Baseball General Manager's using video games? Interesting thought. But you're thinking what is he talking about. A lot of people play video games these days, whether its Madden 2006 or MVP Baseball 2005. You name it, millions of people are playing it. As an avid sports gamer I often find myself getting serious about the game. I often enter into the option for a franchise and it allows me to run my own team. I get to scout players and update my stadium with luxuries in the off-season, have my own draft, have spring training or mini-camps and then I get to go through the season with my team.

For me, I thoroughly enjoy playing the new MVP Baseball 2005 game from EA Sports. It's one of the more realistic baseball games out there and I like to keep everything as real as possible. I keep all the rules on, play a game like it should be played. I warm up the relief pitchers in the 7th and bring them in in the 8th and 9th, I like to pretend like I am a real coach. Here's where my kink comes in. I'm a die hard Red Sox fan. I know everything about them inside and out. I die with them and I live with them. So when I am playing my MVP Baseball I like to keep my team update. When a player get's traded in real life, I like to update my team as well, kind of a way to see how the new team will work out.

So this off-season, I have taken it on myself to update the new look Red Sox. I have acquired Josh Becket, Mike Lowell, Guillermo Mota, Mark Loretta but I have also created players like Dustin Pedroia. I have also made trades the way I feel the Red Sox should be doing them. I didn't resign Johnny Damon. I traded Matt Clement to the Mariners for Center Fielder Jeremy Reed. Now, I am working on some other small trades, possibly to fill the first base slot. I have played a few games with the new look team and I like the blend of speed, power and defense. I still have the Manny Ramirez and shortstop situation though. I am looking to sign Alex Gonzalez, shortstop from Florida, and keep Manny. I realized that no one wants Manny Ramirez and all I'd get back is another star player with too much money. It's not worth it, I will keep him on my team. Why would you get rid o####uy that puts up 140 RBI's, 40+ Homeruns and an incredible OBS every year?

Here's my proposition to current MLB G.M.'s. Try using the MVP Baseball game to figure out your new team. Hey, I know it's a curveball technique, but it can work. You get to look at their ratings and see how they fit into your organization. Throw them in different places in the lineup and see where they fit well and can contribute the best without impeding on your actuall win-loss record. It's an interesting spin on what G.M.'s could be doing with their time, rather than pretending to make moves to make their fans happy. Let me know what you all think about this. I know this would never happen, it's too childish. But does anyone do what I do? Or does anyone agree that this technique could help give G.M.'s a simpler look at what they are getting? Just give me your thoughts.

Just about two weeks ago TD Banknorth and the Boston Celtics unveiled for the first time in their history an alternate game uniform. The first distinct change that fans will notice is that 'Boston' is on the jersey front. The organization began writing 'Celtics' on their home and road uniforms in the 70’s, but prior to that 'Boston' always had appeared on the road uniform. Black is used as a secondary color on the uniform, which gives it a bolder, graphic look.

This new uniform adds to the collection of the classic green and white ensemble. You can conclude from this that the main rason the organization decided to add a new jersey is because the uniform resembles the TD Banknorth colors. Is the new uniform merely a publicity stunt for TD Banknorth? Of course it is.

The traditional white and green Celtics uniforms have always been one the most noticeable uniforms in the NBA. It seems as if the Boston Celtics organization is trying to branch out to a new and younger demographic by enhancing its style or being more modern.

Can you see Larry Bird, 'Cous or "The Chief" running up and down the court with the green and black alternate uniforms on? It doesn't seem right does it. Maybe change is good for the Celtics, maybe a uniform can change things around. What's next though for this storied franchise? Blaring rap music while the players are trying to play? Or an M.C. calling every move like you see on NBA street or the AND ONE Mixtape? It makes you wonder what the organizations in the NBA are trying to accomplish with their teams. Are they making their players more happy or the fans more happy? Either way, NBA basketball games are becoming a concert with expensive entertainment.

The Boston Bruins have been under relentlous scrutony this year. Bruins fans from all over the country along with NHL broadcasters and writers feel that this is the most underachieving team in the NHL this year.

Let's recap, this is the team that thought in their they mind and most of the medias mind made their team the strongest in the NHL this past offseason after the new league rules were set in place. After the salary cap being set at a low number the Bruins had some thinking to do. Do we re-sign our rookie of the year Andrew Raycroft? Do we re-sign our best defensemen Nick Boynton? Our top line threat Sergei Samsonov? Or how about our captain Joe Thornton? All this along side many free agents they would need to sign in order to fill the roster space.

And what great acquistions the Bruins made in the off-season. They signed Alex Zhamnov and Brian Leetch. They traded for players like Brad Isbister, Dave Scatchard, and old friend Shawn McEachern. Bruins fans were ecstatic, some of the most avid hockey fans aside from major markets Montreal, Toronto and Detroit, the fans felt like they had a Stanley Cup contender. Wrong.

The season didn't even start well for this team. They had signed Samsonov, Thornton and Raycroft but Boynton was still holding out. Alex Zhamnov immediatly went down with an injury and with the handful of rookies on the team the leadership went downhill. With Thornton always being under pressure from the Boston fans to win a Stanley Cup, let alone get out of the first round, the fans felt like this was the year. That's kind of a reoccuring phrase in Boston isn't it?

Two months into the season the Bruins, sitting at 8-13-5 decided to make a drastic move. GM Mike O'Connell decided to trade their most beloved but at the same time scrutonized player, Joe Thornton. Thornton never lived up to the hype and was never the player he was expected to be. Thornton, a 1st overall pick in the 1998 draft was sent packing to San Jose to be with fellow draftee Patrick Marleau. In return the Bruins got nothing, honestly, if Bruins fans feel like this trade is going to change their franchise, their wrong. Along with the sudden emergence of Hannu Toivonen, the Bruins have basically benched Andrew Raycroft. Another good investment by the Bruins. Mike O'Connell has changed this team from the most underachieving team in the NHL into the worst team in the NHL.

Let's consider this a calling out party for the Bruins. Thank you G.M. Mike O'Connell for tearing this team apart. You've been here for years but we can't make it out of the first round, and no trade for second rate players is going to change that. Thank you Sergei Samsonov for never becoming the player you were meant to be. Thank you Glenn Murray for not putting up the numbers this year like you did last year. Thank you Andrew Raycroft for becoming a dud after being a stud in your rookie campaign. And finally, thank you Coach Sullivan, without you none of this would be possible. Happy two and half month of underachievage Boston Bruins.