NHL= No Hope Left

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Meaningless Meeting: It was more of the same this week, as the NHL and NHLPA failed once again to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement. The two sides did not meet with one another, but rather met separately with federal mediators. Despite discussions lasting a total of six hours, no progress was made and no future talks are planned for now, according to sources.

At this point, the only thing that is getting accomplished is the cancellation of regular season games. All games through December 30th have been nixed. That’s almost half of the season gone (roughly 43 percent according to ESPN Stats).

Final Thoughts: Unless something can be done, and soon, I don’t foresee this lockout ending. With nearly half the season wiped out, and neither side budging (with federal mediators help mind you), I fear this season is all but lost. My advice to Boston fans: Watch pre-recorded Bruins games from last season, focus on the Celtics, and start a calendar countdown to opening day at Fenway (116 days by the way), because hockey isn’t being played anytime soon at the Garden.

Celtics Cap Mavericks in Double OT

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Boston Beats Dallas: The Boston Celtics came away with a victory against the Dallas Mavericks last night in nail-biting double overtime fashion. The C’s beat the Mavs 117-115 at the Garden, thanks in part to a pair of Courtney Lee free throws in the game’s final seconds.

Lee’s made free-throws sealed the deal for Boston. Had Lee missed both of them, Dallas guard OJ Mayo’s 24 foot 3-pointer at the buzzer would have tied the game and forced a 3rd OT. Instead Mayo’s heroics were too little too late and behind Paul Pierce’s 34 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals the Celtics managed to sweat out a win.

Rajon Rondo also turned in a top performance for Boston with a double-double of 16 points and 15 assists. Rondo was a rebound shy of pulling off a triple double with 9 rebounds in the game.

Dallas’ top performers: OJ Mayo led the Mavericks in scoring with 24 points to go along with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Shawn Marion also performed well with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks.

Fun Facts From the Game:With a score in the games first overtime, C’s forward Paul Pierce surpassed 23,000 points for his career. Pierce becomes only the 25th player in NBA history to reach 23,000 points.

Also, six Celtics players scored in double figures in this one. Pierce 34pts, Rondo 16pts, Kevin Garnett 16pts, Jeff Green 15pts, Jason Terry 10pts, and Chris Wilcox 10pts.

Back to Back Wins for Boston:With the win over Dallas, the Celtics are now the winners of two straight games. Boston will look to build off this win, and improve on their 12 and 9 overall record, as they hit the road to face Jeremy Lin, James Harden, and the Houston Rockets this Friday at 8pm from the Toyota Center.

C’s vs. Mav’s Preview

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The C’s take on the Mavericks tonight and it should be quite a game. Not for the normal reasons though. Usually, both teams are on top of their divisions, or close to it, but not this time. So far the Mavs are 11-10 while the Celtics are 11-9. However, they have an excuse, with Dirk Nowitzki being out all season. We have had the luxury of having most guys healthy (except Rondo missing 2 and a half games), but still can’t seem to click.

gty-154249437-3_4_r560This marks the first time that Jason Terry will play against his former team where he won a championship and a sixth-man of the year award. Meanwhile, newcomer O.J. Mayo has taken over the scoring lead in Dallas, averaging 20.8 PPG. Dallas is currently riding a 3 game winning streak, where Mayo dropped 40 points against the Rockets and 23 against the Suns.

For the C’s, Pierce leads the way with 19.2 PPG while Garnett is averaging 16.0 and Rondo puts in 13.0 of his own to go along with 12.8 assists. The game is at the Garden tonight at 8:00 PM. Go Celts

Recap of the Red Sox Winter Meetings Moves

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The Boston Red Sox broke out their checkbooks last week, and made some off-season deals that didn’t break the bank. The Bo-Sox came away with three players in the 2012 Winter Meetings held in Nashville.

Boston signed free agents Mike Napoli (catcher/first base), Shane Victorino (outfielder), and Koji Uehara (reliever). These moves will help to bolster some of the holes on the roster. Here’s a breakdown of what each player brings to the team:

Done Deals:

Mike Napoli: The Sox signed Nap to a three year deal worth 39 million dollars. Napoli batted .227 with 24 HR and 56 RBI in 2012. He brings flexibility, as he can play either catcher or first base, as well as a solid bat in the lineup for Boston. Which position he will spend more time at, depends on what Boston plans to do with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. If they trade Salty, Napoli would likely become the starter at catcher. If they rotate Nap and Salty, expect to see Nap on first some nights and Salty behind the plate. At age 31, Napoli brings veteran experience and a clubhouse presence. Something the Sox could certainly use.

Shane Victorino: The Sox also inked Victorino to a three year-39 million dollar deal. Victorino batted .255 with 11 HR and 55 RBI in 2012. His numbers were down from 2011 (.279 AVG, 17 HR, 61 RBI) however, Victorino is a veteran outfielder who offers years of experience and is well known for being active in community work around the city in which he plays for. Boston most likely looks at Napoli and Victorino (along with Jonny Gomes) as guys who can come in and set an example for the rest of the team. Victorino will mainly offer another bat to the lineup, and if his numbers have an uptick in 2013, he could prove to be a smart move by the Sox when it’s all said and done.

Koji Uehara Koji Uehara #19 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the sixth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 26, 2011 in Anaheim, California.

Koji Uehara: The Sox and Uehara agreed to terms on a one year- 4.25 million dollar deal. Uehara was regarded as one of the best relievers last year playing for the Texas Rangers. Uehara posted a 1.75 ERA with a 0.64 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 36 innings of work in 2012. At 37, Uehara brings a veteran arm to an already solid bullpen. This was a nice, inexpensive move by Boston.

Less is More: Total Money Spent at the 2012 Winter Meetings: 82.25 million dollars. Which isn’t bad considering how much money Boston dropped in 2011 (roughly over 300 million dollars) and we all saw how that panned out. Maybe “Less is More” will actually be true for the 2013 Red Sox.

Final Thoughts:What Red Sox fans should take away from these deals is this. The Red Sox are trying to piece together a balance of talent and character in what is the first of many building blocks to rebuilding this team. Napoli, Victorino, and Uehara will help mold the foundation, but the Sox still need a few more pieces before they can begin constructing a house.

What do you think? Did the Sox make the right moves in this year’s meetings? What would your next move be if you were Ben Cherington? Leave a comment below.

Pats Dominate on National Stage

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It’s hard not to write this article without a shit-eating grin on my face. That win last night was just pure satisfaction. As much as I love watching the Pats embarrass the Jets (and the Jets embarrass themselves for that matter), it’s just different when your team can man handle an actual opponent. Houston came into this game with a chip on their shoulder, sitting pretty at 11-1, and boy were they quickly put in their place. You don’t just waltz into Foxborough in December and expect to take down New England. Not in our house.

“Brady could run this offense with Houston Texans v New England PatriotsVivian and a baby carriage.” I heard that from 98.5 Sports Hub during halftime and it couldn’t sum up our night any better. I feel bad even touching on the offense because I don’t think I could do it justice. Brady just took complete control of the field. I mean you know it’s a good night when Mallet’s throwing picks halfway through the fourth quarter. On the defensive side, what’s there to complain about? Everyone stepped up, even with Dennard and Talib getting hurt. McCourty had an amazing pick in the endzone and Arrington even managed to break up a few plays, some luckier than others. It’s continuous improvement, although I think Arrington would find it a lot easier to defend the pass if he looked for the ball once in a while. But I can’t complain about last night. There’s just something about taking down the top ranked team in the NFL on a national stage that makes it easy to smile on this Tuesday morning in New England.

D-Will Hires Own Reporters

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Do you hate the Brooklyn Nets? Maybe it’s because they still smell like the Dirty Jersey, or even that they have Kris Humphries, or maybe it’s some other reason. But if you like them, you may have to re-evaluate things after this. Deron Williams has hired his own beat reporter to cover him, and only him. Yes, that’s right. Williams thinks that he does not get enough recognition or highlights. The site will be revolved all around him. He says it is only going to be 90% about him, but still, that’s crazy. Kobe tried this before but to a lesser extent.elite-daily-deron-williams-brooklyn

Do you think it is ridiculous that a player would do this? Do you think it shows how self-centered and conceited he is? I think it proves that he cares more about himself than he does his team. He doesn’t care about winning a championship, he wants money and fame. Do you agree?