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UConn, Villanova Rise to Top, Again

December 5, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

PHILADELPHIA – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Big East Conference’s 4-3 record on Saturday included victories by Villanova, Providence, UConn and Seton Hall while Midwest conference members Marquette, DePaul and Creighton were beaten.

No. 6 Villanova (6-2) finished a 3-0 week against Philadelphia Big Five opponents with an 81-52 home win against Saint Joseph’s. All five starters reached double figures led by Collin Gillespie’s 23 points. The Wildcats held the Hawks to 36.2 percent from the field and limited the three local foes to 51.3 points per game for the week.

Providence used some strong physical play to win its annual in-state battle with Rhode Island 66-52. Ed Croswell came off the bench to post 13 points and 15 rebounds, while forward Noah Horchler added 16 points and seven boards. PC won the rebounding battle 45-30. Al Durham added some offense with 14 points and six assists.

In another in-state battle, Marquette could not stop No. 23 Wisconsin in the second half, allowing 55 points in an 89-76 road defeat. The Badgers made 70.4 percent from the floor after halftime. Justin Lewis led the Golden Eagles (7-2) with 14 points.

UConn played Grambling State without injured starters Adama Sanogo and Tyrese Martin. The Huskies (8-1) responded with a balanced team effort in an 88-59 victory at Gampel Pavilion. R.J. Cole led five players in double figures with 18 points and dished seven assists. The Huskies are off to their best start since 2013-14 when they were 9-0 and won the national championship.

After a sluggish first few minutes, No. 25 Seton Hall (7-1) rolled to a 113-67 victory against D-II Nyack College at Walsh Gymnasium. Three bench players each scored more than 20 points: Jamir Harris (23 points), Tyrese Samuel (22) and Tray Jackson (21).

DePaul suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 68-64 decision to Loyola Chicago at Wintrust Arena. The visitors took a 49-47 lead with 11 minutes left and held off numerous Blue Demon rally attempts. David Jones led all scorers with 19 points. Javon Freeman-Liberty fouled out with four minutes to play and was limited to seven points and six rebounds.

In a BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle, Creighton (7-2) had its 22-game home winning streak against non-conference foes end with a 64-58 loss to No. 19 Iowa State at a sold-out CHI Health Center. The Cyclones used an 11-4 run in the second half to take a 39-31 lead and control of the game. Ryan Hawkins scored 25 points for the Bluejays.

BIG EAST teams are 68-19 (.782) going into Sunday. The schedule shows three games. Georgetown plays at South Carolina at 2 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. Xavier plays at Oklahoma State in a BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 and St. John’s hosts Fordham at Carnesecca Arena at 7 p.m. on FS1.

Filed Under: Big East, NCAA, NCAA Basketball Tagged With: Big 12, Big East

Big East, Big 12 Battle

December 4, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

ELMONT – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – St. John’s, the only BIG EAST team in action on Friday, lost 95-75 to No. 8 Kansas in a BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle contest. It was the first basketball game played in the new UBS Arena in Elmont, home of the New York Islanders. The Jayhawks led 64-61 midway through the second half before pulling away for the victory. Julian Champagnie had 24 points for the Johnnies. BIG EAST teams are 64-16 (.762) going into today.

A busy day on the December 4 slate shows seven games with a few significant challenges for a few teams that have performed better than expected so far this season.

No. 6 Villanova (5-2) meets its third Philadelphia Big Five foe this week when it hosts Saint Joseph’s at Finneran Pavilion at noon ET on FS1. Collin Gillespie had a game-high 26 points in Wednesday’s 71-56 win over Penn. He leads the BIG EAST with an assist/turnover mark of 3.1. The Hawks beat Georgetown 77-74 last week at the Wooden Legacy.

Also at noon, No. 25 Seton Hall hosts D-II Nyack College on campus at Walsh Gymnasium on FS2. The Pirates (6-1) have a three-game winning streak after Wednesday’s 85-63 win over Wagner. Jared Rhoden ranks third in the BIG EAST in scoring (18.4).

Marquette (7-1) travels to Madison for its annual battle with Wisconsin. FOX will televise at 12:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles won last year’s game 67-65 when Justin Lewis tipped in a missed free throw just before the buzzer. The Badgers are ranked 23rd in this week’s AP poll. This season, Lewis ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring (17.3) and seventh in rebounding (8.1).

The 131st battle between Providence and Rhode Island happens at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center at 2 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The Friars (6-2) have won 11 of the last 17 meetings. PC is coming off a 72-68 home win over Texas Tech in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle.

DePaul puts its unbeaten mark on the line when it hosts Loyola Chicago at 4 p.m. on FS1. The Blue Demons (6-0) have not played since last Sunday’s 101-63 win over Eastern Michigan. Javon Freeman-Liberty leads the BIG EAST in scoring with a 23.5 average and is second in rebounding at 9.2.

Also at 4 p.m., UConn hosts Grambling State on FS2. The No. 17 Huskies take a depleted lineup into the game with starters Tyrese Martin and Adama Sanogo out with injuries. Sanogo, who has an abdominal strain, leads the team in scoring (16.7). Martin’s scoring mark is 12.9. He has a wrist injury.

The BIG EAST day ends with Creighton hosting No. 19 Iowa State (7-0) at 9 p.m. in another BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. The Cyclones defeated Xavier 82-70 last week in the NIT Tip-Off. ISU has held its opponents to 60.4 ppg. A Creighton win would give the Bluejays an 8-1 start, their best since 13-0 in 2016-17.

Filed Under: Big East, NCAA, NCAA Basketball Tagged With: Big East, St. John's

Sox Reacquire Jackie Bradley Jr.

December 2, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

Red Sox Nab Bradley Jr, Two Prospects From Milwaukee for Renfroe

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox today acquired outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. along with minor league infielders Alex Binelas and David Hamilton from the Milwaukee Brewers, in exchange for outfielder Hunter Renfroe. The Red Sox’ 40-man roster is now at 39 after Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the trade.

Bradley, 31, has played in 1,007 major league games with the Red Sox (2013-20) and Brewers (2021), batting .230 (755-for-3,286) with 104 home runs. A 2016 All-Star, he earned the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for center field in 2018 and was a finalist for the award in three other seasons (2014, ’16, ’19). Bradley helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, as he was named Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series. In 2021, he appeared in 134 games for the Brewers, making 79 starts in center field, 11 in left field, and nine in right field while hitting .163 (63-for-387) with six home runs.

Selected by the Red Sox in the supplemental round of the 2011 June Draft, Bradley has made 752 starts in center field for Boston, sixth most in franchise history. He made six Opening Day starts for the club, including one in left field (2013) and five in center field (2016-20). In 2020, Bradley set career highs in batting average (.283) and on-base percentage (.364), also committing zero errors and leading major league outfielders with seven outs above average (Source: Statcast).

Bradley has been recognized by the Boston Baseball Writers as the Red Sox’ Defensive Player of the Year (2017, ’18, ’19), Comeback Player of the Year (2015), and Minor League Player of the Year (2012), also earning a Special Achievement Award for his 29-game hitting streak in 2016. An active member of the community along with his wife, Erin, Bradley served as captain of the Red Sox Scholars program from 2016-20 and supported the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. He and Erin have a daughter, Emerson, and a son, Jax.

Binelas, 21, was selected by the Brewers in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Louisville. A left-handed hitter, he is ranked by MLB.com as Milwaukee’s No. 17 prospect. Binelas split his professional debut between the Rookie-level ACL Brewers and Low-A Carolina, hitting .309 (43-for-139) with 33 runs scored, 11 doubles, nine home runs, 29 RBI, and a .973 OPS in 36 games. He made 20 starts at third base and four at first base. The Wisconsin native was also selected by the Washington Nationals in the 35th round of the 2018 June Draft.

Hamilton, 24, was selected by the Brewers in the eighth round of the 2019 June Draft out of the University of Texas at Austin and made his professional debut in 2021. A left-handed hitter, he is ranked by MLB.com as Milwaukee’s No. 16 prospect. Hamilton hit .258 (104-for-403) with 66 runs scored, 19 doubles, 11 triples, eight home runs, and 43 RBI in 101 games between High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi in 2021, making 87 starts at shortstop and 13 at second base. Following the 2021 season, he played in 14 games for Salt River in the Arizona Fall League.

Renfroe, 29, appeared in a career-high 144 games for the Red Sox in 2021, also setting career bests in batting average (.259), on-base percentage (.315), OPS (.816), runs scored (89), doubles (33), extra-base hits (64), and RBI (96). He made 138 appearances in right field and tied for the MLB lead with a career-high 16 outfield assists, which were the most at the position by a Red Sox in the Expansion Era. Selected 13th overall by San Diego in the first round of the 2013 June Draft, Renfroe has hit .237 (465-for-1,966) with 128 home runs and 322 RBI in 576 major league games over six seasons with the Padres (2016-19), Rays (2020), and Red Sox (2021).

Filed Under: Boston Sports, MLB, Red Sox Tagged With: Boston Red Sox

Red Sox Acquire Hill, Paxson

December 2, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox went the veteran route to shore-up their pitching rotation and in doing so, signed left-handed pitcher Rich Hill to a one-year contract for the 2022 season. In addition, the Red Sox signed left-handed pitcher James Paxton to a one-year contract for the 2022 season, with a two-year club option for the 2023-24 seasons. In the event the club does not exercise that option following the 2022 season, Paxton would have the right to exercise a conditional player option for the 2023 season. The Red Sox’ 40-man roster is now at 39 after Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the additions.

Hill, 41, has pitched for 11 major league teams over 17 seasons, going 74-52 with a 3.80 ERA (479 ER/1,134.2 IP) in 324 appearances (195 starts) with the Chicago Cubs (2005-08), Baltimore Orioles (2009), Red Sox (2010-12, ’15), Cleveland Indians (2013), Los Angeles Angels (2014), New York Yankees (2014), Oakland A’s (2016), Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-19), Minnesota Twins (2020), Tampa Bay Rays (2021), and New York Mets (2021).

In 2021, Hill made 19 starts for the Rays and pitched in 13 games (12 starts) for the Mets, posting a 3.86 ERA (68 ER/158.2 IP) with 150 strikeouts, a 1.21 WHIP, and a .235 opponent batting average. In five starts against American League Postseason teams, he was 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA (5 ER/25.2 IP), having made three appearances against the Yankees, one versus the Red Sox, and one against the Houston Astros.

Born in Boston, Hill graduated from Milton High School before attending the University of Michigan. He last pitched at Fenway Park on September 25, 2015, when he threw a two-hit shutout against the Orioles, striking out 10 batters and walking one. In 25 career appearances at Fenway (one start), Hill is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA (5 ER/27.1 IP). In 2019, he earned the Tony Conigliaro Award, presented annually by the Red Sox to a major leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage.

Hill has made 13 Postseason appearances (12 starts) for the Cubs (2007) and Dodgers (2016-19), going 1-2 with a 3.06 ERA (18 ER/53.0 IP).

Paxton, 33, is 57-33 with a 3.59 ERA (301 ER/754.2 IP) in 137 major league appearances—all starts—with the Seattle Mariners (2013-18, ’21) and New York Yankees (2019-20). After making a career-high 29 starts and going 15-6 for the Yankees in 2019, he missed a majority of the 2020 season due to injury. In 2021, he made one start for the Mariners before undergoing Tommy John surgery on April 13 and missing the remainder of the season.

A native of Vancouver, Paxton pitched at the University of Kentucky from 2007-09 and was selected by the Mariners in the fourth round of the 2010 June Draft. He posted a sub-4.00 ERA in each of his first seven major league seasons (2013-19), including a 2.98 ERA (45 ER/136.0 IP) over 24 starts for Seattle in 2017. On May 8, 2018 at Rogers Centre, Paxton threw a no-hitter in a 5-0 win over the Blue Jays. Since the start of 2016, he has averaged 10.61 strikeouts and only 2.53 walks per 9.0 innings, having struck out 695 batters and walked 166 during that time.

Filed Under: Boston Sports, MLB, Red Sox Tagged With: Boston Red Sox, MLB

Big East vs Big 12 Match-Ups Begin

December 2, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Providence topped Texas Tech in the first game of this season’s BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle on a night when all four league teams in action posted a victory. Overall, BIG EAST teams have won their last 16 games and have a composite record of 64-15 (.810).

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The Friars (7-1) won despite the Red Raiders being able to limit Nate Watson to five points. Al Durham helped pick up the scoring slack with 23 points that included 12-of-13 from the foul line. A.J. Reeves added 14 points and eight rebounds.

No. 6 Villanova (5-2) played its second straight game in the Palestra and defeated Penn 71-56. Collin Gillespie and Brandon Slater combined for 42 points on 16-of-23 shooting from the field and 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Gillespie finished with a game-high 26 points.

No. 25 Seton Hall (6-1) pulled away in the second half in an 85-63 win over Wagner. Jared Rhoden and Tyrese Samuel each had 15 points. Rhoden added 11 rebounds. Kadary Richmond made all-around contributions with 10 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals.

Xavier faced the least resistance, handling Central Michigan 78-45. The Musketeers (6-1) enjoyed a 12-0 start and then pushed their advantage to 25-4. Nate Johnson made 8-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 24 points.

Thursday is dark on the BIG EAST schedule and Friday has only one contest. St. John’s hosts No. 8 Kansas in the second game of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle, which will be the first basketball game played at the new UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

Julian Champagnie leads the Johnnies with a 21.3 scoring average, which ranks second in the BIG EAST. His rebound average is 6.8. Posh Alexander is averaging 14.6 points and leads the league in assists (6.6) and steals (2.4).

Filed Under: Big East, NCAA, NCAA Basketball Tagged With: Big 12, Big East, NCAAB

Big East Back in Action

November 30, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – With several shake-ups throughout the latest Associated Press college basketball Top 25 rankings, Villanova and UConn both climbed the ladder, while Seton Hall closed out the poll at No. 25. In its lone game of the week, No. 6 Villanova dominated La Salle (72-46) in a Philadelphia Big Five contest, to move up a spot in the rankings.

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A busy week in Paradise Island, Bahamas, concluded on Friday with Connecticut going 2-1 in the Battle 4 Atlantis and finishing third. With overtime wins over No. 21 Auburn (115-109) and VCU (70-63), accompanied by a close loss against No. 22 Michigan State (64-60), the Huskies jumped five spots in the poll and now sit at No. 17.

At No. 25, Seton Hall remained in the polls after a 2-1 week. The Pirates came up short against Ohio State (79-76) in the first of two games of the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off, before closing out the week with victories over California and Bethune-Cookman.

With Thanksgiving holiday tournament action in the rearview mirror, five BIG EAST teams return to their respective home arenas tonight.

Butler jumpstarts the evening at 5 p.m. on FS1 against Saginaw Valley State. Georgetown later hosts Longwood at 7 p.m. on FS2, while UConn tips off against Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 p.m.on CBS Sports Network.

At 9 p.m., Marquette hosts Jackson State on CBSSN, while Creighton takes on North Dakota State on FS2.

Individually, DePaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty ranks fourth in the nation with 23.5 ppg, while St. John’s Posh Alexander ranks ninth nationally in assists, with 6.6 per game.

DePaul (5th, 88.5) and UConn (10th, 87.6) both rank among the nation’s top-10 scoring offenses, while UConn (T3rd, 7.6) and St. John’s (T10th, 6.3) are getting it done on the defensive end of the court with blocked shots.

Filed Under: Big East, NCAA, NCAA Basketball Tagged With: Big East, Big East Basketball

It’s Official: Welcome the FSG Penguins

November 29, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON/PITTSBURGH – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Pittsburgh Penguins and Fenway Sports Group entered into an agreement for FSG to acquire controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. The deal, which is subject to approval by the National Hockey League Board of Governors, is expected to close before the end of the year.

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As part of the transaction, Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle will remain part of the ownership group and will be closely aligned with FSG. Lemieux, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, will continue his role guiding hockey operations for the organization. In addition, continuity of leadership will be maintained among the club’s senior management team of CEO David Morehouse, COO Kevin Acklin, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, General Manager Ron Hextall, and Head Coach Mike Sullivan.

FSG Chairman Tom Werner said in a statement, “The Pittsburgh Penguins are a premier National Hockey League franchise with a very strong organization, a terrific history and a vibrant, passionate fan base. We will work diligently to continue building on the remarkable Penguins’ tradition of championships and exciting play.”

Lemieux and Burkle, who purchased the team in 1999, enjoyed a 22-year partnership that delivered three Stanley Cups and the construction of PPG Paints Arena, a multi-purpose venue which opened in August 2010 and is considered one of the top facilities in North America. Under their leadership, the Penguins have consistently led the NHL in local TV ratings, social media, sponsorships, and community and youth hockey investments, while selling out more than 600 straight games.

“As the Penguins enter a new chapter, I will continue to be as active and engaged with the team as I always have been and look forward to continuing to build on our success with our incoming partners at FSG,” Lemieux said. “They have an organizational philosophy that mirrors the approach that worked so well for Ron and me over the past 22 years.”

“Fenway Sports Group brings everything we could ask for in an ownership partner to help continue the historic success of the Pittsburgh Penguins,” said Morehouse. “They understand what the Penguins mean to Pittsburgh, and they bring to us the latest in cutting-edge sports research, data analytics, player training and performance, real estate development, and organizational excellence..”

 

Filed Under: NHL, Sports Business Tagged With: Fenway Sports Group, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sports Biz

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – Nov. 28

November 27, 2021 by Terry Lyons

While We’re Young (Ideas) Gives Thanks

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It’s Thanksgiving Weekend and time to STOP, THINK and THANK just a few people and REMEMBER a few things. The column comes complete with minimal BS, complaining, snark or sentimental goop while trying to avoid the negatives and all-to-often critical sniping. It does begin with a memorial dedication for 2020-21.

First things first:

It’s 2021, and there’s a global pandemic screaming bloody murder, so we must first pay thanks to our health, if we are so fortunate to do so. Before we can give thanks, it’s time to pay respects to those who lost their lives to COVID or other crisis this year. Special note to the late Madison Dubiski of Houston who lost her life in the crush of the Travis Scott concert at Astroworld along with at least nine others. Madison’s father, Brian, is a good friend of the column and was just hanging at Fenway Park when the Astros dispatched the Red Sox in late October. Madison was 23 years old at the time of her passing away in the crowd at NRG Park/Stadium in Houston on November 5. Dozens and dozens of others were injured. May God Bless.

Let’s Go.

From the Cranberry-Apple-Orange sauce to left-over Turkey Breast sandwiches, Thanksgiving is a favorite of holidays for many of us. Thanks to the Seventy-seven days until pitchers & Catchers report, then Opening Day, then Patriots’ Day and the Boston Marathon, and the 11am start at Fenway. … Thanks for the E-Z Pass and Smart TVs. … Frank Zamboni and to the guy who cut out the bottom of the peach basket, the greatest rule change in basketball history. … Thanks to Bill Russell and Satch and thanks to the memory of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, who we lost this past March 21, as we remember Press and Pistol Pete Maravich.

Thanks for The NFL Red Zone and avoiding 100 car insurance commercials as we watch the NFL. To the Witching Hour, when wins become losses and losses become wins on the Octo-Box. … Thanks for Justin and Jalen and Josh, for Lamar, Cam (before him), Aaron, Kirk and Dak. … Thanks for Jonathan Taylor and Austin Ekeler … and to Cooper, Davanti, Tyreek, Deebo, and Ja’Marr.

Thanks for the Iron Bowl and El Clásico with a sentimental kiss to The Mayor’s Trophy Game.

Thanks to Joe DiLorenzo, Duane Johnson, Stephen Riley, Tod Rosensweig, Jan Volk, Steve “Globie” Lipofsky, and Jeff Twiss, and to Brian and especially Heather – all Boston Celtics colleagues.

Thanks for the New England snow-mobiles, aka Suburu OutBack and Forester, that keep us safe in rain, sleet or snow. In Boston, the Mail Person drives a Suburu. … Thanks to Wood-Boy who brings us a Cord+ of hard wood each Fall and thanks for the fireplace that burns that wood and makes us feel cozy, warm and fortunate each cold, winter night.

Thanks to St. John’s men’s basketball for driving me crazy every season, dating back to 1968 or so, and certainly since 1978 when a full season ticket was about $43. … Thanks to Lou Carnesecca just for being Louie. Thanks to his one-time assistant coach John Kresse. Thanks to coach Mike Andersonfor giving it his all in a rock solid conference where winning a road game is like winning Game 7 every year. … Thanks to the BIG EAST and Val and Stu and John P. … Let’s hope all goes well and The Garden is packed for the tournament this coming March. … Thanks to FS-1 for televising every game, but, I’ll ask again, can you lose the John Tesh Roundball Rock music?

Thanks to Derek & Susan and to Mike Mattison and the whole TT Band. … Oh, how we miss Kofi. … Thanks to Bruce (H). and Bruce (S). for the Spirit Trail and my Spirit in the Night. … What a Ride.

Thanks to Jeff Kazee for playing his Living Room Lounge series of solo piano concerts, played every week until March 24th, a year after all hell broke loose. … Just for Jeff, root for the Cincinnati Reds. … Thank to Rich (P) and Will Lee and the Fab Faux. Missed seeing a 2021 show, first time in a along time.

Speaking of the Fab, thanks to and for Penny (Lane). She’s keeping me company, snoozin’ as this is typed. She’s just a little more than a year old and joined our family last Thanksgiving.

Thanks to Abe and Terry, not The Real TL, and all the crew at The Sports Business Daily and Journal and to Scott, Dick and Corey and the new crew at Sportico. They keep us informed, as does CBS News, Norah and Dana, Jeff, Glor and Anthony Mason, who just ROCKS when he does a piece on music – any genre.

Here’s to Nate Burleson, a regular on the sports scene as and NFL wide-out for the Minnesota Vikings but a budding superstar on the Morning News. Burleson is a natural. His sense of team with the CBS Morning anchors (Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil) is only surpassed by his sense of camaraderie with the productions staff.


HERE’s TO: John Caron, Dave Glucksman, Dana Roy, and Higor Trindade – the anchors of West End Johnnies (and Fenway, too). To Arty,Evan, Frank & Henry and everyone – Thank you. It was a tough, tough year to be in the restaurant business, but both joints made it through.

Thanks to Ken Adelson, Len Deluca, Stacia Fritchie – my cohorts and colleagues. To Dinn Mann – cohort to be. Bob Delaney, Dave Scheiber and Philip Turner, cohorts past, present and future. To NBA friends and colleagues far and wide, Brian, Matt, Spy, Chris, Rick, Russ, AG and RL + far too many more to list. To Ed Desser and John Kosner, thanks for guidance as we gear-up for 2022.

Here’s to, too: Kevin Doyle, Abby and everyone at Fenway. Gonna miss official scorer Mike Shalin so, so much – gone far too soon. Also gonna miss seeing Dan Lyons who retired from the Sox and Tom Keegan, former columnist for the Boston Herald, caught in the grind of the pandemic and back to the Midwest. See you in springtime, Fenway Fam.

Thanks to Berj and the Patriots. To Harold and the Mets. Jimmy J and Pat LaFontaine and Companions in Courage. Special thanks to Craig Miller,currently working his final international basketball tournament as the head of communications for USA Basketball. From 1992 to 2022 is a nice, little run – working every level of basketball, men’s and women’s, gold and glory, defeat and misery.

Best in the Biz Greetings to Scott Rosner and LJ Holmgren at Columbia University’s Sports Management program with special thanks to CUSP-man and PR Joe Fav who teams up with Tom Richardson on said CUSP Show(podcast). It’s always a pleasure to speak at Columbia for Joe Fav, but this year, we were forced to Zoom video, as we did a year ago. … Joe Fav took a different dive come Thanksgiving and provided us with thoughtful reminder of life in 2021.

Finally, to family – immediate and extended – and to friends all over the world – many made through sports and music – (add food, water, air and SHAKE, NOT STIR for life – Thanks for being you.

Do I hear there’s an AFC/NFC Championship gathering ahead?


HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Riddle me this? Which sport’s overtime is more ridiculous and unworthy of deciding the outcome of a regular season game?

  • The NHL: After three periods and a deadlocked regular season game, the normal five-on-five (plus a goalkeeper) becomes three-on-three for a single five-minute stanza. After that, it goes to a shoot-out for three rounds, most goals wins. If tied, sudden death shoot-out determines the outcome. In the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s five-on-five for 20-minute intervals (periods) until a team scores. It’s the best, most exciting playoff in sports, especially in a Game 7.
  • MLB: Extra innings now call for a runner (last man at bat in the previous inning) to be placed on second base. Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that the “man on second” rule and 7-inning double-headers are probably a thing of the past.
  • College Football: Where do we start?
    • At the end of regulation, the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss. The winner gets to choose to either play offense or defense first or chooses which side of the field to play on. The decision cannot be deferred.
    • The teams that loses the coin toss must exercise the remaining option. They will then have the chance to choose first from the four categories in the second overtime and subsequent even-numbered OT periods. The team that wins the toss will have the same options in odd-numbered OT periods.
    • In each of the first two overtime periods, teams are granted one possession beginning at the opponent’s 25-yard line, unless a penalty occurs to move them back. The offense can place the ball anywhere on or between the hash marks.
    • Each team is granted one timeout per overtime period. Timeouts do not carry over from regulation nor do they carry over between overtime periods.
    • Each team retains the ball until it fails to score, fails to make a first down or turns the ball over.
    • Beginning with the second overtime period, teams must attempt a two-point conversion after scoring a touchdown.

You might as well have the teams all gather in a circle and play “Spin the Bottle” to decide a winner.

Filed Under: Sports Business, While We're Young Ideas Tagged With: Sports Biz, While We're Young, While We're Young Ideas

Red Sox Sign Wacha for 1-Year

November 27, 2021 by Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox today signed right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha to a one-year contract for the 2022 season. The club’s 40-man roster is now at 38 after Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the deal.

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Wacha, 30, made 29 appearances (23 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2021 regular season, posting a 2.88 ERA (11 ER/34.1 IP) in his final seven outings. After throwing 5.0 scoreless and hitless innings on September 28 against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, he allowed only one hit in 5.0 scoreless innings on October 3 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The right-hander led the majors with four outings in which he threw at least 5.0 innings, allowed zero runs, and surrendered one or zero hits.

After spending his first eight major league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (2013-19) and New York Mets (2020), Wacha made his American League debut in 2021 with the Rays and went 3-5 with a 5.05 ERA (70 ER/124.2 IP), 121 strikeouts, and 31 walks. In three starts against the Yankees last season, he allowed zero earned runs in 16.0 innings while holding hitters to a .100 batting average (5-for-50). In a 1-0 win over the Red Sox at Tropicana Field on June 24, Wacha surrendered only one hit in 5.0 innings.

Selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2012 June Draft (19th overall) out of Texas A&M University, Wacha is 63-48 with a 4.14 ERA (472 ER/1,026.1 IP) in 202 career major league outings (181 starts). A 2015 National League All-Star, he has made six Postseason starts and two relief appearances, going 4-3 with a 5.21 ERA (22 ER/38.0 IP). His lone Postseason outing of 2021 came as a reliever in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.

Born in Iowa City, IA, Wacha currently resides in Jupiter, FL.

Filed Under: Boston Sports, MLB, Red Sox Tagged With: Boston Red Sox, Michael Wacha, Red Sox

Big East Hoops Holiday

November 27, 2021 by Terry Lyons

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Connecticut won its second overtime game in three days. Xavier grabbed a one-point win and DePaul remained the BIG EAST’s only unbeaten team. Georgetown almost made it a 4-0 sweep, but the Hoyas lost a tight one on the West Coast.

UConn beat VCU 70-63 in overtime in the third-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. R.J. Cole scored a game-high 26 points. Isaiah Whaley, who was held out of Thursday’s game after fainting after Wednesday’s opening-round contest, sent the game into overtime with a late 3-pointer. His 3-point basket opened the scoring in the extra period and the gave the Huskies (6-1) the lead for good. Whaley finished with 16 points.

Xavier (5-0), playing without starters Colby Jones, Jerome Hunter and Dieonte Miles due to illness, used a career scoring night by Nate Johnson to edge Virginia Tech 59-58 in the third-place game of the NIT Tip-Off. Johnson poured in 30 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 25 seconds left. He played all 40 minutes, made 7-of-11 from beyond the arc, and did not commit a turnover.

DePaul improved to 5-0 under new coach Tony Stubblefield with a 77-68 win against Northern Kentucky at Wintrust Arena in the Blue Demons’ second game of the Blue Demon Classic. Javon Freeman-Liberty, who had a double-double by halftime, finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Nick Ongenda added 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The 5-0 start under a new coach is the first at DePaul since Joey Meyer began 6-0 in 1984-85.

Georgetown (2-3) scored 48 points in the second half, but could not complete the recovery from a 13-point deficit in a 77-74 loss to Saint Joseph’s in the third-place game of the Wooden Legacy. Kaiden Rice scored 19 of his team-high 25 points after intermission. Timothy Ighoefe grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

The holiday weekend continues on Saturday with four games – all home contests for league teams and all on FS2. At noon ET, Providence hosts Saint Peter’s. St. John’s meets NJIT at Carnesecca Arena at 4 p.m. followed by SIU-Edwardsville at Creighton at 6 p.m. and Northern Illinois at Marquette at 8 p.m.

Filed Under: Big East, NCAA, NCAA Basketball Tagged With: Big East, Big East Basketball, NCAAB

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