REMEMBERING NEW CANAAN FRIENDS WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2014

Whether you've lived in New Canaan, CT. for a day, month, year, or fifty of them, you'll always
be part of the now ritzy, but always special town in the southwest part of the state. It's a place
where people know everybody and the degrees of separation is far less than six.

In 2014, a few of those people who touched my life, as well as many others in town, passed away
and left us far too soon.

BOB SPALLER. In November, the 1981 graduate of the high school, Spaller, just 52-years-old
was killed in a single-car accident near his home in Massachusetts. Spaller was a gentle and kind
hearted-soul who marched to the beat of his own drummer. He was a salt-of-the-earth type of
man who didn't have any enemies. We were teammates for the Rams on the gridiron, which
made all of us who wore the red and black, brothers forever. I remember him as a player who squeezed every ounce of talent he had and left it all on the field every single game.

ROGER FULTON Fulton passed away in September at the age of 83. He was a staple of
the sports scene during his time in New Canaan and served as the athletic director on
a volunteer basis at the high school. A regal and classy man, Fulton was also the varsity
baseball coach. I moved to New Canaan as a sophomore and had the privilege of playing
for Fulton and being part of a team that advanced to the FCIAC playoffs. His son, Bob,
was the third base coach and the Fulton & Fulton team made quite an impact on all those
who played for them.

JEFF SMITH Smith never lived in New Canaan but as the owner of the Deli Bake on
Elm Street, he was part of the fabric of the community. He looked like the Marlboro
man and had the strength of a lumberjack. Smith, who died at the age of 70, was a
no-nonsense kind of guy who worked at a frenetic pace and non-stop. Smith
teamed up with his father, who was quite a character in his own right, to run the
popular deli in town. I worked for both of them after my senior year in high school
along with two of my friends, Tommy Towers and Rich Connors. We took the famous
sandwiches on the menu to a whole different level, piling them as high as those seen in
New York City. And with the amount of food we ate, I'm sure profits went down, but
Jeff and his dad didn't seem to mind very much, they actually got a kick out of us.

KELLY KRAUSER. I didn't know Kelly personally, but I was friends with other
members of her beautiful and loving family. A 1987 graduate of New Canaan, Kelly
died in December after a lengthy bout with cancer. She left this world far too soon.
Kelly was just 45-years-old.

CAROL "CHICK" LYTTLE. Talk about a well-educated and rounded man. The longtime
New Canaan resident went to Phillips Exeter, Princeton University, and Columbia Law
School. Lyttle was a member of the Congregational Church where he sang in the choir.
Lyttle was the father-in-law of New Canaan legend Steve Tonra. Whenever Tonra needed
a ringer for his paddle ball tournaments, Chick was always ready and willing to fill in, even
when he was well into his 70's. Lyttle was 85 when he passed away in September.

PAT DEVLIN, DANGER MAN, SET TO ROCK STAMFORD

Veteran musician Pat Devlin, former lead singer of the world renowned, "Danger men" band, is
scheduled to play Friday in Stamford at the Castle Bar on Summer Street.. Devlin will start
pickin' it at 9:30 p.m.

When reached for his reaction to playing before a packed house under the bright lights of
Stamford, USA,  Devlin said, "It's cool. Totally cool. Hope everybody brings everybody they
know."

Devlin got his start  as a 6-year old , getting lessons at Rye Music. However, his career really
took off when his family moved to Lake Forest, Illinois where he became the king of Waveland
Avenue, playing outdoor concerts for the neighborhood that rivaled the ones at nearby Ravinia.

"Yeah, it was totally awesome out there", Devlin said. "I met these really cool dudes like Matt
Parker, Allan Simmons, Steve Gerlach, LT Swisher, Jon Tunney, we called him Tuna, he was
a big guy back then. And there was Andy  Peterson and Dan Jameson, too. Those guys loved
to jam. We'd jam all day and all night and sometimes drink in between," Devlin said with a hearty
laugh.

After two short but fulfilling years in Lake Forest, Devlin and his family moved back East to
New Canaan, CT. Have guitar, will travel and Devlin who took his electric one everywhere he
went, settled in and played with a variety of bands including "The Anchient New Cat Revival,"
"The Hurting Dog" band and the highly-popular "Uh-Oh" group.

Friday night at the Castle Bar in Stamford, Devlin, who listed Jerry Garcia, Neil Young, and
Jimi Hendrix as his musical inspirations,  returns to the stage for what promises to be
a world-class performance. Tickets are going fast. Only a few left on StubHub.com. Show starts
at 9:30 p.m.

IN DEFENSE OF JAY CUTLER

I tried hard, but couldn't come up with one.

I AM THANKFUL.....AGAIN

I am thankful for my health. The groin pulls and calf strains may occur more frequently now
and the grooves around my eyes are deeper, but I'm thankful that I'm still upright and strong
enough to run marathons, swim across lakes, and complete an Ironman.

I am thankful that I have a job that I love and work with people who share the same passion, commitment and interests that I do. Love what you do, do what you love, and not have to worry about co-workers stabbing you in the back and throwing you under the bus is a beautiful thing.

I'm thankful I still have a lot of hair and women between the ages of 75 and 98 on Christian.
Mingle.com find me cute as a button.

I am thankful to have an unbelievable circle of friends. From Rye, New York to Lake Forest, Ill.
to New Canaan, CT. to Chapel Hill, NC to Atlanta, Ga. to Boston, MA, I have met some
great people who are loyal and just flat-out incredible.

I am thankful that God has blessed me with six incredible nieces and nephews who I treat
as if they are my own children. Wow. They touch my heart every time I see them.

I am not wealthy, but I'm thankful I've been enriched with opportunities that have made this
a truly wonderful life. Baseball at UNC, with the Red Sox, "Bull Durham", a sportscaster
covering Super Bowls, World Series, Olympics, Final Fours---yeah, sorry, but I do sometimes
feel like Walter Mitty. Oh, sure, I've had some serious hard knocks a long the way- been
fired, laid off, and thrown under the bus, but it's all been part of a wild and exciting journey.

Most of all, I am thankful for an incredible family. Kara is one amazing sister. She is filled
with so much love, thoughtfulness, and one giant heart. Those who know her, know she
was blessed with not only great athletic talent, but humbleness and a terrific sense of humor, too

Brother Pat is a beautiful human being. Has never uttered a bad word about anybody and
has become a great father and husband. We may not always see eye-to-eye, but we've always
been on the same page and he would do anything for me without asking anything in
return.

My mom. Wow. I am so thankful to have her as my mother and great friend. So selfless,
giving, and understanding. After my father passed away, she became the rock of the family.
Simply amazing. She took care of my ailing dad for five years, 24/7 and did it with
strength, courage, and such amazing dignity. I love and admire her so much for that. I
was truly blessed to have such tremendous parents.

I am thankful, truly thankful during this holiday season.

I wish you all and your families all the best during this most special time of the year.

BRIAN ZECHELLO: PUTTING THE STYLE IN NESN

Brian Zechello is to sports television what Mark Zuckerberg is to social media: pure genius.

He is to producing what Antonio Cromartie is to pro-creation: potent.

His creative genius has taken NESN's production of  Boston Bruins games to an entirely
different level, making them the envy of every network that broadcasts NHL contests.

But for all his television talent, Z, as he's known world-wide, has a unique fashion
sense and style that separates him from everyone in the industry. He is bold and never
boring, simple, yet very sophisticated. A dead ringer for Chicago Cubs villain Steve
Bartman, Z is the everyman in Boston, a beer-chugging, sports-obsessed, hardworking,
and food-loving guy, who just happens to possess a cutting-edge wardrobe

Zechello, who is currently in talks to endorse Friendly's and Big & Tall menswear,
was a producer working in relative obscurity until one moment in 2006 changed his life
forever. As part of its new web site, NESN had a section where they sold company apparel
on-line.

Z was asked to wear a brown t-shirt in a promo shot while his co-workers were outfitted
in pretty colors like powder blue, pink, and a soft gray. Yes, Z drew the short straw and
had to don brown. Brown? Seriously? Who wears brown and looks good in it besides the
UPS man in your neighborhood?

But Z managed to not only make brown look good, but he turned it into gold for NESN.
Sales of the brown shirt with the "swing for the fences" slogan on it, flew off the shelves and shattered the company mark for on-line inventory The previous mark was set with the
unveiling of Hazel Mae cardboard cut-outs, but Z blew up the standard she set in less than
24 hours.

Thanks to Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo and their shout outs to Z and his fashion style
during Red Sox broadcasts, Z became an overnight sensation and a small cult hero
in Boston. Z is now as valuable to NESN as the Rem Dawg, Eck, Peter Gammons,
and the mustache of W.B. Mason.

Everything Z has worn has become a big hit in the Commonwealth. His green
sweater with the crude reindeer that looks like a Rogie Vachon hockey mask on the front
became an instant hit and Twitter exploded when Z showed the world what was on the
back of it. Classic Z. He is only man in America who could make the backside of Bambi
look good. Z was "trending" for sure.

On November 22, Z took his fashion style to an entirely different stratosphere. Before
a broadcast of a Bruins game, he broke out one of the most god-awful sweaters man has
ever seen. It was like a Bill Cosby sweater meeting Cam Neely in a back-alley on a
Saturday night. That was the result of it. A mess. But with his Vince Wilfork-like body,
Z has managed to make it look spectacular.

Since donning the Bruins sweater, NESN has been flooded with orders from those hoping
to get one in time for Christmas to give to all their loved ones. Pablo Sandoval, the Kung
Fu Panda and new Red Sox third basemen is desperately trying get one before his first press conference at Fenway Park. This new sweater might just become a hotter item than the Snuggie's
or the Clap-on, Clap-off, the Clapper.

Z, who worships Drew Bledsoe at the altar and still thinks he's the best quarterback
in Patriots history, has been getting standing ovations and props from many people throughout
the industry. Hockey legend Don Cherry has been rumored to have sought out Z for wardrobe consultation.Same goes for ESPN's Barry Melrose, and TNT's Craig Sager. Tommy Hilfiger
has been in touch with Zechello's representatives to add a "Z-collection" to his clothing line.

Z and his talent for producing and picking out memorable wardrobes have not only made
him a star in Boston, but a sought-after commodity. He's been so hot, NESN executives
have given him a non-compete contract so other stations in the market can't poach the Big
Blue Ticket for their star behind the scenes. Management was rumored to have shot down
an inquire from David Letterman for Z to appear as his 'special correspondent' on his late-
night talk show.

The guy is hot and so are his clothes. It's not a fashion statement, it's just Z.

THE INSANITY OF GIANCARLO STANTON'S $325 MILLION CONTRACT

A 13-year, $325 million contract. No matter how you slice it, break down the numbers,

or try to justify it, the deal the Miami Marlins gave Giancarlo Stanton is insane.

Oh, it'll probably get the Marlins a lot of headlines, some national media interest, and

the franchise splashed across the Twitter-sphere, but they'll be rinsed out of the world's

fast and furious news cycle by tomorrow and  go back to being an irrelevant

professional team even in the city they play in.

After the high from the attention the Marlins receive wears off, owner Jeffrey
Loria  will probably have a "What the hell was I thinking moment?" The man who
hoodwinked Miami in building him a brand-spanking new stadium only to ignite
a fire sale (again) of his big-name players to shed his payroll down to a measly
$53 million, is going to regret this deal for the life of the deal, or until he can
find a sucker who will take the contract off his hands in a few years.

 

Maybe Loria believes the contract he's lavished upon Stanton will rinse away
the bitterness and pure hate a lot of people in Miami have for him and his
business "ethics." Perhaps, he feels all the lousy baseball the fans have had to
endure and high-ticket prices they've had to pay will be buried in the past with
this "landmark deal" as Loria has called it. Maybe he thinks the "cheapest man
in baseball" tag will be ripped off his back because of it.

Loria can make Stanton the face of the franchise, but with all that money tied up in

one player, the Marlins are going to have a lot of red-headed step brothers around him.

Remember when the Texas Rangers signed A-Rod to that absurd 10-year, $250 million

contract? They couldn't afford to build a team around him and subsequently finished

in last place every season the Steroid King played in Arlington. So, they dumped him

even though he was an MVP and the face of baseball.

Besides hamstringing the  organization when it came to personnel moves, the Rangers
didn't see a dramatic increase in attendance or television ratings. It wasn't a fiscally
responsible deal, and that's being nice. It was just plain stupid.

The same can be said about the one the Marlins gave Stanton which is  the
richest contract in U.S. sports history. Stanton who has 153 home runs in his
brief career, gets a nice bump in pay from the $587,000 salary he made in 2013
to $25 million until 2026. But why the heck were the Marlins in such a rush? Stanton
can't be a free-agent until after the 2016 season.

His season ended in 2013 after getting drilled in the face by a 90-mile-an-hour
fastball. Whose to say Stanton is over the beanball and the mental battles that
may come with it? He hasn't step in the batters box since that day in September.
Shouldn't the Marlins have waited to at least spring training to find out if he's
mentally ready to face 95-miler-an-hour heaters again?

And this isn't an NFL-type mega-deal contract that never approaches the pumped
up number that appears in headlines and SportsCenter. All those $100 million deals
in the NFL are not guaranteed. Do you really think the Cincinnati Bengals are
going to be paying anywhere near the $105 million Andy Dalton is supposed to get
in his contract? As soon as all the guaranteed money (about $40 million) is paid
out and his production tails off, the Bengals will say buh-bye and won't be paying
Dalton a nickel more than what he was guaranteed.

In baseball, every penny of contracts are fully guaranteed even if Stanton or any
other player suffers a career-ending injury. Man, it must be good to be 25-years old
and know that you have all that coin coming to you.

Loria said he hopes the contract gives the fans something to "rally around".
Seriously? When has any fan, even the celebrity-obsessed, get-a-life ones, ever
rallied around a team because they gave one player such an absurd contract?

It's never happened.

And in Miami, a city that's seen too many fire sales to count along with the
shadiness of Loria, this deal isn't exactly going to make them jump through hoops
and dish out big money for season tickets. Not happening. Not for one player.

Stanton is a powerful hitter and a class act on and off the field. But he is not
a mega-star like A-Rod was back then or Mike Trout is today. He's never mentioned
as the best player in the game and is well-back of Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and
even Bryce Harper when it comes to popularity and being "the face" of baseball.
He's not going to draw big crowds on the road or bring monster ratings, after all,
he does play for the Marlins.

After seeing these mega, long-term deals given to the likes of A-Rod, C.C.
Sabathia, Troy Tulowitzki, Mark Texiera, Carl Crawford, Alfonso Soriano,
and a few others, don't these owners learn a thing? Injuries, steroids, apathy,
and just plain bad production come into play and most of the players never
live up to the contract. The owners are paying for what the player did, instead
of what they can do in the future and it's ridiculous.

I know, it's not my money, but it's still ridiculous. This signing will just
throw the entire salary structure out of whack once again. Barry Bonds didn't
earn anything close to Stanton and he belted 73 years home runs one season.
Reverse those numbers and you have the most home runs that Stanton's ever hit
during a season in his career.

Man, you don't think Mike Trout is sitting somewhere with a huge smile
on his face? He's only 23, has already won an MVP and is the real face of
baseball. His $144 million contract is up in five years and you can bet, he'll
shatter the contract given to Stanton. Insanity.

BELICHICK'S LESSON IN 'MOVING ON TO CINCINNATI'

Jonas Gray? Who the heck is Jonas Gray? Sounds like somebody who attended an
elite prep school in New England. Undrafted, cut by the Miami Dolphins, and activated
off the practice squad, he can't be any good, what is Belichick thinking?

Belichick traded Logan Mankins, the second best offensive lineman in team history for
Tim Wright? Oh, that's right, he went to Rutgers and we all know that Belichick just
loves players who wore scarlett and black.

Brandon LaFell? If the stinkin' Carolina Panthers didn't want him, what the heck could
Belichick possibly see in him? The Hoodie has definitely lost it.

"Moving on to Cincinnati?" No, Bill, you have to replay that ugly game in Kansas City
over and over even three days after the fact! We want you to own it. We want you to tell
us that you can't draft, evaluate talent, and the game is passing you by.

Wow. Do any fans or members of the media in New England want a mulligan on that
one? Even in this knee-jerk, rush-to-judgment, convict, and condemn world that we live
in, the vitriol and anger spewed at Belichick and the Patriots after they got crushed in
Kansas City was off the charts ridiculous.

One newspaper went so far as to run a headline asking, "In Bill We Trust?"

It's even more comical considering that in this results-oriented world of the NFL,
Belichick has done nothing but produce great ones over a long period of time. Oh, sure,
the idiot clan in the Commonwealth will say the Patriots haven't won a Super Bowl since
2005. Just wondering how many the Patriots franchise won before Belichick arrived in
Foxborough at the start of the millennium.

Zero.

The Patriots have won three since, been to a total of five, and have strung together
11 consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins. God, Belichick sucks. Do you think the
folks in Cleveland, Jacksonville, New York, Dallas, and just about every other city
that has an NFL team would revel in and enjoy that kind of success? Surely, nobody
would complain about it, and most everyone would give their coach a "pass" or
trust that he'd right the ship.

Since Belichick moved on to Cincinnati, the Patriots have not only gotten back on
course, but are leaving everybody in their wake. The Patriots are 6-0 and averaging nearly
50 points a game. 50 points a game?!!! It's not even December yet, a time when
the Patriots under Belichick historically get better. And you can look it up.

Can you imagine if Belichick lavished Tom Brady with the same type of gifts the
Chicago Bears bestowed upon Jay Cutler? They would most definitely push that number
close to a 100! (Wink, wink).

Oh, yeah, and about that Jonas Gray guy. He torched the Indianapolis Colts for
four touchdowns and nearly 200 yards Sunday. Perhaps, Belichick just got lucky
as he did with Brady when he drafted him in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft,
but I doubt it. Belichick sees what other do not and he now has a jewel of a runner
who could help the Patriots pound the ball like they once did with Corey Dillon
and take the pressure off Brady, opening up the passing game even more with
play-action fakes.

Belichick knows what he's doing. He hasn't 'lost' his ability to evaluate talent and
his penchant for finding players who fit into his system. And make no mistake about
it, the Patriots offense is his system. It's not that of Charlie Weis, Bill O'Brien,
Josh McDaniels, or anyone else who has called a play over the last 13 years.
Belichick designed it and knows the parts needed to make it rev and roll over
defenses in the NFL. Brady is clearly the conductor and the best one in the NFL,
but Belichick has orchestrated everything about it.

This season is looking an awful lot like the one the Patriots endured in 2003. After
Belichick cut popular veteran Lawyer Milloy before the season started, Patriots Nation
questioned the Hoodie. Tom Jackson of ESPN went on air and said the players "hate
their head coach". After starting the season 2-2, the same record this year's version
was after four games, the Patriots ran the table and and won the Super Bowl. They
also achieved it by using a mind-boggling 42 different starters because of injuries.

Yep, Belichick didn't know what he was doing then, and he certainly must not know
what he's doing now.

Hope you learned a great lesson from Belichick, Patriots fans. And while he may
have been 'moving on to Cincinnati', he was really just telling all the doubters:
"See you in Glendale."