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Terry Lyons

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Aug 28

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – Who are you guys and what did you do with the Boston Red Sox?

After losing six-of-seven games and dropping to (60-65) and fifth place in the American League East Division on August 25th, the Boston Red Sox somehow bounced back this weekend and won two important games from their AL East rival, Tampa Bay Rays.

Realistically, the Red Sox (62-65) still remain some 17 games out of first place, trail the first-place New York Yankees (78-48), and have no shot at catching the Yanks, but the two-game winning streak injected some life into the Red Sox team and sent the fans at Fenway Park home quite happy. In the Wild Card, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Toronto hold the three slots in the AL and Boston is seven games back, with the upstart Baltimore Orioles, the solid Minnesota Twins and the surprising Chicago White Sox in between. The Red Sox possibilities are slim but not none with only 35 games left in the regular season.

Coincidentally, it was back on July 4th when the Red Sox defeated the same Tampa Bay Rays, (4-0), to peak at 10 games over the .500 mark (45-35) and place second in the division as they held the top Wild Card spot in the AL. Then, the slide began. Two consecutive losses to the same Rays, then two straight to the Yankees. A two game bounce-back preceded the Sox losing 9-of-10 between July 11 and July 27 to drop to the AL East cellar.

The return of Trevor Story was a good omen for Boston Saturday but an 11 strike-out effort and three-hitter over seven innings pitched by Rich Hill was the brightest sign of hope for the Sox who play one more game against Tampa this homestand before the Fenway Faithful sing “See You in September” as their club travels to Minnesota for a three-game set against the mighty tough Twins this Monday to Wednesday.

The MLB/AL schedule-maker has the Red Sox returning from the Land of 10,000 Lakes to face the Texas Rangers in a four-game set at Fenway Park, September 1-4, before yet another road trip (three games each at Tampa and Baltimore) which will determine the fate of the 2022 baseball season by September 11th.

The New England Patriots take center stage that same weekend as the seasons begin to change and a chill takes the air in New England.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: We’re quickly approaching the most sports-centric time of the year. … The U.S. Open tennis tournament begins this Monday, August 29th at the Billie Jean National Tennis Center where Daniil Medvedev will defend his 2021 crown while both Roger Federer(injured/rehabbing) and No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic (unvaccinated vs COVID) is ineligible to compete. … Keep in mind, Medvedev was blocked from competing at Wimbledon earlier this summer because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Spain’s Rafa Nadal will be poised for a run to the men’s final.

On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek of Poland is the No. 1 seed in a draw that will feature both Serena Williams and Coco Gauff surely to have the boisterous New York crowds solidly behind them throughout the two-week test. … Williams will team with her sister, Venus in women’s doubles. … U.S. Open tickets on the nights Serena or Serena and Venus play will become the toughest tennis ticket in town since Jimmy Conners made his run in 1991.

College football kicked-off Saturday with Northwestern’s 31-28, come-from-behind victory over Nebraska in the B1G Ten opener in Ireland. The local New England college football schedule is highlighted by the Boston College Eagles taking on a big-time B1G Ten challenger in Rutgers for their very first game of the season on September 3 at Noon. BC head coach Jeff Hafleybegins his third season and does so without an “auto win” opening opponent such as UConn, Howard or the likes of past season openers in The Heights.

The National Football League starts for real on Thursday, September 8 when the Buffalo Bills travel to Los Angeles to face the defending Super Bowl champion Rams before the rest of the league opens on September 11-12.

About a month later, the National Hockey League will face-off with their regular season openers (October 11) before the National Basketball Association begins their 76th regular season campaign on October 18th which marks the times of the pro sports equinox when on any given day, all four major North American sports can be playing on the same day – Major League Baseball, by then, fully into the Postseason.

CIRCLE SEPTEMBER 9-10TH: Not only does the NFL kick-off their season on the 8th, and the US Open tennis stage the men’s semi-finals and women’s finals on the 9th/10th, but the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will induct its Class of ‘22 with opening festivities at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut Friday and the Enshrinement Ceremony staged September 10th in Springfield, Mass from 7-10pm on Saturday.

BREAKING NEWS: Italy’s Sportando Basketball reporter Emiliano Carchiawas the first to report of Danillo Gallinari’s injury.

GALLINARI INJURED: Newly acquired Boston Celtics shooting specialist Danillo Gallinari injured his knee in a FIBA World Cup qualifying game in Brescia, Italy on Saturday. There was no official confirmation of the injury but Sportando Basketball reported the injury with quotes, video and photos and FIBA.com made reference in its brief game story, noting Gallinari took over the game in the third quarter scoring 15 of his 17 points. Other game stories speculated an injured MCL ligament for the NBA veteran who was playing against Georgia in the FIBA qualifier, a 91-84 meaningless Italy victory. After the injury, the games were called-off.  … The injury was the third NBA off-season setback this week as Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee and will undergo further evaluation to determine the extent of the injury and need for treatment or surgery. … Earlier this week, Oklahoma City rookie first-rounder Chet Holmgren was injured and deemed out for the 2022-23 season with a devastating Lisfranc injury. The No. 2 overall pick of last June’s NBA Draft was playing in Jamal Crawford CrawsOver Pro-Am league at Seattle Pacific University on a court that was reportedly very slippery. … In other games at Crawford’s ProAm, LA Lakers’ Lebron James and Boston’s Jayson Tatum were among the players working out.

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: Front Office Sports is reporting Washington’s Monumental Sports and team governor Ted Leonsis along with Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein are interested in buying the Baltimore Orioles or possibly the Washington Nationals of MLB, if and when either team hits the market, as expected.

BOSTON’s Alex Cora won his 345th game with the Red Sox on Friday night and his 346th Saturday, making him the ninth-winningest manager in franchise history, one ahead of Eddie Casko. Among the 10 club managers with 600+ games at the helm of the Sox, Cora ranks third in winning percentage (.564/ 346-267) behind:

  1. Don Zimmer (.575/ 411-305)
  2. Terry Francona (.574/ 744-552)

Cora has a 17-8 postseason record (.680) with the Sox, including the 2018 World Series title and an American League Championship appearance in 2021.

TOUR Championship: The 2021-22 PGA Tour season will come to its conclusion today (Sunday, August 28) with the FedEx Cup champion to be crowned at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. To the winner? A cool $18 million from a $75 million prize pool. … The PGA Tour will pick-up the 2022-23 season with the Fortinet Championship on the weekend of September 15-18th, but the full Tour will start in earnest in the first week of January 2023 with the annual Sentry Tournament of Champions, a.k.a primetime golf from Maui. … Our sister publication – PGA Tour Brunch – will publish its final 2022 missive on Monday, August 29th with a recap of the TOUR Championship and then re-start publication in January. … The LIV golf circuit will visit Boston September 2-4 with its 12 teams, 48 players, 54 (LIV for you Roman Numeral fans) holes. The site is The International Golf Club in Bolton, Massachusetts, north of Boston. … No cut. … For those unfamiliar with the pro golf scene, the average PGA Tour event has some 125 players, a cutdown after 36 holes and a total of four rounds or 72 holes to win. There is no team concept. … The LIV is considering selling franchises and establishing the teams more definitively for the 2023 season. … Digital Sports Desk is scheduled to cover the LIV event. … September 21-25 will mark the dates of the 2022 President’s Cup with the USA golfers pitted against a team of world golf pros. The competition is scheduled for the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. The more popular Ryder Cup is USA vs. European golfers. The 2023 Ryder Cup will be played at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.

METS DO the RIGHT THING: The New York Mets held their “Old-Timer’s Day” on Saturday and surprised the great Willie Mays by retiring his uniform No. 24. Mays, at age 41 and 42, only played two seasons with the Mets in 1972 and ‘73 but was beloved by the New York fans because of his start with the New York Giants. Mays and the Giants moved from the Polo Grounds (1891-1957) to Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1958 after six seasons in New York. He missed a season because of necessary military service in 1953. Mays, born May 6, 1931, is now 91 years old and carries the mantle as the greatest living baseball player. His rivals, Hank Aaron (1934-2021), Micky Mantle (1931-1995), Duke Snider (1926-2011), and Joe DiMaggio(1914-1999) have all passed away. … The retirement of Mays’ number comes a year after the Mets “Did the Right Thing” by retiring Jerry Koosman’s No. 36.

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JIMMY FUND: According to Radio Ink, the 20th anniversary of the ‘WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon’, raised $3.517 million for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The radio-telethon was launched by WEEI-FM, The Jimmy Fund and the Boston Red Sox in 2002. New England Sports Network (NESN) joined the effort in 2003.

“This was the 20th anniversary of the Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, and our listeners and sponsors came through like never before,” said Mike Thomas, SVP/MM Audacy Boston. “To hear the doctors talk about the progress that is being made, the clinical trials that are ongoing and to hear from patients about how Dana-Farber saved their lives will forever be in our hearts and minds. There really is nothing like the two days of this fundraiser.”

The event was part of a 36-hour live broadcast during WEEI weekday programming on August 23 and 24. To date the radio/telethon has raised more than $65 million for cancer research at Dana-Farber.

TID-BITS: The MLB Network has been airing a series of promotional spots, entitled Baseball Zen. In relative silence, the super-slow motion photography catches some of the subtle nuances of the game of baseball … a grounds crew slowly raking the infield dirt, or watering the infield … Shohei Ohtani delivering a strike, but shot in super-slow motion in order to pick-up the spin of the baseball.

The spots are good. They air on the MLB Network and MLB Extra Innings OTT and are far better than a billboard that states the “game will return.” Yet, the slow, methodical nature of the spots are a 180 from the popular and original “NBA Action … It’s Fantastic” bloopers and superstar highlights with incredible action footage, depth defying acts of NBA players before a well-known actor, musician or comedian delivered the iconic “I Love This Game” tagline. … Two very different takes on league promotional theory.

The MLB Zen spots make you think about the wonderful things you experience when you attend a baseball game, many times far away from the in-game cameras. Coincidentally, this reporter was listing a few just this week. Here’s what was scribbled down on a notebook page:

  • The home plate ump with the timeless cleaning of home plate with his brush
  • Rafa Devers’ tradition of his pre-At Bat greeting to the Red Sox ballboys
  • The announcement of the game attendance in the press box
  • Bubble gum and sunflower seeds in the dug-outs
  • Breaking-in a new baseball glove
  • Dodgertown at Vero Beach
  • Tossing a rosin bag directly behind the pitcher’s mound
  • The “W” flown at Wrigley Field to signal a Cubs’ victory that day
  • Old traditions, gone-by, like the bullpen carts with team helmets
  • The San Diego (a.k.a.) The Original Chicken setting the high bar for mascots
  • The proper placing and lime for the batter’s box, tap-tap with a hammer
  • An impromptu sharpie signature on Fenway’s right field “Pesky Pole”
  • Twi-Nighters at Shea Stadium
  • Banner Day

I could go on-and-on, but will come back for more next week with football in mind.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | August 14

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The NBA wasted no time in paying the ultimate tribute to the great Celtics center, Bill Russell, who passed away July 31 at the age of 88. On the day of his private funeral, Russell’s No. 6 uniform was retired across the entire league, a gesture that Major League Baseball reserved for the great Jackie Robinson and the NHL for the “Great One,” Wayne Gretzky

In the major North American sports, that’s it. A group of three.

While living athletes might gain lofty honors, such as being inducted to their sports Hall of Fame or making an NBA@50 or NBA-75/76, or an NFL or NHL All-Century team. Maybe the highest honor is to carry the flag of your birth nation into the Olympic Games, with the real treat of doing it on your native soil (Andrew Gaze, Sydney 2000, Australia; Yao Ming 2008, Beijing, China; Bruce Baumgartner, Atlanta ‘96, USA; Sir Chris Hoy, London 2012, UK); Yane Márcia Campos, Rio, Brazil 2016 ) and so on.

Lighting the Olympic cauldron on your home turf is pretty cool, too, but the retirement of a number across the entire league is the subject matter for today. That is a lofty group of three, although I’m a bit partial to Katherine Switizer’s bib No. 261 being retired by the Boston Athletic Association.

What about sports that don’t assign numbers? Are there a few players in those sports who might be so honored?

I’ll start!

  • Jack Nicklaus
  • Tiger Woods

Swimming

  • Mark Spitz
  • Michael Phelps
  • Krisztina Egerszegi
  • Katie Ledecky

Men’s Tennis

  • Novak Djokovic
  • Rafa Nadal
  • Roger Federer

Women’s Tennis

  • Billie Jean King
  • Margaret Court
  • Martina Navratilova
  • Serena Williams

Yes, Serena Williams – definitely the greatest women’s tennis player of our time – announced her plans to retire after this year’s U.S. Open, scheduled August 29-September 11th at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, NY.

They’ll need to build a new court to properly honor her, alongside King and the great Arthur Ashe.

Unless we get some “Jimmy Connors-like” miracle on center court in Flushing Meadows, Williams is likely to retire with 23 Grand Slam singles championships, one shy of Ms. Court. She was the winner of the “Serena Slam” – four consecutive Grand Slam tournaments but not in the same calendar year.

In 2015, Williams won her 19th Grand Slam at the Australian Open, her 20th at the French and her 21st at Wimbledon. (Serena lost in the U.S. Open semis to Roberta Vinci).

Williams’ 23rd Grand Slam, her last, was the 2017 Australian, when at age 35 and two months pregnant with her daughter Olympia, Serena defeated her talented sister, Venus, in straight sets to gain her victory.

Just this week, “The Atlantic” wrote of Williams’ desire to focus on her family, possibly give birth to a sibling for her daughter. To do what she wants to do with her life. Caira Conner of The Atlantic skillfully wrote, “Williams’s name is synonymous with the thing she helped revolutionize. Even when she finally puts down her racquet, Williams won’t really leave us. She may not be able to dually serve the gods of tennis and motherhood, but generations of young athletes will continue to pick up racquets of their own because she inspired them to do so. A legacy like that is more than numbers.”

Twenty-three is a great number.

I wonder if the NBA will retire it league-wide someday?

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: It’s been 30 years since the USA Basketball Dream Team came home from the ‘92 Barcelona Olympics with the gold medal and having changed the world of basketball forever. The impact resonates like the ripples of water from a pebble tossed into the center of a Great Lake. While the NBA and Michael Jordan were soaring to new heights in the early ‘90s, boys and girls growing up all over the world took a serious look at basketball for the very first time. … The first real impact came in about 2000-02 when Houston Rockets center Yao Ming came along from China, all 7-foot-5 of him, joined with Argentina’s Manu Ginobili, a soon-to-be-inducted Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer. NBA Finals MVPs Tim Duncanof the USVI and teammate Tony Parker of France led the San Antonio Spurs to five titles (1999, 2003, ‘05, ‘07 and 2014). Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA championship in 2011 after 15 playoff appearances and a Finals MVP. … There were more, thousands more in the international leagues around the world, and in USA colleges. Now, 30 years later, the sport is seeing and enjoying the ripples from the first stone cast. … It’s happening all over the globe – both men’s and women’s programs. While the impact has been quite evident on the court, the true value has been the social impact off-the-court, as evidenced by the NBA’s Basketball w/o Borders program and hundreds, if not thousands, of player appearances and goodwill trips to not only help the growth of awareness in the sport but to convey important life messages to youth living all around the world. Thirty years! Can you believe it? It’s been a hell of a Dream.

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: Nothing like waiting until August 12 for the key indicator of success in a baseball season. Friday night’s 3-2 Boston win over New York marked the Red Sox first win of the season when trailing after eight innings (1-45). … That stated and heading into Saturday night’s game on FOX, the Sox have come from behind in five of their last seven wins and in eight of their last 11.

TID-BITS: College basketball teams are starting their international endeavors. Just this week, Auburn was off to Israel to play a selection of the Israel’s U-20, a national Select All-Star team and then a 95-86 loss to Israel’s senior national team. … Meanwhile, St. John’s was off to the Dominican Republic and took a hard-fought 89-87 victory over DR’s U-22 national team. … St, John’s center Joel Soriano, a transfer out of Fordham who once played for the DR’s U-18 team at the FIBA U18 Tournament of the Americas. … Three weeks until College Football. … Saturday, September 3 at 12 Noon, Big 10 Rutgers Scarlet Knights visit Chestnut Hill for Boston College’s home opener. … As you’re getting ready for some football, the PGA Tour will be exiting ahead of the NFL season to avoid any sort of TV ratings clash. … After this weekend’s FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, the Top 70 eligible players will qualify for next week’s BMW Championship at Wilmington (Delaware) Country Club, with the Top 30 after the BMW earning spots in the field for the season-ending TOUR Championship at Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club from August 25-28th, clearing the way for September football. Smart move for the Tour. … We’ll see how the Administrative/PR/Media/TV/Site Protest/9-11 Families/Time Zone-challenged LIVers have tournaments planned for:

  • September 2-4 near Boston
  • September 16-18 in Chicago
  • October 7-9 in Bankok, Thailand
  • October 14-16 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • October 29-20 in Miami (Trump venue, right before Election Day)

Smartly, LIV Golf is avoiding the September 21-25 President’s Cup at Quail Hollow, in North Carolina, but the rest of the schedule goes head-to-head against the PGA Tour, LPGA and college and NFL football, all on a USA television outlet to be determined.

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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | August 7

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – For those growing up in the New York-Metropolitan area in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, it was an amazing time for the newspaper industry, somewhat driven by ultra-competitive sports sections that did the one thing that newspapers can no longer do. They sold papers. With a price tag of a quarter, they sold stacks and stacks of newspapers – everyday and especially Sundays, but for a buck.

The New York Times, the lofty Old Gray Lady, had all the news that was fit to print topping sections of interesting topics. The sports section had the best writing, including columnists like Dave Anderson, George Vecsey, Bill Rhoden, Ira Berkow, Robin Herman, Jane Gross, all following and being influenced by the legendary Walter Wellesley “Red” Smith.

The tabloids – the New York Daily News and New York Post – competed like prize fighters, the beat reporters driving a 24/7 watch but only printing once (or maybe a few editions) a day. The Post did an afternoon edition and you could even read about the daily double run that afternoon at Belmont.

There were others before, printed in the glory years of journalism and reporting. The Brooklyn Eagle, The Evening World, The Brooklyn Times-Union, The Daily Mirror, The New York Herald, The Sun and off-shoots like the Herald-Tribune, and Journal-American. There were dozens of others, some from nearby boroughs, like the Staten Island Advance and Staten Island Register, The Amsterdam News, and those from nearby Newark NJ, with the Star-Ledger. Long Island had Newsday and the Long Island Press. There were dozens of others.

I had my personal copy of The New York Times delivered to me at a student rate and all the teachers and front office people used to give me “the look” as I picked up my paper in my little mailbox at high school.

For the most part, The New York Times, NY Daily News, NY Post and Newsday were ever-present and to obtain a copy of The Washington Post or the Boston Globe was heaven on earth.

During that time, the New York Daily News featured sports cartoonist Bill Gallo (1922-2011) who drew the best sports cartoons this side of Bugs Bunny and the Gashouse Gorillas. At World Series time, Gallo drew-up a small cartoon box with “The Hero” and “The Goat” for each game. The “Goat” was not the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time) as we know it today. Instead, it was the player who struck-out three times or made the costly error or the pitcher or reliever who threw the late-inning home run ball to his opponent who was likely to be “The Hero” of that particular game.

Of course, these days, there’s the constant arguments for players who are the GOAT of their sports. That senseless and endless stream of arguments about opinions is only surpassed by the personal list of “Mt. Rushmore” players to be fictitiously carved into some mountain top rock formation for eternity, never to be challenged again. For the “GOAT,” there is only ONE. For “Mt. Rushmore,” there are four.

This week, we lost two “GOATS” and two permanent residents of the “Mt. Rushmore” of their professions.

Sadly from this end, there’s no “personal” or “behind the scenes” story to share for either Russell or Scully. They were certainly on opposite ends of the spectrum on approachability. That said, I saw Russell more often – usually at the NBA All-Star Weekend or Finals.

Russell was quite happy in dealing with the NBA’s Brian McIntyre, in charge of PR, or Charlie Rosensweig, in charge or player and talent relations and a trustee of the Basketball Hall of Fame. For players, like Russell or Michael Jordan, who didn’t like adding to their inner circle, the smart move was always to consolidate requests and go to McIntyre or Rosensweig with “the ask.” Russell was very fond of the late David Stern and it was always great to see the mutual admiration society of Stern with Russell and Boston Celtics icon, Red Auerbach, all now passed away.

One anecdote sticks with me. Early on in his NBA career, maybe it was 1997 at the NBA@50 celebrations, Adam Silver – now Commissioner, then Special Assistant to Stern, glanced at all of the NBA legends being feted in a simple weekend ceremony in Cleveland and said, “All of our Babe Ruths are still alive,” noting the likes of Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor and many others.

For a league, born in 1946, the legendary players were aging but still very much alive with a few big-time exceptions. Father Time, counting the 25 years since the NBA@50 to last year’s NBA75 festivities, has made his inevitable impact on the league and its early pioneers.

A growing number of media and NBA-types are calling for the league to retire No. 6 at every franchise in tribute to Russell’s winning ways on-court and huge impact off-court as an activist. The gesture would be the highest possible honor, much like Major League Baseball’s majestic tribute to Jackie Robinson and his No. 42.

As for Scully, a proud Fordham ‘49 man, was undoubtedly the voice for a generation of baseball fans, more specifically in Brooklyn for a short time (1954-57) before “Dem Bums” moved to Southern California and with them they took a voice and storyteller made from, and now, for heaven.

Although there were countless sports functions at Fordham where Scully was honored and a number of times when I was in the Dodgers’ or Mets’ press box when he was calling a game, I never even met the legend and feel very sad about that fact. But, like hundreds of thousands, maybe 100s of millions of baseball fans, we all knew him so well. He introduced all of Southern California to the Dodgers as he called hundreds of World Series, All-Star Games, Playoff games, and Games of the Week – on television and radio. Even before the magic of MLB Extra Innings and the Internet, all baseball fans were very familiar with the voice of Vin Scully.

At the Dodgers Stadium memorial tribute to Scully Friday night, the team unveiled a banner, “Vin – We’ll Miss You! ❤️ Dodger Fans”

For complete access to the full Sunday notebook, usually sent to your inbox for a late-night Saturday “get the papers, get the papers” read, click HERE.

Bill Russell (1934-2022)

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MERCER ISLAND/BOSTON – Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, his family announced.

Russell won 11 NBA championships and also became the first Black head coach in NBA history.

“Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind those moments unfolded,” his family said in a statement. “And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Bill Russell:

“Bill Russell was the greatest champion in all of team sports,” said Silver.  “The countless accolades that he earned for his storied career with the Boston Celtics – including a record 11 championships and five MVP awards – only begin to tell the story of Bill’s immense impact on our league and broader society.

“Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps. Through the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.

“For nearly 35 years since Bill completed his trailblazing career as the league’s first Black head coach, we were fortunate to see him at every major NBA event, including the NBA Finals, where he presented the Bill Russell Trophy to the Finals MVP.

“I cherished my friendship with Bill and was thrilled when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I often called him basketball’s Babe Ruth for how he transcended time. Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jeannine, his family and his many friends.”

“To be the greatest champion in your sport, to revolutionize the way the game is played, and to be a societal leader all at once seems unthinkable, but that is who Bill Russell was,” said the Boston Celtics organization in a prepared statement.

“Bill was a champion unlike any other in the history of team sports – an 11-time NBA champion, including winning eight consecutive titles, a five-time MVP, an Olympic Gold Medalist and the NBA’s first Black head coach.

“Bill Russell‘s DNA is woven through every element of the Celtics organization, from the relentless pursuit of excellence, to the celebration of team rewards over individual glory, to a commitment to social justice and civil rights off the court.

“Our thoughts are with his family as we mourn his passing and celebrate his enormous legacy in basketball, Boston, and beyond.”

Former President Barack presented Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, the highest honor for American civilians. “As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher—both as a player and as a person,” said Obama in a tweet Sunday.

“Perhaps more than anyone else, Bill knew what it took to win and what it took to lead,” President Obama added. “On the court, he was the greatest champion in basketball history. Off of it, he was a civil rights trailblazer—marching with Dr. King and standing with Muhammad Ali.

“For decades, Bill endured insults and vandalism, but never let it stop him from speaking up for what’s right. I learned so much from the way he played, the way he coached, and the way he lived his life. Michelle and I send our love to Bill’s family, and everyone who admired him.”

Funeral services will be announce soon, Russell’s family said.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 31

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State of the Commonwealth Sports

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – From June 19th to 27th, all was well in the Nation of Sox. After a very well documented — call it crummy (10-19) — start to the 2022 season, the Boston Red Sox battled back to the .500 mark by June 5th at Oakland. While still mired in 4th place in the American League East, Boston clawed their way to a (35-30) record when – on June 17th – Sox SP Michael Wacha out-dueled his former St. Louis Cardinals teammate, Adam Wainwright, 6-5, for Wacha’s fifth victory (5-1).

After dropping a game to the Cards the following day, Boston went on to win seven games in a row and climb to second place in the AL East, 11 games over the coveted .500 mark.

As the calendar turned to July, all hell broke loose.

As this is being written from Fenway Park on a gorgeous New England Saturday afternoon, Boston (50-52) dropped a game to Milwaukee, is 7-19 in the month of July, and that includes a 3-13 mark over their previous 16 games. The not so secret sauce is the fact that since Uncle Sam’s birthday, Boston is playing teams with records plus-.500 up until August 3 when they face AL Central cellar-dweller Kansas City.

Combined with the tougher comp, a slew of devastating injuries crashed down on the Sox. In no particular order:

  • June 12 – SP Nathan Eovaldi – lower back pain
  • July 2 – SP Rich Hill – left knee sprain
  • July 5 – SP Michael Wacha – right shoulder inflammation
  • July 9 – INF Christian Arroyo – groin strain after bout with COVID+
  • July 14 – 2B Trevor Story – right hand contusion (hairline fracture)
  • July 19 – SP Chris Sale – left hand, finger fracture
  • July 19 – J.D. Martinez – back spasms
  • July 23 – 3B Rafael Devers – right hamstring inflammation
  • 13 Red Sox players were on the IL at one point

In their place, Boston was forced to call-up “F-Troop” from their Triple A Worcester WooSox farm team, and the Red Sox became the Red SAAAwx for much of the month. Starting pitching prospects, a la Brayan Bello (0-3), Josh Winckowski (3-5) and Kutter Crawford (3-3) were thrown into the deep end of the drowning pool.

With the cumulative effect, the ‘22 Red Sox started to resemble a memorable team from 60 years ago, with comparisons to the expansion New York Mets.

The Sox are a calamity, whether it be fly balls falling between three players in the infield, throwing, fielding and mental errors costing runs, pitchers failing to properly cover first base on routine ground balls to the right side of the infield, batted baseballs lost in the sun or twilight gleaming in both right and center field at Fenway. You name it, and it happened to the home team.

The lowlight was a July 22 inside the park home run by Toronto’s Ramiel Tapia during a 28-5 beat-down of the Red Sox by the Blue Jays, and a score falling two runs shy of the MLB record for most runs scored in a single game.

Overall, it seemed the Sox fell apart when the long-expected return of their ace – Chris Sale – went flat after an inning as a come-backer broke the fifth finger on his pitching hand. The injury sucked the life from the team, as Story, Martinez and Devers were all absent from the line-up.

Thus is the “State of the Red Sox,” as of July 30.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: If there’s one thing the New England fan base can do better than any other in the land, it’s turn the page and change with the seasons. Just as the aforementioned Sox fade to the bottom of the AL East, the footballs are out at Gillette Stadium as NFL training camps began this week. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the 2022 New England Patriots.

On Day One of Patriots’ training camp, all eyes were on second-year QB Mac Jones who appeared to be all business, in great condition and prepared for the challenges ahead of the Patriots team in transition from its many waltzes to the Super Bowl. While coach Bill Belichick and the Pats are accustomed to being the favorites in the AFC East, this year, they’ll be fortunate to win 10 games (as they did a year ago) and finish second to the ‘21 division champion Buffalo Bills. In many circles, it is the Bills, not the Patriots, who are destined for AFC glory and a trip to the Super Bowl.

Belichick is beginning his 23rd season with the Patriots as the team avoids any sense of the word, “rebuilding,” but does face uncertainty at many key offensive positions. Meanwhile, a look to the south and AFC East rival, Miami, has stocked up with arguably the best wide-out in the NFL in former KC Chief Tyreek Hill to pair with second-year QB Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins won nine games a year ago and will fight it out with New England for a possible Wild Card berth, for sure.

Meanwhile, there’s a lot of news and speculation as the NBA off-season hits midstream. For the Boston Celtics, all eyes are on Nets F Kevin Durantwho has asked for a trade from Brooklyn and reports have the Celtics offering some unknown package of players (with one piece likely to be F Jaylen Brown).

Of course, the Celtics made the NBA Finals but simply saw the fatigue of prior match-ups vs. Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Miami finally take their toll against Jayson Tatum and the team. Boston made one major move to acquire a true point guard in former Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdan for Milwaukee who the Cs acquired from Indiana in a multi-player trade in July.

The allure of an offensive threat, like Durant to pair with Tatum, is attractive to the Celtics and their fan base, but the lack of defensive intensity shown by Durant in the playoffs makes one wonder if his Achilles’ injury is limiting his defensive mobility against quicker players.

The foundation of the Celtics is “Team Defense” and the questions is whether Durant can buy-in? Brown’s contributions to that defense might be too costly a loss, never mind if 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smartbecomes part of the deal.

On the ice, the Boston Bruins are another team, like the Patriots, in total transition. Gone is goalkeeper Tuukka Rask, while Brad Marchand injured his hip and out for six months since his late May surgery. Then, there’s the uncertain status of forwards Patrice Bergeron and un-signed David Pastrňák, the club’s two best players.

On defense, more injuries and surgeries. Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk will be out until late November after shoulder surgeries. Mike Reillyis recovering from May ankle surgery.

In goal, Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark will share the netminding duties, trying to replace the talents of Vezina Trophy-worthy and former winner Rask has officially retired after some back-and-forth during the pandemic.

All the while, Boston is welcoming new coach, Jim Montgomery, to a team that is deep with talent but largely uncertain of its short term destiny.

If you take a step back and look at all four major pro sports, it’s a one for-four (.250) average for sure-fire success and that is only the Celtics.

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: Trade winds are blowing in Major League Baseball prior to Tuesday’s (August 2 – 6pm ET) trading deadline. Of course, the big fish in the MLB pond are Washington’s Juan Soto, who turned down a megabucks deal of 15-years and $440 million, and possibly Boston’s J.D. Martinez. The Seattle Mariners already acquired former Cincy ace Luis Castillo in a deal for a ton of top prospects. The terms “Buyers” and “Sellers” will be over-used this week.

Others MLB players reportedly on the block:

  • Josh Bell, 1B, Washington Nationals
  • Wilson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs
  • Ian Happ, OF, Chicago Cubs
  • Tyler Mahle, SP, Cincinnati Reds
  • Frankie Montas, SP, Oakland Athletics
  • Noah Syndergaard, SP, Los Angeles Angels

That leads us to the extremely slim chance of the LA Angeles moving Shohei Ohtani before the deadline. The multi-talented Ohtani would be a game-changer as a starting pitcher and DH for any contender, but the question would be: “At what cost?”

 

Red Sox Sticks Can’t Get It Done

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FENWAY – Milwaukee’s OF Christian Yelich (2-for-4, run scored, 2B, RBI, BB) hit a RBI single in the 7th inning to give Milwaukee a 2-1 lead that they never relinquished as the Boston Red Sox lost their eighth of the last 10 games and 12th of their last 15 games, in a 4-1 defeat to the Brewers Friday night at Fenway Park.

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Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff (6.1 IP, four hits, two BB, nine strikeouts) retired 17 of his first 19 batters faced before giving up back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 1-1 in the 6th inning. Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez and OF Alex Verduga strung the two extra base hits together. Woodruff is 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts since coming off the MLB injured list on June 28. He hasn’t allowed an opponents’ home run in his last 36 innings.

The Brewers’ victory marked their first win at Fenway Park since April 6, 2014 as the team is now 6-1 since the MLB All-Star break and winners of three in a row.

Milwaukee reliever Josh Hader recorded his 29th save of the year, the most in the majors heading into Saturday’s afternoon game at Fenway.

 

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 24

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Looks at the Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemente and Some Notes

Roberto Clemente (photo by Getty Images)

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – On the National Baseball Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown, NY, David Ortiz will be rightfully enshrined along with honorees Bud Fowler, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso, Tony Oliva, and Buck O’Neil. Earlier in the week, on the 100th birthday of Mrs. Jackie Robinson (Rachel Isum), Major League Baseball played its annual All-Star Game in Los Angeles with a grand salute to Rachel and Jackie, Dodgers Blue through and through. It was terrific.

But I’ve got a place in my heart and thoughts for three of the best position players I’ve ever seen play and they are: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente (pictured above).

What an amazing honor for the seven gentlemen being inducted to the Hall this weekend to have their names alongside the greatest players the game has ever seen. From Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb to Tom Seaver and Derek Jeter, the names of the greatest ballplayers will live on forever.

In no way am I suggesting Baseball do anything differently to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Robinson, but as a true fan and admirer ofRoberto Clemente, I’d like to see the Office of the Commissioner honor the great No. 21 with a day of service every December 31 or January 1st and once during the MLB summer season to recognize the charity work Clemente accomplished and the code he lived by each and every day of his short 38 years on earth.

Clemente’s tragic death is one of the saddest stories in the history of baseball, or in our lifetimes, really. In December of the off-season of 1972, Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, experienced a massive earthquake, Clemente immediately went to work arranging emergency relief flights for supplies and medical evacuations. He soon learned, however, that the aid packages on the first three flights had been diverted by corrupt officials of government and they never reaching victims of the quake.

Clemente, himself, decided to accompany the next relief flight, hoping that his presence would ensure that the aid would be delivered to the survivors. The airplane he chartered for a New Year’s Eve ‘72 /‘73 flight, a Douglas DC-7 cargo plane, had a history of mechanical problems and was short the proper flight personnel, missing both a flight engineer and co-pilot. The plane was also overloaded by 4,200 pounds and the weight caused it to crash into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Isla Verde, Puerto Rico immediately after takeoff on December 31, 1972. The cause was due to engine failure.

A few days after the crash, the body of the pilot and part of the fuselage of the plane were found. An empty flight case apparently belonging to Clemente was the only personal item recovered from the plane. Clemente’s teammate and close friend in catcher Manny Sanguillén was the only member of the Pittsburgh Pirates not to attend the memorial service. The Pirates catcher chose instead to dive into the waters where Clemente’s plane had crashed in an effort to find his teammate. The bodies of Clemente and three others who were also on the four-engine plane were never recovered.

Clemente was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in a special ceremony in 1973, the Hall waiving the mandatory waiting period of five years. In 1973, the Commissioner’s Achievement Award was re-named the Roberto Clemente Award and it is presented annually to a player, team or group who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team,” as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media.

Each MLB team nominates a player for consideration. Last season, Nelson Cruz was honored by Baseball and presented with the award during the Postseason.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: First, some business: Fitness company Whoop Inc. is the latest Massachusetts-based technology play to lay-off workers with the uncertainty of the economy stuck with increasing pandemic key indicators. The company, valued at $1 billion in October 2020, confirmed to the Boston Business Journal on Friday it “reduced the size of its corporate team by 15% and reorganized multiple departments. Impacted employees worked across all departments and all levels.” … Back in late 2020, Whoophoped to increase its workforce to 700+ from 330 in place at the time. Sixty percent of the staff was based in Boston, near Fenway Park.

ORIGINAL TEE: There will be a Noon ET shotgun start today as The Original Tee celebrity golf tournament returns at Crystal Springs Resort and Wild Turkey Golf Club, in Hamburg, New Jersey. Original Tee is a culture club that amplifies inclusion in golf by preserving the history of the game’s diverse Black pioneers and celebrating other iconic golf enthusiasts who are ambassadors of excellence. In honor of its 23rd year, OTGC will present Miami Heat champion, USA Basketball Olympic Gold Medalist, FIBA World Champion, NBA Legend, philanthropist, and golf enthusiast Alonzo Mourning with its prestigious True Original Award.

DUKE OF DIMWIT: The move is to “let it go,” but since the great Jerry Westchose to volley-in on the dimwitted comments of J.J. Redick from this past April, it’s cannon fodder once more. Let’s hit the rewind button to note that Redick was comparing the players from one NBA era to another, an impossible concept, to say the least. Redick was noting that the talented players of NBA yesteryear, namely Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics, were being guarded by ‘fireman and plumbers’ interjecting that the low paid NBA pioneers of the 1950s and 1960s had to work ‘real jobs’ in the off season to support their families. Redick conveniently overlooked the fact that the likes of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, nevermind West, John Havlicek, Jerry Sloan, Walt Frazierand dozens of other tough-nosed defenders, were among the greatest players the sport of basketball has ever seen.

Now, Cousy and Bill Sharman might’ve struggled to advance the ball past Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in their prime, but so did John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek for arguments sake.

Regardless, West – while doing an interview Friday – took exception and defended Cousy saying, “I know J.J. just a little bit, he’s a very smart kid and everything, but tell me what his career looked like?” West said on Sirius XM NBA Radio.

“What did he do that determined games? He averaged 12 points a game in the league. Somewhere along the way, numbers count. J.J. certainly wasn’t going to guard the elite players. So you can nitpick anyone.

“The only reason I’m talking about him is because he was not an elite player, but he was a very good player, but he had a place on the team because of the ability to shoot the ball.

“Winning is all that mattered, that’s what drove me,” added West. “I subtly got better every year. We didn’t have the facilities to get better. We had to work in the summers to support our family.

“JJ should be very thankful that he’s made as much money as he’s made, and (to say that about) Bob Cousy, whom I played against a couple of years, not very long — I just think it’s disrespectful.”

To wrap this in a bow, a simple question. Why is it that the baseball players of today highly respect the abilities of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente – along with many of the great pitchers of yesteryear like Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax or Tom Seaver, yet the basketball players – like Redick – can’t imagine that the likes of Russell, Chamberlain, Baylor or West would dominate in the NBA of 2022 much the way they did in the NBA of 1965 or 70?

Finau Storms Back at 3M Open

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BLAINE – Beginning the final round five strokes off the lead, Tony Finau earned his third PGA Tour title by setting the largest final-round comeback by a winner in 3M Open history.

Sungjae Im earned his third career runner-up finish, while Emiliano Grillo collected his sixth on Tour.

Scott Piercy, who held at least a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds, played the final round 5-over (76) and finished T-4.

Defending champion Cameron Champ finishes T-16 in his bid to become tournament’s first repeat winner.

TPC Twin Cities now has the distinction of the most balls in the water on TOUR this season with (303).

3M Open | Final Leaderboard

Tony Finau 67-68-65-67—267 (-17)

Sungjae Im 65-70-67-68—270 (-14)

Emiliano Grillo 67-65-67-71—270 (-14)

James Hahn 69-70-67-65—271 (-13)

Tom Hoge 67-68-66-70—271 (-13)

Scott Piercy 65-64-66-76—271 (-13)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

All-Star Break Turns to Sox Break Down

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By TERRY LYONS

FENWAY – The score of 28-3 has significant meaning to New England sports fans as it was the score the New England Patriots trailed by when they came back to win 34-28 over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI held in Houston in 2017. As of Friday night at Fenway Park, the new score to reckon with for all Boston Red Sox fans is 28-5.

Twenty-eight to five! In baseball!

Universal sign of distress

You have to look back in the record book a full 99 years to see that Friday night’s 28-5 Toronto Blue Jays shellacking of the Red Sox which set a franchise record for most runs allowed in a single game. The previous record of 27 runs came on July 7, 1923 in the first game of a twin bill scheduled that woeful summer day in Cleveland.

Aside from the record-setting embarrassment of the Sox in front of a sold-out but stoic Fenway, the loss marked Boston’s third consecutive game in the “L” column. They are (1-7) over their last eight games and (3-11) over their last 14 games, dropping Boston to fourth place in the competitive American League East and just one game in that important and previously mentioned “L” column ahead of the surging Baltimore Orioles.

On the flip side of the ledger, the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian football League are envious of the Blue Jays who set franchise records in both runs scored (28) and hits (29) in a single baseball game.The Blue Jays are only the sixth team in MLB history to score 28+ runs in a single game with the most recent being the Atlanta Braves scoring 29 against the Miami Marlins on September 9, 2020.

Other team records were plentiful

  • Toronto Became the first team to have all nine starters record multiple hits and runs scored
  • The Jays had multiple players record six or more RBI in a game for the 1st time in franchise history (Tapia and Jansen)
  • Toronto scored 11 runs in the top of the 5th inning, their most runs in one inning since 9/11/21 at BAL-G2 (7th inning, also 11 runs)
  • 12 straight Jays’ batters reached base via hit or walk in the 5th inning, all with 2 outs (10 H, 2 BB)
  • Toronto tied the major league record for runs scored in a game’s first 5 innings (25, also CHC on 8/25/1922 vs. PHI).

On the player side:

  • OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 6-for-7, scoring three runs, hitting a double, and recording five RBI which tied the Blue Jays’ franchise record for hits, joining Frank Catalanotto on 5/1/04 at CWS-G2.
  • OF Ramiel Tapia went 3-for-7, scoring twice, hit a 2B, and had six RBI, four resulting from an inside-the-park grand slam in the third inning to extend the Toronto lead to 10-0. He set his career high in RBI.
  • Catcher Danny Jansen recorded his fourth career multi-HR game (previous: 5/24 at STL) and tied a single-game franchise record for RBI by a catcher (6 RBI – four times with the previous: J.P. Arencibia 5/18/12 vs. NYM).
  • Pitcher Kevin Gausman went 5.0 IP, with seven hits allowed, three runs, 10 strike-outs) tied a season high in strikeouts
  • Gausman has struck out 28 batters in his three starts against Boston this year (20.0 IP).

“It was tough to be in the dugout to be honest with you,” said Boston Manager Alex Cora to the Boston Globe. “And, they know that it’s not a lack of preparation. It’s not a lack of effort, because we keep working on our stuff and we keep going through the process the right way. I love to say that this happens, but it doesn’t happen often, you know, and we just got to turn the page.”

The page is turned and the book re-opened at 4:10pm Saturday afternoon. Same two teams.

They Gave Me a Break, Now Play Ball

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MLB All-Star Break is Over; It’s Time to Play Ball

BOSTON – The hometown Boston Red Sox (48-45) will play a 10-game, 10-day homestead to begin the second half of their MLB season and they do so with an (11-6) record over their last 17 games at Fenway Park. The 10-game stretch will be followed by another seven straight games (three at Houston and four at Kansas City), making Boston’s next day off August 8th.

It’s safe to say, that between July 22 and August 8, the Red Sox season will set sail, and they’ll do so – most likely – without Chris Sale, who left the game last Sunday at New York with a fractured left fifth (pinky) finger. The Sox ace was in the very first inning of his Major League Baseball return and he fell victim to an Aaron Hicks line drive that came back at the pitcher clocking 106.7 mph off his pitching hand. Sale was placed on the 15-day IL list today, retroactive to July 19th.

As the post MLB All-Star break begins, the Red Sox will throw right-hand pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Kutter Crawford in the first two games against the Toronto Blue Jays, but then the Sunday matinee is marked with the same pitcher the Sox tossed in the last week before the break – a guy named TBD.

Sale and Eovaldi’s absence contributed to the problem as Boston was forced to start pitcher-after-pitcher straight from Triple A Worcester. From May 28 to June 8, Eovaldi enjoyed a three-game win streak, while in two of his other recent games, the Red Sox registered a “win.” Eovaldi’s Friday night start will be his second after missing 33 games. (June 8-July 15).

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The All-Star break was just what the Red Sox needed to assemble something that might pass for a major league starting rotation. With Sale a goner, James Paxton no where to be seen, Michael Wacha out with right shoulder inflammation and Rich Hill out with a left knee sprain, that is likely to be:

  • Nathan Eovaldi
  • Kutter Crawford
  • Nick Pivetta
  • Garrett Whitlock
  • Possibly Austin Davis or Josh Winckowski (out with COVID+ as of July 14).

The Sox experimented by promoting RHP Brayan Bello (recalled from Worcester today) and RHP Connor Seabold (10-day IL) with a right forearm extensor strain). Too say the least, it wasn’t pretty.

Boston begins its second half 15.5 games behind American League East leader New York (64-30), the best team in baseball. But after losing six of their last seven games before the break, Boston fell to 4th place in the AL East, trailing the Yankees, Tampa Bay and their opponents this weekend, Toronto (50-43).

During the recent span, the Seattle Mariners are on a 14-game winning streak and have moved into Wild Card slot No. 2, at (51-42). That places Boston two games behind in the American League Wild Card race, bunched up with those pesky Cleveland Guardians, the surging Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox.

As of this beautiful, but warm, Friday night at Fenway, it’s time to Play Ball.

Can anyone pitch?