The tale of how Sparky the Dragon came to be.
How Did the New York Islanders End Up with a Bastard Dragon for a Mascot?
Friday Morning Randomness
In honor of yesterday marking the 15th anniversary of this extraordinary game. It was so long ago, it was the last game at Foxboro Stadium and it was broadcast in standard definition.
PS – Adam Vinatieri is a hall of famer. But that’s another discussion for another day.
How About Jimmer Fredette Averaging 38 Points a Game in China?!

To be honest, I did not read the majority of this article because I’m not a member of the exclusive ESPN Insider Club. But, how about my boy Jimmer Fredette averaging 38 points a game in China. 38! Now I know the CBA isn’t exactly the NBA, but putting up nearly 40 a game is impressive nonetheless. I still hold out hope he’ll be able to work himself into a solid NBA player like his 3-point specialist brethren JJ Reddick did.
Either way, these guys compiled one of the most dangerous basketball teams to ever step on the court in my old NBA2k franchise. I basically assembled the deadliest 3 point shooting team ever and completely bailed on any rebounding or post play. The ball touches your hands? You’re jacking up a 3. Jimmer Fredette. JJ Reddick. Ray Allen. I believe I had old man Mike Miller playing center just so he could step out and drain 3’s. And of course to top it all off I had Dougie McBuckets McDermott. It was like an And1 team and it was glorious. You ain’t got nothing on my team, Golden State.

God Bless the Internet: Original NBA Jam Updated with 2017 Rosters

Kotaku – “If you want to play the original 1993 version of NBA Jam, but use LeBron James and Steph Curry instead of Shawn Kemp and John Stockton, then Hogs With A Blog have done you a great service and modded today’s superstars into yesteryear’s classic game.”
I’ve never been a hug ROM emulator guy, mainly because I’m afraid of my laptop exploding. Except for Pokemon Red/Blue. I played the shit out of that on my old Dell back in college. But, seriously God bless the internet. The original NBA Jam is one of my all-time top 5 sports games. It’s one of the most re-playable games to this day, 20+ years later. And thats with bums like Rick Smitts running the post.
I still remember scoring 70 points in a game with Reggie Miller, shooting 3 pointers exclusively. Nothing like a Best-of-7-Game series with your brother in your parent’s basement. So many smashed clickers. The most.
Now you can just wait for the 8-point hot spot and drain it from half court with Steph Curry? Yes please. I will say big time post and iso players are useless though. Sorry LeBron, you will be used exclusively to open up 3 pointers for JR Smith.
PS – How about Isaiah getting roasted in his Dunk and Power ratings? Jesus, I know the man is the same height as me but that’s savage.

Bruins in Free Fall; Reportedly Discussing Trading Rookie Defenseman Brandon Carlo

CSNNE – “The entire Bruins management group should be fired on the spot if they trade a 20-year-old, top pairing shutdown defenseman on an entry level contract like [Brandon] Carlo unless they are getting a bona fide superstar in return…[Gabriel] Landeskog is not a bona fide superstar. He’s a good player that’s topped out at 26 goals and 65 points in the NHL…If the price were right for Landeskog it would make all the sense in the world for the Bruins to deal him, but it’s a giant honking red flag that Colorado is looking to unload a player like him that’s signed for a reasonable $5.5 million price tag over the next four seasons. Teams don’t trade young players like that with term unless there’s more to the story, and that’s something the Bruins would do well to consider before giving up a player that could be a top-4 shutdown defenseman in Boston for the next 10 years.“
It’s that time of year again; the annual Bruins make a panic trade and move key assets just to maybe try and get the No. 8 seed. They’ve done it the last two years, trading away prospects and draft picks for guys like John Michael Lyles. I mean to be fair the Bruins haven’t traded away a really good young player in like 3 years.
Bruins management group should be fired on spot if they trade Brandon Carlo to get something to try & put them over hump this yr. Misguided https://t.co/B7UDpGSVCh
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) January 18, 2017
Coming into the year, the Bruins defense core was supposed to be a disaster and would ultimately be what sank the team. Except Chara has played very well (and stayed healthy), Krug’s been solid, even McQuaid has made an impact this year with his physicality (when the linesmen aren’t holding his arms down). But, the emergence of Brandon Carlo as a top pairing defenseman has been the lone bright spot to this so far shitty season. Guy is a 20 year old rookie who has been playing like a future centerpiece.
Now if the rumors from Bleacher Report are true, then the Bruins are looking to make a deal for Colorado’s winger Gabriel Landeskog. Landeskog is 24, was a former No. 2 overall pick and has four 20 goal seasons. So why are the Avalanche looking to get rid of him?
Sounds like a pretty good player to get back, but I’m skeptical. I’m with Haggs on this one; red flag city. This team is a dumpster fire that is probably going to miss the playoffs again. I don’t want to see the Bruins burn the prime of guys like Bergeron, Rask and Marchand, but I also don’t want to see young guys getting dealt in panic moves just to get the No. 8 seed.

Or who knows, maybe this is our version of the Dallas Tyler Seguin trade. Maybe we’re getting a steal because the other team is run by morons for a change.

LeBron James Gets Popped by Draymond Green, Nearly Dies On Court

I’m not gonna sit here and tell you that wasn’t a pretty solid hit for an NBA game. LeBron’s a big guy, but so is Draymond Green. Did LeBron embellish it a wee bit? 100%
Draymond Green after the foul 👀 https://t.co/n3KBF2kruR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 17, 2017
But thats besides the point. What I’m hear to talk about is LeBron’s quote after the game. He said he’ll be fine because “I’m a football player.” No, sir you are not. You’re actually one of the preeminent floppers in the floppiest league in the world outside of the Premier League. So no, you’re a basketball player.
Can we at the very least use this video as a reply to any talking head that throws out the lazy take “LeBron could play tight end in the NFL.” No he could not. He could absolutely play tight end in the Pro Bowl. But in a real NFL game, when he gets smoked coming over the middle by that human steroid James Harrison, LeBron would take his ball and go home. Or he’d be dead. Either way, kid ain’t playing in the NFL.
Patriots Preparing to Stomp the Steelers Out Zoolander Style
This is just too good not to post. Just picturing TB12 and the Pats players driving to the stadium every day as the Steelers are busy talking shit and Facebook Live streaming their coach’s postgame speech.

Thank God Tom Brady just came out with his new science altering PJs last week. Just in time. The whole team is probably sleeping like lambs. Just catching all the z’s before they stomp the Steelers out on Sunday.

Roger Goodell Going to the Falcons Game AGAIN Rather than Take His Medicine in Foxborough

Look if Roger Goodell doesn’t wanna come into Foxborough I get it. Why go somewhere where you know the entire stadium is going to at best clown you and at worst treat you like Santa Clause in Philly. But come on man, its time to take the medicine. It’ll be theraputic for all the parties involved. Roger can make his appearance as the ambassador of the league should at one of the biggest games of the year. As Tyrion Lannister once told Joffrey: “You’re absence has already been noted.”
I seriously think Goodell needs someone like Paul Tagliabue to play the role of Tyrion in his life, give him a couple slaps and get his head on straight. You’re the goddamn commissioner of the NFL.
And Patriots fans can scream some F bombs from their seats and their couches. But come on dude, you’ll be in a luxury booth. Then you take the private elevator back to your transport and you’re done. And that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you.

To instead go back to Atlanta for the SECOND WEEK IN A ROW is bananas. That shit sticks out real bad. All it does is show that the commissioner is spooked about coming to Gillette. Can’t have that. Go grab a few glasses of merlot with David Stern and Gary Bettman and just listen to the war stories these guys have. They’ve eaten shit at every draft and championship trophy presentation, for years. And they actually seem to enjoy it. Take the medicine, Roger. You need it just as bad as us.
Episode 001 of The 300s Podcast Coming In Hot!
This is it. The start of the 300s media empire. Unless you’d rather listen to guys scream at each other on the radio about why Drew Pomeranz should be coming outta the bullpen. This is a podcast from real fans who talk the way you do; no hyped up hot takes or mock outrage. Just shooting the shit. In the very first episode of The 300s Podcast we talk about how Los Angeles has too many football teams, NFL coaches getting fired/hired, the Red Sox rotation vs the Mets, how the Islanders ended up with a bastard dragon as their mascot and is it possible to buy season tickets without having a panic attack? Subscribe today!
A Bunch of Uber Successful Coaches Saying Bill Belichick is the GOAT
Meant to post this yesterday, but applies even more so today. Joe Torre, Doc Rivers, Coach K all saying how Belichick is not just the best football coach, but the greatest coach of all-time in any sport.
“I think he’s [Bill Belichick] the greatest coach of all time. In any sport.” – @DocRivers https://t.co/ig0iyZV0ya
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2017
