Canton Sports Guy: Fans have lots to be thankful for

By Chris Peltier

It’s that time of year again, and as Boston sports fans we certainly have plenty to be thankful for. Tom Brady is continuing his NFL revenge tour — getting the smallest measure of it against the New York Giants. A regular season win is hardly “revenge” for the two Super Bowl defeats, but it’s a start. I think a lot of the problems with the Giants are mental — if there’s one team that appears to be able to get inside Tom’s head, it’s them. Since the 2008 season, the Giants were the only team Tom and company had not defeated. Many are saying that the Patriots may not lose a game this year, which is both exciting and terrifying. Of course, we all know how undefeated seasons can end, and personally I think a regular season loss or two is worth not having that added pressure come playoff time. On the other side of that coin, Brady proves time and time again that preforming under pressure is second nature.

I’m especially thankful for Tom Brady, as it’s sort of sad to see Broncos fans out here continue to argue that Peyton Manning is the greatest of all time. Sure, he passed Brett Favre for most career passing yards two weeks ago, but in that game he also threw four interceptions and was benched. It is obvious that he had been playing through injury, which is commendable, but it appears that Manning is just running out of gas. However, some minds just can’t be changed. People hate Brady because he is the best — and continues to prove it. Even when trying to commiserate with Broncos fans, telling them “Hey, the Patriots thought they were in trouble when Drew Bledsoe went down, and they had to go with an unknown backup named Tom Brady,” I am met with disdain. “Brock Osweiler will end up better than Brady!” is a sentence I have heard. I’m not kidding. So, as you sit down and enjoy your turkey, be thankful that you are not as delusional as most Broncos fans out here.

Finally, condolences go out to Doug Flutie and his family during this tough time. Last week the parents of the former BC hero and New England Patriot passed away within an hour of each other. The tragedy did not stop Flutie from being in the broadcast booth for last weekend’s Boston College vs. Notre Dame game at Fenway Park.

Lauren Berman (www.bceagles.com)

In local news, congratulations go out to Lauren Berman and Kensey Waterman, two members of the 2011 state finalist Canton High girls soccer team who both played in the NCAA Division 1 Tournament this past week.

Berman and the Boston College Eagles (11-7-2) traveled to Princeton to take on the Tigers (14-3-1) in first round action. Princeton jumped out to an early lead with two unanswered goals, until the Eagles’ McKenzie Meehan was able to put her own rebound in to bring the Eagles within one, which would unfortunately be the closest they got all game. The Tigers would put up two more to make the score 4-1, until Berman was able to score late in the second half to make it 4-2, which would ultimately be the final. Berman’s goal came off a rebound that the Princeton goalie was unable to handle. Berman finished the game with three shots. Over this past season, she started all 20 games in the midfield, finishing with three goals on 22 shots to go along with four assists.

Kensey Waterman (www.sienasaints.com)

Meanwhile, Waterman and the Sienna Saints (12-7-3) were also on the road for the first round as they traveled to Connecticut to take on the UConn Huskies (18-3-0). Unfortunately, the Saints were overmatched by the Huskies, who would go on to win the game 5-0. Sienna would only manage to put one shot on goal all game. Despite the loss, it was a storybook year for the Saints, as they won their program’s second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship earlier in November. The sixth-seeded Saints upset No. 2 ranked Manhattan College in the title game 5-2. Waterman scored Siena’s fourth goal off a one timer. No one can argue that the Saints got an easy draw for that tournament, as they defeated top-seeded Monmouth as well as No. 3 Marist to get to the championship. Waterman started 21 games in the back this season for the Saints, scoring one goal on seven shots with one assist.

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