Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Terry Lyons

NFL Draft: A Return to Normalcy & Uncertainty

by

CLEVELAND – Although it seems like a century ago, it was just a year back when we were welcomed into NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s basement man-cave to watch the NFL Draft unfold pick-by-pick. The surreal feeling of disconnection to the normal man-hugs and NFL Draft-niks reaction was lost to the pandemic we were just beginning to understand.

Tonight?

It’ll be like Mardi Gras in Cleveland, if that would ever be a thing.

NFL Draft pundits are predicting a quarterback class like none other. The focus on the more well-known position of QB could shift a more deserved spotlight away from the amazing Alabama Crimson Tide football program when the 2021 NFL Draft begins tonight.

The defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide Class of 2021 (and their young peers) will challenge the record for first-round picks in a single year. ‘Bama Quarterback Mac Jones, Heisman Trophy winner in WR DeVonta Smith,  his fellow WR Jaylen Waddle and RB Najee Harris lead the talented departing crew of Alabama Coach Nick Saban‘s vast resourced expected to be gobbled-up by NFL player personnel departments from Miami to Seattle.  All will be among the first-rounders.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have the No. 1 overall pick and awaiting for selection are five quarterbacks projected to be selected in the top half of the first round. The Jags seem set on Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, but Zach Wilson (BYU), Alabama’s Jones, Trey Lance (North Dakota State) and Justin Fields (Ohio State) are likely to be part of a record QB haul in Round one.

If the Jaguars select Lawrence first overall, he’ll be the 26th quarterback to go No. 1 since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Quarterbacks have gone first each of the past three drafts and Lawrence is listed as a -10000 favorite to go No. 1 and make it four in a row. Only twice in NFL draft history quarterbacks have gone 1-2-3, most recently in 1999 when Tim Couch (Browns), Donovan McNabb (Eagles) and Akili Smith (Bengals) were the top players drafted.

Only one time in draft history (2018), were four quarterbacks selected in the top 10, and never with picks 1-4. The Falcons hold the fourth overall pick and choosing an heir apparent to Matt Ryan is under consideration. That No. 4 overall pick is the crossroad of the 2021 NFL Draft as Atlanta could trade down and gather additional picks by dealing the No. 4 pick to a QB-needy team such as the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos or Chicago Bears.

The Patriots lost Tom Brady and his Super Bowl winning ways to reigning NFL champion Tampa Bay and Brady’s replacement in New England, Cam Newton, didn’t pan-out to be a playoff-bound QB for Bill Belichick and the Pats.

The record for quarterbacks drafted in the first round is six, set in 1983 with a class of John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Todd Blackledge, Tony Eason and Ken O’Brien. Of course, the poor New York Jets came away with O’Brien that year.

Those same J-E-T-S will be selecting at No. 2 this season and they recently dealt their “franchise QB” of the 2018 NFL Draft, Sam Darnold, to the Carolina Panthers who are coming off a QB trade of their own, having dealt Teddy Bridgewater to Denver on April 28.

To say uncertainty is the name of the NFL Draft in 2021 is an understatement for all draft.

 

Red Sox End Home-stand with a “W”

by

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox concluded their season-long 10-game home stand with a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners Sunday at Fenway Park. Boston finished a season-long 10 game stretch at Fenway with a disappointing 5-5 record but are 14-6 in their last 20 games and 3-0-3 in their last six series.

Embed from Getty Images

Trailing 1-0 after the first half of the 1st inning, utility man Marwin Gonzalez and right fielder Hunter Renfroe each worked bases-loaded walks in the Sox’ half of the 1st inning and 2B Christian Arroyo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. It marked the time the Red Sox have scored four (or more) runs on two hits or fewer in the 1st inning since August 11, 2018 vs. TB (4 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 E).

Boston starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R) struck-out a season-high eight over his season-high 7.0 innings. Rodriguez retired his final nine batters faced on 29 pitches after allowing 3 straight hits and two runs to begin the 5th inning. It was Rodriguez third career start with no walks over 7.0+ innings pitched.

Boston begins a six-game road trip in New York on Tuesday when they face the Mets in a pair of night games before heading to Arlington, Texas to take-on the Texas Rangers in a four-game set. The Sox return to Fenway Park on May 4th to start a three-game series against Detroit.

Inconsistency Plagues the Red Sox

by

BOSTON – It’s nowhere near as bad as Scripture’s calling “idle hands being the Devil’s work shop, but for a Major League Baseball team, inconsistency – especially at home – can lead a club to places even worse than hell. Inconsistency can lead to idle time in October.

Here’s a snapshot at the 2021 Boston Red Sox season:

  • April 1 – Boston hosted Baltimore for Opening Day – Postponed
  • April 2-4 – Boston lost three straight to the Orioles – (0-3)
  • April 5-14 – The Red Sox strike back and won nine in a row (vs. combo of TB, Balt, and Minn) – (9-3)
  • April 15-18 – Sox lost three-of-four (Chicago White Sox)
  • April 19-20 – Boston took two straight games (CWS and Toronto)
  • April 21-24 – Boston dropped three-of-four (Toronto and Seattle) – (13-9)
Embed from Getty Images

In Spring Training, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora hoped for a better record (and some consistency), at least at Fenway Park. Boston is 4-5 through the first nine games of the current home stand, but maintain a 13-6 record in their last 19 games. Entering Sunday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners, the Red Sox are (7-8) at Fenway but (6-1) on the road.

On Saturday, the Sox fell victim to Seattle’s starter Chris Flexen (2-1) – (7.0 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 7 SO) who pitched a career-high 7.0 innings, the Mariners’ longest road start of the season. Flexen’s pitching was backed up by Mariners’ 3B Kyle Seager’s bat as Seager went 3-for-5, with two runs scored, a double, triple and three RBI). He came a HR shy of the cycle but his RBI single in the 1st, a 2=two-run triple in the 2nd and a double in the 5th inning made the difference in Seattle’s 8-7 victory.

Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi (3-2) took the loss. He pitched five innings, allowing, seven hits, five runs (four earned), with a walk and three strike-outs. Eovaldi had extended his streak of consecutive batters faced without a walk to 73 before issuing the four ball pass to Evan White with two outs in the 5th inning.

 

While We’re Young (Ideas) April 25th

by

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – One of the most amazing “fails” in the history of sports took place over the past few weeks and it will go down in the sports history books as something even worse than the XFLs (2001 & 2020) or the USFL.

The proposed European “Super League” of Futbol (Soccer for the Americans in the crowd) began and ended within a few days. The timeline was short and surreal:

  • Sunday, April 18th – Super League announcement doled out.
  • Monday, April 19th – The pushback from European fans became intense.
  • Tuesday, April 20th – The Super League began to fall apart
  • Wednesday, April 21st – The Super League was vanished, banished and apologies were issued to fans by team ownership and team presidents of the rogue Futbol clubs.
  • In the time it takes to clear waivers, the Super League and zillions of dollars of potential revenue for players and teams alike, became the Stupor League – a punchline for sports start-ups forever.
Embed from Getty Images

As we know, or maybe for American fans – pretend to know – there are more leagues, cups and competitions in European Futbol that UFC fights on Pay-Per-View TV. They have Premier Leagues, they have FA Cups, they have Bundisligas, they have Spanish Liga, they have Copa del Reys, they have Italian Serie A and Coppa Italia, they have First Divisions in the Netherlands and Portugal and everywhere else, they have Scottish Premierships and they have UEFA Champions and UEFA Europa League.

There were Cup Winners Cups and even a Cup of Cups. Suffice to say, there are more Cups than in the Montreal Canadiens’ trophy case.

The creation of the European Super League would’ve been like skimming-off the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, KC Chiefs, New York Giants, the Denver Broncos and LA Rams and creating a mini-American Football (not Futbol) League of the perennial champs.

Except for what?

The fans of the Dallas Cowboys live and love their match-ups with the Washington FC and Philly Eagles. The KC Chiefs and their fans loath the Oakland Raiders and await each and every regular season match-up. The Packers live for the Black & Blue Division games between the Pack and Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

That’s just what happened in Europa, as fans of Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal and Tottenham went ballistic at the idea of siding up with Real Madrid and a few of the others hand-selected.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez told Diario As of Spain the Super League “must have done something wrong” with the announcement of the project – never expecting the fans’ violent/protest reaction and the ultimate pushback from football’s governing bodies, politicians and industry sponsors. The last wiper was Perez claiming the founders will take “some weeks to reflect” on their next steps.

They’ll also need to ponder potential lawsuits and penalties from the various Leagues, UEFA, and FIFA – plus the double-down from UEFA and FIFA to bar rogue players from national competitions in the near future if they so dare to compete for an upstart new league, potentially disrupting the Futbol Gods.

For now, the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan – and the “as nyet” withdrawn Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan – all have retreated to their corners, slouched corrected by a strong union of European futbol fans who all despise American club ownership and influences (see Liverpool and John Henry/Fenway Sports and Arsenal’s Stan Kroenke as Exhibits 1-A & B).

Of note in the failed Stupor League was the fact PSG of Paris was not in the mix and the league failed to try for an American franchise to join the club, much to the MLS’ delight, for sure.

One mea culpa came from financier JP Morgan who issued an all-out apology, saying that it “regretted supporting soccer clubs in launching a breakaway European Super League after the plan collapsed earlier this week amid intense criticism from fans and politicians.” A rep for the bank said, “We clearly misjudged how this deal would be viewed by the wider football community and how it might impact them in the future. We will learn from this.”

Yeah, until the next $Billion-Dollar deal comes along.

PGA TOUR BEWARE: The one North American-based sport totally open to the formation of a new “Super League” is the PGA Tour and the method to infiltrate is on display this weekend at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the only match-play “team event” on the PGA schedule. Of course, the PGA has the hammer and could expel players who broke away, so the concept is a dream, but consider the fact a strong group of “Super Players” could break-away and form a Super Match League for pro golf. They would need to carve out five weekends a year (quarterly) and then one for the title (Thanksgiving in USA). Each match play tournament would be run much like the Zurich Classic this week. The four tournaments would create a “Final Four” of Match Play qualifiers (once you win a place for the Final Four, you no longer compete in the next tournament). The Super League/Final Four would be played on Thanksgiving Weekend at Pinehurst.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The NBA and NBA Players Association introduced the cryptocurrency pseudo-owning highlight phenomenon of Top Shot and the rest of the sports world is plotting how to follow along. … While never one to begrudge the new tech, whether it was glossy cards with authentic uniform strips inserted within instead of a strip of sour-tasting bubble gum, or the latest Air Jordans, there is ONE and ONLY ONE sports highlight I would choose to “own” and that would be Secretariat’s run at the 1973 Belmont Stakes. Everything else is playing for second place.

QUARTER CENTURY: It was 25 years ago (April 24, 1996), the NBA Board of Governors voted to create the WNBA. Not long after, Val Ackerman – currently the Commissioner of the BIG EAST Conference – was elected President of the WNBA, reporting to then-Commissioner of the NBA, David Stern. As the USA Basketball women’s senior national team prepared for that summer’s ‘96 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the WNBA signed Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Rebecca Lobo as its first three players and league ambassadors. … The league tipped-off June 21, 1997.

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: Not-fer-Nuthin’ but the MLB injured list is getting out of control, and its still April. In NO particular order, the following players have been hurt, on the IL and sidelined this season: Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Christian Yelich, Eloy Jimenez, George Springer, Luke Voit, Lance Lynn, Ketel Marte, Jose Altuve, Max Kepler, Johnny Cuerto, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Santander, Miguel Cabrera (no surprise), Juan Soto, Starling Marte, Anthony Rendon, Trevor Rosenthal, and Max Fried. That list places the likes of Chris Sale, Noah Syndergaard , and Justin Verlander on another page, as their injuries were documented well before the season or they’re recovering from surgery.

The Houston Astros are the only club to be hit hard by the COVID-19+ tests, and Altuve remains on the IL. Earlier, the Astros placed second baseman Altuve, third baseman Alex Bregman, designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, catcher Martin Maldonado and reserve infielder Robel Garcia on the injured list due to MLB protocol.

HOOP-HOOP, Hoo-RAY: Forward Michael Foster Jr., a five-star prospect, has signed to play with NBA G League Ignite next season, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced today. Foster, ranked by ESPN as the No. 7 prospect in the Class of 2021, is the first player to sign with NBA G League Ignite for its second season. … “I’m super ready to learn the NBA game and train like an NBA player from NBA guys while playing for NBA G League Ignite,” said Foster of his decision to “go pro” rather than take the collegiate route. … A 2021 McDonald’s All-American, Foster spent his last two high school seasons at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, where he averaged 32.2 points and 18.4 rebounds as a senior and 26.3 points, 13.4 rebounds and 6.1 blocks as a junior. In his first two high school seasons, Foster led Washington High School of Information Technology in his native Milwaukee to back-to-back Division 2 state runner-up finishes. He earned All-State and All-Area First Team honors as a sophomore.

COMMERCIALS: Here at While We’re Young (Ideas), we’ve had enough of the “I’ve got the brains, you’ve got the looks, let’s make lots of money,” spot. Plus, The Pet Shop Boys called, and they want their tune back. … Secondly, the nice Mom who helps her adopted daughter through her first serious break-up was a nice idea for Adopt US Kids, but if there’s another airing of the “plus, he’s tagged in 400 posts,” we’re apt to toss War & Peace through the TV screen. “Good bye, Dave.”

COMMERCIALS II: In the New England region, local furniture shoppe “Jordan’s Furniture” is again offering free furniture to customers who purchased goods if any pitcher on the Boston Red Sox pitches a “No Hitter,” between August 3rd and October 3rd. If so, everything is free. … The odds are on Sox starters Nathan Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez at the moment, but the chances for free stuff would improve significantly if Sox ace Chris Sale were to return in his Cy Young Award form.

A NEW SIGN of the APOCALYPSE: ESPN and Marvel announced a “groundbreaking collaboration” to launch the first-ever Marvel-inspired alternate presentation for the Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans game on Monday, May 3. The exclusive alternate presentation, NBA Special Edition Presented by State Farm: Marvel’s Arena of Heroes, will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes with the traditional game telecast on ESPN.

The latest development in Marvel and ESPN’s long history of sports content collaboration, the telecast will integrate elements from an original Marvel story and iconic characters including Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Black Widow, and Doctor Strange throughout the live game, including 3D virtual characters, custom graphics and animation packages.

From the press release: “After a narrow victory over an invading alien army, the Avengers receive an ominous threat from the enemy who vows to return in greater numbers and force. The Black Panther and Iron Man quickly realize they will need more help and form a plan to expand their ranks to fight this impending threat. Recognizing the superior physical abilities, agility, and tenacity of Earth’s greatest athletes, the Avengers will hold a series of contests where the winners earn the right to train and fight alongside them as Marvel’s Champions! The Avengers will begin their recruitment with the NBA elite and observe the battle between the Warriors and the Pelicans, focusing on three star players from each team.”

That said, we LONG for the days of the late Rudolph “Spider” Edwards sweeping the Boston Garden parquet in his trademark “fedora’ hat as the lone “entertainment” for a game.

WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY: The 2021 IIHF Championship tournament, scheduled in Nova Scotia with a start date of May 6 has been canceled due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Canada. The IIHF is looking into a new date to play the women’s tourney this summer. … Makes you wonder about the Tokyo Olympic Games?

CFP PREDICTING ALL SYSTEMS GO: “It was quite a year,” said the great Bill Hancock, the Executive Director of the CFP. “Given all the challenges presented by the pandemic, teams were fortunate to have played as many games as they did. It’s a real testament to the student-athletes, commissioners and their staffs, athletics directors, coaches, the schools’ staffs, medical personnel, and, frankly, everyone who loves this game. Satisfaction with the CFP remains high, and we can’t wait for what we hope will be a more typical season this fall.” … Hancock said the CFP intends to return to the traditional pageantry of college football for the CFP games this year. “We are planning to have marching bands, cheerleaders, mascots and the rest of the wonderful traditions at the CFP games. We are optimistic, but, of course, everything will depend on the circumstances this fall.”

HUDDLE-UP: According to newsletter, Huddle Up, sports media company Overtime almost broke the internet when they announced the launch of Overtime Elite (OTE), a professional basketball league that will pay high school-aged players $100,000 or more. That is along the lines of what the NBA and its G-League are doing with their Ignite franchise. … The key issue for Overtime was the cash needed to jump-start a pro-type league amidst the pandemic. According to the report, Overtime Elite raised an $80 million Series C round that values the business at more than $250 million.

The round included investors:

  • Jeff Bezos
  • Drake (musician/rap; ambassador to Toronto Raptors)
  • Alexis Ohanian
  • Devin Booker
  • Pau Gasol

Furthermore, Sapphire Sport and Black Capital led the Series C round, with more than 25 current and former NBA players participating.

EXIT NIKE: Both gymnast Simone Biles and the estate representatives for Kobe Bryant (headed by his widow Vanessa) exited the Nike family this week. Biles signed-up for a new apparel partnership with Athleta that she says more closely “reflects her values.” Biles told the WSJ: “I felt like it wasn’t just about my achievements, it’s what I stood for and how they were going to help me use my voice and also be a voice for females and kids,” she said. “I feel like they also support me, not just as an athlete, but just as an individual outside of the gym and the change that I want to create, which is so refreshing.” … Meanwhile, a Nike spokesperson stated: “Simone Biles is an incredible athlete and we wish her the very best,” and that “we will continue to champion, celebrate and evolve to support our female athletes.” … As for Kobe Bryant, ESPN reported that “sources” noted, “Bryant and the estate had grown frustrated with Nike limiting the availability of Kobe products during his retirement and after his January 2020 death in a helicopter crash. There was also frustration with the lack of availability of Kobe footwear in kids’ sizes, according to sources.” … Vanessa Bryant added: “My hope will always be to allow Kobe’s fans to get and wear his products,” Vanessa Bryant said. “I will continue to fight for that. Kobe’s products sell out in seconds. That says everything. … I was hoping to forge a lifelong partnership with Nike that reflects my husband’s legacy. We will always do everything we can to honor Kobe and Gigi’s legacies. That will never change.”

CONDOLENCES: Condolences are in order for the family of Boston basketball prospect Terrence Clarke, a 19-year old from Roxbury who died in an auto accident in Los Angeles on Thursday night. He was in California for work-outs and auditions to prepare for the NBA Draft. Clarke played ball at Roxbury’s Vine Street Community Center, then for The Rivers School, Brewster Academy and then the University of Kentucky.

Parting Words & Music

Suggested by a column contributor. The Waterboys.

PGA Tour: Final Round at Zurich Classic

by

PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of Zurich Classic

Six teams shot (63) for low round of the day, including third round leaders Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel.

The South African team Oosthuizen/Schwartzel seek to join nine players from outside the United States to win the Zurich Classic since 2000.

Defending champions Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer sit T-9 and four back at (15-under).

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans switched from individual stroke play to the two-man team format in 2017 and is the only official FedExCup team event on Tour. Since team format was introduced, the 54-hole leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win twice – two of the three years – (2017/Cameron Smith/Jonas Blixt, 2019/Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer). The 2020 event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Two-time major champion and 2011 Zurich Classic winner Bubba Watson and 2019-20 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Scottie Scheffler birdied two of the final three holes (Nos. 16 and 18) for a 6-under (66) and sit T-4 at (17-under), two strokes back of the leaders. Scheffler is making his Zurich Classic debut. Watson is making his 13th appearance and fourth in team format with his third different partner.

Format: Foursomes in fourth round.

Highlights from Round Three:

Tournament Tee Times today at 9:50am (local)/10:50am (EDT through 12:55pm (local)/1:55pm (EDT)

Weather: Sunday will be mostly sunny and 71-degrees with winds at 10 mph.

PGATourBrunch will be posting a Zurich Classic Wrap-Up at Noon (EDT)on Monday, April 26.

Next Week: Valspar Championship (Palm Harbor, FLA)

Leaderboard After Third Round at Zurich Classic

Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel 63-71-63—197 (-19)

Marc Leishman/Cameron Smith 63-72-63—198 (-18)

Cameron Champ/Tony Finau 63-68-67—198 (-18)

Bubba Watson/Scottie Scheffler 64-69-66—199 (-17)

Viktor Hovland/Kris Ventura 62-69-68—199 (-17)

Bogaerts, Martinez Lead Sox to 6-5 Win

by

BOSTON – Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-4, with a run scored, a home run and  3 RBI to match his season high in RBI with his  2-run homer in the 1st to lead the Red Sox to a 6-5 win over the Seattle Mariners. Bogaerts has homered in three of the last four games and the Sox are 4-4 in their current eight-game home stand.

Embed from Getty Images

J.D. Martinez followed for Boston and hit a solo home run down the right field line in the 3rd inning. to extend the Sox’ lead to 3-1. It was Martinez’ seventh homer of the season, matching his (60-game) 2020 season total.

Boston reliever Hirokazu Sawamura earned his first MLB win after entering in the 4th inning, leading 3-2 with two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd. Sawamura struck out Seattle OF Mitch Haniger to strand both runners. Overall, Sawamura has stranded each of his four inherited runners this season and seven of his nine appearances have been scoreless (1.80 ERA, 2 ER/10.0 IP).

Garrett Whitlock spelled Sawamura and extended a streak of 25 consecutive batters retired before allowing a two-out single to Sam Haggerty in the 6th inning. The string of scoreless innings marks the longest streak by a Red Sox pitcher since Chris Sale retired 25 consecutive batters in June 2019. Whitlock was credited with a hold.

The Mariners allowed six runs after holding opponents to five runs or fewer in each of their previous eight games, including 3 runs or fewer in 7 of those 8 games. Tonight’s 6-5 loss was their 10th one-run game of the season, the most in the majors.

The teams meet again at 1:10pm on Saturday at Fenway Park.

 

PGA Tour: Second Round Preview at Zurich Classic of New Orleans

by

PGA Tour Brunch 1st Round Coverage of Zurich Classic of NOLA

NEW ORLEANS – Making their first starts in the Zurich Classic, Viktor Hovland and Kris Ventura opened with a bogey-free 10-under (62). Brice Garnett and Scott Stallings birdied eight of their last 11 holes to post 10-under (62).

Louisiana native Sam Burns and two-time Zurich Classic champion Billy Horschel birdied first four holes en route to a (63).

Defending champions Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer are T-16 after a 7-under (65).

Format: Four-ball in first and third rounds, Foursomes in second and fourth rounds.

Embed from Getty Images

The Tournament Tee Times today at 8:20am (local)/9:20am (EDT through 2:14pm (local)/3:14pm (EDT)

Weather: Forecast today calls for mostly cloudy skies, showers and thunderstorms after 3pm with a 40% chance of rain. The showers and thunderstorms could hold over until Saturday (90% chance of rain). Sunday will be mostly sunny and 71-degrees.

PGATourBrunch will be posting before 9am (EDT) on Saturday and Sunday.

Next Week: Valspar Championship (Palm Harbor, FLA)

Leaderboard After First Round at Zurich Classic

Viktor Hovland/Kris Ventura 62 (-10)

Brice Garnett/Scott Stallings 62 (-10)

Seven teams 63 (-9)

Sports TV: Class is in Session with Doug Glanville on Marquee Sports

by

CHICAGO – Regional Sports Networks are upping the ante each and every year and Chicago’s Marquee Sports Network is leading the trend of RSN’s producing original “network quality” programs.

Class is in Session with Doug Glanville is a monthly show that explores the sports industry within the larger lens of its effect on society. It premieres its newest episode this Friday, April 23, on Marquee Sports Network. Presented by UI Health, this month’s episode focuses on the decision by Major League Baseball to move the All-Star Game from Atlanta to Colorado and how the Players Alliance is giving a voice to minority players and providing outreach in communities across the country.

To view a trailer, click below:

https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/doug-glanville-discusses-mlb-all-star-game-and-players-alliance-on-newest-episode-of-class-is-in-session/

Guests for this episode include:

Jason Heyward – Chicago Cubs outfielder, 12-year major league veteran and member of the Major League Player Committee for The Players Alliance
Curtis Granderson – 16-year major league veteran and President of The Players Alliance
Ken Rosenthal – Senior writer for The Athletic and MLB Network insider
Doug Glanville, the show’s host, creator and one of its executive producers, was nominated for a 2021 Sports Emmy Award for his “Enough” video essay and draws on his experience as a veteran MLB player, baseball analyst, writer, and college professor of sport and society as he interacts with this distinguished panel of guests.

“Having the opportunity to learn and engage with true insiders and their knowledge of the impact and motivation around MLB moving the All-Star Game is unique,” said Glanville. “Between Curtis, Jason and Ken, we get an education on all the factors at play and why it was so significant for MLB to take a stance. The conversations are deep and examine historical context through current player insight.”

During the wide-ranging discussion, Glanville and the panel of guests discuss what led to MLB’s decision to move the All-Star Game, the role of players in that decision and how The Players Alliance is going above and beyond to impact all communities, including Atlanta.

Jason Heyward, a native of the Atlanta area, shared his support for moving the game out of Atlanta, while acknowledging that he remains committed to his hometown.

“It’s cool to know that the Players Alliance will still be going to Atlanta, and will still be reaching out in these communities … I’m looking forward to being a part of that any way I can,” said Heyward.

Glanville, a nine-year MLB veteran, is a Marquee Sports Network analyst and the host of “Class is in Session with Doug Glanville” presented by UI Health, a half-hour panel show exploring the intersection between sports and larger society. Glanville was selected by the Cubs in the first round of the 1991 MLB draft and made his major league debut with Chicago in 1996.

After spending five-plus seasons with Philadelphia and Texas, he returned to the Cubs in 2003 and hit a go-ahead triple in the 11th inning of Game Three of the NLCS against the Marlins. He was the first African American Ivy League graduate to play in the MLB.

MLB Legacies Take It to Red Sox

by

BOSTON – MLB legacies Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – batting one-two-three – in the Toronto Blue Jays’ order, combined to go 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI over the opening two innings of the game to lead Toronto to a 6-3 win over Boston at Fenway Park.

Embed from Getty Images

Toronto snapped their three-game losing streak while the Red Sox dropped to 3-3 on their current home stand but 12-4 overall. Boston remains tied with the Oakland A’s for the best record in the AL (12-7, .632), and trail only the LA Dodgers (14-4, .778) for the best record in MLB.

Biggio and Guerrero are the sons of Baseball Hall of Famers Craig Biggio and 16-year veteran Vladimir Guerrero while Biggio is the son of former MLB outfielder Dante Bichette.

Toronto utilized seven pitchers with Trent Thornton getting the start, his first of the season. Thornton allowed an Alex Verdugo single and a Rafael Devers double over 2.0 scoreless innings to maintain his record of holding opponents scoreless in his last four outings (7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 SO).

Blue Jays reliever Ryan Borucki was credited with the win and Anthony Castro earned a save.

Boston Starter Garrett Richards (0-2) took the loss after going 4.2 innings and throwing a season-high 92 pitches. He allowed four runs on four hits and was hurt by six walks.

Boston SS Xander Bogaerts went 1-for-4 with a home run in the 8th inning, his second homer in two nights.

 

 

PGA Tour: First Look at Zurich Classic

by

Welcome to PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the Zurich Classic

The 2020 Zurich Classic of New Orleans was one of 11 events canceled in the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19. The Zurich Classic (which was first played in 1938), has utilized the two-man team format since 2017. It remains the only official FedExCup team event on the PGA TOUR schedule.

Two-player team event, with each team comprised of two professionals, featuring Four-ball (best ball) during the first and third rounds and Foursomes (alternate shot) during the second and fourth rounds.

The starting field will consist of 80 teams (160 players) with the 36-hole cut to the low 33 teams and ties at the 33rd position.

The field consists of 12 past Zurich Classic of New Orleans winners: K.J. Choi (2002), Nick Watney (2007), Andres Romero (2008), Bubba Watson(2011), Jason Dufner (2012), Billy Horschel (2013, 2018), Justin Rose(2015), Brian Stuard (2016), Cameron Smith (2017), Scott Piercy (2018), Jon Rahm (2019), Ryan Palmer (2019)

Zurich Ambassadors: Justin Rose, Billy Horschel, and Collin Morikawa.

The Tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 7:00am (EDT) through 2:10pm (EDT).

Weather: Thursday’s Forecast calls mild, sunny skies and a temperature of 64-degrees with 49% humidity and 13 mph winds. Zero chance of rain. Friday (70% chance of rain) could bring PM showers and thunderstorms which will hold over until Saturday (90% chance of rain). Sunday will be mostly sunny and 71-degrees.