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Top5
Mazz Top 5 things to do after Achilles surgery
Tony's Top 5
Things to do after Achilles surgery
5
Watching sports. Before, I told my wife this was "work." Now, I tell her it's therapy.
4
Bossing people around Of course, this is done in a passive-aggressive fashion by playing up any and all perception of helplessness.
3
The drugs. If I play my cards right, maybe I can even make a few bucks?
2
Sleep. Never realized that lounging could be so exhausting. Won't be long now before I'm a hoarder, too.
1
Eat. Maybe it's just me, but this seems like the perfect time for fried chicken and beer. Eat, drink and be merry!
Tony's Top 5 Things about April
Tony's Top 5
Things about April
5
The NBA playoffs Later than usual this year, but can't help but wonder now if the Celtics actually plan to make a little noise.
4
The Masters A tradition unlike any other, or so we're told. And it looks like Tiger Woods has his groove back, too.
3
The NFL Draft The Patriots have two selections in the first round and two more in the second. The wage scale is in place. Might they actually trade up?
2
Major League Baseball Yes, the season is too long. But the baseball season in Boston, specially, suddenly means something again.
1
NHL Playoffs Maybe the bruins will make another run. Maybe they won't. But the postseason in hockey does not disappoint. Ever.
Mazz Top 5 Red Sox story lines
Tony's Top 5
Red Sox spring training story lines
5
Shortstop Apparently, it's reached the point where the Red Sox have to trade their shortstop to trim payroll. Anyone feel good about that?
4
Carl Crawford After a poor debut season in Boston, he had wrist surgery. And now we know the owner never wanted him.
3
The bullpen No small story here. Jonathan Papelbon is gone and Daniel Bard is in the rotation. Welcome, Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey.
2
Bobby Valentine The last time the Red Sox changed managers, they won the World Series. Will history repeat?
1
Josh Beckett By the end of last season, Beckett seemed to lose his focus and his fire. Can he bounce back - and stay healthy, too?
Tony's Top 5 NFL story lines this season
Tony's Top 5
NFL story lines this season
5
Cam Newton In his first year as a starter, the No. 1 pick in the draft leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns. Entering Week 14, Newton had more rushing TDs than 26 of the 32 NFL teams.
4
The Harbaugh brothers OK, so it's a little corny. The Niners (and Jim) are obviously a better story than the Ravens (and John). But imagine if these teams meet in the Super Bowl? Good stuff.
3
The Jets Overall, they've been a disappointment. But under Rex Ryan, the Jets seem to creep back into the conversation every December and January. It's that time.
2
The Packers Since losing to the Patriots last December - a game Aaron Rodgers missed - they've won 18 straight. Remaining: Oakland, at KC, Chicago, Detroit. Then the playoffs.
1
Tim Tebow Maybe it's nothing more than a fad. But a quarterback who can't throw - and still wins? If you believed before this, may God bless you.
Tony's Top 5 managers in Red Sox history
Tony's Top 5
Managers in Red Sox history
5
Joe McCarthy Former Yankees great had a .606 winning percentage in three years with the Red Sox. But he chose Denny Galehouse in 1948 playoff game.
4
Joe Morgan Averaged 86 wins in three full years from 1988-90, but team stunk before and after his tenure. Like he said, they weren’t as good as many believed.
3
Joe Cronin Before Terry Francona, he was the last man to manage at least five full years here. His 1946 Sox won 104 games, most in team history.
2
Dick Williams Skipper of the `67 Impossible Dream team has been immortalized. Ironically, this club could have used his demanding influence.
1
Terry Francona In eight years he averaged 93 wins a season and went 28-17 in the postseason. In World Series play, his teams were a perfect 8-0.
Tony's Top 5 picks in fantasy football
Tony's Top 5
Picks in fantasy football
5
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans. Someone will put up better numbers in 2011, but Johnson is virtually guaranteed for 8-10 touchdowns and 1,200 yards. The others have their ups and downs.
4
Drew Brees, QB, Saints. In the last four years, Brees has thrown for between 4,300 and 5,000 yards with 34, 34, 33 and 34 touchdown passes. He plays indoors. Money.
3
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans. So he missed training camp. So what? The injury to Peyton Manning softens the division and the Titans will be, at worst, decent. Freakish talent.
2
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings. OK, so maybe the Vikings will stink. Maybe they'll be mediocre. Regardless, he's the best running back in the league. Write in 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns
1
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers. What, were you expecting Michael Vick? Rodgers doesn't run as much, but he's a far better passer. Don't be shocked by a career year.
Tony's top five acquisitions of this trading deadline
Tony's Top 5
Acquisitions of this trading deadline
5
Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers.. K-Rod's career comes full circle - from setup man to setup man. Solid move by Brewers to fortify back end of bullpen.
4
Carlos Beltran, Giants. Offense was an issue for the Giants - and that was true before they lost Buster Posey. With Beltran and that pitching staff, they could repeat.
3
Mike Adams and Koji Uehara, Rangers The names aren't sexy, but the Rangers just made a serious upgrade to a bullpen that ranked 11th in the AL in ERA. Look out.
2
Ubaldo Jimenez, Indians. Price was high, but the Indians were in position to pay it. With Jimenez, Indians are now a factor in the Central for years to come.div>
1
Hunter Pence, Phillies. The Phils get Jayson Werth's replacement for the stretch drive and beyond. If this doesn't scare you as a Red Sox follower, it should.
Tony's top five memories from the Stanley Cup playoffs
Tony's Top 5
Memories from the Stanley Cup playoffs
5
Tyler Seguin's coming-out party. Game 2 against Tampa Bay, second period, two goals and two assists. Anyone else get the feeling it was the stuff of lore?
4
Nathan Horton's overtime heroics. Prior to Game 2 of the Final, the Bruins were 4-0 in OT. Horton had two of the game-winning goals and assisted on another.
3
Brad Marchand's short-handed rush. It was a 2-0 game in the second period of Game 2 when the Canucks went on the power play. Maybe the goal that altered the series.
2
Tim Thomas' grand theft. Game 2 in Philly, 54 shots, 52 saves. The Bruins won in overtime while the Flyers were changing goalioes as if they were underwear.
1
The Game 7s. Yep, all `of em. The win over Montreal, the win over Tampa Bay, the win over Vancouver. In the last two, the Bruins didn't allow a goal.
Tony's Top 5 baseball players to watch
Tony's Top 5
Baseball players to watch in 2011
5
David Price, LHP, Tampa Bay. Blossomed into a front-line starter last season. Now may be ready to take the next step to positively dominating force.
4
Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida. A dynamic talent with never-ending maturity, he’s entering the big-money phase of his contract. Think the Marlins would ever trade him?
3
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees. Say what you will about the guy, but he’s in great shape and had a huge spring. Could be a huge year for him.
2
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Boston. On paper, he looks like the perfect fit for Fenway Park and he finally has a lineup around him. The imagination runs wild.
1
Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis. In 10 years, he has 10 seasons with 30 homers, 10 with 100 RBI, nine with 100 runs scored (and one with 99). And now it’s a contract year.
Tony's Top 5 ...
Tony's Top 5
Biggest cliches at spring training
5
"I'll do whatever the manager asks." How generous of you. Ultimately, do you really have a choice? You can either do what he says or grab some pine. You just work here.
4
"I just want to stay healthy." That's funny, because the rest of us were hoping for malaria or, if we're lucky, tuberculosis. Knee and elbow injuries are also on the list.
3
"I don't set goals for myself." Sure you don't. Meanwhile, your agent has been putting together a portfolio based on stat projections because arbitration is fast approaching.
2
"He's in great shape." Well cue the band. He has millions guaranteed. He's in his 20s. He had the winter off. If he didn't work out two hours a day, he'd have spent the whole time playing Wii.
1
"I'm not really thinking about my contract." The ultimate nose-grower. Everyone thinks about his contract, especially in a contract year. We're all playing for the next deal.
Tony's Top 5 ...
Tony's Top 5
Worst losses of the Bill Belichick era
5
Ravens 33, Patriots 14 Until Sunday, it was the worst home loss of the Belichick era. The Pats were never in it. At home. And in the 2009 playoffs.
4
Colts 35, Patriots 34 The infamous fourth-and-2 game. The Pats led 31-14 in the fourth quarter and were on their way to 7-2 during the 2009 season. The beginning of the end.
3
Jets 28, Patriots 21 Roughly six weeks after beating the Jets 45-3, the Patriots self-destruct in the 2010 playoffs. How to kill a 14-2 season in one easy step.
2
Colts 38, Patriots 34 In the 2006 AFC Championship Game, the Pats led 21-3 late in the first half. This was the first title that got away.
1
Giants 17, Patriots 14 The defeat by which all others will be measured. In Super Bowl XLII, the Pats entered 18-0. They haven ‘t won a postseason game since.
Top five stories of 2010
Tony's Top 5
Sports stories of 2010
5
The Bruins collapse. They led the Flyers, 3-0, in a best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinal series. Then the roof caved in. That is a truly historic development that cannot possibly be overlooked by anyone anywhere.
4
The Saints, Lakers, Blackhawks and Giants. In this country, we celebrate greatness. We celebrate champions. Appropriately, Drew Brees and the Saints were first on the list. Good for New Orleans.
3
The return of Michael Vick. OK, so it's not a comeback in the most traditional sense. But out of nowhere, Vick has returned to prominence as one of the most dynamic athletes in sports. Fun to watch.
2
The LeBron James saga. A negative story, to be sure, but James has become the poster boy for the spoiled, self-indulgent and egomaniacal athlete, and that's quite an accomplishment. The verdict is in. The Decision was a joke.
1
The demise of Tiger Woods. Granted, his fall from grace started in late 2009. But in 2010, we learned that the robotic Mr. Woods was actually human, that he could fail. He didn't win once. And his invincibility is gone.
Tony's Top 5 ...
Tony's Top 5
Candidates for the NFL MVP Award
5
Clay Matthews, Packers. In the interest of fairness, we felt compelled to include one defensive player on the list. Matthews has been an absolute beast in Green Bay this year. Yes, the Pats could have had him.
4
Aaron Rodgers, Packers. OK, now back to reality. The last 25 NFL MVPs have been a quarterback or running back. Eighteen of those have been quarterbacks. Rodgers has been one of the best in the NFC.
3
Matt Ryan, Falcons. Along with the Patriots, the Falcons have the best record in the NFL. Seemingly, a week does not pass without a fourth-quarter, come-from-behind win orchestrated by Matty Ice.
2
Michael Vick, Eagles. Beyond being a great story, Vick has been the second-best quarterback in the league this season. Take him away and the Eagles look rather ordinary. With him, might they be in Dallas?
1
Tom Brady, Patriots. Let's be honest. If someone more ordinary were the quarterback of this team, the Pats might be, say, 7-5. Maybe even 6-6 or worse. But with Brady, they're now Super Bowl favorites.
Mazz top 5 teams in NFL
Tony's Top 5
Teams in the NFL
5
Eagles. Michael Vick could be both the Comeback Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player. If the D holds up, look out.
4
Ravens. Of three losses, one came at New England and another came at Atlanta. Still, they’re sliding down the list.
3
Packers. All three losses this season came by three points. Don’t forget about this team. Pack could win the whole thing.
2
Patriots. All aboard the party train! In Bill we trust. Pass the Kool-Aid. Patriots Reign and the Patriot Way. No I in team, baby.
1
Jets. A win is a win is a win, dude. Jets beat Pats in only meeting this year by a 28-14 score. But check back again in a few weeks.
Tony's Top 5 ...
Tony's Top 5
Dumbest arguments in sports
5
"It was an aggressive mistake." Maybe so. Or maybe it was a stupid mistake. Frequently, discretion is the better part of valor. Think a little.
4
"There’s no I in team." Technically, this is true. But there is a (it)me(end). Lots of winning teams have had selfish players. You just can’t have too many of them.
3
"They lack leadership." Good one. Generally, good players are leaders. If you don’t have enough leaders, it probably means you don’t have enough good players. Get it?
2
"Defense wins championships." Wrong. Defense keeps you in it. Balance wins championships. Someone made this up because no one likes to play defense.
1
"He’s never won a title." Maybe this works in golf … or in tennis … or in bowling. How can we preach T-E-A-M and then blame individuals? Dumb.
Tony's Top 5 Developments for the 2010 Red Sox
Tony's Top 5
Developments for the 2010 Red Sox
5
The depth guys. We’re talking about Darnell McDonald, Daniel Nava, Scott Atchison, Eric Patterson … the list goes on. They did their part – and more.
4
Ryan Kalish. All in all, not a bad showing for the 22-year-old outfielder. Was it a great performance? No. But he certainly looks like he belongs.
3
Adrian Beltre. For $10 million, the Red Sox got a performance that made him the most valuable positional player on the team, hands down. Too bad he’s a free agent.
2
Daniel Bard. Don’t look now, but Bard held lefthanded batters to a .141 average this season. Huge improvement. Could the closer’s role be next?
1
Clay Buchholz. Are you kidding? Buchholz did well last year, but trading him remained a possibility. Now? Forget it. He looks like a front-end starter.
Tony's Top 5 ...
Tony's Top 5
Picks to win the Super Bowl
5
Chicago Bears. Every list like this needs at least one dark horse, so here you go. Brian Urlacher is back and Julius Peppers is aboard. Will Jay Cutler mess it all up?
4
New Orleans Saints. Defending champs are well-coached with a terrific quarterback and playmakers on defense. Sounds like a winning recipe in this day and age.
3
Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback alone makes them a presence on this list every year. Quarterback also effectively cost them the title in last year's Super Bowl.
2
Green Bay Packers. Defense collapsed in postseason last year, but Packers were one of best units during regular season. Offensive air show must have Vince Lombardi restless.
1
Baltimore Ravens. Ed Reed is on the PUP list for now, but the defense still has weapons. Now, quarterback Joe Flacco seems to have them, too. If it all clicks, look out.
Tony's Top 5 ...
Tony's Top 5
Picks in this year’s fantasy football draft
5
Andre Johnson, WR, Houston. Incredibly, he has never scored more than
nine touchdowns in a season. That will change this year.
4
Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis. Arguably the greatest passer in NFL
history, he is always a safe pick. The equivalent to a good starting
pitcher who always gives you a chance.
3
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay. What? A quarterback ranked ahead of Peyton
Manning? In the last two years, Rodgers has rushed for nine TDs.
2
Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee. With LenDale White off to Denver, he could
see the ball even more than he did last year.
1
Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota. Still the most explosive player in the
league. Last year, he had over 350 touches and 18 touchdowns.
Tony's Top 5 ...
Tony's Top 5
Reasons for the downturn in Red Sox popularity
5
The economy. Maybe we’re all spending a little less money. Or maybe we’re working more. But wasn’t the economy worse last year and the year before?
4
Overkill. Red Sox Nation cards, Red Sox license plates, Red Sox lottery tickets and Red Sox flip-flops. It’s the Attack of the Killer Pink Hats!
3
The absence of star power. Say what you will about guys like Pedro, Manny and the Big Schill, but they were borderline cartoon characters who were fun to watch.
2
Other interests. For the last three springs now, the Celtics have been contenders for the NBA title and the Bruins have played at least one Game 7. Good stuff.
1
Complacency. In the wake of 2004 and 2007, we simply do not treat the regular season the same way anymore. In fact, do the real games even start before Aug. 15?
Mazz Top 5 most self-absorbed atheletes in sports
Tony's Top 5
most self-absorbed athletes in sports.
5
Brett Favre. Brett is retiring. No he isn’t. Yes he is. No he isn’t. Can we stop telling him how great he is and start telling him how insufferable he has become?
4
Terrell Owens. Poster boy for the self-indulgent, self-promoting, everyone-else-is wrong nitwits that ESPN types continue to glorify. Clearly, the man has issues.
3
Alex Rodriguez. Hilarious, isn’t it? Put him in a room with Tiger Woods and LeBron James and A-Rod is the most humble guy in attendance. Terrifying thought.
2
Tiger Woods. Want to know why he’s not No. 1? Because he plays an individual sport, that’s why. In golf, egocentricity might actually be an asset. Huge fraud.
1
LeBron James. After that embarrassing charade on ESPN, how could it possibly be anyone else? Just can’t decide whether James or Jim Gray came off as more of a stooge.
Tony's Top 5
Things to do after Achilles surgery
5
Watching sports. Before, I told my wife this was "work." Now, I tell her it's therapy.
4
Bossing people around Of course, this is done in a passive-aggressive fashion by playing up any and all perception of helplessness.
3
The drugs. If I play my cards right, maybe I can even make a few bucks?
2
Sleep. Never realized that lounging could be so exhausting. Won't be long now before I'm a hoarder, too.
1
Eat. Maybe it's just me, but this seems like the perfect time for fried chicken and beer. Eat, drink and be merry!
Featured comments
“
"Embarrassment of riches" is a bit of an overstatement, Mazz, and will be until we're actually outspending the Yankee$ on a regular basis.
”peskypole
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About Mazz
Tony Massarotti is a Globe sportswriter and has been writing about sports in Boston for the last 19 years. A lifelong Bostonian, Massarotti graduated from Waltham High School and Tufts University. He was voted the Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by his peers in 2000 and 2008 and has been a finalist for the award on several other occasions. This blog won a 2008 EPpy award for "Best Sports Blog".
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