Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Boston Sports

Celtics Too Much for Rockets

by

HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Celtics’ guard Derrick White scored a game-high 28 points and Payton Pritchard added 27 points off the bench as the short-handed Boston throttled the Houston Rockets 114-93 on Wednesday.

YouTube player

The Celtics earned their fourth consecutive victory and claimed both ends of a road back-to-back, including a win in Dallas on Tuesday. The Celtics did so without Jaylen Brown, the Eastern Conference Player of the Month, who paired 33 points with 11 rebounds against the Mavericks, in the second game by unleashing a flurry of 3-pointers early in the third quarter.

White was the linchpin of the decisive surge. The Celtics opened the second half 5 for 7 from behind the arc with White and Baylor Scheierman (15 points, 10 rebounds) nailing two threes apiece before Ron Harper Jr. extended a seven-point halftime lead to 67-48 at the 7:02 mark. When White converted from deep again roughly two minutes later, the Celtics led 72-50.

With 1.1 seconds left in the third, Rockets coach Ime Udoka was assessed a technical foul. The Celtics closed that frame with four free throws, two each from Pritchard and Neemias Queta, and carried an 85-63 lead into the final frame.

Queta posted a double-double of 10 points and 19 rebounds, while Luka Garza added 19 points for the Celtics. Harper paired 11 points with nine rebounds, including a trio of 3-pointers. Boston finished 19 for 51 from behind the arc, with White and Pritchard finishing 11 for 24 from deep.

Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 15 points but missed 7 of 11 shots. Alperen Sengun, who grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 13 points apiece. Amen Thompson (11 points) and Tari Eason (10) also scored in double figures for the Rockets, who shot 41.5%.

The teams combined to shoot 32.6% and missed 17 of 20 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Celtics emerged from that slog with an 8-2 spurt to open the second quarter, only for Smith to drill back-to-back threes that pulled the Rockets to within 26-25.

However, Boston eventually gained some separation later in the quarter to take a 49-42 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Drake Maye “Feeling Good” in Palo Alto

by

PALO ALTO – (Staff, Pro Footbal Writers and Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice as on-field preparations for Super Bowl LX against Seattle shifted gears.

Embed from Getty Images

The second-year quarterback, who injured his right shoulder during the AFC championship game, took all of the team’s first-team reps during a 90-minute practice at Stanford Stadium. He had told reporters earlier in the week that he was “feeling good” and that certainly appeared to be the case as the team worked through seven-on-seven and full-squad drills in full shoulder pads.

While the team installed much of its game plan during practices last week in Foxborough, head coach Mike Vrabel said his staff saved several elements of that plan so they would have new information to present to players in meetings and practices here in the Bay Area. This was a suggestion from offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is coaching in his 10th Super Bowl as a member of the Patriots’ staff.

“No one has more experience than Josh with this, and he felt like that we needed to do something to keep them engaged and stimulated, so they weren’t looking at some things for the second or third time,” Vrabel said.

Vrabel is taking that engagement literally. After practice ended, Vrabel pulled a group of interior defensive linemen aside for extra instruction. Vrabel even got down into a three-point stance to work with defensive tackle Cory Durden on pass rush technique.

“We’re now talking about 36 hours being critical here, before people come in, friends and obligations that come with this game,” Vrabel said.

Team owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft arrived at Stanford with legendary Patriots receiver Julian Edelman. Like McDaniels, those three men are quite familiar with the Super Bowl preparation process, but it’s all new for most of Vrabel’s squad. No Patriot remains on the roster from their last Super Bowl and only five players on the current roster have prior Super Bowl experience.

“We’ve got some things to clean up, and then we’ve got to forge ahead,” Vrabel said. “We want to continue to keep the energy and the enthusiasm, but the execution is going to end up really helping us win the game.”

Maye was listed on the team’s first injury report with the shoulder, but as a full participant. Linebacker Robert Spillane was the only Patriots player who did not participate as he continues to recover from an ankle injury he suffered in the AFC title game in Denver. Linebacker Harold Landry was listed as a limited participant with a knee injury. Other players listed on the injury report were backup offensive lineman Thayer Munford Jr. (limited, knee) and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer (full participant, hamstring.) Farmer remains on the injured reserved list but has been designed to return.

–Pro Football Writers of America

Marchand Beats the Bruins

by

SUNRISE – (Wire Service Report) – Anton Lundell came off the injured list and provided one goal and two assists in regulation and also scored in the shootout as the host Florida Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins, 5-4, on Wednesday night in South Florida.

Brad Marchand also scored in the four-round shootout. Victor Arvidsson scored for Boston.

Embed from Getty Images

The Panthers, who snapped a season-high-tying four-game losing streak, also got two other players back from the injured list: Marchand and Sam Bennett.

Other prominent Panthers still injured are center Aleksander Barkov and defensemen Seth Jones and Dmitry Kulikov.

The Panthers also got goals from Eetu Luostarinen, Uvis Balinskis and Matthew Tkachuk. Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves for his first win since Jan. 24.

Boston, playing its final game before its Olympic break, got two goals from Michael Eyssimont. Prior to Wednesday, he had scored just once since Nov. 17. The Bruins also got one goal each from Mark Kastelic and Casey Mittelstadt.

Joonas Korpisalo added 22 saves as the Bruins lost consecutive games for the first time this calendar year.

Bennett appeared to open the scoring just 84 seconds in, but the goal was wiped out on review due to offsides.

The Panthers made it 1-0 — for real this time — as Boston’s Morgan Geekie fanned on a clearing attempt, and that led directly to Luostarinen scoring from the right circle.

However, Boston closed the first period with a 2-1 lead as Eyssimont scored with 12:42 left and again with 7:17 remaining.

On the first goal, Alex Steeves earned the primary assist as he won a puck battle and made a blind pass to Eyssimont, who was in alone on Bobrovsky. On the second one, Eyssimont scored on another breakaway, faking out Bobrovsky before stuffing the puck just inside the right post.

Florida took a 4-2 lead in the second period, scoring twice on its power play and once short-handed.

First, Tkachuk, operating from behind the goal line, tossed a pass to Balinskis, who scored from the slot. Then, less than three minutes later, Florida struck again as Tkachuk made two more great passes before scoring himself, banking the puck in off the back of Korpisalo.

Both times, the Panthers scored within the first 30 seconds with the man advantage.

Florida then added a short-handed goal as Sam Reinhart came up with a steal and then put the puck on Lundell’s stick for a tap-in tally.

However, Boston tied the score 4-4 with third-period goals by Kastelic and then Mittelstadt. First, Kastelic scored on a deflection off a pass from Charlie McAvoy. Then, with 9:30 left in the third, Mittelstadt scored on a rebound, just nine seconds into Boston’s sixth power play of the night.

–Field Level Media

Super Bowl LX: Seahawks’ Safety Nick Emmanwori Limited

by

SAN JOSE – (Wire Service Report) – The Seattle Seahawks opened Super Bowl week Wednesday with their first and only padded practice of the week before the game. The Seahawks players took the practice field at San Jose State for 1 hour and 50 minutes, starting at 2:15 p.m. under a sunny and cloudless sky. It was 73-degrees.

“We had an opportunity to work at a different practice window,” head coach Mike Macdonald said after practice. “Which I thought was great with our guys’ cadence. Lot of spirit. Guys did a great job. We had a great practice.”

Safety Nick Emmanwori was limited in practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury that he suffered during practice.

The rookie safety injured his ankle while defending a pass late in practice. He walked off the field on his own shortly before 4 p.m. Several players and coaches went over to comfort him before he left.

“He had an ankle today, we brought him in to look at it, and we’ll kind of go from here and figure out what are the next steps?” Macdonald said.

Seattle practiced in pads for about an hour before taking them off for the second half of practice.

Macdonald said he reached out to coaches he’d worked with in the past to design the structure for last week and this week of practice. He said the team started installing their game plan last week.

“We’re going to be evolving. We didn’t put the whole thing in last week. We’re just gonna keep building it, stay on cadence this week and do what we need to do to feel like we get to a sweet spot by end of the week.”

Five Seahawks were limited in practice on Wednesday. Left tackle Charles Cross (foot), left tackle Josh Jones (ankle, knee), quarterback Sam Darnold (oblique), fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck) and safety Emmanwori (ankle).

Darnold has been limited in all eight practices since he injured his oblique on Jan. 15.

“Sam’s right on schedule,” Macdonald said. “So we’ve had this plan here over the last X amount of weeks, and it varies every day. And today he had a great day, so we’re right on schedule.”

Six other Seahawks players are on the injury report but practiced in full Wednesday: Tight end Eric Saubert (hamstring), receiver Jake Bobo (hand), fullback Brady Russell (hand), linebacker Ernest Jones IV (chest), safety Julian Love (shoulder), linebacker Drake Thomas (shoulder).

Three players were limited in practice for non-injury rest: linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence, receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and defensive tackle Leonard Williams.

Seattle will practice again Thursday at 2:15 p.m. local time.

–Pro Football Writers of America

Drake Maye: “I’ll Be Just Fine”

by

SAN JOSE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Drake Maye is concern-free as Super Bowl LX approaches. That goes for his throwing arm, too.

The New England Patriots’ second-year quarterback said his tender right shoulder feels fine and there’s no reason for worry entering the Sunday clash with the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara.

Embed from Getty Images

“I threw a good bit (today),” Maye said Monday during the Super Bowl Opening Night festivities. “I threw as much as I would in a practice, and it felt great.”

In other words, no worries.

“I feel good. I’ll be just fine,” Maye said.

Maye missed practice on Friday, but not due to the shoulder. Coach Mike Vrabel said Maye was out with an illness.

Vrabel said Monday he’s not concerned about Maye’s shoulder.

“We’ll work through these things through the week, just like everybody else does,” Vrabel said. “But we’re confident that the preparation that’s required for each position on our football team will be there by the end of the week, and everybody will be available.”

Sunday will mark the second time Maye has been inside Levi’s Stadium for a Super Bowl.

His dad took him to Super Bowl 50 when Maye’s favorite boyhood team, the Carolina Panthers, lost to the Denver Broncos.

And, yes, there’s a little bit of pinching involved to believe it’s truly his turn.

 

 

No Ghosts in Darnold’s Closet

by

SAN JOSE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – It was during a 2019 Monday night game against the New England Patriots that a young Sam Darnold was caught on the telecast telling his coaches on the sideline he was “seeing ghosts.”

It was a comment that haunted Darnold for years.

Of course, it wasn’t that surprising.

Embed from Getty Images

The New York Jets, who selected Darnold with the No. 3 overall draft pick a year earlier out of Southern California, were getting pummeled 24-0 en route to losing 33-0. Darnold completed 11 of 32 passes that night for 86 yards and four interceptions and also lost a fumble.

Since then, Darnold played for the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Seattle Seahawks last March.

On Sunday, Darnold will lead the NFC champion Seahawks into Super Bowl LX against the Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif.

Darnold retraced his unlikely path to the title game Monday at Super Bowl Opening Night.

“I take every experience as its own, no matter what happens,” he said. “I was really blessed to get drafted to the Jets and obviously things didn’t work out the way I wanted to there and then went to the Carolina Panthers, where I made a lot of really great friends and learned some great football as well. Just part of my journey.

“Then went to San Francisco and was able to be a backup there for a great player in Brock Purdy, learned under a great coach in Kyle Shanahan, Brian Griese, the Kubiaks obviously, then went to Minnesota and was with some really great coaches and really great players as well. Everything I do, I just take one day at a time and I think that’s the mantra for myself and what I’ve been able to do over the past couple of years.”

One thing that has helped Darnold win 14-plus games each of the past two seasons — he is the only quarterback in NFL history to do so in consecutive years with different teams — has been a dependable running game.

Aaron Jones rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the Vikings last season and Kenneth Walker III did the same for the Seahawks this year. Darnold never had a back accomplish that feat while with the Jets or the Panthers.

NFL Network analyst Michael Robinson, who won a Super Bowl as a fullback with the Seahawks, suggested Darnold has his own “Ghostbuster” in Walker.

Darnold also praised the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense that led the league in fewest points allowed during the regular season.

“Having a really good defense helps a lot,” he said. “It makes those decisions down in the red zone or when you’re in field-goal range a lot easier. I never feel like I have to force the ball.”

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in 2024, got to know Darnold at the Pro Bowl last season.

Maye admires Darnold’s perseverance.

“What a career he’s had,” Maye said on Monday. “… He’s made them pay ever since (other teams moved on).”

–Field Level Media

“Nothing Beats Playing in the NFL”

by

SAN JOSE – New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will be in an exclusive club if he can steer the Patriots to a victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on Sunday. In fact, Vrabel will be the club’s only member.

A New England win would make Vrabel the only person to win a Super Bowl as a player and as a head coach for the same franchise.

Embed from Getty Images

Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots as a linebacker, is in his first season as New England’s head coach. Gary Kubiak is the only other person who reached the Super Bowl with the same team as both a coach and a player; he directed Denver to a 24-10 victory over Carolina in Super Bowl 50, but was winless in three trips to the Super Bowl as a player for the Broncos.

Tom Flores, Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and Doug Pederson each won a Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach, but none did so with the same team.

To Vrabel, there are just as many similarities as there are obvious differences between playing and coaching in the Super Bowl.

“You have to be focused,” he said. “You have to be locked in and be prepared, and be able to be in a state of mind to do your job and help the football team whether you’re a player or you’re a coach.”

Vrabel is the eighth head coach in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl in his first season with a team. That group includes Kubiak, Jim Caldwell, Jon Gruden, Bill Callahan, George Seifert, Red Miller and Don McCafferty.

The Patriots went 4-13 in each of the last two seasons, but Vrabel guided them to a 14-3 record and an AFC East title in Year 1. That stellar regular season tied the largest single-season improvement by an NFL team (10 games), matching the feat accomplished by the 1999 Colts and 2008 Dolphins.

Adding New England’s three playoff wins to the equation makes it the single greatest turnaround year over year in league history.

“(Vrabel’s) just got a great sense of what’s needed,” Patriots center Garrett Bradbury said earlier this week. “He played, obviously, and at a high level, so he knows the players’ perspective, but he’s not just strictly, like, ‘player’s coach’ because there’s never any doubt who’s in charge. I think the way he’s been all year has just prepared us all to meet this moment, because you can see the vision and the belief, and you know he has your back.”

Vrabel was the Tennessee Titans’ head coach from 2018 to 2023, but was fired after the 2023 season. He worked as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns last season.

“I would tell you that the thing I learned most about last year is that there’s nothing that I want to do more than to coach this football team — that’s what I learned,” Vrabel said. “Being around players is so critical and the connections that you make, and you can’t lose sight of that. No matter how long you’ve been a head coach, finding a way to make connections with players is important.”

The Patriots failed to qualify for the playoffs in four of the last five seasons before this Super Bowl run. A victory Sunday would earn New England its seventh Super Bowl title, which would break a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the NFL record.

“I’m a little bit more reserved here in this role,” Vrabel said. “A lot more to focus on I think, and think about. Make sure everybody’s moving in the right direction, being where we’re supposed to be. But it’s certainly a unique feeling. I’ve always told our players to play as long as you can. Then you have to get a real job. There’s nothing that beats playing in the National Football League, but this is pretty close.”

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Feb. 1st

by

Bill Belichick as depicted on his unauthorized book cover (by Ian O’Connor)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, hands-down the greatest coach in pro football history, was snubbed by Pro Football Hall of Fame voters and will not be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

Football aficionados everywhere were stunned at the news of Belichick falling short of the necessary 40 of 50 votes to become a first-ballot, no-brainer selection to the Hall. The news leaked to multiple media outlets on Tuesday, January 27th or about nine days before the NFL Honors show plans to announce the Canton Class of ‘26 on February 5 – in the lead-up to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.

The voting outcome, apparently broken to Belichick on January 23, casts a pall on the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The only comparisons might be snubs to the likes of Red Auerbach (Celtics) and John Wooden (UCLA) in basketball, Scotty Bowman (Montreal Canadians) in ice hockey, Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) in soccer, or, maybe to the likes of the NFL’s Vince Lombardi.

According to an early ESPN report the coach was “puzzled” and “disappointed” by his inability to secure enough support to be “on to Canton.”

“Six Super Bowls isn’t enough?” Belichick reportedly asked an associate, referring to the NFL Super Bowl championships he won as head coach of the New England Patriots. He also won two more Super Bowl rings as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. To another associate, he said, “What does a guy have to do?”

The coach is right.

This snub is an all-timer.

For the record, Belichick has:

  • 333 career victories, including playoffs, second only to Don Shula’s 347
  • 12 Super Bowl appearances and eight wins, six as a head coach of New England and two as a New York Giants assistant coach

Not having Belichick in the Hall this year is like the great actress, Katharine Hepburn, never winning an Oscar, or like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola never being recognized as great film directors by the Academy. Or, maybe like The Beatles or the Rolling Stones being snubbed at the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland?

Not inviting Bill Belichick to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is like not inviting Santa to Christmas. It’s like not naming Jack Nicklaus, Arnie Palmer and Tiger Woods to the foursome you’d love to play a round with at Augusta. It’s like telling Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to await a call from Springfield, or telling Larry Bird and Magic Johnson they should’ve played hopscotch instead of NBA basketball.

“Sorry,” Coach Dean Smith (Carolina) and Coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), you might’ve tried a different profession, “there’s no room for you at the Inn.”

To NASCAR driver and all-time great Richard Petty? “Hey, “take another lap at the Daytona 500 before you expect anything close to gaining immortality.”

To Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Bobby Orr, or Pele – go take a powder.

To John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Shepard, Jim Lovell or Sally Ride, “try another profession, maybe try to stay grounded.”

To Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger III, “Go take a dip in the Hudson before you come calling in Canton.”

To Jack Nicholson? “Sorry, you can’t handle the truth.”

Yes, snubbing Bill Belichick really took balls, fully inflated balls.

If Bill Belichick was on Secretariat at The Belmont, they would’ve told him to go race another mile at Aqueduct.

If Belichick were hitting home runs in Japanese baseball, they would’ve said, “Sadaharu Oh – No.”

If Belichick was Rodney Dangerfield, in his prime? “Hey, we hope you can take a joke.”

“Eh, no more Tonight Shows for you, Rodney, and by the way, your wife – yeah, your wife was fat and ugly. “In fact, she was so fat, when she went dancing in high heels, she struck oil. And, when we took her to the MACYs Thanksgiving Day parade, she was wearing ropes.”

Bill Belichick just “Don’t get no respect.”

That lack of R-E-S-P-E-C-T prompts the question: Is there another side to this strange Super Bowl coin? Is there a reason Bill Belichick wasn’t invited to pro football’s prom? Did Indianapolis’ Bill Polian have something to do with tainting the vote, making Belichick wait – doing a year penance from alleged high NFL crimes and misdemeanors – namely SpyGate and DeflateGate?

He claims he did not.

“As a Hall of Fame member and selector, I realize the import of what we do,’’ Polian said during his Wednesday appearance on SiriusXM Radio. “I’ve always tried as a selector to make these difficult choices with the utmost objectivity.

“I’ve said on SiriusXM Radio and numerous other media outlets that I believe Coach Belichick to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. My vote confirms that.’’

Pretty strong statement, but in my first hand experience of dealing with the various NBA postseason awards, it wasn’t uncommon to have voters write one thing, say another thing, then vote a third way.

Were their co-conspirators in the January 13th psuedo-meeting of Pro Football Hall voters? It was reported that meeting attendees gave-up Polian as the one who brought up the Patriots’ scandalous ways, and maybe Polian and his Colts’ coach Tony Dungy had their say?

No one wants to go on the record, and Polian denied the accusation of tipping the vote in the meeting.

Lastly, where does Patriots’ franchise owner Robert Kraft stand in this messy mix? Kraft is up for Pro Football Hall induction this year, too. At the time of the reports, it was not known whether Kraft had enough support or if he, too, would be left in NFL limbo. Would he dare go to Canton side-by-side with Big Bill (and Jordan)?

Regardless, they’ll be saying, “Wait ‘til Next Year,” to BB.

Instead of being enshrined at Canton, Belichick will need to wait in the Red Zone – somewhere near Akron, maybe?

Yeah, next year? What do you think Bill Belichick will do next year?

He just might tell them to “Go to Hall”

red blue and green heart shaped decor

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As long as the subject of lack of respect to Bill Belichick has come up so prominently, it might be time to look at some others who “Don’t Get No Respect.” There are a few to highlight.

  • Winter Olympics Ice Hockey: The event is right on our doorsteps, ice hockey at the Winter Olympic Games – it gets no respect. Clearly, TEAM Canada gets a load of respect from our neighbors to ‘da North, but in the USA, casual sports fans more of less say, ‘let me know when they can win a gold medal.’ And, it’s the same way for the women. Ever since Cammi Granato took the gold with TEAM USA in ‘98 at Nagano, there’s been a general lack of interest in the US, and that includes 2002 when the USA took home silver in a 3-2 loss to Canada. (See below).
  • The Preakness: Yes, “the Preakness “don’t” get no respect. Pimlico Race Course is only 6.5 miles from Inner Harbor Baltimore but the downtrodden horse racing venue gets little to no attention other than one day a year. The Preakness, held at Pimlico every May, is the second leg of a potential Triple Crown in horse racing, but as of late, some thoroughbred horse owners do some load management and don’t even enter the Preakness, thus avoiding the heat, humidity and only a two week break from the first race of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby.
  • The French Open: The Australian Open serves up the new tennis season, Wimbledon highlights the summer grand slam schedule and the U.S. Open crowns the champions of the season. Lost in the shuffle is the French Open – more often called Roland Garros – as the venue and tournament itself (not to mention the tournament logo) are named after a French aviator. It’s a great tennis tournament, the ultimate competition on clay surface, but it’s lost in the shuffle.
  • The Athletics, the Clippers, the Nets and the Raiders: The Swingin’ A’s were once World Champions, the Raiders had the NFL in the palm of their hands – both teams well established in Oakland. Nowadays, forget it. Lost franchises they are. The Nets were once high and mighty with Julius “Dr. J” Erving leading the club to ABA titles. The Clippers? Perennial also-rans toiling next to the LA Lakers. The Clippers? They Don’t Get No Respect.
  • Aqueduct Racetrack: Aqueduct Racetrack, a thoroughbred horse racing facility in South Ozone Park and Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, NY (near JFK Airport), is a dump. Built in 1894, and 11 years senior of Belmont Park (1905), Aqueduct is the ultimate hang for low life gamblers. You gotta love it, but Aqueduct Don’t Get No Respect.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Wednesday in Prince Spaghetti Day, but Monday, this Monday is Red Sox Truck Day! The departure of the Red Sox equipment truck for the club’s Spring Training home at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida, is scheduled for Monday, February 2. The truck will be loaded at 7:00am and is scheduled to leave Fenway Park for the 1,480-mile trip from Fenway to Fort Myers between 11:00am and 12:00 Noon. The famed equipment truck, which will depart from Fenway Park on the Van Ness Street side of the ballpark, will be led by a flat-bed truck carrying Wally the Green Monster, his sister Tessie, and Fenway Ambassadors who will be tossing soft Red Sox baseballs to fans. As always, the truck will carry an assortment of baseball equipment and supplies, including:

  • 20,400 baseballs
  • 1,100 baseball bats
  • 200 batting gloves
  • 200 batting helmets
  • 320 batting practice tops
  • 160 white game uniform jerseys
  • 300 pairs of uniform pants
  • 400 t-shirts
  • 400 pairs of socks
  • 20 cases of bubble gum
  • 60 cases of sunflower seeds

The celebration of Truck Day has been a Red Sox tradition since 2003, signaling the unofficial start of Spring Training.

Former EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas (file)

HEADING OUT: While EuroLeague Basketball is at the crossroads once again, the league’s Board has decided to move on from their third CEO in recent memory. Gone are Jordi Bertomeau and his interim replacement in longtime EuroLeague consultant Marshall Glickman of American descent. Now, it’s bye-bye to the CEO who guided EuroLeague over the last three years.

“After consideration by the ECA Board, my duties as CEO of Euroleague Basketball come to an end, wrote now departing CEO Paulius Motiejunas of Lithuania in a statement. “While this may sound like sad news, my overwhelming feeling today is one of pride and gratitude.

“The last three years have been incredibly intense, demanding, and deeply rewarding. I have learned immensely, and together with an outstanding management team, clubs, and partners, we have made meaningful and measurable progress.

“During my tenure, we achieved milestones that speak to both growth and sustainability – always with the long-term interests of European basketball in mind. Among them:

  • 44% growth in overall revenues
  • 50% growth in team economic distributions
  • 50% growth in sponsorship revenues over the last two years
  • 3x-5x increase in Final Four value compared to the previous most successful edition
  • 3x growth in content views, reaching more than 1.1 billion
  • 4x growth in ELTV revenues
  • Unlocked the Middle East market, expanding the league’s footprint and exporting the European game to an entirely new region
  • Launched the new FFP Competitive Balance Standards, a first in European sports
  • And perhaps most importantly, built a revamped front-office structure – fit for purpose, resilient, and ready to take the league to the next level, regardless of who sits in the CEO seat.

“None of this progress was ever about one individual. It belongs to the fans – the ones who fill the arenas, stay up late, argue, celebrate, and pass the love for this game from one generation to the next. They are the soul of European basketball. Alongside them, the Euroleague Basketball team, the clubs, and our commercial and strategic partners work relentlessly behind the scenes to strengthen the league.

“European basketball today stands at a crossroads. Its growth and increasing value naturally attract external interest. The responsibility is to ensure this growth remains rooted in our culture, traditions, and collective model, rather than becoming a tool for external control or short-term financial gains that do not revert into further investment in European basketball. Protecting European basketball is not about resisting change; it is about shaping it wisely, from within, and with unity.

“From the sidelines, I will continue to support the success of European basketball and of Euroleague Basketball, confident in the strong foundations that have been built and in the people who will carry this work forward. Thank you for the journey. The mission continues,” concluded Motiejunas.

Red Sox Trade Hicks

by

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today traded right-handed pitchers Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin to the Chicago White Sox, along with cash considerations and two players to be named later, in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later.

Embed from Getty Images

Boston’s 40-man roster is now at 38.

Hicks, 29, recorded a 6.95 ERA (52 ER/67.1 IP) with 58 strikeouts in 34 games (nine starts) during 2025 between the San Francisco Giants (13 games, nine starts) and the Red Sox (21 games). The right-hander was acquired by Boston along with three other players in exchange for Rafael Devers on June 15, 2025. Originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, the Texas native owns a 4.41 ERA (206 ER/420.1 IP) in 275 career Major League games (37 starts) with the St. Louis Cardinals (2018-23), Toronto Blue Jays (2023), Giants (2024-25), and Red Sox (2025).

Sandlin, 24, posted a 4.50 ERA (53 ER/106.0 IP), 107 strikeouts, and 40 walks between Double-A Portland (17 games, 13 starts) and Worcester (15 games, one start). Ranked as one of Boston’s top 15 prospects by both MLB.com (No. 8) and Baseball America (No. 11), the right-hander was twice named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week in 2025 (May 26-June 1 and June 16-22). Originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 11th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, the Oklahoma native was acquired by the Red Sox via trade on February 17, 2024. He owns a 4.38 ERA (113 ER/232.0 IP) with 279 strikeouts in 65 career minor league games (47 starts).

 Ziehl, 22, posted a 4.12 ERA (49 ER/107.0 IP) with 90 strikeouts and 19 walks in 22 games (21 starts) across three levels in 2025, his first professional season. The right-hander began the season in the New York Yankees organization, pitching in 14 games (all starts) for Single-A Tampa, one game for High-A Hudson Valley, and one start for Double-A Somerset. He was traded to the White Sox on July 30 and recorded a 4.01 ERA (11 ER/24.2 IP) in six starts for High-A Winston Salem over the remainder of the season. The South Carolina native was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami. He is ranked among the White Sox’ top prospects by both MLB.com (No. 14) and Baseball America (No. 21).

Maye Day! Maye Day!

by

FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report)New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye missed practice Friday due to illness, coach Mike Vrabel announced.

“He would have been at practice today if not for the illness,” Vrabel said of Maye, who also has been limited by a sore right shoulder.

Embed from Getty Images

The team is preparing for Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara. Maye was listed as a limited participant because of the shoulder issue during an estimated practice on Wednesday as well as Thursday’s session.

Vrabel was asked how Maye’s shoulder responded to limited participation on Thursday.

“I would say favorably, he’s fine,” Vrabel said on Friday. “However you label limited, that’s how much he practiced. It wasn’t full. So if it’s not full, it has to be down as limited.”

Maye talked to reporters after Thursday’s session and said he “felt good.” The second-year player said he threw during practice in the Patriots’ field house and didn’t think he would be limited for the Super Bowl.

“That’s why you spend time; that’s why you have trainers,” Maye said. “I think it’s just been one of those things where it’s been a long season and sometimes things show up. I’ll do whatever I can to feel 100%, and I’m sure I’ll get if not there, as close as you can — 99, or do whatever I can to make sure I’m throwing and do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Maye, 23, landed on his right shoulder during a 13-yard run in the third quarter of New England’s 10-7 win over the host Denver Broncos last Sunday in the AFC title game.

Maye has started every game this season for New England, including playoff victories over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Broncos.

He led the NFL with a 72.0% completion rate and 113.5 passer rating while throwing for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Maye has four TD passes and two interceptions in the postseason.

With a victory over the Seahawks, Maye will be the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

The Patriots also continue to practice this week without linebackers Harold Landry III (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle) and offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee/illness). Spillane was injured during the AFC Championship Game, a contest that Landry missed.

-Field Level Media