Category: Hockey

How to Stream Patriots Games This Year

In my article reacting to the NFL schedule release (https://wordpress.com/post/wheelhouseblog.com/1308), I mentioned how if an NFL fan wants to watch every game this season, it would cost at least $850 and require 6 different streaming services. Many fans mainly care about being able to watch their team every week. As a Patriots fan, this is what to do to watch every Pats regular season game if you don’t have cable/YouTube TV and don’t want to rely on random NFL streams.

  • Paramount Plus Subscription to watch 7 games scheduled for CBS: $6/ month for 4 months = $24
  • Venu Sports (Brand new combination of Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox, and ESPN for sports) to watch 6 games on FOX: $43/month for 4 months = $132 (UPDATE AS OF 8/16: A judge has blocked this venture and it could cause it to be delayed)
  • Prime Video to watch 1 TNF game (9/19/24) on Prime: $9/month for 1 month = $9
  • NFL Plus to watch 1 game (10/20/24) on NFL Network: $7/month for 1 month = $7. NFL Plus can only be watched on a phone or tablet. If you are okay with watching games on a phone or Tablet for the whole year, NFL Plus has local and primetime games for $7/month ($28 for the 4 month period 9/8/2024 – 1/5/2025). This should allow you to watch most (if not all) Pats games for a very low price.
  • Two of the Pats games are TBD and likely will be 1 pm or 4 pm games on CBS/FOX because it’s unlikely the Pats will get a primetime game Weeks 17 or 18.
  • NOTE: *The Pats regular season is from 9/8/2024 – 1/5/2025, so this blog is assuming you would purchase the subscriptions for Paramount and Venu on 9/7/2024 and cancel on 1/6/2024. If you keep them for longer in order to watch the playoffs, it will cost more.*

All told, it will cost you $172 for the year to watch every Patriots game on your TV (with the exception of the NFL Network game), which isn’t too bad. Additional benefits of the above platforms: Paramount Plus has Champions League and some other CBS NFL games. Venu will provide some other FOX NFL games, Monday Night Football, MLB (including the World Series), NHL, and college football games. Prime Video will also provide other TNF games. And of course, Paramount Plus and Prime Video have shows and movies. All told, each person will have to make the decision of the best way to watch their favorite teams play. Following the above strategy is a little annoying, but also is doable and not crazy expensive.

Best Athletes of 21st Century

This list will be controversial, because how could it not be? When it comes to best athletes of this century, we are only looking at what athletes did this century. For example, Michael Jordan (maybe the greatest athlete of all time) played 2 seasons with the Wizards in the early 2000s, but what he did for the Wizards wouldn’t qualify him for this list.

1. Lionel Messi – Soccer

2. Tiger Woods- Golf

3. Tom Brady – Football

4. Michael Phelps – Swimming

5. Lebron James – Basketball

6. Usain Bolt – Sprinting

7. Novak Djokovic- Tennis

8. Cristiano Ronaldo – Soccer

9. Floyd Mayweather – Boxing

10. Sidney Crosby – Hockey

10 Greatest Boston Athletes Ever

Below are the greatest athletes Titletown has ever seen. Simply putting up great numbers does not get you on this list. The cultural impact and importance to the city matters. The titles and accolades won also matter.

Tom Brady, Patriots 2000-2019

Not only was he the greatest football player of all time but he was the face of Boston sports during their most dominant period of all time. For two decades of Boston dominance, when you thought of Boston sports, you thought of number 12 holding up the Lombardi Trophy. While him leaving was tough, it made you realize how important he was, and he will forever be a legend in Boston.

Bill Russell, Celtics 1956-1969

I could simply say 11 titles in 13 years and stop there. But that would not be enough to capture his greatness on and off the court. He helped to start the tradition of Boston being the City of Champions with his tremendous play. The NBA Finals MVP was named after him for a reason. He was an important member of the Civil Right Movement and won a Presidential Metal of Freedom for all of his accomplishments.

Bobby Orr, Bruins 1966-1976

He revolutionized his sport more than any other Boston athlete. Never before had the NHL seen a defensemen who could score like a forward and out skate everyone on the ice. Injuries robbed him of potentially going down as the greatest hockey player and Boston athlete ever. However, Boston will always remember this legend, and his flying Stanley Cup-winning goal will be in Boston sports bars until the end of time.

Ted Williams, Red Sox 1939-1942, 1946-1960

The greatest hitter who ever lived. This man hit .406 in 1941, won the Triple Crown in 1942, spent 3 years serving his country in World War 2, and then won MVP his first year back from military service in 1946. He also gave up most of the 1952 and 1953 seasons to serve in the Korean War. Despite sacrificing 5 years during the prime of his career, he still put up monster numbers.

Larry Bird, Celtics 1979-1992

Bird kept the Celtics title machine going. His shooting and passing ability as a forward was way ahead of his time. His clutch play and trash talk also endeared him to Boston fans. His legendary rivalry with Magic Johnson helped make the NBA mainstream and the name Larry Legend is well deserved.

David Ortiz, Red Sox 2003-2016

It’s no coincidence that Big Papi coming to the Sox immediately led to their string of 21st Century titles. He will forever be loved by Boston fans for his clutch hitting in big moments and he is easily one of the most clutch althetes in sports history. Whenever the Sox needed a big hit, he was there. His awesome speech and heroics during the 2013 World Series season after the Boston Marathon bombings forever etched him into Boston lore.

Ray Bourque, Bruins 1979-2000

The 2nd greatest defensemen in NHL history behind Orr. He is the Bruins all time leading scorer despite being a DMan. Boston loves this guy so much that he left the Bruins, won a cup with another team, and Bostonians celebrated it with him.

Rob Gronkowski, Patriots 2010-2018

Similar to Orr, his career was cut too short by injuries, but when he played he absolutely dominated. We have never seen a tight end like Gronk. He was a matchup nightmare in the receiving game and blocked like an offensive lineman. His hysterical party personality was the exact energy the buttoned up Patriots dynasty needed.

John Havlicek, Celtics 1962-1978

He helped the Russell Celtics win some of their later titles and even won two as the star of the team after Russell retired. His legendary steal will always be remembered, and Hondo is forever a Boston legend.

Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox 1961-1983

He took over left field the year after Williams retired and didn’t skip a beat. Yaz holds many Red Sox records including games played, hits, and RBIs.

The fact this was such a tough list to make shows how lucky Boston fans are to have had so many legends play in our city. There are many other deserving players who could have been included in this list. With current stars like Jayson Tatum and David Pastrnak, this list could include some new names in the somewhat near future.

Best Sports Cities in the US

Below are the top 10 sports cities in the United States. Factors included how many Big Four teams each city had, the passion of the fanbases, the success of the teams, whether teams have recently left there, and whether teams in the city exist that no one cares about. Just because a city has a lot of teams does not automatically put it on here. Having no teams in a sport goes against you, but also having a team that no one cares about (i.e. the Angels in LA) hurts a city’s ranking.

Boston, MA

Titletown is an easy top choice. First off, Boston has the best sports fans in the entire world. All four sports teams in the city are heavily followed and cared about. No NFL team has won more Super Bowls than the Patriots and they boast the greatest football player and coach of all time. The Red Sox have the most famous stadium in all of American sports and have won more World Series this century than any other team. The Bruins are the oldest American team in the NHL and hockey in Massachusetts is massively popular. Last, but not least, no NBA team has won more championships than the Celtics. In addition to the great teams, Boston has had the best collection of athletes out of any city and Boston’s Sports Mount Rushmore of Tom Brady, Bill Russell, Ted Williams, and Bobby Orr is light years ahead of anyone else’s.

Chicago, IL

Chicago is a great sports town that has five franchises that are deeply cared about. The Bears are one of the oldest NFL teams. Despite not having a lot of success, they are a well-known and cared about team in the city. The Cubs play in the 2nd most famous stadium in American sports and have tons of history and great players. The White Sox are not as prestigious as the Cubs, but still have a loyal following. The Blackhawks are an Original Six NHL team and the had the only NHL dynasty this century. The Chicago Bulls are one of the best NBA teams of all time. They also had the greatest NBA player and maybe athlete of all time in Michael Jordan.

New York City, NY

The Giants are one of the best NFL franchises of all time and had the greatest defensive player ever in Lawrence Taylor. However, the Jets are an embarrassment that taints NYC’s football image. The Yankees are an all-time great sports franchise and the best franchise in MLB history. No other team boasts the championships and players that have come through the Bronx. Their logo has become a cultural symbol, which speaks to the success of the team. The Mets have struggled though and slightly bring down New York’s baseball rating. The Rangers are an Original Six team, the Islanders had one of the best dynasties in NHL history, and the Devils have also had success making the city’s hockey teams extremely impressive. Basketball is a different story as the Knicks and Nets are two of the most under performing franchises in any league. NYC also gets points for having Madison Square Garden, which is the most famous arena in the world. In terms of fans, people go to games, but a fair share don’t seem to be true fans and are mainly just there to have something to do.

Philadelphia, PA

As annoying and downright messed up as Philly fans can be, you have to concede that they love their teams as much as any other city does which boosts their score. The Eagles have a long history, some great players, and some recent success. The Phillies have a loyal following and are currently an exciting team. The 76ers are an all-time NBA franchise and have had many great players. The Flyers are one of the most legendary non-Original Six teams.

Detroit, MI

Detroit is extremely underrated as a sports city. The Lions have had iconic players like Barry Sanders, but not much success until lately. That being said, there were reports this year that Detroit’s drop in crime was due to the Lions being so good. The Red Wings are an Original Six team and one of the best teams in NHL history. The Pistons have had some all-time teams and the Tigers are one of the oldest teams in the MLB.

Denver, CO

It all starts with the Broncos in Denver. They have had the privilege of two of the greatest QBs of all time and their team has had a lot of success. The Avalanche have historically been good, and are currently filled with stars. The Nuggets are probably the best team in the NBA right now and have the best player in the league. The Rockies lag behind the rest of the teams, but having been to a game at Coors Field, it’s a pretty cool place to watch a game.

Pittsburgh, PA

The first city on this list without 4 major teams. The fact they made it, speaks to the success of their teams. The Steelers may be the most impressive NFL Franchise ever in terms of how much they’ve won and the legends that have put on the black and gold. The Penguins likewise have been super successful and have had some of the greatest NHL players ever. The Pirates also have a rich history and some all-time greats, even if they haven’t had the same recent success as the other two.

Dallas, TX

Not surprisingly, football carries this Texas city’s sports culture. The Cowboys are the most expensive sports franchise in the world (and it isn’t even close). They have had amazing players and tremendous success, despite underwhelming the past 30 years. The Mavericks are a popular team and like the Cowboys, are buoyed by an extremely famous owner. The Rangers just won their first World Series and appear on the come up. The Stars lack behind the others, but the fact a Texas city can support a hockey team and they get lots of people at their games is impressive in itself.

Washinton, D.C.

Had the Commanders not had an awkward last 5 years and a terrible owner who made the team a laughing stock, they may be higher. They still have had success in their history with three Super Bowls and people care about the team. The Capitals have a deep following, which has been aided by an all-time great player in Alexander Ovechkin. The Nats likewise are well liked and have had recent success. The team that lacks behind all the others is the Wizards, which is one of the worst franchises in the NBA.

Bay Area, CA

The Bay Area barley sneaks in because they have such large discrepancies between their teams. The 49ers are one of the most popular franchises in the NFL and have had many all-time greats. On the flip-side, the Raiders abandoned Oakland for Vegas. For baseball, there is a similar situation playing out. The Giants are a legendary team and have had a lot of recent success, but the Oakland A’s want to leave Oakland even though no one else wants them, creating an awkward situation for everyone. The Golden State Warriors dominated the NBA for a decade, forming the best dynasty since the 90s Bulls and are super popular. The Sharks are not very popular and bring the overall area down.

Bruins Panthers Game 6

The Bruins season is over with their loss last night to the Panthers. Game and series notes below:

– The Bruins did not play well enough to win. They had the talent, but star players didn’t perform and their entire team lacked composure. They set an NHL Playoff record with their 7th too many men on the ice penalty yesterday. That is absolutely inexcusable and shows a mental lack of effort from the entire team.

– The Bruins were outshot 198-135 the whole series. Swayman was amazing this whole playoffs and it’s a shame his great play wasn’t rewarded with a deep playoff run.

- It’s sad to see the season come to an end as this was a good team. We’ll see what this offseason holds, but hopefully the Bs come back even better next year.

Bruins Panthers Game 5

A huge win by the Bruins keeps the series alive and takes it back to Boston for Game 6. Game notes below:

– Swayman kept his stellar play going and backed up his promise to bring the series back to Boston.

– The Bruins finally didn’t get out shot and dominated in hits. When they play this way they can keep up with Florida.

– They still need to keep the penalties down. It feels like they get a too many men on the ice penalty every game which is inexcusable. They also still need to finish chances better.

One game at a time. If they win Game 6 in Boston, then Game 7 – anything can happen.

Bruins Panthers Game 3

This was the opposite of last game, where they lost, but didn’t play awful. Last night was just plain bad. Game notes below:

– Sam Bennett had one of the dirtiest hits I’ve ever seen. He straight up punched Brad Marchand and should be suspended. On our end, Marchy is out at least two games which is a huge blow. I really hope someone has a big hit on Bennett or challenges him to a fight. It’s fitting the Panthers bandwagon fans throw rats on the ice, because their whole team is filled with them.

– The Panthers dominated all game and had double the shots of the Bruins. You are not going to win in the playoffs with those numbers.

– The Bruins need to be way more disciplined. They keep giving the Panthers Power Play opportunities and last night the Panthers completely took advantage. They also still continue to have terrible in zone turnovers that lead to goals.

The B’s need to put this game away and start playing with some heart. Maybe Marchand’s injury will finally give them a spark.

Bruins – Leafs Game 7

Whew. The Bruins pull that series out by the skin of their teeth. Game notes:

– Swayman was out of his mind this series. Easily the MVP of the series. Without him, we never would’ve won that series and need him to continue his great play.

– Carelessness from the Bruins continued today. They still don’t look completely focused and like they have their composure. Mind boggling turnover continue to plague this team. They got to get it together.

– Lindholm played so good. Getting such a quick goal in response to the Leafs scoring was super important and swung the momentum back for us. It feels good to see Pasta get the game winner and hopefully he keeps the momentum going.

– The Bruins have a lot of shit to work on and need to play a lot better next series. The Panthers are great team and are much more rested. Time for some revenge after the tough defeat last year.

LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOO BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUINS!!!

Bruins Leafs Game 6 Recap

Now, it’s time to be worried. The Bruins are in danger of repeating what they did last year by blowing a 3-1 lead. We have tormented the Leafs for years and now we’ve given them hope that they can turn the tables on us. Game notes below:

– Another slow start for the Bruins as they were outshot 12-1 in the first. If not for Swayman playing so well, these past two games could have been much more lopsided.

– The Bruins continue to not finish scoring chances late in the game. There were a couple golden opportunities to tie the game at 1 in the third and they just couldn’t put the puck home.

– McAvoy was way too aggressive on that last Leaf’s goal. He made a terrible step up that led to Nylander getting a breakaway. It’s another example of how the Bruins need to be more composed and keep their heads.

– Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, called Pasta out for not playing better. Hopefully, this lights a fire under him and he plays his ass off Game 7.

“Game 7. Anything can happen.” – Kevin Millar, former Red Sox first baseman. It’s one of the truest quotes in sports history. You absolutely never know what’s gonna happen in these winner take all games. The Leafs have the momentum and Matthews might be returning. But the Bruins are back at home and know they can’t blow this series lead, especially after last year. Let’s just hope they get it together and win.

Bruins Leafs Game 5 Recap

This was a game the Bruins did not deserve to win, but nonetheless, had plenty of chances to win. Below are my game notes:

– They were absolutely terrible in the first period and the first ten minutes of the 2nd period. They got outplayed, could not get anything going, and were lucky that Swayman played amazing last night to keep them in the game.

– Even though they improved their play the last half of the game, some common errors kept happening. They could not break the puck out and their composure was awful all night. They had so many in-zone turnovers that led to scoring chances and it looked like they couldn’t make a clean pass all night. They were dominated on faceoffs too.

– This is giving me echos of last year. The Bruins were up 3-1, then lost game 5 in OT at home and went on to lose the series.

– It would be one thing to simply lose the game. It’s hockey, that is going to happen. But the fact that the Maple Leafs – without Austin Matthews – outplayed them and the Bruins didn’t look like they came to play is a bad sign. The OT goal is a perfect example of that. Two Bruins forwards took a terrible change while the Leafs were on a rush, leaving the Bruins with three guys in the Dzone. Grzelcyk was playing Tavares, while McAvoy and Coyle were simply watching the puck instead of covering a guy. Tavares got the puck out front and McAvoy and Coyle weren’t in position and there was no backchecking forward there to cover Knies either and he got an easy rebound goal. That simply can’t happen in the playoffs.

– Despite their bad play, the Bruins still had multiple chances to win the game but were either stopped by Woll (who played great) or missed the net. Those are pucks they need to put home if they want to win the Cup.

– Now they have to go back to Toronto and try to win there, lest we have a Game 7. It’s time to put this game to rest and focus on Game 6.