Watching the Bruins during the holiday season

Watching the Bruins during the holiday season

By: Peter Stathopoulos

Having lived in Boston for my whole life, I obviously know about the Boston Bruins and their recent2011 Stanley Cup Finals triumph.  But, unlike the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks which in itself was a joy to watch; home games during the Christmas season certainly bring a different feel to the air.  The weather in New England is certainly appropriate for hockey; it is cold in all of New England as winter has arrived upon us.  In years past, watching Bruins games during the holiday season was not as enjoyable as it is starting to become in the past couple of years.  Why was the case in years past?  I have no idea, but one thing I do know is that Bruins hockey games thisDecember are almost guaranteed to be sold-out.  This has not been the case during the 2008 seasonand before.  During that same season, I have gone to the December 23^rd game against the St. LouisBlues and that game was not sold out.  I could notice that certain sections of the TD Garden arena were empty.  From what I can remember, that game seemed more like a college hockey game than an NHL game.  Obviously, today it is totally different; it actually does seem like an NHL game!

 Even though the NHL season goes from October until April, NHL hockey during the holiday season brings on a special feeling for me.  I do not know how other hockey fans feel but the holiday season is literally one of the very few times during the NHL season where I actually pay attention to the Bruins.  I know that there are some people that will not believe that last sentence.  But, I swear that I actually do pay attention to the Boston Bruins during the month of December.  During the month of December I might even attend a Bruins game at the TD Garden.  That month is the month that I would most likely be attending a Bruins game.  If I am lucky I might even attend multiple Bruins games during the month of December.  I always love watching the Bruins during the month of December.  The holiday season is always special, especially in regards to watching the Bruins.  How do fellow Bruins fans feel about Bruins hockey during the holiday season?

Its personal AGAIN...

                                                                  

Hey folks since its only fair and I have 5 days to make a preview of the showdown this Sunday lets dedicate this post to the one and only Sexy Rexy Ryan ( who we all hate).

Since he took over in 2009 last year he has been adding a hatred and sting to all Boston sports fans against the jets. I guarantee if you ask New Englanders who do you hate the most on the Jets most of them including myself would say Rex Ryan.

In 2009 when Mangini got axed Rex Ryan had his first news conference. We remember the quote that put the Pats-Jets competitiveness above the colts. " I didn't come here to kiss Bellichecks rings."

Since taking over the Jets coaching job he is 2-2 against the patriots. ( Both wins in the meadowlands, both losses in Gillette).  As much as you hate the f*n guy you got to credit him with turning the Jets into the most feared pass and rushing defense like the additions of Bart Scott, Darell Revis, Antonio Cromatie, Calvin pace, d'bricishah Ferguson and many more.

His targets are none other than the people that come to mind when the word Patriots shows up, no other than Tom Brady and Bill Belichek. Last week he stated during his press conferences days short before the wild card round vs the colts " Its become personal." He also stated during the press conference that while Manning studies hard he also says that Brady thinks he studies hard but its only belicheck that helps him study.

If the Jets hadn't squeaked by the Bengals and chargers ( the teams that always choke during the playoffs) to the AFC championship game or if Nate Kateing had made 1 of the 3  field goals he missed in the 2009 divisional round he wouldn't be as mouthy as he is now. With the HBO series hard knocks made the Jets a more hated team then ever before. Since off season of last year we hadn't heard the end of him claiming the Jets are Superbowl contenders.

Hopefully at Sunday evening at 7:30 he'll be at McDonald's eating 5 big macs ( we as patriots fans would enjoy seeing that caught on tape just like the feet scandal with his wife)

World Cup 2010

After watching the World Cup six months ago from South Africa, I could definitely notice several things happening here in Boston as a result of the the world cup. From personal experience watching the World Cup myself, I think these changes that have occurred are for the better.

First of all, I have noticed that in all of a sudden, people here in Boston were passionate about soccer. This reason is not only because of the frenzy caused by the US national team competing in the world cup, it is also because here in New England, we have our own professional soccer franchise, the New England Revolution. This team is proving to be a team that can compete with the rest of the Boston teams for media coverage and highlight time when the MLS season is in full swing.

Soccer is one of the sports that is in my opinion uniting the world in a way that no other world currently being played around the world. Aside from the professional leagues around the world and the World Cup, the game is also an Olympic sport. This speaks volumes on having a unifying sport being played in a sports competition in which is meant to bring the world together for three weeks or so they can compete with each other for medals and perhaps national bragging rights along the process. The World Cup is also another competition in which brings together each country's national teams (for soccer) for a month-long competition. Which, any soccer player around the world would tell you they would dream of represent their home country by playing on the national team that happens to be competing in the World Cup. What I would miss about the World Cup the most is not the hype or the commercialization placed around it; it would mostly be the way the world just seems to get together in one country to play one common sport that is played all over the world. I just we all treat each other the way all of the time as we do during that one month every four years.

In fact, Soccer is going to be the sport, which in my opinion would replace Baseball in the future in this country. I can even see it in the numbers lately, that more kids are going out for Soccer than for Baseball. Also, at the same time, the interest level of Baseball is going down at the same the interest level for Soccer is going up. I can't see it as much here in Boston as the Red Sox are still selling out but I do see the soccer fan coming out in most Boston sports fans as attendance at Revs games have steadily gone up over the past couple of years.