Change is on the way for Celtics

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

This terrible feeling that we Celtics fans have, well, it'll go away.

But it's going to take some time.

Losing in Game 7 of the NBA Finals just downright stings, especially when you blow a lead, can't rebound, can't hit a clutch shot and eventually lose to the hated Lakers.

Watching the Lakers celebrate, there's not much worse than that. That, and all those arrogant L.A. movie stars and pretenders thinking they are bigger than the show on the floor. Really, no need to wear sunglasses indoors.

It just makes me sick.

Well, expect there to be a lot of change in the offseason. The team we saw on the floor in the Finals, well, you won't see that team ever again.

You might see Ray Allen go, or Paul Pierce, or both. Who knows. Man, Ray Allen just couldn't hit a shot. I can't remember the last time -- probably never -- I wished that he wouldn't shoot the ball. He just couldn't find his range. I'm starting to think more and more about letting him walk.

Anyway, although the Celtics sure did put on a show -- how many out there actually gave this team a chance to even make the Finals? -- they failed to bring home the ultimate prize.

It pains me to say this, but the Lakers have a dynasty brewing while the Celtics are watching their franchise quickly fade away due to age. It's time for some new young blood, but at what cost?

And after listening to coach Doc Rivers' press conference, I'm banking that he's not returning to the bench.

So change is on the way, for sure.

And sometimes change is good. Sometimes it's bad. But in the Celtics' case, change is needed.

Boston Celtics proving age is only a number

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Just some random thoughts about the Boston Celtics, who are one win from clinching the NBA championship.

I guess age really is only a number. In sports terms, the Celtics are an old ballclub but there's got to be something said for heart, desire, teamwork and a will to succeed. The C's have all of that, and so much more.

Regardless of what happens is the final two playoffs games, how much longer will the Big 3 stay together? Sniper Ray Allen's contract is up, but do the C's retain him for say 2 years or do they let him walk in an attempt to get younger? It's a big decision, but I say re-up his contract for 2 more years and see if these guys can make another run at a title. Without Allen firing away on the outside next year, Boston will have big problems.

But one good thing is, regardless of the when KG, Pierce and Allen eventually leave Boston (either by choice or force), it's good knowing we have the point guard of the present and future in budding superstar Rajon Rondo. He's the real deal, and he's so much fun to watch.

Just watching this series vs. the Lakers, it goes to show how depth is so important. The C's have a bench and the Lakers don't. They have Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, and Gasol on occasion.

If the C's are lucky enough to win the championship, this title would rank right up their with the Patriots' title over the Rams. No one in their right mind would have picked the C's or the Pats to win anything. It surely would be another storybook ending. And a real shocker.

You can count on the Lakers getting the vast majority of the calls in Game 6, so expect a Game 7. You have to know David Stern wants it that way, too. Then the refs better let them play and swallow those whistles in Game 7.

Either way, the Celtics have been a joy to watch. They picked the right time to get healthy and that translated into getting hot.

Down goes, Miami, down goes Orlando, down goes Cleveland. Will the Lakers be next? Let's hope so.

Here's What I Have To Say

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Here’s what I have to say about 10 topics in the world of sports.

1. Don’t write off the Celtics. During the regular season, I didn’t believe but now this veteran team isn’t playing like an old bunch of farts, they are giving the hated Lakers a run for their money.

2. Here’s a scary fact: The Celtics haven’t even played their best game yet in the NBA Finals. Imagine if the Big Four are all in double figures, and the defense continues to lock down L.A.? Well, that would equate into an NBA championship.

3. The World Cup is here! Are you excited? Many U.S. sports fan don’t even like soccer, but there is an art to the sport, I must admit. But I’m wondering if those haters could change their tune if the scoring increased? Imagine a 6-5 soccer game. Well, here’s to the U.S. opening with a win over England on Saturday! Go U-S-A.

4. The University of Southern California got nailed with a two-year ban of appearing in Bowl games, plus scholarship losses and records and wins taken away. Pete Carroll got a lot of credit for turning SC around, but he should take most of the blame for the football program cheating. See, running away from the problem helped him.

5. NBA officials are an absolute joke. Enough said.

6. Ben Roethlisberger’s excuse for acting like a you-know-what: I was young, immature. Seriously, that’s the best you can come up with? It’s not like you’re 18, what a bogus excuse. You should have already matured.

7. Imagine Tom Brady not wearing a New England Patriots jersey. Must erase that image. I’m worried about his next contract, but can’t imagine Robert Kraft not paying him top dollar – franchise money – to stay. If Brady leaves, you might see this grown man cry.

8. The Chicago Blackhawks no doubt deserved to win the Stanley Cup. They should be applauded for playing as a team, even though they also feature some of the best young superstars in the league. Superstars that play in a team concept are the key to success.

9. Should MLB use instant replay for every situation on the field they are unsure of? Let the great debate begin. I’m more in favor of using robots to call balls and strikes because these umpires and their shoebox or hot air balloon strikes zones are brutal to watch.

10. No question the best actors reside in Los Angeles. Just watch a Lakers game and you’ll know what I mean.

Notre Dame sends message by re-upping with Boston College

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

If the Irish is seriously considering a move to the Big 10, they have quite the poker faces.

Don't let the slimeball athletic director at Boston College, Gene DeFilippo, fool you. Notre Dame and Boston College aren't continuing their series because they're both Catholic schools. The Irish are using BC to send a clear message to college football and the Big 10 specifically - we're not going anywhere.

While expansion rumors have been swirling, Notre Dame has continued operating as if they it plans on being independent for a very long time. Earlier in May, the Irish and Miami announced the revival of the "Catholics vs. Convicts" rivalry is likely to be renewed. Though it's not finalized, it's said that the two teams will face off starting in 2012 and play through 2015.

Now just yesterday Boston College announced that Notre Dame and Boston College will play six times from 2011 to 2019. DeFilippo said the two schools decided to renew the series based on the fact that they are the only two Catholic universities playing in the FBS. While that is fine to tell the papers, the truth is this: Notre Dame is using this as an opportunity to let everybody know it is not joining a conference anytime soon.

Signing on for long-term series with two ACC teams is big. One argument fans have had for Notre Dame joining the Big 10 is the fact that the Irish have so many regional rivals within that conference that they play most of their games against the Big 10 and might as well join it. Well, Notre Dame is finding ways to diversify its schedule and let it be known that it is going to play who it wants to play when it wants to play.

This upcoming season, Notre Dame plays three Big 10 schools (Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan), two Pac-10 schools (USC, Stanford), the two other independents (Army, Navy), one ACC team (Boston College), one Mountain West team (Utah) one MAC team (Western Michigan) and one C-USA team (Tulsa). The Irish even got away from signing on with Big East teams this season. In the past, Notre Dame has had an arrangement with the conference in which it has three Big East schools on its schedule. This year Pittsburgh is the only Big East school on the list.

The 2011 schedule already features three Big 10 teams, three Big East teams, two ACC teams, two Pac-10 teams, Army and Navy. Look to 2012 and of the nine games already tentatively scheduled, Notre Dame faces five different conferences (all BCS conferences), plus independents, with a home-and-home against Oklahoma bringing the Big 12 into the fold.

Notre Dame isn't going to make a move unless it has to and right now it doesn't have to. And with the furious scrambling of teams and conferences after the speculation of a Pac-16 now subsiding with no major changes appearing on the horizon, Notre Dame can keep saying to the Big 10, "Thanks, we're good."

Way-too-early college football top-3

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

For those of you who have been anxiously waiting, here it is - the conclusion of the way-too-early college football top-25.

3. Ohio State
The Buckeyes appear poised to take another Big 10 title, something Jim Tressel appears to be able to do in his sleep. But will Ohio State be able to clear the hurdle they've been tripping on the last five years? The Buckeyes have a legitimate shot at the BCS championship game, something they have not been able to win it their last two tries (41-14 loss to Florida in 2006, 38-24 loss to LSU in 2007). The defense will be just as dominant as last year, anchored by Cameron Heyward. But the offense needs to be more two dimensional than it has in the past, which means Terrelle Pryor needs to show he can do it with his arms as well as his legs. This is his time to prove he's worth all the hype he's gotten.

2. Alabama
Sure, conventional wisdom says you should rank last year's national champion should be ranked first, but there are many who don't agree that the BCS championship was actually between the two best teams in the nation. On top of that, Alabama has enough holes to raise doubt. The offense should be just fine with Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram, quarterback Greg McElroy and wideout Julio Jones, but defensively the Crimson Tide is a very light on experience. Only three starters return and there are major gaps on the front line and the defensive backfield. At defensive tackle and end, the starters are all new and both starting cornerbacks are gone. Alabama has a lot of depth, but one has to wonder just how much turnover it can take as it goes for a repeat.

1. Boise State
Many, yours truly included, thought the Fiesta Bowl was in fact the true national championship game last year and Boise State won that in a terrific game. Boise State has lost just one game in the last three seasons, compiling a 39-1 record over that time, including bowl wins against TCU the past two seasons. And if the top team from last year is returning every single starter from last year's team, how can you even begin to argue against them? Sure, Boise State plays in the WAC, which is a joke of a conference, but everytime the Broncos have played on a national stage, they have proven their mettle. Kellen Moore should be very much in the Heisman discussion this season and the defense is just plain devastating. Early wins against Oregon State and Virginia Tech would go a long way towards legitimizing the schedule for Boise State.

Bruins off season off to a good start

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Despite the hurt still being there, here I am am writing a quick blog about the Bruins. If you ask me, this is the most important off season the B's have had for quite some time as they look to bounce back from the worst play off loss in team history.

With that being said, Peter Chiarelli has wasted no time bringing back incumbent players he wants on this team. Last week he resigned Shawn Thornton to a two year deal, and most importantly signed Dennis Seidenberg to a 4 year deal over the weekend. After coming over in a deadline day trade, the left handed defenseman was simply amazing while being paired with Zdeno Chara. Despite playing on 17 games for the Bruins, he had a +9 and helped solidify the blue line for the Bruins.

The new 4 year deal costs the Bruins $13 million and averages a $3.25 million cap hit per season. That's a relatively cheap price for a top 2 defenseman, especially since Dennis Wideman is going to cost you $3.97 million for each of the next two season. Yuck! The signing pretty much finalizes the position for the team as they now have Chara, Seidenberg, Ference, Wideman, Boychuck, Stuart and Hunwick. Thankfully, this should provide Chiarelli plenty of time to deal with Bruins lack of scoring. With the draft coming up, hopefully the Bruins can assure themselves of taking Taylor Hall. I'd even be open to Bruins using their other first round pick this season in a package to get them the #1 overall pick just to make sure.

Gronkowski clearly has a passion to play this game

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

So I was at the Worcester Tornadoes' Can-Am League game Friday night, and find out a player on the team, Gordie Gronkowski, is the older brother of New England Patriots second-round draft pick Rob Gronkowski.

The story doesn't end there, however.

Rob, a tight end, was even in attendance last night watching his brother play.

I ran into the Patriots' rookie during the game, and chatted for a few minutes between innings. While it was basically small talk, Rob told me all I needed to know about him.

I asked him who he rooted for growing up, and apparently he was a Buffalo Bills fan.

Funny how things change, however. I kind of chuckled, knowing now he has to play his boyhood team twice a year in the AFC East, but Rob quickly joked something along the lines of how he dislikes them now.

We both kind of laughed, but what I really took out of that is how much passion he has for the game of football.

If you don't believe it, just watch this. That's all the proof you need.

This kid appears to be a perfect Patriot with talent, heart and desire. He's already being compared to Dallas' Jason Witten because he can catch passes, run away from defenders and also seal the edge as a blocker.

Anway, good luck to Rob Gronkowski. I hope he has a long, healthy and successful career in the NFL.

Never lose that passion to play this game! Welcome to Patriot Nation!!!