By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

CHESTNUT HILL – Why do 25 years matter more than 11 years, or 23 years or 18? To most of us who were alive and kicking at the turn of the century, September 11th, 2001 was the single worst day of our lives. To most of us, there is no way the second worst day of our lives was anywhere near as bad as that horrible first day of school, blue sky September morning.

But, for those of us who called New York City home in 2001, the second worst day of our lives was September 12th, then 13th, then 14th – although starting on 9/12, there was a very different vibe developing. despite that supporting effort, it remained a horrible, a dull curve of terribleness, especially when the funerals came three times a day at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 50 yards from my office door. It was a devastating, seemingly endless way of mourning.

The bagpipes. The widows. The families. The black hearses and limos – all lined up on Fifth Avenue from 50th to 51st Streets. Then, the 100s and 1000s of firefighters and police – many from out of state. – standing at attention in front of the church and all along the sidewalks. The same scene played out each and every day for the rest of September and into October and November and December. The last funeral was as horrible as the first. The bagpipes sounded out loudly and meaningfully, but the stoic, blank stares of shock, depression and desperation all remained intact – day after day, month after month.

Of course, the funerals were not all at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Rockefeller Center. They were held in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. They were staged at 8am, 11am, 1pm, or 3pm to allow the firefighters, police and brass to be able to attend every one of the services, or as many as physically possible. Funerals were staged on Staten Island and in Nassau and Suffolk counties, in Westchester and Rockland counties and Connecticut and in Jersey.

Three thousand funerals in churches up and down the east coast from Massachusetts to Virginia where the terrorist attacked took the lives of innocent workers at The Pentagon. There were memorials in Shanksville, Pennsylvania – population 199. It was Shanksville where United Flight 93 disintegrated into the ground as passengers who boarded the Boeing 757 at Newark International Airport in New Jersey, died in a valiant attempt to overtake the terrorists on board who were steering the airplane towards Washington D.C. rather than its scheduled destination of San Francisco International Airport in California.

Hockey great Garnet “Ace” Bailey, a former NHL player with the Bruins and then the Los Angeles Kings’ director of pro scouting, was aboard United Airlines Flight 175 with a colleague from his department.

Thus, there were funerals in the Bay area, and in LA and its Southern California suburbs for the victims who boarded American 11 and United 175 at Logan International in Boston, destined for Los Angeles but hijacked to their instantaneous deaths hitting the North and South Towers of the trade Center, respectively.

In the WTC buildings, there were workers from all over the world. All of different ages, of different occupations – some others just having breakfast at Windows on the World, a restaurant and conference center on the 106th/107th floors of the North Tower. That was a place I remember enjoying a special brunch treat upon my high school graduation in 1977. It had been open a year.

In all, people from 90 different countries perished and a rough estimate proved there were victims who practiced the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist faiths.

Individual stories of exactly where people witnessed the horrific news are as widely diverse as the victims and survivors themselves. Stories of those who took a day off and walked or drove their child to the first day of the 2001-02 school year are heartwarming but equally frightening from the ‘what ifs’ people still cope with on a daily basis. At least that’s how I felt, as I had just returned from the Goodwill Games (Brisbane, Australia) the night before and sat out on the various taxiways of JFK as thunderstorms had grounded all flights that Monday night. I believe it was only lack of fuel remaining on a Quantas Air Brisbane-Auckland-LAX-JFK flight allowed us an earlier landing as planes circled Kennedy and nearby LaGuardia airports on the night of September 10th. There was a NY Giants vs Denver Broncos Monday Night football game, televised from a then brand new Invesco Field at Mile High. Denver won, 31-20.

Jet lag from three weeks or more on the Pacific Rim had this columnist’s body clock wound backwards and awake that early morning, TVs blaring from an apartment at 91st Street, between 1st Ave and York, 5.8 miles away from Ground Hero as the crow flies. The helpless feeling of watching on TV unable to assist in any manner and being told to not go anywhere south of 14th Street in Manhattan was devastating, but there was a steady stream of southern Manhattan workers and residents walking 2-2 1/2 hours north to escape the chaos. It was quite clear there was a total lockdown ongoing downtown.

The only recourse, with a three year old and one year old in tow, was to walk to our local parish – St. Joseph’s in Yorkville – where we sat with a handful of parishioners in silence.

A small donation made to our old parish grammar school

Afterward, we walked to the little park in front of Asphalt Green on York Avenue. Our daughters played on the swings and we sat together on park benches, lumps in our throats and still a feeling of helplessness. Jets circled Manhattan – F-15C Eagles from the 102nd Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, based at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod – and it was a sight I never thought I would see in my lifetime.

Fast forward a year, and I was sitting with some good friends as we conducted a Basketball w/o Borders camp in Europe and the day was done, a bite to be had with some great red wine and greater people. Some of the friends at the table rarely hung out with Americans and it was their first chance to ask a few questions, directed to a New Yorker who had lived on Manhattan island on the day of the attacks.

We told the story of the final day of the Goodwill Games, the flight to JFK, and the jet lag. Then watching everything occur in real time on September 11th, but on TV like everyone else in the world. Then, my true reaction and honest statement of “I never thought I’d see F-15s circling Manhattan Island and defending our Eastern Seaboard.”

Said one of our dear friends, the wife of Serbia’s hard-working coach Marin Sedlacek, to put it all in perspective; “Yeah, you should see those F-15 jets when they’re dropping bombs.”

To Put that remark in Context: The US and NATO conducted a bombing campaign in the former Yugoslavia that lasted 78 days, from March 24 to June 10, 1999. The US and its NATO allies intervened during the Kosovo War to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević to halt ethnic cleansing against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

“War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” – by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Each September 11 (or closest possible date), the Boston College Eagles honor the memory of a former student-athlete, Welles Crowther, by playing a game in tribute to the deceased BC lacrosse player, who graduated and turned commodities broker at Sandler O’Neill and Partners in NYC. After graduation, he worked on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

It took time, but the New York Times and Crowther’s mother put together the unimaginable moments of what the young man encountered in the final hour of his life on September 11, 2001.

UA 175 hit the South Tower at 9:03 that morning. Crowther called his mother from his office at 9:12, leaving the message, “Mom, this is Welles. I wanted you to know that I’m okay.” Afterward Crowther, a volunteer firefighter in training, made his way to the 78th-floor sky lobby, where he encountered a group of survivors, including a badly burned Ling Young, who worked on the 86th floor in New York’s Department of Taxation and Finance. Young had been among a group of people waiting at a bank of elevators to evacuate when the plane hit the tower.

Crowther, carrying a young woman on his back, directed them to the one working stairway. The survivors followed him 17 floors down, where he dropped off the woman he was carrying before heading back upstairs to assist others. By the time he returned to the 78th floor, he had a bandana around his nose and mouth to protect him from smoke and haze. A red bandana.

He found another group of survivors, which included AON Corp. employee Judy Wein (who worked on the 103rd floor) in pain from a broken arm, cracked ribs, and a punctured lung, all injuries coming from being tossed around after the initial impact of a Boeing 757 aircraft- flying 500 mph – hitting a standing structure. According to Wein, Crowther assisted in putting out fires and administering first aid. He then announced to that group, “Everyone who can stand, stand now. If you can help others, do so.”

As occupants of the Tower headed for the street, Crowther returned up the stairs to help others. He was last seen doing so with members of the FDNY before the South Tower collapsed at 9:59.

Amazingly, a mostly completed New York City firefighter application was discovered in his home after his death.

According to survivor accounts, Crowther saved as many as 18 people during the attacks.

Crowther’s family was unaware of his actions between his last phone call to his mother and his death, until Allison Crowther read Judy Wein’s firsthand account of being saved by a man in a red bandana in The New York Times in May 2002, eight months after the Towers fell.

Allison then met with the people Welles had saved, including Wein and Young, and they confirmed his identity through photographs.

In 2006, Crowther was posthumously named an honorary New York City firefighter by Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. That same year, Crowther’s Boston College lacrosse teammate, Tyler Jewell, wore a red bandana in honor of Crowther when he competed as a member of the United States snowboarding team in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

On September 13, 2014, Boston College played the University of Southern California and the team wore uniforms symbolizing Crowther’s red bandana, including a helmet stripe, cleats and gloves with a red bandana pattern. Somehow, someway, BC defeated then No. 9 USC Trojans, 37-31, before a sellout crowd in Chestnut Hill. It was a miracle – a Miracle!

This Friday, BC defeated Rutgers, 28-21. The Red Bandana game lives on. – Forever.

BOSTON COLLEGE: What is the Red Bandana Game. Watch THIS to find out.

THE POINT: A flight home from Australia draped with USA Basketball gear, t-shirts and sweatshirts was met with devastation of the USA on the very next day, as noted above. After the shock of 9/11, and the realization there were pictures of the missing victims seemingly everywhere you looked, along with empty wheelchairs at the hospitals and news of very few survivors, it was only a feeling of emptiness that prevailed.

Lost.

The shock, confusion and mourning stretched some ten more days and the timeline shifted to returning to daily routines. Late Night TV comedians had been preempted and the studios were all dark. Professional and college sports came to an immediate halt, and that meant the weekend of NFL football was scrapped on September 15-16.

On September 21, 10 days after the attacks, Major League Baseball returned to New York City as the New York Mets hosted the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium. The game served as a signal to get back. As the game progressed, Shea Stadium came to life, but the Mets trailed the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, in the bottom of the eighth. Edgardo Alfonzo drew a walk and there was one out as catcher Mike Piazza stepped up to the plate.

Piazza hit a baseball about as hard as a baseball can be hit. He took a second to watch it fly. It was a two-run home run to give the Mets a 3-2 lead that would stand up for the win. Shea Stadium’s loyal fans erupted with joy. It was okay to smile again.

Sports did that.

A month later, the New York Yankees had advanced to the World Series and were facing the Arizona Diamondbacks. At Game 3, played on October 30, 2001, President George W. Bush was asked to throw out the first pitch. There was considerable angst for the stadium security and NYPD. That angst was replaced with joy when President Bush zipped a rope-like fastball right across the plate.

Sports did that.

Ten days before the Series, the Concert for New York was staged at a sold-out Madison Square Garden, packed with the FDNY and NYPD survivors and the families of the deceased. Pictures of loved ones were held high. There were hugs and tears, and then The Who played four of their best songs.

• “Who Are You”
• “Baba O’Riley”
• “Behind Blue Eyes”
• “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

The Garden can rock, but it had never rocked like it did during that four-song set.

Music did that.

In between sets at the show, actors and comedians were asked to introduce some of the families who lost a loved one or just a group of fire fighters releasing some pent up emotion.

One of those skits was comedian (and actor) Adam Sandler doing his “Operaman” routine from Saturday Night Live.

It was hysterical and he stole the entire show.

Comedy did that.

Sports. Music. Comedy. That’s what brought us back, along with a ton of hugs and tears shared with our loved ones. It was a time to hug the kids a little bit tighter and a little bit longer before the bedtime routine.

The post While We’re Young (Ideas) – Sept 11th appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

CHESTNUT HILL – After an NCAA Week 0, which included an eyebrow-raising North Carolina (with Coach Big Bill Belechick) win over perennial power TCU and a shocking UMass victory over Big TEN doormat Rutgers, it’s time for the 2026 College Football season. The first “real” Saturday of the season came fast upon us and the results will be unfolding as this column is created (September 5).

This column will rely upon experts such as Phil Steele and his incredible preseason magazine to ESPN pundits to VSiN experts and a few early observations from the brand new armchair placed just yesterday in the Lyons’ den.

Only a handful of early afternoon and a few early evening games are in the scorebooks as of the time of writing. Some early impressions?

1. Boston College barely made a showing in a 34-15 dismantling by Cincinnati
2. The powerhouse Top 25 schools mostly saw typical one-sided scores over weak opponenents with the exception of a back-and-forth Oregon win over Boise St. (34-27).
3. A primetime Clemson v. LSU game was delayed because of weather.
4. The non-NFL Labor Day weekend bodes well for the schedule. Sunday, September 6 boasts three top notch games, including: Washington St. at Washington, Wisconsin at Notre Dame and Louisville at Ole Miss.

Looking further down the road, there’s some interesting buckets of information tucked into the Phil Steele annual. Consider a few that struck a chord and have been filed away as the season progresses:

Steele’s 2026 Toughest Schedule – Top 10

1. Texas
2. Michigan
3. USC
4. Arkansas
5. Oklahoma
6. Ohio St.
7. Michigan St.
8. Mississippi St.
9. Purdue
10. Florida

Steele’s Surprise Teams for 2026

1. Alabama
2. BYU
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. Utah
6. SMU
7. Clemson
8. Louisville
9. Iowa
10. Houston

Steele’s POWER Ten Teams for 2026

1. Notre Dame
2. Oregon
3. Georgia
4. Ohio St.
5. Texas
6. Indiana
7. Oklahoma
8. Mississippi
9. Miami (FL)
10. USC

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: After serving more than seven years as WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert announced her plan to step down at the end of 2026. The announcement came after severe criticism of the WNBA leadership team, mostly coming from the rank and file WNBA players.

Engelbert led the WNBA through very important times. Among her major accomplishments:

• Leading the WNBA with the WNBA Players Association to formulate a monumental collective bargaining agreement that will govern the league from its inception in 2026 through 2032.
• Navigating the league through a season in a bubble during COVID-19.
• Leading the WNBA efforts for its current, blockbuster and record-setting television and media arrangments. The term runs from 2026-2036 aqnd will generate $2.2 billion from Disney/ABC/ESPN platforms, NBC Universal and Amazon. An additional $281m annually ($3.1 billion) will come from auxillary deals with USA Network, ION and CBS Paramount. The deals will be analyzed in 2028 for possible adjustments.
• Overseeing the WNBA during unprecedented growth of teh league, including record interest to follow the career of Caitlin Clark.

The burning question surfacing in each and every story of Englebert’s retirement is the uncertain succession plan to name a new WNBA Commissioner. In columns and other media reports, speculation has run the gamut of naming recently retired players, like Swin Cash to sitting Governors (Maura Healy of Massachusetts) to former First Lady Michele Obama.

While they’re all great suggestions, it’s more likely the successor to Englebert will come from either an all-out executive search committee, an internal candidate at the WNBA or a team, or someone currently working in the sports industry. Regardless, it will take time.

The most feasible move for the NBA and WNBA is to lure recently retired Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman back to her old stomping grounds – even if it’s just for a six month interim basis.

Ackerman was the WNBA’s first executive leader, then titled President. Ackerman oversaw the lead-up to the WNBA launch – a year-long barnstorming by the USA Basketball women’s senior national team, leading into the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. It served as the perfect launchpad for the WNBA in the summer of 1997.

Ackerman’s calming presence would be welcomed by both management (WNBA Board) and players. Since the season runs from May until October (2027), the stabilization of the organization between January and June will be an important window of time.

There’s no question, Val Ackerman can get the job done and then sail off to a happy retirement sunset, maybe with a few million dollars from a thankful NBA-WNBA organization together with its players.

Just in case you aren’t familiar with her illustrious career, here’s a quick look via a recent edition of The Sports Business Journal. The SJ paid tribute to her amazing career with a full length story and a sidebar of her accomplishments. WWYI took the liberty to snip Val’s year-by-year C.V., including her education and sports industry high points:

The Val Ackerman File

Born: Nov. 7, 1959, Lakewood Township, NJ

Education: University of Virginia, B.A., political and social thought (1981), basketball, two-time Academic All-American; UCLA, law degree (1985)

Family: Husband, Charlie Rappaport; two daughters, Emily and Sally

Boards: NCAA Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee, member; Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, board of directors; Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, lifetime trustee

The Work of Art:

• 1981: Union Cosnoise Sportive Basket, player in France
• 1985-87: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, corporate and banking associate
• 1988: NBA, staff attorney
• 1989: USA Basketball, board of directors
• 1990: NBA, special assistant to the commissioner; later named vice president of business affairs
• 1992: USA Basketball organizational liaison at the 1992 Olympics; later has same role for 1994 Worlds and 1996 Olympics
• 1996: WNBA, president (league’s first); guided the league’s launch the following year
• 1999: College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America Hall of Fame, inductee
• 2002: Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Women’s Basketball Team
• 2005: USA Basketball, president (4-year term)
• 2005: Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, member
• 2005: Women’s Basketball Coaches Association President’s Citation
• 2006: U.S. representative for men’s and women’s basketball on the Central Board of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA); named to a second term in 2010
• 2008: John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
• 2008-13: NCAA, consultant
• 2012: National Consortium for Academics and Sports Hall of Fame (now called Institute for Sport & Social Justice)
• 2013: Big East commissioner (as the college conference split from what became the AAC conference of “football schools.”
• 2013: USA Basketball’s Edward S. Steitz Award for contributions to international basketball
• 2013: Big East signed 12-year deal with Fox Sports worth $500 million
• 2014: NCAA Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee, member
• 2014: Led the relocation of the Big East’s headquarters from Providence, RI to its current site in New York City
• 2014: Launched Big East Digital Network (BEDN)
• 2016: Women’s Sports Foundation’s Billie Jean King Contribution Award
• 2017: U.S. Soccer Federation, at-large board member
• 2018: Big East and Madison Square Garden signed agreement to keep The Garden as the home of the Big East men’s basketball tournament through 2028
• 2019: Led negotiations resulting in the University of Connecticut’s return to the Big East, effective 2020
• 2019: Co-chair of the NCAA Federal and State Legislation Working Group
• 2020: Oversaw and navigated Big East’s response to COVID-19 epidemic
• 2021: Naismith Memorial Basketball of Fame, inductee
• 2023: Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, inductee
• 2024: Big East entered into a successor media rights agreement through 2031 on multiple platforms – Fox Sports, NBC/Peacock and TNT Sports
• 2024: Conference and MSG extended venue agreement, keeping the Garden as the home of the Big East men’s tournament through 2032
• 2024: Sports Lawyers Association Michael Weiner Award of Excellence
• 2025: Conference entered six-year agreement with ESPN to provide broad coverage of additional Big East competitions on the ESPN+ platform
• 2025: Big East and Playfly Sports extended multimedia rights partnership through 2031
• 2026: Big East announced a three-year extension with Mohegan Sun Arena to serve as host of the women’s basketball tournament
• 2026: Announced planned retirement as Big East commissioner, effective Aug. 31

Will 2027 see Ms. Ackerman return to 645 Fifth Avenue and guide the reestablishment of the WNBA league office while searching for the next WNBA Commissioner?

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: all basketball fans recall the 2000 Olympics and 2002 Worlds and the coming out party for Yao Ming and “The Great Wall of China.” It was an amazing time to see the athletic and versatile 7-foot-6, 310 lbs center play for his national team and eventually the Houston Rockets.

The WNBA might be awaiting a similar story as the possibilities are endless.

China’s Zhang Ziyu – a 7-foot-3 center – is playing for the Chinese women’s national team at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin. She is among 70 current and former WNBA players dotting rosters. In fact, 15 of the 16 teams competing for the FIBA World Cup for women have a WNBA player on their rosters.

If you remember, Zheng Haixia was the first player from China to play in the WNBA. She was on the opening night roster of the Los Angeles Sparks.

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UP: British police are trying to recover 70,000 pints of stolen Guinness stout. Two trailer truckloads of the creamy dark suds, valued at 115,000 pounds ($155,000), were stolen from a depot near Liverpool in northwest England, the Cheshire Constabulary reported Thursday. “It is famously said that ‘Guinness is good for you,’ but that is only the case when it has been bought and paid for,” Det. Sgt. Gary McClatchy said. “We will settle for nothing less than the full recovery of all the items stolen.” The Guinness had been destined for pubs, but was snatched Monday night by two drivers who pulled up to an industrial park in Runcorn and hauled away the trailers containing about 800 barrels of stout.

The Guinness caper comes only weeks after a theft of Pabst Blue Ribbon lager from a Southern California warehouse, valued at $70,000. The company offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the recovery.

The post TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Sept. 6 appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief, Digital Sports Desk (and former head of NBA International Communications)

ISTANBUL – Attending a Basketball without Borders camp for the first time since 2005 (Basketball w/o Borders – Asia (Beijing as host) with Yao Ming is making quite an impression on one former NBA International staffer. The B w/o B camp concept, created in 2000-2001, and staged in Summer of 2001 (in Treviso, Italy), was done in conjunction with the United Nations. The UN’s Zach Messite played a significant role and approached us (the NBA) with hopes to create a program to encourage healthy living amongst the youth of the world.

That evolved into a sports diplomacy mission as well, with the 2001 camp re-uniting players of five former Yugoslavian provinces via each region sending their top players to be instructed by the likes of Vlade Divac (Serbian) and Toni Kukoc (Croatian). The players had not been on speaking terms since playing as one team at the 1990 FIBA Worlds, a tournament they won. The war erupted and divided the nation znd the players.

We (at the NBA) did our small part in re-uniting them.

Pivoting from the “Doctors Without Borders” program already being run, Messite came up with the idea of “Basketball without Borders.” Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik gave the green light and we were off to the event planning stages. For PR and my staff back then, Helen Wong carried the torch. On Basketball Ops, it was Kim Bohuny and Bret MacTavish. NBAE, Security and NBA events staff plugged in and it was “on.”

At the time, the NBA was already working on the continent of Africa and was staging a camp tagged “Africa 100.” It was a “no-brainer” to rename that effort and the NBA began a continent-by-continent approach to staging the camps, eventually adding The Americas and Asia.

This year, the concept changed to bring the world to Istanbul with the top player prospects all in one place.

FIBA is instrumental in helping to identify the best and most deserving players without allowing any politics to get into the choices. The FIBA U-17 World Championships and their qualifiers also help scout the up & coming players.

Fast forward 25 years and the stats are staggering … check it out!

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: This year’s camp is happening because of the following NBA and FIBA players/coaches/trainers all volunteering their time:

NBA Players

Dominick Barlow – Philadelphia 76ers, USA

Saddiq Bey – New Orleans Pelicans, USA

Thomas Bryant – Cleveland Cavaliers, USA

Bub Carrington – Washington Wizards, USA

Brook Lopez – LA Clippers, USA

Khris Middleton – Washington Wizards, USA

Jalen Suggs – Orlando Magic, USA

Jabari Walker – Philadelphia 76ers, USA

NBA Coaches and Personnel

Kenny Atkinson – Cleveland Cavaliers, USA

Caron Butler – Miami Heat, USA

Dahntay Jones – LA Clippers, USA

Jannero Pargo – Indiana Pacers, USA

Lamar Skeeter – Charlotte Hornets, USA

Greg St. Jean – Los Angeles Lakers, USA

Ekpe Udoh – Atlanta Hawks, USA (ties to Nigeria)

James White – Minnesota Timberwolves, USA

NBA and FIBA Legends

Vlade Divac – NBA and FIBA Legend, Serbia

Danilo Gallinari – NBA and FIBA Legend, Italy

Camp Directors

Chris Ebersole – Los Angeles Lakers USA

Prosper Karangwa – Philadelphia 76ers, Canada/Rwanda

Adam Simon – Miami Heat, USA

Mike Zarren – Boston Celtics, USA

Strength and Conditioning Personnel

Isaiah West – Brooklyn Nets, USA

Emily Zaler – Philadelphia 76ers, USA

Athletic Trainers

Dan Shimensky – Denver Nuggets, USA

Casey Smith – New York Knicks, USA

That list is an amazing combination of people who are all spending their time in the No. 1 world class city of Istanbul – which happens to be home HQ for our NBA Basketball School – Türkiye. To say the synergy is working would be an understatement.

Now consider these historical numbers for B w/o B:

• B w/o B has been a platform for more than 4,900 participants from 149 countries and territories since 2001.
• As of 2026, there are 155 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA.
• The NBA and FIBA have staged 86 B w/o B camps in 56 cities across 36 countries on six continents.
• More than 50 former B w/o B campers were among the record 135 international players on opening-night rosters last season, including 2026 NBA All-Stars Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers; Israel; B w/o B Europe 2018; B w/o B All-Star 2019), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander(Oklahoma City Thunder; Canada; B w/o B All-Star 2016), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets; Canada; B w/o B All-Star 2015) and Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers; Cameroon; B w/o B Africa 2012).

The Players participating as campers here in Istanbul are the Top 78 17-year old men’s players in the world. The NBA stages similar camps for women, including a wonderful annual event at the NBA All-Star Game.

Jose Dias – Angola

Facundo Mathieu – Argentina

Enzo Roth – Argentina

Riak Akhuar – Australia

John Aryang – Australia

Yahya Basaran – Australia

Antonio Browne – Australia

William Troy Hamilton – Australia

Manu Agbason – Azerbaijan

Hassan Oshobuge Abdulkadir – Bahrain

Aaron Ona Embo – Belgium

Imran Subasic – Bosnia

Lucas Moro – Brazil

Victor Santos – Brazil

Isaiah Clarke – Canada

Noah D’Acre – Canada

Kenyon St. Louis – Canada

Kingston Thomas – Canada

Boran Yue – China

Zhanfeng Zhou – China

Marek Houska – Czech Republic

Martin Sibal – Czech Republic

Martin Simko – Czech Republic

Neora Francis Ossete Toly – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lucas Troels-Smith – Denmark

Malvin Duran – Dominican Republic

Robert Kangur – Estonia

Mathias Fabien – France

Messi Yangala – France

Mansour Bayo – The Gambia

Mamadou Samba – The Gambia

Herbert Roland Senghore – The Gambia

Lucai Anderson – Germany

Paul Plato – Germany

Caspar Vossenberg – Germany

Angelos Zoupas – Greece

Vince Gaspar – Hungary

Lapo Santini – Italy

Minty Jean-Philippe Dylan Oka – Ivory Coast

Gabrielius Buivydas – Lithuania

Jokubas Kukta – Lithuania

Kristupas Sabeckas – Lithuania

Luca Balducci – Mexico

Yair Olano – Mexico

Luka Malovic – Montenegro

Marko Popovic – Montenegro

Tawhiri Cate – New Zealand

Liam Keogh – New Zealand

Zach Rampton – New Zealand

Justin Akengbowa – Nigeria

Kalu Miracle Ebubechukwu – Nigeria

Prince Carino – Philippines

Lukasz Lysek – Poland

Miguel Sousa – Portugal

Dwight Gaines – Puerto Rico

Ameer Hausawi – Qatar

Azam Yakan – Qatar

Serigne Saliou Mbodji – Senegal

Petar Bjelica – Serbia

Matija Lukic – Serbia

Ognjen Simjanovski – Serbia

Lun Jarc – Slovenia

Taejoon Park – South Korea

Emmanuel Aguer Majak – South Sudan

Eghosa Odeje – Spain

Troy Hilamani Kaufusi – Tonga

Abderahmen Bouguerra – Tunisia

Adem Rafrafi – Tunisia

Besir Briant – Turkey

Darius Karutasu – Turkey

Ruzgar Opcun – Turkey

Demir Ozturk – Turkey

Omer Sik – Turkey

Dmytro Datsenko Ukraine

Oliver Bishop – United Kingdom

Maxx Tjongondjoza – United Kingdom

Kevin Gutierrez – Venezuela

Julio Vasquez – Venezuela

Remember those names, maybe to be seen at an NBA or college basketball arena near you someday soon.

And, remember Matija Lukic – Serbia who won the “Kim Bohuny” MVP award.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: What’s the new motto! – “When in Istanbul, attend a FIBA World Qualifying Tournament game!” – That big game was played Friday night at 9:00pm (local) and it coincided with FIBA World Cup qualifying games being played all over the world.

Türkiye drubbed Lithuania, 94-66, after jumping out to a 27-13 1st Quarter lead and they never looked back.

For the USA Basketball qualifying squad, the venue was in Chile and the USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying (Window 4) Team handling their business in front of a capacity crowd in Santiago, 89-71.

The post TL’s Sunday Notes | August 30 appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief, Digital Sports Desk

Editor’s Note: This is an all-out plea for the readers of the column to stick with this one. It weaves some Lyons family history, memories of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, the golden age of airplane travel, and then goes full circle to the NBA and many a wonderful travel experience all over the world.

Saturday night readers might park this one for Sunday morning and a cup of coffee to take time to read it in full. My thanks for indulging some glorious TL reminiscing.

LOGAN AIRPORT (Boston) – The various airline advertising slogans remain clear in my mind. Maybe the most memorable was New York Knicks announcer Marv Albert proclaiming Eastern Airlines as – “The Wings of Man.” Another great one was, “Fly the Friendly Skies of United.” or you could “Fly the American Way.” or later “We’re American Airlines Doing What We Do Best.”

A good seat behind home plate at Shea Stadium gave fans a view of the “Serval Zippers” sign and about 100 yards away was a flashing Delta Airlines sign that proclaimed “FLY DELTA ATLANTA” and “FLY DELTA CHICAGO” or a few other great American cities. Of course, you might remember a catchy slogan that reminded travelers, “Delta Is Ready When You Are.”

My father worked for Pan American World Airways, as did my older brother years later. Pan American was known as the “World’s Most Experienced Airline” and later stated “Pan Am Makes the Going Great.”

There’s no doubt, the Madison Avenue ad agencies did a great job for a highly competitive industry. At that point in time, Pan Am and Trans World Airways (TWA) were the two USA-based airlines flying worldwide routes. Pan Am did not have any domestic routes until it flew to Los Angeles in the 1980s as a way of serving the South Pacific and Pacific Rim.

I can vividly remember going down to JFK to either drop my Dad off or pick him up from an international business trip (often to/from Frankfurt, Germany, a major inventory control hub for the airline, servicing aircraft in Europe.

On those trips to the Pan Am Worldport – a brand new terminal at JFK, away from the fray of the International Arrivals Building – we had our way exploring the entire terminal and covering every inch of the circular, space age, flying saucer look of an airline terminal stacked with 747s as far as the eye could see.

Security was not as extensive as it is today, so a 12 year old boy could stroll through the entire terminal, gazing at all the destinations Pan Am served, and because of the flying privileges provided to immediate family of a Pan Am employee, we could grab our U.S. Passports and fly to every city across the globe. You name it: Mexico City, London, Paris, Cologne, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, Calcutta, Prague, Nairobi, Moscow, Beirut, Tehran or Istanbul. (I’ve been to 14 of the 20 listed).

But, wait? Did you say Istanbul?

Yes, late Sunday night I’ll be boarding Turkish Air Flight 82 from Boston to Istanbul to assist with a week’s worth of work for the NBA Basketball School – Türkiye which will coincide (and run side-by-side) with Basketball Without Borders, an incredible joint-venture staged by the NBA and FIBA.

The details of this specific Basketball w/o Borders can be found in the league’s official press announcement – HERE. There is a major difference between this camp and many of the others conducted as far back as 2001. Rather than staging camps continent by continent, the 2026 version will bring approximately 80 players from all around the world to one location – Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi – in Istanbul. NBA and FIBA players do one-to-one training, and the 17-year old prospects are instructed with shooting drills, movement efficiency, skill development stations, 3-on-3 competitions, life-skills seminars, and 5-on-5 game competition.

The NBA Basketball School – Türkiye – which runs 365 days a year throughout the entire country, shows campers (boys/girls – ages 6+) the NBA way of training and skill development.

Next week’s column will underline some of the highlights from the camps, which begin on Wednesday, August 26.

To tie this column opener in a bow, it is very important to me to show appreciation for the privilege of traveling to countries and experiencing cultures all around the world. Those less fortunate sometimes are unable to leave their town, county or state. But, as part of a wonderful family, complete with unlimited Pan Am flight benefits, I was able to travel the world.

Then, at the NBA, the serious traveling came about – and I don’t mean the kind called by recent Hall of Fame inductee Joe Crawford. Yes, that little round basketball brought us all to places we’d never even dreamt of seeing. Friendships were built, right on the hardwood, and both the memories and the friendships seem to be everlasting.

So, indulge me for a second as I list a few of those sights and memories – stream of consciousness style. These are all things I never dreamt of seeing and visited them because of the NBA, Basketball w/o Borders, USA Basketball, and the FIBA Worlds and Olympic Games. Here’s just a few:

1. The site of the road into Jerusalem on a ride from Tel Aviv.
2. Standing in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 2004 and 2005 having experienced the very first NBA China Games and the first NBA Basketball w/o Borders – Asia with Yao Ming but thinking of what took place right there, 15 years prior in a 1989 uprising. I could visualize the never-identified protestor staring down four tanks in the middle of Chang’an Avenue. (I did a video greeting for Ed Desser’s NBA retirement party right there, and we were chased away by security).
3. First glimpse of the Acropolis at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. You turn one corner downtown, and it’s there.
4. Anytime and every time riding through the streets of London, Paris or Rome and seeing Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, or the Colosseum.
5. Prior to NBA travel, setting foot just barely across the border from West Germany to East Germany where barbed wire fences lined the perimeter of East Germany as far as the eye could see.
6. That first step into Red Square and the sight of a stunning St. Basil’s Cathedral (The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed).
7. Cruising Sydney Harbor with the sight of the Olympic Rings adorning Sydney Harbour Bridge, the famous Sydney Opera House right there in living color.
8. The all-out beauty of the City of Bruges in Belgium.
9. And, personal favorites before my BIG favorite: Montjuïc in Barcelona, the beaches of Maui, Montauk and Chatham, Massachusetts, Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Gold Coast along the shore in Australia, not far from Brisbane, the beauty of Prague, the tremendous dinners in Milan and Bologna, catching NHL games in Toronto and Montreal, the airport approach with the city of Vancouver glistening to your side, holding theatre tickets to a show and walking to the West End of London, the beautiful blue waters of the Caribbean, the sight of freshly picked cucumbers and tomatoes in Suhumi, Russia, or Tiblisi, Republic of Georgia, or Vilnius, Lithuania, walking the entirety of the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, seeing Mount Fuji in the distance in Japan, the glaciers of Alaska upon landing on a one-stop to Asia, the views from a hotel room window staring out at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, visting a U.S. Army base on the North Korean border, standing in Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square and walking into St. Peter’s Basilica, the site of The Last Supper painting in Milan, standing on The Great Wall of China, a walk through Mexico City’s historic district and Zócalo Square, which leads me to my favorite, to be experienced this week …
10. A boat ride up the Bosphorus River in Istanbul from Europe into Asia … last experienced with Bill and Lori Walton in the Summer of 2004 on the way to the Athens Olympics. There’s nothing like seeing the Blue Mosque, then the Bosphorus Bridge, now known as 15 July Martyrs Bridge.

I’ll be thinking about Bill, Rest in Grateful Peace.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: After that lengthy stroll around the globe, there’s a nice surprise awaiting the readers of “The Column,” also known as “While We’re Young (Ideas).

Last weekend, there was quite a tribute to the NBA’s Leah Wilcox in this space, as Ms. Wilcox – we’ll call her Leah – was the very worthy recipient of the John Bunn Award – the Basketball Hall of Fame’s highest honor, just this side of enshrinment.

There are several other people who deserve mention and equal tribute in the column. I mentioned Joey Crawford, but how about Mike “The Czar of the Telestrator” Fratello, a dear friend and traveling companion to all parts of Russia and Lithuania.

There was one inductee who deserves special mention. He was inducted as a contributor, but he could’ve been honored for his pro playing career for Olimpia Milano or his European coaching achievements or – maybe most importantly – for changing the game of basketball forever when he coached in the NBA.

Yes, Mike D’Antoni, a very close friend along with his wife, Laurel, was honored in Springfield, and I was lucky enough to catch up with them at the Mohegan Sun (Connecticut) the night before at the Hall’s family “gala,” a much less formal event.

This columnist was all geared up to pay tribute to Mike, then along came an outstanding piece from NBA great (GM, Asst GM, PR man, USOC rep and all around wonderful guy) Tommy Sheppard, and with his permission I’m passing it along.

He wrote: “Some people win in the game. A rare few actually change the game. Mike D’Antoni did both.

Congratulations to the entire Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026:

Joey Crawford

Mark Few

Doc Rivers

Amar’e Stoudemire

Elena Delle Donne

Chamique Holdsclaw

Candace Parker

Mike D’Antoni

and the 1996 United States Women’s National Team.

Every one of them has a story worthy of Springfield.

This class is especially meaningful to me because of Mike D’Antoni and his family.

Mike and I first crossed paths when he came to work with the Denver Nuggets. More than 25 years later, I am fortunate to count him as a very close friend. Knowing Mike and his family for all these years has given me an even greater appreciation for everything he has accomplished — and for the person he is away from the court.

Long before “pace and space” became part of basketball’s everyday vocabulary, Mike saw the game differently.

And he had the courage to coach it differently.

His Phoenix Suns teams changed basketball.

“Seven Seconds or Less” was about pace, spacing, shooting and decision-making. Steve Nash pushed the ball, Amar’e Stoudemire attacked the rim, and Mike trusted his players to play fast, make reads, and share the ball.

The results speak for themselves: 253–136 (.650) in Phoenix, four straight seasons with at least 54 wins, two Western Conference Finals appearances, and NBA Coach of the Year in 2005. He won the award again with Houston in 2017.

Spanning 16 seasons as an NBA head coach, Mike won 672 regular-season games and another 54 in the playoffs.

But his basketball story is so much bigger than his NBA coaching record.

Mike played professionally in the NBA and ABA before becoming a legend with Olimpia Milano, winning five Italian championships and two European Cups during a remarkable 13-year playing career.

He also represented his country as an assistant coach with USA Basketball, helping Team USA bring home the gold at the 2008 Olympics, 2010 FIBA World Championship, and 2012 Olympics.

That is quite a basketball journey.

NBA. ABA. Italy. USA Basketball. Player. Coach. Innovator, and now: Hall of Famer.

And yet, for those of us who know Mike and his family, the wins and awards only tell part of the story.

Mike has always been generous with his time, his knowledge, and his friendship. He loves the game, loves talking about the game and has never stopped looking for a better way to play it.

That curiosity helped change basketball.

Look around the game today — pace, space, early offense, shooting, smaller lineups and giving players the freedom to make decisions — and Mike D’Antoni’s fingerprints are everywhere.

Congratulations to Mike, Laurel and the entire D’Antoni family. I could not be happier for all of you.

And congratulations to every member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

What a well-deserved honor.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: This column and its sister-pub, “PGA Tour Brunch” follow the game of professional golf as close as anyone not traveling every stop on the Tour. That said, if you can figure out and share what the PGA TOUR office and – for that matter – the LIV Golf conglomerate – have in mind for the 2027 season, please let us all know.

There once was a promise to return to the Greater Boston area with a tournament every other year. After the Deutsche Bank Championship became the Dell Technologies Championship became The Northern Trust and moved to Liberty National in New Jersey for a year, men’s pro golf returned to TPC Boston for its last go ‘round.

Now, thankfully, the LPGA makes a stop at TPC Boston for the FM Championship – No Static at All – from August 27-30th.

But, as the Tour re-shuffled its priorities, its Playoffs, its Signature events, and a new system to get to the ever-changing FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Greater Boston area was left off the list. New England’s lone Tour event remains at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut – a stone’s throw from Hartford.

That is a wonderful event, but Boston deserves better as the Labor Day weekend tournament of yesteryear has faded away, like a Cape Cod sunset in late September.

By the way, two tournaments in the great State of Hawaii are gone, too.

It’s a cryin’ shame – a quadruple bogey.

The post TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – August 23 appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief, Digital Sports Desk

UNCASVILLE (Conn) – Every now and then a day comes along and you know it’s a great day before it even starts. You awake with a terrific outlook. The sun is shining. All is well.

Then, you realize that day is today.

We flew, we drove, we booked hotels, and we were all convening (first at Mohegan Sun, then Springfield) to celebrate the wonderful life, and unequalled professional career of a colleague and dear, lifelong friend.

Friday night, at an exquisite banquet at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino, we honored Leah Wilcox for her endless contributions to the NBA and to the sport of basketball overall. For that, Leah received the highest honor the game and the Basketball Hall of Fame can bestow to someone not enshrined as a player/coach/ref/contributor. Leah was the recipient of the John Bunn Award and we were all there to witness it.

Let’s let Leah take it from here, and I STRESS this is a MUST WATCH.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: To describe the impact of Leah Wilcox to someone who doesn’t know her is a monumental task, and to simply describe her sense of being is even harder. Don Sperling, former Executive Producer of NBA Entertainment and the person who hired Leah, described her as “the best person I’ve ever met.” If you polled the people in attendance at the Basketball Hall of Fame Gala on Friday, that would be a unanimous declaration.

The Hall and NBA show producers did a great job of framing Leah’s career with an introductory film clip, introduced by ESPN (and former NBA on NBC) personality Hannah Storm in a style like boxing’s Michael Buffer. It was THAT big.

As I watched the clips, my immediate thoughts drifted to seeing Leah’s ever-present, tremendous smile in all the video and still photos at hundreds of NBA events – NBA Cares, Rookie Orientations, NBA All-Star Games, and on the set of NBA Inside Stuff. My thoughts wandered to think of how many years (41), seasons, off-seasons, global trips and simply how much time she spent dedicated to the NBA.

At those events, Leah would be building and renewing relationships with the players and their families, but also with the NBA staff. She set quite an example. It seemed she never had a bad day. She was never cranky or sad, but always upbeat and inspiring to all she came in contact with on any given day. Energy would abound.

At the rookie orientation/training seminar, we’d stress to the new NBA players to “be themselves,” and never to stray from that. They had to be authentic, but at the same time be able to tell interesting stories about their lives and how they made it to the NBA. Looking back at those situations, “authentic” was the key word and Leah was always herself. She is the ultimate in “authentic.”

STORYTELLING: After the Mohegan Sun side of the Hall’s schedule was over, I recalled all the days, months, years, seasons, and events we staged together – from Madrid in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992 to 20+ year’s of hectic NBA All-Star Games and NBA Cares events.

But one specific moment in time came to mind: It was at an NBA Christmas party, a gathering of the NBA family where the guests of honor were really the families of the employees – former NBA Commissioner, the late David Stern, would emphasize that the party was a thank-you to the families and support group of the NBA staffers who were often working late nights, weekends, long events, long playoff series, or summertime events, such as Basketball without Borders or a USA Basketball tournament when said employee might be gone for weeks at a time.

As the party was winding down, I found myself in line waiting to gather our winter coats and hit the NYC streets for a cab ride home. Both Leah and I realized, at the same time, that there was a considerable amount of buffet-style (good) food left over. I thought it was a shame. Leah went into action.

She found the head of catering, asked a few questions, prodded a few servers, and the next thing I knew, the two of us were loading large catering trays of food into a taxi cab. There were probably 10 large trays, some good bread, and even some desserts.

Leah knew right where to go, and it seemed to me she had done this type of good deed before. The two of us – side-by-side in a taxi, holding on to the trays to keep them upright, pulled up next to a homeless shelter near Times Square on a cold winter night and explained the situation to the volunteers. They were very happy to see the scope of our donation and it was – in fact – much needed that particular night.

I was in total awe of Leah. It was the way about her, as Billy Joel might sing. She eased through the situation with grace and friendliness. The same person who was comfortable in front of the Commissioner, a classroom of players and their families was equally comfortable at a homeless shelter, being sure everyone had a plate of the food.

It was just another day, another night in the life of Leah Wilcox. Selfless. Generous with her time and wallet. Friendly. Outgoing. Funny – even entertaining. She was simply being herself, just like we were teaching the rookies. It was “Authentic Leah Wilcox,” and it was on display for 41 years in the halls of the NBA, in the studios of NBA Entertainment, and in the back corridors of sports arenas the world around.

That’s Leah – the 2026 John Bunn Award winner.

I love her so much.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: A real (personal) treat at this year’s Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies was the fact the Class of ‘26 contained some personal friends as much as incredible icons in the world of basketball.

Doc Rivers was a member of the Atlanta Hawks when we traveled to the (former) Soviet Union in 1988. Every single person on that trip made lifelong bond, but Rivers stands out even more. First, I was fortunate enough to get to know him a little better when he played for the New York Knicks, and as fate would have it, he was very friendly with our next door neighbors and friends. Later, we worked together when Rivers did his TV commentator gig with Turner. Even later in the career timelines, we intersected at the Goodwill Games (2001) trip to Brisbane (Australia) when Doc was an assistant coach (along with Oliver Purnell and Tom Izzo as they backed up the late, great Flip Saunders).

Joey Crawford: There were a bunch of refs you were glad to see at an arena when it was game time in the Playoffs. In fact, Crawford worked more than 50 NBA Finals games with most coming in the 1985-2015 range of time. When Joey worked a game, you just knew it was going to be a well-officiated, high level, yet still intense contest. Postgame, it was always a pleasure to stop in and see him. Crawford comes from a long line of “officials” but his father, Shag, was an “official” working as one of the most respected umpires in Major League Baseball history.

Crawford also heads up a long list of great referees from the Philadelphia area. He graduated from Cardinal O’Hara High School. He began his NBA career in 1977 and announced his retirement (because of a nagging knee injury) on January 2, 2016 and tried to hold on until that March 16 when it became a fact after officiating 2,561 games (2nd most all-time to Dick Bavetta (2,635) and 374 NBA Playoff games (ranks No. 1).

And, lastly Mike D’Antoni: We all (NBA staffers) met Mike as he captained the Tracer Milan Italian and European basketball championship team at the 1987 McDonald’s Open in Milwaukee. Mike played the point for Milan from 1977 to 1990. He went into coaching, first for Milan (1990-94) and then at Benneton Treviso (1994-97) before heading back to the USA to begin a long NBA coaching career.

Mike’s No. 10 was retired by his alma mater, Marshall University. His No. 8 was retired by Milano, and he was named one of the 50 Greatest contributors in European basketball in 2008.

The bonding zone, however, was with USA Basketball where Mike was named an assistant coach to the men’s senior team for the 2006 FIBA Worlds in Tokyo and the 2012 Olympics in London.

There’s a long list of players who should send a Christmas card to Mike and his wonderful wife, Laurel, each December, as D’Antoni’s high octane offense created opportunities for players who often would “cash-in” elsewhere.

A short list of those players includes:

• Joe Johnson
• Amar’e Stoudemire
• Shawn Marion
• Steve Nash
• James Harden

And, maybe the most astonishing of Mike’s star-making career was:

• Jeremy Lin

Yes, Lin-sanity was orchestrated by D’Antoni after a series of injuries befell the majority of the New York Knicks’ backcourt. Lin got his chance and has Mike D’Antoni to thank for it.

In 2012, Lin opted for free agency and signed a three-year, $25 million contract with Houston. After taking a lesser salary cap exception with Charlotte, Lin later banked $38m for a three-year deal with Brooklyn.

The post TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | August 16 appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

CHESTNUT HILL – What would St. Ignatius do?

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish Basque-region Catholic priest and theologian, who, with six companions, founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He became the order’s first Superior General, in Paris in 1541. Immediately afterward, Ignatius and his companions embarked on missions across Europe to create schools, colleges, and seminaries. The overarching Jesuit principle became: Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, translated from Latin to English, “For the greater glory of God.” Upon his death in 1556, a number of schools and college institutions were named after St. Ignatius of Loyola, one of them a parish on Long Island which included a grammar school by the same name, my alma mater.

When you’re a student of that school, and all Jesuit instituations, you learn all about the Jesuit ideals, as do students at Boston College, an incredible college in every aspect.

Since we relocated to Massachusetts, Boston College – only about three miles and four short T stops away – has been our adopted go-to place for ACC football, for ice hockey, for basketball, for Welles and For Boston. If there’s a “Force” that guides Boston College, aside from the teachings of St. Ignatius, it was a force disrupted this week.

Said BC Athletics Director Blake James, a highly respected administrator: “Over the last 60 hours I’ve had to have a lot more conversations about radio announcers than I ever imagined that I would, or I’ve ever had before in my career.”

The topic at hand was the fact Boston College decided to part (not renew an expired one-year contract) with its college basketball radio announcers, Kevin Collins and Josh Maurer, 13-year stalwarts who called games through thick and thin, including last season’s 4-14, or 16th place in the ACC.

Back in the spring, BC made headlines by hiring Luke Murray, assistant coach to Danny Hurley at UConn who was a part of a couple NCAA titles. Murray had intersected with Hurley back in 2010 when Hurley headed up Wagner (Staten Island, NY). Murray is getting his first big opportunity and will begin his stint at BC this season after a typical long road as an assistant coach.

• 2008–2009 Post (assistant)
• 2009–2010 Arizona (Grad assitant)
• 2010–2011 Wagner (assistant)
• 2011–2013 Towson (assistant)
• 2013–2015 Rhode Island (assistant)
• 2015–2018 Xavier (assistant)
• 2018–2021 Louisville (assistant)
• 2021–2026 UConn (assistant)
• 2026–present Boston College (head coach)

After Murray and Boston College won the proverbial introductory press conference and all was well in The Heights, things fell silent – as they always do – until BC Football concludes and the winter sports take center stage. At BC, that means men’s ice hockey as No. 1 and basketball as a distant No. 2 spectator sport.

But, as noted, there was a disturbance in the force this week, and it reverberated throughout the small, talk sports radio, gossip-driven sports and social media worlds of Greater Boston.

The main issue was Collins pouring his heart out in a tweet that noted his dream job and 13-year career as the radio announcer were cut down. In a story, first reported by the entertaining site, Awful Announcing and on X, Collins wrote:

<Easily the hardest tweet of my career. Love you @JoshMaurerPxP and sorry it had to end this way Huge thanks to Mike Winn, Josh Maurer, and Danya Abrams for supporting and empowering me over the last 13+ years.

I will always be an Eagle #WeAreBC>

He went on:

According to reports in Awful Announcing, the broadcast crew had repeatedy asked about their status for new contracts. The feedback was a vague, “no change was coming,” an assurance that held from the end of March all the way until last week.

Word came down that their contracts would not be renewed, and – again – according to the report in Awful Announcing – the reasoning delivered to the pair, relayed through Deputy Athletic Director Craig Anderson, was that (Luke) Murray didn’t want anyone in the travel party who’d been part of what was described as the program’s “losing mentality” under the previous staff, despite neither broadcaster having any real relationship with the coaching staff itself beyond showing up to call games. When pressed on why the decision took months to reach them, given how long Murray had already been on the job, the answer was that the administration had only recently had the actual conversation with him about it.

“The reasoning that I was given was that Coach Murray basically wants a whole new fresh coat of paint on the entire program and wants no remnants of the past around the program,” Collins said. “We have nothing to do with any of that. But he wanted us removed. Didn’t feel comfortable being around a link to the past, if you will. My challenge was, well, how can he not feel comfortable around us? He hasn’t even given us the chance to meet us.”

The school, in PR control mode, went with two different philosophies – neither approved by St. Ignatius’ teachings.

“The decision to not renew the contracts of our men’s basketball radio announcers was made by Boston College Athletics administrators in consultation with our MMR (multi-media rights) partner. We wish both Kevin and Josh the best going forward.”

Terse to say the least, and it fueled a social media hailstorm.

A full day later, BC countered with another statement, but it was issued in a telephone call from James to Boston Globe reporter, Chad Finn:

“Luke did not make this decision, because he does not have the ability to make this decision,” said James in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. “If someone wanted to say it was my decision, yes, at the end of the day I approved it, and I take full responsibility for that.”

Of course that was James’ job to take full responsibility and fall on the sword for Boston College, but the statements and timing of the statements and actions made no sense as they began to contradict each other.

More questions came up, after the fact:

1. If the two commentators were not going to have their jobs (via contracts being renewed), and the decision was made, why wouldn’t the school inform them in April so they’d have time to get a different job?
2. Where was Luke Murray during this debacle? Was he involved and, if so, made available for interviews? In other words, Murray should face the music.
3. For that matter, why weren’t the two announcers given the chance to meet Murray? And – in a face-to-face meeting – be given either a reason he wanted to cut ties or be given the chance to hear-out his philosophies and understand them going forward.
4. In the process of dismissing a 13-year BC vet, why the awkward method of telephone line to text to non-verbal, direct communication, as opposed to this mixed-message ugly scene?

“I thought that if anything like this ever popped up, where my employment was in trouble, that [me, Anderson, and Winn] could have an adult conversation over a coffee and a cold beverage and hash it out on whether it was going to go one way or the other,” said Collins as quoted from his phone conversation with the Globe.

Lastly, after the fact, there was considerable speculation that the reason for the (non renewal method of firing) was an ill-fated X/tweet way back on March 17th that expressed legitimate concerns about hiring a coach with no head coaching experience.

“I have 2 questions (wrote Collins): 1.) are you comfortable with hiring a head coach with 0 head coaching experience? It’s one thing to do this at a low major and entirely different in the ACC. 2.) Kids are paid now. Recruiting is dead. Would his father bring in serious NIL for Boston College?”

The paper of record, errr, The Athletic tried to piece it all together in a story by Joe Rexrode on August 5. That story criss-crossed with the Globe story and laid out pieces of a puzzle that will never fit together and further confused he issue – which admittedly is not life or death in the year 2026.

But, remember, there was no comment from either Luke, or his even a quip by his father, comedian and actor Bill Murray.

In conclusion, there’s a perfect quote from Luke’s famous father, Bill, via his wonderful appearance in the motion picture, STRIPES, and it answers the question at the root of the issue: “Are Collins and Maurer gone?”

“That’s the FACT, Jack.”

PS: In answer to the opening question of this column, St. Ignatius would get everybody involved in the same room and hash it out.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: LIV golf CEO Scott O’Neil emerged from a summit to announce that the upstart – once Saudi PIF based – entity will remain afloat after an investor stepped up to fund it against expected short term additional potential losses.

“LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the league’s next era, driven by and for the players,” O’Neil said in a statement. “We’re also seeing strong interest from more than a dozen additional parties to potentially serve as minority investors, creating a multi-partner model built for long-term stability and growth.”

The minority investors expressed interest if there were a main, primary investor to assure solid ground in the year(s) to come.

The specific investors were not identified, nor the amount of money to be injected into the league. LIV Golf said it hopes to finalize terms in the coming weeks and close the transaction in September.

The Saudi-based PIF reportedly spent more than $5 billion funding the league over the past five seasons, according to multiple media outlets in the golf industry. That included signing some of the biggest and most succesful PGA Tour pros to contracts, complete with multi-million dollar signing bonuses.

The final weeks of the LIV Golf season were in doubt until O’Neal’s press conference prior to this week’s event at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: After three successful years in Singapore, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup is now starting a new chapter in its 60-year long history, with the event moving to Beijing, China for the first time. This year, the event will be played in September, according to a recent FIBA newsletter. The format remains the same in terms of the number of teams represented, with six teams split into two groups of three teams. The top two teams from each group will move to the Semi-Finals, with the winners facing off in the Championship Game on September 27.

TWO-WAY OR BACK-to-SCHOOL? Former St. John’s University wing, Dillon Mitchell was drafted by Boston back in June. Mitchell performed very well for the Celtics Summer League team and it was thought he’d be signed to a guaranteed NBA contract right away. Not so fast thought the Celtics, as their roster is stacked with versatile players, many in their first few years. That includes the Celtics’ 2026 first round pick, Chris Cenac Jr., a 6-11 stretch-five who can shoot it. Cenac hit 2.2 three-point FGs per game and shot 33% from behind the arc while at the University of Houston this past year. He’s a defensive force, protecting the rim, and is just what the Celtics needed going into the 2026-27 season. Yet, Cenac is only 19 years old and has room to mature and grow.

In Mitchell’s case, the rumors were flowing that 6-8 Mitchell might return to school as the latest ruling – for and against the NCAA – allowed players in Mitchell’s situation to gain a fifth year of college eligibility, even though he was the 40th overall pick in the draft by Boston and stood out in the NBA Summer League, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds with a slew of steals and blocks.

Nope. No more BIG EAST and playing under St. John’s coach Rick Pitino. Instead, Mitchell signed a two-way contract with the Celtics this week.

LUNCH? – Would you like to sit down for lunch with UCLA/NBA Legend and front office executive Kiki VanDeWeghe for a face-to-face conversation in New York City, shared with up to three guests? VanDeWeghe enjoyed a distinguished 13-year NBA career as a prolific scorer for the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers, earning two NBA All-Star selections along the way. After retiring, he transitioned seamlessly into the front office, serving as General Manager of the Nuggets and later as the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, making him one of the most well-rounded execs in the game on both sides of the hardwood. The offer from the auction lot via online auction house Charity Buzz offers a rare chance to connect personally with a man who has shaped professional basketball for decades. Whether you’re a lifelong fan, an aspiring basketball professional, or simply someone who appreciates this extraordinary access avenue, this lunch delivers an experience that goes well beyond the ordinary. It’s sure to be a candid, unhurried afternoon (two hours) with one of basketball’s most accomplished insider, the kind of access that simply isn’t available anywhere else. Site of restaurant was not named, but it is in NYC. … The auction expires in 11 days.

GRAND PRIX: If lunch with Kiki doesn’t do the job, how about an experience of a lifetime at the F-1 Grand Prix race in Abu Dhabi? Experience the excitement of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with an exclusive package for two, including a 4-night stay at a luxurious 5-star hotel. Located on Yas Leisure Drive, this experience places you at the heart of one of the most prestigious events on the Formula 1 calendar. On this auction, time is of essence as the clock is ticking down to deadline.

The brochure for Charity Buzz reads: “Enjoy four nights of luxury accommodations with daily breakfast included, providing the perfect base for an unforgettable Grand Prix weekend. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Formula 1 racing and take advantage of access to concerts and pit walks, available on a first-come, first-served basis. This Experience for two includes:

• 4-night stay at a 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi
• Daily breakfast
• Access to the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
• Access to concerts and pit walks
• Airfare is NOT included

The post TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | August 9th appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

FENWAY – In 2023, infielder Kristian Campbell hit .309 for the Sox High-A Greenville ball club. He hit his first MiLB homer that August 27th and things were looking good. In 2024, things looked even brighter. Campbell hit .330 for a combo of Greenville (High-A), Portland (Double-AA) and Worcester (Triple AAA). He was named Baseball America’s and USA Today’s minor league Player of the Year.

On March 27, 2025, Campbell became the first non-Japanese Red Sox player to make his Major League Baseball debut and start on Opening Day in 25 years (Jackie Bradley Jr. in 2000).

Campbell was the first of a “Little Big 3” the Red Sox would be entertaining at the MLB level, with both infielder Marcelo Mayer and outfielder/slugger Roman Anthony, the power and long ball hitter of the bunch, soon to join the show. The future of the Red Sox was right then, the same as it is right now.

It all seemed like a lock, especially when Campbell signed an eight-year, $60 million contract. But, Campbell has toiled in the Sox MiLB system – playing winter ball in Puerto Rico and doing the I90 shuffle out at Polar Park Worcester. He’s played 85 games for the Exit 19s in 2026, and is currently batting .246 (as of August 4) but he leads the team in strike-outs with 107.

All three of the “Little Big 3” have struggled mightily this season. Anthony got off to a very slow start but was batting lead-off for the Red Sox as they broke Spring Training camp. But, he’s been out since May 5, recovering from a partially torn tendon in his right hand and wrist.

Mayer is another story, altogether, as he is gone. He had struggled all season, begging to find some consistency at the plate, but instead, he was traded Monday for Eric Miller, San Francisco’s left-handed closer who will be added to strengthen and deepen the 7-8-9th inning Boston bullpen.

Mayer, 23, played in 70 games for Boston this season, hitting .220 (45-for-205) with 19 runs scored, 10 doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI while making 39 starts at second base and 20 at shortstop. The left-handed hitter was placed on the 10-Day Injured List on June 26 with a bone stress reaction to the left ulna.

With the trade, Boston’s “Big 3” has become the “One and Done,” sticking with the basketball phraseology. Campbell toils with the WooSox, Mayer heads west as a young man with nothing but potential in his suitcase. Meanwhile, Anthony remains the mystery man, with no timetable for return, if any.

The Red Sox are rounding second and heading for third as post trade deadline day leads to only the true dog days of August, and then the stretch from third to home and a (very) possible postseason berth. All it took was a 15-game winning streak and a sweep of the LA Dodgers with a 6-1 west coast road trip upon return to Fenway Park which still has visions of Phish dancing in our heads.

Boston takes on that stretch with six of their best, whether in the starting lineup or acting as key reserve players either on the injured list or close to it:

• Newly acquired utility man Curtis Mead on IL (left wrist fracture)
• Newly acquired all-star level catch Adley Rutschman (left wrist inflammation)
• Starting pitcher/ace Garrett Crochet (shoulder and lateral issues) has August 25 circled for potential target date for return
• Shortstop Trevor Story (sports hernia) on the road to recovery
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm) could be back in 10 days
• Slugger OF Roman Anthony (right ring finger/wrist injury) and has not resumed swinging a bat, but has been working out regularly.
• Now, it’s left for interim manager Chad Tracy to piece together as he’s done since former manager Alex Cora was fired on April 26th.

The one name that shouldn’t return to Worcester, at any time, is Tracy who squarely deserves a full-time designation instead of interim, a major league level bump in salary and the thanks of a grateful GM, Craig Breslow, as Tracy played a major role in saving both of their jobs.

The post Pressure Is On: Same As It Ever Was appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – As the clock struck Midnight – Pacific Coast time – July 31st, the Boston Red Sox looked at their July record of 24-2 and realized it was the best month in franchise history. It wasn’t just the best month this year or this century, but they recorded the best month in the 125 year history of the club.

The final victory came against the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Sox showed their resilience. The Red Sox led 3-0, trailed 4-3, then broke open the very important game with a five run seventh inning which included a Ceddanne Rafaela bullet HR to left field. Boston finished the game with nine runs and 12 hits in their 9-4 victory.

The Red Sox were hoping the month of July never ended.

But, the news of the week was not all wine and roses. Despite going 4-1 in their first five games of this important West Coast road trip, newly acquired infielder Curtis Mead’s first game for the Red Sox ended abruptly and caused considerable pain when he was drilled on the left hand with a 94.9 mph fastball from Athletics’ righty Jack Perkins in the top of the fourth inning of Monday’s 4-2 Sox victory at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, the temporary home of the Swingin’ A’s.

Mead initially stayed in the game, but was replaced on defense by Anthony Seigler to open the bottom of the fifth inning. Mead was diagnosed with a left wrist contusion and X-rays came back negative on the night of the game, but Tuesday morning told a different story.

The infielder, expected to provide additional offense for Boston, had a more revealing MRI performed and it found a wrist fracture which will require significant treatment and rehabilitation time. It will not require surgery, which is a good sign.

Not to be overlooked, Mead came at a considerable price with the fact Boston traded one of its three best pitching prospects, Connelly Early, for the infielder. As was said, but now amplified, “Well, at least it wasn’t the worst trade of the Summer of ‘26 in the Boston sports world.”

Wrist injuries are a tricky bunch, as there are several bones within the wrist and each provide the amazing appendage with the ability to do different things – up & down, side-to-side, rotate, twist, snap and the ability to use strength to move the wrist at warp speed, allowing a baseball player to crack a 95 mph baseball to great lengths.

Treatment and rehabilitation can take 6-8 weeks, depending on the individual and the exact location of the bone break. Those figures sound normal and within reason. But, the aftermath of a significant break of a bone in the wrist can take three months to resolve, and in many cases, it’s never the same.

Why is your favorite columnist so interested in one Major Leaguer’s wrist injury?

It harkens back to memories of July, 1981 and a summer league Dek hockey game in Elmont, NY – not far from Belmont Park. My short-staffed Keswick Americans team allowed yours truly with some regular double-shifts and considerable playing time against a mediocre but semi-physical opponent. Yes, we were drilling them, and I had already celebrated a hat trick (three goals), but with the extra time, it made sense to go for four, and a pretty feed resulted in a bullet “one-timer,” to net the fourth on a shot the goalkeeper never saw coming. However, it came simultaneously with a sliding tackle which upended a rather off-balance shooter and it was head over heels and an awkward fall, using my left hand to try to “break the fall.”

Instead, my left wrist ended up looking like the old horse in the Three Stooges films.

It was smashed.

How bad was it? It was so bad, it took two orderlies and a doctor to prod and pull and finally set it, and then a cast (over the elbow) for four weeks. (Nothing like a cast in mid-summer).

Why do I mention this old tale? It is this: Once the cast came off and I had a full month of rehab, rolling a weight up and down with a string and lever, squeezing anything and everything, and using assorted other medieval torture devices, my pin-point, considerably quick and hard wrist shot was gone. Not a little slower.

Gone.

I tried to adjust to quick snap shots, but the wrist was never the same.

That’s enough of one writer’s medical history.

On the pro or amateur side, I’m afraid any major wrist injury, no matter what combo of the eight bones, has a major impact on the rotation, speed and strength of the wrist, and it can not be corrected.

So says Medical Daily: “Returning from a wrist fracture can be especially difficult for baseball players because the wrist plays a critical role in gripping the bat, generating bat speed, and controlling the swing through contact. Rehabilitation focuses on restoring pain-free range of motion, rebuilding grip and forearm strength, and gradually reintroducing batting activities without aggravating the healing bone.”

A number of Major League ballplayers are currently on the IL because of wrist injuries, mostly the result of being hit by a pitch. A few to note:

Nick Kurtz, A’s (rehabbing and returned to action on Thursday night)

Vinnie Pasquantino, Royals

Blaze Alexander, Orioles

Esmerlyn Valdez, Pirates

Junior Caminero, Rays (hit by pitch at MLB All-Star Game, but returned to action)

Jackson Chourio, Brewers (early in Spring Training. has returned to action)

As MLB hits the dog days of August, a high number of star players are sitting due to injury. That’s nothing new, as the MLB season is a long grind. The teams to surface to the top of the standings must endure … or else.

LAST WEEK: In columns here and on Digital Sports Desk last week, after the Sox 15-game winning streak came to an end, the topic came down a more realistic goal of “winning series by series.” The Sunday Night Baseball game between the LA Dodgers and Red Sox (depending on the result of the Saturday, August 1 late night game), can provide Boston with its eighth consecutive series win, dating back to July 3. Only a loss of 2-of-3 to the Washington Nationals is in the way of what could’ve been a 10 consecutive series win streak as Boston swept the NY Yankees from June 25-28th.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: When the St. John’s University men’s basketball team suits up for home games at Madison Square Garden, the home gate split between MSG and the Johnnies is now – officially – out of control. According to research performed by The Athletic, St. John’s basketball is worth some $588 million if they were to be placed on the commodities market, a la an NBA franchise. The Wall Street Journal and ESPN disputed the numbers and rated North Carolina at $388m, more in line with The Athletic’s portrayal. The WSJ report also listed Duke and Indiana at the exact same numbers as The Athletic chart above. So, the question comes? Just how much is coach Rick Pitino (and his good friend and team booster Mike Repole) worth? … One area to keep an eye on, St. John’s might look to jump to a mega-bucks streaming deal with DAZN now that all the Gotham App pro teams have changed their streaming plans. DAZN will stream all non-national game broadcasts for MSG Network’s Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres and YES Network’s Yankees and Nets — effectively a takeover of the entire Gotham Sports direct-to-consumer app.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: My “adopted” BC Eagles made a major announcement this week. Boston College A.D. Blake James wrote to the school community and announced the 2026 Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame Class, with eight outstanding Eagles set to be inducted on Sunday, October 18. This year’s class includes Asiya Dair (Women’s Tennis), Chris Hovan (Football), Sarah Mannelly (Women’s Lacrosse), Jillian Mastroianni (Women’s Soccer), Tyler Pruett (Sailing), Duane Woodward (Men’s Basketball), Randy Thomas (Track & Field Head Coach), and Fr. Tony Penna (Athletics Chaplain). The honorees will be recognized during the BC football game against Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 17, as part of Homecoming Weekend on the Heights. … The annual “Red Bandana” game will take place on September 11th. Each year, Boston College honors fallen son Welles Crowther who gave his life saving others on that terrible day in lower Manhattan … This season is special as September 11, 2026, marks the solemn 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. … The ESPN piece on Welles is possibly the best and most emotionally provocative feature ever produced in sports or entertainment. Here is the LINK and come September, there will be more about BC, Welles and the Red Bandana. Be prepared to cry.

Now, to lighten it up a bit …

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UP: This week’s “You Can’t Make It Up” segment is simply going to play word/phrase association and allow you to go and Google the ugly details of the following sports stories:

• FIFA scraps World Cup investment Sell-Off
• Department of Justice drops case vs. former Olympian
• SF Giants suspend pay from OF Harrison Bader after scooter crashes into firetruck
• WNBA’s Sophie Cunningham unconcerned by rallies against transgender participation in women’s sports
• Announcer-free stream debuts on ESPN+ PGA Tour coverage (no whispering!)
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent discovered a set of stolen Civil War-era cannonballs in a passenger’s suitcase in Alabama
• Three new women’s world records were set at the Lumberjack World Championships competition held in the small Wisconsin town of Hayward. Karolina Urbanová from the Czech Republic set world records in two events.
• Book from a bricked-up fireplace returned to Australian library, but it was 150 years over-due.
• Prosecutors and attorneys spar over a text in the Terry Rozier (gambling) case – “Don’t tell chum ‘bout the bet,” it read.
• Federal court dealt a chaos-inducing verdict vs. the NCAA’s new eligibility rule. The court ruled that all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this past spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27. … Ready? Go!
• For the first time in five years, the NBA will not play any preseason games in the Middle East, with planned games in Abu Dhabi an obvious casualty of war.
• Formula 1 announced that its previously postponed Grand Prix in Bahrain will now take place in Malaysia in October. The racing series is still waiting to decide on its planned races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi later this year.

MEDIA COMPANY vs. MEDIA COMPANY: The folks at Puck introduced the Morgan-Stanley MS Media Matrix scorecard, pitting the attention seeking (and getting) media companies now dominating the scene. Surprisingly, F-1 ranks up top and the TKO Group – which owns UFC (Ultimate Fight Championship) and WWE (Wrestling Show), and PBR (Pro Bull Riders) and also oversees the joint venture Zuffa Boxing which combined stage some 500 events a year. TKO Group also delves heavily in the athlete and talent representation world with IMG and the premiere event staging group, On Location. The remainder of Puck’s listing falls into line quite nicely, although the NBA and the PGA TOUR plant a significant stake in the worldwide grounds.

The post TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July Ends appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

“Don’t Call Me Chief” – Perry White

BOSTON – Do you wonder if the “Tartan Army” checks their bagpipes at the curb or carries them on board, and if so, do they fit in the overhead compartments?

The Rise of the Tartan Army was well documented here in Boston during the recently concluded World Cup. While Spain took home the glorious cup, Boston was rewarded with something even more special; that being a connection with Scotland that just might last forever and a day.

The sports fans of Boston – a passionate bunch – were not going to see Team USA here in the Commonwealth. Of course, they adopted a team to root for. Enter Scotland, sort of the Sandman of the Futbol types, coming out of the streets like Yankees’ reliever Mariano Rivera used to exit the bullpen, ready to annihilate and and all batters.

There’s a difference, though. Boston fans were not happy with the routine Rivera put forth for the hated Yanks, while Bostonians immediately fell in love with some 50,000 Scottish fans, with bagpipes leading the march straight to the local Sam Adams Brewery to drink all of the beer – and we do mean ALL of the beer.

The Tartan Army of Scots injected more than $1b – with a b – into the Greater Boston – Foxborough – Providence economy, but left much more in the tip jar. They departed with a vibe of the love of sports, the love of people, the love of Boston and they imparted true friendship that will last a lifetime or more.

The Scots visited Fenway Park on the off-nights of the soccer games and marched their way in with 5,000 fans following the bagpipes. For the bars and restaurants in the Fens, it was finding buckets of gold coins in the cash registers. It kept coming and coming and coming.

The Tartan Army also left something money can’t buy and the Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau has no way to measure. They left smiles and positive vibes – dotting local monuments with orange traffic cones to mark their place. The mantra, “No Boston, No Party,” became the rallying cry and it provided young men with confidence to go full Tarps Off in the right field grandstands. (The “Tarps Off” movement started with a small group of fans deciding to remove their shirts in the right-field stands and wave them around like rally towels. The swarm of shirtless spectators continued to grow until almost the entire section was filled with men with hats but no shirts. It’s a GROWING phenomenon, surely to make its way to a cold October evening at Fenway.

All of it together worked miracles – to the tune of 15 straight victories for the local baseball team, a teams mired in last place, and they had to dig-out after falling 11 games under the .500 mark. They’re risen from the dead and this week occupied a Wild Card berth in the American League ladder.

Before the streak, they ranked 27th in scoring (4.0 runs per game), 25th in home runs (0.9), 28th in RBI (3.8), 27th in walks (2.9), and 25th in total bases (12.8).

Since the streak began, they’re fourth in runs (5.9 per game), extra-base hits (3.5), and RBI (5.6). They’re also fifth in home runs (1.6 per game) and seventh in total bases (15.4).

Like the Scots, the Long Ball has been the friend of the Red Sox.

Come next April (2027), Boston Mayor Michele Wu already signed document will begin a formalized international partnership with the City of Glasgow, Scotland, to strengthen economic, cultural and institutional ties. Building on shared values and the collaboration during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the two cities will consider opportunities for cooperation in innovation, education, sustainability and tourism.Orange traffic cones will be in demand.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: There are a few things in sports that never get old. For instance, when the San Diego Chicken used to dance backwards with one leg up, it was hysterical. But, then he’d go walking towards the basket and bump his beak into the basket stanchion and turn it inside out. It was Slapstick City, but he’d get the laughs every time he did it. … How about the Olympics? We’ve all seen the scene of any athlete from any country in the world totally losing it on the medal stand when they hear their country’s National Anthem as the flag is raised in the classy medal ceremonies. It’s the best. … Want another tear-jerker? How about the “on the court” surprise family reunion of a member of the military with his/her loved ones after a long deployment always puts a lump the size of a golf ball in my throat. It never fails. … The Red Panda performing is an act seen a million times, but it’s always great. She never fails (although a bad fall sidelined her for a while this year). … There’s another: It NEVER gets old when you hear the story of a minor league baseball player getting the call to join the “Big Leagues,” the “Show,” the “Majors.” It’s just a great story to see a guy rewarded for all the years of hard work; All the batting practice, all the doubleheaders in the park on hot summer days. Then, the time in the minors – Rookie ball, Single A, High A, Double AA, and, usually the final stop, Triple AAA. … The phone call came to Tommy “Tommy Tanks” White this week and he happened to be at his hometown on a break. Let him tell it: “I was on the golf cart just going to get some stuff for the boat,” White said. “It was just me driving the golf cart. Fran called me from Las Vegas and said, ‘You’re going up to the big leagues.’ It was, like, a ‘drop everything’ moment. I was at home, so I got to tell my parents in person. They broke down crying. It was really cool. … This is something I’ve dreamed of and talked about since I was a little kid.”

“Tommy Tanks” – an extra base hit machine for the A’s – has a new fan in Boston.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Some might call it a “hockey assist.” Others, like Bill Bradley, United States Senator of New Jersey, Princeton man, and Basketball Hall of Famer plus two-time champion with the New York Knickerbockers, put it as “the pass that led to the pass that led to the basket.” Bradley had his share, dishing perimeter passes to teammates like Dave DeBusschere, Walt “Clyde” Frazier or two-guard Dick Barnett, never mind a cutting Willis Reed. Bradley made a living of it.

Well, Celtics team GM and head of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens might get credited with one of Bradley’s specialties. Stevens made the trade that led to deal that led to the Philadelphia 76ers signing coveted free agent Lebron James.

James worked with the Sixers and Topps to make his “final NBA decision” of signing with Philadelphia utilizing a TOPPS trading card and social media post to break the news.

He’ll join former NBA MVP Joel Embiid (healthy or not), all-stars Tyrese Maxey and newly acquired Jaylen Brown (from the Celtics) and V.J. Edgecombe to create the best starting five in the league, assuming Embiid reports to training camp in condition and ready to go.

Truthfully, the Sixers could allow Embiid to work his way back to 100% throughout the Fall and report to play after the NBA All-Star break. As long as Embiid is ready to go and healthy for April-May-June, 2027, the 76ers are Eastern Conference title favorites, edging the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks.

Regardless, the Sixers are likely to play positionless basketball and giddy-up unless they need to pull up and go into half-court sets when Embiid makes his way to the paint. Add. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, too, as he agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the 76ers.

“This (was) my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?” James wrote on his social media post. “I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.

“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”

You’ve got to wonder why Stevens traded Brown to an Atlantic division rival, never mind one who knocked the Celtics out of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Certainly, the unintended circumstance was making Philly good enough to attract FA James.

Oddsmakers still have the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks as future favorite to win their divisional title. The ESPN odds read:

1. New York +170
2. Philly +200
3. Boston +240
4. Toronto +600

A MONTH OF FUN-DAYS: Since June 25, the Red Sox are 21-4, best since 2004. Sunday, they’ll have a chance to win their sixth consecutive series. That would be a first since June, 2022. The Sox won 16 of their last 18 games and goes into the final game of a ten-game home stand with a 7-2 record. Of course, that’s all a part of the team’s 15-game winning streak (July 3-22). … Boston closer Aroldis Chaapman earned his 391st save on Friday night, passing Dennis Eckersley for ninth on the MLB all-time saves list. Billy Wagner is eighth with 422 close-outs.

The post TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 26 appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

PHILADELPHIA – (Reported at this week’s MLB ASG) – Each summer, Major League Baseball takes a little break for the annual All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. This season, the Midsummer Classic, as they love to call it, was here in the City of Brotherly Love. The Philadelphia Phillies were the hosts and their fans – those with a terrible reputation as being just a tad too passionate – were out in force.

Yes, the same people who threw snowballs at Santa Claus (Eagles) and outwardly boo’d Saint Nick were dressed in Phillies red this week and they were rooting hard for their hometown heroes. The Philly fanatics were especially proud of starting pitcher Christopher Sanchez and sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, although ace Zack “I’m not going to be disrespected” Wheeler declined his late invite to the game when Cincinnati Reds starter Chase Burns came up lame.

The Philly fans were vocal on Monday night when the MLB Home Run Derby (rumored to be on Netflix) took over the stadium and 43,863 spectators jammed their way into gorgeous Citizens Bank Ballpark 41 years to the day when Sir Bob Geldorfstaged the greatest rock concert of all-time right down the block at John F. Kennedy Stadium.

That concert – coupled with a simultaneously staged show at Wembley in London – raised money in relief of the famine in Ethiopia and what stands as proof from that incredible 1985 rock show and this week’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game is that sports and music are two international languages, each with the power to change the world for the better.

Case in point for the All-Star Game; at the end of the 5^th inning, all those mean and nasty Philly fans stood as one. They grabbed ‘sharpies’ or whatever marker was handy and scribbled the name of someone they love, loved or maybe someone losing a battle against cancer and they participated in utter silence when the FOX Sports television cameras came back from a very brief break.

On a brighter note, some saluted survivors while others thanked doctors and nurses, surgeons and oncologists who cured their special someone of the dreaded diseases that all form one, terribly tagged as Cancer.

MLB’s “Stand Up to Cancer” is, by far, the most amazing community event any sports or entertainment entity undertakes. While the JIMMY Fund in Boston is doing its thing every summer by raising some $1 billion at a $75 million clip each year with thePan Mass Challenge (PMC) with every cent going to cancer research at Dana Farberand some of the other great research institutions of the USA (thank-you Johns Hopkins), MLB takes a broader approach and simply asks everyone in attendance to “Stand Up” in the fight against cancer.

It is an incredibly powerful moment in time for, as once, everything in the world of baseball – STOPPED .

How often does that happen? (No labor jokes are allowed).

Philly faves Boyz to Men sang Michael Jackson’s “I’ll be there,” as the players, umpires and, most importantly, 43,000+ fans stood in a silent tribute.

The moment is so powerful on site at the game that it actually travels through time and space and into the living rooms, TV rooms, bars and saloons to every single fan watching the game come the break between the home (National League) 5^th and the visitor’s (American League) top of the 6^th inning.

Names are displayed. Everyone has a direct connection.

Everyone.

Memories are etched into a small 8 1/2 x 11 placard and tears begin to flow.

Put simply, it’s impossible not to cry, to weep, to bawl unrestrainedly as you recall a loved one lost to cancer.

Personally, I was thanking my lucky stars and the very research money being collected to have had a Johns Hopkins and Harvard trained surgeon work his magic to use an incredible robotic device and his masterful, steady hands to literally “zip out” what he later told me was “quite a bit of it” from my innards.

My thanks to Dr. Douglas M. Dahl of Mass General.

And to his colleague Dr. Anthony Zeitman of Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology and his capable team who brought in the cavalry to be sure the cancer was gone for good. Side note: The cocky MD said, “Listen, you’re going to die … pause … but you’re not dying from this!”

Dr. Zeitman learned his craft at the Imperial College London School of Medicine and is always recognized amongst America’s top doctors. I’ll second the motion and will be thinking of him tonight as I do of him, and Dr. Dahl, almost every day of my life.

I was thinking of Heather Walker of the Boston Celtics who was diagnosed with the rare brain cancer, glioblastoma, in January 2021 and passed away on April 26, 2023 after undergoing several clinical trials but also raising more than $644,000 in her #Move4Heather campaign to raise money for very specific cancer glioblastoma research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston where she had been treated.

Heather was a force of nature and she performed her job with the utmost professionalism, as the Celtics noted in a news release when she passed and later when they dedicated the pressroom at TD Garden to her, “Displaying exceptional courage, she made a point of raising awareness for glioblastoma through the Move4Heather movement, wanting to use her situation to help the lives of others, which was entirely consistent with her character,” the Celtics said. “Through her illness, she was resolute and extraordinary in boosting the spirits of those around her, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and essential awareness in hopes of easing the suffering and saving the lives of others.”

Sadly, I’ve had a few other NBA PR colleagues pass away from various forms of cancer and we remember them all, naming press rooms and celebrating their memories each basketball season. One, “A.T,” has been fighting for what he calls a long journey, fighting the disease in hospitals and cancer centers from Atlanta to Houston.

Tuesday night, after the 5^th inning, I was thinking of my high school friend, “J.J.”

He played third base for the Holy Trinity Titans, so an “H.T. (or Titans) for J.J. will be on my placard at Citizens Bank Park and I’ll be thinking of his decade-plus more fight against several different forms of cancer. With some, just as we thought he had it licked, another form of the disease would surface.

Most recently, J.J. has been making monthly trips from New York to Los Angeles, California to see Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong – the man who saved his life two times over. In fact, they have a little saying, “I’m one day closer to being cured and I hope that those you love are one day closer, too.”

Readers of WWYI can still participate in any way you choose. Visit StandUpToCancer.org and make a donation of any dollar figure you can afford.

Don’t be afraid or ashamed to shed a tear when you donate, but do so knowing “we’re one day closer to a cure.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Oh my, the D-R-A-M-A in the W-N-B-A continues. Just this week, we had …

• Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello disparaged Atlanta Dream center-forward Angel Reese
• Brondello apologized
• Caitlin Clark put up a record 45-points, 10-assists outing vs. Seattle Storm
• That performance included a key 3-pt FG to give Indy a 105-102 lead at :39.2
• On Thursday, in answer to a question on a CNBC Roundtable broadcast, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Clark was being used as a “political football”
• Going back to a June 24 game between the Indiana Fever and Mercury, Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with her fist to Clark’s throat in the second quarter.
• Thomas was not called for a foul on the play during the game, but the league subsequently upgraded the play to a flagrant foul and suspended her one game for “recklessly making contact with her fist.”

Here are some basic thoughts on the big picture issues:

The league is – always was and will be – VERY physical. It’s nothing new. Right from ‘97, we used to say, ‘these girls are NASTY.” At Olympic level, our bigs would BANG with Aussies, Russians like it was football.

Thus, it’s impossible to officiate. – if you replaced WNBA staff with best BIG EAST officials or even the NBA officiating staff, they’d struggle. It’s war under there, and a lot of contact at top of key and perimeter – “Jordan Rules kinda stuff”

Caitlin gets it x2. (racial and/or jealous players). 4). Commish should’ve resigned day after last season as she lost players

And, my opinion – which is not widely agreed upon by the experts – Caitlin Clark was GREAT in college, and she played at such a high confidence level, but no one defended her. Zippo. S

She’s still GREAT – easily one of the Top 10 in WNBA – but she gets bullied and bounced. She’s young, and a bit slight (weight/body strength). Every night, she’s facing more physically gifted players. Think John Wall, Trae Young, or Jeremy Lin as NBA type comparisons.

Now, think of the way the great Allen Iverson dealt with all the pressure, the attention, the tag as “The Franchise and The Answer,” as he was getting decked every time he drove the lane. Iverson kept his mouth shut, barely, maybe never showed aggression after he got clobbered. Iverson just walked to the free throw line and drained two shots.

In my opinion, and I totally agree it might not be fair, but I think Clark needs to watch a lot of Iverson footage.

HALL ESCORTS: Each year, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame indictees are asked to choose another (or more than one other) Hall of Famer to present them to the masses at the hallowed Hall in Springfield and accompany them on-stage at the ceremony. It is quite an honor.

The 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees and Presenters:

Joey Crawford – Danny Crawford (Class of 2025), Rod Thorn (‘18)

Mike D’Antoni – Jerry Colangelo (‘04), Bob McAdoo (‘00), Steve Nash (‘18), Amar’e Stoudemire (‘26), Rod Thorn (‘18)

Elena Delle Donne – Sylvia Fowles (‘25), Marianne Stanley (‘22)

Mark Few – John Calipari (‘15), Grant Hill (‘18), John Stockton (‘09)

Chamique Holdsclaw – Tamika Catchings (‘20), Tina Thompson (‘18), Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19)

Candace Parker – Tamika Catchings (‘20), Allen Iverson (‘16), Cheryl Miller (‘95), Dwyane Wade (‘23)

Doc Rivers – Kevin Garnett (‘20), Paul Pierce (‘21)

Amar’e Stoudemire – Jerry Colangelo (‘04), Mike D’Antoni (‘26), Grant Hill (‘18), Tracy McGrady (‘17), Steve Nash (‘18), Rick Welts (‘18)

1996 USA Basketball Women’s National Team – Teresa Edwards (‘11), Lisa Leslie (‘15), Rebecca Lobo (‘17), Katrina McClain (‘12), Dawn Staley (‘13), Sheryl Swoopes (‘16), Tara VanDerveer (‘11)

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