Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Digital Sports Desk

Bruins Sign Patrice Bergeron for a Year

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins signed forward Patrice Bergeron to a one-year contract through the 2022-23 season worth $2.5 million, plus an additional $2.5 million in performance-based incentives.  The announcement was made by Bruins GM Don Sweeney.

Bergeron, 37, is entering his 19th NHL season, all with the Bruins. The L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec native ranks third in Bruins history in games played (1,216) and game-winning goals (74), fourth in goals (400), assists (582) and points (982). The 6-foot-1, 195-pound centerman also ranks second in Bruins history in playoff games played (167), playoff points (127), third in playoff assists (78) and tied for third in playoff goals (49).

Among active NHL players, Bergeron ranks third in plus/minus (plus-254), ninth in points and games played, 10th in assists and 12th in goals. Bergeron also ranks seventh among active players in playoff points and playoff assists, eighth in playoff games played and tied for eighth in playoff goals.

In 2021-22, the Bruins captain appeared in 73 games, tallying 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points with a plus-16 rating. In seven playoff games, Bergeron recorded three goals and four assists for seven points.

Following the season, Bergeron was named the winner of the 2022 Frank J. Selke Trophy, given annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game as judged by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. It was the fifth time in his career that Bergeron has won the Selke Trophy, the most ever by a player in NHL history. Bergeron previously won the award in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

Bergeron was originally selected by Boston in the second round (45th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Sox Acquire Hosmer at Trade Deadline

by

BOSTON – On the final day of the MLB trading deadline, the Boston Red Sox acquired first baseman Eric Hosmer, minor league infielder Max Ferguson, minor league outfielder Corey Rosier, and cash considerations from the San Diego Padres, in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Jay Groome.

The trades follow Red Sox moves of Monday to acquire reserve OF Tommy Pham and other minor league prospects, along with the activation of veteran pitcher Rich Hill.

Hosmer, 32, has played in 1,644 games with the Kansas City Royals (2011-17) and Padres (2018-22), batting .277 (1,720-for-6,210) with 196 home runs, 875 RBI, and a .765 OPS. Selected by Kansas City in the first round (third overall) of the 2008 June Draft, the left-handed batter is a four-time Gold Glove Award recipient (2013-15, ’17) and was twice honored as the Les Milgram Royals Player of the Year (2013, 2016). His lone All-Star Game appearance came in 2016, when he was named MVP of the Midsummer Classic. Born in South Miami, Hosmer was the Royals’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2014 and 2016. He should fit in nicely at 1B and be able to take advantage of Fenway Park’s configuration.

In 2022, Hosmer has hit .272 (91-for-335) with 16 doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBI, and a .727 OPS in 90 games. He was a key member of Kansas City’s 2015 World Series championship club, and in 2017 he helped Team USA win the World Baseball Classic title. No player in Royals history has more postseason RBI than Hosmer’s 29, as he set a single-postseason franchise record with 12 in 2014 and then broke his own mark with 17 during the club’s title-winning run in 2015. In 24 career games at Fenway Park, Hosmer has gone 35-for-99 (.354) with three home runs. He has recorded a higher batting average and OPS (.889) at Fenway than he has at any ballpark in which he has played at least 20 games.

Ferguson, 22, is ranked by Baseball America as the Padres’ No. 23 prospect. In 2022, the left-handed hitter has batted .221 (76-for-344) in 91 games between Low-A Lake Elsinore and High-A Fort Wayne, recording a .365 on-base percentage with 13 doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 50 RBI, 77 runs scored, 75 walks, and 55 stolen bases in 60 attempts. Selected by San Diego in the fifth round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee, Ferguson ranks third in Minor League Baseball in steals. This season, he has made 55 starts at shortstop, 25 at second base, seven in center field, and two at designated hitter.

Rosier, 22, has spent the entire 2022 season with Fort Wayne, batting .263 (81-for-308) in 85 games with a .381 on-base percentage, seven doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 54 walks, and 33 stolen bases in 37 attempts. Selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he has made 77 starts in left field and seven in center field this season. During his current 10-game hitting streak, which began July 17, Rosier has hit .447 (17-for-38) with 10 RBI and seven steals.

Groome, 23, is 4-5 with a 3.59 ERA (37 ER/92.2 IP) in 19 appearances (17 starts) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this season. Ranked as one of Boston’s top prospects by both Baseball America (No. 13) and MLB.com (No. 11), the left-hander is 12-22 with a 4.46 ERA (127 ER/256.0 IP) in 60 career minor league appearances (58 starts) since being selected by Boston in the first round (12th overall) in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.

Frood Named NLL Commissioner

by

PHILADELPHIA – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The National Lacrosse League named Brett Frood as Commissioner. Frood joined the NLL from Stewart-Haas Racing, where he has served as President of the NASCAR team since its inception in 2008, leading all business initiatives for the championship-winning organization co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and industrialist Gene Haas.

Brett Frood (NLL)

Frood, who will begin his new role on September 1, will become the fifth Commissioner for the NLL since its relaunch in 1997. CAA Executive Search assisted the NLL Board of Governors in the search process.

“Brett Frood has known success at every turn of his career, from playing lacrosse at a championship level at Brown to building out one of the most successful properties in sports at Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Matt Hutchings, COO and EVP at Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, owner of the NLL Champion Colorado Mammoth, speaking as Chairman of the NLL Board of Governors. “That combination is both unique and perfect to lead the National Lacrosse League in the accelerated growth period that we are currently in and will now continue and expand under his leadership.”

“I am humbled and energized to be able to work alongside a group of motivated and sophisticated owners and organizations to continue to cultivate the best product in professional sports,” Frood said. “The NLL provides such a unique opportunity to marry my professional and personal passions and grow enterprise value amongst all its constituents.”

“We conducted a thorough search process and spent time with an extremely deep pool of candidates from multiple areas of our industry,” said Erik Baker, Board member of New York Riptide owner GF Sports and Entertainment, and Jamie Dawick, owner of the Toronto Rock, co-chairs of the search committee of the NLL Board of Governors. “Brett is everything we were looking for. He brings an amazing track record of business success, a passion and deep understanding of lacrosse and a clear vision of where we want to go as a league. He will be the perfect leader for the NLL and a welcome difference maker in taking the sport of lacrosse to the next level.”

A native of Elbridge, N.Y., Frood played lacrosse at his undergraduate alma mater, Brown University, where he was a multi-year starter, team captain, Final Four member, and two-time Ivy League Champion at Attack/Midfield for the Bears. He also led the team in scoring his senior season.

Frood joined Stewart, the championship-winning INDYCAR and NASCAR driver, 18 years ago after graduating from Harvard Business School to manage and expand all of Stewart’s business interests, including, but not limited to, Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Tony Stewart Racing, The Tony Stewart Foundation, the introduction of Tony Stewart’s Original food line, the All-Star Circuit of Champions, and the 2021 launch of Superstar Racing Experience, a primetime racing series airing on CBS.

As President of Stewart-Haas Racing, Frood managed all aspects of the racing and commercial operations of the $100M+ enterprise that won two NASCAR Cup Series championships (2011 and 2014) and a NASCAR Xfinity Series title (2018) while totaling more than 90 victories. During his tenure at Stewart-Haas Racing, Frood led an organization with 350 employees and negotiated over $600 million in corporate partnerships. He also represented Stewart-Haas Racing on the Race Team Alliance, an organization consisting of all NASCAR Cup Series teams with the goal of promoting, marketing and expanding commercial opportunities of the teams and drivers as well as working with NASCAR in the collective growth of the industry.

MLB Trade Deadline: Sox Make Moves

by

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox traded catcher and team mainstay Christian Vázquez to the Houston Astros in exchange for minor league infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez and minor league outfielder Wilyer Abreu. The move coincided with the Sox activating pitcher Rich Hill and recalling catcher Ronaldo Hernandez from Triple-A Worcester.

Vázquez, 31, has hit .262 (610-for-2,329) with 54 home runs in 698 Major League games, all with the Red Sox. Selected by Boston in the ninth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, he ranks fifth in franchise history with 651 games at catcher. Vázquez caught the final pitch of the 2018 World Series, as the Red Sox went 9-1 in his 10 starts during their Postseason run. In the 2021 American League Division Series, he ended Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 13th-inning home run, the latest walk-off homer in Boston’s Postseason history. Since the start of 2019, Vázquez leads the majors in games caught (371).

Valdez, 23, is ranked by Baseball America as the Astros’ No. 12 prospect. The left-handed hitter has split the 2022 season between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, batting .327 (107-for-327) in 82 games with a 1.016 OPS, 26 doubles, one triple, 21 home runs, 77 RBI, and 66 runs scored. This season, he has made 36 starts at second base, 17 at third base, 14 in left field, and eight at designated hitter. Born in the Dominican Republic, Valdez was signed by the Astros as an international free agent in July 2015. He is one of only four minor leaguers in 2022 with at least a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and 20 home runs.

Abreu, 23, is ranked by Baseball America as the Astros’ No. 21 prospect. The left-handed hitter has spent the entire 2022 season with Corpus Christi, playing in 89 games and batting .249 (82-for-329) with 24 doubles, 15 home runs, 54 RBI, 81 runs scored, 78 walks, a .399 on-base percentage, an .858 OPS, and 23 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He has made 44 starts in center field this season, as well as 22 in left field, 17 in right field, and five at designated hitter. Among all minor leaguers, Abreu ranks third in walks and is tied for third in runs scored. Born in Venezuela, he signed with the Astros as an international free agent in July 2017.

Hernandez, 24, is batting .279 (81-for-290) with 23 doubles, 10 home runs, and 45 RBI in 74 games this season, including .326 (56-for-172) with an .876 OPS, 23 extra-base hits, and 29 RBI in 43 games beginning June 4. He has made 48 starts at catcher this season, throwing out 10 of 46 attempted base stealers (21.7%). Hernandez was recalled on April 19 but did not appear in that night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays before being optioned to Worcester the following day. His first appearance will be his Major League debut.

Hill, 42, was placed on the 15-Day Injured List on July 2 with a left knee sprain. The left-hander made one rehab start, allowing one run over 3.0 innings on July 28 for Double-A Portland at Hartford. Hill is 4-4 with a 4.20 ERA (33 ER/70.2 IP) in 15 starts for Boston this season, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his outings.

On Monday, the Red Sox acquired outfielder Tommy Pham from the Cincinnati Reds, in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Pham, 34, is batting .238 (81-for-340) with 11 home runs and 39 RBI in 91 games for the Reds this season, making 82 starts in left field. The right-handed hitter ranks third among Major League left fielders with seven outfield assists. Against left-handed pitching this season, Pham has hit .290 (27-for-93) with an .833 OPS, four doubles, and four home runs.

Selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 16th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Durango High School (NV), Pham has hit .261 (717-for-2,743) with 108 home runs and 339 RBI in 823 games for the Cardinals (2014-18), Tampa Bay Rays (2018-19), San Diego Padres (2020-21), and Reds (2022). He has played in 15 Postseason games for the Cardinals (2015), Rays (2019), and Padres (2020), hitting .352 (19-for-

Sixers Contemplate New Arena for ’31

by

PHILADELPHIA – (Staff and Wire Report) – Will there be the “Fashion Street Bullies” of the NBA? The Philadelphia 76ers organization is proposing a privately funded new arena in the downtown, intended to be complete by the time the Sixers’ lease expires at the Wells Fargo Center in 2031, a building largely run by the parent group of the Philadelphia Flyers, once known as the “Broad Street Bullies,” because of the old Philly Spectrum’s location.

“We’re committed to building a world-class home in the heart of the city and creating a privately-funded arena that strengthens ties within the local community,” said Josh Harris, the Sixers’ managing partner.

Embed from Getty Images

At 18,000 seats, the capacity of the new indoor arena would shrink by about 2,000 compared to the Wells Fargo Center.

The project is a joint venture between the Sixers, the Fashion District shopping center’s California-based operator Macerich, and Philadelphia real estate magnate David Adelman, the owner of Campus Apartments.

Car parking would be an issue at the new location, especially for fans travelling from southern New Jersey, Delaware and suburban Pennsylvania.

FSG: Calls on Swinehart

by

BOSTON – (Staff Reports from Official News Release) – Fenway Sports Group named Julie Swinehart as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. In her role, Ms. Swinehart will oversee finance and accounting practices across FSG’s portfolio, serve as an advisor on all strategic investment initiatives, and have lead responsibility for financial reporting to FSG’s ownership group, investors, and banking partners.

“Over the years, we have assembled a group of impressive executives who have helped build the company into the global platform it is today,” said FSG principal owner John Henry. “With a background of public company experience as a CFO Julie brings a wealth of talent and strategic experience. We look forward to her leading our financial group for the next chapter of FSG’s evolution.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining this proven, high-caliber organization and group of talented professionals,” said Julie Swinehart. “Drawing on my past professional experiences with public companies, I’m excited to further elevate the FSG platform and position the company for continued growth.”

Ms. Swinehart is a seasoned finance and accounting professional who joins FSG at an important phase in the company’s growth, bringing more than 15 years of public REIT experience and eight years of accounting experience. She previously worked for Retail Properties of America, Inc. (RPAI) where she most recently held the position of Executive Vice President, CFO and Treasurer before the publicly-traded company was merged with Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG). During her time at RPAI, Swinehart helped take the company through its IPO in 2012 shortly after being appointed Vice President of Financial Reporting. She was later promoted to Corporate Controller, to Chief Accounting Officer and in 2018, named CFO.

Ms. Swinehart holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and is an active member of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Illinois CPA Society. Her current community involvement includes serving as Treasurer and Trustee at the Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove, Illinois, and as Finance Committee Chair and board member of Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois.

Ignite Join Whole Lotta Knights in Vegas

by

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official League News Release) – With three Top 10 NBA Draft picks in the last two seasons – the most by any program in that span – NBA G League Ignite looks to continue building on its success with a state-of-the-art new home in Henderson, Nev. Ignite will begin playing its home games at The Dollar Loan Center in 2022-23, NBA G League President said.

Operated by the Foley Entertainment Group, the Dollar Loan Center is a multi-purpose facility that opened in March 2022 and seats more than 5,000 people. It is also home to the American Hockey League affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights – the Henderson Silver Knights – and the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Foley Entertainment Group, The Dollar Loan Center and the City of Henderson to create a new home for Ignite in a first-class facility near one of the world’s premiere sports and entertainment destinations,” Abdur-Rahim said. “With avid sports fans in the Las Vegas area who have quickly embraced their hockey, football and WNBA teams, we can’t wait for NBA G League Ignite to showcase its future NBA stars and exciting brand of basketball.”

The move to Henderson marks the beginning of a multi-year partnership between the NBA G League, Foley Entertainment Group and the City of Henderson. After training in Walnut Creek, Calif. and playing in Las Vegas in 2021-22, Ignite will relocate to Henderson full-time.

“NBA G League Ignite is another elite professional sports organization that we are thrilled to bring to the Henderson community and The Dollar Loan Center,” said Foley Entertainment Group CEO Kerry Bubolz. “These future NBA stars will get a first-class home and we know our fans will enjoy seeing such talented players in an intimate, family-friendly arena.”

Fans can place season-ticket deposits now for Ignite’s home schedule at The Dollar Loan Center.  The Dollar Loan Center is an all-new multi-purpose venue in Henderson, NV, just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, featuring a 5,567 fixed seating capacity for hockey and indoor football. A product of a public-private partnership between the City of Henderson and a group of investors led by Bill Foley, The Dollar Loan Center opened in March 2022 and is operated by the Foley Entertainment Group. The Dollar Loan Center is the home of the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights, the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks, the Big West Basketball Championships, the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, the Craggy Range Sports Bar & Grill and The Saddlery team store. For the latest news and information on The Dollar Loan Center visit thedollarloancenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sometimes, You Just Need a Win

by

BOSTON – On Saturday night, the Boston Red Sox needed a win more than Boston Harbour needed a Wynn. The Red Sox and manager Alex Cora needed a win more than Patrick Ewing and the 2021 Georgetown Hoyas needed a win. Sox starter Kutter Crawford needed a win more than the imprisoned WNBA star Brittany Griner needs a win. The Sox were jammin’ on the 4th of July, 10 games over .500. But on Saturday night, after starting AAA level pitchers for four consecutive games, the Boston Red Sox earned their much-needed win with a come-from-behind and eventually walk-off 6-5 win over the AL East division-leading New York Yankees.

Embed from Getty Images

The glory went to Boston left-fielder Alex Verdugo who hit a game-tying single in the 8th inning and the game-winning, two-run single in the bottom of the 10th. The win was a step in salvaging a four-game series against the Yankees, now with a chance to split the series when the teams play Sunday night. As importantly, the big 6-5 win quelled an anger emanating from loyal Red Sox fans, frustrated with Triple A rookies staring in place of injured rotation pitchers, like Nathan Eovaldi (might be back this week), Michael Wacha, Rich Hill, Garrett Whitlock, along with relievers Matt Barnes, Tyler Danish, and Josh Taylor.

Four straight starts rather than the Red Sox feasting on opponents with ace Chris Sale on the mound. Four straight rookie starts, a mark Boston hasn’t set since the last four games of the 1945 season instead of having off-season signee Jim Paxton on the mound. Sale’s been rehabbing at Triple-A Worcester and Double-A Portland (New Hampshire), hoping to get back to the mothership before the All-Star break.

Paxton, signed for a cool $10 million a year but Tommy John surgery in April 2021 set him back until his recent trio of bullpen sessions showed glimmers of light for the lefty.Should he return to form, the Sox rotation might improve over Sunday starter Nick Pivetta, a bunch of rookies trying their best to make enough of an impact to stick in the majors when the dust settles and there’s no more need for a late-game a mound appearance by Jackie Bradley Jr. like that of  thismpsdt                                                                                                                                     on Friday night.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – July 10

by

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox started the season (0-2) and that evolved to a spring tailspin and an (11-20) record on May 12. Boston fought back to (27-27) by June 5 at Oakland and kept plugging along until they were 10 games over the .500 mark, at (41-31) by June 25. While they were righting the ship and rising from fifth place in the American League East to second place, the New York Yankees were cruising on the Circle Line to a 13-game lead in the rough-tough division.

While We’re Young (Ideas) is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

When the Tampa Bay Rays came into Fenway on the 4th of July, the Red Sox handed them a 4-0 loss and returned to second place in the AL East, again 10 games over the coveted .500 mark. The AL Wild Card was a very reasonable goal, as the Yankees still maintained a 13-game division lead.

In the six days since the 4th, as short a period of time as it is, the bottom fell out for Boston. Starting pitchers like Nathan Eovaldi, Michael Wacha, Rich Hill and Garrett Whitlock, never mind ace Chris Sale and free agent bust James Paxton, all sidelined with injury on the 10 or 15 game Injured List, or worse.

In their place came the rookie brigade from Triple-A Worcester, the Woe-as-Me Sox, including starting pitchers Brayan Bello, Josh Winckowski, Connor Seabold and Kutter Crawford. The Sox were forced to throw rookies in five of seven games, including four in a row. Not since the dog days of September 1945 had the Red Sox started four rookie pitchers and that came on the final four days of the season.

If you’re keeping score at home, the Red Sox have lost each of their last four games, heading into Saturday night’s nationally televised game against the New York Yankees. It’s the Sox first time losing more than two consecutive games since dropping a season-high five straight from May 4-8. … After a productive May and early June, the Sox are 2-6 in their last eight games and 10-10 in their last 20 games, beginning June 19.

Although it’s only early July and the MLB All-Star break is just around the corner, the games being played now, against AL East opponents and other teams with plus-.500 records will likely decide the season for Boston.

Boston has had success against lefties, winning 10-12 (not including the Saturday night tilt against Yankees’ lefty Jordan Montgomery), but with eight pitchers on the injured list and only hope for Sale and Whitlock to return in the short-term, a AAA rotation will not get the job done. Bello, a Top 50 prospect, is rightfully being featured in the MLB Futures game, as he was in 2021. With just the one MLB start against the Yankees (7-1, loss), he’s not ready for the majors just yet.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As hard as we all try to keep obituaries out of the weekly Sunday Notes missive, it seems both death and taxes remain common denominators in our lives, unless of course you’re in that 1% but then you still cope with death and Otis Birdsong’s jump shot. … Suffice to say, it was a rough week. The most brutal, by far, was the assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan and longtime friend of the USofA, Shinzo Abe. Gone too soon are former NBA ref Hugh Evans, actor Tony Sirico (The Soprano’s Paulie Walnuts), actor Larry Storch (F-Troop’s Corporal Agarn), which came only a day after the great James Caan (Brian’s Song, The Godfather) passed away. Also, popular radio host and sports (mostly NFL football) gambling tout Hank Greenberg passed away. He was 82. … They were all representatives from all walks of life who all made their marks in different but effective ways. … The NBA force felt the blow when the family of the late Hugh Evans, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the NBA announced his passing Friday morning. The legendary NBA referee was 78 and was about to be enshrined as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame along with the class of 2022 this September… “The NBA mourns the loss of Hugh Evans, one of the league’s most accomplished referees and a 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement on Twitter. “Hugh officiated more than 2,000 games, including 35 NBA Finals games. We send our condolences to his wife, Cathy, and all his loved ones. … “The Basketball Hall of Fame family mourns the loss and celebrates the life of Hugh Evans,” said John Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Hugh was a trailblazer; in 1972, he became the first NBA Official from an HBCU, coming from North Carolina A&T University. He was also known for holding himself and other Officials to the highest standard. The game is in a better place for having had him involved as an Official and later as a Supervisor of Officials for 30 years.” … Evans served as an NBA official for 28 consecutive years (1973-2001), tallying over 2,000 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four NBA All-Star Games. In 1972, Evans became the first NBA official from an HBCU. Following his on-court officiating career, Evans worked as the NBA Assistant Supervisor of Officials (2001-03). He was a recipient of the Each One Teach One Community Service Award and was enshrined in the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame.
David Nastor and Bob Delaney (r) enjoy a good laugh during podcast taping (File)

PODCASTS ‘R US: Here’s an interesting three-part series of interviews conducted by David Nastor with former NBA referee Bob Delaney, a good friend of his mentor in the late Hugh Evans. … The subject matter is broken up nicely as the three parts address Delaney’s life as a 23-year old New Jersey State Trooper going undercover to infiltrate the crime mob, then his life as an NBA official, climbing out of the stress related to being undercover for so long. Lastly, the third segment covers Delaney’s recent work (and his two books – Surviving the Shadows and Heroes Are Human (out in September, 2022). The latter addresses the post traumatic stress and all issues thrust upon our first responders as they continue to deal with the global COVID+ pandemic.

Podcast interviews with Bob Delaney segmented here into 3 parts:

No. 253: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/6251035b-a55b-40f2-a729-6d5fc577241b/id/23610473

No. 254: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/6251035b-a55b-40f2-a729-6d5fc577241b/id/23610734

No. 255: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/6251035b-a55b-40f2-a729-6d5fc577241b/id/23611871

For other Nastor podcasts, under the catchy “You Just Have to Laugh”tagline, see: https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/6251035b-a55b-40f2-a729-6d5fc577241b

Celtics Make Roster Moves

by

BOSTON – As expected, the Boston Celtics re-signed reserve forward Sam Hauser and reserve 7-2 center Luke Kornet. Boston was pleasantly surprised to have Kornet return to the club. “We are thrilled that Luke chose to come back,” noted Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens. “Luke is a skilled big who can play off the roll and is a good rim protector on defense. On top of that, he’s always added value as the consummate pro who puts team above self.”

The Celtics also signed 2022 second round draft pick J.D. Davison to a two-way contract in time to have him participate in the annual NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. A 19-year old out of Alabama, Davison (6-3, 195), competed in 33 games (six starts) as a freshman in 2021-22, averaging 8.5 points on 46.3% shooting (30.1% 3-PT), 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.0 steals in 25.8 minutes. He made the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team.

In a final transaction before the NBA Summer League began, the Celtics confirmed what was widely reported on NBA Draft night and made public their acquisition of guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for reserve center Daniel Theis, guard/forward Aaron Nesmith, forwards Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan, shooting guard Nik Stauskas and a conditional 2023 first round draft choice.