One Year Ago Today...

April 15, 2013—just another Patriots Day (for Maine and Massachusetts, at least.) That day when the Red Sox play early enough that you can watch while still clad in pajamas. (Isn't everyone still in their PJs at 11am on a day off from work?) That day that I mark as the deadline to get all that crappy raking done—that is if the snow has melted. And every Patriots Day, the Boston Marathon snakes through the streets as Fenway comes alive with the sounds of baseball.

But April 15, 2013 was anything but just another Patriots Day. At 2:49pm, as runners and spectators crowded the Marathon finish line, an explosion rocked a city.

One year ago today... a tragedy shook the Boston Marathon. A vile, terrorist act that took the lives of three innocent souls and injured over 260 others. When you think of how gravely many of those were hurt, it's a miracle there weren't more casualties.

One year ago today... we learned of a young man named Jeff Bauman who viciously lost both legs in the blast, but perseveres. He's not angry, he's thankful. He's thankful for the people who rushed to his aid, the people who saved his life, and the people who cheered him on throughout his recovery. Jeff played a pivotal part in the identification of the terrorists.

One year ago today... we learned of a man named Carlos Arredondo who, like many others, rushed towards the blast to provide help to the injured. He was the first to get Jeff Bauman and saved his life.

One year ago today... we learned about the Richard family. They stood closest to the backpack. Mother Denise lost an eye. Father Bill suffered damage to his eardrums. They lost their 8-year-old son, Martin. Their daughter Jane lost her leg, endured 14 grueling surgeries and had to learn to walk again.

One year ago today... changed the lives of hundreds of people, their families and the city. Two backpacks. Two bombs. Two loathsome and deplorable monsters. A day the people of Boston and the country will never forget.

One year ago today... a city came together to become Boston Strong.

I don't live in Boston. I didn't run in the Marathon. I didn't know anyone injured in this horrific act. I'm not going to pretend to know what the people involved went through or are still going through. But like many, I'm inspired by the stories of those who refused to give up in the face of adversity.

Day 357: 2013 Red Sox Recap: Bearded Band of Brothers

October 30, 2013: "Ninth inning of game six. Two balls, two strikes, two outs. Red Sox lead the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1. Koji ready. He turns on the rubber, the 2-2 home..."

We all know what happened next... something that hadn't transpired in Fenway Park since 1918—a World Series Championship clinching win. It's a moment that gives me full body chills even now five months later.

NESN put together an amazing compilation of the 2013 season's events and subsequent Championship called "Bearded Band of Brothers" that is a must-see for any Red Sox fan. I've had the DVD for months and finally just watched it today. Maybe it's because the start of the new baseball season is just over a week away and the 2014 Red Sox haven't done anything too exciting in spring training. I needed a little pick-me-up, a reminder of what can happen to this team.

I know it's asking a lot for a repeat of the fairytale magic that occurred last year and I know the chances of winning the World Series in back-to-back seasons are somewhat slim, but watching that DVD just reaffirmed what a special team this was and could be again. As long as they continue with the same team-unifying attitude and positive outlook, it could happen.

This video covers everything from those dark days of 2012, to the blockbuster deal with the Dodgers, to the unconventional and controversial players signed in the offseason. Then from that special walk-off win on Patriots Day, to the darkness of the events that happened on the heels of that win, to the week that followed leading up to the capture of the bombers and David Ortiz's heartfelt declaration.

And in the wake of that tragedy, this video documents the never-say-die, fight-till-the-end outlook this team displayed for the rest of that extraordinary season. It seemed like every other night, there was some heroic feat that catapulted them to yet another win. Whether it was a lights out pitching performance, a diving, run-stealing catch, or yet another walk-off win, each and every player contributed to the team's successes at some point.

It was also a season that was defined by many different themes. When Will Middlebrooks innocently hashtagged a tweet following the Marathon bombing with #BostonStrong, it became the motto for the entire city. And let's not forget Koji's post-save high five parade... or the massive horde of players who waited at home plate to excitedly (and sometimes violently) greet every guy responsible for a walk-off win. But most of all, it was the year of the facial hair with beards so long there was quite possibly small, woodland creatures inhabiting them... and where the handshake or ass slap was replaced by a beard tug.

And of course, October and all its glory.

Like most things related to that amazing worst-to-first performance, the DVD made me cry, it made me laugh and it made me smile. I smiled a lot. If you need something to get you pumped up for 2014 Red Sox baseball, click HERE to buy this DVD. Go Sox!

Day 305: Boston Marathon Bomber Will Face Death Penalty

Do you remember what you were doing at 2:49pm on April 15, 2013? I do... I had the day off because it was Patriots Day (yay!) and I was doing yard work (boo-hiss!) I remember coming into the house, checking my phone and seeing an alert that simply said there had been an explosion at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. There was nothing simple about what had happened.

What followed over the next five days stunned and horrified the whole country and put the city of Boston on high alert. On Friday, April 19th the entire city of Boston shut down. The internet soon was filled with images of empty streets and freeways and popular gathering places. The images were eery and strange. Residents were asked to stay home while law enforcement and military personnel scoured the city, looking for this piece of shit. 

We were glued to the television that Friday evening, waiting for the word to come that they had found the younger bomber. When it finally did, the city of Boston erupted into a celebration and rightfully so. When, if our lifetime, has any one douche bag shut down an entire city the size of Boston? He deserves every thing that comes his way... and it sounds like none of it will be pleasant.

I'm not going try to sugarcoat my incredible glee for the news that was published today. If Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is found guilty of planting bombs that killed three and wounded 264 people at the Boston Marathon last April, he will be put to death. The only thing I have to say about that is good riddance, pond scum.

This decision is for Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lingzi Lu... and while it won't bring these three back to their families, at least those families won't be paying for that piece of turd to rot in prison for the rest of his life. This decision is for Jeff Bauman's legs and everyone else who lost limbs and suffered injuries—both physically and mentally. It won't change what happened, but it will hopefully give these victims some piece of mind that the monster responsible will pay.

I can only hope that when the Boston Marathon happens in just a few short months, the crowds are even bigger and more supportive as the city of Boston extends a big, giant middle finger to any would-be terrorists who would dare try and take down this city again.

Day 229: Bill Maher Disses World Series Parade. Oh No He Di'int!

I don't really know much about Bill Maher other than he's supposedly a stand-up comedian, a television host and a political commentator. I'm not familiar with his show or his views. However, I am sure of one thing: Bill Maher is a giant asshole.

Yes, I realize that Maher is famous for making off-color and politically incorrect comments that often times get people really pissed at him. But his recent comments regarding the Boston Red Sox World Series parade have solidified his role as leader of all douchebags world-wide. These comments have enraged the Boston community and beyond.

In case you didn't hear what he said, here it is:

"Congratulations, Red Sox. OK, so, the parade, you know, they go to the place where the marathon bombings took place and they put the World Series statue there and sing 'God Bless America' and sing 'Boston Strong.' It seems to me that the reaction to this horrific crime -- you know it was, again, a bad day. Three people died, that's terrible. More were maimed, that's horrible. But unfortunately that happens every day in a car accident and everything else. I mean, your city was not leveled by Godzilla."

Even his guest, Anthony Weiner, was appalled, commenting "What is wrong with you?" If you say something bad enough to offend Weiner, it must be pretty damn bad. But I guess when you're a colossal asshat, you don't give a shit who you offend. I'd like to see him leveled by Godzilla.

And seriously dickhead, if you don't know it's called a World Series trophy and not a statue, then you have no right to even talk about the Red Sox or their celebratory parade. Also, there's a huge difference between an accident and a vicious terrorist attack. Or maybe Maher is of the camp that thinks it was all a hoax... Regardless, I'd like to see him repeat this sentiment in the presence of the families that lost loved ones, and the individuals that lost limbs, and all those injured by that horrible attack. I'm pretty sure that group will be scarier than Godzilla.

So because I can never get enough of watching that touching finish line display of Boston Strong... here it is again. Something to get the bad taste of King Douchebag's repulsive remarks out of my mouth.

Day 220: More Talk Shows...Gomes Says, "Everyone in Boston Deserves a Ring!"

If there's one talk show host I just can't stomach, it's Conan O'Brien. I'm not sure what it is about that guy, but he just makes me want to throw things at the television. But when I heard Jonny Gomes and Shane Victorino visited Conan, I knew I had to bite the bullet and watch. Conan was annoying as usual... but it was Gomes that stole the show.

Once again, Jonny was sporting his brand new World Series LL Bean boots and he even took one off so the camera could get a better view. Seriously, these boots are one of my most favorite thing that came from this World Series win... and I just love that Jonny can't seem to stop wearing his.

They talked about the usual: beard tugging, team chemistry, Boston Strong, parades and duck boats. They talked about how special the season was to them after the Boston Marathon tragedy... and what it meant to put the World Series trophy at the finish line. They talked about what it was like to play for the city in a time when people were looking for something positive after a brutal act of terrorism.

Even if you can't stand Conan, this interview is totally worth the pain. Gomes is very entertaining and such a natural in front of the camera. Victorino is a little awkward, but so genuine and maybe just a little nervous to be on a talk show. But in the end, they come across like a couple of regular guys... a couple of regular guys that just won the World freaking Series!!

 

Be sure to click on the link at the end of the video to see parts two and three... I promise it's worth it.

Day 216: I Love a Parade: Red Sox Rolling Rally

Saying this 2013 Boston Red Sox season has been an emotional one would be an understatement. With the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings happening just two weeks into the season, the Sox have rode the emotional "Boston Strong" battle cry throughout the regular season and postseason. The Red Sox played each game with the 617 jersey in their dugout as a reminder of what they were working towards... to put a smile on the faces of Bostonians and New Englanders everywhere by winning it all.

Just days into spring training, Jonny Gomes had no doubt that he would be a World Series Champion as a member of the Red Sox. Ryan Dempster remembers a conversation he had with Jonny early in the preseason. Dempster asked Gomes how he was doing. He replied, "Hey, we're one day closer to the parade."

Well, Jonny... you got your parade.

This gorgeous fall morning, millions crowded the streets of Boston as the Red Sox boarded the now famous duck boat (some bearded) convoy and celebrated their World Series victory with their fans. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy and never made it down to Beantown for the festivities, but I did watch the NESN coverage which included a completely awesome poem by the Red Sox PA announcer, Dick Flavin. In case you missed it, click here! It was pretty friggin' amazing.

As the motorcade of duck boats approached the Boston Marathon finish line, they came to a stop. Jonny Gomes (clad in his brand new, custom-made LL Bean World Series Champs boots) and Jarrod Saltalamacchia got off the boats and set the World Series trophy on the finish line with the 617 Boston Strong jersey. It was an emotional scene for all involved, which included a group picture with some of those affected by the bombing, and also a tear-jerking rendition of God Bless America. This scene at the finish line made me cry... (surprise, surprise!)

Did you see Jonny's boots? Pretty awesome, eh?

Other than the tears at the finish line, I basically sat on my couch and smiled like a damn fool watching this parade. It was a much deserved end to an amazing season for a bunch of extraordinary baseball players. Pedey said it best...

"We played for a lot more this year, obviously," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "It's important the way the Red Sox play the game, but this year we were playing for other things, and it was pretty special the way we ended it. Hopefully we made a lot of people happy."

Phenomenal season... incredible team... World Series Champs... and lots of really happy fans. How many days until pitchers and catchers report? I'm having withdrawals already!!

Day 214: Thank You, Red Sox... World Series Champions!!

Dear Red Sox,

I'm not sure if you got a chance to read my letter to you back on July 16th... if not, here it is. Surprisingly and gleefully, not much has changed since that day. My feelings for this team never changed. And your drive to succeed never changed. You all went about the season like it was your passion, and not your job.

Now, to reward your fans with not just a worst to first turnaround, but a worst to World Series Champion turnaround, is something that, as a fan, I will never forget. There was a will, there was a desire and there was a camaraderie that fueled this team to overcome adversity and deficits that many Red Sox teams from years past would never have been able to accomplish.

For a team that rarely had problems producing hits and runs over the regular season to still triumph when many of the bats went quiet, was a feat beyond explanation. When bats were silenced, the pitching lifted the team. When pitching floundered, batters who may have been slumping, made timely hits.

And let's not forget about the MVP of the World Series... David Ortiz. The one bat in the lineup that never quieted. The one bat that instilled fear into each pitcher who dared to take the mound against him. In the end, Big Papi batted .688 in the Series and at one point, reached base in nine consecutive at bats. But it was not only his bat that had such a huge impact, but his enthusiasm and leadership. When Ortiz pulled the troops together for a game four pep talk, the Series took a turn in the Sox favor—a pivotal moment for sure.

Jon Lester deserves major kudos as well. The game one and game five starter was masterful in both World Series outings, and if Ortiz hadn't been so locked in, he may have collected that MVP award. Lester has had his problems over the past couple of seasons, but he dug down deep and pulled off one of his greatest accomplishments. He won both starts, allowing just one run, striking out 15 in 15.1 innings, finishing with an ERA of 1.73.

I wish I had the words to thank ever single amazing guy on this team who not only played such a huge role in this World Series run, but also succeeded in reigniting my faith in the team I've loved my whole life. You know who you are... and so does every member of Red Sox Nation. We'll never forget...

For the third time in 10 years, I sat in front of my television, celebrating a World Series Championship and crying tears of joy. So thank you, Red Sox, for making this season one full of fantastic fun and foolish facial hair.

Congratulations!
~Stacy

Day 188: It's Been 77 Years Since This Has Happened

The Boston Red Sox accomplished a feat Friday afternoon in the first game of the American League Divisional Series that hasn't been done since 1936. And it was quite impressive—especially coming against such a strong pitcher in Matt Moore that the Sox lineup clearly had problems with in their previous two meetings.

In their first game back in May, only three batters managed to get hits: Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Stephen Drew. Of course, Ortiz's hit was a three-run home run, but they still lost to the Rays that day. Their second meeting in July was a different story. Just Ortiz and Mike Napoli managed to squeak out a hit on a day where Moore stymied the normally lively bats and pitched an impressive complete game, two-hit shut out.

Friday was different. Sure, Moore may have started off looking like the same ol' tough lefty from earlier in the season. But when your defense doesn't get the memo that they're playing in a postseason game, it makes things tough for a pitcher who is only as good as the fielding behind him.

So... a Boston Red Sox line up that had just five hits in two games before Friday, did something no team has done in 77 years. Every starter notched a hit and a run in a postseason game. It's a fun box score to look at—12 runs on 14 hits:

• Jacoby Ellsbury:  2-for-5, one run scored, one RBI
• Shane Victorino:  3-for-4, two runs scored, two RBIs
• Dustin Pedroia:  2-for-5, two runs scored
• David Ortiz:  1-for-4, a walk, two runs scored
• Mike Napoli:  1-for-4, a walk, one run scored, one RBI
• Jonny Gomes:  1-for-4, a walk, two runs scored, two RBIs
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia:  2-for-4, a walk, one run scored, three RBIs
• Stephen Drew:  1-for-5, one run scored, one RBI 

Saturday's game features another great matchup with John Lackey toeing the rubber against David Price. Last year's Cy Young winner went 2-3 against the Red Sox this season, but those two wins were unforgettable when he beat Boston twice within a five day window at the end of July. But I don't want to think about those two games... I'd rather dwell on the three that the Sox won. And I'm sure that's just what John Farrell and the Boston lineup are doing today!

GO SOX!!

Day 183: First Half Recap: 6 Months Down, 6 Months to Go!

The Balls of All Sizes quest for 365 consecutive days of sports blogging is half over as of today. For six straight months, I have (surprisingly) stuck to my goal and it has been a blast doing it. I've learned a lot about sports I don't normally watch and blogged about some that don't really involve balls. A lot has happened over the past six months—some pretty awesome stuff and some pretty awesomely bad stuff. 

Just in case you're new to Balls, here are a few of my favorites:

April 12:  Day 12: Happy Birthday, Dad!

What better way to honor my dad on his birthday than to write a post for him. He's the reason I love sports so much—it's his fault I care so deeply about every win and loss.

April 24:  Day 24: Happy Birthday, Mom!

It just wouldn't have been fair to honor dad without giving mom her day in the sun. She also has a lot to do with my sports addiction. She allowed it.

May 10:  Day 40: An Act of Kindness. A Happy Fan.

Even though I'm not a Dodgers fan and really don't care what they do, I fell in love with this story and Matt Kemp's selfless act of kindness making a young man's day.

May 22:  Day 52: Jerry Remy: Commentator Extraordinaire or Playgirl Pinup?

This post totally cracked me up to research and write and it was one of my most successful with 122 views. (For me, that's a banner day!!)

June 27:  Day 88: Aaron Hernandez is a Dumbass

Even though there were a couple Hernandez posts that precede Day 88, this one is by far my favorite. Not only because I got the chance to rant about a completely ridiculous situation, but also because the damn post got 251 views. Must've been the title!

June 29:  Day 90: These are a Few of My Favorite (Fenway) Things

Just because I love Fenway Park so much... if anyone ever tears this ballpark down, I'll be forever broken. Baseball season is the only time of year I sort of wish I lived in Boston.

July 16:  Day 107: An Open Letter to the Pre All-Star Break Red Sox

I actually got to the point of hating the Red Sox towards the end of last season. I went to a game in August and wanted so badly to throat-punch each and every guy on the field. It was just to nice to love this team again.

July 17:  Day 108: Those Rolling Stone Idiots Really Have No Clue

I've never been so disgusted with a publication as I was with Rolling Stone for glorifying that asshole who was responsible for the Boston Marathon Bombings. 

August 8:  Day 130: Wes Welker Left Because Bill Belichick was Mean... Really?

I love this post for many reasons, but mainly because I was half in the bag when I wrote it. And I still think I managed to write a pretty mistake-free post that actually made some sense!

September 9:  Day 162: Red sky at night, sailor's delight.

This post was a favor for a friend who loves sailing. Who knew that I would become so caught up in the America's Cup, I would write not one, but three posts about the oldest trophy in sports. It was fun doing the research and learning all about this rich man's race.

September 21:  Day 174: Red Sox Clinch the AL East... And I WAS THERE!!

Of course this one is on my list... I've never been to a division clinching game before so this was so much fun. What a season for the Sox!!

Well, I think that's probably enough favorites for now. I just hope the next six months provide as much material as the first six did. Minus murderers on my favorite teams... I've had enough of that. 

Do you have a favorite?

Day 174: Red Sox Clinch AL East... And I WAS THERE!!

It was a gorgeous night to be at Fenway Park and even better, the magic number was one! My dad and I embarked on a trip to Boston with hopes of getting to be a part of the division clinching celebration. All we needed was a win!

When I got the tickets for the Red Sox vs. Blue Jays game on September 20th, I figured the game would mean nothing. I figured it would just be another in-division game that the Red Sox would most likely win seeing as the Blue Jays have taken up permanent residence in the AL East basement... and, well... the Sox just find ways to win this season. I honestly had no idea how special the night would turn out to be.

The Blue Jays made the Sox work for their win. Boston scored early, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and then added another run in the third. Toronto scored one in the fifth and kept the game close until the Sox broke out for three runs in the seventh. With a 5-1 lead going into the eighth inning, it was pretty evident to most in attendance that this game was in the bag. The ballpark was alive. Barely a single soul departed early. You could see the Sox owners make their way down to the seats next to the dugout in anticipation.

Junichi Tazawa replaced Jon Lester in the top of the eighth. Lester managed to hold the Jays to just one run on five hits while striking out eight over seven innings. Tazawa struggled a bit giving up a two-run homer to pinch hitter, Adam Lind. And now we're looking at a 5-3 lead and a lot of fingernails got a lot shorter. With one out, John Farrell called upon Koji Uehara to come in and complete a five out save. I'm pretty sure he was trying to give me a heart attack.

I think Koji is even more dynamic and fun to watch in person. He did give up a couple hits in his outing, but he struck out the final batter of the game swinging to empty the dugout and turn the pitchers' mound into a sea of jumping, bearded kids. They traded game jerseys for We Own the East t-shirts and donned ski goggles in preparation of the champagne attack.

We stayed until the end. We witnessed that final strike and that mound mosh pit. There's just something about being there in person... to hear the whooping and yelling and back slapping. Experiencing first hand the love these guys have for each other and the hugging and beard tugging. We left when the celebration moved into the clubhouse so we weren't around when the booze-soaked team emerged from the dugout. 

We missed Mike Napoli and David Ortiz spraying beer on fans above the dugout. We missed an army helmeted Jonny Gomes punting beers into the stands (and nailing some guy in the face... oops!) Even Koji got in on the fun, sneaking up on the fans with a spraying champagne bottle as they chanted his name. He even hopped up on top of the dugout to high five the remaining fans. In case you missed it...click HERE.

The Red Sox complete the only worst-to-first turnaround in the club's history. All I know is this year... I believe in magic!

Day 142: Fenway Park Hosts a Special Game While Sox On West Coast

The Red Sox are currently on the road playing on a dreaded west coast swing—those games you barely see the first couple innings of before your eyelids slam shut. You cross your fingers as you check the scores the next morning, just hoping they notched a win in the wee hours of your morning. And last night they did win behind a gem of an outing from Jon Lester and they still hold that slim one game lead. Yay!

Last night, Fenway Park hosted a different kind of game. It was the kind of game where the players didn't earn paychecks that could buy a small country. A game where the fans were admitted to the park for free and asked only for a donation. This game was a game for heroes.

The Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team made a stop in Boston to take on the Boston Marathon First Responders in a charity softball game to benefit the One Fund. According to MLB.com, the WWAST is made up of both veterans and active duty soldiers who have lost limbs and was formed in 2011 when the University of Arizona received a congressional grant to finance a disabled-veteran sports camp. After the week-long camp ended, many of the attendees didn't want to stop and the WWAST was born. The team travels around the country playing against mostly police and fire departments. Pretty much kicking ass and taking names.

The Boston Marathon First Responders was pulled together shortly before the game and evidently learned quickly they were in over their heads. MLB.com says:

The First Responders should've had a few practices beforehand, a theory they realized shortly after the game started. It wasn't that they didn't take their opponent seriously -- "To be on the same field as these guys is an honor itself," said Boston firefighter Phil Byrne, who was three blocks away from the first explosion April 15 -- they just never thought to organize a practice.

The WWAST is such a great role model for both adults and kids, with and without limbs. They display such persistence and determination. There are men who play nearly as well now as they did before their injuries. And they show the younger amputees that life doesn't end with the loss of a limb. General manager, David Van Sleet, an Army veteran, says they have a motto: "Life without limb is limitless. But more importantly, life goes on."

By the way, the First Responders got their butts kicked, 28-11.

Day 108: Those Rolling Stone Idiots Really Have No Clue

Rolling Stone magazine usually doesn't get mentioned much in a sports blog, but when the do something so utterly deplorable, it's sometimes necessary to discuss—even if it's not exactly sports-related. But it sort of is...

Usually one of the first things I do in the morning is scroll through my Facebook timeline to see what sort of hijinks went on overnight. This morning, what I found nearly knocked me off my feet. A posting by a local news station featured the cover photo of the newest issue of Rolling Stone. Now I'm sure this magazine has a whole team of editors and writers and publishers that sit around a table and discuss what musician, celebrity or notable news figure is going to be featured on the cover. Dr. Hook wrote a friggin' song about it so it must be a pretty important place to be. (You're humming the tune right now, aren't you?) So you would think that at least one of these people would have a speck of common sense, right? Wrong.

Rolling Stone decided to write a cover piece on the Boston Marathon bombing. Understandable. It's still a current topic—one that affected countless New Englanders. Many of the victims still struggle daily with their injuries. And there are those families that continue to mourn for those lost in this horrible tragedy. The magazine could've easily picked one of these stories to recount.

What about Richard family? Eight-year-old Martin, whose life was unfairly cut short by that black backpack. Or how about Martin's younger sister, Jane? The seven-year-old endured 39 days in the ICU at Boston's Children's Hospital, undergoing 12 surgeries on her amputated leg. And then there's Martin's mom, Denise, who is blind in one eye.

Maybe Rolling Stone readers would be interested in hearing about bombing victim, Jeff Bauman and the cowboy hat wearing Carlos Arredondo who heroically leapt into action after the blast, saving Jeff's life. Both of Jeff's legs were blown off yet he made the most miraculous recovery, being released from the hospital faster than any other amputee victim. Jeff now has a shiny new pair of legs he showed off before Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals.

But they chose not to write about a victim. Instead, they elected to write about the demon behind this gruesome tragedy. They glorified and rockstarified this useless piece of shit, showcasing his diabolical face on the cover of a national magazine. A magazine that would be prominently displayed in the aisles of local stores across the country, and more importantly New England.

The face of this murdering savage would be staring at victim's families as they shopped at their local grocery store, book store or corner store. Thankfully, many local businesses and chains have boycotted this issue of Rolling Stone. Tedeschi Food Shops, CVS/pharmacy, Roche Bros., Stop and Shop, Cumberland Farms and Shaw's/Star Market have all opted to keep the offensive periodical off it's shelves.

I started to read the article titled: The Bomber: How a Popular, Promising Student Was Failed by His Family, Fell Into Radical Islam and Became a Monster. WTF? I barely made it through one page before I was forced to stop, the bile rising in the back of my throat. I was overwhelmed by disgust and outrage. I don't give a crap what kind of upbringing this asshole had, a shitty family does not give you the right to blow up innocent people... children! Take responsibility for your actions and stop making excuses for your evilness.

I refuse to link the story in this post. If you feel the need to read this steaming pile of vomit, you'll have to use the Google. I'm glad I haven't given that publication a dime of my paycheck since college. Rolling Stone is dead to me.

Day 90: These are a Few of My Favorite (Fenway) Things

Ahhhhh... a Friday night in late June at Fenway Park. Definitely not a bad way to spend a few hours. Every time I step foot onto Yawkey Way, I feel like a kid again—ridiculously excited to walk into the bustling concourse and up the ramp that reveals the field in all its green glory. As I sat there last night witnessing yet another hard-fought win by the Red Sox over the Blue Jays, I tried to pinpoint what makes this ballpark so special.

Maybe it's the history. The 101 year old Fenway Park is the oldest Major League ballpark still in operation. This park has been home to some of the greats like Babe, Ted, Yaz and Pedro. It has seen glorious championship celebrations in 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918 but wouldn't see another one for 86 years. It has seen dramatic home runs and no hitters and strike out records. And it has seen the ultimate in disappointment (but I won't go there, for all our sakes.)

Maybe it's all the green and the red and the blue. The meticulously maintained field... the Green Monster, the green fences surrounding the field. The one red seat in a sea of blue in the bleachers in honor of a Splendid Splinter. The Citgo sign. The blue Boston Strong logo fueling a team to try just a little bit harder because "This is our f---ing city."

Maybe it's the sounds. The man behind me explaining to his two small children each play as it happens... The food vendors pedaling their peeeeea-nuuuuuuts and haaaaaawt doggggggggs... The PA announcer's introduction of the batter at the plate... a "Let's Go Red Sox" cheer started somewhere in the right field corner that quickly spreads from section to section.

Maybe it's the smells—good or bad. Peanuts and popcorn and hot dogs and sausages and cotton candy and pizza and beer. The current temperature has quite a bit of an impact on whether those smells make you want to pig out or vomit. Just for the record, when you stuff yourself beyond capacity pre-game at Boston Beer Works, those smells have an adverse effect.

Maybe it's the closeness. By Major League ballpark standards, Fenway Park is not considered voluminous. Quite the contrary... while you never feel far from the action, you also never feel far from the person sitting next to you. Sometimes they're just too close. Like the fat guy who sat next to me for a few innings... and who also spilled over just a tiny bit into my seat.  *gag* Some might say there's not a bad seat in the house. But those people probably never sat in the right field corner, or behind a support beam.

Maybe it's the energy. While I'm not one to do the wave (call me a commie if you must), I love the fan participation in all parts of the game. Whether it's the guy next to me passionately singing the National Anthem... or the kids in the bleachers belting out Take Me Out to the Ballgame... or the slightly drunk, middle-aged ladies on the Green Monster dancing like nobody's watching to Sweet Caroline... it all makes me smile.

Or maybe it's just the passion. The love Sox fans have for their ball club, win or lose. How we live and die with every pitch, every swing of the bat, every deep fly ball, every diving catch... hoping that in the end, when the last out is made, the sweet sounds of the Standell's Dirty Water fill the park and send fans home with a smile on their face.

Day 58: Jeff Bauman Throws Out First Pitch at Fenway

You may remember the name Jeff Bauman from the April 15th Boston Marathon bombing tragedy. He's the young man made famous by a photo that went viral. The photo depicted a battered Bauman being helped by Carlos Arrandando—a complete stranger that risked his own life, running towards the blast site. Carlos picked up Jeff (whose legs had been blown off in the blast), put him in a wheelchair and kept him from bleeding out by holding on to his femoral artery. Carlos saved Jeff's life.

Jeff has become something of a hero around Boston. His continued upbeat attitude in the face of adversity is a testament to not only his will to live, but his will to heal, to get moving and to get on with his life. Bauman spent about two weeks in the hospital before he was shipped off to rehab—well before any other injured victim. Now he's home and getting ready for his new legs.

The Red Sox invited both Jeff and his rescuer, Carlos, to throw out the first pitch tonight at Fenway Park. In an interview with Dennis and Callahan on WEEI a few weeks ago, Jeff said he would do it only if Carlos did it too so they both took the mound. Prior to the first pitch, Pedro Martinez met with the pair and gave Jeff some tips on putting some action on the ball.

David Ortiz served as Carlos' target, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia, as requested by Jeff, caught his pitch—a fastball right down the middle. Jeff wasn't worried about muffing the pitch though. He told D and C this morning that if his pitch wasn't that great, Salty would frame it. Looked like no framing was needed for that one. Jeff even called it a strike!

Jeff Bauman is an inspiration. A Boston Strong inspiration.

Day 37: Stay Classless, Toronto!

Since the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15th, the displays of sportsmanship towards the Boston teams and the city of Boston has been more than anyone ever expected. Even from their most hated rivals. The gestures have been heartwarming and reminiscent of sporting events post-9/11.

Baseball teams across the country showed support by adopting Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" for one night. The rival Yankees posted a United We Stand banner on their stadium facade with both their logo and the Boston B. Sox jerseys were displayed with the 617 area code...bats were engraved with names of victims.

NBA teams like the Knicks, Rockets, Timerberwolves, Magic and Nuggets observed moments of silence before their games, as did teams throughout the NHL and MLB. The Philadelphia Flyers held a moment of silence before their game the night following the bombings, and also showed a tribute to victims and first responders during "God Bless America." Phoenix Coyote and Boston native, Keith Yandle wrote "Pray for Boston" on his skate.

Fans everywhere adopted the battle cry born from this tragedy—Boston Strong. This city needed to heal after those horrific events and staying Boston Strong was the way. No one complained. No one selfishly wondered why their town couldn't be "strong" too. Until this week.

Last night, the NHL playoff series between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs moved to Toronto for Game 3—the series tied 1-1. And one fan was keen on making the arena uncomfortable for not only his fellow fans, but for the men in black and gold. Not only was this one of the more classless acts I've ever seen at a sporting event, it's almost as if this man has no clue what he did was wrong.

REALLY?? Not sure if this guy has suffered a traumatic brain injury or if he's just comes by his stupidity honestly. What I do know is his douchebaggery knows no limits. You poked the bear, dumbass. Not smart.

Day 22: A Bat For a Good Cause

I think I've mentioned this before, but I absolutely love this Red Sox team. Love! Attitude, spirit, heart, guts, grit... just love. And the more I get to know some of the new guys, the more I can't help but love them a little more each day. This past week hasn't hurt their standing with me either—with so much sympathy and respect and tributes pouring out of several member of the team every day.

Photo courtesy of Will Middlebrooks Instagram

Whether it's Will Middlebrooks writing "Boston Strong" on his cleat, Jon Lester tweeting about the victims being on his mind during his performance last week, or Big Papi's heartfelt speech about whose city Boston really is—it has all been very inspiring.

Jonny Gomes took inspiration to a new level in the first game of yesterday's double header. On a suggestion by his agent, he had the names of the victims slain in (or as a result of) last Monday's tragedy, including MIT officer Sean Collier, engraved into the barrel of his bat. Of the four etched bats, Gomes used two in the game and plans to have the other two signed by the team and auctioned off to raise money. *sniff sniff*

It's too bad the bat didn't do more to help the Sox take at least one from the Royals on Sunday. Nothing sucks more than being swept in a double header.

Day 21: Sometimes the F-Word is Just So Necessary!

It was an emotional day at Fenway Park yesterday as the Boston Red Sox did their part to honor both the victims and the heroes in the Marathon bombing. The Sox donned special game day home jerseys where they replaced the familiar "Red Sox" with "Boston" and included a B Strong patch. And nearly everyone in the stands wore something that tied them to Beantown.

The poignant ceremony began with a tribute with photos of the Marathon...then the explosions...and then the chaos...all with the song "Hallelujah" accompanying it. It was hard to keep the lip from quivering. Then, victims of Monday's tragedy were invited out to throw the ceremonial first pitches while members of the Boston and Watertown police departments stood alongside.

An enormous American flag was dropped over the Green Monster and it was time for the national anthem. And for the second time in less than a week, I was reduced to tears as an entire stadium of over 35,000 Boston Strong joined together and sang.

As those involved in the pre game on-field ceremony began to file off, David Ortiz, fresh off the DL, took control of the microphone.

"All right," he said. "All right, Boston. This jersey that we wear today, it doesn't say Red Sox. It says Boston. We want to thank you Mayor Menino, Gov. Patrick, the whole police department for the great job they did this past week."

And then, he hits us with this... (needless to say, I almost fell of my couch and I even needed to rewind to make sure I actually heard what I thought I heard!)

And the FCC agreed that in this case, there was no need for a fine. Smart people. No one could have said it any better!

Oh yeah, and the Sox won on a 3-run homer by Daniel Nava in the 8th inning—most certainly sparked by a surprise visit by Neil Diamond to help sing Sweet Caroline!

What a day!

Day 19: Boston Breathes a Sigh of Relief

Like most of New England and the country, I've been riveted to the news coverage since early this morning. I awoke to the reports of one Boston Marathon bombing suspect having been killed overnight and the second suspect on the lam. Although I live over 100 miles away, my guts clenched with every "this just in" I heard over the course of the day.

This one lowlife scrap of pond scum escaped police custody in the wee hours of this morning and led the city of Boston's authorities on a man hunt of epic proportions. This one 19-year-old douche bag who was worse than a dirty piece of chewed gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe, shut down the entire city of Boston for a whole day. This child-murdering pile of steaming rat shit forced an entire population to stay locked inside on a beautiful spring day and forced the Red Sox and Bruins to postpone games.

If you haven't seen the pictures of an eerily deserted Boston, click here. One of the creepiest things I've seen in a long time. And here you can see the views from inside and what Bostonians saw all day.

But now... that evil terrorist is in police custody and miraculously still alive. The authorities found him after someone saw some suspicious movement in a trailered boat. He was surrounded and taken after a couple hours and a few rounds of shots fired. Congratulations to the Boston Police Department and all the many other law enforcement agents that helped to get this dirty bastid.

I'm sure there are a lot of big, relieved sighs in Beantown. A lot of stomachs unclenching. A lot of stir crazy people taking to the streets to try and enjoy the last hours of the warm, spring weather. And I'm sure I'm not the only one happy to see this gunfire-riddled day end and peace restored for my friends to the south. Sleep well, Boston.

[I know this technically isn't a sports post, although I did mention the Sox and the Bruins, but I just thought it would be disrespectful to pretend like none of this ever happened.]

Day 18: Wow, Boston... Just WOW!

I'm rarely left speechless. But after seeing this...

Day 17: Sweet Caroline... In Stereo!

If you've ever been to Fenway Park, you most certainly have heard Neil Diamond's popular ditty, 'Sweet Caroline' in the middle of the 8th inning. Hell, I bet you even did a little singing and dancing in your seat. It's definitely a Red Sox staple—like Dirty Water is their victory anthem. At times you might roll your eyes because you've heard the song a million times and why oh why must they play it again? But last night was a night you wanted to hear Neil.

Tuesday night, just a day after the horrifying events that took place at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, baseball teams across the country lifted the city of Boston up on their shoulders with a touch of class. The tribute went viral and at just about every park across the country, it felt like Friendly Fenway. As a gesture of support, teams played 'Sweet Caroline' at their home stadiums.

It started earlier in the day on Tuesday when the arch rival New York Yankees announced they would play the pop tune during the third inning. And from the looks of the footage from the game, each and every Yankee cap-clad fan in the Bronx belted the tune at the top of their lungs. Even Neil himself was touched.

The Yankees weren't alone. The Cleveland Indians, who were hosting the Sox, played the number during the pregame. The Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, LA Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's—to name a few—all followed suit.

"I think it's a touch of class by, not only Cleveland, but every Major League city around baseball that has done something tonight," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "I saw the sign on the front of the facade at Yankee Stadium and I think the fact that they played 'Sweet Caroline' in the third inning there, I think it's a touch of class by all of Major League Baseball to acknowledge this."

After such a tragic day on Monday, this gesture by Major League Baseball was So Good, So Good, So Good! (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)