As they say anything can happen in the playoffs and this years NHL playoffs are living proof. The Los Angeles Kings are this year's feel good story, knocking off Number 1 Vancouver and Number 2 St. Louis in the Western Conference playoffs. They will play the overachieving Phoenix Coyotes to get into the Stanley Cup finals. It should be a battle.

Meanwhile it could by a battle of the tristate area as the remaining New Jersey Team, (we won’t count the two NFL Franchises who refuse to call themselves New Jersey)  may take on the New York Rangers if the Washington Capitals keep giving away games. It should be interesting either way. I like the Rangers to win that series, they have been the best team all year.

A friend of mine called Friday Night with Tickets to the Boston Cannons. For you who don’t know it’s professional Lacrosse played at Harvard Stadium. I took the three boys minus one who wasn’t feeling well. We replaced him with their friend Bob. It was an amazing atmosphere with kids from youth Lacrosse programs from all over the Commonwealth and new England. The game itself is fast. I have been to high level college lacrosse and some good high school Lacrosse. This was extremely fast; it took about a quarter to read who had the ball. The game keeps moving with few stoppages. I guess what really made it for me was the venue.

Harvard Stadium is a classic old stadium looking like the old roman coliseum. It’s a Classic Football U. The stands are cement steps and it has all the charm and grace of classic old building.  I love the building, have done some football in there and have done some special Olympics events as well. I love classic old stadiums with their personalties and stories, and this one is a gem complete with it’s concrete bleachers. Yes, you sit on numbered concrete seats and yeah your ass gets cold but it’s awesome.

Speaking of Lacrosse I just found out my son is in a Lacrosse video, so for your viewing pleasure here it is..

Oh yeah, he's the one in the helmet. Ok, they all have helmets. He is the one in the burgundy shorts (if you blinked you missed him.). When did maroon become burgundy; probably at the same time the auto mechanic became a certified auto technician.

We have a little rebel on our hands over here.  One of the little Lanz’s had to do a music poster project and presentation for school.  He knew everyone would come up with Beiber (yuck), or some teeny bopper song.  There was some Fun (“We Are Young”), which got the class a lecture about drugs and alcohol, more Beiber, some new British boy band…So he decided to go a slightly, “different” route, since apparently non-conformity runs in our family.  I can thank my wife for that one.  He brings in the CD, hands it to the music teacher, and when someone hit “play”, what they heard was Bullet with Butterfly Wings by Smashing Pumpkins.  (Hey, we raise our kids on the classics, okay?).  Those of you unfamiliar with the tune, here it is.  I’ll wait…… 

Okay, now that we’re all on the same page, my wife jokingly kept waiting for the school psychologist to call, what with bullet in the title and rage references.  One of his classmates said that everyone had gotten kind of bored with the songs, then along comes little Lanz, with his sweet face and mild mannered ways, spewing forth classic alternative rock.  I guess all of the kids just kept looking around at each other as in “wtf kind of song is that?”  He only picked this because we wouldn’t let him do a GreenDay song (the language would have bought him a one way ticket to a certain F).  The wife never did get that call from the psychologist, btw.

I can't write a blog without mentioning this . I heard this tidbit on the Red Sox broadcast last night the Red Sox and the Royals have played 432 times since 1969 when the Royals came in the League. Going into last nights game both teams have won 216 games a piece. We think of todays Royals as a small market team, but they won a hell of alot of ball games back in the days of George Brett and Freddie Patek with the sidearmer Dan Quisenberry . Those teams were fun to watch the speed of Willie Wilson and the sure handed Frank White (now a coach with the Red Sox). They were fun.

Finally on a Sad Note my condolences go out to Sully as the voice of Fenway Park Carl Beane was killed in a single car crash today. Beane was 59 and was a friend of Sully’s. He will be sorely missed at the old ball yard. He had a great voice and did each game as a labor of love. He was the voice of Fenway park and somehow without him the expierience at the old ballyard won't be the same.

That's all for today folks.

The shocking suicide of Junior Seau is eye opening. The twenty yearNFL Vet. did him self in withan apparent self inflicted gun shot to the chest. Although , the autopsy hasn't been done and the appearance of just a kind friendly and happy guy in public. Who knows what his mental status was. I will say I think that there probably be evidence related to brain trauma and multiple concussions. We don't know how much or how long he was thinking about it. I think there is a relationship with him driving of a cliff back in October 2010. What ever it is and whatever the reason it is tragic when anybody takes there own live. Rest in peace Junior.

Is it me or were athletes just dumb this week.like the two dopes from the Nashville Predators getting suspended for violating team rules during the playoffs..Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn . If it’s February who cares . I give Predators Coach Barry Tortz all the credit in the world for not putting up with any crap.

Maybe Doc Rivers should learn from Tortz of course the NBA gave Rejon Rondo a break in only suspended him for one game for bumping a ref.. Rondo should be ever grateful to Paul Pierce for outscoring the Hawks 18-15 in the last 15:08 of the game. Yes that was the entire Hawks team. Rondo's absence wasn't missed.

That brings us to Boston Colleges Montel Harris, who was thrown of the team this week for guess what violating team rules. What the violation was hasn’t become public.

That concludes the I’m stupid in sports show..

The NFL draft (yawn, yawn) is over. I get that some people really get into and it’s their thing and I fully understand and respect that but do we really need days over anaylsis on it. In three years tell me how many of these guys are selling insurance . how many of them washed out due to injury and how many have been cut. The remainder will be the guys that worked out in the draft whether it’s all 253 or of it’s 53.

I have a bone to pick with the NFL and VISA , I was selected to upgrade my season tickets but I was told I had to pay with a Visa Card, funny thing I don’t have a Visa Card. I wrote the Patriots to ask what I should do and to the Patriots ticket office credit. They came up with several solutions including talking to them directly. Any dealings I have had with these guys have been customer service friendly and professional making it always a good expierence.I did check out the upgrades and in my opinion there was nothing that was better than my current seats. I guess the NFL prefers there lucrative sponsors to there hard working dedicated customer alienating customers who choose not to have a Visa Credit Card.

As many of you know I umpire High School baseball so I had a great game yesterday a 2-0 game with 49 degree temps and good pitching on both sides. It’s the top of the 7^th and the visitors are losing  . The home catcher is standing the visiting catcher was getting in the batters box when the home catcher looks of his shoulder and says Oh look at the bunny. I lost it and so did the batter. The batter says I’m playing in the biggest pressure packed game in my life and he is looking at bunnys and then all three of us were laughing as matter of fact the batter was laughing so hard he swing and missed on a pitch that was so outside. He turned quick so the coach wouldn’t see him laugh. These two kids had me going the entire game they were both hilarious. They were both pretty good hard working catchers.

That’s all I have today.

Hello Gabbers

It’s Thursday and this week has flew bye as I have been on vacation just hanging around  the old homestead. More so I have been hanging at the local sandlot with two kids on two teams I’m managing one and helping out when I can on the other, plus High School baseball season is in fulll swing. I love taking this week because all the High Schools play games at 10 am. So being on vacation I get some morning baseball in.

I had a decent game on Monday with a kid throwinga 3 hitter in 8o degree heat. The beauty of it was this is the coldest park we usually go to. The Alantic is right behind the Centerfield fence and it’s usually a stiff breeze in the lo 50’s. It was a welcome change.

My twelve year old said to me yesterday is ok not to be a Red Sox fan. I plain and simply said be a fan of the game and forget the laundry appreciate baseball for what it is. Then I explained to him that I love the game itself. I’m more a fan of the game than the Red Sox. Although I do like my Red Sox but it’s because I live near Boston.

Speaking of the Red Sox they held the Rangers to Two touchdowns the other night. Last night in a decent outing by Beckett and the bullpen couldn’t help losing again to the Rangers 6-2. The Rangers are looking pretty good in the early going. It’s Fenway’s 100^th Birthday. The guy I had high praise for last week for telling the Sox to take a flying leap. .Terry Francona will be at Fenway on Friday as they bring back every living Red Sox  player and manager . I ‘m not sure why he knuckled but he did. I won’t question it from a Fenway’s perspective he is the guy who won two World Series if he didn’t sow it would have been a PR nightmare for the Sox and they hate that. Fenway has free tours with former players all around the ballpark today.

There are some if's that won't be there I'm guessing and I don't know. Curt Schilling said he won't be there. Clemens has other problems right now so I doubt it.What about Manny  I guess if is RC cars need recharging he can show up. but the more thwe merrier I guess. Maybe Grady Little will comeback . Maybe Grady heard they have Beer and Fried Chicken which awesome for a good old country boy like him.

The heat over Bobby Valentine calling Kevin Youklis out seemed to have died down. I know Youklis can be intense but give me 9 Youklis or 5 youklis and 4 Pedroia and I may not win everygame but the game will be intense and played hard every pitch of every inning. I enjoy the way these two guys play baseball it means something to them in pro sports these days that isn’t always the case.

I have to ask this question. Why do we need an NFL Schedule show? Do we need this in April? I can see  part of NFL Total Access sometime in late August or early September I don’t have an issue with that.

The Boston Bruins finally got a little physical and has paid off  of course the Caps are pissed at one game suspension of of Niklas Backstrom for a cross check on Rich Paverly. The Bruiins has also gotten to Braden Holtby who has been tremendous in this series for a kid who got thrown in the fire. He has risen to the occasion as Washington’s back stop.

I guess Mr. Poppers Penguins were popping goals everywhere last night. I was hoping the Flyers put them down last night not to be. They were a scoring machine and stay alive, The Canaucks remain alive as well beating the kids 3-1.

That’s all I have for today.

Well hello out there in Gabland, The first week of baseball season is in the books.I love this time of year baseball is starting and Hockey is in it’s second season, It’s all good.

It didn’t get any better then the Penguins –Flyers game last night to kickoff the NHL playoffs. The Pens had a 3-1 lead in the 3^rd period and the Flyers battled back winning the game 4-3 in OT. Dan Briere with a pair of goals. Sid the kid seems to be back in full fore. Tonight I’m looking forward to the Bruins and The Capitails.. I think will be a good series with the Bruins off course ending up on top.

The Boston Red Sox have picked up right were they left off last year. They are struggling to start the Bobby V. era. Of course being dealt a blow two days before the season started didn’t help with the often injured Andrew Bailey well getting injured no closer to July. They have in fact nominated Alfredo Aceves who struggled his first two outings but looked good in his 3^rd. I’m pulling for this kid he was thrown in the fire and I hope he does well. But the one major flaw with the Red Sox is pitching after John Lester who do they have Josh Beckett and his thumb injury and he does have one. Then who I’m hoping Daniel Bard does well in the starter role didn’t have an awful outing is first time out but it was great allowing 5 in5. The one ki a do like on that staff is Felix Doubront. I think he will  be ok as a starter.

Is Bobby V the man ? Time will tell the masses here in the Bay State want the guys head after 6 games. But honestly he hasn't made any bad moves the players aren’t performing up to expectation AND THAT’S NOT HIM THAT’S THEM. Valentine likes the media and he likes being in the spotlight but don’t push him or ask him anything controversial like they did on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan  ( listen to interview click link) yesterday because Bobby got a little defensive and ended the interview abruptly.

It’s ok for both Rodney Harrison and Teddy Bruschi to criticize and give there honest opinions about the Patriots both on NBC and ESPN. Why in Red Sox fans eyes it isn’t ok for Curt Schilling to give his honest opinion after talking  to some connections about the Bobby Valentine and the players not buying in.

 I’m keeping an open mind with him in my eyes  I thought Terry francona was fantastic handling the egos and personalties and protecting his players. I also thought Francona had good coaches with him over the years especially John Farrell , and Brad Mills. Farrell  brought the best out in Josh Beckett in my humble opinion.

Speaking of Terry Francona he slapped the Red Sox back a little back after telling them he doesn’t feel comfortable coming back for the 100 year celebration next Friday against the Yankees. They have invited every living Red Sox player and manager back and the guy that won them 2 World Series won’t be there  according to an  article by Dan Shaugnessy of the Boston Globe. Francona got a call from Larry Luchino  and they ended up in an argument. Francona simply says he doesn’t feel comfortable coming back and I don’t blame him. After somebody in that organization threw Tito under the bus do you blame him?

It was probably time for change when your employees kind of tune you out and do with they want. It’s time for you to go or it’s time for them to go. In the rest of the World the employees would be going as the company would say they are right sizing, In sports it’s all on the coach or manager the mid level manager handling millions of dollars in assets. If they don’t perform it’s on him.

Tales From Behind The Mask.

My  High School Baseball season started yesterday. I ended up doing a Freshman game . It was opening day for both teams and it was a fairly well played game to the surprise of both Umpires and Coaches. The kid for the home team went 7 complete worked his way out of bases loaded no out jam in the 5^th without allowing a run. 

So we are in the parking lot changing for the game the AD comes over and starts teasing my partner who he knew . Just  some real good natured teasing. The first question we ask for the 4 O’Clock start will we be on time. I had a miserable day at work with some serious issue happening near the end of the day. I was looking forward to this. The bus rolls in  and  the question was answered we will be on time. Wait hold on there is no team on it. The bus driver got confused he was picking up the home team  Instead of picking up the visiting team. He got the venues confused. The bus company sent another bus for the visitors and we started about a half hour late.

Finally

Lil Lanz made is Major League Debut with his  Blue Jays in a preseason matchup went 0 for 2  with a walk ended up stealing 2 bases was stranded at 3rd. against those pesky Red Sox

It’s funny in life, the people we met and how the shape our lives. About twelve years ago, I was finishing a second masters (believe  it or not I have two)and I needed an internship. I met this guy at a company got an internship from him. I had just closed shop on my own consulting business and needed to work for someone. Impressed with the job I was doing he hired me. He left the company about a year later and when there was an opening at the new company he hired me there as well.

He has been one of my closet friends and mentors ever since. We drive to work together each and every morning. We discuss the business of the day, life and family. We discuss sports and politics and sometimes other stuff. The past year there has been a lot of talk about other stuff mainly health related. Last year he was diagnosis with liver disease to the point where he would need a transplant. I have witnessed good days and bad days. I’ve seen him go from a strong healthy man to sometimes being very weak.

Last Wednesday, I dropped him off after work and I could tell he wasn’t feeling quite right. He had a procedure scheduled for Friday to drain some fluid to help his liver. He said I’ll see you Monday; I’m taking the next couple of days off. On Friday I got a call from our secretary saying that she received a call from him and he was going in for his transplant. I was surprised by this because he was around 4^th on the transplant list. Apparently, for whatever reason the other three people couldn’t get to the Hospital in time. When he was called and asked where you are. He said right here at the hospital for a procedure. They said tell them to stop us have liver this according to his niece who I know fairly well. Later Friday afternoon I called his wife he was still in surgery but everything appeared to be doing ok.

Friday Night his Niece called me and we talked at some length on Saturday. He was on tubes and a ventilator but was stable. So Monday I’m in the office working on a bunch of stuff. Our secretary tells me you need to pick up line 3 it’s very important. It was him it was just nice to her his voice. Apparently his wife left the Hospital Sunday Night to get some rest and he was on a ventilator.

By the time she got home it’s only about a 15 minute ride with no traffic coming out of Boston. The nurse called her on his own saying he is breathing on his own and he has some orders for you. I’ll go for visit tomorrow and see him. This was the ultimate story of being in the right place at the right time. I guess in some sweet way this is a huge victory for a guy who would do anything for anyone. This man has spent his life helping he down and out get well. If somebody needed food he would be the first to over. If somebody needed a letter written he would be the first. He is alive and well with a great wife and two beautiful daughters who will now have there dad around for a long time. I cried yesterday on my way home sitting traffic they were tears of joy.

Sorry folks little off track with the sports this week but I thought this was a great story to share with a bunch of understanding and caring folks here at the Gab.

I don’t want to get all mushy and all so If you had an extra 2.2 Billion dollars to spend on say a baseball team wouldn’t you want to the parking lots included as well just a thought..

The NFL passed new rules today. I like the OT rule will be the same as the playoffs. I don’t like every turnover will be reviewed. That means the on field Ref. will be heading to the hood more. I like the concept but the guy in the booth is an Official and was an on field official can’t he make the call like in college.

My understanding is Sean Peyton perhaps went Tuna fishing for his replacement. Yes, according to Adam Schefter at ESPN. The big tuna if asked would consider it.

Things aren’t so much in paradise in the Valentines world in Red Sox camp. It looked like Valentine wanted a few things in place going north. Like Daniel Bard in the rotation looks like he will be in the pen. Rookie Jose Iglesias to be the team’s shortstop. I guess Iglesias will be the starting shortstop for the Red Sox the Pawtucket Red Sox that is.

Thanks for listening and have a great week.