🎁 A Boston sports Christmas wishlist

Good Morning, Boston.

On this day in 1979 … The Boston Bruins and New York Rangers performed the prequel to the “Malice in the Palace,” sparking a brawl where Bruins players fought Rangers fans in the stands at Madison Square Garden. At least no one beat up Phil Esposito, who was playing for the Rangers and left the ice before the fighting started.

WHAT’S ON TAP TODAY:

It’s gonna be Maye

Joe Mazzulla’s Christmas message

Offensive linemen under the tree?

LET’S GET INTO IT…

LEADING OFF

Christmas in Titletown

Merry Christmas, Boston sports fans! Deck the halls. Light the tree. Set out the cookies and milk. Sit down in front of the TV and get ready to watch sports all day, including the Celtics’ 5 p.m. game against the Sixers. But while you’re at it, Boston fans, why not write up one last letter to the North Pole for a couple more sports-related gifts? Here’s our B-Side Sports Christmas list.

For the Patriots: take the training wheels off Drake Maye. At 3-12, wins and losses don’t mean much anymore for New England. But every rep matters for Maye, who has shown immense promise as a rookie but needs as much seasoning as he can get. Time to throw caution to the wind and let the kid spin the ball. Call play-action deep shots. Go for it on 4th down. Put the game in his hands. He’s pretty much the only reason we’re still watching, anyway.

For the Red Sox: a righty slugger in a pear tree. Boston has already nabbed an ace for the rotation by trading for Garrett Crochet (though we won’t say no to Corbin Burnes as well). Now, they need to make up for the loss of Tyler O’Neill, the team’s 2024’s home run leader, and either flip prospects for a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. trade or sign free-agent slugger Teoscar Hernandez. Even with a stronger rotation, Boston desperately needs more pop at the plate, and some protection in the lineup for Rafael Devers. 

For the Celtics: a Christmas crushing of the 76ers. You can’t want too much more out of the C’s than what they’re already giving you — aside from not playing down to worse teams (as they did against Chicago last Thursday). Philly should have Joel Embiid back in the lineup for Christmas Day at TD Garden, so Boston shouldn’t take this one lightly. Put the beatdown on them so we can flip over the Ravens-Texans game on Netflix (assuming it doesn’t crash out).

For the Bruins: Jeremy Swayman (2024 playoffs edition). The good news: Boston’s defense has improved under interim coach Joe Sacco. The bad news: Swayman hasn’t elevated his play along with them, still ranking last in the NHL in goals allowed above expected. Was it the late start to the season? Complacency after getting paid? All the above? Whatever the reason, the Bruins need the Swayman that put the team on his back in the ‘24 playoffs (.933 save percentage) if this team really wants to make a run.

POLL

🤔 What will you be watching on Christmas Day?

BOSTON SPORTS

Quick hits & headlines

⁉️Drake Maye is that guy. The rookie’s insane first-quarter touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte was the best throw a Patriots QB has made since that No. 12 dude played here. No matter what the team’s record ends up being, rest assured that New England has its franchise QB. 

🤩 Jayson Tatum has a game for the ages. Saturday’s epic 43-point, 16-rebound, and 10-assist performance against the Bulls made Tatum the only Celtic in history to post a 40/15/10 stat line in a game. All that because he was mad that the C’s lost to Chicago at home on Thursday. In other words: he’s “HIM.”

🏃🏿‍♂️ Godspeed, Rickey Henderson. The greatest leadoff hitter and base-stealer of all time passed away this week at 65 years old. Fun fact: he nabbed his 1,400th stolen base in a Red Sox uniform … at age 43. Being able to run like that in his 40s could make even Tom Brady jealous. No avocado ice cream needed for “The Man of Steal.”

📈 Time to buy Bruins stock? Can you believe it’s been a month since the Bruins fired Jim Montgomery after an 8-9-3 start? They’re 10-4-1 since and have clawed their way to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. Whether it’s Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak coming alive or upstarts like Morgan Geekie lighting the lamp, hockey’s getting fun again at TD Garden.

🤬 Joe Mazzulla lands on the naughty list. The Celtics coach woke up Saturday with a $35,000 hole in his wallet after his verbal tirade against referee Justin Van Duyne for handing him and Jaylen Brown two questionable technical fouls during last Thursday’s loss to the Bulls in Boston. If that’s how Mazzulla wishes people a Merry Christmas, leave me off his list.

ASK A FAN

Tackle help for hire?

“Can we find some tackles in FA?” — @@VincentTed12 (X) on the Patriots’ prospects of adding offensive line help.

Thanks for the question.

Yes … but it might not be the most reliable option. Same as with the wide receivers, the best tackles don’t typically hit the open market. If they do, there’s usually a reason. The most realistic option might be Cam Robinson, who’s had a down year with both the Jaguars and Vikings by his standards but is still much better than anything the Patriots have at tackle. Pair the 29-year-old alongside a highly drafted young OT — Will Campbell, maybe? — in next year’s draft, and that could work.

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal

GAME … SET … MEME

Jermaine the reindeer??

🤣 Jaylen Brown doesn’t know his Christmas history. At least Brown could name Rudolph when the Celtics social team quizzed him on Santa’s reindeer. But where’d he get Skippy and Jermaine from?? Clearly, Jaylen needs to spend more time with cool dad Jrue Holiday, who unsurprisingly knows them all.

🗞 That’s a wrap. I’ll be petitioning for the Celtics’ PA announcers to play “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” whenever Jaylen Brown sinks a shot on Christmas Day.

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