Welcome to Tuesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
TUESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Blackhawks at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (Versus)
College basketball: Bucknell at Syracuse, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Butler at Gonzaga, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: College of Charleston at Louisville, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
AROUND THE WEB:
‘¦ Soft-spoken children’s singer Raffi Cavoukian is taking on loud-mouthed hockey analyst Don Cherry. Raffi, a Canadian who is best known for songs such as “Baby Beluga” and “Down by the Bay,” started a Twitter campaign in which he encourages fans to mute Cherry following the former Bruins coach’s rant against people who want to eliminate fighting from the sport.
Hours before Saturday’s Canucks-Leafs game, Raffi pushed his followers to make a statement against concussions and support the elimination of fighting by turning off the sound on their televisions during Cherry’s appearance after the first period.
During the break, Raffi tweeted: “so nice and not loud, like you know who.”
In an interview with the Toronto Star, Raffi further explained his campaign: “For years I’ve been watching him get louder and louder. He sounds and acts like a bully. That’s not fun and it’s not a good example for the kids who are watching.
‘In this day and age of all the hockey violence, we should be putting a stop to this.
‘I like the skilled players and there’s absolutely no call for this guy to demean anybody who isn’t into the violence. That’s just really stupid on any level.
‘I have nothing against the man personally. I’m just saying his act is uncivil and doesn’t belong on our public broadcaster.’
‘¦ The Jets and Giants both are coming off embarrassing losses, but they still don’t lack for confidence as they prepare to face each other. Said Jets coach Rex Ryan: “I recognize that they’re an excellent football team, but I think we’re better.” Responded Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka: “I know we’re the better team. We just have to go out and prove it.”
Ryan also went to his old standby of saying he won’t be second fiddle to anyone.
‘Certainly, we were the better team the [last] two years,’ Ryan said. ‘We made the playoffs and went to the [AFC] championship game. To say a team’s better than you that never made the playoffs is ridiculous. Clearly, we were the better team my first two years. We get to prove it Saturday who the best team is this year.
‘There’s a lot of talk going back and forth, most of it driven by me. But I’ll stand by anything I’ve ever said. I didn’t come here to be anybody’s little brother. I came here to win, to be looked at that way and to take over not just this city, even though it’s the city to take over, but also this league. I haven’t accomplished that yet. Saturday, I think, will go a long way to doing that.
‘We have to win this game, we have to get in the playoffs, and the Giants have to do the same. So, it’s going to be huge.’
Giants cornerback Antrel Rolle, who said last week that he thought his team would beat the Redskins 99 times out of 100 before Sunday’s loss to Washington, learned his lesson. Asked if could predict how many times the Giants would beat the Jets out of 100, he said: “I really think I’m done answering that question. Washington made me put my foot in my mouth. I think it’s still there.”
‘¦ Todd O’Brien, a center who played for the basketball team at St. Joseph’s the past two seasons, wrote a first-person account of his inability to get the school to sign a waiver allowing him to play one season at Alabama-Birmingham while he attends graduate school there. Longtime St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli comes off as vindictive and petty in the story.
‘¦ Real Clear Sports has a top 10 list of people/teams for whom Christmas came early. No. 1 is Tim Tebow’s Broncos, followed by the new-look Clippers and the University of Alabama football team.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Dec. 20, 1964, the Patriots ended their season with a 24-14 loss to the Bills. Despite failing to score in the game, which Patriots player finished the season with an AFL record 155 points?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Chad was in there, he really got us started. That was a huge touchdown catch. Every week he gets more and more comfortable. I wish I found ways to get him the ball more, and I’ve got to find ways to get him the ball more. He’s really embraced his role. He’s a great teammate. He’s fun to be around. And every week he gains more confidence. Hopefully we continue to build on it.” – Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, on Monday’s Dennis & Callahan show, talking about receiver Chad Ochocinco
STAT OF THE DAY: 17-0 – The Bruins’ record when leading after two periods, with Monday’s 3-2 victory over the Canadiens the latest to add to the streak
‘NET RESULTS: DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers throws down a thunderous dunk over Lakers big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum in Monday night’s preseason game.
Jhaustin Thomas and Chris Horton of Georgia’s Columbia High School break the backboard with a double dunk.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Receiver/kicker Gino Cappelletti
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson turns 45 Tuesday.
