I simply can’t bring myself to write it all down so I STRONGLY encourage you to join us on the 4SB Facebook Page now!

AND PARTY LIKE GRONK! YO SOY FIESTA!

So why not enjoy the greatest quotes in Boston sports history in a flaunting effort?

We recently were contacted by Ross from Off the Chest who wanted to get some Boston-based shirts out on the market. After some discussion, here are the first two!

Havlicek stole the ball!

One of the most famous phrases in Boston Celtics history were uttered by Celtics play-caller Johnny Most in the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals.

“All right, Greer’s putting the ball into play . . . He gets it out deep and Havlicek steals it! Over to Sam Jones! Havlicek stole the ball! It’s all over!” See the scene here!

We played like a bunch of women tonight

In Game 3 of the 1984 NBA Finals, the Celtics lost to the Los Angeles Lakers by a whopping 33 points. Larry Bird certainly didn’t appreciate the effort of his team and made it well known by getting this quote off his chest.

And for our loyal 4SB readers, Off the Chest has provided a 15% discount off of your entire order if you simply use the code “4SB” at checkout!

A great game last Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens ended with play-after-play lining up just the way Bill Belichick wanted to see it go. With Sterling Moore, a player dropped by the mediocre Oakland Raiders and picked up to the Patriots’ practice squad, making the key defensive stops in the endzone that we have not seen since Asante Samuel last donned the backfield. Raven’s kicker Billy Cundiff pooching the kick from 32 yards away was an ending Myra Kraft could have only dreamed of.

Coming out of Sunday, even Tom Brady admitted that he was less than stellar. The team didn’t do anything amazing and still eeked into the Super Bowl in Indy against their 2007 Super Bowl opponent, the New York Giants.

And in a way, this 2011 run feels nothing like that 2007 run.

Sure, it’s easy to say that there’s clearly a difference in the teams. The 2007 team had won every single game that season while this season, the Patriots played no team with a winning record until the AFC title game against Baltimore.

The 2007 Patriots had an aging cast of future Hall of Famers on the defense. Eager to get one more ring before hitting the dusty trail.

The 2007 Patriots were on a revenge streak of “eff yous” against the entire NFL after being outted for Spygate. The numbers put up week-after-week were not unlike my Friday nights of Madden. Brady and Randy Moss both reached NFL records in touchdown numbers and the NFL was scared.

This year’s Patriots are not the 2007 Patriots. But you know that.

No one expected a lot from this Patriots team. A 10-11 win season was right where we thought they would be. Slipping into the playoffs, hopefully in front of the New York Jets, and possibly going a round or two.

But the SUPER BOWL?!

It’s a win-win situation for New England fans. Still a little hungover from the Bruins Cup win of June, we were all accepting of the fate of the Pats this year.

“We’re going to the Super Bowl! We’re going to the ‘Ship!” was the call of Rob “I Am Party” Gronkowski after Sunday night’s win. The stage is set and the opponent is chosen.

Anyone planning on participating on the Super Bowl betting over at TopBet should keep an eye on the line. The Patriots are currently favored by a slim margin with the over under on points being 53.

In my wildest imagination, as awesome as it is to be a Patriots fan this year (and for the last decade, at that), I cannot imagine another heartbreaking loss like 2007. Lucky for us, this team doesn’t have the same ramifications as that one.

This weekend on the radio, I heard a caller call in. An older woman, spouting about how her husband has been a fan of the team for 40 years through heartbreak and championships. She used a word that I knew immediately resonated with Pats fans, that word was “proud”. She was proud of the team for overcoming a lack of expectation. She was proud of what the team has done for the legend of Myra Kraft and the Kraft family.

And I couldn’t agree more.

This 2011 Patriots teams reminds us of what we love about our sports teams. Take the Celtics of late out of this, our favorite championships were executed with home-grown talent and by taking risks on guys the rest of the league didn’t believe in anymore (IE the 2004 Red Sox, Patriots of the early 2000s, the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Bruins).

This year’s Boston Red Sox is a team of overpaid, overvalued, whiny players who are coming off the most disgusting end to a season and off-season New England has seen in a long time.

This Patriots team is not your 2012 Red Sox.

They are likeable.

They are working class.

They have guys playing whatever position Belichick tells them in that day even if they played QB in college, drafted as a wide receiver, return kicks, and need to be put in as a DB for the entire game. Thank you Julian Edelman.

So, despite a season that has culminated in a lot of debate over their value and whether each win was good enough or the defense was good enough or if Brady still has it, the Pats have landed in Indy.

Revenge is not the key word in Super Bowl XLVI. The word is redemption.

This is not a Super Bowl about avenging the loss to another team. The Patriots simply don’t care what other teams, even if it is against their own team. These Patriots have pride and with pride on the line, redemption for the name of everything in Foxboro is the key.

The moment that the ball left the foot of one Billy Cundiff, who may have just gotten the Patriots’ game ball, every person watching could see it hooking left, with the score being left at 20-17 Patriots. The magical words of former Pats backup Scott Zolak ringing across the airwaves, “HE HOOKED IT!” have given me chills a half dozen times in the past 12 hours. And seeing the comparisons to Ace Ventura’s “Ray Finkle” become a trend on Boston’s Twitter was fantastic.

So the game ended and the speculation began.

Are these Patriots as good as the New York football Giants? Did they deserve to win that game? Is Bernard Pollard a stone-cold Patriot assassin?

The answer to all of those questions, is yes.

So on we go to what will most possibly be two weeks of pure hell. Replays from every negative moment of the 2007 Super Bowl. Giants talking trash while Bill Belichick and Tom Brady kiss their ass for all of the good things they do. Boston vs. New York. A Manning playing in Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time this year.

What it all comes down to is Sunday, February 5th. Super Bowl Sunday.

Philadelphia had a record of 5-2 and was one of the most balanced teams in the league as they ranked 3^rd in scoring offense and best overall in scoring defense.  Lou Williams was the leading scorer with 17.1 points per game while Spencer Hawes had 10.6 rebounds per outing.

The Indiana Pacers were off to a 6-2 start and were also an impressive defensive team as they ranked 3^rd in the NBA for points allowed which was of vital importance since the offense was struggling and ranked 19^th for total scoring.  The lack of offense is exemplified by the fact that Danny Granger was the team’s leading scorer at just 14.9 points per game.

In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers, the traditional glamour power team, are looking less than invincible with a record of 6-4 under new coach Mike Brown.  What is most surprising about the Lakers start is that they rank just 16^th in scoring offense while ranking 5^th in scoring defense.  Kobe Bryant was off to a normal good start with a team best 27.6 points per game and Pau Gasol had a team best 9.3 rebounds per game but something has been missing and many believe it is coaching legend Phil Jackson, who retired for good after last season.  Brown had some success with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers before James and the team quit on him in the 2010 playoffs but he is facing the unenviable task of replacing the legendary coach who is arguably the best ever and most successful in any sport.

The team that many people are watching and wagering on with iphone sports betting is the Los Angeles Clippers as they are being sold as the team of the future in LA and why not as Blake Griffin is emerging as a superstar with 24.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.  Chris Paul has been one of the better offensive spark plugs in the NBA with a team high 9.3 assists per game.  The Clippers were 6^th in the NBA for scoring offense but they were just 22^nd for points allowed on defense early in the season.

Big Baby as a Celtic:

Big Baby the Magician:

And then, today, Yahoo releases the news that Kendrick Perkins has lost 32 pounds in the off-season.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo's article

Leave Boston = lose the weight.

Biggest Loser style.

… And for some reason, New England feels like they are 0-13.

It is undeniable that the Pats have at times looked dazzling. In more cases, they have looked less than stellar.

So, which team is this?

On Sunday against the Washington Redskins, Tom Brady threw for 357 yards, including 160 to his favorite TE Rob Gronkowski, with three touchdowns and an interception.

Coming out of that game, what was anyone in New England talking about? A spat between Brady and Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien caught on the CBS cameras on the sideline as caught perfectly in this wonderful GIF format.

Over 350 yards, three touchdowns, and we’re worried about a yelling match between guys who are in the most physical sport in America?

GRONK SMASH!!!

Better yet, the defense.

While no one in New England (or anywhere else even) will ever say the Patriots are holding teams’ offenses, there have been weeks when the media and fans have felt comfortable enough to assume this group of drain-plugs was improving enough to keep most offenses below what the soaring offense could provide.

Of course, the 10-3 record reflects the fact that the defense does JUST  THAT.

Like Denver and their miracle story of Tim “Dont-call-me-Jesus” Tebow and the well-known fact that his defense allows him to win by holding the opposing team below the offense’s output, the Patriots do the opposite.

Honestly, this makes for a great match-up this coming week.

The defense who has to do just enough to keep the opponent’s point total below the great offense against the offense who has to simply be within a score or two at the end of the game to do what they need, especially in Denver.

Mile High baby.

But, I digress…

So which team is this? Should it be all doom and gloom or should we be be finally thinking about replacing that 16-0 banner with another Super Bowl one?

Honestly, I lean towards the dark clouds and whimpering in a corner.

I simply don’t see it. I watched that game in Washington just like most of you did. I didn’t see anything spectacular happening. I saw a lot of easy missed scoring opportunities by Brady with the pigskin flying over Gronk’s head, at the feet of Aaron Hernandez, once into Washington CB Josh Wilson’s hands (the lone INT), and once into the arms of Chad @Ochocinco, which has to mean it was underthrown, right?

Bazinga.

The rushing attack didn’t accomplish much against the ‘Skins either, topped by Danny Woodhead with 41 yards compared to the impressive Washington rookie Roy Helo’s 126 yards of foot pounding.

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

The defense remains an issue but no one can say that the addition of Andre Carter on the defensive line hasn’t dramatically changed their dynamic. Carter’s forced fumble and regular omnipresence in the pocket have finally given quarterbacks someone other than Vincent Wilfork, who coincidentally recovered the fumble, to worry about. Andre’s 10 sacks this year coupled with his insane physique should not go unnoticed and may be earning him a final resting place to play out his career beyond his current age of 32.

Are the Patriots playoff ready? Unfortunately, we honestly don’t know. The competition in the second half of the season hasn’t really called for the best of this team. Against #TebowTime and his Broncos we may get to see something but only if it’s still a game in the fourth quarter.

It may just be another one-and-done playoff season in New England but we honestly won’t know until the time comes.

All I do know, is that what the Patriots have had going on so far has not been evident outside of the box score and that generally does not translate well on the field.

While Boston is not shopping Rajon Rondo, it would be open to trading him in the right deal, sources say. The Celtics feel they need more scoring to take the load off Paul Pierce.

Uh… what?!

What exactly would the right deal for the first offense-creating PG to play on the parquet since the 1980s? Do we honestly think going back to having guys like Delonte West dishing the rock after he finishes up his paper route for the day?

If Danny Ainge truly has concern over removing the burden to score from Paul Pierce, maybe he should be looking at the other guys he is paying big money to. Kevin Garnett and the All-time three-point shooting leader in NBA History Ray Allen should be able to handle some scoring as well. Anyone who is going to support that cast is not someone I want to lose Rondo over.

Danny already made the mistake of giving away his beast in the middle of the floor for a Croatian dude and Jeff Green. If he is seriously looking to make this mistake again, I have some serious concerns.

And this isn’t because I don’t want to have to retire another Boston athlete t-shirt from my closet, however, I do hate having to do that.

R.I.P. Manny Ramirez, Jonathan Papelbon, Jason Varitek, Lawrence Maroney, Randy Moss, and, dare I say it, Edgar Renteria shirts…

Thursday night, as the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight in the central time zone, the Texas Rangers proved the old cliche that “the clinching game is the hardest to win” by giving up leads to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 9th inning, 10th inning, and losing the game in the bottom of the 11th.

Why should Boston fans care about this World Series?

There’s one reason and one reason alone.

Heart.

Both of these teams have exactly what Boston fans were missing all year. The Red Sox were living the frat-life on Yawkey Way with their approach to the game resembling the Bruno Mars hit “The Lazy Song”, “today I’m not doing anything”.

Meanwhile, there are two teams in this World Series that can only remind any Sox fan of what 2004 was like. The Rangers have been a team for 40 years and have zero Championships. None. Nada.

The Cardinals have won 10 since 1926, including their last one in 2006. And needless to say, this team has not taken the route of your beloved local 9. They aren’t sitting fat and happy.

Their Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman tandem are tearing $#*t up right now.

Ron T. Ennis, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Some kid name David Freese who grew up in St. Louis as a Cardinals fan has come out of no-where to become the NLCS MV, stave off elimination with one strike left in the bottom of the 9th inning with a 2-run triple, AND continue to defy the odds by winning Game 6 in the bottom of the 11th inning with a walk-off dinger.

Unreal.

You can’t even make this stuff up.

This series, and more specifically Game 6 (and probably Game 7 tonight) are exactly what Red Sox fans were dying for all year. These is the “Idiots” of 2004. Not your 2011 Sox who are a few pinstripes away from being the team we have all loathed for so many decades.

Besides the huge hits and timely base running (and insane amount of errors), the little things that occurred during Game 6 were also reminiscent of what baseball is supposed to be. Even in the bottom of the 9th and 10th, with their team down by 2 runs in each, the bench was excited. Rally caps on and sitting intently, somehow you just knew no one was playing Call of Duty in the clubhouse with deep fried chicken stains on their shirt.

The coaches provide both sides of the spectrum for viewing. Ron Washington is insanely animated and looks like he might jump out of the dugout to play himself while Tony LaRussa is stoic with a Steven Seagal look on his face but inside you know he’d loving every minute. And through their difference in approach, both coaches have another quality that was blatantly missing here in Boston this year, the respect of their team.

Boston should be cheering for the sport of baseball tonight for Game 7 of the World Series. Not only is it the first Game 7 in the October Classic in nine years, but it could be the first time in a long time for many Bostonians that they get to see two teams who truly love to do what they do and are excited to be there and not just for a paycheck.

Nov. 15, Devils at Bruins:

Back-to-back games against prominent Eastern Conference foes could have the Bruins worn out, but they proved last year that that’s often when they’re at their best.

Nov. 23, Bruins at Sabres:

This one is a marquee matchup featuring two of the best goalies in the league, with Ryan Miller between the pipes for Buffalo and Thomas for the Bruins. The Sabres were one of the better teams in the East during the 2010-2011 regular season and this one will have plenty of black and gold sprinkled into the crowd in Buffalo, making for a raucous atmosphere mixed with different fan bases buying NHL tickets.

Dec. 5, Bruins at Penguins:

If you missed your chance to travel to Buffalo in late November, hitting the road to see Sid the Kid and the always formidable Penguins is a great way to make up for it.

Jan. 7, Canucks at Bruins:

After a memorable seven-game Stanley Cup Finals between these two teams, the Canucks come to town looking to get it going against the team that ripped the Cup away from them. This one is going to have a playoff-level intensity.

Feb. 4, Pens at Bruins:

You don’t have to like him, but it’s still fun to watch Sidney Crosby, one of the premier players in the NHL. Both teams should be battling in the Eastern Conference standings at this point, combining for a great home matchup for the Bruins and their fans.

Feb. 15, Bruins at Canadiens:

The Bruins are on the road for a big Eastern Conference matchup featuring two of the most well-known franchises in sports. With the Bruins moving closer to the end of their 2011-2012 regular season schedule, games against Eastern opponents will be crucial.

Mar. 31, Capitals at Bruins:

It’s always a debate as to who is better between Sidney Crosby and the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin, which is why a big late season matchup featuring Alex the Great will be enormous.

Apr. 7, Sabres at Bruins:

Wrapping up the regular season, there will be plenty of playoff implications in this one.