Both teams are above .500

Boston’s Celtics and Bruins are starting to produce, after having a rough start of the season. Both teams are above .500. And both teams have lost 10 games. Each team has time since the half-way point isn’t until next year in January. Last season they made it to the playoffs but were eliminated in the end. This two are the minor teams compared to the Red Sox and the Patriots, though they have each raised a banner in the 2000’s. They have the potential to raise more, their team chemistry is off the charts, but they are unable to perform.

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It’s a new season we must watch what happens in the end.

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The Celtics are 15-10 and are sitting in fifth in the Eastern Conference, you would think that with the departure of Lebron James to the Western Conference it would make the Celtics the top dog. With their recent win streak, they are moving up in the standings and they have begun outscoring their opponents with a hefty margin. Recently they beat the Chicago bulls 133-77. Through previous games they have scored more than 100 points which is something you at least should accomplish if you want to win games in the NBA. Their starting five is one big unit, their motto is that they don’t have one superstar, the whole team is the superstar. In recent games Gordon Hayward has been coming off the bench and has been performing. To win championships your starting five and bench need to make big plays. The team has a rough schedule the next coming weeks but I’m sure they will produce.

Playing in the city of Boston is tough, than fans like myself expect you to win games.

The Bruins have had a tough year, they lost one of the best goaltender in the NHL to a family matter and they were losing games, but once Tuukka returned he was out performing but his defense wasn’t contributing, plenty of the defenseman went down to injury, (Charlie McAvoy, Zdeno Chara, Kevan Miller, etc.). It also doesn’t help that they traded away Adam Mcquaid to their rivals the New York Rangers. The team is eleven points behind the leader the Tampa Bay Lightning, but in recent games they have a nice little streak of two previously beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 and the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in overtime. If this team wants to make a heavy playoff push this year they must show it, they have to have their young skaters produce because they can’t keep relying on Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara.

It’s December and for the NBA and NHL this is the spot where everything gets tough for the teams, each team has a young core that must produce because during this part of the season this is where you make it or you break it. Playing in the city of Boston is tough, the fans like myself expect you to win games, hence the name “City of Champions”. It’s a new season and we must watch what happens in the end.

Men’s Soccer and Women’s Basketball to come back and eSports to debut

NECC has announced that three new teams have been added to the athletic program for 2019-2020. Two sports teams that were once removed have been added to the athletic department, Men’s Soccer and Women’s basketball. Joining the list of other schools across the nation NECC has added an eSports program.

Both Men’s soccer and Women’s basketball will be competing in NJCAA Region XXI becoming the 10th institution Men’s soccer team in the region and 12th Women’s basketball in the region.

The eSports team will be competing against other college teams in (NACE) National Association of Collegiate eSports. “We are excited about bringing both men’s soccer and women’s basketball back to the college. The addition of eSports will open an entire world of college athletics for gamers here at NECC,” Athletic Director Dan Blair stated in a press release: “We look forward to competing at a high level and allowing more students to succeed both academically and athletically while they pursue their degrees.” Since the arrival of Blair to the Athletic Department, he has helped more students come to the program in recent years. “Since the addition of the golf program for the 2018-2019 academic year and growth in all NECC’s athletic programs, the college has nearly doubled its student-athlete population since the start of the 2016-17 academic year from 43 to 90 athletes,” the press release said.

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Every four years the World Cup comes, and everyone is a fan -Anthony Domingo

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The last time NECC had a soccer program it was in the mid 1990’s, Since the popularity of American Soccer and the MLS, soccer has become part of the major sports in the United States. United States soccer has grown since recent years, the World Cup that comes every four years is a big-time event for the entire world. Former NECC student Anthony Domingo said, “Every four years the World Cup comes, and everyone is a fan.” Soccer has been well known in many European countries where its known as “football” with the talents of Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. These are just some names that are well known in the “Soccer verse.” With the recent arrival of Christian Pulisic who is known to be one of the better United States players soccer has been a country-wide sport. Domingo also stated that “Learning the rules helps you understand the game, like every sport its different.” With this sport coming to the school, many more students will be joining the program.

The Women’s basketball program previously had numerous achievements, two of them becoming champions in the NJCAA Region XXI in 1994 and 2001. Haverhill women’s basketball has become an interest in the area since its rise in the 90’s. Women’s basketball shows that NECC is diverse with all its programs. The last time there was a team was in 2012. A coach has not been found yet for the team.

Coaching searches are underway for the soccer and basketball programs, the press release said. According to the press release, NECC alum and nationally ranked Fortnite gamer RJ Warnock will lead the eSports program as its first coach. Warnock, of North Reading, played baseball for Northern Essex before transferring in 2013, the press release said.

Both teams are above .500

Boston’s Celtics and Bruins are starting to produce, after having a rough start of the season. Both teams are above .500. And both teams have lost 10 games. Each team has time since the half-way point isn’t until next year in January. Last season they made it to the playoffs but were eliminated in the end. This two are the minor teams compared to the Red Sox and the Patriots, though they have each raised a banner in the 2000’s. They have the potential to raise more, their team chemistry is off the charts, but they are unable to perform.

Playing in the city of Boston is tough, than fans like myself expect you to win games.

The Celtics are 15-10 and are sitting in fifth in the Eastern Conference, you would think that with the departure of Lebron James to the Western Conference it would make the Celtics the top dog. With their recent win streak, they are moving up in the standings and they have begun outscoring their opponents with a hefty margin. Recently they beat the Chicago bulls 133-77. Through previous games they have scored more than 100 points which is something you at least should accomplish if you want to win games in the NBA. Their starting five is one big unit, their motto is that they don’t have one superstar, the whole team is the superstar. In recent games Gordon Hayward has been coming off the bench and has been performing. To win championships your starting five and bench need to make big plays. The team has a rough schedule the next coming weeks but I’m sure they will produce.

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It’s a new season we must watch what happens in the end.

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The Bruins have had a tough year, they lost one of the best goaltender in the NHL to a family matter and they were losing games, but once Tuukka returned he was out performing but his defense wasn’t contributing, plenty of the defenseman went down to injury, (Charlie McAvoy, Zdeno Chara, Kevan Miller, etc.). It also doesn’t help that they traded away Adam Mcquaid to their rivals the New York Rangers. The team is eleven points behind the leader the Tampa Bay Lightning, but in recent games they have a nice little streak of two previously beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 and the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in overtime. If this team wants to make a heavy playoff push this year they must show it, they have to have their young skaters produce because they can’t keep relying on Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara.

It’s December and for the NBA and NHL this is the spot where everything gets tough for the teams, each team has a young core that must produce because during this part of the season this is where you make it or you break it. Playing in the city of Boston is tough, the fans like myself expect you to win games, hence the name “City of Champions”. It’s a new season and we must watch what happens in the end.

Patriots beat the Jets and now look towards Vikings

Patriots went into the New Jersey Meadowlands and beat their AFC East division rival the New York Jets.

Their season has propelled them to eight wins on the year and they are one of the competitors this year for the AFC Championship.

The Jets remain at the bottom of the division at 3-8. The Patriots next game is at home against Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings. A 1pm start time for this week on the road against the Jets was something different for the Patriots.

Before the bye they were playing late games from Monday Night and Sunday Night Primetimes.

Belichick knew something had to change while they had a week off and coming off that terrible loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The one big change that came this week was the return on All-Pro Tight End Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski.

After practice on Friday, Gronk was asked about his return to the team this week, he answered “Definitely ready to get back there. I’m good to go”.

It had been 27 days since the offense had Gronk as a weapon.

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Belichick knew something had to change … coming off that terrible loss to the Tennessee Titans.

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Gronk also told reporters “I had a lot of good people to work hard with, do exercises, get everything back right and just keep on grinding every day so I can get back out there with my teammates. And that’s what it will be on Sunday.”

Gronk finished the game with three catches for a total of 56 yards and one touchdown. The man running the offense was the one and the only Tom Brady, before the game Brady was questionable with a knee injury and an illness.

Patriots fans knew that Brady would start this game, he never gives up his starting position just because he has an illness.

Brady threw for 31 and had 20 completions. He also threw two touchdowns in the win and had zero interceptions.

Next week the Patriots are home against the NFC West Minnesota Vikings, led by Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins.

This is the first year for Cousins who signed a contract deal with the Vikings coming from the Washington Redskins.

The Vikings defense is scary and is known to be tough at home, but that’s not the case this coming week.

It’s a 4:25pm start time at Gillette Stadium. New England will have the fans on their side and will be inching closer to another playoff and hopefully another Super Bowl ring.

2018 not measuring up to past performances

Boston sports this year has been disappointing. The Red Sox winning the World Series this season was a huge plus, but they should always be in contention for the title every season.

The Patriots lost last year in the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles who had their back-up quarterback playing in the biggest game in the NFL.

They lost to a head coach in his first year who no one knew about before landing the job.

The Celtics have Gordon Hayward back this year after suffering a gruesome injury in the first game of the new year.

Their lineup is stacked with him, Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford. They seem to be having troubles in the Eastern Conference which is no longer led by Lebron “King” James.

Finally, the Bruins have seen the worst in their team, they’re winning games, but they don’t have their  top three performers. Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask, and Patrice Bergeron.

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… All things must come to an end. The seasons that our beloved teams are in are long and sometimes difficult to watch.

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This 2018 season for Boston sports has been different than some.

Growing up as a New Englander I have been told by my family how I am lucky to live in an atmosphere where New England sports teams are playing well each year.

I myself have been told by my father who was born and raised in New England. Boston has been known as the “City of Champions” since the late 2000’s where the Patriots won championships, the Red Sox broke the curse of Babe Ruth, the Celtics raised banner number 17 in the TD Garden, and the Bruins finally won a Stanley cup since the 1970’s.

It was a great feeling to be able to watch each team raise those trophies to become champions of their leagues.

It was all fun, but now its 2018 and everything seems different, something has changed.

For example, The Patriots keep winning. It will end soon though Brady isn’t getting younger and fans believe that once Brady retires Belichick will be gone.

Everything happens for a reason, we loved watching the Patriots win the Lombardi trophy and decimate the teams in their paths, but like every team that plays the game knows all things must come to an end. The seasons that our beloved teams are in are long and sometimes difficult to watch.

Always look towards the future.

Though at this rate the future for Boston sports looks unpleasing.

Volleyball season ended, Basketball has begun

NECC Knights Cross Country will be representing the college in the NJCAA National Championship. The last meet that they were in was the Northeast Junior College Invitational where the Men’s team finished third. They were led by Logan Foster (Atkinson, NH) who finished in 4th in the 8,000 meters. He and other teammates Willie Thomson (Beverly, MA), Andy Barrientos (Lawrence, MA), Jacob Navabi (Haverhill, MA) and Emil Rosario (Methuen, MA) will represent the Men’s side in the National Championship.

For the Women’s side of the team Katelyn Richardson (Wilmington, MA) who finished 11th in the meet. This will be the first trip for her to the nationals. Joining her will be Olivia Mullins (Plaistow, NH) who finished 6th in the last meet. She came in 6th in the 5k. This is the 2nd trip for her to the national championship where she finished 52nd.

Knights basketball team competed in the NHTI Edward Jones Tap-Off Festival where they lost both games, first to the host NHTI 95-93. Then to Central Maine Community College 96-81. In their first game against NHTI, Evan Hardy (Methuen, MA) led the team with 24 points off the bench going 8-11 at three pointers. For the 2nd game against Central Maine Community College Trey Sanford (Salem, NH) led the team with 17 points. It is still early for the team, last season the team went 17-3. There first game of the season is at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology on Tuesday, November 6. Their first home game is Thursday, November 8th against Quincy College. With a new season on the way let’s hope it will be a great season for the knights

Patriots advance to 7-2 after beating Packers Sunday night

What many thought would be a difficult season for Tom Brady and the Patriots has turned around quickly. The Patriots lost two games in the early part of the season, but since then they have turned it around.

NECC student Jared Haynes said, “When will there be a season when Brady isn’t the GOAT?”

Jared Haynes said, “When will there be a season when Brady isn’t the GOAT?”

We all hear the broadcasters say “Tom Brady is 41, how is he still this good? Does the TB12 method actually work?” It’s no surprise that the Patriots are still winning. They have one of the best coaches the NFL has ever seen since Vince Lombardi.

Belichick has been in the coaching system since the 1970’s when he was with the Cleveland Browns.

He was taught well by former Patriots coach Bill Parcells in the Giants system. If you look at the coaching trees they have, Parcells and Belichick you will see that most of the coaches beside three (Andy Reid, Doug Pederson, Matt Nagy) have been part of Belichick and Parcells coaching tree. Belichick has been in the game of football since the 1970’s and he has adapted to the changes and various roles of players he has coached to make the Patriots become a powerhouse of the NFL.

It was the Sunday Night Football game on NBC where Tom Brady and the Patriots pulled out a win against the versatile offense of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. It was close in the first half.

Haynes said “Many believed this was going down to the wire. If the Pats scored the Packers would answer in a hurry.”

The Packers lost a close one last week after former Packers running back and kick-off returner Ty Montgomery failed to take a knee and ran the ball after the kick-off then fumbled to ruin Rodgers chances to beat the Rams of  Los Angeles.

At the time the Rams were undefeated, every team in the NFL wanted to give them their first loss of the season. After the first half it was a close one, then the what happened last week to the Packers happened again.

Running back Aaron Jones fumbled the ball on a hand-off. It was a costly fumble and the Patriots capitalized on that mistake. Patriots won the game 31-17. James White was a big performer finishing with two touchdowns.

Next week the Patriots take on the Tennessee Titans on the road. Their coach is under the Belichick coaching tree and former linebacker for the Patriots, Mike Vrabel.

What should be an easy win for the Patriots may be a close one since Vrabel is running the team.

He was the Defense Coordinator in Houston. In recent years Houston’s defense was always tough on New England’s offense.

This game against the Titans their defense needs to stop Brady from getting into rhythm early. That game is set for 1:00pm and many people will be watching.

Hopefully the Patriots can become 8-2 and it will help them make the playoffs once again.

Red Sox playoff record 11-3

The Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series against Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Sox won the four games they needed to clinch another championship title for the city of Boston. Rookie manager Alex Cora did his job, which is a phrase that is well used in the New England area. The team got the power hitting J.D. Martinez and also traded for the players that helped them win it all (Ian Kinsler and Steve Pearce). Though they traded and signed players they already had a dangerous roster to begin with (Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., David Price, Chris Sale). This roster was unbeatable, making the team go 119 through the regular season and the playoffs.

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“It wouldn’t be series win if the Red sox didnt make you nervous”
– Kevin Brown

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The opponents this year were tough, each American League team they faced had over 100 wins. Their ALDS opponent were their rivals the New York Yankees. A best of five series where they only lost one game. Their series clinching out was something to celebrate for, former NECC student Kevin Brown said, “It wouldn’t be a series win if the Red Sox didn’t make you nervous.” The final out came after first baseman Steve Pearce had to dive just to make the catch after the throw from third baseman Eduardo Nunez was going into the dirt. The play had to go into review. After the umpires talked it out with the MLB headquarters the runner was ruled out and Boston knocked-out their rivals.

They headed into the ALCS against the heavy hitting Houston Astros who were the 2017 MLB World Series Champions. The series was much tougher than the one the Sox played against the Yankees. The Astros had a terrific infield and their pitching staff was favorable to win the series for them. They had the likely American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander. This was another series that Boston only lost one game and it was at home. This proved that the Red Sox were a better road team. They closed out the series in Houston to a flyball in Left field to Andrew Benintendi. This was the first time that the Red Sox have made it to the World Series since 2013 where they faced and beat the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 2018 MLB World Series was set, Dodgers vs. Red Sox. The first game was set in Boston since the American League won the All-Star game giving the American League home field advantage.

The series featured two historic teams battling head-to-head where only one team can be crowned a winner.

From the last two series that Boston played they only lost one game and that was the same situation against Los Angeles. This time they lost on the road rather than losing at home. That was an 18 inning game and it was a walk-off homerun to first baseman Max Muncy. After that loss Boston won the next two to be crowned champions of the MLB.

Since 2004 where Boston broke the 86-year-old curse, they have won three more times (2007,2013, and 2018).

This win helped the debate making Boston the city of champions of all four major sports. At the beginning of the year everyone knew that the Red Sox had a great team that would make the playoffs but would have a tough time to advance to the World Series. Brown said, “I hate to say that I doubted them in spring training. I knew they had a great team, but we had a new manager.” Alex Cora took the reins of this team and led them to win another Commissioner’s trophy for the franchise and the city of Boston. We all hope to see what they can do next year. Fans are still celebrating this win and they should be for a long time.