The Little Team that Could…Red Sox 2013 World Series Champions

By Stephanie Burke

Last night the Boston Red Sox made history and won the World Series at Fenway Park.  A team hasn’t clinched a World Series there in 95 years (since 1918)! What is so amazing is that this team was all but counted out at the beginning of the season.  In April everyone in the sports world was picking them to be in last place…but this team showed them all they were wrong.

After a disastrous 2012 season that was followed by allegations of an out of shape team that feasted on Chicken and beer…the Sox ownership made some changes.  They replaced failing manager Bobby Valentine with John Farrell.  Farrell was familiar with Boston having worked under former Manager Terry Francona as the pitching coach for the Red Sox from 2007 to 2010.   

John Farrell took this “rebuilding year” team and brought them not only TO the World Series but they won it! They are like the little team that could! First winning the ALCS and then surprising everyone with a phenomenal World Series clinch in Game 6 at their home field!

Shane Victorino started it off with a three-run double in the third inning. Steven Drew had a home run in the 4^th inning and Mike Napoli had an RBI that helped put the sox on top.  Then pitcher John Lackey, who was in the middle of the chicken and beer debacle, redeemed himself in the eyes of Sox fans everywhere.  Lackey pitched 6 and 2/3 innings allowing only one run! Lackey also became the first pitcher to start and win a Series clincher for two different teams (he pitched the Angles to a win in 2002 as a rookie). To close out the game the Sox turned to closing pitcher, and ALCS MVP, Koji Uehara who struck out Matt Carpenter for the final out of the series!

Not surprisingly Red Sox designated hitter, Big Papi (David Ortiz) was named the series MVP.  Papi walked in four of his five at bats (twice was intentional by the Cardinals) and struck out in the other one. But overall overall, Papi was 11-for-16 in the series and had a .750 on-base percentage as he reached base safely in 18 of his 24 at bats.  He had two doubles, two home runs, six RBI and walked seven times, tying the World Series record set by Boston's Carlton Fisk in 1975.

It really was a team effort with Dustin Pedroia, David Ross and Xander Bogaerts (to name a few) all contributing along the way.  This team went from last to first and beyond! The rallied around the city of Boston who needed this win more than most.  They gave Boston something to believe in after tragedy struck in with the Boston Marathon bombings in April and they kept on giving all season long. 

Breakfast, it's what's for lunch!

I found the best little lunch spot last week.  It is called Diner in the Park located in Woburn, MA.  It is really a no frills kind of place.  You put in your order, then your given a number, then the food is brought to your table.  The food is as fresh as if you were to cook it in your own kitchen! It even comes on a cute little plate with flowers on it that looks like something you would eat off of at Grandma's house!  The prices are VERY reasonable and the staff is always friendly and informative.  They serve breakfast (all day) and lunch. They are only open Mon-Friday. I suspect this is because they are smack in the middle of an office park! I have stopped in for both breakfast and lunch and it is defiantly a place I'm glad I found! I highly recommend checking it out...you won't be sorry.
                 
               Diner in the Park
              340 West Cummings Park
              Woburn, MA 01801

What a Week We're Having

This has been a jam packed news weeks! We have seen it all this week. Here is a run down of some of the top news headlines (in no particular order).

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):  This week DOMA was ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court.  DOMA was a law barring the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage as legal.  Basically it stopped same-sex married couples from receiving the same legal rights and benefits as opposite sex couples.  DOMA was first signed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton.  On Wednesday The U. S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 vote that DOMA is unconstitutional. 

Paula Dean:  Celebrity Chef Paula Deen came under fire after admitting to using racial slurs.  After the admission people were outraged.  Ms. Deen took to the internet for some damage control.  She posted two videos apologizing to her fans.  As it turns out the videos really didn’t do much.  Shortly after posting those videos on YouTube Food Network announced they will not be renewing Paula Deen’s contract.  Shortly after that her sponsors started dropping like flies! She was released by Smithfield Foods, Target, Home Depot and Walmart….just to name a few.  In a last ditch effort she went on the Today show to plead for forgiveness.  Watch the interview below:

Aaron Hernandez: Former tight end for the New England Patriots was arrested and charged with first degree murder. Odin Lloyed, was found dead less than a mile from Hernandez’s home. After more than a week of police searching his home Hernandez was taken into custod and charged with first degree murder along with five gun related charges. On Thursday June 27 he went for his bail hearing; he was denied bail.  Thursday evening police were back at the Hernandez home search for evidence connected to a different murder investigation.  Aaron Hernandez is now a person of interest in an unsolved double murder in Boston last July. 

   

Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev Indicted:  Accused Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzohar Tsanaev was formerly indicted.  Thursday night the 31 page indictment was released.  Dzokhar and his brother Tamerlan are the people thought to be responsible for setting off the bombs at the finish line of The Boston Marathon.  Three people were killed and many more injured.  While running from the police they killed an MIT police officer.  Tamerlan was also killed in a shootout while they were trying to flee police.  Dzokhar is in prison.  The indictment details the charges citing that Dzokhar is punishable by death penalty.  

Tamerlan (L) & Dzokhar (R)

Aaron Carter Claims He Was Jumped by NKOTB Fans

Who is Aaron Carter you ask?  Well is isn't even a has been he is a never was! He had mild success with the pre-teen market about ten years ago with his bubble gum pop.  Now a days, at the ripe old age of 25, he is trying to make a revival and has gone back out on tour.  On Saturday night his tour stopped in Boston.  That is when he claimed he was jumped by NKOTB fans!

So what does one do when they are jumped and beat up...post about it on social media of course.  Arron took to Twitter and Instagram to tell the world he was jumped but he won.  Posting photos of his beat up face and knuckles.  He then tweeted Jordan Knight asking if it was one of his "homies".

Aaron Carter        ✔ @AARONCARTER

Eh @jordanknight this one of your homies? He got his ass handed to him last night but his boys got me..… http://instagram.com/p/a6dahlR1wT/ 

3:41 PM - 23 Jun 2013

He claims he was doing nothing and these guys jumped him and said something to the effect of "this is the town of the New Kids." Then they jumped in their car and ran away. Aaron went on to tweet, "That’s How I Beat Shaq. I’m a 6th degree black belt in Muay Thai.. They lost.”

Does this scream publicity stunt to anyone else, or is it just me?

 

Concerts, Parties and a Playoff...where do I begin

Finale at The One Fund Concert

It has been a jam packed week for me! Crazy busy, but glorious! I guess I will start at last Thursday since that is when the madness began.  I was lucky enough to attend The One Fund concert at the TD Garden. It was amazing.  The first hour or so of the concert I felt like I stepped into a time warp (in a good way)! I got to see Boston, J. Giles Band, Extreme....it was almost too much. Then we got to see acts like James Taylor, Carole King, New Kids On The Block and Aerosmith; then it was really too much! This amazingness all culminated in a big finale with all the acts on stage signing Dirty Water! It went really long and I was out really late but oh my god was it worth it!

Moving on to Friday! I had to work my day job, so I was a bit tired from the amazing of the night before.  Also, I started a "night" job.  I say "night" because it is a work at home I do when I have time.  But if you don't make time to do the "night" job you don't get paid.  I also managed to sprinkle a little writing time in there for my new book :) .  I like to keep busy! Not much but work for Saturday so I could have Sunday clear for The Package Tour!

Me & Nate from Boyz II Men

If you are not familiar with The Package Tour then allow me to enlighten you.  The Package Tour is a concert tour featuring Boyz II Men, 98 degrees, and New Kids On The Block. If you are a girl who grew up in the 90's then this is your dream concert....the complete package (ha get it lol).  Anyway The Package Tour was rolling into town on Sunday and we were going! When I say we I am referring to our NKOTB
crew.  Yes we have a crew.  My sister, Amy, Brianne (our new recruit) and myself.  Now in all fairness Brianne is not new to NKOTB she is just new to our group; and she made a great addition! Anyway our group never misses and NKOTB concert.  When they are in the area we are going! It wasn't long before we got wind of an after party, so of course we were going to that too.  Yes we all had work in the morning but hey no better reason to be tired!

The concert was phenomenal! It was beyond fun.  Everyone put on a great show.  No matter what you think of "boy bands" NKOTB puts on an amazing show! Then it was on to the after party! The after party was in the venue so we didn't have to go far...which was great.  Once we got there the drinks started flowing and everyone was dancing and having a good time.  Mingling amongst the crowd were Boyz II Men, and of course NKOTB.  Honestly its all a blur, but definitely a good blur! Just thinking about it makes me smile. Those of you that know me, know i'm not a dancer.  However, that night I was dancing! Before we knew it, it was 2 a.m. and sadly we had to go home, but guess what, they were coming back tomorrow (Monday) and we were going to do it all over again!

Monday morning was a bit rough.  When my alarm went off at 5 a.m. my first thought was too throw it out the window, lol.  But I sat up and troopered through.  I am not a drinker, by any means, I can count on one hand how many times I've been hung over...well I was about to add to that number.  The headache, the nauseous...oh the pain.  But we were going back for the concert and after party again that night so it was time to man up.

Me & Wayna from Boyz II Men

Work that day was rough.  It was until lunch time that I started to feel somewhat normal again. Finally work was over and it was time to have a round 2 of The Package.  The second night was just as fun! Some people might think, "Why would you go to the same show 2 nights in a row," simple answer, because it was worth it! Just like when you read a book for a second time, or watch a movie for a second time, you notice things you may not have necessarily noticed before.  It also had some different elements that I was glad I was there for. No i'm not going to call out any specific details because I don't want to ruin it for anyone that may read this and hasn't gone to the show yet! I can only tell you go and go as many times as you can!

The after party that night was fun, of course! How could you not have fun hanging out with NKOTB and Boyz II Men.  I mean imagine walking up to a bar and looking to your right and there is Danny Wood ordering a drink! Yup, that happened more than once.

It took me a couple of days to recover.  Looking through my phone at the pictures (that I wished had come out better) is a great reminder of the fun we had.  But it was time to buck up as lingering in the back of this amazing week were the Bruins! They had made it to the playoffs and were playing phenomenal! They were in the midst of a series with the Penguins.  They had taken the first two games and game three was coming up on Friday night.  If they won this game it would take them to the finals (can you say Stanley Cup!).  I remember talking to someone earlier in the week and saying "I think they could sweep them." After he looked at me like I was crazy he said, "I don't know about that." Well, guess what, Friday came and the Bruins swept the Penguins! The Bruins are going to the Stanley Cup Finals! What a way to top off an amazing week! Exhausting, yes, but amazing just the same!

So onward and upward for the Bruins! Go B's you can do it! Bring the cup home (again)! As for The Package Tour, it is coming to Manchester in July....do we make the trip or don't we? Hmmm you will just have to check back and see.

Me, Joey Mac, Amy, Donnie, Heather, Danny, Brianne