There's only one thing to complain about regarding 'City ofChampions, The Best of Boston Sports,' a newly-released DVDcelebrating Boston sports moments, figures, and games.
Even with the extra 48 minutes of bonus features included, the 60-minute program just isn't long enough.
The product of Rabid Films covers everything from Rocky Marciano'sretirement parade to the 2004 World Series, from the Boston Bruinsglory years to the current Red Sox run, the Boston Celtics dynasticyears to the current New England Patriots' championship run, andplenty of memorable moments and men in between.
This isn't just a tribute to professional sports either. Collegesports are also covered with particular attention to Boston College'sDoug Flutie era and 'The Pass' against Miami - which former Celticplayer and general manager M.L. Carr calls 'the greatest New Englandsports moment.' There are brief references to Boston University andHarvard college hockey championship teams as well.
The video chronicles - more in a passing fashion than an in-depthway - many of the most defining moments, personalities and teams inNew England lore and includes commentary from a wide range of sportsfigures including Flutie, Baseball Hall of Fame writer Peter Gammons,Carr, comedian Mike O'Malley, announcer and former Patriotslinebacker Steve Nelson, NHL Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, and Red Soxgeneral manager Theo Epstein, who had some brutally candid words todescribe the notion of the 'curse of the Bambino.'
A particularly impressive bonus in the 48-minute special featuressection is a 17-part image gallery featuring hundreds of photosfeaturing the names, dates and descriptions of those moments andathletes.
The DVD starts off with a montage of highlights and original play-by-play calls involving the 1970's Red Sox, the 1980's Patriots, theB.U. Terriers (scoring a goal against Maine), Marvin Hagler, Orr, the1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team with Massachusetts native Mike Eruzioneand then proceeds on to highlight various major moments, eras andteams. The film is a hodgepodge of eras and moments with a style ororder that seems like someone hit the video equivalent of a CDplayer's 'scramble' or 'shuffle' button on the contents.
The first 'chapter' of the film focuses on the 2002 divisionalplayoff 'snow bowl' game between the Patriots and Oakland Raiderswhich catapulted the Pats to the Super Bowl championship.
The film features digitally-enhanced audio clips of the originalplay calls from noted announcers like Johnny Most, Gil Santos, JoeCastiglione, Jerry Trupiano, Ken Coleman, and Fred Cusick.
Fans of recent history and yesteryear will be happy with thisvideo effort and rock music fans will appreciate the drivingsoundtrack that features groups like AC-DC, Aerosmith, Creed, PearlJam, Train, and Crossfade. It's not just rock as The Boston Pops,Isley Brothers, and Pete Yorn are also included on the playlist.
Recent stars like David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, Tom Brady and AdamVinatieri are intermixed with legendary names like Havlicek, Bird,Cousy, Yastrzemski, Brad Park, Fred Lynn, Carlton Fisk, Steve Grogan,Bourque, and many others.
If this video isn't among the others in the sports section of yourhome library, it's leaving a gaping hole. This will definitely beworth including on your Christmas list.
It retails for $24.98.
Ice is out on NESN
New England Sports Network dropped the puck on its 71-game BostonBruins broadcast schedule Wednesday night. This is the 22nd season ofBruins hockey for the regional cable television network.
Topsham native and Bowdoin College graduate Dale Arnold is backfor his 10th season as the play-by-play man. He'll have two partnersthis season as former Bruin Andy Brickley returns for his fifthseason as color analyst, this time during home games. The roadanalyst is former ESPN announcer Jack Edwards, who signed a multi-year deal with NESN.
They will be joined by a revolving lineup of pre- and postgamestudio announcers including former Bangor sports anchor Eric Fredeand former Bruins Gord Kluzak, Rick Middleton, Barry Pederson and DonSweeney. The new rink-side reporter for all 71 telecasts is Detroitnative Rob Simpson, a former host of Maple Leaf America in Toronto.
NESN gives the Bruins a bit of a luxury this season with 71 oftheir 82 games on the regional network. Following a one-year lockoutwhich forced the cancellation of the 2004-05 season, the NHL has beenleft with no national TV network coverage deal.
And the winners are...
The Maine Association of Broadcasters has released its list ofwinners in the annual creative awards competition and the awards areas follows:
. TV - Photojournalism: First place, Dave Simpson, John HolyokeWVII (Channel 7) Bangor for 'River Vultures' segment on weekly JohnHolyoke Outdoors segment.
Same-day sportscast: First place, Norm Karkos, WMTW (Ch. 8)Portland.
Sports feature/program: First place, 'Lumberjacks fold,' Tim Baierand Elgin Traylor, WVII; Second place, 'Baseball steroids,' AdamPellerin and Kristen Griffin, WGME; Third place, 'Chrysler Q-SchoolShootout,' Ted Lombardi, Phil McFarland, Jayson Maker, Brad Munsonand Dave Simpson, WVII.
. Radio - Sports feature/program: First place, 'Remembering JeffCole,' Clem LaBree, WZON Bangor; Second place, 'Parade of Heroes,'Dick Johnson, WGAN Portland; Third place, 'Fire Steinbrenner,' GeorgeHale, WBFB Belfast.
Sports play-by-play: First place, 'Dexter-Dirigo Title Game,' TobyNelson and Ian Wilbur, WDME Dover-Foxcroft; Second place, 'UMaineHockey,' Dan Hannigan, Larry Mahoney, Ian Wilbur, Pat Speckhardt,WZON Bangor; Third place, 'Rockland vs. Presque Isle,' Don Shieldsand Randy Hooper, WMCM Rockland.
Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or ataneff@bangordailynews.net
