse. So I ask again, was the 2006 draft the worst ever?

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings"

I never had the opportunity to personally attend any of the classic Celtics-Lakers games of the 80s. I was actually only in the old Boston Garden twice, and neither occasion was for basketball. I can’t even claim to remember watching any of the historic battles live on television since I was just six when the decade ended. ESPN Classic provided me with the handful of Bird vs. Magic matchups I have seen, and while I could still feel the intensity between the two great franchises, the suspense was lacking because I already knew the outcomes prior to sitting down.

Last night, I had the so-called pleasure of attending the renewed rivalry in person. It was obvious both teams couldn't stand each other. It was a fantastic game, exhilarating until the end, and the suspense was not missing. The atmosphere alone made the price of season tickets seem inexpensive. The two juggernauts jockeyed for the position of NBA Alpha Dog into overtime, and unfortunately, I exited the new Garden with a sickening feeling that left me somberly wondering why I’d ever want to make myself sit through something like that again.

Continue reading "Lakers-Celtics: Waiting for Round Three"

The Boston Celtics completed a trade on July 31, 2007 that forever altered the complexion of their franchise. The Celtics swung five players, cash considerations and two first-round picks to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Garnett, and following some additional tweaking, as Celtics radio announcer Sean Grande so aptly put it, after 20 years of futility, “the game’s original monarchy has retaken the throne”.

What has been lost in the Celtics’ subsequent success is not the play of Ryan Gomes, Bassy Telfair, the expiring contract that was Theo Ratliff or Gerald Green (whose cupcake candle extinguishing dunking skills couldn’t keep him in Minnesota or Houston), it’s the play of that fifth and most stellar player in the Boston package, the T-Wolves new big man, Al Jefferson.

Continue reading "The Rise of Big Al Jefferson"

Everyone loves a puppy, and in Boston, every fan loves Jason Varitek.

His deadline to accept or decline the Red Sox’ contract offer is swiftly approaching, and soon all will know if the captain is returning for his 13th season. Boston fans want the stalwart catcher back in a bad way, predicting the pitching staff will crumble without him and insisting last season’s subpar batting average was a direct result of the demise of his marriage. The Sox are interested, but only on their terms. The Boston brass will not bend or break to assure Tek’s return, and regardless of the contract’s details, a return would be advantageous for both parties.

A team of the Red Sox’ stature, one with expectations and a payroll higher than most organizations, should under no circumstances begin the 2009 season with platooning catchers Josh Bard and A Player to be Named Later. If Varitek resigns, the stability behind the plate remains, and Boston can retain the prospects potentially traded for that aforementioned Player to be Named. For Tek, he would play for a contender while having the opportunity to redeem himself for last year’s offensive struggles and then return to the market in a future offseason when the opinion of his game may be higher and the economic climate sunnier.

Continue reading "Much Ado About Varitek"

All-Star Reserves ballots were due yesterday at 3p.m., and for the all the Eastern Conference coaches who tune in to my blog, I provided some help, a cheat sheet if you will, to aid in their quest to make the proper selections. Call it an East Coast bias, but time did not allow me to do the same for the West. Hopefully, they managed on their own.

To see The Sports Don's Eastern Conference reserves, click here.

Here are the guidelines once again: Each coach is asked to pick seven players (two guards, two forwards, a center and two wildcards), and no selection can be member of his own team. If they feel it is warranted, for the betterment of the team, they are permitted to select a player to fill a position different than the one he is listed at.

Before I go ahead and divulge my selections, let me first remind you of the five players chosen as starters by the fans:

Continue reading "The Sports Don Reveals His Western Conference All-Star Reserves"