We have them, your 2025 Hateable Eight. Several have been here before, others in uncharted territory.
The Hateable Eight round will start Thursday, March 27th, then The Four You Deplore will battle it out Monday March 31st. Consolation Match Tuesday April 1st, and the Championship on Thursday, April 3rd.
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FOR RELEASE ON MARCH 14, 2025, EMBARGO UNTIL 7 PM EDT
March 14, 2025
Area Sportswriter Discovered to be Alive
The15, after a short but thorough investigation have determined that Sean McAdam and the late Nick Cafardo are two different people entirely, with only half of them being dead. A graphic from the March 12, 2025 article March Mediot Madness Intermission Update & Errata incorrectly identified Mr. McAdam as being the late Mr. Cafardo. We regret the mistake, and any understandable consternation that it may have caused with either of their respective groups of families, friends, and coworkers. We will be more careful in the future and wish Mr. McAdam continued long life and employment with MassLive, which is a real thing.
March 14, 2025
We So Solly
it has come to the attention of The15 that the name of a former employee of this organization is on the list of alleged high-end brothel clients that was released in Cambridge District Court either today, or at a later probable cause hearing. However, a review of our records indicate said employee was previously fired before this occurred for an entirely unrelated sexual transgression. Therefore, we consider the matter concluded.
The 15 are a news gathering collaborative of concerned citizens designed to combat hottakes, specifically as it pertains to Boston sports.
So far, the only underdog to pull off the win has been Wild Card Meghan Ottolini, ousting fake 10 seed Jeff Howe. The matches will resume Thursday (six early, then six more later) and the remaining ten on Friday.
Tomorrow’s contestants will be Daniels/Barth, Zolak/ Keefe, Ted Johnson/ Gary Washburn, Jones/ Cotillo, Curtis/Caron, Finn/Barrett, Toucher/O’B, Guregian/Bradfo, Arcand/KPD, Lifshatz/Cox, and Pete Abe/Burton the Elder.
Sharp-eyed viewers noticed that there was a discrepancy between the initial listing of the field of 64, and the contestants that were on the bracket. Due to a terrible mistake, Sean McAdam was erroneously listed in that first post. We can only theorize the recent 5th anniversary of his tragic passing had him top of mind. He was subsequently replaced on the bracket with MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. We regret the error.
Let’s hear it for these local media ‘personalities’ who have been involved in this tournament since its inception. Some obvious names, and some unexpected ones. Might one of them finally take home the crown?
Pete Abraham
Christian Arcand
Marc Bertrand
Albert Breer
Trenni Casey
Kevin F. Paul Dupont
Michael Felger
Chad Finn
Christopher Gasper
Mike Giardi
Joe Haggerty
Andy Hart
Adam Jones
Rich Keefe
Tony Massarotti
Jim Murray
Bob Ryan
Dan Shaughnessy
Jerry Thornton
Fred Toucher
Scott Zolak
By Vinny Jace, Special to the15net dot com:
A loaded Celtics team faced a hidden challenge heading into the preseason: How would they manage the minutes when Al Horford wasn’t on the floor, given Kristaps Porzingis would be out until at least Christmas?
The Celtics’ offensive strategy was well-balanced this season: – They ranked among the top 3 teams in three-point attempts – Simultaneously maintained a strong post presence (2nd in post-up attempts) – Led the league in post-up efficiency (1.13 PPP)
Queta doesn’t shoot threes, but he dunks. Like, a lot. In Boston’s first seven games, Queta dunked eight times in 97 minutes(!). Playing against a team lacking in size like Golden State, Queta feasted, dunking four times in 28 minutes in his largest stint of the season. Queta dominated with four dunks in 28 minutes, his longest playing time of the season.
Boston doesn’t need to be great in the paint to win. They do need to be a credible threat so when the defense collapses they aren’t discombobulated when the threes aren’t falling and they’re being blocked from the basket.
Last season backup center Luke Kornet played the role as an effective stop-gap big man. He was a steady presence, able to use his long arms to disrupt offenses by effectively protecting the rim and jumping to block the shooters view of the basket, which became nominally known as the “Kornet Contest.” However, his ability to score efficiency fell off. His previous mark of 70% from the field now sits at 58%.
Queta: – Opponents shoot 59% from 6 feet – 5.7 attempts per game
Kornet: – Opponents shoot 62% from 6 feet – 4.4 attempts per game
The trade-offs between Queta and Kornet are: Kornet is longer, can cause disruption on the defensive side more effectively than Queta. Queta is way more athletic and provides an energy reminiscent to Robert Williams. Dunks are among the most valuable shots in the modern NBA, and Queta possessing the ability to bulldoze his way to the basket at will is a helluva ace to have up your sleeve.
Queta, not Tatum or White or Jaylen Brown, is Boston’s leader in net rating this season at plus-20.2. Sitting prettily above Shai-Gilgeous Alexander at 7th on the net rating rankings. A lot of this has to do with Tatum’s effectiveness with the all-bench lineup, where the fruits of Joe Mazzulla’s brand of basketball really takes shape. Generating clean open looks from beyond the arc, that also makes the paint more accessible for players like Queta to capitalize off lobs and PnRs.
Given these promising early returns from Queta’s performance, there’s strong reason to believe he’ll provide excellent value on his current contract. If Queta can merely do what Kornet did last season and keep the team afloat in the dog days, he’ll exceed the value of his small $2.2 million contract.
Vinny Jace appears on the Entitled Weekend podcast. He does not live in Albufiera.
Our Intern Street Team was out and about over the weekend asking the locals, “What are you going as for Halloween?” That went so well we sent them out again.
Happy Halloween, everybody.
Our Intern Street Team was out and about over the weekend asking the locals, “What are you going as for Halloween?”
Have a Happy Halloween, everybody.
By A.I. Bot Breer:
Foxborough, MA – The New England Patriots are on a perfectly executed path to future dominance at the quarter mark of the 2024 season, and anyone who doubts this could be missing the bigger picture. Despite their current 2-6 record, which is simply a minor blip on their trajectory, the Patriots have laid the foundation for what will surely be a return to glory in the coming years. Head coach Jerod Mayo has created a master plan that emphasizes long-term growth, and we are seeing the early stages of a renaissance!
First, let’s talk about the defense. Christian Gonzalez and Keion White are emerging as superstar talents. Gonzalez has been a shutdown corner, neutralizing some of the league’s top wide receivers, and White is already one of the best pass rushers in the NFL with four sacks in just four games, on par with elite defenders like Myles Garrett. It’s clear this defensive duo will lead the league for years to come.
On offense, while some may criticize the passing game, the Patriots are playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. Rhamondre Stevenson is a beast, leading a ground attack ranked 12th in the league, averaging 127 rushing yards per game. Forget the fumbles; that’s just the universe throwing obstacles in the path to greatness. With time, Stevenson’s ball security will match his explosive playmaking ability, making him one of the most feared backs in the NFL. Yes, the offensive line has had some hiccups, but that’s just part of the Patriots’ master plan to build resilience. The team is rotating through linemen at a breakneck pace, preparing for a future where no other franchise will be able to match their depth and versatility.
As for the quarterback situation, Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye are part of a visionary strategy designed to slowly but surely cultivate a future superstar. The Patriots aren’t concerned with short-term optics; they are focused on building a sustainable system that will once again make them perennial favorites in the AFC.
Mark it down—this team is on the brink of something special. Give them time, and they may soon reign over the AFC East again.
Note: Old Friend ‘Uncle Gizmo’ took a cue from a recent Entitled Town podcast. He input into ChatGPT: “I’d like to create a story in the current style of Albert Breer. It would be a glowing story about New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo and would use as its base Patriots media releases for the last month.” The first result was Jerod Mayo: The Emerging Leader Patriots Fans Always Needed. You just read the follow-up, written after NFL Week 5.
The 15 