Charles Bisbee's Minnesota Twins Fan Profile

Previewing (Or Reviewing?) the Super Bowl posted on 02/06/2012

I’ve been avoiding the internet like a plague all day, albeit a plague that I would desperately like to get a piece of. Writing about a super bowl that has already occurred but of which I don’t know the outcome is a bit like apologizing a couple minutes before unfurling a massive fart.

Anyway, I’m feeling cautiously optimistic about this game that has already happened (is there a term for this? Post-causal optimism?). I haven’t breathlessly followed every minute’s Gronkowski update, nor do I know the name of Tom Brady’s childhood goldfish, but I’d like to consider myself an informed supporter. And I think the Pats, with or without Gronk, match up favorably with the fighting Coughlins.

The biggest reason (and I don’t think enough writers have covered this) is the revenge factor. The 2007 Super Bowl was the most painful moment in my life as a Boston sports fan. (So painful, in fact, that I slugged a hole in my wall after Plaxico Burress burned Ellis Cobbs on the final play.) The loss left a putrid taste in my mouth and I can only imagine how it tasted to Belichick and Brady, neither of whom has been known to take a loss lightly. This year's rematch features quite a few holdovers from the 2007 game, from both teams. While the Pats have never been a team to publically engage in smack talk, I would wager a goodly sum that there was a surplus of motivational profanities being hurled in the locker-room, pre-game speech. You can never discount the effect and power of the more-motivated squad, especially on the grandest stage.

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NBA Anarchy posted on 12/13/2011

The NBA is completely bonkers right now. With less than two weeks until season’s tip-off, players are being flipped faster than flapjacks at IHOP. Chris Paul has been perfecting his start-and-stop from the comfort of his living room. Dwight Howard can't seem to decipher his own feelings about the Magic. Lamar Odom, as collateral from the Paul fall-out, whined his way to the Mavs, who were spurned earlier in the week by Tyson Chandler (Knicks). Chauncey Billups took his frequent flier miles to the Clips (though he could be dealt again by the time I finish this sentence) and Big Baby was swapped for Brandon Bass.

The Celtics thought they had Baby's replacement in David West (Paul’s former right-hand man) but the Pacers swooped in and snagged him for a cool $20 mil. Consequently, the Hornets are trying to fill out a roster with Quincy Pondexter and a collection of ball boys. Vinsanity joined Odom in Dallas, which lost Caron Butler to the Clippers, which matched Golden State’s absurd, $43 million qualifying offer to DeAndre Jordan (he with the career 5.9 ppg). T-Mac, Rip Hamilton, Chris Wilcox, Mike Bibby and Dunleavy are on the move as well, though these names seem like afterthoughts compared to the seismic activity higher up.

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Brady Off So Far posted on 11/24/2011

The Pats enter this sunday's matchup with Philadelphia at 7-3, after opening up a relatively-commanding two-game lead on the Jets and Buffalo following monday night's dismantling of the Cassel-less Chiefs. The victory was a definitive 34-3, but there are those who still worry about the flow of the offense, specifically Tom Brady's sporatic accuracy and questionable decision making.

Count me among the concerned. With 10 interceptions already, Tom Terrific has already thrown six more than he threw all of last year and is on pace to obliterate his previous high of 14. His quarterback rating is an impressive 102.5 and many picks have come off tipped balls, but Brady simply does not seem in control of every facet of the game, as he has in years past. Easy throws, particularly screens and curls, are often strangely underthrown or off-target. His pocket presence seems untenable and things frequently just seem off, for a lack of a better word. Its as if he were nursing an injury that no one knows about.

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A Message to Boston Sports Fans posted on 02/04/2010

There’s been a lot of griping recently over the state of Boston sports, serving (for me) as another ugly reminder of the developing, spoiled and cocksure nature of fans in this area. Let’s take a quick look, shall we?

Despite not  having played superbly of late, the Celtics stand at 31-16 and hold a five-and-a-half game lead in their division over Toronto.  

The Patriots finished the season at 10-6 (and a perfect 8-0 at home) and lost in the conference semi-finals to Baltimore.

The line between the Red Sox and Yankees is becoming more blurred each year (I know, I know, blasphemous!). But the Sox pay more and more to rob smaller market teams of their best players. Last year they finished 95-67 and, again, made the playoffs.

The Bruins are apparently stinking up then Garden this year but last year made a nice push into the playoffs.

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Checking In... And Talking Sox Shortstop Situation posted on 12/05/2009

Oh man, it’s been a bit too long and I’d like to apologize, first and foremost, to my legion of loyal readers. Who still checks in on occasion? Rogers? You still out there? Bark twice if you’re in Milwaukee!  Slim Bob? Herman? Dalton? Petey? Reginald? David Lefort from the Boston Globe? 

Anyway, lets talk sports. Or perhaps, I will talk sports with myself. Either way, it should be a good time.

During the past week, the Sox allowed Alex Gonzalez to stroll north of the boarder via free agency and then nabbed the man A-Gon will be replacing in Toronto, Marco Scutaro. As far as shortstop swaps go, this move has been widely praised as a coupe. Not only is Scutaro, seemingly, a superior offensive player but he also comes with a pristine reputation as a team-first, winning player. (On another note, I find it equally amusing and sickening that the Sox will pay more money to Julio Lugo to NOT play for them next season than they will pay Scutaro).

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