Cursed To First - Sox and Pats forever.

What the hell

...is that, you ask? And then, wait. You might say. Is that what I think it is?

See Facebook for the answers to your burning questions...

Happy St. Pat's, kid

Don't do anything out there tonight that the Rem-Dawg wouldn't do. Or, at least, anything your friends don't have the bail money for.

Monday Motivation: Triple T

Got a case of the mid-February Mondays? Or Tuesdays, in the case of this week? Perhaps I can interest you in a little motivation courtesy of "Terrible" Terry Tate, America's favorite Office Linebacker.

I just recently came across a Facebook / Wikipedia page for the actor who plays Triple T. I had always wondered about him -- it seemed impossible that he hadn't actually played somewhere, and at a high level, but I'd never seen or heard of him. As it turns out, he never made it to the NFL, but he was a Division 1 All-American linebacker in college. [ETA: He also has an official website.]

Andrew Griffiths (Courtney Cate) is a bit more of a mystery. His only other credit on IMDb is an appearance as himself in a documentary about Sting.

"Break out the earplugs, Pedey's back"*

This may be the only time I ever actually type this publicly on the Internet, but I really do love this ad. Or maybe I just love absolutely anything involving Pedroia.

A couple days ago, a blog called Fenway West posted a Pedroia gem as part of its Quote of the Day feature that I happened to especially like, because it referenced Ping-Pong, and reminded me of Pedroia's talk about bouncing Ping-Pong balls off Brady Quinn's forehead a couple years ago, a mental image I'm still not done laughing about.

During an ensuing Twitter conversation about it, @FenwayWest said:

 

And you know, I agree. So much so, in fact, that I went ahead and made one.

_____________________________
* Title of this post a line from the Peter Abraham Boston.com article where the "quote of the day" that started all this first appeared.

Patriots + Toaster + Christmas = Awesome

Meanwhile, back at my ranch...

We attended a Christmas party for my husband's extended family last night, where my brother-in-law Jim gave us a gift.

Not just any gift, but a PATRIOTS LOGO TOASTER.

Red Sox Off-Season Photoblogging 4: Ghosts of Soxmas Past

First, remember this?

(In case you don't: C2F post -- Dec. 24, 2007)

Second, as I was digging through Flickr for Christmas-related Sox photos, I came across more memories of Soxmas 2007 -- namely, the Soxopoly game my parents gave me, and that my family played together.

Red Sox Off-Season Photoblogging 3: A Red Sox Christmas

Just thought I'd take this time to document the various ways the Red Sox are gracing my (first-ever) Christmas tree this year.

To the readers of this blog, thank you for your interest -- and, at times, forbearance -- for another year.

To those celebrating this weekend, may your stockings and boxes under the tree be filled with season tickets and game-worn autographed jerseys from your favorite players.

And to all, a good night.

Not a real post. But it's something. And it's technically baseball-related

Invader Zim wearing a Red Sox hat, originally uploaded by ConfessionalPoet.

Spreading holiday cheer will take a bite out of blogging time. I've spent pretty much all my free time, plus some of my sleeping time, this week frenziedly baking things and putting together cards and gifts. (I've gone a little Joan Crawford about the holidays this year, not sure why).

Then, tonight when I got home from work, my first gift of the year was waiting for me on the table, along with a fantastic hand-drawn (and also baseball-themed) card by the fabulously talented artist / photographer, baseball blogger, and, obviously, amazing friend and gift-maker, Sam.

It's Invader Zim--a cartoon character by one of my favorite artists, Jhonen Vasquez. Wearing a Red Sox hat

And kinda propped up / sitting on a baseball. And holding a tiny bat. AND HOLDING A TEENSY WEENSY CLAY BASEBALL IN HIS EXQUISITELY CRAFTED LITTLE HAND.

I just can't even express what this thing meant to me the moment I laid eyes on it. I was speechless, which really actually says it all.

Thank you, Sam!!

P.S. Regarding Ochocinco...

I get why some people don't like him, but I came away from yesterday's game with a new appreciation for Chad Ochocinco. First of all, though he can obviously be a clown, he backed it up with a game that was not even remotely a joke.

In between plays, his humor came out, but it was a friendly exuberance. He smoothed over disputes between his teammates and Patriots players. He roughhoused with his younger opponents after physical plays, grabbing Brandon Meriweather by the helmet with gruff affection after Meriweather bulldozed him out of bounds late in the game, smiling at him through both of their facemasks. Also in the pro-Ochocinco column: this.

What was quite possibly Ochocinco's finest hour came in the moment not long after he'd caught a pass from Palmer to convert a third and 12 in the fourth quarter. He caught the pass along the sideline and then fell into the crowd of Patriots standing there, near midfield. After he got back up again, he spotted Belichick on his way back to the field.

And Ochocinco, taking full advantage of this golden opportunity, it seems, proceeded to give Bill Belichick a cheery slap on the hindquarters.

At least, that's what it really, really looked like. I'm fairly certain it was not a low-five, and something certainly seemed to get Belichick's attention as Ochocinco ran by, with his right hand lowered. Toward Belichick's lower body region. While Ochocinco was behind him.

I've watched and rewatched the video, from about 6:56 in the fourth quarter, where Ochocinco starts off headed for the field from the Patriots sideline, then spies Belichick, turns back, leans over...and then there's a jump-cut to the above view, with Belichick looking sharply over at Ochocinco, and turning to face him. Then a wider shot showing Belichick looking at Ochocinco with his brows somewhat furrowed. (Granted, this could have been his natural demeanor, as we know.)

CBS played the sideline encounter again a minute or so later, this time with slow-mo, though again not from an angle that showed actual hand-to-ass contact. Still, the fact that they called attention to it was suspicious. Phil Simms and Jim Nantz were coy about the subject, calling it "whatever that was," but they also had quite a giggle over it. As did I.

The Kinder, Gentler Josh Beckett

Interesting timing for the release / promotion of this video through official team channels. And a brief wag of my finger to Blister Boy for bowling with the pitching hand (despite a vow not to).

But this video contains one thing I definitely never expected to see: Josh Beckett on the verge of tears. 

Also, the little girl FLINGING the ball down the lane at about 1:44? Absolutely priceless.