Brady Is Boston’s Favorite Son-in-Law

Dan Shaughnessy in the Boston Globe: “He was on the cover of the Wheaties box before the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory was an hour old.

“He’s already emerged as every mother’s favorite would-be son-in-law. The man who never throws the bomb now is the bomb.

“In Boston professional sports there never has been anything like The Tom Brady Story. We’ve had our share of Hall of Famers, franchise players and unwashed phenoms, but Brady takes the cake.

“He also takes the Cadillac Escalade [Super Bowl MVP vehicle], the trip to the Pro Bowl, and he’ll probably take your kid sister to the prom if you ask him nicely.”

Trivia time: Who has the highest scoring average in the NBA All-Star game?

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Bon appetit: Retired Baltimore Raven defensive tackle Tony Siragusa was in New Orleans for Super Bowl week, so it’s only right that he dine at Emeril’s. When chef Chris Wilson visited his table to see what he might like, Siragusa was blunt--and crude, according to the Times-Picayune. “Keep it coming until I puke,” Siragusa said, “then hit me again.”

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Who are these guys? The past three Super Bowl winners, Norman Chad points out on America Online, were the Rams with Kurt Warner in his first year starting as an NFL quarterback, the Ravens with Trent Dilfer at quarterback in a season in which the team went five consecutive games without scoring a touchdown, and the Patriots with Tom Brady in his first year starting in the NFL.

Said Chad: “Geez, you’ve got to like the Houston Texans’ chances next season.”

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More Chad: “An American soldier in Afghanistan proposed marriage to his girlfriend live on Fox’s pregame show.

“I know war zones are tough, but there’s no reason to lose your head.”

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How do you know? Milwaukee Buck Coach George Karl, commenting on NBA All-Star weekend: “It reminds me of a celebration of extravagance, and the game needs more fundamental direction and awareness.

“It’s a great weekend. It’s a lot of fun. But it reminds me of the decline of Rome.”

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Wanna try again? Here’s another example why sportswriters should stay away from predictions. John Mullin of the Chicago Tribune, answering his own question of what chance do the Patriots have (in the Super Bowl) against one of the best offenses in NFL history.

“Not much. If New England couldn’t beat the Rams at home on grass--wet grass--there isn’t much hope for the Patriots as they face a turf team on turf.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1970, Earl Monroe of the Baltimore Bullets set an NBA record for points scored in overtime with 13 against Detroit.

It was broken by Butch Carter of Indiana with 14 against Boston in 1984.

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Trivia answer: Michael Jordan, 21.3 points in 11 games.

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And finally: It’s reunion time at the NBA All-Star game on Sunday as Dallas Maverick Coach Don Nelson gets to coach Chris Webber again.

Said Nelson, who was driven out of his job with Golden State and into a hospital by a Webber-led mutiny: “It’s going to be fun to see my old buddy Chris Webber.”

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Mal Florence