Play-off Beards

Last night, Boston's Bruins beat Toronto's Maple Leafs.

Mr. S., who often mocks my own sports gods beliefs,

Has got his own superstition which is pretty weird;

He, like many hockey fans, has grown a play-offs beard.

I think it looks kinda sexy but could use a trim.

"You can't touch a play-offs beard," he scoffed when I asked him.

Which is rather problematic, since our eldest son

Starts his new job Monday and he's also growing one.

Will his new employers understand or will they think;

"This guy looks like he could not be bothered?" That would stink.

Boston's first game against Tampa's not 'til Saturday...

My guys may not shave 'til June if we go all the way!

Mr. S., who is the boss, can get away with that

But our son might find himself in H.R. for a chat.

If he's lucky, his new boss will be a Bruins' fan -

One who's understanding of the play-offs shaving ban.

The Boston Red Sox Home Opener - 2018

(A more appropriate sport for current conditions at Fenway Park.)

Red Sox' Opener's today...  They're home at Fenway Park,

Where the wind chill feels like it's below the freezing mark.

Fans will bundle up in layers and make a joyous sound

When the Red Sox take the field and Price steps on the mound.

I refuse to make predictions about who will win;

('though we've started 5 and 1) it's still a sports gods' sin.

It is much too early to risk jinxing anything...

Up here, where the Red Sox play, it isn't even spring.

They're predicting snow tomorrow - Saturday, as well.

After that they say we'll have a lengthy, chilly spell.

At the rate that temps are falling down on Yawkey Way

We should just delay the Red Sox. Let the Bruins play.

A Boston Sports Fan's Lament

Fans of Boston's pro-sports teams are having a bad year;

Not a situation we're familiar with up here.

In the past, when one team isn't doing very well

A team from another sport gives their opponents hell...

Celtics were eliminated, so - no basketball.

Bruins didn't make it to the play-off games at all.

Red Sox are in free fall and will, likely, finish last.

Patriots - who've been New England's saviors in the past -

'though they won the Super Bowl are, currently, embroiled

In a scandal which has left their reputation soiled.

I might switch to watching women's soccer 'cause it's clear

Local teams aren't gonna give me very much to cheer.

Pity The Clean Shaven

Women who don't follow sports might notice something weird

When the scruffy guy they've come to know shaves off his beard.

But, though he's clean shaven, you still ought to give him space.

Boston Bruins' fans are wearing their unhappy face.

It's not just your lover's face that's tender, pink, and raw;

He's still hurting from the hockey game that he just saw.

Last night was Game 7 and the Bruins won't advance.

Team did not play well - at all - and so they blew their chance.

Montreal's Canadiens, who beat us 3 to 1

(And were much more gracious after all was said and done),

Get to keep the scruffy look and play another round,

While the newly shaven had their hopes dashed to the ground.

Let's Go Canadiens?

I have got a history of sabotaging teams;

In the past my silly rhymes have ruined play-off dreams.

Thus, I hope you'll understand when I say something nice

About Montreal's Canadiens and Carey Price.

He has been on fire - stopping every puck he sees -

"Like he's on a mission," which is bad news for my Bs.

P.K. Subban (he's the guy the Bruins love to hate...

Mostly out of envy, because he's been playing great)

Scored, again, on breakaways last night on Tuukka Rask

Who, with a new baby, fell asleep behind his mask.

Series stands at 2 to 1; Game 4's on Thursday night.

If the Bruins lose that one they could still be all right

But it isn't likely.  The Canadiens are good.

Even when the games are played in Boston's neighborhood

If the Bruins cannot find the will to step it up

They are gonna miss their chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Dear Miami Dolphins - Unsolicited Advice from the Home of Champions

Don't encourage him.  (Photo/Watercoolertalks.com)

Bullies in the locker room and team-mates being jerks;

Evidence has shown that's not a strategy that works.

When a player isn't motivated by the cash

You can't fix the situation if you're talking trash.

If you want a team that wins the players have to care;

Feel like they are family and want to do their share;

Have to like each other so much that they'd play for free...

Football isn't hard enough? Concussions? CTE?

Why would someone want to play with guys who aren't his friends?

Only thing he's hoping for is that the season ends.

Teams that win have chemistry and watch each others' backs;

Skill sets that Miami Dolphins' Incognito lacks.

We'll Overlook It This Time.

(Photo/Courtesy of Gawker.com)

Saw a recent article that took me by surprise.

When I read the title I could not believe my eyes.

It was called "F@&% Boston" and, if you click on this link,

Comments show that sentiment's more common than you'd think.

Vitriol and anger were directed at my state.

People made a list of things about us that they hate.

Number 1, it seemed to me, is that we - mostly - win

And, it's true, that Boston fans have ample cause to grin.

We parade in duck boats through the streets so often now

We've incited jealousy from other states...  And how!

We have got it even worse than Yankees' fans have had;

All four major sports-teams and not one of ours is bad.

Red Sox are World Champions; the Patriots just won

And, although I know that hockey season's just begun,

Boston's Bruins also look like they'll be doing well

Giving those who hate our city one more reason...  Swell.

Basketball might save us; let Miami take the heat.

Still, another Super Bowl for Brady would be sweet.

From our vantage in this "shining city on a hill"

We'll just overlook the people wishing Boston ill.

A Hell of a Week in Boston Sports

What the hell?  (Photo/ABC.com)

For New England sports fans, it has been a shocking week;

Former tight-end for the Pats - shipped up the fabled creek -

As a suspect in a murder, they've denied him bail.

Put cuffs on Hernandez and then hauled him off to jail.

We were all still reeling 'cause we'd lost the Stanley Cup;

Wishing doctors luck as they patched Bergeron back up.

Just begun to overcome the fact the Blackhawks won;

Moving on to baseball after hockey season's done.

Now, instead, there's murder charges... One young man is dead

And I heard, last night, as I was getting in to bed

There were 2 more murders that police have never solved.

Now they're thinking that Hernandez may have been involved.

Then - to add the cherry to this sundae made of crap -

I just heard they blew the Celtics up and I may snap.

Doc and Paul and Kevin gone and all that Boston gets?

Future draft positions? We just gave them to the Nets.

...  You need to beware - 'cause I'm gonna swear  ...

In this blog I try to keep it clean and never swear,

But this music video that I would like to share

Is profane enough to make this former sailor wince,

Yet...  It made me laugh and toes' been tapping ever since.