By: Dan Massar, YaekryTalkies Staff Writer
It wasn’t a perfect trip, but the Celtics will take it.  Team Green went 3-1 on a west coast trip that came right out of the All Star Break.  For a team that has struggled since Christmas, it was a good way to get back on track.
The trip started with a victory over the Kings.  This seemed like the only sure victory on the trip, so it was a good way to get it going.  The Celts then traveled from Sacramento to LA for a battle with the Lakers.
The contest with the Lakers had a must win feel for the Celtics with Kobe Bryant sitting it out.  For a little while it looked like the game would have a familiar ending for the Celtics.  Get a decent lead heading into the 4th and then blow it at the end.  But the Celtics held on and won by 1.  It was a win they had to have and they got it.  Ray Allen led the way with 24 points as the Celtics improved to 2-0 on the trip.
While the win over the Lakers was certainly sweet, the best win of the trip came the next [...]

By: Phil Shore, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
This past season the Patriots did not perform to fans’ expectations. Fans are yearning for the earlier years in the decade when New England won three Super Bowls in four years.
By remembering those magical teams, some prominent names long gone are thought of once more. One of those players is open to a reunion.
Seahawks receiver Deion Branch told the Boston Herald Thursday that he would be open to a trade that brought him back to New England, where he won two Super Bowls and was named Super Bowl XXXIX MVP.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider has reportedly said while he won’t release Branch, he would be open to trading him.
Branch has responded that he enjoyed his time in New England and liked the coaching staff and players. It’s good to know there’s no ill will with Branch.
That being said, as things are now the Patriots should not be tempted to go after him.
The Patriots could use some help at wide receiver, especially after the injury to Wes Welker, but there are more glaring needs for pass rushers and help in the secondary. Those need to be addressed first.
What really makes Branch not worth going after is [...]

By: Phil Shore, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
The Patriots are heading into a crucial offseason. After an embarrassing performance against the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, it was obvious that changes need to be made to the team.
Still, there are a number of free agents that the Patriots should also bring back.
The Patriots have nine unrestricted free agents and three restricted ones.
Who should be kept on to help get the team to Super Bowl XLV at the new Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium?
Who should be looking for work elsewhere?
Tully Banta-Cain, LB: Unrestricted. Keep him. Banta-Cain was the best pass-rusher the team had, finishing in the top-15 in the NFL in sacks with 9.5. Even if the Patriots get players through trade, the draft, and/or free agency, Banta-Cain has always been an asset on special teams. He was also around for two of the Patriots’ three Super Bowls in the past decade.
Leigh Bodden, CB: Unrestricted. Let him go. The Patriots secondary was bad and they need to completely retool save for Pro Bowl safety Brandon Merriweather. Sure, Bodden lead the team in interceptions with five, but three of those came all in one game against Mark Sanchez.
Derrick Burgess, DE/LB: Unrestricted. [...]

By: Phil Shore, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Last night the Celtics won their second straight since the All-Star break, edging the LA Lakers last night 87-86. But, realistically, this was a Kobe-less LA, and doesn’t mean the Celts problems are fixed.
In an effort to fix them, the Celtics gained a jolt of energy before yesterdays trade deadline. But how big of a jolt exactly?
Boston received three-time Slam Dunk champion Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry from the New York Knicks in exchange for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker.
Landry, Giddens, and Walker are throw-ins essentially. The centerpieces are House and Robinson.
The extremely athletic Robinson gives the Celtics six more points a game, one more rebound (even though he’s only 5’9” and four inches shorter than House), almost three more assists, and shoots better from the field.
There’s also the chance Robinson can really go wild like the time he put up 41 against the Miami Heat this season.
Yet, even with those improvements, the Robinson trade is questionable.
For starters, House is a much better three-point shooter both this season and in his career than Robinson and has hit a number of clutch shots for the Celts in both the regular season and the playoffs.
Robinson’s [...]

Apparently Celtics Players are a big deal.

Marquis Daniels has this life-size diamond chain made out of a mold of his head.

By: Dave Cheng, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
It’s been over a month since the mini craze over Asian basketball player, Jeremy Lin.  After being featured in Time and Slam magazines and on ESPN, the 6′3 senior point guard from Harvard has receded to the back of most people’s minds, if he hasn’t disappeared completely.  However, for others like me, his name will remain prominent in my consciousness, well beyond his playing days.
Though not a Harvard supporter myself,  I’ve become a huge Jeremy Lin fan.  In case you’ve been living under a rock, Lin, from Palo Alto, California, is the star point guard and leading scorer on the Harvard basketball team.  No, that was not a misprint and yes, I said Harvard and star in the same sentence.  He’s the player that has led the Crimson to wins over Boston College two years in a row, scoring 25 against the Eagles this season.  Lin followed that performance, with an even better one against an even tougher opponent; he put up 30 points against the University of Connecticut.  It was just another day at the office for him, so to speak.  As of February 3, he was averaging over 17 points per game, and [...]

By Jordan Liebhaber, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
You know spring is in the air when Red Sox talk hits the air waves.  Too bad the weather outside won’t cooperate.  Fenway Park is still frost bitten and covered by tarps, but the infamous truck left for Fort Myers last week and Sox fans are ready for some baseball.
So how about those Sox?  The last two seasons have been somewhat of a disappointment compared to what we were used to seeing.  After two World Series championships in three years, we are hardly satisfied with just a mere playoff entry.  No, we want it all.  So what chance does this edition of the Boston Red Sox have against the rest of the American League and the (I really hate saying this) defending champion New York Yankees?
As the old adage says, pitching and defense wins championships.  The 2010 Red Sox will feature one of the best rotations in baseball, led by “J cubed” (Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and John Lackey).  Dice-K will come into the season with a rested and healthy right arm, and groin (that injury he lied about all season).  Budding star Clay Buchholz will pitch in the number 5 slot.  As always, the [...]