Pro golfer Brad Faxon made an appearance Thursday morning on the Dennis & Callahan show to talk about Tiger Woods’ return to golf at the Masters and his new Nike commercial (view it here) in which he stares at the camera while advice from his late father is played.

Following is a transcript. To hear the interview, click here.

You did a great piece in Sports Illustrated on the fact that it’s OK for Tiger to move on, OK to end the marriage — and I commend you for it.

Well thanks, Gerry, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said. It’s interesting; everything’s interesting right now, when Tiger gave his first press conference a few weeks ago, the world watched at TPC in Sawgrass, he made it seem like he might play golf again this year, and then all of a sudden a few weeks later he’s committing to play in the Masters. It’s hard to believe that wasn’t part of his plan altogether. And if any of you saw the press conference Monday in Augusta, and he kind of mentioned snippets about his father and then had this ad air, man, this is staged.

It’s such a good point — he was setting it up. It’s become a new challenge for him.

It could be a new Tiger Woods — that remains to be seen. But this is a rebirth of Tiger, and it’s very similar to when he came out in 1997 with his “Hello world” Nike ad which was talking about how people of color couldn’t play the courses where he played or he tried to play. And I think this is kind of one of those ads you look and go, “Did I just see that?” You don’t really know what it’s all about and I think it’s bringing a lot of attention to Tiger, his dad and Nike, trying to figure out, what are they really talking about here? And how did they get all those old snippets of Earl? Read the rest of this entry »

Tiger Woods will be returning to golf during this year's Masters, held April 8-11. (AP)

It didn’t take very long — three months and five days to be exact — but Tiger Woods is finally back.

On March 15, the troubled superstar formally announced that he will be making his return to the game of golf during this years’ Masters tournament, held April 8-11. It’s an announcement that was anticipated by some, expected by most, but no doubt heard by all.

And that’s because for the greater part of the past three months, the news wire has been filled with Tiger’s name. It all started on that fateful night when he was pulled from his 2009 Cadillac SUV after striking a fire hydrant, and it only got worse from then on.

All sorts of accusations stemmed from the crash — many proven to be true, but all lending a hand in Tiger’s fall from grace. Now, after being linked sexually with as many as 20 women, Woods has seen his legacy become tarnished, his image shattered and his life changed forever.

But he’s back. He’s back where he belongs.

In less than one month’s time, Tiger Woods will be back on the green, a place where only he can set himself right — where only he can make things better. It may not help his legacy. It might not even help repair his public image. But for himself — for Tiger Woods — it might make all the difference in the world.

As for the rest of the sporting world, triumphant returns are nothing new. From Lance Armstrong to Michael Jordan, and even slightly less star-struck figures such as Jon Lester, stepping away from sports sometimes is a necessity.

Because sometimes — for whatever reasons, some less ideal than others — sports has to take a back seat to reality. It is, after all, simply the toy store of life. A place where that reality sits on the sidelines and everything else takes over. Read the rest of this entry »

Everything about Nomar Garciaparra seemed iconic on a baseball field. (AP)

He was the Boston Red Sox.

Pedro Martinez had his run in the late ’90s. Jason Varitek had his time at the top in the early 2000s. Heck, even big Mo Vaughn enjoyed his time at the pinnacle of Red Sox Nation a while back. But nobody since the great “Gold Dust Twins” meant what Nomar Garciaparra did to the city of Boston when he was here.

No one.

Because from 1996 straight up until 2004, No. 5 was all that was Boston, all that was Red Sox and everything in between.

People remember he was big time in this city. But what some people might not remember is that “Nomah” inspired a culture. He was deified in a Red Sox uniform. He was anointed the next great thing by Ted Williams. He even inspired an entire string of “Saturday Night Live” skits.

His place was one of singular greatness in the early years of his career: the Rookie of the Year Award, the MVP runner-up season in 1998, the two batting titles, the times when it seemed impossible to get him out. In 2001, however, the lingering effects of a pitch that split a tendon when it hit him in the right wrist at the end of 1999 forced him to undergo surgery. Though he had tremendous runs over the remainder of his Red Sox career, the sustained brilliance that characterized his first four years as a Red Sox was never quite the same. Finally, in 2004, Garciaparra’s magical time in Boston had met its end. He was traded away as part of a series of maneuverings that landed Orlando Cabrera, the shortstop who helped deliver the Red Sox’ ultimate goal — a World Series title.

But it didn’t matter; Nomar Garciaparra had forever etched his name — as (wicked) long as it is — in Boston history books.

And as he finally hangs up the cleats for good, we take some time to remember the top 12 Nomar moments since he graced Major League Baseball with his presence back in 1996.

1. June 2, 1994. Nomar drafted by Boston: Nobody had this kind of hype since Roger Clemens. But you could argue that this 20-year-old from Georgia Tech started building his legacy before he even set foot in a Fenway Park dugout.

That’s because Boston knew all about him and what he was supposed to be. Ever since he got drafted on that fateful June afternoon, you couldn’t walk the streets of Boston without hearing someone yell, “Johnny, wait until you see this kid play. He’s gonna be wicked awesome.”

And he was.

But what you might not remember is that Nomar was originally selected in the 1991 draft, by the Milwaukee Brewers. Fortunately for Boston, he refused to sign, went on to play for Georgia Tech, and eventually became a Red Sox.

2. Sept. 1, 1996. Nomar homers in debut: You know that feeling when you order a really expensive meal? And after a way-too-long wait, the server finally brings it over to you, and you take that first bite — and it’s everything you ever dreamed of?

Well, that was the unanimous feeling in the city of Boston when Nomar Garciaparra stepped into the batters box on Aug. 31 and crushed his first major league home run — in his first-ever major league game.

It took him two at-bats to capture the hearts of Bostonians everywhere. And it would take him thousands more before he would ever give it back.

Because on that night, Sept. 1, 1996, Nomar Garciaparra proved that he would be exactly the filet mignon this city had ordered.

3. Nov. 3, 1997. Nomar Wins Rookie of Year: And he did it unanimously, too.

Following a rookie campaign in which he led the league with 209 hits, smacked 30 home runs and drove in 98 runs, Nomar Garciaparra was selected as Major League Baseball’s Rookie of the Year. On top of that, his 30-game hit streak set an AL rookie record, he competed in the All-Star Home Run Derby and he finished eighth in MVP voting.

Needless to say, Nomar had arrived.

4. May 10, 1999. Nomar takes live batting practice. At least, that’s what it seemed like.

In a game against the Seattle Mariners, Mr. Garciaparra would put on a free batting clinic for anyone who happened to be watching at the time, finishing the day 3-for-4 with three home runs, including two grand slams, and 10 RBI.

It was one of the greatest single game performances of any Red Sox player in franchise history, as Boston went on to defeat Seattle 12-4.

And it was only the beginning of what would be a memorable year for the kid who was named after his father, only backward.

5. Oct. 6, 1999. Nomar homers in ALDS Game 5: The Red Sox had made the playoffs twice since 1990. And both times, they had been eliminated in the first round rather handily (3-0, 3-1.)

But in 1999, things were different. And that’s because Nomar Garciaparra wanted them to be.

In 1999, the Red Sox were the same team they were in 1998, 1997 and most years before that. They were composed of nothing but smoke and mirrors. Smoke, mirrors, Nomar and Pedro.

And that’s why 1999 was such a special year — because Boston finally made a splash in the playoffs. And let’s face it, the Red Sox hadn’t exactly been having their way in baseball postseason for quite a while.

Down two games to none against the Cleveland Indians, Boston made a furious comeback and tied the series at two, and then, in the decisive Game 5, Garciaparra slammed a first-inning home run off All-Star pitcher Charles Nagy, putting Boston up 2-0. The Red Sox went on to win that game 12-8, advancing to the ALCS.

They would end up losing the ALCS, 4-1, to the Yankees. But Red Sox fans finally got a taste of something they hadn’t had in years — postseason victory.

6. July 20, 2000. Nomar’s average hits .403: It was late July. In the city of Boston. And someone was batting over .400.

Needless to say, it was a kid of a big deal.

Ever since Teddy Ballgame finished with the big .406 in 1941, nobody had been able to break .400. But in the year 2000, fittingly, Boston’s own Nomar Garciaparra made a serious run.

It was the closest he’d get all season, and though his average would hang around the high .390s for the first few weeks of August, he wouldn’t end the .400 drought.

Still, he would finish 2000 with an average of .372, which currently ranks seventh highest since 1941.

Yup, that was Nomar appearing as Kate Hudson's boyfriend on SNL. Where's A-Rod?

7. Oct. 14, 2000. Nomar appears on “Saturday Night Live”: His arrival in Boston was not only a hit in the Boston area, but nationally as well. In fact, he became such a household name, he inspired the “SNL” skit “Boston Teens,” starring Jimmy Fallon as a crazed Boston native who had an unmatched love for “Nomah Gaciaparra.”

And on Oct. 14, Nomar made it his own.

After a full year of airing Boston Teen skits, “SNL” finally recruited the man — the legend — to appear on set. Finally, Nomar appeared on the October episode as the boyfriend of Fallon’s sister, played by Kate Hudson, sparking a memorable reaction from Fallon’s character. Thus began the phrase, “Nomah! We wicked love you!”

It cemented Nomar’s national popularity. Only his appearance on the cover of the February 2001 Sports Illustrated rivaled his “SNL” cameo. He had become not only a baseball star, but a superstar. A true celebrity.

8. July 21, 2001. Nomar returns with a bang: He had been out with a wrist injury all season long. In fact, he reported to spring training with the problem and hadn’t played a single game all year because of it.

But on July 21 Nomar returned in a way that only Nomar could, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, including a seventh-inning two-run single that put the Sox ahead for good.

Boston didn’t make the postseason that year. In fact, the Sox finished only one game above .500. But on July 21, Boston’s hero had returned. And for that, Boston was grateful.

9. July 23, 2002. Nomar smacks three on his birthday. Some people throw parties for their birthday. Some people go out to dinner. Nomar, however, preferred to hit three home runs.

On his 29th birthday, Nomar took it upon himself to do the gift giving, crushing three home runs in just the first two innings of play, as Boston went on to drub Tampa Bay at Fenway, 22-4.

Garciaparra became the first player ever to hit as many home runs over two consecutive innings.

One day earlier, Nomar homered twice against the Yankees. With five home runs in two days, Garciaparra tied a major league record.

10. July 1, 2004. Nomar sulks in dugout, Jeter dives in stands. It was a day that will forever live in infamy.

At the tail end of a three-game Yankees-Red Sox series at Yankee Stadium, New York was aiming for a sweep. With the game knotted at 3 thanks to two Manny Ramirez home runs, the teams headed into extra innings.

In the top of the 12th, Derek Jeter hurled himself into the stands tracking down a Trot Nixon pop-up, a leap that sent him to the hospital, bloodied and bruised.

All the while, the Red Sox’ superstar shortstop sat still in the dugout.

Nomar was on the bench due to the need to rest, and did not start the game. He didn’t enter in the late innings as a pinch-hitter either, even while the Yankees’ star was flinging himself into the stands.

It was the beginning of the end for Nomar in Boston.

11. July 31, 2004. Nomar traded to Cubs at deadline. One month after the Yankee Stadium debacle, it was the end of the end for Nomar.

As part of multi-team deals completed just before the 2004 trade deadline, the once irreplaceable Boston superstar had been shipped to the Cubs, with the Sox receiving defensive upgrades in the form of Orlando Cabrera and backup first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz.

While it can certainly be argued that Boston did not receive equal name value in exchange for the six-time All-Star, the Red Sox certainly addressed two pressing issues: a sub-par defense and a disgruntled superstar whose contract issues and questionable clubhouse attitude had created an irreparable rift within Red Sox organization.

Equipped with their two new puzzle pieces, the Red Sox went on to win their first World Series since 1918.

Nomar would receive his World Series ring behind closed doors in the 2005 season.

Garciaparra had a moving appearance at Fenway Park in 2009. (AP)

12. July 6, 2009. Nomar returns home. It had been five years since Nomar had made an appearance at Fenway Park. In those five years the Red Sox had won two championships and cemented themselves as one of baseball’s elite.

But on July 6, he returned to Fenway Park — and it was as if he didn’t miss a day.

In front of a unanimously standing crowd, Nomar Garciaparra stepped into the batter’s box in the top of the second inning and was showered with applause for over a minute. The once (and still) beloved Boston superstar tipped his helmet and held his hand to his chest.

Nomar felt it.

Fenway felt it.

And no one who saw the moment will ever forget it.

Though his departure was untimely and his fantastic seasons didn’t bear any rings, for 8-1/2 years, Nomar Garciaparra was the Boston Red Sox.

For 8-1/2 years, he owned the city of Boston.

And for that, he will always be remembered as more than an athlete.

It looks like it's about time to throw in the towel for Allen Iverson. (AP)

Endings are supposed to be climactic.

Raised with movies such as “Scarface” and books like the “Lord of the Rings,” we were taught that an ending is supposed to be glorious. Guns blazing, horns blaring — a finale is supposed to be this.

Same thing goes for the closing of a sports career. By right, it should be a culmination of a years of work, complete with standing ovations, confetti, horns — the works.

But the truth is, it rarely works out like that.

Just ask Allen Iverson, who on Tuesday was released by the 76ers, a move that figured by most to be a long time coming. Iverson was in the midst of attempting to revitalize his 13-year career, 10 seasons of which were spent annihilating defenses in Philadelphia. But after a failed stint in Denver, a mishap in Detroit and a misstep with the Grizzlies, Iverson appears to be done — finally.

Even Michael Jordan, Mr. Basketball himself, ended one of the greatest careers in NBA history with a finale that was far from epic. Jordan left Chicago with every intention of leaving the game, only to return with the Washington Wizards, a sequel that proved to be just as fruitful as “The Sandlot 2.”

The same goes for the great Emmit Smith, who after years of punishing defenses with the Cowboys left for Arizona for a year and fizzled to nothing. The list goes on and on — athletes who suffered ends that never came close to doing their careers justice. Cam Neely, Joe Montana and now Iverson.

As for the city of Boston? We’re no stranger to the art of smothered endings. From Drew Bledsoe to Mo Vaughn, Beantown has been the home of many a fizzled career. Here’s a look at some standouts.

Keith Foulke — He was a hero; he accomplished the impossible, clinching a World Series for Boston for the first time in 86 years, appearing in 11 of the Red Sox’ 14 postseason games in 2004. Over that stretch, Foulke allowed one earned run, fanning 19 batters. He was, for all intents and purposes, the perfect closer for the perfect season.

Keith Foulke and his famous "Oh, boy, my ERA's probably around 7.00 now" face. (AP)

But then he paid for it. In 2005, Foulke was a silhouette of his former self, battling knee injuries right from the start. His ERA ballooned to over 5.00, and he eventually surrendered the closing role to Mike Timlin midway though the season.

It got so bad for Foulke, whose ERA reached 6.03 in late June, that the once-revered closer lashed back out at Boston fans who showered him with boos during his time of struggle. He called the Red Sox fans an afterthought, claiming that their disappointment wasn’t important to him.

His return in 2006 was just as disastrous, eventually being placed on the disabled list with an elbow injury as his ERA topped out at 5.63. Following the 2006 season, Foulke was released by the Red Sox and signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Indians for 2007. The closer then announced his retirement in early February, only to return in 2008 with the Athletics.

Last year, he was a relief pitcher for the Newark Bears in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Willie McGinest — Big No. 55 was a staple of the New England defense his entire career, coming off  four years of record-shattering football at USC.

McGinest finally turned that success into a few rings, proving to be a crucial cornerstone during the Patriots’ three Super Bowl victories.

However, his time as a fan favorite in New England came to an end following the Patriots’ final Super Bowl win in 2004. After the following season, McGinest was released by the Patriots, only to sign a few weeks later with the Cleveland Browns, reuniting with former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.

In his first year with the Browns, McGinest played in only 14 games, recording just four sacks — less than half as many as he had with New England in 2004 (9.5). In 2007, McGinest reached a career low in tackles with 19, appearing in just 13 games with the Browns. His sack total dipped to just one the following year, and McGinest then announced his retirement after the 2008 season, signifying the end to a trickling career away from New England.

Antoine Walker — ‘Toine might have been the most beloved member of the Green second to only Paul Pierce in the late ’90s and early 2000s. The 6-foot-9 forward was drafted by the Celtics in 1996, leading the team with 17.5 points a game and earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie team. Still, the Celtics struggled mightily, only recording 15 wins during Walker’s inaugural season.

But Walker continued to thrive in Boston, making the All-Star team the following year, his final year without Pierce as his right-hand man. When Pierce arrived, Boston’s 1-2 punch revitalized the once famous basketball city, eventually leading Boston to the playoffs in 2001, the C’s first trip in seven years. Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, before the New Jersey Nets dispatched Boston in six games. Boston suffered the same fate the following season, with the Nets ending Pierce and Walker’s season in the Eastern Conference finals once again.

And that’s when the game of musical chairs started with Walker’s career.

The next season, the forward was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, used on a limited basis due to an already crowded roster of stars including Antawn Jamison and Dirk Nowitzki. Walker’s time in Dallas was short-lived, as he was shipped off to Atlanta just before the start of the 2003-04 season in exchange for Jason Terry and Alan Henderson.

Then, in a moment of poetic justice, Walker returned to the Celtics in a trade during the 2005 season, only to find himself involved in the largest swap in NBA history between Boston and the Miami Heat shortly after.

Walker did win a title with the Heat in 2006, scoring 14 points in the clinching game. But the next season, ‘Toine once again found himself on the road, heading this time for Minnesota in a trade that sent Ricky Davis to Miami. One season later, the forward was Memphis-bound, and he eventually was waived by the Grizzlies in December 2008, ending his time in the NBA.

It was a rough run for Drew Bledsoe after he left New England in 2001, never spending longer than two years with another team before he officially retired. (AP)

And now? He’s broke and in debt. It’s a long way from the top …

Drew Bledsoe — No list of awkward and painful career endings would be complete without mention of Drew Bledsoe — Boston-based or not.

The former Patriots quarterback was revered in his prime with New England — a four-time Pro Bowl selection in his seven full seasons with the red, white and blue. But a very severe and very famous chest injury in 2001 would put an end to his reign in New England, as the gates opened for the golden boy, Tom Brady.

Following his departure from the Patriots in 2002 by way of a trade, Bledsoe returned to New England as a member of the Buffalo Bills in the opening game of the ’02 season. Bledsoe dismantled his former squad, and eventually threw for over 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns with the Bills. But in 2003, his second and final year with Buffalo, Bledsoe failed to get his team in the end zone in three straight games, prompting his release at the end of the season.

Bledsoe reunited with former coach Bill Parcells the very next season, posting a 9-7 record with Dallas on the wings of passing for a solid 3,000 yards. But in 2006, his play became so erratic that he was eventually replaced by current Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

Shortly after the end of the ’06 season, Bledsoe was released by the Cowboys, and he announced his retirement in the spring of 2007.

Mo Vaughn — The “Hit Dog”

Vaughn buried himself into the hearts of Red Sox fans everywhere right from the start, becoming a centerpiece in Boston’s offense in the 1993 season, belting 29 home runs and driving in a team-leading 101 RBI. In 1995, Vaughn blasted 39 homers and drove in 126 runs, leading Boston to the postseason, though the Red Sox would fall to the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS. For his efforts, the big lefty was awarded AL MVP honors.

Vaughn would continue to rake at Fenway, knocking 44, 35 and 40 home runs in his final three seasons with the Red Sox, his batting average never dipping below .300 and reaching as high as .337. But like so many on this list, Vaughn’s time in Boston eventually came to an end, as he headed for Anaheim, signing a six-year $60 million deal — the most lucrative contract in baseball at the time.

But that six-year deal would turn into only a two-year career with the Angels, as injuries and a fiery attitude lead to his demise in California. After falling down the dugout in the first game of the 2001 season and badly injuring his ankle, Vaughn was shipped off to the Mets in the winter in exchange for Kevin Appier, a trade that would eventually lead to the firing of Mets general manager Steve Phillips.

After a less-than-stellar campaign in 2002 when Vaughn ballooned to as heavy as 275 pounds, a knee injury permanently ended his career after he played only a month in 2003.

Trot Nixon — Nixon was the ultimate dirt dog during his time in Boston, a fan favorite through and through. No. 7 may not have ever drilled over 30 home runs in a season, or driven in as many as 100 RBI in a campaign, but he was a staple in the Red Sox lineup nonetheless, using top-notch hustle to weave his way into the hearts of the Fenway faithful.

But two years after Nixon and the Red Sox brought home the 2004 World Series trophy, he was released by Boston and signed a one-year deal with the Indians instead. Nixon would only appear in 99 games for Cleveland, hitting only three home runs and recording just 31 RBI in his lone season in Ohio.

The following season, he found his way to the Mets, appearing in just 11 games and hitting just a single home run, the only run he would drive in all season.

Junior Seau's latest gig can be seen on Versus TV — an odd jobs sports show. (AP)

After finishing 2008 on the disabled list, Nixon signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, only to be released by them as well. Nixon announced his retirement that winter.

Junior Seau — Nobody’s exactly sure what his deal is anymore.

Seau’s story is a little different from the rest, in that he came to Boston following a stellar career and an announced retirement, rather than the opposite. Nonetheless, the 12-time Pro Bowler was still in football shape when he arrived in New England in 2006, recording 69 tackles before breaking his arm in a game against the Chicago Bears.

The very next year, Seau proved instrumental in New England’s 16-0 regular-season campaign, only to be a part of the NFL’s most famous upset as the New York Giants took down the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Seau signed his third one-year deal with the Patriots in 2008, replacing injured linebacker Adalius Thomas, but his career continued to spiral downward. Similarly, in 2009 he also returned to New England for seven games, recording just 14 tackles as a reserve on defense.

Following the 2009 season, Seau announced his “intention” to retire in 2010, though he has not officially left the sport for good.

Sam Cassell — Similar to Seau, Cassell was a highly decorated NBA veteran when he arrived in Boston. The three-time NBA champion, also sometimes confused with an alien, was signed by the Celtics in the spring of 2008 and proved to be instrumental in their 17th championship. According to Celtics superstar Paul Pierce, Cassell spent countless hours at practice with Pierce as he prepared to defend LeBron James in the Eastern semifinal round.

That would be the last of Cassell’s achievements however, as he was traded to Sacramento in the winter of 2009 in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in 2015. One day later, the former NBA All-Star was waived by his new team in order to make room for incoming players. He now is an assistance coach with the Washington Wizards.

The Thrill of Victory

In 2006, the U.S. women’s hockey team was just as on fire as it is in 2010. The Americans had outscored their first three opponents 17-3 and qualified for a semifinal-round match against Sweden.

They then fell to Sweden 3-2, ending their gold medal hopes.

Team USA made easy work of Sweden, the team responsible for ruining its 2006 medal quest. (AP)

Monday, however, team USA avenged that semifinal loss four long years ago, pummeling Sweden 9-1 and advancing to Thursday night’s gold medal game.

Monique Lamoureux had a hat trick in the victory that put the Americans in the final against Canada.

Lamoureux and Co. won’t be spending much time enjoying their revenge, as Canada presents a whole new set of problems.

The Canadians have been every bit as successful as the United States in 2010, outscoring their opponents 46-2 in their run to the gold medal game. They are led by Meghan Agosta, who set an Olympic record Monday night with her ninth goal of the tournament in Canada’s 5-0 win over Finland.

But for now, the USA can at least take solace in the fact that this year, history did not repeat itself. Instead, the Americans now have a chance to make positive memories rather than negative ones.

The Agony of Defeat

It just hasn’t gone quite right for the American men’s curling team.

In an Olympics in which the USA has taken control of the ice, the air, the powder and the medal count, there remains one area where the Americans have slipped out of the world eye – and Monday night, entirely out of contention.

Curling.

Following its 11-5 loss to team China last night, the U.S. men’s curling team was eliminated from medal contention after posting a 2-7 record over nine contests.

Earlier Monday, the Americans took on Canada and grabbed an early lead. But, as has been their luck this Olympics, they fell behind and eventually lost 7-2 in a shortened match.

Their 2-7 record may not be as bad as it appears, however, with three of their losses coming in extra ends, which is similar to extra innings in a game of baseball.

Still, elimination is elimination no matter how you look at it, and the Americans now will be forced to watch the remainder of the Olympics from their couches.

Honorable mention to Canada’s Martin Brodeur, who was officially replaced in net by Roberto Luongo following the Canadians’ upset loss to the Americans on Sunday night. Brodeur has had his struggles so far in the Olympics, especially in Sunday’s game, when he allowed four goals, including a few that could be labeled as “questionable.”

Hilary Knight (21) celebrates with Kerry Weiland (23) and Monique Lamoureux (7) after Team USA's first-period goal. From then on, it was all red, a lot of white, and a bunch of blue. (AP)

Team Canada will take the ice with its new postmaster tonight against Germany in a playoff qualifier.

Local Look

The Olympic committee might want to think about awarding three separate medals in Thursday night’s gold medal collision between Canada and the United State: one for the victor, one for the loser and another for New England.

The six contributing members of the U.S. squad continued to make their mark on the 2010 games Monday afternoon, totaling two goals and six assists.

Meghan Duggan’s first-period goal put the USA up 2-0 en route to its 9-1 drubbing of Sweden. Harvard’s Caitlin Cahow recorded the assist on Duggan’s score and netted a goal of her own early in the second period.

Prior to that, Hanover’s Hilary Knight recorded one of her two assists on the first score of the game, Monique Lamoureux’s first of three goals. Julie Chu of Fairfield, Conn., assisted on Team USA’s eighth goal of the game, while Fitchburg, Mass., native Erika Lawler was responsible for assisting on the Americans’ fifth and seventh red-lighters.

The New Englanders will look to continue to carry the USA’s torch come Thursday night, when they hit the ice to take on Canada for the gold.

Medal Count

United States 25 (7 gold, 8 silver, 10 bronze)

Germany 21 (7, 9, 5)

Norway 14 (6, 3, 5)

The Thrill of Victory

Sure, Shaun White took home the halfpipe gold, and rather convincingly at that. But that was kind of expected — the man does own his own trick-park after all.

But Lindsey Vonn on the other hand — now that was a little unexpected.

With Vonn hampered with a bum shin before the event, it was even a little uncertain whether or not she would even compete in the women’s downhill at all. And winning gold? Now that was an entirely different story.

But that’s exactly what the 25-year-old did, finishing 1-2 with fellow American Julia Mancuso, notching a time of 1 minute, 44.19 seconds — a half-second better than Mancuso.

And while her first-place finish may not have been as full of epic jumps, flailing McTwists and home-trained halfpipe daredevilry, the shock value of her even competing — let alone winning — deserved a spot in the Thrill of Victory regardless. Not to mention, it’s been a pretty good few months off the mountain for Vonn.

Sorry, Shaun. She’s got you beat there.

Honorable mention to Shani Davis, who continued his dominance of the speedskating track, bringing home gold medals in yesterday’s games, securing the first Olympic back-to-back win on the 100m track in history.

Agony of Defeat

Rarely do you see a wipeout that you actually can feel sitting on your couch in your living room.

But when Edith Miklos of Romania took a nasty spill in yesterday’s women’s downhill, I promise you — I cringed. In case you missed it, check out this slide show.

It was a wipeout so fierce that she actually ended up careening right into the orange fishnet fencing around the course, sending her directly off the track. She was immediately evacuated by helicopter, a sight nobody wants to see during an Olympic event, regardless of country affiliation.

But for Miklos, it’s a fate she’s become all too familiar with — because it wasn’t the first time she ran into some issues on the slopes. Or the second.

The Local Look

It was a good day for USA athletes on Wednesday — and not just for the big guys, either.

On a day when White, Davis and Vonn reeled in gold medals, New England native Scotty Lago also made a mark of his own. The 22-year-old Seabrook, N.H., native brought home the bronze medal in the men’s halfpipe, an event that was won by none other than Shaun White himself.

But it wasn’t as rewarding a day for the rest of the New England pool. The region will have a chance to redeem itself today, however, as both of USA’s New England-laden hockey teams will hit the ice this afternoon, the men facing off against Norway at 3 and the women taking on Finland at 5:30.

For the men, it will be Connecticut native and former Boston University captain Chris Drury leading the charge, as Team USA looks to push its mark to 2-0. The women, meanwhile, will be sending seven New Englanders to the ice this afternoon, with Kacey Bellamy, Meghan Duggan, Molly Shaus and Erika Lawler of Massachusetts leading the way.

Wins for both teams would push them one step closer to advancing to second-round play, which begins on Feb. 20 for the women and Feb. 23 for the men.

Medal Count:

United States 14 (5 gold, 3 silver, 6 bronze)

Germany 10 (3, 4, 3)

France 7 (2, 1, 4)

When the first puck drops in Vancouver on Sunday, there will be a heavy East Coast presence on the ice.

Julie Chu will be one of seven New England natives heading the U.S. women's hockey team. (AP)

Names such as Chris Drury, ex-captain for the Boston University Terriers, Jon Quick, former UMass goalie, and Brooks Orpik, who spent his teenage years playing for Thayer Academy in Braintree, will take their positions for the U.S. men’s team this month.

But it will be the women’s team that will be laden with New Englanders come this weekend, when the United States begins its quest for gold in Vancouver. Led by Meghan Duggan, a Danvers, Mass., native who led the Wisconsin Badgers to an NCAA championship as a junior, the U.S. women’s team will feature seven New Englanders, including four from the Bay State.

Here are the local players to watch:

Julie Chu — This two-time Olympian (2002, 2006) makes her return to the World Stage in 2010 in search of her first gold medal.

Chu, a Fairfield, Conn., native who played her collegiate years in record-setting form at Harvard University, was a member of the U.S. All-American team three times, and currently owns Harvard’s all-time assists lead with 196.

The forward was named one of Team USA’s top three players back in 2009 and won a bronze medal with the United States in 2006 and silver in 2002. But the NCAA’s career points leader would prefer to bring home a gold in 2010.

Caitlin Cahow – Also a Harvard graduate, as a senior Cahow was named a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, an award given to the NCAA’s top women’s ice hockey performer each season.

Born and raised in New Haven, Conn., Cahow started her collegiate career as a forward but was shifted to defense in her rookie season with the Crimson.

The switch to D has worked out well for Cahow, who ranked third in the nation for defensive scoring in 2005 and was named top defenseman at the Canadian Women’s Hockey Championship.

Kacey Bellamy — Hailing from Westfield, Mass., the 22-year-old forward-turned-defenseman currently ranks third all-time on the University of New Hampshire’s defensive scoring list.

While at UNH, Bellamy also finished fourth in the NCAA among defenders with 28 points, gaining Hockey East First Team All-Star honors in the process.

Named one of Team USA’s top three players in 2009, Bellamy will be making her debut on the Olympic team. no stranger to the World Stage, a two-time member for the U.S. women’s national team.

Meghan Duggan — A current resident of Danvers, Mass., Duggan played her entire teen career in the Bay State before moving on to the University of Wisconsin. During her time at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass., Duggan was a four-year class president as well as participant in varsity level soccer, softball and lacrosse.

But at Wisconsin, Duggan made her focus ice hockey — and perfected the trade. As a sophomore, the now-22-year-old finished second on the team with 43 points in 38 games, helping the Badgers reach the NCAA title game. In 2009, she helped them win the title, being named to the All-WCHA third team following her junior season.

Erika Lawler — Hailing from Fitchburg, Mass., Lawler roomed with Duggan at Cushing Academy before she went on to the University of Wisconsin as well. Lawler won an NCAA title with the Badgers as a freshman, sophomore and then again as a senior. And during her time at Wisconsin, she scored 174 career points, which ranks third in school history.

With Lawler’s three NCAA titles in four years, Team USA will surely look for Lawler’s championship poise to come through in their time in Vancouver.

Hilary Knight — The youngest of the group, the 20-year-old Hanover native is yet another Wisconsin grad sporting the red, white and blue this winter.

Knight finished first in the NCAA with 45 goals, 43 assists and 83 total points in her 2008-09 sophomore season. Her league-leading performance was crucial in the Badgers’ pursuit of their third national championship in four years.

Molly Schaus — Schaus, who originally made her home in Natick, Mass., currently makes her home between the pipes.

The now-21-year-old immediately burst onto the college scene as one of the best goalies in the league, leading Boston College to its first-ever NCAA Frozen Four berth as a freshman, posting league bests in save percentage (.931) and GAA (1.90) in the process.

She continued her domination as a sophomore, when she broke the school record for saves with 920, and then as a junior when she finished second in the nation in both shutouts (10) and save percentage (.938).

But in 2010, Schaus will look to save something she never has before – a gold medal for the U.S. national team.

Super Bowl heroes are remembered forever. Unfortunately, the same goes for the goats.

Only two words are more famous than Scott Norwood: wide right. (AP)

For every Joe Montana, there is a Scott Norwood. It’s an unfortunate and unavoidable element of pro sports — for every success story, there is an equally emotional story of complete and utter failure.

It was no different in Super Bowl XLIV, when Hank Baskett impeccably etched his name in Super Bowl goat history, as he failed to reel in a crucial onside kick to open up the second half. The Saints gained possession, as well as the momentum, and went on to trounce the favored Colts, 31-17.

But where does Baskett rank among the great Super Bowl Goats of the past? Surprisingly, not that high — though Kendra may disagree.

Turns out Mr. Baskett’s blunder wasn’t nearly the worst thing to happen on the big stage.

10. Rich Gannon, Raiders, Super Bowl XXXVII. We all knew Tampa Bay’s defense was tremendous. But Rich Gannon made the Buccaneers look like utterly unstoppable.

Gannon, the regular-season MVP, turned in a performance that was in every way possible the exact opposite — getting sacked five times, fumbling once and throwing a Super Bowl record five interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

Tampa Bay went on to route Oakland 48-21, a game the Raiders came into favored by four points.

So close, yet so far away ... (AP)

Football has and always will be a sport that is the ultimate team-based game — 11 vs. 11 each and every play, depending on all individuals to make an equally substantial effort.

So that’s why there is no excuse for Hank Baskett’s effort on New Orleans’ half-opening onside kick. He’s there because he has good hands, and fumbling around an onside kick is an inexcusable blunder, especially on such a huge stage.

But it’s obvious the Saints knew what they were dealing with. They had been practicing it all week, and knew exactly whom they would be kicking it at. If it’s any consolation however, Baskett is married to Playboy model and former “Girl Next Door” Kendra Wilkinson.

You win some, you lose some.

8. Donovan McNabb, Eagles, Super Bowl XXXIX. We all remember John Elway’s drive. We all remember Joe Montana’s drive. And we all remember Tom Brady’s drive(s). But unfortunately for Donovan McNabb, we also all remember his drive.

Trailing New England 24-14 with just under six minutes left in the game, the Eagles had a chance to begin a comeback. But instead of putting the pedal to the metal, McNabb gingerly lead a four-minute scoring drive that ultimately resulted in the Eagles’ demise.

The reason for the unsightly speed of the crucial drive? McNabb was throwing up in the huddle — and it wasn’t the first time (see below). Not to mention he tossed three interceptions over the course of the loss, a game in which the Eagles finished just shy of the Patriots, 24-21.

7. John Kasay, Panthers, Super Bowl XXXVIII. A rare Super Bowl game in which both kickers will be remembered forever — Adam Vinatieri for his game-winner with seconds remaining and John Kasay for giving the Patriots possession on the 40-yard line six plays later.

Special thanks to John Kasay. (AP)

Kasay committed the cardinal sin of kicking the ball out of bounds following Carolina’s game-tying drive, and with just over a minute left in the game, booted the kick straight out of bounds, resulting in a flag — and a New England possession on the 40-yard line.

Brady already had a reputation for having ice water in his veins in the final minutes. This time, he was given possession of the ball just 30 yards out of Vinatieri’s range; an opportunity Tom Brady wouldn’t let slip away. One minute after Kasay’s mis-kick, the Patriots took home their second Super Bowl in three years, downing Carolina 32-29.

6. Eugene Robinson, Falcons, Super Bowl XXXIII. It was not a good Super weekend for the Falcons strong safety. He had a reputation for being a man of faith as well as one who always valued the community over himself — but prior to the Super Bowl, Robinson was arrested on charges of soliciting an undercover police officer for oral sex.

Atlanta coach Dan Reeves played Robinson anyway, and he responded by blowing two crucial coverages during the game, including an 80-yard touchdown strike to Rod Smith. The touchdown put Denver ahead 17-3, as the Broncos went on to rout Atlanta, 34-19.

5. Neil O’Donnell, Steelers, Super Bowl XXX. You wouldn’t know it by looking at his final numbers — 28-for-49 and 239 yards — but O’Donnell’s Super Bowl effort made Rich Gannon’s look Montana-esque.

Is that Donovan McNabb? (AP)

The Steelers quarterback threw quite possibly two of the worst interceptions in Super Bowl history, resulting in a Cowboys win and an eternity of goat-ness.

On a third-and-9 from his own 48, O’Donnell threw a pass that was mind-bogglingly awful, landing 10 yards away from his intended receiver and right in the arms of cornerback Larry Brown. Thirty-eight seconds later, Emmit Smith plunged in the end zone for six. Cowboys 20, Steelers 7.

Then, trailing only 20-17 with four minutes remaining, O’Donnell once again found a wide-open Brown, who ran it all the way back to Pittsburgh’s 6-yard line.

4. Lewis Billups/Asante Samuel, Bengals/Patriots, Super Bowl XXIII/XLII. And again, for every Larry Brown, there is a Lewis Billups and an Asante Samuel. Because thanks to those fine gentlemen, both Joe Montana and Eli Manning are forever ingrained in Super Bowl history, their late-game drives a part of the ever-growing Lombardi Trophy legacy.

For Billups, it came early in the final quarter, when Montana’s end zone attempt for John Taylor landed squarely in the Bengals cornerback’s hands. However, like a child trying to catch a butterfly, Billups let the chance of a lifetime clunk, slip and drop from his fingertips. Montana then hit Rice for six on the next play, tying the game at 13. San Francesco went on to win 20-16.

Samuel’s folly, however, was much more immediately damaging. Eli Manning was in the process of leading the Giants on an improbable game-winning drive against the 18-0 Patriots when Samuel let an easy interception slip through his fingertips like a fish, allowing the G-men to maintain possession. A few plays and a David Tyree miracle later, and the Giants defeated the undefeatable, 17-14.

But like the old adage says; if a defensive back had hands, he’d play wide receiver.

3. Thurman Thomas, Bills, Super Bowl XXVIII/XXVI. Oh, Thurman. To be honest, he could have his name twice separately on this list. But for Bills fans and their sanity, I’ll just lop them both into one.

The first, Super Bowl XXVI, came on the day after Thomas complained to the media about not getting enough attention despite being named the NFL MVP.

He responded to his own criticisms with a performance that would certainly net him plenty of attention — rushing for 13 yards on 10 carries, as well as missing the first two plays of the game thanks to a missing helmet.

The second, far worse, came in Super Bowl XXVIII, following three years of cursed Bills performances in the Super Bowl. Two of them had been decided thanks to Thomas’ uncharacteristically poor play. But this time, they had a 13-6 lead heading into halftime.

However, Thomas took center stage once again, opening the second half with a fumble that was returned 46-yards for a game-tying touchdown. It was his second fumble of the game.

And it would result in Buffalo’s fourth Super Bowl loss.

2. Jackie Smith, Cowboys, Super Bowl XIII. Smith will go down in NFL history as one of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game.

However, his Super Bowl XIII performance will also join him in the history books — for all the wrong reasons.

Used primarily as a blocking end throughout the 1978 season, the Cowboys tight end found himself wide open in the end zone with Dallas trailing Pittsburgh 21-14 in the third quarter. However, Smith would put on his best Billups impression and let the ball clunk off his paws and land on the ground.

Dallas had to settle for a field goal, cutting the lead 21-17, a crucial four-point swing; especially when you consider Dallas eventually lost the game by four points, 35-31.

1. Scott Norwood, Bills, Super Bowl XXV. And in a shocking turn of events, Scott Norwood finds himself atop a Super Bowl goat list. Who knew?

Giants win! Giants win! (AP)

With a chance to win the game for the Bills, Norwood lined up for the most famous 47-yard field goal in NFL history. However, just like he had in warmups, Norwood shanked the kick, and it sailed to the right of the uprights — giving the Giants a 20-19 last-second win.

Eighteen years and an “Ace Ventura” movie later, Norwood still finds himself near the top of nearly every single sporting blunder list ever created, damming him with the likes of Bill Buckner, Steve Bartman and Jackie Smith. Not only that, but Norwood’s misfire was a key plot point in Buffalo ’66, proving that some goats can even make it big in Hollywood.

But it’s the necessary evil of sports. Because as cliché as it sounds, in order for someone to win, someone else has to lose.

Because if there were no Hank Baskett, there might not be a Drew Brees. If there were no Asante Samuel, there would be no David Tyree. No John Kasay, no Tom Brady.

It’s a vicious cycle, but it makes the sporting world go round. Plus, without Scott Norwood, there might not have been Ace Ventura. And what kind of world would we be living in then?

Captain Consistency: Hitting, fielding, facial hair. What more could you ask for? (AP)

Yes, there’s the hitting. But there are also the sideburns.

A lot comes to mind when Joe Mauer’s name is brought up. His sweet swing. His ever-consistent play. His outstanding tenure with the Twins.

And of course, the sideburns.

Ever since his rookie season in 2004, this Minnesota native has become a staple in the Twins organization. He’s spent six full seasons with Minnesota, each more successful than the last, culminating in last year’s MVP campaign when he finished with 28 homers and a .365 batting average.

And even as his original contract runs thin, it appears Mauer will continue his streak of consistency, as he looks to remain a member of the Twins, sideburns and all.

It was reported yesterday that Mauer had signed a 10-year contract extension, but nothing was confirmed. Rather, the report was strongly disputed.

Regardless, the feeling around Major League Baseball is not if Mauer will sign some type of an extension, but when. Normally, enormous contracts like this carry a huge amount of risk — but in Mauer’s case, the consistency he’s displayed throughout his career allows for a sense of security.

After all, in a game that’s seen Roy Halladay trade his blue for red, Manny Ramirez his red for blue, and Joe Torre swap out his pinstripes, Mauer and his sideburns have remained consistently effective throughout his six-year career.

In fact, those sideburns have even become so popular, they’ve inspired events such as “Sideburn Night,” a night where fake sideburns are handed out at the Metrodome, giving each fan a chance to feel the “burn.”

Not even the old Yankee Stadium could withstand the test of baseball-time. But Mauer? He still hits. And his burns? They still grow.

And he’s not alone. There are others, too, who keep baseball tradition alive through their facial forests.
In a game where little is the same as it was, All-Mustache Teamers like Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage and Wade Boggs live on through Mauer and his facial-haired compadres.

Zavada posted a 3.35 ERA in his rookie season. (AP)

So who are these men who carry on the torch of baseball past as it enters these curious and changing times?

Let’s take a look:

Clay Zavada, Diamondbacks: If you haven’t heard his name yet, you will soon. This 25-year old lefty from Arizona has taken the baseball facial-world by storm, bringing home last year’s “Mustached American of the Year,” a yearly award presented by the American Mustache Institute.

He may not be able to blow hitters away with his fastball, and he might working on adding a cutter to his repertoire – but as long as he keeps that lip-garden, fame will find it impossible to elude him.

McGowan was born in 1982, and was drafted right out of high school in the year 2000. Since then, the right-handed reliever has brought a hard slider and a pair of burns that are enough to strike fear into the heart of any hitter.

Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox: Speaking of fear, is there no man that can cause a pitcher to sweat more than Kevin Youkilis?

The Sox first baseman is not only infamous for working pitchers late into counts, but he also has a stare that weakens knees. Not to mention that souped-up goatee that has recently found its way onto Youkilis’s chin. It even has its own Twitter feed.

A lot of players can hit 30 home runs. Even more can post a .300 average. But how many can pull off the mountain-man look? Not many. But Youk does it with pride.

Ryan Franklin, Cardinals: Last season, the American Mustache Institute noted a mustache-growing fad swept through the Cardinals organization like wildfire. Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Rick Ankiel – they all grew out their face-buddies.

But not Franklin.

No, Franklin’s face-real-estate was already occupied – by something.

Nobody’s really sure what to call it, but whatever it is, it looks like its straight out of the Civil War. General Lee would be proud. And the Cardinals? They’re okay with it, as long as he keeps saving games. Last season Franklin and his Partner posted a spectacular 1.92 ERA and 38 saves.
Not bad for a two-man effort.

Jason Giambi, Rockies: No facial-hair centered baseball article would be complete without mention of Jason Giambi and his famous ‘stache.

Much like Mauer’s ‘Sideburn Nights,’ Giambi inspired a sweeping revelation of his own, as the Yankees handed out fake moustaches in an effort to get Giambi voted into the 2008 All Star Game, according to the New York Daily News. It didn’t work, but it did begin a revolution.

One year later, the Twins were handing out sideburns to commemorate Mauer. Does the sweet-swinging catcher owe it all to Giambi? Most likely. After all, the success is proven. In 2008, Giambi began the season batting .236. One mustache later, and Giambi slugged 32 homers and 96 RBI in the very same season.
Behold, the hair.

Honorable Mentions:

Johan Santana, Mets: Perfection. Just as he has on the mound with a baseball, it appears Santana has become a wizard with the razor. At the moment, the 2004/2006 Cy Young award winner features a goatee that’s as finely tuned as his change-up.

America: Baseball, mustaches, cowboy hats and flags. What's not to love?

Adrian Gonzalez, Padres: Similar to Santana, Gonzalez sports a goatee that compliments his swing — sweet and perfect. It seems the two of them have a career in hair-styling should their athleticism ever fall short — though I wouldn’t bet on that happening anytime soon.

Todd Helton, Rockies: He’s become just as much of a baseball staple as having the bases 90 feet apart. And he’s rocked the beard almost the entire time. The 5-time All Star, 3-time Gold Glove winner has featured his grizzly beard ever for most of his big-league career, and though his success has never been officially attributed to it, speculation certainly surfaces now and then.