Quick Takes #3: The Celtics are off to a strong start this offseason, and here’s why

June 21, 2021June 21, 2021 Andrew Roberts Celtics, NBA Al Horford, Boston, Boston Celtics, Brad Stevens, Celtics, Danny Ainge, DeMar DeRozan, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Kyle Lowry, Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Mike Conley, Moses Brown, NBA, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Thunder, Payton Pritchard, Thunder, Time Lord

Happy summer everyone! I’ve been pretty busy with school over the last couple of months, which explains the lack of content recently. However, with summer here, there’s plenty to look forward to on this website starting today.

The NBA playoffs are beginning to wind down as the conference finals are set. Meanwhile most teams, including the Celtics, have moved onto next season. The Celtics have already been busy, as Danny Ainge stepped down making way for former head coach Brad Stevens to take his job. Stevens has began searching for Boston’s new head coach and in the meantime he has made his first trade: dealing Kemba Walker, a 1st round pick, and a 2025 2nd round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Al Horford (who returns to the team after leaving in 2019), Moses Brown, and a 2023 2nd round pick.

Initially, I was very confused by these moves. Back in February I wrote about why the Celtics should hold onto Kemba Walker. It turns out that it was too early to judge at that point, when Walker had only played 6 games on the season. It has since become clear that Walker is not the player he used to be, as his knee injury continues to linger. Besides, he didn’t even want to be in Boston anymore. What made me skeptical of the move at first is that I felt like the Celtics settled for an underwhelming return package just to get Walker out of Boston as quickly as possible. Horford and another big man don’t seem like much in exchange for Walker and a draft pick downgrade. However, if you look beyond the surface, this is a good trade for the Celtics.

First of all, it’s important to remember the fact that Walker is no longer a superstar player. It would have taken a package deal with Marcus Smart and possibly others to get a superstar player back in a Kemba Walker deal. With Walker gone, the Celtics have flexibility. They can move Smart or Payton Pritchard into the starting point guard role and fill other positions, or they can go looking for a new point guard in free agency. While Walker isn’t a superstar player anymore, he was on a “supermax” contract. With his contract off of the Celtics payroll, the team has money to make significant moves in free agency. I think they should use the money they have to look for a true third option behind the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Notable free agents this offseason include veterans like Mike Conley, DeMar DeRozan, and Kyle Lowry.

It does suck to give up a 1st round pick, but it’s rare that a player drafted 16th overall ends up contributing much in the short term, and the Celtics have had a lot of failed first round picks in the years since they drafted Tatum and Brown. Pritchard and Robert Williams have been our best first rounders since then, and neither of them are even regular starters just yet. With the right moves, this is a team that can win now. They invested in the long term when they drafted Tatum and Brown. Now it’s time to invest in the short term. Horford may not be what he used to be, but the additions of Horford and Moses Brown make an immediate difference for our power forward/center depth.

As for the Brad Stevens move, some people have criticized it, and I was a bit shocked at first, but I like it. Stevens was a good head coach, but the players didn’t seem to listen to him anymore. This role allows Stevens to use the basketball knowledge he has without having to interact directly with the players as much. In addition, I think Stevens’ first trade in this role is a sign that he is willing to be aggressive this offseason. Danny Ainge used to be aggressive as well, but has gotten complacent in recent years. Once the Celtics had the firepower to at least make the Eastern Conference Finals, he settled for what the team already had. This year was a wake up call that as time passed, the Celtics needed to make some changes not only to win a championship, but even to win a playoff series. Stevens is willing to execute those changes. It seems he is also prioritizing a head coach that will get along well with the players, and that’s just what this team needs. The players need to have a good connection with the staff, or Boston will become an undesirable system to be a part of. We’ve already seen Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker grow to resent this system. That cannot happen with Tatum, Brown, or any new key players the team signs.

Comment with your thoughts on the Celtics offseason so far, and who you think they should target in free agency.

Celebrating 7 Years of Boston Sports Mania

March 25, 2021 Andrew Roberts MLB, Special Occasions 2014, 7 Years, Apparel, Autism, Autism Acceptance, Autism Acceptance Day, Autism Acceptance Month, Autism Awareness, Autism Awareness Day, Autism Awareness Month, B's, Baseball, Basketball, Blog, Blog Anniversary, Blogaversary, Boston, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Sports Mania, Bruins, Campaign, Celtics, Celts, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Flutie Foundation, Football, Fundraiser, Hockey, Merchandise, MLB, MLB Predictions, MLB Preview, NBA, New England Patriots, NFL, NHL, Patriots, Pats, Red Sox, Sox, Spectrum Designs, Sports Blog, Sports Journalism, The Master Plan

Today marks 7 years since I took a book out of the library and decided to start this blog, posting an MLB 2014 Preview. That’s pretty fitting considering my sports fandom began with baseball.

Just like I did in 2014 and have done in every year since, I’ll be posting my MLB season predictions before the season begins. For the second year in a row, I collaborated on these predictions with my cousin Michael. I made an appearance on his podcast, The Master Plan. I’ll have a post up about those this weekend. In the meantime, I have some special announcements to make.

I designed this new logo in commemoration of this 7 year blog anniversary as well as the upcoming Autism Acceptance Month this April:

When I was first diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, my parents were told I may never speak. I have made lots of progress since then, from learning to talk, read, and write, to discovering my passion for sports, to starting this blog. After starting this blog, I realized I wanted to become a professional sports journalist, and I have been lucky enough to have some experiences in the industry thanks to connections I’ve made through this blog.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the supportive communities that helped me along the way. That’s why I’ve launched a apparel fundraising campaign featuring this new logo to help give back to the autism community this April.

Click here or watch the video below for more information on this campaign:

I’m excited to be celebrating 7 years of Boston Sports Mania and Autism Acceptance Month with this campaign, and I look forward to keeping this website active for many years to come.

Boston Sports Mania Apparel Fundraiser for Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism

March 19, 2021October 19, 2021 Andrew Roberts Special Occasions Algonquin, Algonquin Harbinger, Algonquin T-Hawks, Algonquin Tomahawks, Andrew Roberts, Antoinette Antonio, APEX, APEX Entertainment, APEX Entertainment Center, Apparel, Autism, Autism Acceptance Day, Autism Acceptance Month, Autism Awareness Day, Autism Awareness Month, B's, Blog Anniversary, Blogiversary, Boston, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Sports Mania, Bruins, C's, Celtics, Celts, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, FCSN, Federation for Children with Special Needs, fenway Park, Flutie Fellow, Flutie Foundation, Fundraiser, Gillette Stadium, Gonk, Gonk Knocks, Gronk, Harbinger, Logo, MBTA, NECC, New England, New England Center for Children, New England Patriots, Patriots, Red Sox, Rob Gronkowski, Sox, Spectrum Designs, Swag, T, T-Hawks, TD Garden, Thrive, Thrive Advocacy, Tomahawks, WCVB, WCVB Boston

Next month is Autism Acceptance Month and I am running a fundraiser with Boston Sports Mania apparel where all profits will go to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. The Flutie Foundation is an organization who helps people and families affected by autism live life to the fullest.

Apex Entertainment decided to support me again when they learned I designed a new Boston Sports Mania logo to commemorate my 7 year blog anniversary, and also recognize the Flutie Foundation for their contributions to my success. As you can see from the logo below, the Flutie Foundation logo represents the second “O” in the word Boston.

Receive a FREE Apex Entertainment attraction voucher with every purchase of BostonSportsMania.com apparel

The Boston Red Sox have also joined to help the apparel campaign. As a result, you can win an additional prize just for placing an order.

The largest three April orders by total order dollar amount will win an additional prize as follows (please see photos below of the prizes):

1st place prize: Autographed Chris Sale jersey
2nd place prize: Autographed Rafael Devers baseball
3rd place prize: Autographed box of Flutie Flakes (from the Flutie Foundation)

I also want to give a special thanks to Spectrum Designs, a business that helps individuals with autism lead full and productive lives through the world of work. They produced the apparel and donated the ordering website.

The best part of this campaign is that every dollar raised will benefit the autism community in some way, because the Flutie Foundation helps people and families affected by autism and Spectrum Designs employs people with autism.

Purchase your apparel and/or make a donation to support the Flutie Foundation by clicking HERE

Basketball Bits #1: What do the Celtics need to win it all?

June 26, 2019October 17, 2021 Andrew Roberts Basketball Bits, NBA Al Horford, Basketball Bits, Boston, Boston Celtics, Bucks, Bulls, C's, Celtics, Celts, Chicago, Chicago Bulls, D'Angelo Russell, DeMarcus Cousins, Detroit, Detroit Pistons, Golden State, Golden State Warriors, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, KD, Kemba Walker, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, Klay Thompson, Knicks, Kyrie Irving, LA, LA Lakers, Lakers, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Lakers, Michael Jordan, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, New York, New York Knicks, Nikola Vucevic, NY, NY Knicks, Paul Pierce, Pistons, Ray Allen, Rick Barry, San Antonio, San Antonio Spurs, Spurs, Steph Curry, Stephen Curry, Warriors

Screenshot 2019-06-26 at 9.15.09 AM.png

This year’s NBA off-season will be pivotal for many teams across the league. Going into free agency, I see no clear favorite to win the NBA Finals. Even the Warriors could fall out of contention if Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and DeMarcus Cousins all leave as free agents. A handful of big names will be on the open market, and whoever dominates in free agency should have a good chance to win it all. Even teams who struggled mightily in 2018-19 like the Knicks and Lakers have the chance to jump into title contention with the help of a strong off-season.

The Celtics are in an interesting situation. Last season, they were expected to be serious title contenders with the return of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward from injury alongside the rise of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and others. But Kyrie Irving did not mesh well with the team, and he grew to dislike Boston. The expectation going into the season was that Kyrie Irving would return to the Celtics on a long term deal or at least 1 more year on his player option before agreeing to a long term deal. But now, Irving is expected to leave for Brooklyn, LA, or somewhere else.

With Irving expected to leave, what do the Celtics need in order to stay relevant and a potential championship contender? Do they need a star who will be a better leader than Kyrie was? Do they need multiple stars? Will they just roll with the young core of Tatum and Brown? Do they have enough cap space to do what they need to do? I researched every NBA champion in history and looked at how many star players they had, using 20 PPG as criteria for stardom. I also included the number of 25 PPG and 30 PPG scorers, as these players are less common. Check out my research as well as some Basketball Bits.

The Research

Basketball Bits #1_ Stars on Championship Teams – Sheet1

The “Basketball Bits”

The NBA has 73 champions all-time
- Just 14 of 73 (19.2%) lacked a 20 PPG scorer
  - 35 of 73 (47.95%) had 1 20 PPG scorer
  - 22 of 73 (30.1%) had 2 20 PPG scorers
  - Just 2 of 73 (2.7%) had 3 20 PPG scorers:
    - The 2017-18 Golden State Warriors (Stephen Curry, Thompson, Durant)
    - The 2016-17 Golden State Warriors (Curry, Thompson, Durant)
- 47 of 73 (64.4%) lacked a 25 PPG scorer
  - 20 of 73 (27.4%) had 1 25 PPG scorer
  - 6 of 73 (8.2%) had 2 25 PPG scorers
- 67 of 73 (91.8%) lacked a 30 PPG scorer – nobody had more than 1
The Boston Celtics have won 17 championships:
- None of them had a 30 PPG scorer
- Only 2 of 17 (11.8%) had a 25 PPG scorer
- 5 of 17 (29.4%) lacked a 20 PPG scorer
- 8 of 17 (47.1%) had 1 20 PPG scorer
- 4 of 17 (23.5%) had 2 20 PPG scorers
In the last 25 years:
- Only 3 teams (12%) have won it all without a 20 PPG scorer:
  - The 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs (Most recent)
  - The 2007-08 Boston Celtics
  - The 2003-04 Detroit Pistons
- Only 10 teams (40%) have won it all without 25 PPG scorer
In the NBA’s first 25 years:
- 6 teams (24%) won it all without a 20 PPG scorer
- 21 teams (84%) won it all without a 25 PPG scorer
Between 1972 and 1994 (everything else):
- 5 teams (21.7%) won it all without a 20 PPG scorer
- 16 teams (69.6%) won it all without a 25 PPG scorer
There are only 3 franchises who have ever won a championship with a 30 PPG scorer:
- The Chicago Bulls (4 times, Michael Jordan)
- The Milwaukee Bucks (1 time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
- The Golden State Warriors (1 time, Rick Barry)

The Verdict

In this era, the Celtics will need at least one consistent 20-25 PPG scorer to win a title, and a second would be helpful. You never know, maybe Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown can be our guys. But I think pairing Tatum and Brown with a star point guard or star center would be ideal. The Celtics did win with a handful of 15-20 PPG scorers in 2008. That was in the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett/Ray Allen era. I doubt they can put something like that together again in today’s NBA with all these stars on the open market.

But if they sign one star player that can allow Tatum and Brown to thrive while that player still puts up 25 PPG, such as PG Kemba Walker, PG D’Angelo Russell, or C Nikola Vucevic, this team could have the chance to contend. They aren’t going to pull the trigger if it puts their future at risk. I don’t think that will happen. But do they have enough money? Do these stars want to sign in Boston unlike Kyrie Irving? I can’t wait to find out, and I’ll be releasing my predictions soon.

NBA 2019 Playoff Predictions: Who Finally Takes Down Golden State?

April 14, 2019April 14, 2019 Andrew Roberts NBA, Picks & Previews 76ers, Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin, Boston, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Nets, Bucks, C's, Celtics, Celts, Chris Paul, Clippers, CP3, Denver, Denver Nuggets, Detroit, Detroit Pistons, Eastern Conference, Eastern Conference Semifinals, Eastern Conference Semis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Golden State, Golden State Warriors, Greek Freak, Houston, Houston Rockets, Indiana, Indiana Pacers, James Harden, Jazz, Kawhi Leonard, KD, Kevin Durant, Kyle Lowry, Kyrie Irving, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Clippers, Magic, Marcus Smart, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Finals, NBA Playoffs, Nets, Nuggets, OKC, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando, Orlando Magic, Pacers, Philadelphia, Philadelphia 76ers, Philly, Pistons, Playoffs, Portland, Portland Trail Blazers, Raptors, Rockets, San Antonio, San Antonio Spurs, Sixers, Spurs, Steph Curry, Stephen Curry, Thunder, Toronto, Toronto Raptors, Trail Blazers, Utah, Utah Jazz, Victor Oladipo, Warriors, Western Conference

I know, it’s a little late. But before we know the surefire winner of each series, I figured I’d share my NBA Playoff bracket. Believe it or not, I don’t think Golden State’s championship-winning streak will stay alive. But who could possibly beat the Warriors? See my prediction below:

Screenshot 2019-04-11 at 3.36.41 PM

I have the Celtics taking down the Warriors in a 7-game series. But how will they get there?

I think Boston should easily take down the Pacers. With Victor Oladipo out of the picture, I cannot see Indiana doing much in these playoffs. Kyrie Irving ruined the Celtics’ chemistry during the regular season, but I don’t think this will be as apparent in the playoffs, where the whole team will be motivated and willing to do whatever it takes to win it all.

The Pistons may have Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond to lead them, but that won’t be enough to pull off a series upset over Giannis Antetokounmpo and a powerful Milwaukee Bucks team. However, the Celtics have multiple star players on their roster who will outplay Greek Freak’s teammates and help Boston win in the Eastern Conference semifinals. I can’t see anyone getting in Toronto’s way until they face the Celtics. The Raptors are by far the strongest team in their quadrant of the bracket, led offensively by Kyle Lowry and defensively by Kawhi Leonard.

But I do see Boston riding the momentum and overcoming adversity as they take down Toronto. Their roster is stacked, so if the Celtics are on the same page motivation-wise and get off to a strong start (as I see them doing against Indiana), they could be a threat to Golden State.

The Warriors should not have a hard time with Western Conference opponents though. Besides Boston, the Warriors are the only team I have sweeping their first round opponent. The Rockets won’t be as easy an opponent as the Clippers, but a healthy Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant will outplay James Harden and Chris Paul. I could see the Thunder, KD’s old team, making a run as well. Portland is known for playoff choking, and Denver’s lack of experience could come back to haunt them. I think they should be able to handle the San Antonio Spurs, but the Thunder might be a bit much for an inexperienced team like the Nuggets.

Golden State, however, will end Oklahoma City’s run. With Marcus Smart back and the team united by a common goal, the Celtics should have a chance at Golden State and I’m staying optimistic with this bracket. I’m sick of Golden State winning, and it would make it even better if the Celtics could be the team to finally beat them. As long as Kyrie Irving’s selfish ways don’t come back to haunt them, the Celtics should have a chance.

That’s all for my playoff predictions this year. Stay tuned for more Celtics playoff coverage soon.

October Sports Mania: A Busy Month in Boston Sports

October 24, 2018October 28, 2018 Andrew Roberts Bruins, Celtics, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Patriots, Red Sox 'Stros, 76ers, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Cora, Astros, Bears, Bills, Blake Griffin, Boston, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Bruins, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, Canada, Canadiens, Canucks, Carolina, Carolina Hurricanes, Celtics, Celts, Chicago, Chicago Bears, Chiefs, Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw, Colts, Detroit, Detroit Pistons, Dodgers, Edmonton, Edmonton Oilers, Flyers, Green Bay, Green Bay Packers, Habs, Houston, Houston Astros, Hurricanes, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, Indy, J.D. Martinez, Josh Allen, Josh Gordon, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, KC, KC Chiefs, Knicks, LA, LA Dodgers, LeSean McCoy, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Magic, MLB, Montreal, Montreal Canadiens, NBA, NBA Predictions, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Knicks, New York Yankees, NFL, NHL, NY, NY Knicks, NY Yankees, October Sports Mania, Oilers, OKC, OKC Thunder, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando, Orlando Magic, Pack, Packers, Patriots, Pats, Philadelphia, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers, Philly, Pistons, Raptors, Red Sox, Sixers, Sox, Thunder, Toronto, Toronto Raptors, Vancouver, Vancouver Canucks, world series, Yankees, Yanks

If you’re a Boston sports fan, you may have noticed an unusual amount of Boston teams playing lately. Right now, Boston is the only city with an MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL team that are all in season. From October 16 to October 31, there could be 16 consecutive days of Boston sports (depending on how the Red Sox do in the World Series). From October 3 to October 31, there could be as many as 39 Boston sports events. If the Red Sox hadn’t defeated the Astros in 5, all four teams would have played in one weekend. So far, it’s gone very well, as Boston sports teams have a 16-6-2 win-loss record this October. I’m calling it October Sports Mania, and today, I will give an update on all 4 teams with my thoughts during this time of madness.

MLB: Boston Red Sox

Regular Season Record: 108-54

Record in October: 7-2

Current Status: Won American League, Made World Series

Context: For the first time in 5 years, the Red Sox have made the World Series! They have made it three other times in the 21st century, and they haven’t lost in a 21st century World Series appearance. This time, they take on the Dodgers in what could be one of the best World Series’ of the 21st century. Game 1 went down October 23, as Chris Sale faced Clayton Kershaw and the Red Sox won in a surprising slugfest. Who will win this exciting series? I’m calling Red Sox in 6 or 7 games. But considering that I have to get to school at 7:20 AM every day and the games start at 8:00 or 8:15 PM (some on school nights), I may not see every minute live like I would want to.

Note to commissioner: Please make World Series games start earlier. A 6PM start, like the Super Bowl, would be nice.

October Schedule

Past Games

10/5/2018 vs. NYY: W, 5-4 (ALDS Game 1, BOS leads 1-0)
10/6/2018 vs. NYY: L, 6-2 (ALDS Game 2, series tied 1-1)
10/8/2018 @ NYY: W, 16-1 (ALDS Game 3, BOS leads 2-1)
10/9/2018 @ NYY: W, 4-3 (ALDS Game 4, BOS wins 3-1)
10/13/2018 vs. HOU, L, 7-2 (ALCS Game 1, HOU leads 1-0)
10/14/2018 vs. HOU, W, 7-5 (ALCS Game 2, series tied 1-1)
10/16/2018 @ HOU, W, 8-2 (ALCS Game 3, BOS leads 2-1)
10/17/2018 @ HOU, W, 8-6 (ALCS Game 4, BOS leads 3-1)
10/18/2018 @ HOU, W, 4-1 (ALCS Game 5, BOS wins 4-1)
10/23/2018 vs. LAD, W, 8-4 (World Series Game 1, BOS leads 1-0)

Upcoming Games

10/24/2018 vs. LAD (World Series Game 2)
10/26/2018 @ LAD (World Series Game 3)
10/30/2018 vs. LAD (World Series Game 6, if necessary)
10/31/2018 vs. LAD (World Series Game 7, if necessary)

My Thoughts on Them So Far This Month

The Red Sox dominated all season after the addition of star hitter J.D. Martinez and manager Alex Cora. But in both 2016 and 2017, they choked in the playoffs. I had confidence in them against the Yankees in the ALDS, but that confidence was weaker due to these chokes and the fact that the Yankees were also a Top 3 MLB team this year. The Sox also had regressed throughout the month of September. But when they faced the Yankees in the ALDS, they returned to form. The bullpen was clutch and the lineup had awoken. They rode the momentum into the ALCS. It wasn’t looking good after Game 1, but they easily defeated the stacked, defending champion Houston Astros in the final four games. They have now advanced into an exciting World Series against the Dodgers. This series could go either way. Do you think the Sox take it all?

Predictions for the Rest of the Month

This World Series will not be smooth sailing. I didn’t even expect the ALCS to end in 5 games. But I have confidence that the Red Sox will win. As long as Chris Sale is good to go and the lineup keeps making fireworks, we should take this series in 6 or 7 games.

NFL: New England Patriots

Regular Season Record: 5-2

Record in October: 3-0

Current Status: Riding Four Game Win Streak into MNF Division Duel

Context: The Pats are riding a 4 game win streak, and they’ve scored at least 30 points in every game since WR Josh Gordon was activated. They beat the Kansas City Chiefs, who arguably have the best offense in the league, 43-40. Will they ride the momentum to a Super Bowl victory? This dominant offensive performance will serve them well, but they nearly lost to the Chicago Bears because of bad defense. Their defense is going to need to step up their game for a win on the big stage.

October Schedule

Past Games

10/4/2018 vs. IND: W, 38-24
10/14/2018 vs. KC: W, 43-40
10/21/2018 @ CHI: W, 38-31

Upcoming Games

10/29/2018 @ BUF

My Thoughts on Them so far This Month

I was very impressed by the win against Kansas City. The Chiefs may have one of the worst defenses in the league. But the fact that the Pats also scored 30+ against the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins shows that this offense is here to play. They took down the 5-0 Chiefs, who had averaged 35 points per game and were riding the momentum to dominance.

Predictions for the Rest of the Month

The Patriots should be able to take down the 1-6 Bills easily with QB Josh Allen and RB LeSean McCoy banged-up. But their next major test will come in Week 9 when they host QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. They will need their best defense in that game.

NBA: Boston Celtics

Regular Season Record: 2-2

October Record: 2-2

Current Status: Off to Slow Start, Hoping to Rebound for Big Year

Context: The Celtics are off to a slow start. They did take down the 76ers and Knicks, but they fell to the Kawhi Leonard-led Raptors in Toronto and suffered an embarrassing loss when hosting the Orlando Magic on Monday. Will they pick up the pace and contend for a championship?

October Schedule

Past Games

10/16/2018 vs. PHI, W, 105-87
10/19/2018 @ TOR, L, 113-101
10/20/2018 @ NYK, W, 103-101
10/22/2018 vs. ORL, L, 93-90

Upcoming Games

10/25/2018 @ OKC
10/27/2018 @ DET
10/30/2018 vs. DET

My Thoughts on Them so far This Month

I’m not so worried about the Celtics despite a rough start. They topped the 76ers (told you they would regress) by almost 20 and got past the Knicks in New York. Their loss to Toronto is understandable. The Raptors have only improved after the Kawhi Leonard trade and I did not expect the Celts to come to Toronto and win easily. As for the loss to Orlando, it was a little disappointing. But the Magic have a strong young core that could surprise a lot of people this year. I would not be concerned if they struggle in Oklahoma City and Detroit, both of whom I see contending. (Note: I’m pretty sure I was right about the Pistons in my NBA Predictions, Blake Griffin put up 50 against the Sixers).

Predictions for the Rest of the Month

Expect them to split in two games against an improved Detroit Pistons squad. I think their next game against Oklahoma City could go either way. But even if they start 3-4, I think they’ll pull it together and contend for a title in the long run.

NHL: Boston Bruins

Regular Season Record: 5-2-2 (12 PTS)

October Record: 5-2-2 (12 PTS)

Current Status: So-So in Canada, Come Home Thursday

Context: After a shaky four game road trip across Canada, the Bruins come home to face the Flyers and Canadiens. Montreal has been off to a strong start, and Philly has been alright as well, so wins won’t come easy over these next couple games either.

October Schedule

Past Games

10/3/2018 @ WSH, L, 7-0
10/4/2018 @ BUF, W, 4-0
10/8/2018 vs. OTT, W, 6-3
10/11/2018 vs. EDM, W, 4-1
10/13/2018 vs. DET, W, 8-2
10/17/2018 @ CGY, L, 5-2
10/18/2018 @ EDM, OTL, 3-2
10/20/2018 @ VAN, OTL, 2-1
10/23/2018 @ OTT, W, 4-1

Upcoming Games

10/25/2018 vs. PHI
10/27/2018 vs. MTL
10/30/2018 @ CAR

My Thoughts on them so far This Month

The Bruins might not be top Stanley Cup contenders, but it seems that this young, talented team has picked up where they left off last year. They are still a playoff team for sure and have appeared to be one of the better teams in the league. I’m a little concerned about their losses to the Oilers and Canucks, but it’s early in the season, and they’ve been doing fine otherwise.

Predictions for the Rest of the Month

Look for more of the same heading into the end of the month. I could see them taking down Philly and Montreal in close home games, and I would expect them to give the Hurricanes a wake-up call after their surprisingly strong start. I had anticipated that the Hurricanes would start like this given their schedule, but trust me, it will not last that much longer.

That’s all for today. I hope you enjoy the rest of this crazy month in sports, and stay tuned for more articles on all four teams soon.

Silver Medal APEX Celebration with the Lagasse Family

August 9, 2018August 9, 2018 Andrew Roberts Special Occasions, Uncategorized Aerosmith, Aerosmith Pinball, APEX, APEX Entertainment, APEX Entertainment Center, Basketball, Boston, Boston Celtics, Boston Celtics Basketball, C's, Candlepin Bowling, Celtics, Celts, Deb Lagasse, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Facebook, Facebook Live, Flutie Fellow, Flutie Foundation, Greater Lowell Tech, Kimball Farm, Level V Golf, Marcus Kemblowski, Marlborough, Nick Savarese, Olympic Bubble Hockey, Olympics, Pinball, Pit Stop Tavern, Sean MacLaughlin, Special Olympics, Special Olympics Massachusetts, Special Olympics USA Games, Tayla Normandie, Tyler Lagasse, USA Games

On Monday, I met up with Tyler Lagasse and his mom, Deb at APEX Entertainment Center to celebrate his Special Olympics USA Games silver medal win in Seattle.

We met at the sports simulators and I introduced Tyler and his mom to my mom and my brother, Ryan, who could not make it for the Seattle trip. After that, APEX set us up for a round of golf, and we went live on Facebook. The video includes Tyler’s first swing at the APEX golf simulator. Here’s a sneak peek:

Click here for the full video.

We had the entire evening planned out as seen below:

Since it was my first time playing any kind of golf (besides mini-golf), it took at least five swings for me to get the hang of it. But with the help of Tyler, I caught on fairly quickly. Since he is a lefty, he was especially helpful because watching him was like looking in the mirror. By my 10th swing, I was driving the ball almost 100 yards in the simulator. We only had time for a couple of holes, and Tyler dominated, but I still really enjoyed it. I’m definitely eager to give the golf simulator another try, and you never know, golf could be a sport I could try to play. Of course my broadcasting career will still come first.

Here are some highlights of Tyler and I at the golf simulator:

After finishing at the golf simulator, we had a few minutes to spare before our reserved private go-kart race. We decided to take each other on in a Boston Celtics basketball arcade game. I beat Tyler in this one, totaling over 60 points in two rounds. After our basketball competition, it was time to race.

Tyler, Ryan, my dad, and I were all in the race. We walked back to the go-kart track and put our head socks on. We watched a video on safety rules before putting our helmets on and getting settled in our go-karts. They started the race very soon after. After passing Tyler and my dad early, I knew I was doing well.

I beat Tyler by 0.119 seconds with a fastest lap of 38.015, but came in 2nd to my dad, who’s best time was 36.339. Tyler’s fastest time was 38.134, putting him in 3rd place. He was a few seconds ahead of Ryan, who had a best time of 41.441.

Here are the results, taken directly from an email I received from APEX after the race:

Thank you for your visit.

Here you can find your results.

Results for Session 30 at 5:18 PM

Heat overview		Best time
1.	killerken (my dad)	36.339
2.	AndrewrBSM (me)	38.015
3.	tyler (Tyler)	38.134
4.	Ryguy335YT (my brother)	41.441

Unlike last time, APEX gave us a sheet with more detailed results:

Here are some highlights from the race:

After that, we headed upstairs to the classic arcade section. We started by facing off in a few rounds of Olympic bubble hockey.

In the first game, there were no goals for a long while, but Tyler beat me 1-0 after I accidentally shot it into my own goal. However, I won the second game, and we both wanted a rubber match. In the rubber match, it was a close one, as Tyler led 2-1 with seconds to go (It requires a goal to end the game). If I scored, it went to overtime. But after a lot of good defense, Tyler scored the game-winning goal to make it 3-1.

Tyler wanted to play Aerosmith pinball after that, one of my favorites. It wasn’t my best day in pinball, but even if it was a good day for me, I wouldn’t have beat Tyler. He had never played pinball before but he was a quick study, scoring over 30000 points, earning the multiball, and a winning a free game. Here are some highlights from the arcade:

Tyler played out his free game, but after that, it was time to bowl. Tayla Normandie, who was assisting Sean MacLaughlin in hosting us for the day, booked us for candlepin in Lane 1. It turned out that Tyler’s mom had Tayla as a cosmetology student at Greater Lowell Tech, where she teaches. She recognized Tayla at that point and caught up with her. After that, Tayla gave us our bowling shoes, and Tyler, Tyler’s mom, my dad, and I began bowling.

We were given full Pit Stop Tavern service from the lanes, and I ordered a delicious chicken tender and french fry meal with BBQ sauce on the side and a Sprite to drink. Tyler ordered buffalo chicken tenders, one of his favorites. I topped Tyler in our first round of bowling. I had my best round in a while, including a strike on Frame 2. But my dad had his best round in a long time with a strike of his own and a grand total of 93. Between all of our competitions, Tyler and I were tied 4-4. So we decided to play one more game of candlepin bowling, just the two of us. I was off to a strong start, but Tyler just got better as he played, and he came back to beat me in a close one. Check out some of the highlights from the bowling alley:

Below are all our competition results from throughout the day. It is almost like we played each other in a mini Olympics.

It turned out that there was a podium at the APEX, so before we said our goodbyes, Tyler and I took a picture on the podium based on our results from throughout the day.

I’d like to thank Marcus Kemblowski, Sean MacLaughlin, Tayla Normandie, Tyler Lagasse, Nick Savarese, and Deb Lagasse for making this experience possible. Stay tuned for more experience posts soon, including coverage of the Special Olympics Massachusetts golf championship.

This post is also available on the Flutie Foundation blog.

Live on Boston Herald’s “The Rundown”, My First Sports Talk Radio Experience

July 22, 2018October 10, 2021 Andrew Roberts Special Occasions, Uncategorized All Star Final Vote, All Star Game, American League, Baseball Bits, BITBAR, Blazers, Boston, Boston Celtics, Boston Herald, Boston Herald Radio, Boston Herald Radio Experience, Boston Red Sox, Bravehearts, Bravehearts-Rox, Brockton, Brockton Rox, Carmelo Anthony, Celtics, Celts, Christian Burgoyne, David Price, FCBL, Fenway Family Night, fenway Park, Futures League, J.D. Martinez, Jet Striar, Joe Sciacca, John Sapochetti, Kawhi Leonard, Kings, LA, Lakers, LeBron James, Little League, Little League World Series, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Vargas, Marcus Smart, MLB All Star Game, New York, New York Yankees, Portland, Portland Trail Blazers, Rangers, Raptors, Red Sox, Red Sox Report, Road to the LLWS, Rox, Sacramento, Sacramento Kings, Sox, Texas, Texas Rangers, The Rundown, Toronto, Toronto Raptors, Trail Blazers, Will Finley, Worcester, Worcester Bravehearts, Yankees, Yanks

On July 10th had the opportunity to co-host a Boston Herald radio show called “The Rundown” with John Sapochetti and Jet Striar. I was invited by the Herald editor-in-chief, Joe Sciacca, who has been so generous to me these last few years, giving me an incredible tour back in 2015 and also inviting me back twice to do mini internships for the last two summers.

I had first met John Sapochetti in 2015 when I did my first mini internship at the Herald. He is one of their most well-known sports talk radio personalities so I was really excited to learn that I would be his guest co-host.

We arrived at the Herald about 45 minutes before the show to discuss the on-air topics we would cover. John greeted us in the Herald lobby and we sat in a break room near the newsroom and the radio studio. I told him about my recent experiences covering the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle and my experience at the Red Sox game I attended the night before. I had taken some notes at the game that I used on the air later on. I also met his intern, Will Finley, who is also a huge Boston sports fan and specializes in sports research. He had an impressive amount of stats that I found inspiring. Shortly before we went on the air, I met John’s co-host, Jet Striar, an NBA guru and also a Boston sports fan.

006 - After Show Selfie — In the studio with John Sapochetti (left) and Jet Striar (right), my co-hosts for the day.

As I walked into the studio, I also met the show’s producer, Christian Burgoyne. You may hear him make comments in the highlights from the show that I put in this blog post. Moments later we put our headsets on and the show began.

In the first segment, John introduced me to his audience and we talked about some things I noticed at the Red Sox game the night before. After that, I took a quick break while John and Jet hosted a political guest, Luke Vargas. It gave me a breather and a chance to reflect on how I did early on in the show.

When I returned, we talked about the All-Star Final Vote and how David Price has not met the expectations of the Red Sox fan base after receiving a 7 year, $217 million dollar contract. Towards the end of the first hour, we discussed J.D. Martinez. He did not have a lot of suitors and he was underrated during the off-season. I think that made it easier for Boston to sign him and so far the signing looks like the best Sox signing/acquisition since Chris Sale.

Below are some of the highlights from the first hour of the show:

In the second hour, we started with a continuation of our earlier baseball discussions. We talked about what the Red Sox and Yankees might do at the trade deadline and how despite the fact that the Sox may catch a break with their easy schedule ahead, their next big test comes August 2^nd against the Yanks. The Yankees could upgrade their roster by then but the same could occur with the rest of the AL’s top teams, making the American League even more of a league of extremes as I mentioned later in the segment.

During our final segment we discussed some trending NBA off-season news like the Marcus Smart to Sacramento rumor. We also talked about LeBron James’ signing with the Lakers, Portland’s need for another guy up front, Carmelo Anthony, and Kawhi Leonard. At the end of the show, John thanked me for being on then I told him it was an honor.

Being on a live sports talk radio show was so surreal, which is why I’m so glad Christian gave me a copy of the whole show to listen to again and create highlights from the unbelievable experience. I was on air for so much of the show that I had to break up the highlights into two 15-minute segments.

Check out the second segment below.

I’d like to thank Joe Sciacca, John Sapochetti, Jet Striar, Christian Burgoyne, and Will Finley for making this experience possible. Stay tuned for a more baseball posts coming soon including Bravehearts-Rox game experience from the press box. For now, I’ll be taking a week off as I have more broadcasting training at Play-By-Play Sports Broadcasting Camp.

Red Sox Report: Red Sox On A Roll Despite Many Injuries

April 16, 2018May 6, 2018 Andrew Roberts MLB, Red Sox, Red Sox Report, Uncategorized A's, Anaheim, Andrew Benintendi, Angels, Athletics, B's, Benny, Big Papi, Bobby Poyner, Boston, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Brad Marchand, Bruins, Celtics, Celts, Chris Sale, David Ortiz, David Pastrnak, David Price, Drew Pomeranz, E-Rod, Eduardo Rodriguez, Halos, Hanley Ramirez, J.D. Martinez, Joe Kelly, Khris Davis, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Angels, Matt Chapman, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Oakland, Oakland A's, Oakland Athletics, Patrice Bergeron, Rafael Devers, Red Sox, Rick Porcello, Shohei Ohtani, Sonny Gray, Sox, Steven Wright, Tyler Austin, Tyler Thornburg, X-Man, Xander Bogaerts

(040818 Boston, MA) Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is helped off the field after he injured his foot during the 7th inning of the game at Fenway Park in Boston on Sunday,April 8, 2018. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

Can Boston teams sustain any more injuries? First, the Celtics lost Gordon Hayward on Opening Night and later lost Kyrie Irving for the season. Then the Bruins began sustaining a lot of injuries, and although they are still a strong playoff contender, it seems like another player goes down every time somebody returns. And now as the Red Sox are off to a hot start, they are far from full strength.

Even though Eduardo Rodriguez has returned and Drew Pomeranz will be back soon, the Red Sox have continued to lose players to injuries. This past week, Xander Bogaerts, Hanley Ramirez, Bobby Poyner, Mookie Betts, and David Price have all missed or left games due to injuries. Hanley surprisingly only missed a game after taking a fastball on his hand/wrist area. He hit a mammoth line drive HR in his first game back keeping his hot start going.

The Rivalry is Back: Red Sox Win In Heated First Series vs. Yankees

The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is back and better than ever. This year, with the Sox and Yankees likely to compete for the AL East title, expect exciting games between these two teams. It did not take long for the intensity to get going in the first series. There were two bench-clearing incidents in the second game. I expect the tension to carry over into the next Red Sox-Yankees series and likely all of the remaining sixteen games.

Despite numerous injuries sustained by both teams, this was not a series you would want to miss. After a hot 8-1 start, the Red Sox were confident and ready to prove that their strong start was not a fluke. After the Sox blew out the Yankees 14-1 in game 1, the Yankees came into game 2 with a little more fight. They won the game and Yankees DH Tyler Austin spiked SS Brock Holt when he slid into second. Tensions flared and benches cleared.

Another bench-clearing brawl occurred when Joe Kelly retaliated by hitting Tyler Austin later in the game and Austin charged the mound. This one got both Kelly and Austin ejected and both of them have since been suspended. Both players appealed to stay in the series and on the active roster until the hearing. You will not want to miss a Red Sox-Yankees game this year as they are clearly the best 2 teams in the AL East.

By the time this game was over, starters Tanaka and Price were long gone as neither lasted too long. Price had the worst outing of his career lasting only 1 inning. He left after giving up 4 runs and was pulled before starting the 2nd due to a tingling sensation in his fingers. It was a cold night and sports radio talk has speculated Price’s issues were related to the cold, his elbow, or maybe even anxiety. Regardless, the Sox need Price healthy so whatever it was, the team and fans hope it was an isolated issue and he returns to pitching as well as he did to finish last season and start this one.

On A Roll: Lineup and Rotation Have Shown Flashes of Excellence

The Red Sox may be missing a lot of players due to injuries but the lineup has been hot of late after a slow start and their rotation has looked like one the best in the MLB all season (except Price’s bad outing). Hanley Ramirez is on fire despite suffering a wrist contusion this week and J.D. Martinez has heated up after taking a week or so to adjust to his new team. He now has 3 HR and 13 RBI on the season, including a grand slam in Boston’s comeback attempt in Game 2 against the Yankees.

The Red Sox have now hit 3 grand slams this season while they had none in 2017. Mookie Betts has also been on fire all season, batting .353, and Bogaerts was just as hot before his ankle injury on Sunday that got him placed on the 10-day DL. Andrew Benintendi started hitting well at home and is 10 for his last 26.

The rotation has shown flashes of dominance too, and Red Sox starters have pitched quality starts in 3 of the last 6 games. Rick Porcello even had a no-hitter through six on Thursday. The defense has helped the pitching playing nearly flawless all year with only 3 errors on the season. Jackie Bradley Jr. had an amazing catch this past Saturday that has SportsCenter Top 10 of the year potential.

Red Hot Hanley: Ramirez Riding 10-Game Hitting Streak, Is He Back To His Pre-2015 Form?

The Red Sox were expecting another power hitter to support Big Papi when they signed Hanley Ramirez back in the 2014-15 off-season. But a shoulder injury in 2015 limited Ramirez and he fell short of expectations in 2015 and 2016. Hanley looked better in 2017 but without Big Papi, he only hit .242 with 23 HR and 62 RBI. This season Hanley has been off to a great start. He is riding a 10-game hitting streak and he has hit 3 home runs and leads the AL in RBI. He is also hitting .362/.415/.617. You could argue that he has returned to the pre-2015 form that led the Sox to sign him to a very big contract.

After going down with a wrist contusion on Thursday, some speculated that he would not keep this up when he returned. But he was ready to go for Saturday’s game he quieted the doubters and hit a home run in his first at-bat. If he keeps this up, he will remain an everyday starter on the Sox, something that was not a given to begin the season. Do you think Hanley Ramirez is back to his pre-2015 form, or will he cool down?

Injury Update: Who’s Out, What To Expect

The Red Sox sustained lots of injuries this week. Xander Bogaerts was placed on the DL April 8th after hurting his ankle when chasing a ball into the Rays dugout. On Wednesday, David Price left the game but it looks like he won’t miss a start. Bobby Poyner went down with a hamstring injury in the same game as Price and was placed on the DL.

Mookie Betts left Saturday’s game after suffering a foot contusion by colliding with Orioles catcher Chance Sisco while sliding into home. He is now day to day, but he was out of the lineup Sunday.

The good news is that Drew Pomeranz will be returning this Thursday or Friday after a strong rehab start in Portland, giving up just 2 runs in 5 1/3 innings. Relievers Steven Wright and Tyler Thornburg are also making progress in their rehab.

I do expect the Red Sox to stay hot but these injuries could eventually hold the team back, especially with a tough road trip including visits to Anaheim and Oakland coming up. The A’s are led by power hitting out of veteran Khris Davis and breakout star Matt Chapman. The Angels are led by two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani and star hitter Mike Trout. They have a stacked lineup that has helped them get off to a hot start as they lead AL West. The Sox will face Ohtani in Game 1 of the series because their game on Sunday was postponed. Will the Red Sox be able to stay hot against these two teams despite injuries?

Sox Prepare To Face Ohtani In Game 1 Of West Coast Road Trip

The Red Sox will head out west after their Marathon Monday game against Baltimore was rained out and the first game is against young Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani. He has dominated at the plate and on the mound, and he is the probable starter on Tuesday. Ohtani has become known as the HR-hitting ace. He has hit 3 HR and is batting .367/.424/.767 in 8 games at the plate. As a starting pitcher, he is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 2 games on the mound.

Stay tuned for more Red Sox posts coming soon.

The Day I Learned The True Meaning Of Boston Strong

March 7, 2018March 7, 2018 Andrew Roberts MLB, Red Sox, Special Occasions, Uncategorized Andrew Bailey, Boston, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Globe, Boston Marathon, Boston Marathon Bombings, Boston Red Sox, Boston Strong, Bruins, Celtics, Daniel Nava, David Ortiz, Green Monster, Kansas City, Kansas City Royals, Lorenzo Cain, Neil Diamond, Red Sox, Royals, Sports Museum, TD Garden, Will McDonough Writing Contest

Recently, I entered the 2018 Will McDonough Writing Contest through the Boston Globe and the Sports Museum at TD Garden. On Monday, I found out that I received an honorable mention at the 8th grade level for my 500-word essay. Over 1000 kids participated in this contest. As a prize, I will be receiving a certificate and four free museum passes. I have been to the TD Garden for Celtics games, Bruins games, and many other events, but I have never gotten the opportunity to visit this museum, and I am really looking forward to it.

You can see the other winners and honorable mentions for the contest and more information about the contest here.

My essay was about the attending the first Red Sox game at Fenway after the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings. I have also added pictures below that were taken on the day of the game.

Below is my official essay.

The Day I Learned The True Meaning of Boston Strong

It was the middle of the 8th inning at Fenway Park on April 20, 2013. As usual, Sweet Caroline was playing. But this time Neil Diamond surprised everyone by showing up to sing it live. It was the first Fenway game since the Boston Marathon bombings. The game was against the Royals and I was there for my cousin’s 10th birthday.

Although the bombings were on Marathon Monday, I didn’t hear about it until Wednesday because I was only nine and my parents didn’t want me to know about the awful news. While in line at Dunkin Donuts I saw coverage of the bomber manhunt on TV so they had to tell me what was going on.

As the weekend approached, the Red Sox canceled the Friday night game. The city was on lockdown until the second bomber was caught. That night I couldn’t fall asleep until I knew the bomber was captured. Fortunately, he was and Saturday morning we headed to the first game since the bombing.

When we arrived on Lansdowne Street, the entertainment outside Fenway combined with thousands of people singing “Hallelujah” inside the park helped lift the sadness in the city. We had to wait on a long security line but nobody seemed to mind. We were just happy that the game was on and the city was safe.

The energy inside Fenway that day was indescribable. The pregame ceremonies began honoring the Marathon bombing victims, the police that hunted down the bombers, and the paramedics who helped many wounded victims. The Red Sox were wearing special Boston Strong jerseys and there was a “B Strong” symbol on the Green Monster. As part of the ceremony, David Ortiz firmly stated, “This is Our F***ing City!” I had been to several games before but this was different.

The game itself started off slow but the crowd was loud after the inspiring pregame ceremony, chanting “USA” and “Boston Strong” rather than “Let’s go Red Sox.” The Royals jumped out to a 2-1 lead. But after Neil Diamond’s surprise appearance, Daniel Nava crushed a go-ahead 3-run homer to give the Red Sox a 4-2 lead. Although Lorenzo Cain hit a solo homer in the top of the 9th, closer Andrew Bailey finished the job for Boston, who won 4-3.

After the game we were ecstatic, but we had no idea how much the Red Sox would turn things around for the remainder of the season. Following a dismal last place 2012 season, I believe this game propelled the Red Sox to a 2013 World Series victory.

As we approach the five year anniversary of this historic game, what I remember most is how unified the city, as well as the country, seemed to be after such a violent event struck our city. I wish our country didn’t feel so divided and helpless right now especially after numerous mass shootings. We need the feeling of unity and resilience that everyone felt that day at Fenway Park.

References

“Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Box Score, April 20, 2013.” Baseball Reference, 20 Apr. 2013, www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS201304200.shtml

My brother and I enjoying the entertainment outside Fenway Park during the long security lines.

I hope you enjoyed reading my essay. If you would like to enter the contest yourself, sign-ups for 2019 will be open next January. It is open to students between grades 4 and 12.

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