36,000 Take To The Streets Of Boston

((HT: WBZ-TV))

It was a cool gesture that personifies the whole Boston Marathon/Boston Strong mentality

Tatyana McFadden won the Women's Wheelchair Division race today. She was racing for Team MR8- the Martin Richard-support team that was running in his memory and foundation...

But it was what she did afterwards that was awesome...


For McFadden, who turned 25 today, this was her second Boston Marathon and second consecutive victory.

Meb Keflezighi won the men's side and Rita Jeptoo won the race for the third time- making her the seventh runner to perform that feat...

DEVELOPING: Boston PD Bomb Squad Tipping Backpacks At Marathon Finish Line (UPDATED W/Arrest And Contents)

((HT: MyFoxBoston/WHDH-TV's Sarah S. French's Instagram via Trenni Kusnierek))

On the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, a gentleman has been taken into custody for allegedly dropping two suspicious-looking backpacks near the finish line. The Green Line train system service has been suspended at the Copley Street stop while the bomb squad for Boston Police is investigating and has used a robot to tip the first backpack.

Here's the video of the gentleman in custody who is suspected of dropping the two backpacks on Boylston Street


There is also a shelter-in-place for everyone on Boylston Street at present.

More when we know more...

2030 UPDATE: There are conflicting reports out, but one network is reporting the suspect has thrown down "multiple" backpacks and not just the initial number of two...

2100 UPDATE: Boston Police bomb squad has detonated one of the backpacks

2145 UPDATE: The second backpack was detonated as well. The contents are not known at present...

2240 UPDATE: Superintendent Randy Halstead of Boston Police is saying at his press conference that the suspect has been charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and possession of a hoax device after finding a rice cooker in the first backpack. Halstead would not go into the details of the second backpack.

2320 UPDATE: From WBZ-TV's Katie Brace through her Twitter...

Second bag was camera equipment.

One bag was rice cooker filled with confetti - a man is in custody on several charges.

"Toronto Stronger" Or Not...

((HT: @nicklachey_10))

Stay classy, Leafs Fan...

This was a sign outside the ACC for Game 3 of the Bruins-Maple Leafs series...

And unless your city just got bombed... this has no place being created or seen...

Since the HQ knows a lot of Leafs fans, we know this is not a thought of the majority- just someone who was far from clever...

Boston Strong Personified At Bruins Game 2

((HT: NESN/NHL))

The Boston Bruins are honoring those close to their city every home game the Bruins have during the Stanley Cup playoffs unedr their "Boston Strong" banner...

Last night, a Marathon runner who lost both his legs in the bombing was the honoree. Jeff Bauman, a worker for Costco, got to come out and wave the flag before the game with the Maple Leafs...

And it was cool...

Here's the ceremony...
"I want to thank everyone for their amazing support for me and all those injured and their families," Bauman said in a statement. "I'm making great progress and I thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. "Please continue to respect our space at this time," he said. "I want to thank the Bruins players and organization for the generosity and support for all those impacted. Like all those in Black and Gold, I can't wait to see them on another quest for the Cup."

Neil Diamond Drops By to Sing Sweet Caroline at Red Sox Game

How's that for a surprise?

According to the Boston Red Sox radio team, music legend Neil Diamond decided to show up on his own at Saturday afternoons Red Sox game to sing his hit and team inspirational song Sweet Caroline. And there is video to prove it. (ha!)

And quite honestly, it was another in the ever-growing list of inspirational moments this week in the beleaguered but recovering city.

And yeah, it's enough to give you the chills....(thanks MLB.com)



Oh, by the way, the Red Sox beat the Royals 4-3 behind Daniel Nava's 2-run, 8th inning home run. Just in case you were wondering....

Bruins Pre-Game Salutes Marathon Bomber Victims

((HT: ROOT Sports/NHL))

It was another chance for the city of Boston to give thanks after a tough week...

Both Rene Rancourt and Phillip Phillips did it well...

Here's the salute which hits home again...


It didn't have the colorful metaphors like they had at Fenway, but it had the exact same message...

Papi F-Bombs Marathon Bombers

((HT: NESN/MLB))

David Ortiz did what a lot of Bostonians thought and felt over the last five days...
The words were simple and very effective...


Amen, Big Papi...
A-men...

Classy Moves For UMass Spring Game

The HQ admittedly gives the UMass football program a lot of grief because, well frankly, they're a very bad Division I football team. The Minutemen were a solid I-AA program that saw the dollars of the big money conference contracts...

And they're getting slaughtered...

But, in the wake of what has happened over the last week in Massachusetts, the team and school are doing a really classy thing for their spring game...

UMass is doing a really cool thing...

UMass football head coach Charley Molnar, offered everyone the chance to ran in the marathon a chance to `Cross The Finish Line' at the Spring game. The runners who attended the spring game on campus got to take a lap around the field, and cross the finish line which will be set-up at the 50-yard line.

"Competing in the Boston Marathon is a lifetime achievement and something to be celebrated," said Molnar who has run everyday for the past five years. "These runners deserve to finish what they started and we hope we can provide that for them. We want them to have that feeling of coming down the home stretch to the sound of applause and to have their friends and families greet them as they cross the line."

In addition, the team shares in the grief and celebration of those whose lives were lost during the criminal run of the Boston Marathon bombers. Special stickers are on the back of the player's helmets and the names of those lost and the phrase #BostonStrong makes its way onto the player's backs.

So, huzzahs to the folks in Amherst for all their thoughts on Saturday...

Developing: Boston Sports on Hold While Search Continues (Update)

Without delving too deeply into the events unfolding in the Boston Metro area that we can't possibly keep up with, we'll just mention their  impact on area Sports.

With the entire city essentially on lockdown as authorities try to corral the remaining suspect in the Boston Marathon Bombing, the city's two pro sports franchises currently playing have put their plans for the day on hold.

The Boston Bruins have put all morning skates on hold Friday. The Bruins are scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Penguins at the TD Garden Friday night.

As of 11:15 a.m Friday, no decision has been made whether or not to play.

The Boston Red Sox also have a scheduled home game Friday night. That game is on hold, it hasn't been postponed, but we're guessing whether or not it's played will depend on how events progress in the city.

Our suggestion would be to keep an eye on the teams social media sites. That would be the best way to keep up on the availability of the games.

((UPDATED--The games will not be played, both have been cancelled. The Red Sox have not rescheduled as of yet, the Bruins game is tentatively scheduled for 12:30 p.m on Saturday--Boston College's football team cancelled their Saturday Spring Game as well))

Boston Sings Anthem In First Event Since Marathon

((HT: NBCSN/NHL/SB Nation))

The only word that the HQ can use for this is amazing...
#BostonStrong


Nathan Paille, 5:45 in, got the crowd even more involved with the first goal of the game against the Sabres...

More when we have more...

And here's the tribute that aired inside the arena before the anthem was sung...
((HT: NHL.com/NBCSN))