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The Hat Trick: B's Start To Show Positive Signs

Graig Woodburn  |  11/20/2009 - 7:21am EST

Maybe the Bruins should just see themselves as the first NHL team to play a 62-game schedule. If the first disappointing 20 games of the season were tossed out, then Thursday’s 4-3 shootout victory over the Thrashers would be a fine way to hit the restart button. Milan Lucic returned to the lineup, special teams lived up to their name and play after 60 minutes of hockey was not an effort in futility. Even before Patrice Bergeron settled things by scoring the only goal of the shootout, the Bruins had a winning edge Thursday. A key player was returning, not leaving the lineup. Frustration was out. Fresh start was in. Skating in his first game since injuring his index finger on Oct. 16, Lucic didn’t have any direct effect on the ...

Five Things To Watch For Sunday Afternoon

Christopher Price  |  11/20/2009 - 1:36am EST

FOXBORO — By all accounts, Wednesday morning sucked for the Patriots. Coach Bill Belichick aired them out in a film session designed to guarantee there will be no hangover from last Sunday’s emotional loss to the Colts in Indianapolis. There was no bury-the-football moment, as Belichick has done in the past. Instead, it was all about moving on, putting the defeat in the rear-view mirror and moving on to a key divisional contest that could ultimately drive a stake through the heart of the Jets’ playoff chances. “You can’t [replay] it,” linebacker Junior Seau said. “What’s in the past is in the past. “We need to have a short-term memory. That’s the only reason why you’re ...

Patriots Continue To Count On Rookie Contributions

Christopher Price  |  11/19/2009 - 9:52pm EST

FOXBORO — Not since 2003 — when Ty Warren, Asante Samuel, Eugene Wilson, Dan Koppen and Dan Klecko were rookies on a team that ended up winning Super Bowl XXXVIII — have the Patriots relied on so many first-year players as they have this season. Currently, New England has 13 available rookies — 10 on the 53-man roster and three on the practice squad. (In addition, there are three on the reserve/injured list, one on the practice squad/injured list and three on the reserve/military list.) All 12 of the players selected by the Patriots in the 2009 draft are still with the club in some form or fashion. It’s a staggering number of first-year players for a franchise that as little as two years ago had just five ...

The Three Pointer: Celtics Run Away From Speedy Warriors

Jessica Camerato  |  11/19/2009 - 2:19am EST

The start of the game looked familiar. The Celtics were outhustled on the boards. They struggled to find their groove behind the arc. Heading into halftime, it looked as if the undermanned Warriors had a legitimate shot at upsetting the Celtics. But the Celtics found their step again in the third quarter and pulled ahead, exposing the Warriors' lack of depth and inexperience. Led by Rajon Rondo, the Celtics played aggressive basketball to run away with a 109-95 victory. (Recap.) In the process, they offered plenty to digest: A FREE THROW BROUGHT THE RETURN OF RONDO Over the years criticism, of Rajon Rondo has centered around his jumpshot. But after finding his stroke on the floor, Rondo faced a different struggle this season – ...

Weei Columnists

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Three Men Who Could Help Shape the Red Sox' Offseason

11/11/2009 - 7:57am

CHICAGO — Theo Epstein issued the first defining words of the offseason in a secluded corner of the downstairs lobby at the O’Hare International Airport Hilton Tuesday. “I think we have a lot to do,” the Red Sox general manager said. “But I’m not so sure there are obvious ways to do it. Se we’re going to have ... more »

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The Pitch: The Case Jason Bay's Agent Is Making To MLB Teams

11/13/2009 - 9:11pm

Jason Bay’s agent did not attend the GM Meetings in Chicago this week. No need. Joe Urbon, who is the free-agent outfielder’s representative with CAA, had already had enough constructive conversations with major-league clubs about their interest in his client, and about Bay’s potential value to them, that a trip to the Windy City was ... more »

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Five Things To Watch For Sunday Afternoon

11/20/2009 - 1:36am

FOXBORO — By all accounts, Wednesday morning sucked for the Patriots. Coach Bill Belichick aired them out in a film session designed to guarantee there will be no hangover from last Sunday’s emotional loss to the Colts in Indianapolis. There was no bury-the-football moment, as Belichick has done in the past. Instead, it was all about ... more »

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Respect Is Hard to Come By For Celtics

11/16/2009 - 11:01pm

Kevin Garnett was talking about defending the pick and roll Monday, which is the most essential play in basketball and one that has been giving the Celtics all kinds of trouble ever since Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns worked it to death a little over a week ago. In his career Garnett must have seen the pick and roll, what? Fifty thousand times? ... more »

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The Three Pointer: Celtics Run Away From Speedy Warriors

11/19/2009 - 2:19am

The start of the game looked familiar. The Celtics were outhustled on the boards. They struggled to find their groove behind the arc. Heading into halftime, it looked as if the undermanned Warriors had a legitimate shot at upsetting the Celtics. But the Celtics found their step again in the third quarter and pulled ahead, exposing the Warriors' lack ... more »

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Thomas battles through challenges on, off ice

11/10/2009 - 10:36am

Tim Thomas has always been known as somewhat of a slow starter, and it was no different for the Bruins goaltender this season. Coming off his second straight All-Star selection, coupled with winning his position’s highest individual honor -- the Vezina Trophy -- Thomas was lugging around his fair share of lofty expectations. Not that he was ... more »

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Separating facts from myths when it comes to the Patriots

11/18/2009 - 7:52am

They call it the fog of war: the swirl of chaos that makes it hard to tell fact from fantasy in the aftermath of battle. Not that football is like a real battle — that’s disrespectful to those who have served and who serve now. But the football-war metaphor works as a literary device. It also works to explain the fog of information and ... more »

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The Mailbag: A 5,000-Word Farewell To Fourth-and-2

11/18/2009 - 9:47pm

Look, it’s all fourth-and-2 here this week. And I suspect that some may view that as more of a warning than an invitation. I understand. But at least dig in and give the mailbag a shot, even if you are suffering from fourth-and-2 fatigue. Lots of good email from both sides of the argument this week AND I manage to zipper in some Andrea Kramer ... more »

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Did You Notice Where Rasheed Wallace Was In Crunch Time?

10/28/2009 - 10:40am

While everyone (rightfully so) focused on Kevin Garnett and how his surgically repaired knee would hold up against LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the Celtics' season-opener, the most encouraging sight of the night was seeing Kendrick Perkins on the bench in crunch time. I’ve said it over and over. Perkins is an ideal backup center for a ... more »

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Barnes Seeks Improbable Road to History

06/22/2009 - 10:33am

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Ricky Barnes and Lucas Glover in the final pairing of the U.S. Open? It’s a storyline that looked as plausible at the beginning of the week at Bethpage Black as the grounds crew having to syringe the greens between groups just to keep them moist. Nonetheless, that was indeed the case when the two teed off Sunday ... more »

Audio & Video on Demand

  • +Adam Schefter, ESPN
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    Adam Schefter, ESPN

    Adam joins Dino and Gerry for his weekly interview on all things NFL...even 4th and 2

    Ben Watson, Patriots TE

    Ben Watson joins us to put 4th and 2 to bed and look ahead to the Jets

    Doc Rivers, Celtics Head Coach

    Doc joins D&C to talk, Rondo, 4th and 2 and coach's motivation techniques

  • +Dan Koppen and Logan [..]
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    Dan Koppen and Logan Mankins, Patriots OLs

    Logan and Dan joined the guys at Gillette Stadium to talk about "The Play" from last week's game against the Colts, how playing on the offensive line is all about communication, Sebastian Vollmer's job against Dwight Freeney, and previewed this week's game against the Jets

    Peter King, SI/NBC Sports

    Peter talked about the Patriots-Colts game which he deemed an instant classic, his thoughts on the decision to go for it on 4th and 2, the coaching situation in New York with Rex Ryan, if Mike Shanahan has any interest coaching the Buffalo Bills, if Randy Lerner will consider firing Eric Mangini, and the decision of the Bengals to sign Larry Johnson

    Dale and Holley Opening Segment

    They guys are both looking forward to Sunday's game against the Jets and talk about the matchup between Darrelle Revis and Randy Moss

  • +Leigh Bodden
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    Leigh Bodden

    Leigh Bodden joins The Big Show to discuss last weeks loss to the Colts, Belichick's controversial 4th and 2 call and this weeks match-up with the Jets.

    Curt Schilling

    Curt Schilling joins the Big Show to discuss 4th and 2...of course as well as the Sox offseason and people oweing him money.

    Vic Carucci, NFL.com

    Vic sits down with The Big Show to discuss 4th and 2, old Patriots in the media and Pats vs Jets.

  • +Chris Price With The [..]
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    Chris Price With The Planet

    Chris Price of WEEI.com and the It Is What It Is blog joins the gang to talk some Patritos.

    Tom E Curran

    Joining the gang on tonights show and bringing a little more perspective to the show and Patriots discussion is Tom E. Curran.

    Meuse Mans Fact Of The Night

    The Meuse Man is back again and he's brought some New York facts with him. Along with a great new song all about range.

  • +Fri. Nov. 20th Whiner [..]
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    Fri. Nov. 20th Whiner Line

    4th and 2... just kidding. Pats and Jets, plus the cackle-meter goes off the charts!

    Whine of the Week - 11/20/09

    This week's whine of the week winner. If you are our winner, please go to weei.com/whine and click on claim your prize.

    Thurs. Nov. 19th Whiner Line

    4th and 2 draws to a close... and we get a blast from Max's past.

  • +Patriots
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    Leigh Bodden

    Leigh Bodden joins The Big Show to discuss last weeks loss to the Colts, Belichick's controversial 4th and 2 call and this weeks match-up with the Jets.

    Dan Koppen and Logan Mankins, Patriots OLs

    Logan and Dan joined the guys at Gillette Stadium to talk about "The Play" from last week's game against the Colts, how playing on the offensive line is all about communication, Sebastian Vollmer's job against Dwight Freeney, and previewed this week's game against the Jets

    Peter King, SI/NBC Sports

    Peter talked about the Patriots-Colts game which he deemed an instant classic, his thoughts on the decision to go for it on 4th and 2, the coaching situation in New York with Rex Ryan, if Mike Shanahan has any interest coaching the Buffalo Bills, if Randy Lerner will consider firing Eric Mangini, and the decision of the Bengals to sign Larry Johnson

  • +Celtics
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    Kevin Garnett, Celtics Forward

    Kevin talked about if he had any fears about his injury last year, how the injury was actually a blessing in disguise, if he can tell a difference in his game this year after sitting out a lot of last year, that he is close to where he wants to be but not all the way back, what Rasheed Wallace brings to the Celtics, and that his bowling game is "straight trash"

    Danny Ainge

    Ainge joins the show to discuss the trade rumors involving Nocioni, the Celtics team going forward, and of course- 4th and 2.

    Rasheed Wallace, Celtics Forward/Center

    Rasheed talked about the Celtics trying to recruit him to join the Green in the offseason, how the team has the potential to be one of the best he's ever been on, the importance of defense leading them to a championship, which referees he actually likes in the league, if there is an outside limit to his game, and a funny story about him stealing his friend's prosthetic leg

  • +Bruins
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    Ray Bourque, Hockey Hall of Famer

    Ray talked about his son Chris, a forward for the Penguins, playing in Boston for the first time in the NHL, that the B's may have been a little overconfident entering the year but that they are back on track, the job that Peter Chiarelli has done as the GM for Boston, and his thoughts on where Zdeno Chara stands in the all-time ranks of Bruins blueliners

    Mike Milbury, NHL TV Analyst

    Mike joins the guys to talk about the Bruins' rough start to the season, the injuries to Lucic and Savard, and who deserves more blame: the coaches or players

    Milan Lucic, Bruins Forward

    Milan discussed his new three-year contract extension with the Bruins, how the deal actually came about, his love for playing in Boston, the expectations for him and his team this season, and of course how his fantasy football team, the 5 Minute Majors, are doing in the Davio's Football League

  • +Red Sox
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    Curt Schilling

    Curt Schilling joins the Big Show to discuss 4th and 2...of course, Sox offseason, and people oweing him money.

    Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager

    Terry joined Dale Arnold and Michael Holley in the radio booth at Fenway Park and took your calls and texts for an hour to talk all things Red Sox

    Terry in Boston

    "Terry in Boston" calls in to talk to... well, Terry in Boston!

Weei Writers