The Pats may have temporarily taken some heat when they selected Jerod Mayo with the 10th pick in this year’s NFL Draft, but it certainly paid dividends. Mayo led the team with 137 tackles, and was a constant presence on a depleted New England defensive unit. “He’s smart, makes a lot of defensive adjustments and calls for us there” Pats coach Bill Belichick told the AP’s Barry Wilner.  “He runs well. He’s tough. He’s a good all-around football player, very mature, very professional. For a rookie, he’s probably as professional as anybody I’ve coached.” Mayo had an experienced group of veterans to learn from, including fellow linebacker Tedy Bruschi. “Ever since I came in on the first day Tedy has taken me under his wing and showed me the ropes,” Mayo said. “He’s like an older brother to me.”

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Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci reports that even before the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox contacted the Marlins about the availability of shortstop Hanley Ramirez. The former Sox prospect has been an offensive force in the MLB averaging about 125 runs, 50 stolen bases, and 30 home runs a season, with a career batting average of .308 and a career on-base percentage of .379. Despite his slightly lower stolen base total in 2008, he hit his career high in home runs (33) and doubled his walk total of the year before. The Sox reportedly offered outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, pitcher Clay Buchholz, and other possible prospects. Talks appear to have stalled, and the Sox would need to offer the Marlins a lot of value to snag the SS and his comparatively tiny (at least to Teixeira’s) 6-year $70 million contract.Boston Red Sox Tickets are available now!

The New York Rangers won in dramatic fashion at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Down 4-1 in the third period, the Rangers battled back to drop 4 points on the Islanders, and help hold on to their lead in the Atlantic Division. Petr Prucha, who has not seen much ice time this year, scored one of the key goals jst 49 seconds into the final period. “I got lucky,” Prucha told AP writer Ira Podell. “It’s tough being out of the lineup for so long, and it was frustrating. I got the chance to play again and scored, so hopefully I will be in the lineup for the next game.” Left wing Nigel Dawes put the nail in the coffin on a shot assisted by Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan with just 19 seconds to go in the game. On January 3rd the Rangers will face the Capitals in Washington at 7:00pm.

New York Rangers Tickets are available now!

The #3 ranked Boston University Terriers, #6 ranked Northeastern Huskies, #7 ranked Boston College Eagles, and currently unranked Harvard Crimson will play in the 2009 Boston Beanpot Tournament.  The Hockey East leading Huskies are looking to lock up their first championship since 1988, but face tough competition from 2008 Beanpot and NCAA Title champion Boston College Eagles, and 28-time winner Boston University.

Boston Beanpot 2009 Schedule:

February 3rd - Semifinal Round

5 pm
Boston University vs. Harvard

8 pm
Boston College vs. Northeastern

February 10th - Final Round

5 pm
Consolation Game

8pm
Championship Game

Boston Beanpot Tournament Tickets are available now!

The 2009 NFL Playoffs begin on Saturday, January 3rd. At 4:30pm the surprising 11-5 Atlanta Falcons take on the 9-7 Arizona Cardinals. At 8pm, the 12-4 Indianapolis Colts host the 8-8 San Diego Chargers. On Sunday, January 4th at 1pm the 11-5 Baltimore Ravens meet the 11-5 Miami Dolphins. At 4:30pm the 9-6-1 Philadelphia Eagles take on the 10-6 Minnesota Vikings.

On Saturday, January 10th, the lowest seeded AFC winner plays the 13-3 Tennessee Titans at 4:30pm, and the lowest seeded NFC team plays the 12-4 Carolina Panthers at 8:15pm.  The next day, Sunday January 11th, sees the highest seeded NFC winner from the first round facing the 12-4 New York Giants at 1pm, and the highest seeded AFC winner of the first week will play the 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:30pm.

AFC Playoff Tickets and NFC Playoff Tickets are available now!

After the Yankees spent big money to lock up CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox have singed Brad Penny to a low risk/high reward contract. Penny agreed to a 1-year $5 million guaranteed contract, with up to $3 million in incentives. The righty spent most of the 2008 season sidelined with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder, which influenced his decision to sign with Boston. “The Red Sox have a sophisticated system for dealing with pitching shoulders,” Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors writes, “so it’s an interesting match”. This signing sets up the Sox projected rotation to include: Brad Penny, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Jon Lester; leaving Justin Masterson as either a spot-starter or in the set-up role for Jonathan Papelbon.

Penny will undergo a physical in Boston on January 7th, and pending the results he will begin a pre-season throwing program.  The Red Sox also signed catcher Josh Bard to a $1.6 million non-guaranteed contract.

The 2009 Boston Red Sox Schedule is out now!

Former Patriots defensive coordinators Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini have been fired from their respective head coaching jobs. Crennel left the pats to helm a rebuilding Cleveland Browns team, and led them to a 24-40 in his tenure. Mangini left for the rival New York Jets, making the playoffs in his first year but ultimately leading them to a 23-25 record. Crennel was dealt a difficult hand with a quarterback controversy (the rollercoaster Derek Anderson versus the seemingly underachieving Brady Quinn), and Mangini dealt with difficult turnover. Despite signing on legendary QB Brett Favre, the Jets lost tough games this season, including an uninspired week 17 loss to the division rival Dolphins.

NFL Playoff Tickets are available now!

20 straight wins would have been a great Christmas present from the Boston Celtics to their fans but alas they were bound to lose one sooner or later.  Most in Boston would have preffered any team beat them other than the Los Angeles Lakers however.  The Lakers won this mini battle yesterday at the Staples Center with an impressive defensive showing in their 92-83 win over Boston.  The win improved the Lakers’ record to 24-5 while the Celtics move to 27-3.  The game between last year’s Championship rivals had the feel of a Finals game despite the fact that this season isn’t half over. Both teams still have a long road ahead before they meet in any seriously important games.

Kobe Bryant was the scoring leader for the Lakers in this one with 27 points and 9 rebounds.  Boston meanwhile got a great shooting game out of Kevin Garnett who added 22 points and 9 rebounds.  Paul Pierce scored 20 with 10 rebounds but failed to score in the crucial 4th quarter.  The win for the Lakers was Phil Jackson’s 1,000th career win as a head coach.

The Celtics and Lakers will meet again on 2/5/09 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. Celtics vs Lakers tickets are available for this game.

What more can you say about the Boston Celtics?  At 27-2 this team is determined not to suffer a Championship hangover and are early favorites to repeat in 2009.  The Celtics beat the 76ers last night 110-91 in Boston for a new franchise record 19 wins in a row.  To reach the 20 wins in a row mark the Celtics will go up against a much improved and equally impressive Los Angeles Lakers team on Christmas Day at the Staples Center in L.A.

The Celtics were led by Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo last night with each player dropping 18 points on Philadelphia.  For their part the Celtics remained grounded about their success. They know that a win streak doesn’t equal a Championship. Just ask the once 19-0 Patriots how that goes.  The Celtics will return to the TD Banknorth Garden on 1/2/09 to face the Washington Wizards.  Boston plays its next four games on the road. 

Boston Celtics tickets are available for all 2009 games.

The Eastern Conference leading Boston Bruins won a tough matchup with the Eastern Conference’s other hot team the New Jersey Devils last night with a 2-0 win in Jersey.  The win was the 6th in a row for the Bruins who now have 54 points trailing only the San Jose Sharks for the NHL lead.  The shutout was the third on the year for goalie Tim Thomas and came on a 25 save night.  Milan Lucic scored the 1st goal of the game 49 seconds into the 3rd period.  David Krejci would add an empty net goal in the final minute of the game.  The very defensive game had a playoff like feel to it with two potential Eastern Conference heavyweights facing off.

The Boston Bruins will play their next three games on the road against the Hurricanes, Thrashers and Penguins before hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston on New Year’s Day. Great Bruins tickets are available for this New Year’s day matchup as well as for all 2009 Boston Bruins games.