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Jersey Debate.. Let the games begin…

Posted 2009/10/31 By Guest



Now Benti posted his jersey rankings. I agree on some but the Wilfork ranking seemed a little low considering he is one of the best nose tackles in the league… This got me wondering… Who has the better jersey collection between me and Benti?

 I am an old school throwback type of guy. I know Benti is the same way and I love that. I rock jerseys that represent my team and are also very styling. I might rock a jersey not representing Boston, just because I know when I go out people are going to say “Damn, look at that kids jersey!” (It does happen all the time..)
Let’s get this started. I am going to divide up my jerseys into specific categories. Benti can do the same. I am pretty confident that in the end, my collection will rise above his (by a slim margin).
College Jerseys

Throwbacks
Michael Jordan Authentic North Carolina 

In my opinion, this jersey is a must. At least one Jordan jersey is a must. This jersey just looks good. I am not a North Carolina fan, but I am a sports fan. I feel like there is no way that any real die hard sports fan can’t have one Jordan jersey in the collection.
Richard Seymour Georgia Jersey

This jersey used to be a favorite of mine. I am surprised the Patriots traded away Big-Sey but it had to be done. I have a red Georgia throwback Seymour jersey.. name on the back of it and all.
Matt Ryan Boston College Jersey

White Replica Ryan BC jersey. This isn’t your typical college replica though.. The name is on the back plate on the back of the jersey and there is a BC (gold and maroon) ACC Patch on the front of the jersey in perfect form.
Vince Wilfork throwback University of Miami signed jersey

Vince Wilfork is my boy. That is why in my basement hangs a white Miami throwback number 75 jersey with the ‘Wilfork’ on the back of it. He is a legend in my household and I support this signed jersey proudly in my ‘Man Town’.
Doug Flutie throwback BC signed jersey

Right above the Wilfork jersey hangs my signed authentic #22 Doug Flutie maroon Boston College 1984 jersey. Growing up a BC fan this jersey is a must in my collection.
Non-Throwback College Jerseys

Premier WVU Noel Devine navy jersey

This jersey is very special to me because my brother and sister chipped in together to buy it for me shortly after I decided on WVU. It is an awesome jersey and the way Noel has been running this year I will have no problem rocking this jersey throughout the next four years even after he is gone.
Devin Ebanks yellow WVU Basketball jersey

Now this jersey is clutch for many different reasons. First off, it is yellow. The WVU student section is yellow so it is a double whammy and will be a good jersey to wear while also helping me blend into the school spirited yellow student section. It is number 3.. Number 3 is a fairly common basketball number and seeing there is a good chance Ebanks will bolt for the draft after this year… chances are some one else will wear number three throughout my four-year tenure at Dub V.
Derrick Williams white Penn State jersey

This jersey used to mean a lot to me. I bought it with money won in a $80 dollar Poker hand (the hand added a lot of drama) I got it his freshman year at Penn State so I was able to rock it for a solid four years while rooting on the Nittany Lions.
Celtics Jerseys

Paul Pierce Green Swingman

Paul Pierce is my generations Larry Bird. The jersey will never be out of style and that means a lot to my collection. Paul is the truth and I love it! 
Throwback Kevin McHale White Swingman

I had wanted this jersey for so long so when I finally had the dough to make it happen I was so pumped. I have worn this jersey to many Celtics games including game one of the 2008 NBA Finals. I love this McHale jersey and it gets me a lot of compliments.
NBA Throwback Jerseys

Darius Miles throwback Cleveland Cavaliers

This jersey is just amazing. Remember back in the day when the Cavs rocked the Black, baby blue and orange jerseys? Well I have a white throwback swingman D. Miles jersey. Bad ass? Yup.
Jalen Rose throwback Chicago Bulls (Cursive)

The Red number 5 Jalen Rose swingman Chicago Bulls throwback. You know the version where Chicago is in cursive? This jersey is nothing more then one of those jerseys that just looks fresh to death. I love this jersey.
Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers Throwback (Washington Nationals)
This jersey was cheap… But it is still an Iverson (Future Hall of famer) Throwback. The old school ‘Nats’ across the chest is BAD ASS.  (Picture above right)
Ron Artest Throback Pacers Jersey
This jersey is just crazy. Number 91 Throwback Pacers Artest jersey. If you can have an Artest Jersey… why not right? This swingman jersey just makes people laugh.
New England Patriots jerseys

Red Throwback Replicas

Tom Brady
For obvi
ous reasons. He is the best quarterback to play the game. The red number 12 is just so nice looking and the red is definitely  different.
Tedy Bruschi
This jersey is very special to me. I wore it to the Sunday night game versus Buffalo when Bruschi led the Pats onto the field versus the Bills in his first game after suffering from a stroke. No Patriot fan doesn’t have a Bruschi in their collection.
Normal Patriots jerseys

Navy Vince Wilfork signed

This jersey is signed but I still rock it out because I have my Miami one framed. Vince is my boy. I feel Benti didn’t give him the credit he is due in the rankings. To be honest. 
Boston Red Sox jerseys

Dustin Pedroia new 2009 Authentic Away 

I love these jerseys. They have an old school throwback feel yet they are our normal away jerseys. Pedroia is the man. Hands down. I am very happy to add this jersey to my collection.
Pedro Martinez Authentic throwback home jersey
I am so pissed I didn’t bring this jersey to WVU just for piss and giggles. Pedro is a Red Sox legend. I will never throw this jersey away (even though it is gradually turning darker and becoming tighter) I love it. Pedro is one of the all time greats and this is a great jersey.
JD Drew/Trot Nixon Authentic Home Jersey
This jersey was purchased when Nixon was on the Sox. It is a good jersey though because #7 is common and it doesn’t have the name on it so it can now be used as a Drew jersey (although who wants a Nancy Drew jersey anyways)
The Papelbon Collection

I have loved Papelbon ever since his rookie year. I bought authentic gray (road) and white (home) jerseys before he was a proven pitcher. I have the throwback All Star jerseys from 2006 (Pittsburgh- Black/Red/White/Yellow) and 2007 (San Fransisco–Orange/Black/Cream) these jerseys are awesome but its too bad he’ll be gone soon..
Throwback NHL Jerseys

Wayne Gretzky Mitchell and Ness Edmonton Oilers Jersey- Blue.
For what I paid – $175- I am happy people comment on this jersey. We are talking authentic royal blue with orange numbers- stitched name and C on chest. I love this jersey and I often whip it out.
Whoa.. That’s a lot of jerseys. I wear a jersey maybe 3 times a week. People tend to love my jerseys– I do too. Sports fans are supposed to have a wide range of jerseys- which I think I do have…
OK Benti now let’s hear why your jersey collection is NOT better then mine..
“Half the game is how you look”
One Love.
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Boston Fans are the best in the world

Posted 2009/10/31 By Guest

Now for the last two and a half months I have been attending West Virginia University. The school is a hot bed for Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and New York fans. I am in the small majority of students from the New England area.. Live on a floor of 7 New York fans (including the 5 others in my suite area). Now I am all for rooting for your team and such but I recently have been promoting (ask benti for confirmation) how terrible New York fans are. Now it’s going to be the first chapter in my novel (available in 2017 for those wondering) but I thought I would give it a shot now as the World Series continues…

Why Boston has the best sports fans in the world

  1. We watch the games till the fat lady sings

      I have been more into these World Series games then the New Yorkers that surround me.. I’m serious.  From what I have witnessed Yankees fans are more interested in playing NCAA Football on Xbox360 or Ken Griffey Jr. ’98 on N64 then watching their team in the World Series! It isn’t like they haven’t been to the World Series since 2003! Come on Yankees fans for such a prolific franchise you think their fans would be a little more interested… One roommate across the hall told me that he fell asleep in the 8th of Game 1 when the Phillies were up 2-1… That had to have been like 11:00 tops. Come on kid! It’s the World Series! I said we could be down 0-3 in a series and we will stay up until the wee hours of the morning to watch the game in its entirety.

2. Philadelphia fans are just idiots…

I have almost gotten into three different physical altercations while being at WVU. All three of them have been with Philadelphia fans. That’s right NOT New York fans.. but Philly fans.. The Phillies are good. I will not lie about that but Philly fans have got to be the worst I have ever encountered. The think because they have one title in the last ten years that they are ‘Title town’.. Come on! I was at a party talking to three Philly fans. Slowly but surely I carved each of their sports knowledges until there was one remaining. Our drawn out conversation happened to come upon hockey.. which I am fine with. I told him how although I didn’t play hockey throughout high school (stopped after sophomore year) I grew up in a mainly hockey-based family. My dad played hockey, My uncles played hockey (one playing at Boston College) and I played hockey growing up. Anyways… This Philly fan told me that because the Bruins last won the cup in 1972 (stats provided by me–I am the Schwab after all) and the Flyers won in 1975- The Flyers have had more RECENT hockey success and that Philly has more hockey history then Boston. I swear to you this is exactly what I said to the kid in the empty room in the wee hours of the morning, “You’re a fuckin’ idiot. This conversation is over. Walk away from me before I kick your ass.” The kid walked away, told the biggest kid at the party (one of my suite mates) to back him up and come kick my ass. My roommate sees me as the instigator and tells the kid “Don’t argue sports with him.. he knows more then you..” How the hell can someone say that Philadelphia has more hockey history then Boston?
We were an Original Six team, meaning that when the powers above came together and said we should make a hockey league they said, “well, Boston, Duh” and boom we were one of the six cities chosen to form a hockey league. I mean Philly fans are crazy I am not going to deny it, but they are so delusional its not even funny.
Boston has the best fans in the world. It’s a known fact. Sold out Fenway Park every single game since 2003. My roommates ask me why Yankees Stadium is the most empty stadium in the video game Ken Griffey Jr. 1998.. I say “It’s New York, that’s why”
One Love.
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Boston Jersey Buyers Guide

Posted 2009/10/19 By Benti

I was going to write about how the Patriots are back, how TFB rose from the dead and returned to TFB form and demolished the Titans, but that would have been no fun. Instead, I became inspired by a simple Facebook message from Brad earlier today.

“Should i get a Lucic or Savard classic jersey? One would think Lucic, but it could be a lot of money to spend especially he went on the extended IR. Let me know thoughts…”

I immediately went into a thought process on to why I thought a Lucic jersey would be the better choice of jersey to buy. I started analyzing the situation. A jersey is expensive, especially Hockey Authentics, so when you buy a jersey, you look for longevity and Lucic just recently signed a contract extension so he looked like the better buy even though he just recently hit the IR.

So this got me thinking, what are the best jersey’s to buy for a Boston sports fan right now? This takes into account everything, player, contract, type of jersey, you name it. I’m sure there are other Boston fans out there wondering the same thing, “Benti, you seem to know a thing or two about jersey’s. Please tell me what jersey I should buy for my favorite Boston sports team.”

Well you have come to the right article. I present now, the Boston Sports Jersey Buyers Guide, always subject to change.

(The score given will be a letter grade mostly based on player and longevity. We are also amusing you are buying TODAY)

The New England Patriots
Tom Brady – A+
Tedy Bruschi – A+
Jerrod Mayo – A
Randy Moss- A-
Wes Welker – A-
Adalius Thomas – B
Vince Wilfork – B-
Brandon Merriweather – B-
Ben Watson – C
Laurence Marroney – D

Analysis: First of all, bonus points if you buy a 5oth anniversary jersey. These are the jersey’s most seen when you are in the Patriots Pro Shop. By far, the best jersey is Tom Brady. He is a sure hall of famer and is basically the most guaranteed to be on the team forever. For a similar reason, Tedy Bruschi is a sure buy as he has retired as one of the best Patriots ever meaning he will probably never put on another jersey. Mayo’s jersey has the most upside as he is only in his second year and seems to be a centerpiece for years to come.


Boston Red Sox
Dustin Pedroia – A
Jon Lester – A
Kevin Youkilis – A
David Ortiz – A-
Josh Becket – B+
Victor Martinez – B+
Jason Bay – C+

Again, a major part of jersey buying is based on the longevity of the player. The best Red Sox jersey’s to buy today are Lestah, Youk, and Pedi because they are the players locked up in the system the longest. Ortiz is also a great buy because despite his struggles in the past two seasons, he will always be remembered for his playoff heroics in 2004. the issue with Becket and Martinez is that they only have one year left of their contracts and the issue with Jason Bay is he could be gone within the next three months. Minus points for blue alternate jerseys and those replica home ones with the name are also major minus points as those are just silly.

Boston Celtics
Paul Pierce – A
Kevin Garnett – A-
Rajon Rondo – B
Ray Allen – B-
Rasheed Wallace – B-
Kendrick Perkins – B-
Glen Davis – C+

The Celtics are one of the most interesting teams to buy a jersey for right now. The ONLY two jerseys I can recommend buying are Pierce because he is Paul Pierce and will always be remembered as a Celtic no matter what happens this off season, and Kevin Garnett who still has another year on his contract after this season. The player who could make the biggest jump on this list is Rajon Rondo. If he gets an extension sometime soon or it is guaranteed he will sign this off-season, then Rajon Rondo immediately becomes an “A” jersey buy. Negative points given for road alternate jerseys.

Boston Bruins
Milan Lucic – A
David Krejci – A
Tim Thomas – A
Zdeno Chara – A
Patrice Bergeron – A
Marc Savard – A-
Blake Wheeler – B+
Micheal Ryder – B+
Marco Sturm – B
Dennis Wideman – B

Of All the teams to buy a jersey for, the argument can be made that the Bruins are currently the best and the safest jerseys to buy in all of Boston sports. Almost all of the players are good and fan favorites and are also either locked up for a couple of years or have all the signs that they are going to sign a new contract with the team. Of the top players, there are really no bad buys. MAJOR BONUS POINTS given if you purchase a winter classic jersey.

Jersey grading is pretty enjoyable actually. I finally understand why Paul Lukas started the “Uni-Watch” website and feature on ESPN. Next time you need to know whether a jersey is a good buy or not, just ask me.

Until Next Time
~Benti

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Fixing The Boston Red Sox

Posted 2009/10/13 By Benti


I just couldn’t do it.

I began writing a “Worst Weekend Evah” post on Monday and the words just couldn’t come out. It was awful, horrible, a rip your heart out, dick-punch weekend. First Boston College gets butt-raped by the Virgina Tech Hokies and now I owe one of my floor-mates an eighteen pack of easy-mac. Then, the Red Sox have (stay with me here) 2 STRIKES, 2 OUTS, UP BY TWO RUNS, AND NO ONE ON BASE, AND YET THEY CANNOT CLOSE A GAME. WHAT….THE..FUCK. By that point on Sunday, I just knew the Patriots game was not going to end well, but then I got my hopes up when the Patriots held a 17-7 lead. But then, and Kyle Orton (I hope I never have to say his name in this context again) led the Broncos back to beat the Pats in combination with many Patriots offensive mistakes and TFB looking very un-TFBish.

I needed time. Now, two days have passed and I’m ready to look ahead. Looking ahead to 2010 there are plenty of things that the Red Sox can improve on to get ready for next year and make a run at the World Series.

1. Re-sign Jason Bay or sign Matt Holliday.
I would rather sign Jason Bay as he has proven that he can do it in the American League and Matt Holliday flamed-out in his limited time in the American League. They need one of them though.

2. Pick-up Alex Gonzalez’s option
Alex Gonzalez may be expensive, but he solidifies the SS position for the Sox, something that the Red Sox have struggled with in recent years. Gonzalez has proven he can play in Boston and I see no reason that the Sox should let that go.

3. Make a decision on a designated hitter.
I feel the Sox need to choose between Mike Lowell or David Ortiz as a designated hitter. Mike Lowell is probably the more trade able because of his cheaper price, but David Ortiz was the better hitter this season and could turn into a better deal. A feel one of them, unfortunately, needs to go to make the team better. You could probably get a good package of relievers for them, something the Red Sox were lacking. I think Lowell should go, you move Youk to 3B and Martinez (after picking up his option) to 1B. So who plays catcher you ask? Well that moves onto point 4 and one that will cause Brad to laugh in my face.

4. Dangle and trade Papelbon.
Damnit… Brad was right (Please read July 31st update). This needs to end. He is no longer lights out and Sunday just proved it. You move Bard up to closer and you gain the relievers from either moving Lowell or Ortiz. So who do you acquire for Jonathon Papelbon?

Can I interest you in Joe Mauer? Hear me out on this one.

Similar to Santana, the Twins probably want to move Mauer to get something for him before he most likely takes off in 2011. Now the Sox can’t offer many prospects, but the Sox can trade Papelbon to any team that needs a closer. Hmm… Philadelphia comes to mind and so does St. Louis. What’s not to say that something could be worked out? Send Papelbon to St. Louis or Philly, send some prospects to Minnesota say a Anderson and Westmoreland to Minnesota and Minnesota sends Mauer to Boston. It could work. Minnesota is happy because they get a package of prospects that they continue to build with, the National League team “solidifies” the back end of their bull-pen, and the Red Sox immediately make their lineup scary good again.

If the Sox could do this lets look at what the Sox would look like in 2010.

Lineup
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2B Dustin Pedrioa
1B Victor Martinez
3B Kevin Youkilis
C Joe Mauer
LF Jason Bay
DH David Ortiz
RF JD Drew
SS Alex Gonzalez

Bench:
Jed Lowrie
Casey Kotchman
Joey Gathright
Josh Redick

SP
1. Jon Lester
2. Josh Becket
3. Clay Bucholz
4. Dice-K
5. Wakefield/Byrd/Whoever

Bullpen
RP: Whoever you acquire
RP: Whoever you acquire
RP: Delcarman
RP: Ramierz
RP: Saito
SU: Okajima
CP: Bard

Wow…. that looks crazy-good, and it could potentially happen. There’s no reason that line-up cannot contend for a World Series next year. Hopefully, some of those moves will happen.

Until Next Time
~Benti

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