NHL: End of the Season Predictions

by Eric Ahearn

Who’s in? Who’s out? Who will get the top seeds? Here’s our breakdown:

North East Division – 2 Teams IN. Of course we have to start with predictions on our home town Bruins. This should come as no surprise, but I see the Bruins fending off the charging Senators. The reason I feel confident about this pick is that I think the Bruins finally have a reason to play night in and night out. Before this late push from Ottawa, the Bruins were coasting toward a second place finish in the East. Now, the Bruins are forced to not only look over their shoulder because of Ottawa, but also keep their eyes on the Florida Panthers, who are fighting to move into the second spot. A team to watch out for in this division is the Buffalo Sabres. They are making a real push at the eighth seed in the East…but I see them coming up a little short.

NFL Free Agency Update 2.0: The Thick of It

by Rick Valente

The chips are starting to fall as NFL free agency continues to roll on. The book has closed on the biggest prize, Mario Williams, as he signs a six-year deal at $50 million guaranteed to go to the Buffalo Bills. Also, Peyton Manning has officially ruled out the Miami Dolphins as a suitor, so it is looking like the Titans have a slight edge over the Broncos in this two-team race... but wait! The 49ers have emerged as a surprise third team in the race! Oh the drama. Also, the Patriots continue to make some minor moves that don't knock your socks off, but address some major needs on this team. As is tradition, let's kick things off with the hometown team:

Ainge Strikes Out, Stands Idle at Trade Deadline

by Rick Valente

Of all the things that Danny Ainge could do at the trade deadline, staying put was the absolute worst option. But for some reason, that's exactly what he did as the clock ticked past 3:00 PM EST, keeping the Big Three intact for the rest of the season. I could understand if Danny were to make a deal to make this team better suited for a playoff run, hoping to add a couple pieces and maybe get lucky enough to make in improbable trip to the finals. I could see if Danny wanted to trade guys like Ray Allen or Kevin Garnett at a discount in order to get something for the future. I can't understand how Danny Ainge can possibly believe that the Celtics, who can barely beat a Golden State Warriors team without Stephen Curry or Monta Ellis, have a shot to win a seven game series against Chicago or Miami. I have a better shot at taking home Jessica Beil... and Jessica Alba... and Jessica Simpson on the same night.

Call in the German Cavalry

by John Prance

One look at the most recent injury report for the Revolution, and you already see a headache for young head coach Jay Heaps. Of the six players listed between Questionable and Out, three are potential defensive starters. Darrius Barnes, the fourth year player out of Duke University, is suffering from a calf strain. A.J. Soares, the versatile second year man, is Questionable with a knee sprain. New signing John Lozano is doubtful with a hip flexor sprain.  Lozano and Soares started the Revs first game against the Earthquakes (CB and LB respectively), and with such injuries already piling up reinforcements were needed immediately.

NFL Free Agency Update: The Opening Bell

by Rick Valente

Let the madness begin! The new league year started yesterday at 4:00 PM EST and there was absolutely no shortage of excitement and entertainment from around the NFL. The Bucs went from a projected cellar-dweller to a legitimate contender in the AFC South in a matter of 16 hours, the Redskins continued to spend in an MC-Hammer-like fashion, and the Bears finally added a legitimate (on-field) wide receiver by way of trade. We'll get to all of it, but first, some quick thoughts pertaining to the home-town team after day one.

A Natural Disaster: Revs Shaken by Earthquake in 1-0 Loss

by John Prance

The San Jose Earthquakes swept aside a very mediocre New England Revolution team late Saturday night. This was Jay Heaps first regular season game in charge of the Revolution, and a very different team took the field than in years past. Unfortunately, different players did not cause different results, and many performances on the field were completely inadequate and lackluster. The stats show the story fairly well.

All You Need to Know to Win Your March Madness Bracket

by Rick Valente

The NCAA basketball conference tournaments are over, which means it's time to print out those brackets! If you're like everyone else in New England, you've watched about two hours of college basketball all season and would have no clue that Notre Dame has played better than Xavier or that Cincinatti should beat Texas in the first round. But that doesn't mean that you can't win your office pool this year, because the truth is, the past means next to nothing when you mix a bunch of young kids with the pressure of a single-elimination tournament that the entire country is watching. That is why we at BTownSports have organized some strategies to help you find the hidden gems of this tournament, and to avoid placing your chips on the wrong side of a big upset. We start with the most important strategy of all: