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They Gave Me a Break, Now Play Ball

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can anyone pitch?

FSG: Calls on Swinehart

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

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

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

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

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

Sometimes, You Just Need a Win

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

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

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

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

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – July 10

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By TERRY LYONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Podcast interviews with Bob Delaney segmented here into 3 parts:

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

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

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

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

Celtics Make Roster Moves

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

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

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

On 4th of July, Sox Check the Standings

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Red Sox Open Series vs Tampa with 4-0 Win


By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It’s far too early to do any scoreboard watching, but on the 4th of July, every baseball fan in the land should buy a newspaper and clip-out the standings. It is like breaking a fortune cookie and reading about your future. For the Boston Red Sox – tailspinning at (2-4) over their last six games entering today’s games- but coming off an important seven-game win streak before that – the 2022 MLB season will be decided now, as in July.

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Now, as in the next 16 games when the Red Sox play against the American League East only as they close-out the first half of the 2022 season with 17 consecutive game days before the annual All-Star break. Looking further, past the break, the Red Sox will play 27 of their next 28 home games against teams with winning records (as of today). Only an August 11th game against the division cellar-dwelling Baltimore Orioles will be the exception.

Now, as on a wonderful, humidity-free, 82-degree, sunny 4th of July day game, a game which began that gauntlet of “put-up or shut-up” for the Sox who earned a home game on the 4th  at Fenway Park for the first time since 2016.

Now, as in today, the Red Sox defeated division rival Tampa, 4-0, with impressive pitching performances by opener Austin Davis (second career start) who was followed by Worcester WooSox call-up Kutter Crawford. Davis threw 30 pitches over the first two innings, walked one batter and struck-out two before giving way to Crawford. With a name like “Kutter,” you better be able to deliver and that he did. The Sox top pitching prospect, No. 24 in all of baseball, went 5.1 IP, allowing only two hits of shutout baseball while striking-out eight Rays batters. Reliever John Schreiber came in for the final 1.2 innings and kept the sheet clean, earning his third save of the season.

On the offensive side, Boston second-baseman Trevor Story had the game-winning hit, his 13th home run of the season, a solo blast, which came in the fourth inning. Boston scored a run in the fifth when shortstop Christian Arroyo led-off with a double and scored on a Rafael Devers infield hit and 46th RBI of the season.

Boston added two insurance runs in the eighth inning when third baseman Devers, DH J.D. Martinez and catcher Christian Vazquez each singled to load the bases before left-fielder Alex Verdugo reached base on a fielding error by Tampa’s relief pitcher Josh Fleming, scoring Devers. Boston right-fielder Franchy Cordero delivered a timely base hit to score Martinez to make it 4-0 to hand Fleming (2-4) his fourth loss of the year.

Crawford earned the win, his second of the year against two losses. The Rays were held scoreless for the sixth time this season after being shutout only eight times all of 2021.

The opening of the series win marked the 12th time of their last 16 series that Boston took a series lead as they are 11-4-1 when they take a series opener. Boston is 17-7 (.708) over their last 24 games and undefeated in their last five home games. The pressure remains, however, as Boston is 0-7-0 in series against the AL East while 12-3-3 against all others.

The Red Sox are now 13 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees, who somehow had the 4th of July as an off-day. Boston is bunched up with these Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays with only two games separating the trio when you peruse those standings.

After a horrendous 10-19 start through early May, Boston is now 10 games over .500 for the second time this season. They’re amongst the best four teams in baseball (NYY, HOU and ATL) since May 10th, and they’re staying 10-games over .500 with starting pitchers Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Rich Hill, and James Paxton on the injured list, along with relievers Garrett Whitlock, Matt Barnes and Josh Taylor.

Sale has been ramping-up with a four-inning, 52-pitch, four-hit, one-run outing for AA Portland last Thursday. He’ll do another rehab assignment this Wednesday, upping the competition to AAA Worcester.

Notes: Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts sat out today as he recovers from a six-stitch thigh laceration suffered during the series vs. the Chicago Cubs. … Boston’s Nick Pivetta (8-5, ERA 3.23) is scheduled to pitch against Tampa’s lefty Jeffrey Springs (3-2, ERA 2.25) July 5 at 7:10pm at Fenway. … A starter for Boston on Wednesday has yet to be determined while the Rays will throw righty Corey Kluber (3-5, ERA 3.91). … Boston will go on to host the NY Yankees from July 7-10.

Red Sox July 4th Roster Moves

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston recalled right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford from Triple-A Worcester. To make room for Crawford on the active Major League roster, Connor Seabold was optioned to Worcester following yesterday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.

Crawford entered the game (July 4) after Red Sox lefty Austin Davis held the Tampa Bay Rays scoreless in his two inning “opener” effort.

Crawford, 26, is ranked by MLB.com as the Red Sox’ No. 24 prospect. In 10 appearances (two starts) for Boston this season, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.41 ERA (14 ER/19.2 IP). He has also pitched in six games (four starts) with Worcester, going 1-0 with a 5.18 ERA (14 ER/24.1 IP).

Seabold, 26, started yesterday’s game against the Cubs, allowing one run on six hits in 4.0 innings. Ranked by MLB.com as Boston’s No. 14 prospect, the right-hander is 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA (12 ER/51.2 IP) in 11 starts for Worcester this season.

Boston activated Seabold to pitch in Chicago on July 3 and in doing so, optioned right-handed pitcher Phillips Valdez to Worcester.

Bruins Name Montgomery Coach

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins named Jim Montgomery as the 29th head coach in team history.

“The Boston Bruins are pleased to introduce Jim Montgomery as the next head coach of the Boston Bruins and welcome Jim, his wife, Emily, and his children, JP, Colin, Ava and Olivia, to the city of Boston,” said Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “Jim has a winning history, and throughout the interview process he conveyed his ability to connect with all types of players while also demanding that his teams play with structure. We are excited for Jim to begin to make his imprint on our team.”

Montgomery will be officially introduced in a press conference with CEO Charlie Jacobs, President Cam Neely and Sweeney at TD Garden during the week of July 11.

Montgomery, 53, served as an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues from 2020-22. Prior to his time in St. Louis, Montgomery served as head coach of the Dallas Stars from 2018-2020. Montgomery led the Dallas Stars to a 43-32-7 record in 2018-19, leading the team to its first playoff appearance in three years.

Before being hired as the head coach in Dallas, Montgomery served as the head coach for the University of Denver from 2013-17, where he led the Pioneers to the NCAA tournament in each of his five seasons, including two Frozen Four appearances (2016, 2017) and a National Championship victory (2017). Montgomery was also named the NCAA Coach of the Year in 2017.

Prior to his time with the Pioneers, he served as the head coach for the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints from 2010-13.

In his first year at the helm, he led the Fighting Saints to win the 2011 USHL championship. He would go on to lead the team to another Clark Cup win in 2013.

Prior to his time in the USHL, the Montréal, Quebec, native spent time as an assistant coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2006-10) and Notre Dame (2005-06).

Montgomery spent 14 seasons as a forward in the NHL and AHL from 1993-2005. Montgomery skated in 122 NHL games for five different teams, (St. Louis Blues, Montréal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars) tallying 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points and 82 penalty minutes.

Montgomery also appeared in 451 AHL games for the Hershey Bears, Philadelphia Phantoms, Kentucky Thoroughblades, and Utah Grizzlies, amassing 165 goals, 328 assists, 490 points, 674 penalty minutes, and a plus-84 rating.

Prior to making the jump to professional hockey, Montgomery played four seasons at the University of Maine from 1989-93. In 1993, Montgomery captained the Black Bears team that set the NCAA record for wins in a season with 42. Maine went on to win the NCAA championship behind Montgomery’s efforts as the team’s leading scorer, including his hat trick in the third period of the 1993 Championship game to help seal victory.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 19

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@WhileYoungIdeas @DigSportsDesk Look at NBA, LIV, PGA

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – This week, the 2022 NBA Finals ended here in Boston with a thud, the hometown Celtics drubbed and scrubbed by the team they call the Dubs, as in “W,” as in “Warriors,” as in “Ws,” as in “Winners.”

The Boston Celtics fell victim to:

  • Steph Curry and a better team
  • Golden State’s very good team defense, often overlooked when examining a high octane team
  • Fatigue brought on by a tough playoff road via:
    • Brooklyn
    • Milwaukee (also a better team, but were short Kris Middleton).
    • Miami (also a better team, record-wise, but no Lowry-Herro, as point guard Kyle Lowry was terribly out of NBA game shape and timing and Tyler Herro was injured).

We still wonder? Were the Celtics one last second, wonderful, sweeping turn-around, spin and game winning lay-up away from being in a real, long series instead of a surprising sweep of the Brooklyn Nets?

Would the Celtics have advanced past the Milwaukee Bucks if the Great Place on a Great Lake had their all-star forward and an extra offensive and defensive weapon?

And in the case of the seven-game, knock down, drag-out NBA Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics skillfully, painfully and willfully outlasted the Heat to rightfully earn their place in The NBA Finals.

Many of the Celtics players stepped-up big time to advance the cause and the team. Specifically:

  • Robert Williams III – Played with soreness in his knees, but excelled.
  • Al Horford – He was just incredible the whole way.
  • Jaylen Brown – Provided consistent, big game scoring and rebounding throughout the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
  • Jayson Tatum – Led the Celtics throughout the postseason but came to a screeching halt in The NBA Finals, final Game 6.

Going forward, the Celtics will need – at least one or two more pieces to be strong and talented enough to win a championship. Next season, advancing to The NBA Finals will not be enough. It’s either the rings or failure.

To do that, the Celtics will need to decrease Horford’s minutes played. Daniel Theis is a big part of that remedy but the Celtics will need another rim protector and rebounder that can play meaningful minutes from November through June.

Robert Williams III is the other piece of that puzzle. Can he take it up a notch, stay healthy and be in the discussion of becoming an NBA All-Star? If he does, the Celtics will have their third “Big 3,” with Williams, Tatum and Brown.

The key issue might be the role of “true point guard.” While Marcus Smartwon NBA Defensive Player of the Year and brought the Celtics right to the brink, the team is best served when he plays the “2” (shooting guard). Reserve guard Derrick White might be able to rise to the starting point guard role. White is two years into his $73m rookie extension and 2022-23 will be crunch time for the 27-year old, 6-4 guard. His presence after a Feb 10, 2022 (trading deadline) deal with San Antonio coincided with the departure of Dennis Schroder (traded with Enes “Freedom” Kanter and BrunoFernando to Houston for Theis). The team cleansing moves set the current Celtics roster on a course for success. Yet, when the playoffs rolled around, Celtics first-year head coach Ime Udoka went with a seven or eight-man rotation with the starters aided by White, three-year veteran Grant Williamsand second-year man Payton Pritchard who played well.

Certainly the 40+ minutes per game drag, the physical nature of the Celtics’ road to The NBA Finals and the outstanding two-way efforts of the Golden State Warriors placed the Larry O’Brien Trophy on a shelf in San Francisco. At the end, the Warriors were beating the Celtics to every 50-50 ball, first tips on most rebounds and even smacking the previously tougher Celts around. Udoka had no answer.

Golden State was not the Vegas favorite in the West as the postseason rolled around. The Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies finished with better regular-season records and on April 1, a team that started the season 18-2 and enjoyed a nine-game winning streak lost 16 of 23 post trade deadline games and was 48-29.

The Dubs won their final five regular season games and hit full stride after that, defeating Denver in five games, the tough Grizz in six and Dallas in five before meeting the Celtics.

Team GM and former head coach Brad Stevens worked some serious magic at the trade deadline. This off-season, he needs to work two more acts before the curtain rises this Fall. The championship window is open but in the NBA, it shuts quickly and like a guillotine.

By the way, it’s important to note, the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets will be awaiting the Celtics next season, too.

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HERE NOW, THE NOTES: As promised a week ago, let’s delve into golf’s new, rival, upstart LIV, the Car 54 of Golf (for you Roman numeral fans out there). At this point of the LIV season, with only one event in the books – the controversial and inaugural 54-hole London broil, there are more answers but still many questions for the Saudi-based and funded rival to the PGA TOUR.

Using the Car 54 analogy (youngsters better google it), Officers Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon must be played by Phil Mickelson and LIV Commissioner Greg Norman, rather than original cast members Joe E. Ross and Fred Gwynn.

The sitcom enjoyed two 30-episode seasons. From September 17, 1961 to April 22, 1962, season one aired 8:30pm (ET) to 9:00pm (ET), right smack in the middle of two all-time TV greats, Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color and Bonanza. That would be a little like LIV Golf airing after the Super Bowl.

The second and final season aired from September 16, 1962 to its completion, totaling 60 episodes, on April 14, 1963. Two seasons? Prime-time between Disney and Bonanza? How could it be cancelled?

You get where we’re going, right?

The business model of LIV is not sustainable, no matter how many Saudi dollars pour into the endeavor. Reports call for some $2 to $4 billion to be invested before they check the balance sheets.

The LIV, previously and throughly reported, paid upfront acquisition costs to attract Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Pat Perez, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and first event winner Charl Schwartzel.

Schwartzel pocketed a cool $4,475,000 for his efforts, banking the $4m first prize and sharing in the $1,900,000 team prize for first. Relatively unknown (in the USA), Hennie Du Plessis had to settle for second place leftovers of $2,125,000 and his $475,000 for being No. 2 on Schwartzel’s “Stinger GC” team.

By comparison, Rory McIlroy, an outspoken critic of the LIV and staunch backer of the legacy of the PGA Tour, made a hefty $1,566,000 for winning the RBC Canadian Open, one of the lower purse outings on the Tour. This week’s winner of the USGA’s U.S. Open will pocket $3,150,000 an all-time high purse of $17,500,000. In other words, the Price of Purses “JUST WENT UP!”

But can the LIV make it?

Worldwide TV syndication can provide significant dollars, but the USA TV market might be slow to pony-up major dollars. The PGA TOUR has the Golf Channel and the interested networks (CBS, NBC and ESPN) locked with multi-year deals, especially the new ESPN+ streaming pact a much-improved version over previous offerings via NBC Gold via the defunct cable NBC Sports Network.

Streaming on YouTube might attract a few eyeballs, but the European start times of the London event hurt American interest and viewership. The LIV will next tee-it-up at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon on June 30th and then wait nearly a month before the July 29-31 third event at, get this, Trump’s Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey.

The challenges are daunting and let’s count the ways:

  • The lack of week-to-week continuity will be troublesome.
  • Lack of a bigtime USA Network TV deal a drain on revenue and publicity
  • The strength of the PGA Tour is a hill too far to climb, especially come FedEx Cup playoff time which ends, appropriately, just before the NFL begins and college and pro football dominate the USA TV schedule, every day of the week.
  • The LIV will stage two events in September and three in October (Hello, Baseball?) One event, October 7-9, will be played in Bangkok, Thailand, while another, October 14-16, to be staged in … you guessed it … Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • The LIV 2022 season concludes October 27-30 at yet another Trump facility, the Trump National in Doral (Miami).
  • 48 golfers will be playing in a no-cut format, the low man pocketing $120,000 per event, as Andy Ogletree did in London for shooting 82-77-75 (+24).

Like Car LIV, after some 60 episodes, it just won’t add up, and the decision to lose another $1 billion or two will be a difficult pill to swallow.

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: Going into Saturday night’s Game of the Week on FOX, the Boston Red Sox are 12-3 over 15 games in June, outscoring opponents 74-36 over that span. After a very rough start to the season, the Red Sox found themselves at 23-27 as May 31 passed with a loss to the Cincinnati Reds. After a win at Fenway Park Friday night, the Sox are 35-30 – five games over .500 – for the first time in 2022. Over the last 16 games, Red Sox starting pitchers posted a 1.87 ERA (19 ER/91.1 IP) with 81 strike-outs and only 17 Base-on-Balls. Starter Michael Wacha has allowed only two runs or fewer in nine of his 11 starts, with the Red Sox going 7-2 in those nine starts. Sox SP Nick Pivetta has won six of his last seven starts to increase his ‘22 record to (6-5) after an (0-4) start. The Red Sox lost all six of Pivetta’s first six outings before the turn-around. … Reports have ace Chris Saleupping his efforts in the rehabilitation process. He threw his first simulated game on June 16. … The Milwaukee Brewers designated veteran offensive threat Lorenzo Cain for assignment.

A Happy Father’s Day to all the fatherly figures out there and a meaningful Juneteenth for our nation and the African-American community.

Wet and Wild at the U.S. Open

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BROOKLINE – Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick, the two highest-ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking without a win on the PGA Tour, share the lead at the U.S. Open entering today’s final round.

Last player to earn first PGA Tour win at a major championship was Danny Willett, at the 2016 Masters while the last player to earn first PGA Tour win at the U.S. Open was Graeme McDowell in 2010.

At the recent PGA Championship, Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick both entered the final round T-2. Fitzpatrick played in the final pairing and finished T-5 while Zalatoris went on to lose in a playoff.

Fitzpatrick won the 2013 U.S. Amateur at The Country Club.

Defending champion Jon Rahm made a double bogey at No. 18 and will enter the final round one stroke back. The last player to successfully defend title at a major championship was Brooks Koepka, 2019 PGA Championship.

Scottie Scheffler (T-4), Sam Burns (T-7) and Rory McIlroy (T-7), who have combined for nine TOUR wins this season, are within three strokes of the lead.

36-hole leader Collin Morikawa carded a 7-over (77), tying his highest score on the PGA Tour, his second score of (77) in his last four rounds on Tour.

U.S. Open Leaderboard | After 54 Holes

Will Zalatoris 69-70-67—206 (-4)

Matt Fitzpatrick 68-70-68—206 (-4)

Jon Rahm 69-67-71—207 (-3)

Keegan Bradley 70-69-69—208 (-2)

Adam Hadwin 66-72-70—208 (-2)

Scottie Scheffler 70-67-71—208 (-2)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

Final round Tee Times at The Country Club start at 8:49am (ET) and go to 2:45pm (ET) when 54-hole leaders Matt FItzpatrick and Will Zalatoris tee-off on No. 1.

Weather: Sunday morning rain and cloudy skies will greet the patrons and golfers for the final round of the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club. Chilly temperatures from 52-to-63 degrees. Showers diminish between 11am and 1:00pm while winds drop from 14 to 9 mph.