Bob Lobel: More Excitement than Boston Planned for this Summer

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Back with, hopefully, something to say. 

This seems like a no action spring and summer, but look more closely. The NBA has had a much more exciting and event filled offseason than anything that happened during the regular season and playoffs. Yes, the finals were eye-opening to many who had no clue about the skill set it takes to play championship basketball in this era. Now we all know it’s a skill that borders on the unbelievable, with the remarkable talent that it takes to win. 

Remarkable.

Bob Lobel: A Massive Sports Weekend that Can Only Happen in Boston

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Just wondering if the Red Sox are paying attention to the success of the Bruins since the firing of head coach Claude Julian. 

Not saying anything, just wondering. Probably not, but maybe. 

It's been pretty hard to ignore, actually.

That brings us to this weekend, when there is an amazing coming together of everyone in just such a short period of time. All here in Boston, and all in a span of days. The Red Sox on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, especially Monday. The Bruins on Monday night at the TD Garden. The Celtics open the playoffs at home at the Garden on Sunday, and the backdrop of this whole excess of playoff sports and the Patriots Day game is the 121st running of the Boston Marathon. 

This might be labeled overkill, but it is a rare thing indeed. 

Bob Lobel: Two Conns

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

This might be somewhat inappropriate but here goes- This is a Conn job of biblical proportions. 

One over the top winner and one over the top loser, and I'm tired of hearing about both of them, besides wondering how they got where they are today. The two cons are UConn and Aaron Hernandez. 

Bob Lobel: Time to Relegate the Bruins

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Now, this about your Boston Bruins.

If they were in the English Premier League, they wouldn’t be around long. It's not easy to miss the playoffs three years in a row in the National Hockey League. Heck, it's not easy missing the playoffs at all in the National Hockey League.

Bob Lobel: Brady Taking a Page Out of Trump's Book?

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

This doesn’t feel right, not at all!

I'm not talking about the White House fiasco, although there seems to be a connecting thread that can be traced to the dark side of the force. There has to be some explanation or some information that hasn’t been included that would explain it all.

My first thought is that maybe something damaging to the image of our greatest quarterback ever came directly from Roger Goodell's office. No proof yet of anything, except what is being promoted by TRISTAR productions on their website.

Check it out for yourself and let me know your opinion. Is there a sense of outrage and disbelief that you get when you see the absurd prices that come with this private signing experience by Tom Brady? Is there any mention of a charity that would benefit from this ridiculous event that can only be described as a “money grab” under the name of our local hero of heroes? 

How did this happen? How did Tom Brady and his “people” let this happen? 

Bob Lobel: Tom Brady Has Every Reason to Walk Away, But…

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Assume the universe presents you with the perfect moment to step away from your job and simply say, “my work is done here.” 

Put another way, does Sunday's Super Bowl for the ages deliver the message that “it can't get any better than this?” Seriously, I ask you, can it get any better than this?  For all concerned- fans, coaches and most importantly the quarterback- can there be a moment that would possibly eclipse what took place in Houston? 

Bob Lobel: Brady and Belichick's Last Rodeo?

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

This is not our first rodeo, not by a long shot. 

"Not the first rodeo" has become a popular phrase to calm people down around here, but remember this: Sunday is a lot closer to being the last rodeo than the first for our coach and quarterback. We know it and feel it, yet we totally deny it. 

What's left to accrue after this seventh Super Bowl appearance? What's left if they get a ring to put on all fingers, as opposed to having just four? 

Bob Lobel: Will Trump Get Bob Kraft's SB Ring Back from Putin?

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Do me a favor- Call me when the Patriots play a big game. 

What would that even look like? The Rams, for instance, are impossible to differentiate from any of the high school teams that played on that same field in Foxboro the day before. 

Bob Lobel: Being a Fan Again

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

I almost forgot what it was like to just be a fan.

No work issues, no interview issues, no controversy, no worrying about your hair being combed, or having a tie to match the shirt or whatever. That's what this World Series meant to me. 

Being a fan again with no external pressures of your home town team winning or losing, or finding a spot on the parade route for the live telecast. I wanted the Indians to win. I have Ohio roots and Ohio friends. No doubt that Chicago was a better and deeper team. Not better managed, but all the other stuff. 

And, getting out of Chicago, with the home town adoration and pressure, allowed the Cubs to be the Cubs. It’s the same principle in place for 7th games of Stanley Cups: You don’t want to play they at home because of the fan expectations. Much easier to win those big games on the road.

Bob Lobel: Tito and Theo

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

It was November 2003, and Grady Little was still manager of the Boston Red Sox, but not for long.

Aaron Boone had barely crossed home plate, but John Henry wanted to fire Little before he left Yankee Stadium. 

He was talked out of it by Larry Lucchino, which was probably not a bad idea at the moment.  Meanwhile. Terry Francona and his son, Nick, were visiting Georgetown University for their baseball dinner. 

Nick was a left handed pitcher and the Hoyas were recruiting him for the next season. Nick Barnicle, the son of former Globe columnist and current MSNBC star Mike Barnicle, was already playing for Georgetown which is why, obviously, they also were at that baseball dinner. 

Grady Little was still the manager of the Red Sox, but not for long. 

Bob Lobel: Why I'm Rooting Against the Cubs

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

The line "why can't we get players like that?” is getting annoying.

Can't believe I just said that. 

It's great now and then (thanks  to Dan Shaughnessy!), but enough is enough! This weekend, even Adam Vinatieri got into the conversation! That one seems to hurt more than most, but we are not here to talk about that. 

Bob Lobel: Be Careful What You Wish for, Cubs Fans

 By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Where did it go? 

The passion, the drama, the anticipation is what seems to be missing. It's hard to explain, but the convergence of the Red Sox collapse, Jon Lester, the Brady (ho hum) return, Theo  Epstein, the mother of all campaigns, Terry Francona, Mike Napoli, groping and more groping, Andrew Miller, Coco Crisp, David Price and blah blah blah. 

What has sucked the life out of the NFL?   

Can Roger Goodell be held responsible?  Do we really think the Bruins are going to be carried by Tuukka Rask, and are the Celtics really about to start another middle of the road finish? 

Whoa. 

This is a lot of baggage, a lot. 

Bob Lobel: Renaming the Charles River for Big Papi

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

It's almost unfathomable. The major oversights in the House of David (formerly Fenway Park) this weekend were staggering, considering all that took place.  They didn’t want to, but they did play a part in sacrificing what should be an inconsequential home field advantage against the Cleveland Indians, and their certain to be “manager of the year,” Terry Francona (who, by the way, never won that award with Boston). 

Clearly, the focus wasn’t on sealing the deal on the field during baseball time.

Bob Lobel: A Perfect September for Boston Sports

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Of course I'm nervous. 

Yes, I'm worried, and if you're smart, you will be too. It’s the ole karma thing, when things kinda even out. There is never all good or all bad. 

If all good seems to be the rule of the day, then all bad can't be far behind. Somehow, it's going to even out. That is the reason to be nervous and cautious, expecting the worst.

Did you see this September coming? 

Bob Lobel: When a Win Feels Like a Loss

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

When does a win not feel like a win? Right now, Patriot Nation, right now! 

When does an emotional swing from high to low become such a burden? Right now, Patriot Nation, right now! 

And there is nothing we can do about it. 

Bob Lobel: The Patriots Still the Envy of the Football Universe

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

There is nothing like a Monday after a Sunday like last Sunday. 

The Red Sox explode on an Ortiz clutch home run, and few people are talking about it. Buchholz implodes, and few people are talking about it, because they won a very big game. The Patriots… They've grabbed the spotlight just because. 

Just because what? 

Bob Lobel: Are the Patriots and Jimmy Ready for the Opener?

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

How much help will the Patriots give backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in his first, and probably last, four starts with this team?

All you have to do is check out the mural of Tom Terrific that covers the lighthouse at Gillette. There is no way to interpret a larger than life portrait  of a player who is already larger than life. It is not exactly a morale booster for number 10 to feel number 12 hovering more than he already was, by just existing. 

The team really seems to have more interest in putting the commissioner in a position of total humiliation, at least locally, than they are of pumping up a quarterback who has been thrust in a position of big trouble in their opener. It's true that the next three next games at home can be won by playing former Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman at the position, but that’s not the point. 

What is the point, Bob? The point is New England's misguided purpose of glorifying a guy who needs it not, instead of supporting a guy who could use all the support he can get. 

Bob Lobel: Brady's New Haircut

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Why do I think Tom Brady didn't order a "boys regular" when he went in to have his hair styled? Tom doesn’t get it cut at SuperCuts, he gets it styled at some place you can't pronounce. 

We used to go in and order Arnold Palmers. Now it's going to be “please give me a Tom Brady.” 

Everyone will know what you're talking about. 

Bob Lobel: You Can't Always Get What You Want (in Boston Sports)

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

Knowing what you want is easy. Asking for it is much more difficult, so it stands to reason that getting what you want is really tough, since you pretty much always have to ask for it.  

So, every once in a while it's probably good to figure out what you want and then ask for it. Let's begin to ask: I want the Boston Red Sox to figure it out, because they are driving me crazy. What if they figure out that David Ortiz is struggling, and they need to get him out of the lineup in a year where his celebrity has never been higher? I think that’s probably not going to happen. 

I want the fans to give Alex Rodriguez a standing ovation at some point tonight, and them give him a boo beyond boo. It would kinda recognize the conflict within for those of us who really wanted the Red Sox to get him when that opportunity was there. Count that group. 

I remember the  phone call I got at 8 am from Peter Brown, our news director. I said “hello” and he said “we got him!" 

Bob Lobel: Brady Talk Dominating Red Sox Season in Boston

By Bob Lobel (@boblobel)

So it's true, Chris Sale does have a great “cutter." Now proven beyond any doubt.  

He may be an immature twit, but he can pitch, so bring him here. We will make him a man. It's one of the things we do best.

Grow up or get out.