Rosenbaum’s winning stout is being brewed by The Boston Beer Company and served at Gillette Stadium for Patriots season this year. The next contest is going on now, and the deadline is December 18. The winner also gets a little chunk of change: $2,000.

“The first two pre-season games were hot summer nights, and they sold out the first night. And the first home game, which was also a warm day, it sold out as well. So that’s very gratifying,” said Rosenbaum, who holds Patriots season tickets. His stout is lighter than other stouts, but still holds all the depth of flavor that’s looked for. Sometimes when you drink a a beer, you’re tasting it for the next hour or so. Not the case with Rosenbaum’s, which adds to its popularity at the stadium.

Rosenbaum first became interested not so much in brewing, but in beers, when he studied in the UK during his time in college. He found he liked beers quite unlike the ones he could find in the United States, which were usually light and thin. He enjoyed a beer with a lot of flavor — multiple components coming together to form a more harmonious brew. “This was some time ago, but when I came back to the States, there weren’t a lot of imports so I just drank what I could find and was always looking for other interesting beers,” he said.

A few years ago Rosenbaum received a homebrewing kit as a gift, and brewed his first batch. “My first batch wasn’t horrible,” he says, “but it certainly wasn’t great either.”

Looking for guidance, he joined Brew Free or Die, New Hampshire’s oldest homebrew club, and slowly learned what he had been doing wrong with his first attempts at brewing. A few parts of the process had been left out in the brewing kit directions he’d received. There’s a whole list of things of what to do, or not do, so that off-flavors aren’t introduced to a batch of beer. “For example, you have to boil a batch and then cool it. And if you stir your beer really vigorously to cool it down and break the surface tension then you introduce cardboard flavors into your beer,” Rosenbaum explained. There are many rules like this in homebrewing, and each recipe has its own quirks.

It took him a few years of practice and four tries to get the batch right. Rosenbaum entered the third batch of his Oatmeal Stout into last year’s Patriot Homebrew Contest (which didn’t place), though he knew going into it that it wasn’t the beer he wanted it to be. “It tasted good but it was a little thin in the mouth,” he said. “I had decided to add a kind of bourbon flavor to it by adding whiskey that had been soaked in oak chips. So the flavor was good but it was a little… ” he makes a hand gesture to show ‘lacking,’ his palms turned upward to the ceiling.

It was his fourth batch that won. Rosenbaum’s winning brew is full-flavored and full-bodied. It’s rich without being indulgent, flavorful without being bitter. It’s malty and sugary at the same time, the deep black color of the brew paired nicely with a creamy head.

Currently, Rosenbaum is back in his kitchen, settling back into his brewing. His kitchen is more of a mad scientist’s laboratory. Cabinets open to expose large metal bins with grates in the bottom for percolation. Tubes are hooked up to faucets to let fermented brews flow out. He has two refrigerators, one for food, and one that holds three kegs of whatever brew he’s working on at the current moment. To challenge himself, he’s taking award-winning recipes as a base and tweaking them a bit here and there to create something totally new. “Even the smallest change can make quite a bit of difference,” he says.

A few weeks ago, Rosenbaum had an English Best Bitter in a plastic bin cooling on his front steps, the keg sitting in a vat of ice water. Since it’s still the fall season and temperatures still vary daily, a mechanized thermometer maintains the temperature by activating a fan if the vat gets too warm. The Bitter is intended to be a beer to drink several glasses of over the course of an evening, while not having to worry about getting drunk.

Winning the Patriot Homebrew Contest added quite a lot of excitement to his life, but Rosenbaum’s ready to try out new recipes. “I think it’s a great thing (Samuel Adams) does for others. They show a lot of support for the homebrewing community,” he said. “Their president, Jim Koch, started off as a homebrewer and created a whole company out of it. I don’t think he’s forgotten his roots, and it’s a great thing to see.”

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If the Patriots choose to keep him, they will be charged $14.65 million, as the franchise tag grants a player the average of the top five salaries in the NFL at his position.

Depending on the rehab schedule of Tom Brady, the Pats could also opt to trade Cassel and not have some $29 million committed to one position on the team.

Cassel completed 63.4% of his passes and threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 picks while leading the team to 11 wins.

“Jerod’s done a lot for us,” coach Bill Belichick said. “We’ve asked a lot of him and from Day 1 he’s really been a well-prepared, very mature player who can do a lot of things: play the running game, play in the passing game, blitz, helps us in the kicking game.

“He’s smart, makes a lot of defensive adjustments and calls for us there. He runs well. He’s tough. He’s a good all-around football player, very mature, very professional. For a rookie, he’s probably as professional as anybody I’ve coached.”

A starter all season, Mayo is the sixth-straight linebacker to win the award.

“Jerod’s taken his leadership up,” linebacker Mike Vrabel said. “I think he came in as a rookie and obviously learned the playbook and learned everything in and out and physically can go out there and make any play that we needed him to.”

I wonder if the Jets are still excited they got Vernon Gholston at #6.

At this point, the wild card is our shining beacon of hope. We need the Ravens to lose a game and win out to get the coveted card. The Ravens are playing a desperate and driven Cowboys team next week. The Boys have been surrounded by so much controversy in the past week, which shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Who really thought it would be roses and smiles for more than a year with TO on the team? Did you think the “bromance” of Romo and TO would last? Nah, I didn’t think so. Drama aside the Cowboys beat the Giants handedly and now have the momentum to hopefully beat the Ravens at home.

The Pats must also beat the Cardinals and the Bills. It should happen, but it might not. It makes it all the more nerve-racking, sickening and fun. I wish we had the tiebreaker then I would really be having a good time. 

I really need to stop thinking about the Pats- over and over and over. I will call my boyfriend to throw out a scenario on my way home from work. I have x’s and o’s in my brain. I will now understand tiebreaker rules for the rest of my life. It’s times like these where I wish I loved the Celtics and Bruins more. But alas that isn’t the case. Diagnosis: Football Fever. Damn, I love the NFL.

What do you think? Will the Pats make it?

Sunday’s game was a hard one to watch unfold. The first quarter looked great and the second quarter wasn’t even too bad. Watching Gostkowski shank the field goal attempt and leave it tied going into the second half should have been a sign. One of the announcers stated that the Pats haven’t won a game this season when they haven’t been winning at the half. I refused to believe- I was feeling pretty good.

You know the rest. Interceptions, fumbles and dropped balls. I continued to believe when Slater fumbled. I continued to believe the first and second time the ball was stripped out of Cassel’s throwing arm. Once Troy Polamalu put the proverbial nail in the coffin, I left the room.

The game was a must win. But we didn’t win it and that is when as a football fan you put your rational hat on and realize what could come. Pats fans haven’t had to do this in years, but they now have to face the facts: we may make the playoffs, but we may not.

The Pats have played all but one of their six divisional games. They only have Buffalo left. The rest of the division still has two games to mix up the standings. The AFC East is close. One divisional game could change the standings. What the Pats need are Miami and Buffalo to show up when they play the team to beat, the Jets. If they win, they only put the Pats in a better position.

Well there is a positive. Here is a negative. The Pats play the best team of all of the teams left to play, playing Arizona in week 15. Buffalo plays Denver in the same week, but look at the Jets schedule: San Fran, Buffalo, Seattle and Miami. It is easy to see them winning them all.

It’s been an uphill battle this year and even without the laundry list of players that are hurt including Brady, Harrison, Thomas, Maroney, there are still four games left and a great team playing them. The Pats have heart and they also have an “us against the world” mentality. Something they have had, not since Brady as many might believe, but since Belichick put on the gray hoodie.

There is also hope of a wild-card spot, but at this point in the season, when the division is winnable, that is the goal. Playoffs are a fresh start and if the Pats get there I would put good money on them. The trick is: getting there.

The good news is that, in all likelihood, the patella tendon graft will be kept and Brady won’t need a second surgery.

That said, Brady is still behind in his rehab process and that will jeopardize his 2009 season. Infections of this nature also increase the risk of scar tissue buildup and long-term stiffness and aches.

San Diego’s Philip Rivers is a rare case. He played on a bum ACL in the AFC Championship game and was fine for Week 1. But, in November 2006, Donovan McNabb tore his ACL and wasn’t really himself until late in the 2007 season.

Neither player had issues with a staph infection, however. And, keep in mind that the left knee is his plant knee. Anyone get a whiff of Peyton Manning earlier this year? He was just coming back after having a bursa sac removed in his plant knee and was awfully tentative.

If Brady is human (and I think he might be although no sources will confirm this), he’s likely to be a little uneasy looking downfield as the likes of Dwight Freeney and Terrell Suggs roll around on the ground by his patella tendon-grafted knee.

Now that is a hard statement to write out. Many people would love to say I can’t handle times when they get rough. You have to love your team win or lose. And I do, I was a fan before Brady or any Super Bowl. It’s a different feeling than I have ever had. It’s not the number of losses; it’s the way they lost.

Yesterday evening I watched the Patriots play with about as much intensity as dish soap. They went through the motions. There was no spark. As the Chargers continued to raise the score, the Pats and I together watched it climb.

The difference? There is no way I could have scored a touchdown, but they could have done something.  I never felt like the team felt the urge to make a comeback, like they rather just finish up and except loss two. The Pats have never been that team. It can’t be the loss of Brady alone. Patriot players have spoke out and said that they know they can get it done. But are their actions speaking way longer than their words?

Watching Cassel was painful. Watching Moss watch Cassel was painful. Watching the defensive line miss tackles hurt. Watching the Chargers throw bombs and having no chance of stopping it hurt. But the fact that there seemed to never be a desire to come back from behind and stomp all over them hurt the most. It may never have been possible, but the idea didn’t even seem to be there.

The only player who played like they wanted to win was Ellis Hobbs, who has quickly become one of my favorite players. The 5′9″ cornerback may have one of the toughest jobs on the team and he is the only player that seemed to care after the disgrace of a 4 and out on the San Diego one yard line in the 3rd.

Maybe Wes Welker as well. Everyone else looked like they rather be visiting Brady in the hospital, than winning the game. I do not doubt their intensity to win- every genuine athlete wants to win- I doubt the fact that they believe they even can.

The Pats are now officially being counted out. The Chargers were their chance to show everyone that they were capable. They couldn’t prove it or put the ball in the end zone. I still believe they could make the playoffs, I just think that they need to play with urgency more now then ever. They have played to get by and that hasn’t worked all that well. Now maybe they have nothing to lose. Why not try a fake punt? A flea-flicker? A FIRST DOWN.

Now is the time more than ever to get it done because if they don’t it will be nobody’s fault but theirs.

The Pats were the underdog for some godforsaken reason. Wait, what? Compare the two teams. New England is stronger is every aspect. Compare the players in each position. New England wins. Maybe not QB. I am the first to admit that the QB is one of the most important positions on the team- but it certainly isn’t the only one. Cassell isn’t a dead-beat. He knows the playbook. The Jets barely beat the terrible Dolphins. Brett Favre knows 75 percent of the playbook.

I mean the list is so long it would take me two hours to write out. But it doesn’t matter. They won and analysts everywhere wished they had thought once or twice before hopping on the J-E-T-S bandwagon.

Prediction: Jets don’t make the playoffs.

Now let’s talk baseball. With Brady mayhem it seems that we may have forgotten that Boston is a self-proclaimed baseball town. The Sox are back at it. Winning, or demolishing, the Rays last night putting them in tie for first. Beckett is pitching tonight and is pitching to win. 

If they lose, it won’t kill their chances of taking the AL East crown. Not even close. But a win would give them the momentum- the energy they need- to take off and never look back. The elements seem to be in place. With the pitching and hitting (Pedroia MVP?) both in a comfortable place.

Watching the game last night took me out of my Pats frenzy for a few hours. Part of that was because they hit the Rays under the table. It was also because the race is on and the Sox look like they are capable of getting it- again- without too much drama. That happened two months again. Manny anyone?

So here is my medical advice for any Pats fan who may be thinking a bit too much, studying analysis until midnight and scouring rumor websites hoping that it was some kind of Coach B joke. Sit back and watch the Sox. for minute and remember we DO have a playoff team in Boston. The team we all love, but temporarily forgot about as they won games and we were on PatsWatch ‘08.

Trust me, it’s the perfect and winning perscription.

AFC:

New England Patriots

Why they will: They are a veteran team with a lot of talent. They know how to win and Belichick will keep them in most games.

Why they won’t: I do not like that defense at all. It’s old and slow. The offense was able to cover it up most of last year as it’s much easier to play D when you are up by 50 points. Regardless of what Randy Moss thinks, this team is just not a juggernaut without Brady.

Buffalo Bills

Why they will: Oh yes, this team is good at football. They have a very nice defense with Marcus Stroud (love those big nasty tackles). Marshawn Lynch and Lee Evans are excellent weapons on offense. And who can forget those special teams? Roscoe Parrish is filthy.

Why they won’t: I’m not sure that they are there yet. We’ll see if James Hardy can be a big help to Lee Evans on the other side of the field. I still need to see more of Trent Edwards.

Indianapolis Colts

Why they will: They are still loaded with talent. Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, Bob Sanders…etc.

Why they won’t: Peyton Manning’s recovery from the bursa sac removal will take some time. It’s going to take a few weeks for him to get fully comfortable again. Another problem I have with the Colts is that they have their whole payroll tied up with just a few guys. This makes them really strong at some positions, but forced to really on low-level scrubs for depth. That’s bothersome to me.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Why they will: David Garrard is an excellent QB and I still like that defense with DT John Henderson. Fred Taylor and MJD are a phenomenal one-two punch out of the backfield.

Why they won’t: I may have exaggerated in the first part. The Jags are sans their two starting guards for the season. Also, center Brad Meester has yet to play. Good luck playing without the interior of your offensive line. Garrad already has thrown as many INT’s this year as he did all of last year.

Tennessee Titans

Why they will: Like I said, I love defenses that start with great tackles. Albert Haynesworth is a beast when motivated, and since he’s playing with the franchise tag, he’s motivated. Cortland Finnegan is one of the most underrated corners in football. And how can you not like the kid Chris Johnson? He is a hell of an explosive runner.

Why they won’t: They have two QB options, they have decided that Kerry Collins is better, and they are right. I like Collins ok, but I wouldn’t him to the be the horse I’m riding to the Super Bowl. Vince Young is most likely cooked and may not play another down for the Titans.

Denver Broncos

Why they will: Jay Cutler is looking like the truth (he also looks like a bumbling dufus) this year and he has two dynamite weapons in Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal.

Why the won’t: They gave up a butt-load of points to the Chargers and should have lost that game. I do need to see Cutler do it for a full season before I can fully jump on his bandwagon.

San Diego Chargers

Why they will: They got hosed last week and should be 1-1. Philip Rivers is still a nice QB and they will be fine once their weapons get healthy (LT and Gates). This team is incredibly talented and will right their ship and be fine.

Why they won’t: They got absolutely shredded by the Broncos offense on Sunday. Antonio Cromartie, who is a superstud, looked miserable. Those injuries actually do concern me. Ladainian is starting to get nicked up and this is exactly what happens to RB’s as they get older. Especially ones that have been pounded the way LT has since 2001.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Why they will: Despite losing DE Brett Keisel for two months, I still like that front seven. James Harrison does more than just assault women, he’s ferocious on the field too. Big Ben is a horse you can ride and Willie Parker just keeps on doing it. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes give Roethlisberger some great targets in the passing game.

Why they won’t: I still worry about that o-line. They were shaky last year and then lost Pro Bowl G Alan Faneca to boot. The secondary could be an issue as well.

NFC:

New York Giants

Why they will: That defensive line is still very tough despite losing Strahan and Osi. Their offensive line is still one of the best units in the league and I’m a firm believer that it all starts up front. They also run the ball like nobody’s business and have three backs that can hurt you in Jacobs, Bradshaw and Ward. Plaxico Burress is a top five WR in the league at this point.

Why they won’t: It’s very tough to repeat, especially in the NFC East. Eli still needs to show that he can play at a high level for an entire year.

Dallas Cowboys

Why they will: They are probably the most talented team in football. They are the early-season favorites to take it all right now.

Why they won’t: Tony Romo has been dreadful the past two years in and past December. The Cowboys at the end of the year have not been the Cowboys at the beginning of the year. That is very, very troubling.

Philadelphia Eagles

Why they will: McNabb is healthy and back to being a top-three NFL quarterback. Brian Westbrook might be the best back in football and rookie DeSean Jackson has given the Birds that top-flight WR they’ve wanted so damn much. The defense has improved and will cause problems for offenses this year.

Why they won’t: Pick a reason, it’s Philly. McNabb needs to stay healthy for the entire year or none of the other stuff matters. Against Dallas, the defensive front four couldn’t generate any pass rush and that is a huge issue. There are also concerns at safety. Brian Dawkins is falling off, Quinton Mikell doesn’t cover very well, and Sean Considine should be working at Wendy’s.

Green Bay Packers

Why they will: The Packers are looking pretty tough right now. I’ve liked Aaron Rodgers for a while now and he’s finally showing that he’s good at football. They are deep at running back and wide receiver and they have playmakers all over their defense.

Why they won’t: Let’s see Rodgers do it for the whole year. Also, Ryan Grant has been battling a hamstring injury and he was incredibly important to their success last year.

Minnesota Vikings

Why they will: Plain and simple one of the best, if not the best, defenses in football. And with Adrian Peterson running the football, you can win on any given Sunday. The combination of defense and running game has won many a Super Bowl.

Why they won’t: Tarvaris Jackson is abysmal!

Carolina Panthers

Why they will: They are 2-0 this year and have won without Steve Smith. Jake Delhomme gives them a good chance to win as does the RB duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Why they won’t: I just don’t there is enough talent on the entire roster to take down some of the other teams. That said, you never know. It’s all about playing well at the right time.

New Orleans Saints

Why they will: Drew Brees is a phenomenal QB who can kill you on any day.

Why they won’t: The defense stinks, Reggie Bush is overrated and their WR’s are depleted right now.

Arizona Cardinals

Why they will: They are the upstart team with a rejuvenated Kurt Warner at the helm. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitgerald scare the bejesus out of opposing teams. And they are in a division with three other stinkboxes.

Why they won’t: They are the Cardinals. WR’s don’t win championships. They may make the playoffs in that division, but only because someone has to.

Check back later in the year to see how stupid and off-base my analysis is.

So what’s next?

At this point you have to assume not much. Cassel is their man, for the time being. If he doesn’t produce, we go from there. I would predict that the Pats leave him at the wheel, unless something totally unacceptable happens, until the early bye week. Jets, Dolphins and bye. Then we reevaluate.

Pats fans just have to remember that we have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL and even minus the Brady factor we will have one of the strongest rosters. Remember Randy Moss? Remember Rodney Harrison? It hurts- a lot- but he isn’t our only asset.

No one knows at this point what will happen. But I think Tony Massarotti made a really good point on his new blog at his new home on Boston.com. He says that this may be all up to Bill Belichick.

He says,

Bill Belichick.The mastermind has arguably his greatest challenge. If he can win a title without Brady, he’ll go down as the undisputed Best Coach in History.

I agree and believe it is possible. I also think people are forgetting that Josh McDaniels, the Pats offensive coordinator, has a big task at hand. Cassel knows the system. Rumors have surfaced that the only reason Cassel is around now is because Brady felt most comfortable with him and his knowledge of the playbook. McDaniels job will be to take the playbook and tweak it so it accommodates Cassel. Yes, a Brady playbook may work for Cassel for a game, but it won’t work all season as Cassel doesn’t have the arm or the confidence in the pocket that Brady has.

So we will see. Oh yeah, the Sox are .5 behind the Rays. There is glimmer of sunshine in what seems to be a cloudy New England sky.

Football fans know: if you walk off, there is a good chance you’re coming back. It looks like that isn’t the case.

Now reports are surfacing that Tom Brady has a season ending ACL tear in his knee and that he is out for the season. At this time, media outlets reporting the injury are season ending are: Yahoo Sports. There no other outlets at this time confirming that the injury will leave him out for the year. Most outlets wont confirm reports until they hear directly from a team official, Brady’s doctor, Belichick or Brady himself.

Currently, NBC is reporting that Brady has a MRI scheduled for tomorrow. It is then when there will be confirmation.

But what is without a doubt is that Brady will not be suited up for the next several games. With that, there is a considerable hole in the Pats lineup. While Cassel is the man at the helm, the Pats are not likely to settle with Cassel until they explore their options. There are reports that Chris Sims is being looked at.

The bottom line is that there is a chance- a good chance, according to reports- that Brady won’t be back. This means an intensified running game- which luckily won’t be hard with four good RBs- and a defense that will need to make sure that the opponent has few opportunities to advance the ball. No more shotgun play and no quick runs down the field. The Patriots will be playing defensive football on every side of the ball.

Brady is the cornerstone of the Patriots. Without him questions arise: What happens to Moss? Can Cassel handle the pressure? The list goes on and on.

At this time nothing is confirmed, but its not looking good.

At the beginning of any season, fans have questions. Sometimes they are questions out of concern and sometimes they are questions out of excitement and most of the time they are purely questions out of curiosity.

Well, I have some questions and here they are: my five questions heading in to the new season.

Q: Is Brady really hurt? If he is or is unable to play, who would fill his shoes?

No, Brady isn’t hurt. Blunt? Maybe. True? Yes. Coach Belichick loves to win. We witnessed this in the infamous Spygate scandal and I think that he might do just about anything to win. But what is the one thing that Coach B. just doesn’t care about winning? Preseason games. Brady not playing preseason games shouldn’t shock anyone. What would shock me and the rest of the football community is if he didn’t suit up against the Chiefs.

Brady has been on the injury report every week since the 2005 Super Bowl. Belichick doesn’t believe in injury reports and loves to spite just about everyone by placing the perfectly healthy superstar on the list. This week is the first time since that 2005 Super Bowl that Brady hasn’t been on the list. I mean, either Belichick is playing minds games or he knows without a fraction of a doubt that Brady will be on the field.

But let’s just say that he doesn’t play. Who would fill his shoes? I think they would go with Cassel. They always do. And then he gets picked off and fans curse the television. If I were wearing the grey hoodie, I might just put in the rookie. O’Connell may be new, but at least he is fresh. But I suspect that this question won’t have to be answered.

Q: The AFC East has undergone a serious facelift over the offseason. Will this plastic surgery affect the juggernaut Pats?

A: Oh yeah. Favre, an all time great, is leading the Jets, the Dolphins have been redesigned by Parcells and the Bills- well the cold weather is always tough. Changes have made the division more complicated and in my opinion there are no longer any definite win games, games that we may have counted on in the past.

Q: Asante Samuel is with the Eagles and Ellis Hobbs is our strongest cornerback. Should I be nervous?

A: Sometimes it hard to get nervous when you’re a Pats fan. I think we may have been brainwashed into thinking that if we have a weak spot in the roster- the coaches have a secret plan which will leave us dumbfounded but happy when it all works out. This leaves us believing that we have no flaws. Some see it as cockiness, but I swear we are just sipping the Belichick Kool Aid.

But yes, my friend, the cornerback spot seems weak. Hobbs has been in the league for four years, but lacks the size and the experience of many other league cornerbacks. Here are our other CBs: Lewis Sanders, Terrence Wheatley, Jonathon Wilhite and the newly added Deltha O’Neal. Yep- there seem to be no go-to guys. No interception machines and big play guys like Samuel. What can you do? Watch and see. Just don’t stop sipping the juice.

Q: The Giants exploited the Pats’ offensive line during the Bowl last year. Can the line continue to give Brady the time he needs?

A: Yes. The Giants tore us apart- that’s hard to type- but the line still has it. With players such as Light, Koppen and Kaczur, I feel confident to say they will continue to block the way they always have. Brady is known for having time and I think it will stay that way. Let’s hope that injuries don’t plague us: O’Neal is currently on the PUP list.

Q: The Pats signed veteran safety John Lynch only to drop him less than two weeks later. What?!?!

A: The Patriots are the team where players come to prove themselves. No, I’m (Junior Seau) not too old. No, I’m (Randy Moss) not washed up. Here’s Belichick’s statement:

“It goes without saying, but John is an all-time great safety, one of the league’s classiest professionals and his elite play speaks for itself. As has been the case in other situations, I would not rule anything out down the road.”

Yeah, he’s coming back…

Those are my questions and my answers. Now, here is the biggest question of all: Are YOU ready for some football?

Nothing makes me happier than sports, sports coverage and Sundays in the fall. I grew up in a family who talked sports, played sports and understood sports. I followed their lead. So welcome- officially and with no silly games- to my blog, Girl in the Huddle (GITH.)

It is here where you will get to read my rants, raves, complaints, applauds and everything in between. The boys in red, blue and silver are the loves of my life. Since ‘93 when Bledsoe was drafted and I was in the second grade, I have been the ultimate fan. The Sox come in a close second followed by the Bruins. Growing up in Vermont I played ice hockey for many years and one time I took on shot on Bruins’ goaltender Tim Thomas at a UVM event. The Celtics have a spot in my heart too, I suppose, but it’s only a small green dot on a otherwise blue and red organ.

So here I am. Comments are welcome and are only better for furthering the discussion. I’m never wrong, as my family and friends would be happy to tell everyone, but I love a good debate. Plus, it’s way better to debate on a nice forum like this than at a bar where I can’t clearly articulate my thoughts. Trust me, my thoughts are way better in writing.

Welcome to GITH!

P.S. I love Drew Bledsoe. Always have, always will.