Tigers 2, Red Sox 0: Sox fall in series finale

If the NFL Network is wondering why there was a peculiar bump in the ratings for last night's Panthers/Dolphins game in a New England city 725 miles away from Charlotte, it might come down to two words: Mackenzy Bernadeau.
 

The third time was the charm for the Bentley University women's volleyball team. The Falcons, who had dropped a pair of five-setters to Adelphi University earlier in the season, turned the tables on the Panthers, prevailing in five sets again in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II East Regional last night at the Dowling Gymnasium.
 

The Bruins finally figured out how to win a game after 60 minutes were up. Patrice Bergeron had the only goal of the shootout after Michael Ryder scored twice in regulation, lifting Boston to a 4-3 victory over Atlanta that snapped the Thrashers' four-game winning streak Thursday night.

Jerod Mayo insists that there is no need for him to undergo a physical at this point in time. One of the New England Patriots' two defensive captains (nose tackle Vince Wilfork is the other), Mayo insists the temperature of his blood hasn't risen.

David Ortiz isn't specifically imploring the Red Sox to sign Jason Bay, but he knows one thing: if not Bay, they need a replacement. Ortiz spoke at an opportune time yesterday as he promoted his Dec. 3-6 charity golf tournament in the Dominican Republic to benefit his children's charity (http://www.davidortizchildrensfund.org/).

Promise has disappeared. Still, patience is needed. Michigan hosts Ohio State on Saturday, the latest installment in perhaps the greatest rivalry in all of college football. It's a time when the nation's attention should be focused on Ann Arbor, where well over 100,000 decked out in maize and blue will try to make life miserable for anyone daring to don scarlet and gray.

The Celtics had the Magic beaten in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, and let them get away. Then they paid for it dearly in Game 7 when they were hammered on their home court. What might have been had the Celtics closed out Orlando will remain forever unanswered.

Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss and Jets cornerback Darrell Revis are the game within Sunday's game. It was Revis and New York who had the upper hand earlier this year.

Senior All-America Jason Westrol scored a game-high 16 points and senior John Brandt led a strong bench effort with 14 points as Bentley University shot down Merrimack College, 72-58, last night at the Volpe Gym in a battle for early season supremacy in the Northeast-10 Conference.
 

Wheaton College men's basketball junior and Watertown High alumnus Anthony Coppola became the 12th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point milestone, hitting the plateau during the Lyons' season opener at Emerson College on Tuesday.