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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 5

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – In the spring of 2007, Al Horford capped two NCAA Final Four basketball championships by being the third overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, selected by the Atlanta Hawks. Together with Florida Gators frontcourt-mate and fellow rim protector, Joakim Noah, and impressive collegiate scorer, Corey Brewer, Horford thought a trip to the Final Four was his birthright. After all, his father, “Tito” Horford had made it to the NBA, playing four years with a combination of the Milwaukee and Washington. Surely. there’d be plenty of success in the future.

Life in the NBA can have a cruel side. The money’s great but the competition is pretty tough. You’ve got the pay your dues if you wanna play the Bulls, and playoff shares for NBA Finalists don’t come easy.

Horford toiled for nine years with the Hawks and his team made the playoffs every year sans one, 2013-14, when he was injured. He bounced right back and played in 76 of 82 regular season games and all 16 of Atlanta’s playoff games as the East’s No. 1 seed that won enough to make the Eastern Conference Finals. Not quite enough, as the Hawks were swept away, 4-0, by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

No NBA Finals for Big Al.

In the summer of 2016, Horford’s fortunes increased when he was signed to a multi-year contract by the Boston Celtics. In the spring of 2017, he played in 18 NBA Playoff games, again with the No. 1 seed in the East, but fell victim to James and the Cavaliers once again.

No NBA Finals for Big Al.

That cruel side of NBA life moved on and Horford signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019 and later traded to Oklahoma City in 2020.

No Finals.

On June 18, 2021 Horford’s NBA destiny and legacy would change for the better once again. He was packaged by Oklahoma City in a deal for Kemba Walker and returned to Boston to anchor the front court.

On Friday night, June 3, Horford celebrated his 36th birthday a day after playing his 142nd playoff game and doing so in a “Star of the Game” role in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals, a 120-108 Celtics road win against the Golden state Warriors.

Big Al led the Celtics in scoring with (26), including a 6-for-8 performance from three-point FG range. No NBA player had ever gone 141 playoff games without reaching the Finals and those six ‘threes’ were the most for any NBA player making his Finals debut. Two of the “threes” put the Celtics up 106-103 and 109-103 with about five minutes remaining in the game, and his 17-foot jumper at 3:40 in the fourth quarter made it 111-103 Boston, bolstering a 40-16 Celtics run in the final 12 minutes of the game. That’s not bad for a team that trailed by 15 late in the third quarter.

Horford’s eight important points keyed the Game 1 victory, but his offense is not what makes him such a valuable player for his team. Ask any Celtics player, coach or front office worker what Al Horford provides for the club and you’re likely to get the same answer.

“Phenomenal,” said Jaylen Brown of the Celtics. “That’s what we need. That’s what we want. We want that veteran leadership to carry us over. He came out for his first Finals game and played amazing. He carried us and led to a victory.

“His energy, his demeanor, coming in every day, being a professional, taking care of his body, being a leader, I’m proud to be able to share this moment with a veteran, a mentor, a brother, a guy like Al Horford, man,” added Brown after defeating Miami and earning g the Finals appearance for Horford. “He’s been great all season, really my whole career. I’m happy to be able to share this moment with somebody like him.”

What did Horford think?

It wasn’t about an offensive role, it was all about defense.

“Coach Udoka was very clear what he wanted us to be as a team, our identity, defensively, hang our hat on the defensive end,” said Big Al. “And on offense, play freely, use Jaylen and Jayson and just kind of just go. (Our team) understanding and buying into that – it took us a while – but I feel like once we started to understand how we needed to play, we became more consistent.

“This journey is not easy. We had a hard path. Brooklyn, Milwaukee, the defending champs, and Miami’s s a team that – look what they did – they took us to the brink.

“For our group it’s resiliency, it’s switching the page, moving on to the next thing, and we did that all season. I really noticed it, and I was telling this to JB (Brown), but it was like February, early February, that I just noticed how we started to click.

“People were like, ‘Well, you guys are beating teams that have guys out, guys are hurt and all these things,” and I was like, “It doesn’t matter, I’m seeing something different in how we’re playing. That’s how we’re just going to carry it on, and that’s what we’ve been doing.’”

Up 1-0 in The NBA Finals, the Celtics’ journey continues Sunday but there’s a long, long way to go. If you don’t believe that’s true, just ask Al Horford.
Al Horford (center) in his leadership role with Celtics (USA Today photo)

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HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Chelsea went for some $3 billion, the Denver Broncos are on the market, valued at $3.8 billion, and attracting a list of buyers a mile high. Nike founder Phil Knight tossed his $2 billion into a pair of basketball shoes in an attempt to acquire the Portland Trail Blazers, on the market as part of the estate of the late Paul Allen of Microsoft fame.

The piggy bank broke when Los Angeles Clippers team owner, Donald Sterling, was banned from The NBA for racist remarks and conduct unbecoming an NBA franchise governor and his $12.5 million purchase in 1981 turned into a $2 billion sale of the Clippers in 2014.

Professional franchise valuations soared and in 2022, it’s a matter of what someone will pay to join an exclusive club of team owners for any sport.

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: With those incredible franchise valuations comes payroll, too, and Major League Baseball payrolls and the subsequent tax levied against clubs above the $230 million salary threshold have hit record numbers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers might as well change nicknames to the Los Angeles Dollars as the club’s Opening Day salary was an all-time high $310.6 million,. That resulted in a $47 million tax according to figures compiled by Major League Baseball and obtained by The Associated Press on Friday.

The New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox rounded-out the Top 5 of MLB teams over the threshold. The Phillies fired Joe Girardi, their manager of two years, as the club is mired in third place in the National League East, playing sub-.500 baseball at 23-29 (.442).

The Payroll Tax List: (Team, Opening Day Payroll, MLB Luxury Tax)

  1. Los Angeles Dodgers, $310.6m, $47m
  2. New York Mets, $289.3m, $22.5m
  3. New York Yankees, $261.4m, $7.6m
  4. Philadelphia Phillies, $233.1m, $629k
  5. Boston Red Sox, $232.3m, $466k

Meanwhile, Nashville is actively pursuing a Major League Baseball and a WNBA franchise, if and when they become available, most likely through expansion. The Tennessee city already has the NFL Titans and the NHL Predators.

We all used to love the Major League Baseball’s Game of the Week, one game on national TV (NBC) with Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek on the broadcast. In the ‘60s, NBC paid some $6.1 million for 25 broadcasts and MLB tossed in some holidays, like Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. … Joe Garagiola took over for Gowdy at some point in the mid-60s. … On Saturday, June 4, there were four national “Games of the Week,” and that excludes the regular Boston broadcast of the Red Sox by regional sports network, NESN.

NBA IN SEATTLE? VEGAS? – As far as The NBA is concerned, the league has a franchise in Memphis and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver denied any active maneuvering to expand with a media inquiry about possible expansion to Seattle and/or Las Vegas coming Thursday night in Silver’s bi-annual State of the NBA address.

“Just to answer the first part of your question directly, that talk is not true,” said Silver of rumors of Seattle and Las Vegas. “At least maybe there are people talking who are not at the league office about us potentially expanding after the 2024 season.

“We are not discussing that at this time.

“As I said before, at some point, this league invariably will expand, but it’s not at this moment that we are discussing it. But one of the factors in expanding is the potential dilution of talent. … I find it remarkable that when you have the second-most-played sport in the world after soccer, tens of millions — now just talking on the NBA side — of young men playing in this game, and then you have the 450 best in the world in this league, that there’s a few of them who separate themselves even among those 450 as the very best of the best, but there is then a fall-off, a drop-off in talent after that.

“So expansion does create a certain amount of dilution. And even sort of adding another 30 players or so that are roughly comparable, there still are only so many of the truly top-tier super talents to go around. That is something on the mind of the other teams as we think about expansion.

“But those (Seattle/Vegas) are wonderful markets. Again, as I’ve said before, we were in Seattle. I’m sorry we are no longer there. We have a WNBA team in Seattle in an almost brand-new building that’s doing spectacular. And Las Vegas, where we will be at our Summer League in July, has shown itself to be a great sports market as well.

“We’ll be looking at it at some point, but there’s no specific timeline right now.”

Bradley Gets a Dad Break

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official Team News Release) – The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on MLB’s paternity leave list and recalled outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester to fill his roster spot. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the decision.

Bradley Jr., 32, recorded a season-high four RBI on Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, including a three-run triple in the eighth inning. The left-handed hitter is batting .227 (34-for-150) with 20 RBI in 48 games this season. Bradley has made 37 starts in right field and three in center field in 2022, leading major league right fielders in ultimate zone rating (4.2).

Duran, 25, has played in one game for Boston this season, going 1-for-4 with a triple and run scored on May 6 against the Chicago White Sox. The left-handed hitter is batting .314 (48-for-153) with a .916 OPS in 37 games for Worcester this season, recording 20 extra-base hits and stealing 11 bases.

Eovaldi Tosses Complete Game Gem

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Red Sox Defeat Baltimore, 5-3, in First of Saturday Twin Bill

BOSTON – I’ll take Baseball Wins & Losses for $500, Mayim.

This is the most important thing for a major league baseball club, like the 21-24 Boston Red Sox, when they’re playing a day-night double-header a few hours after blowing a 6-0 lead and losing to the last place Baltimore Orioles, 12-8?

What is, have your starting pitcher throw a complete game?

Is right.

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Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi settled down to earn a 5-3 complete-game victory after he shook-off a 5th inning two-run home run by Baltimore catcher Robinson Chirinos which tied the early-bird first of a two games admission twin bill, 3-3. It was Eovaldi’s first complete game win of his career and one of only two CG the Red Sox pitching staff has enjoyed this season, the other by Nick Pivetta on May 18 (a 5-1 Boston win over Houston).

Eovaldi allowed seven hits, walked one and struck-out six while throwing 108 pitches (75 strikes) during his effort. Baltimore scored three runs, two earned and positioned the Sox bullpen for the evening game. Friday, Sox starter Garret Whitlock was spotted a 6-0 lead which was cut to 6-2 in the fourth inning, but was undermined by his relievers to the tune of 10 other runs scored from the 7th through 9th innings.

Today’s matinee was a different story, as Boston manager Alex Cora made a smart strategic play, having right-handed batter and first baseman Bobby Dalbec pinch hit for lefthand hitting starting first baseman Franchy Cordero to lead-off the 6th inning. Dalbec deposited a 397-foot, game-winning homer to right, giving Eovaldi the support he needed for the win.

Boston secured an insurance run in the 7th inning when designated hitter J.D. Martinez walked, shortstop Xander Bogaerts doubled and second baseman Christian Arroyo reached safely on an infield hit to score Martinez. Arroyo went 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double and RBI. Meanwhile, Sox third baseman, Rafael Devers went 4-for-5 to set his season high of hits in a single game to extend his MLB-leading collection of hits to (69).

Devers hammered a first inning single with a (106.1 mph) exit velocity, doubled in the 2nd inning with the ball leaving his bat at 97.1 mph and added two other hits, with his 5th inning single clocking NASA control towers at 107.5 mph. Devers leads the majors in hard-hit balls  with 84 clocking over 95 mph exit numbers.

The AL East cellar-dwelling Orioles fell to (19-28) and are (2-3) over this eight-game road trip. Baltimore is 7-17 on the road, going into the Saturday night tilt against the Sox (weather permitting). Baltimore pitchers have allowed 10+ hits in nine of their last 13 games, dating back to May 15th.

Keegan Akin (1-1) took the loss after pitching 2.1 innings and allowing two runs on two hits.

 

 

Celtics’ Tatum Earns All-NBA

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum have been selected to the 2021-22 Kia All-NBA First Team.

Antetokounmpo was the only player to receive All-NBA First Team votes on all 100 ballots (500 total points), earning his fourth consecutive selection to the First Team and sixth All-NBA Team honor overall (First Team, Second Team and Third Team).  This is the third All-NBA First Team selection each for Dončić (476 points) and Jokić (476 points), the 2021-22 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player.  Booker (460 points) is making his debut on the All-NBA Team.  Tatum (390 points) joins Booker as a first-time selection to the All-NBA First Team.

With the selection of Antetokounmpo (27 years old), Dončić (23), Jokić (27), Booker (25) and Tatum (24), the Kia All-NBA First Team is made up entirely of players age 27 or younger for the first time in 67 years (1954-55 season).  Dončić is the fourth player in NBA history to be named to the All-NBA First Team three or more times before turning 24, joining Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant and Max Zaslofsky.

The 2021-22 Kia All-NBA Second Team consists of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (414 points), Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (301 points), Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (276 points), Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (274 points) and Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (184 points).

Embiid, the 2021-22 NBA scoring champion, has been named to the All-NBA Second Team for the fourth time in the last five seasons.  Morant, the 2021-22 Kia NBA Most Improved Player, is an All-NBA Team honoree for the first time.  This is the 10th All-NBA Team selection for Durant, the eighth for Curry and the third for DeRozan.

The 2021-22 Kia All-NBA Third Team is composed of Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (174 points), Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (169 points), Suns guard Chris Paul (114 points), Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (110 points) and Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (63 points).

This is the second All-NBA Team honor for both Towns and Siakam and the first for Young.  James has extended his NBA record for most All-NBA Team selections to 18.  Paul has been voted to the All-NBA Team for the 11th time, the second-most selections among active players behind James.

The 2021-22 Kia All-NBA Team was selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.  Players were awarded five points for each vote to the All-NBA First Team, three points for each vote to the Second Team and one point for each vote to the Third Team.  Voters selected two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly.  Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position at which they received the most voting points.

The voting results for the 2021-22 Kia All-NBA Team are below.  The “Total Points” category represents voting points that players received at any position, not just the position at which they are listed.  The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP.

2021-22 KIA ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
Position Player (Team) 1st Team Votes
(5 Points)		 2nd Team Votes (3 Points) 3rd Team Votes
(1 Point)		 Total
Points		 Career
All-NBA Selections
Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) 100 0 0 500 6 (four 1st, two 2nd)
Guard Luka Dončić (Dallas) 88 12 0 476 3 (three 1st)
Center Nikola Jokić (Denver) 88 12 0 476 4 (three 1st, one 2nd)
Guard Devin Booker (Phoenix) 82 16 2 460 1 (one 1st)
Forward Jayson Tatum (Boston) 49 47 4 390 2 (one 1st, one 3rd)
2021-22 KIA ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM
 
Position Player (Team) 1st Team Votes
(5 Points)		 2nd Team Votes (3 Points) 3rd Team Votes
(1 Point)		 Total
Points		 Career
All-NBA Selections
Center Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) 57 43 0 414 4 (four 2nd)
Guard Ja Morant (Memphis) 13 76 8 301 1 (one 2nd)
Forward Kevin Durant (Brooklyn) 10 68 22 276 10 (6 1st, four 2nd)
Guard Stephen Curry (Golden State) 9 69 22 274 8 (four 1st, three 2nd, one 3rd)
Forward DeMar DeRozan (Chicago) 2 39 57 184 3 (two 2nd, one 3rd)
2021-22 KIA ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM
Position Player (Team) 1st Team Votes
(5 Points)		 2nd Team Votes (3 Points) 3rd Team Votes
(1 Point)		 Total
Points		 Career
All-NBA Selections
Center Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota) 0 38 60 174 2 (two 3rd)
Forward LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) 2 35 54 169 18 (13 1st, three 2nd, two 3rd)
Guard Chris Paul (Phoenix) 0 16 66 114 11 (four 1st, five 2nd, two 3rd)
Guard Trae Young (Atlanta) 0 11 77 110 1 (one 3rd)
Forward Pascal Siakam (Toronto) 0 7 42 63 2 (one 2nd, one 3rd)

 

Below are the other players who received votes for the 2021-22 Kia All-NBA Team, listed at the position at which they received the most voting points.  The “Total Points” category represents voting points that players received at any position, not just the position at which they are listed.

OTHER PLAYERS RECEIVING VOTES: CENTERS
 
Player (Team) 1st Team Votes
(5 Points)		 2nd Team Votes (3 Points) 3rd Team Votes
(1 Point)		 Total
Points
Rudy Gobert (Utah) 0 5 30 45
Bam Adebayo (Miami) 0 4 16 28

 

 

OTHER PLAYERS RECEIVING VOTES: FORWARDS
 
Player (Team) 1st Team Votes
(5 Points)		 2nd Team Votes (3 Points) 3rd Team Votes
(1 Point)		 Total
Points
Jimmy Butler (Miami) 0 2 26 32
Jaylen Brown (Boston) 0 0 3 3
Desmond Bane (Memphis) 0 0 1 1
Khris Middleton (Milwaukee) 0 0 1 1

 

 

OTHER PLAYERS RECEIVING VOTES: GUARDS
 
Player (Team) 1st Team Votes
(5 Points)		 2nd Team Votes (3 Points) 3rd Team Votes
(1 Point)		 Total
Points
Donovan Mitchell (Utah) 0 0 4 4
Mikal Bridges (Phoenix) 0 0 1 1
Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee) 0 0 1 1
Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn) 0 0 1 1
Dejounte Murray (San Antonio) 0 0 1 1
Fred VanVleet (Toronto) 0 0 1 1

Big Papi to Attend Sox Hall of Fame

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – National Baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz is confirmed to attend the tonight’s Red Sox Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the presentation of the “Fenway Honors” awards for charitable achievement, which will be held on the field at Fenway Park for the first time. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $20 on redsox.com/fenwayhonors and are available in select seating areas to maximize views of the stage, including Grandstand, Loge Box, and Field Box. Tickets in the Dell Technologies Club are also available for purchase and include food and non-alcoholic beverages. Concessions will be available for the duration of the ceremony. Proceeds from the event benefit the Red Sox Foundation, which is celebrating its 20 years of impact in the New England community this year.

The 2020 Red Sox Hall of Fame inductees include Hall of Famer David Ortiz and former Red Sox players Manny Ramirez, Rich Gedman, and the late Bill Dinneen. Former Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette is the non-uniformed inductee. The Red Sox’ first World Series win in 86 years on October 27, 2004 has been selected as the “Memorable Red Sox Moment.” The induction ceremony of the 2020 Red Sox Hall of Fame class was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 and was postponed until this year due to the pandemic.

In addition to Red Sox Hall of Fame inductions, the event will include the 2020 and 2022 presentation of the Fenway Honors awards, a Red Sox Foundation recognition of businesses and individual leaders for their charitable achievements in the community. Boston Beer Company and Phill and Liz Gross are the 2020 honorees, and CVS Health and former Bank of America Vice Chairman Anne Finucane are the 2022 honorees.

The Red Sox Hall of Fame and Fenway Honors event is supported by the Boston Red Sox, Bank of America, Aramark, CVS Health, Massachusetts General Brigham, NESN, Suffolk Cares Charitable Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, BoSox Club, Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Jack and Eileen Connors, Foundation To Be Named Later, Josh Kraft, Pan-Mass Challenge and The Jimmy Fund, and Takeda.

Additional information for the event including ticket and sponsorship information can be found by visitingredsox.com/fenwayhonors.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | May 22

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Examines: Trevor Story

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The marketing mavens and mindless media will overuse the buzzword so much, they’ll be calling him Trevor Narrative.

Embed from Getty Images

Back in the non-buzzword real world, Boston Red Sox second baseman Trevor Story is no longer hearing the boos of Brookline Avenue. He had a fabulous Thursday and Friday this week, homering three times on Thursday night against the Seattle Mariners and hitting a Grand Slam on Friday night against those same Embarrassments Under the Sea.

Narrative, err, Story became only the fifth Sox player with 4+ HRs and 11+ RBI in any two-game span, joining Nomar Garciaparra (5/9-10/1999, 7/21-23/2002), Ken Harrelson (6/13-14/1968), Bobby Doerr (6/8-9/1950), and Jim Tabor (doubleheader on 7/4/1939). Story scored six runs in his Thursday-Friday, while Tabor (7) and Doerr (6) were the only others to score 6+ runs over two days.

After a brutal start to the 2022 season and hearing it from the crowds, as Marv Albert would say, Story leads the Red Sox this season in RBI (27), walks (15), and stolen bases (5) and ranks 2nd in HRs (6), and that includes 22 RBI in his last 17 games leading into Saturday.

On Saturday, Story hit a game-tying sacrifice fly in the fifth, his 12th RBI in the last three games as he leads the Sox in RBI (28). Story is one of 12 Red Sox hitters (21st time) to record 12+ RBI in any three-game span. Prior to Story, the most recent occurrences were in 2016, when Mookie Betts recorded 13 RBI from 8/14-16 and Jackie Bradley Jr. did so from 5/9-11 (13 RBI).

Story’s batting average dipped as low as .194 on May 8 and Boston Manager Alex Cora dropped him from hitting second in the lineup to sixth.

Looking back to 2018, Story hit 37 homers and had 111 RBI for the Colorado Rockies while playing shortstop. This year, he’s a second base as Red Sox great Xander Bogaerts commands the shortstop position, at least until the trading deadline. In 2021, while with the Rockies, he had 24 HRs and 34 two-base hits.

Those numbers were sure to rise in hitter-friendly Fenway Park, but the game at sea level proved harder than the thin air of the Mile High City and Story struggled in the cold weather of the USA northeast. But, as the weather has warmed in late May, so, too has Story and that seems to be the latest narrative coming from Fenway Park. Ahem.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The 15th annual Sports Business Awards were held this week in New York, hosted by the good people at Sports Business Journal/and/Daily. Abe Madkour and his staff have seen stiff competition in the world of sports business trade news, most notably from Sportico andFront Office Sports (FOS), but the SBJ/SBD still remains the standard, especially in the daily reporting of news from every corner of the sports industry.

Here’s a list of just some of the winners in this year’s Sports Business award categories:

  1. Sports Event of the Year – MLB Field of Dreams game
  2. Best in Digital Sports Media – ESPN+
  3. Sports Facility of the Year – Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
  4. Athletic Director of Year – Sandy Barbour, Penn State (retired)
  5. Sports Break-through of Year – Crypto.com
  6. Best in Sports Media – ESPN
  7. Team of the Year – Tampa Bay Lightening
  8. League of the Year – UFC
  9. Sports Executive of the Year – Michael Rubin, Fanatics
  10. Lifetime Achievement – Robert Kraft, New England Patriots

COMMENCEMENT WORDS of WISDOM: While contemplating this week’s Parting Words & Music section (see below), I was very close to shunning another selection of music and sharing an incredibly important address given by Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to the Class of 2019 at Johns Hopkins University. In doing so, it was decided that this is far too important a speech and I list it here as a MUST WATCH, a very rare and the highest recommendation I ever list when creating content for this e-News, or for Facebook, Twitter, or Digital Sports Desk. … Jeffrey Goldberg grew up in Malverne, Long Island and attended the University of Pennsylvania where he began his career in journalism. From Penn to the Washington Post to The Jerusalem Times to The New Yorker to The Atlantic, where he now stands as Editor-in-Chief, all he’s done is to report, investigate, dig for the truth, sometimes at great personal risk, travel to dangerous sites and report the news. He is famous in the world of top-notch journalism to us all, but some might simply remember him as the writer to broke the controversial “Trump: Americans Who Died in Wars are ‘Losers and Suckers’ story.” … It shook the USA, especially the Armed Forces as the Commander in Chief of the US military could somehow have such a viewpoint. … Three years ago, almost to the date, Goldberg gave the commencement address at Johns Hopkins University and he was fabulous, much to the credit of one of his opening salvos that “there is no such good thing as a 20-minute commencement address and no such bad thing as a 10-minute commencement address.” … He also noted that by lunchtime, the very next day, no one in attendance would remember what he said. … That is wrong and I share his (15 minutes) and do so at a time when we can look back at the astonishing disinformation that we’ve been subjected to since May, 2019. … By the way, there is a connection to sports in this section, as the address was given at Baltimore Arena, the site of many a New York Knicks vs. Baltimore (then) Bullets games, and I could remember the days of Earl “The Pearl” Monroe lighting up the Knicks in the tiny but wonderfully renovated Arena in downtown Baltimore, a mere 10-15 minutes from the Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins. I give it to you for free on YouTube, noting that we, as a family received every single cent worth of some $250,000+ for the right to view this in person with thanks for a lending hand from “Daddy Bloomberg.” … Best wishes to all the 2019-to-2022 graduates at all the schools across the USA. You all faced difficult times, the most difficult since the Classes of 1918-19-20.

In seriousness, I can say this address is well worth 15-minutes of your Sunday morning:

TID-BITS: Where does the time go? It was 50 years ago the Indiana Pacers won their second of three ABA titles (1970, ‘72 and ‘73). … Do you remember some of the names/players, like Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, Rick Mount, George McGinnis, Bob Netolicky and Freddie Lewis? … They were coached by Bob “Slick” Leonard, one of the all-time greats. … Big time rivals, the New York Nets, went on to win in 1974 and ‘76. … J.J. Redick played 139 games over four years at Duke University and then enjoyed a 15-year career in the NBA. Now, he should probably do two things: 1). Go back to school. 2). Head to NBAE Entertainment and watch as much old NBA game film as he can get his hands on. … Redick made the colossally stupid remark when discussing the talents of Hall of Fame guard Bob Cousy and his opponents on “First Take.” … “He was being guarded by plumbers and firemen,” Redick retorted, claiming players from the 1950s-60s era can’t be compared with those of today. … Cousy decided to speak softly on a reply: “People with less talent will always try to make a name for themselves by criticizing other people and hopefully getting some attention and perhaps increasing their credibility,” Cousy said. “So when you respond to something like this, you play into their hands. I won’t do that, but I will defend the firemen and the plumbers that he referenced. And I’ll just give you a few of the names of these firemen that I played with and against during those years. … “How about Bill Russell, the aforementioned, not too bad a player,” Cousy added. “Wilt Chamberlain, remember that guy? He wasn’t bad. I guess he must have fought fires as well. … Cousy is 100% correct of course but he might’ve mentioned a few of the guards or small forwards who would’ve shut Redick and nearly every player of his era down, cold. Here are just a few: Oscar Robertson, Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Bobby Jones, and Norm Van Lier, just to name a few. Certainly, Van Lier’s teammate, the late Jerry Sloan, might’ve broken Redick in half. … During his appearance, Cousy also noted the greatness of Elgin Baylor and how it is oft overlooked. … Cousy said, “In (his) judgement, Elgin Baylor is still the greatest small forward to ever play the game.” … Note to J.J. – Baylor was not a plumber or a fireman and your NBA chops/credibility is now shot. … More importantly, Get Well Soon wishes go out to Boston sports tv legend Mike Lynch (WCVB-Channel 5/ABC) who suffered a stroke earlier this week but is expected to make a full recovery after a rehab sting at Spaulding in Boston. … It’s the same country in summertime, right? It’s 39-degrees and snowing in Denver, 55-degrees, windy with 78% humidity at Southern Hills for the PGA Championship in Tulsa, OK, and temperatures will be soaring to 95-degrees over the next 24 hours in the northeast (Boston). Meanwhile, the NHL is playing an ice-hockey series in Tampa and Sunrise, Florida where temperatures will be a comfortable 75-80 degrees at game time. … Early Voting won The Preakness Stakes in Maryland. The headlines will write themselves! Just wish they would’ve named the horse 11,780 Votes. … Kentucky Derby long shot winner Rich Strike will be back for a run at The Belmont. … Edmonton’s Connor McDavid recorded his NHL-leading 20th point in the ninth Oilers game of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs and is producing at a pace last seen 30 years ago. Mario Lemieux had 22 points in the first nine games of the 1992 NHL Playoffs.

Sox, Pivetta Strike Back Against Astros

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – After a 13-4 lambasting at the hands of the Houston Astros on Tuesday night, a game that saw the ‘Stros tie a major league record with five home runs in a single inning (2nd vs Nathan Eovaldi), the Boston Red Sox needed to strike back on Wednesday. The pitching rotation called for Boston right-hander Nick Pivetta (1-4, 5.08 ERA) to take the mound vs Houston’s Luis Garcia (3-1, 2.94 ERA).

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When Pivetta faced Astros lead-off man Jose Altuve in the first, it looked as though Houston was picking up where they left off on Tuesday when Altuve took a 3-2 pitch over the Green Monster in left field. That would not be the case over nine innings, as Pivetta earned a 5-1 victory by allowing only one other hit, a double by LF Michael Brantley, to pitch a complete game, two-hitter.

It was the first complete game for a Red Sox pitcher since Chris Sale went nine innings against the Royals in Kansas City on June 5, 2019 (8-0 win) and the first complete game at Fenway Park since Rick Porcello tossed nine against the New York Yankees on August 3, 2018 (4-1 win).

To earn his complete game and two-hitter, Pivetta threw 112 pitches with 78 for strikes. A whopping 23 of those pitches came in the first inning when Pivetta settled down to retire three-straight after the Altuve lead-off HR. Pivetta allowed only the one earned run while striking out eight and walking none.

The Red Sox offense gave Pivetta support immediately, registering two runs in the bottom of the first on a Rafael Devers triple and J.D. Martinez sacrifice fly, then a Xander Bogaerts home run, his fourth of the season. Boston picked-up another un in the third inning when Devers doubled in Kiki Hernandez who led off the inning by reaching first on a Jeremy Pena error at short.

The Sox scattered singles against Garcia to tally two more runs in the fourth, which closed out the scoring.

Boston’s DH, Martinez, had an 18-game hitting streak and 34-game on base streak snapped, and his luck ran out when a seventh inning ground ball to short had to be reviewed by the umpires, to no avail for the .325 hitter who went 0-for-3 with an RBI via the SAC fly, his 20th run batted in this season. He trails only Devers (21) in the team lead for RBI.

After crunching Eovaldi for 13 runs, the Astros bats went dull on their get-away game that started at 6:12pm and was over by 8:50pm (ET). Altuve struck-out twice after hitting the lead-off homer, his eighth of the season, while both 1B Yuli Gurriel and Pena each went down twice to strikes.

NOTES: Boston will host the Seattle Mariners who lost 11 of their last 15, not including this evenings game at Toronto. The Mariners will be at Fenway Park for a Thursday through Sunday, four-game set. Mariners rookie hot pitching prospect George Kirby (0-0, 0.90 ERA) will face veteran Rich Hill (1-1, 2.89 ERA) on Thursday evening. … Tonight’s complete game by Nick Pivetta was only the second of his career, the other coming June 8, 2019 vs the Cincinnati Reds. … Boston SS Xander Bogaerts has six RBI over his last six games. … Houston’s Michael Brantley has reached base safely in 13-straight games and is hitting .306 over that span. … Jose Altuve scored his 900th career run with his HR and is only the fourth player in Houston Astros history to record 900 runs (Craig Biggio-1,844), (Jeff Bagwell-1,517) and (Lance Berkman-1,008)

Sox Call-Up Duran as COVID+ Strikes

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Following a two-game skid while hosting the Los Angeles Angels, the Red Sox were forced to make the following roster moves on Friday before their series opener against the Chicago White Sox.

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  • Placed left-handed pitcher Rich Hill and infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernández on the COVID-19 Related Injured List.
  • Recalled outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple-A Worcester.
  • Selected right-handed pitcher John Schreiber to the active major league roster from Worcester.

Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the roster moves.

Hill, 42, allowed one hit over 5.0 scoreless innings yesterday against the Angels, his third consecutive scoreless start. The left-hander became just the fourth player to make as many as three consecutive scoreless starts at the age of 42 or older, joining Phil Niekro (1984), Roger Clemens (2005), and Bartolo Colon (2015).

Hernández, 30, has started 24 of the Red Sox’ 26 games this season in center field. The right-handed hitter ranks tied for second on the team with eight doubles, with nine of his 18 hits going for extra bases. Hernández has eight RBI in his last 12 games.

Duran, 25, is batting .397 (23-for-58) with a 1.116 OPS, 15 runs, eight extra-base hits, 11 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 15 games for Worcester this season. The left-handed hitter made his major league debut with Boston last season, making 25 starts in center field and one in left field. Duran is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No.  4 prospect and the No. 84 prospect in baseball.

Duran started in center field on Friday night

Schreiber, 28, made two scoreless relief appearances for Boston during the club’s recent series in Toronto, combining to allow one hit with one strikeout in 2.1 innings. The right-hander has posted a 1.46 ERA (2 ER/12.1 IP) in seven relief appearances for Worcester this season, striking out 15 while issuing three walks.

Smart Named Defensive Player of Year

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart was named the 2021-22 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year. It marks the first NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for Smart, who becomes the first guard to earn the honor since Gary Payton in the 1995-96 season. Smart is also the second player to win the award with the Celtics, joining Kevin Garnett (2007-08).

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Smart received 257 points (37 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges finished in second place with 202 points (22 first-place votes). Utah Jazz center and three-time Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert finished in third place with 136 points (12 first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

A starter in all 71 of his games played in the 2021-22 regular season, the 6-4 Smart ranked seventh in the NBA in steals per game (1.68) and tied for sixth in total steals (119). He had 19 games with three or more steals, including two games with a season-high five steals.

Smart, 28, ranked among the league leaders in several “hustle” categories, finishing tied for fourth in the NBA in loose balls recovered (75) and tied for 10th in both deflections (206) and charges drawn (16). He also set a career high in defensive rebounds per game (3.2).

Behind Smart, the Celtics led the NBA in defensive rating (106.2) and points allowed per game (104.5) and held opponents to the lowest field goal percentage (43.4) and three-point field goal percentage (33.9). The strong defense helped propel the Celtics to a 51-31 record and the second seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2022 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel.

An eight-year NBA veteran, Smart has been selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice (2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons). He also won the NBA Hustle Award for the 2018-19 season. This season, Smart averaged 12.1 points, a career-high 5.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per game.

The voting results for the 2021-22 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award are below. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP.

Red Sox Roster Moves

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Releases) – The Boston Red Sox placed left-handed pitcher Rich Hill on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List. To fill Hill’s spot on the active roster, the club recalled catcher Ronaldo Hernández from Triple-A Worcester. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the roster move..

Hill, 42, started yesterday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, allowing four runs in 4.2 innings. The left-hander has made two starts for the Red Sox this season, posting a 7.00 ERA (7 ER/9.0 IP).

Hernández, 24, has played in seven games for Worcester this season, making six starts at catcher. In 106 games between Worcester and Double-A Portland since the start of 2021, the right-handed hitter is batting .274 (107-for-391) with 48 extra-base hits and 62 RBI. His first appearance will be his major league debut.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox made additional roster moves in reaction to yesterdays sidelining of Kevin Plawecki and subsequent medical update on Plawecki’s battery-mate in catcher Christian Vázquez and infielder Jonathan Araúz on the COVID-19 Related Injured List.

Additional moves included:

· Recalled right-hander pitcher Tyler Danish from Triple-A Worcester.

· Selected outfielder Rob Refsnyder to the active major league roster from Worcester.

Vázquez, 31, has started seven of the Red Sox’ first 10 games at catcher, throwing out two of five attempted base stealers (40.0%). The right-handed hitter went 2-for-4 with two RBI in yesterday’s game against the Twins, hitting his first home run of the season in the seventh inning.

Araúz, 23, has appeared in five games this season, making three starts at second base. The switch-hitter most recently appeared as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning on Saturday.

Danish, 27, has not allowed a run in his three relief appearances for Worcester this season, striking out six batters in 3.0 innings. The right-hander posted a 1.29 ERA (1 ER/7.0 IP) in six Grapefruit League appearances for the Red Sox in Spring Training.

Refsnyder, 31, is batting .400 (14-for-35) with 12 runs scored, four doubles, one home run, eight RBI, and nine walks in 11 games for Worcester this season. The right-handed hitter has made eight starts in center field, two in right field, and one at designated hitter.