Sure, we’re bummed that the Boston Red Sox blew the ALCS to the stupid Rays didn’t make it to the World Series. It’s not just because we had tickets to the would-be Game 1 at Fenway Park, either. It’s also because we heart the Beantown teams and close-but-no-cigar losses darn near thaw our frozen solid heart.
Alas, there’s always a means of consolation. For us, it typically comes in the form of Schadenfreude. When said joy through other people’s misery involves the New York Yankees, so much the better.
Case in point? Pitcher Joba Chamberlain’s arrest for alleged drunken driving. (Note the generous, …read more

You know how we made a big fuss about the Red Sox-Indians game we attended last week, the one where Boston clinched a playoff spot?
Well, we’re about to make a big fuss about the Red Sox-Yankees game we and some pals took in last night—the final game of the regular season and the final game of 2008 for a certain pinstriped New York team.
Here’s the story in pictures snapped by Johnny Pap (for Paparazzi, remember?):

“Hmm,” A-Rod thinks, “The season’s over and my wife gave me the boot. Maybe that leopard expert/former stripper is free tonight.” 

Derek Jeter drops his jaw in disbelief: He gave up a …read more

Today is promo day on the b5 Sports Channel! The theme is “favorites,” but asking us to pick just one is like asking us which of our cats is the favorite. (It’s a four-way tie!) With that in mind, here’s a list of our sports favorites, tidily divided into Obvious (given our New England bias) and Not So Obvious (not related to our New England bias).
Obvious
Favorite baseball team: Boston Red Sox
Favorite Red Sox player: Mike Lowell and Curt Schilling (see, we can’t pick just one!)
Favorite football team: New England Patriots
Favorite Patriots player: Tom Brady  
Favorite basketball team: Boston Celtics
Favorite Celtics player: …read more

As a loyal member of Red Sox Nation, except *sigh* for temporary boycotts when the Sox drop two in a row to the Yankees at Fenway, this bloggerette feels compelled to weigh in on the Manny Ramirez drama of late.
Should he stay or should he go? We think he should stay. Here’s why:
1. Even with Paul Hamm pulling out of the Beijing Olympics, Manny still wouldn’t make the team. His gymnastics routine in left field a last week was rather sloppy (and he didn’t stick the landing).
2. Who else is going to ruffle owner John Henry’s feathers? Even Hank Steinbrenner failed …read more

If you’ve read the blog within the past week or so, you might know that this bloggerette just got back from a long weekend in NYC. (Yay for The Mercer in SoHo, where the non-alcoholic mini-bar items are complimentary and the chocolate runs freely!)
Anyhoo, we went to the July 6 Sox-Yanks game at Yankee Stadium. In addition to baseball, we were treated to a rendition of “How to Blow a 2-Run Lead in 7 Pitches or Less” by Javier Lopez (a member of the Sox blowpen) and an episode of “Watch Three Strikes With Manny Ramirez.”
Enough about that. Here’s our …read more

Yesterday we did a Top 5 post on fans throwing stuff onto the field, so today we thought we’d balance out the happiness with some negativity—a “worst of” post.
Here are a few entertaining “worsts” across the sports world:
Worst Idea to Have While at Fenway Park: That would be running onto the field, the end result of which is being clotheslined.
Worst Sports Arena Anthems: The commentary on these songs is a hoot, which kinda makes us wish that (a) we thought of it first and (b) we can work our way into The Putdown’s good graces so the humor aura will reflect …read more

If you brought your tsk-tsking with you to the blog today, you might want to tuck it away for this post. (We realize that most Gossip On Sports readers are not likely to be the tsk-tsk type, but you never know if someone’s elderly schoolmarm aunt happens upon the blog.)
Why the warning? Well, we’re about to salute some zany fan antics, even though we (ahem) don’t formally condone throwing objects on the field or ice . . . right?
Most Unusual Tradition With the Coolest Ending: The Detroit Red Wings fan who threw an octopus on the ice this weekend inspired this …read more

At first glance, seeing the loop maneuver in this clip (30s) from Red Sox Opening Day at Fenway Park appears to be an impressive feat designed to wow the crowd.
In truth, it was an F-16 F-Up. The now-grounded-for-retraining pilot did it to slow down after zooming in to catch-up to the other F-16s in formation. The problem with the showy stunt? He was flying at an altitude too low for the maneuver (1,100 versus the 5,000 deemed appropriate).
And do you know who’s fault it is? Think about who was in the park to throw out the first pitch.
That’s right, we’re …read more

Remember that post we did the other day about former Boston Red Sox Grounder King Bill Buckner’s return to Fenway Park, and then the follow-up about him being verklempt and all? Mark Jabo of Biz Levity included such a great link in the comments section of the latter post we decided to put it in the spotlight.
Finish your coffee or tea before reading or you’re likely to snort it through your nose and onto your keyboard. And who wants to clean up a mess like that?
Check out this wish-we-wrote-it take on Buckner’s return and the tongue-in-cheek search for former Red …read more

Opening Day observations that capture the “only in Boston” spirit:
1. You think Red Sox Nation was so blinded by the World Series ring ceremony as to overlook the team’s 3-4 record going into yesterday’s game? Hardly. In typical Sox fan fashion, many of us grumbled about how “they’d better win.” (Never mind their hectic schedule thus far!)
2. Fans were also complaining—as we do every year—about the 2:05p.m. start time for the opening game at Fenway Park. Hey Front Office, most of us have this thing called “work” at that time of day. (Luckily, most of us have this thing called “internet …read more