Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Olde English Wins at The Travelers

by

CROMWELL – By the time the playoff was over, it was Harris Olde English who hit a birdie putt and won The Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands near Hartford, Connecticut. English previously sank a 27’8” birdie putt on the 72nd hole and went on to victory with the birdie on the eighth extra hole to win over Kramer Hickok.

Eight extra holes is T-2 for most in PGA Tour history (11/1949 Motor City Open).

English claimed his second PGA Tour title of the season, with both having been decided by playoffs.

In his attempt for his first career PGA Tour title, Hickok birdied the 72nd hole to force sudden death with English but had to settle for his career-best finish of second place.

2012 Travelers Championship winner Marc Leishman posted bogey-free 6-under (64) to finish third.

Final Leaderboard at The Travelers Championship

*Harris English 67-68-67-65—267 (-13)

Kramer Hickok 63-69-68-67—267 (-13)

Marc Leishman 69-66-69-64—268 (-12)

Abraham Ancer 72-66-66-65—269 (-11)

*Won with a birdie on the eighth hole of sudden death

While We’re Young (Ideas) – June 27

by

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – If there’s one thing the Boston Red Sox organization does better than any other franchise in sports, it’s the pregame ceremony and tribute. With things returning to a post-pandemic normal in the Fens, the Red Sox got back to business with a well-deserved tribute to the career of retired team captain and MVP second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

During recent years, the Red Sox franchise has lived the highs and lows of life in Boston. They’ve hit the high notes when they paid tribute to the likes of David “Big Papi” Ortiz and they’ve grieved with the community, helped victims of the Boston Marathon bombing mourn and strengthen their resolve through the very memorial services right on the baseball field.

It might sound “cliche” but the Red Sox bind the fabric of greater New England like few other sports franchises. The Sox share that honor and responsibility with the NFL Patriots, the NBA Celtics and the NHL’s Bruins in amazing fashion. Yes, like franchises elsewhere, the civic pride surfaces much more when the teams are winning but, in New England, winning became habitual, especially since the year 2000.

Since that turn of the century, Boston sports franchises won 12 tittles. The Patriots claimed an amazing six Super Bowl victories with Tom Bradyleading the way for wins in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016 and 2018. The Red Sox won in 2004, 2007, 2013, 2018 while the Celtics took the NBA title in 2008 and the Bruins won the NHL’s Stanley Cup in 2011 with near misses against the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and a heart-breaking loss to the St. Louis Blues in 2019.

For each of the winners, the Boston faithful rallied around one, or maybe two, players to guide the team towards a highly demanding excellence. As noted, Brady led the Patriots who marched to the drum beat of team GM and coach Bill Belichick. The Celtics lifted the NBA’s Larry O’Brien Trophy in ‘08 and competed mightily for a number of others while Paul Pierce led the way in scoring and Kevin Garnett set a new standard in the Cs locker room. For the Bruins, team captain Zdeno Chara set the tone while his defensive partner, Dennis Seidenberg, personified team building and the atmosphere in the Bruins’ dressing room. As with all winning ice hockey teams, they all rallied around their goalkeepers, as in two-time Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas(2009 and 2011) and 2014 Vezina winner Tuukka Rask.

On the baseball diamond, it was Pedroia who led the Red Sox. While Ortiz provided the power, the pitching staff – both starters and relievers – stepped-up in a big way with Jon Lester, Jake Peavy and John Lackey in 2013 and the 11-man crew, led by David Price and Chris Sale got the job done in 2018, it was the leadership of Pedroia that provided team strength and chemistry, especially through adversity.

And, adversity might as well be Pedroia’s middle name from 2016-17-18 (played only three MLB games in ‘18) to 2019 (played only six MLB games) when he suffered severe left knee injuries and underwent multiple surgeries. Pedroia went from a career high 160 games played and an amazing and league-leading 724 plate appearances in 2013 to three games and 13 at bats in the 2018 season.

After fighting through evaluations, rehabilitation, set-backs and even total rest to heal his sore knee, Pedroia finally announced his retirement from the Red Sox and the majors this past February 1st, ending his 14-year MLB career. Unlike Tom Brady and Zdeno Chara, (and recently golf’s Phil Mickelson), Dustin Pedroia put another “W” in Father Time’s win column.

The Red Sox Friday night tribute and the way the sport of baseball can do like no other, reminded us of all that was good when Pedroia was playing at his Rookie of the Year (2007) and MVP levels (1st in 2008, 9th in 2011 and 7th in 2013). The tribute and video messages Brough the tough-minded Pedroia to tears, as did the “in-person” appearances of many of his former teammates.

With his family looking on, the Red Sox made special mention of the many charity activities Pedroia supported throughout his career and even brought the specific family members he helped during the marathon crisis. The ceremony was classy, succinct and poignant and Pedroia’s speech concise, meaningful and memorable.

The Red Sox invited marathon victim Jane Richard (who lost her young brother Martin and her leg from the bomb explosion in 2013) to sign the National Anthem and then had Pedroia toss a ceremonial first pitch to his former teammate and now Red Sox Manager Alex Cora.

It was also announced that the Sox will waive the customary waiting period and will induct Pedroia to the club’s Hall of Fame this year. … Only the surprise appearance of wrestling great Ric Flair – one of Pedroia’s all-time favorite celebrity athletes – could put an exclamation point on the tribute and, indeed, it did.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: 4TH of JULY SPECIAL – (Pass along to 1-or-2 friends)

Get 20% off for 1 year

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The likes of Dustin Pedroia, Tom Brady, Zdeno Chara and many of the other Boston greats who captained and led their teams to victory calls for a non-comprehensive listing of some other sports icons who were the rallying point for their title teams. Here are a few that come to mind:

  • Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees
  • Jackie Robison, Brooklyn Dodgers
  • Bill Russell, Boston Celtics
  • Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Montreal Canadiens
  • Willis Reed, New York Knicks
  • Jean Béliveau, Montreal Canadiens
  • Franz Beckenbauer, Bayern Munich/Team Germany
  • Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
  • Tug McGraw, New York Mets
  • Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Thurman Munson, New York Yankees
  • Mike Eruzione, 1980 Team USA Hockey
  • Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
  • John Elway, Denver Broncos
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
  • Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants
  • Mia Hamm, Team USA
  • Denis Potvin, New York Islanders
  • Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons
  • Mark Messier, New York Rangers
  • Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens
  • Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings
  • Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
  • Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Sue Bird, Seattle Storm and Team USA
  • Christian Laettner, Duke University
  • Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts/Denver Broncos
  • Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
  • Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Simone Biles, Team USA Gymnastics
  • Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Without a doubt, there are dozens and dozens of others, especially in world sports (Futbol), college sports and women’s sports. Feel free to add your suggestion(s) in the comments section or on Twitter @WhileYoungIdeas

PGA Tour: Watson, Hickok Co-Leaders at Travelers

by

The Travelers: Final Round Notebook

Tournament co-leader Kramer Hickok is seeking his first career PGA Tour victory in his 68th start while fellow co-leader Bubba Watson looks to join Billy Casper as a four-time Travelers Championship winner.

Second-round leader Jason Day sits one stroke back looking for his 13th PGA Tour title but first since 2018.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson fired the low round of the day (65) to sit T-9 at 7-under after he birdied six of his last twelve holes.

Abraham Ancer and Kyle Stanley both used their 7-irons to record aces at the 180-yard 8th hole.

As the final round begins, there are 38 players within five strokes of the lead.

Travelers Leaderboard – After 54 Holes

Kramer Hickok 63-69-68 – 200 (-10)

Bubba Watson 66-66-68 – 200 (-10)

Cameron Smith 67-68-66—201 (-9)

Russell Henley 67-66-68—201 (-9)

Jason Day 69-62-70 – 201 (-9)

See PGA Tour Brunch for additional daily coverage.

Saturday at The Travelers

by

The Travelers: 2021 Notebook

CROMWELL – At 9-under (131), Jason Day holds his first 36-hole lead/co-lead in a non-major since 2017 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Beginning on No. 10, the Australia native notched eight birdies en route to bogey-free 8-under (62). That score marked his lowest score in 24 rounds at the Travelers Championship (Previously: (63) in R-2/2019).

Bubba Watson opened with back-to-back rounds of (66) or better for the third time in his Tour career. He offset one bogey with five birdies for a 4-under (66) on Friday. His previous back-to-back rounds of (66) or better were at the 2010 The American Express/T-2, and 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open/T-2).

Kramer Hickok (T-2) is chasing his first career Tour victory in his 68th start.

K.H. Lee made eagle on the par-5 13th hole and par-4 15th hole, marking the first time in his career with multiple eagles in one round.

Defending Travelers Championship winner Dustin Johnson sits T-58 at 2-under.

The 36-hole cutline was (-2) with 79 players at 2-under (138) advancing from a field of 156 professionals.

Travelers Leaderboard – After 36 Holes

Jason Day 69-62 – 131 (-9)

Bubba Watson 66-66 – 132 (-8)

Kramer Hickok 63-69 – 132 (-8)

Seven players 133 (-7)

PGA Tour: Kodaira, Hickok Lead After 18

by

The Travelers: Opening Round 2021 Notebook

Satoshi Kodaira made six birdies, one eagle in bid to become the season’s second tournament winner from Japan (Hideki Matsuyama/2021 Masters Tournament).

Kramer Hickok offset a bogey at his first hole with eight birdies, good for a PGA Tour career-low 7-under (63).

Following missed cuts in both previous Travelers Championship starts, Talor Gooch opened with a bogey-free 6-under (64).

In his first start at the Travelers Championship, Maverick McNealy opened with a bogey-free 5-under (65).

World No. 2 Dustin Johnson birdied his last two holes to open with an even-par (70) in effort to join Phil Mickelson as only players to successfully defend a Travelers Championship title.

Travelers Leaderboard – After 18 Holes

Kramer Hickok 63 (-7)

Satoshi Kodaira 63 (-7)

Talor Gooch 64 (-6)

Five players 65 (-5)

The Travelers Tees-Off in Connecticut

by

PGA Tour “Travelers” to Nearby Cromwell, Conn

COURSE: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut

ARCHITECT: Robert J. Ross/Maurice Kearney

YARDS/PAR: 6,841 yards/Par 70

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $7,400,000 /$1,332,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Dustin Johnson (2020)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Total/Winner: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TravelersChamp

OFFICIAL SITE: (The Travelers)

TV COVERAGE: Today, June 24 and Friday, June 25:  3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. 

On Saturday, June 26, Round 3 coverage 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. CBS takes over from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT). On Sunday, June 27: Golf Channel starts-off the coverage 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT) and CBS wraps it up from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: Streaming coverage with Featured Groups via PGA Live from 6:45am to 6:00pm (EDT) today and Friday. PGA Live Coverage expands on the weekend with Featured Groups streaming 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) and Featured Holes 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on both Saturday and Sunday.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio returns for today and Friday coverage 12:00pm Noon to 6:00pm (EDT). Weekend coverage on PGA Tour Radio airs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) or until conclusion. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com

How to Watch: In case of changes, see: (PGATourCom)

The Travelers: 2021 Notebook

Scheduled to compete in this week’s field are three of the four players with multiple wins this season: Bryson DeChambeau (2020 U.S. Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard), Stewart Cink (Fortinet Championship, RBC Heritage) and Patrick Cantlay (ZOZO Championship @ Sherwood, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday). With a victory on Sunday, one of the three could become the first player to win three titles during the 2020-21 season.

The 2021 Travelers Championship marks the beginning of the FedEx Cup playoff stretch. With only nine events remaining until the start of the playoffs, Jon Rahm moved to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings and within 137 points of leader Patrick Cantlay.

The Travelers Championship has a long history of awarding sponsor exemptions to up-and-coming players. Previous sponsor exemptions for some of the Tour’s biggest stars included: Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa.

In 2021, sponsor exemptions include PGA Tour University top-ranked players John Pak and Davis Thompson, Oklahoma State product Austin Eckroat, who is making his first Tour start as a professional, and Chase Koepka, who qualified on Monday before the 2020 Travelers Championship but withdrew as a precaution after COVID exposure.

The Basics:

Tournament Tee Times begin today at 6:45am (EDT) through 2:00pm (EDT).

Weather: Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a comfortable 67-degrees, low humidity at 46% and a 0% chance of rain. Winds 6-12 mph. Friday forecast calls for 30% chance of showers, temps 53-80-degrees with southerly winds, 7-14 mph.

PGA Tour: The Travelers Preview

by

First Look at The Travelers

COURSE: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut

ARCHITECT: Robert J. Ross/Maurice Kearney

YARDS/PAR: 6,841 yards/Par 70

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $7,400,000 /$1,332,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Dustin Johnson (2020)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Total/Winner: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TravelersChamp

OFFICIAL SITE: (The Travelers)

TV COVERAGE: Thursday, June 24 and Friday, June 25:  3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. 

On Saturday, June 26, Round 3 coverage 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. CBS takes over from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT). On Sunday, June 27: Golf Channel starts-off the coverage 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT) and CBS wraps it up from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: Streaming coverage with Featured Groups via PGA Live from 6:45am to 6:00pm (EDT) on Thursday and Friday. PGA Live Coverage expands on the weekend with Featured Groups streaming 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) and Featured Holes 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on both Saturday and Sunday.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio returns for Thursday and Friday coverage 12:00pm Noon to 6:00pm (EDT). Weekend coverage on PGA Tour Radio airs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) or until conclusion. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com

How to Watch: In case of changes, see: (PGATourCom)

The Travelers: 2021 Notebook

The 2021 Travelers Championship field includes 99 PGA Tour winners, the most in an event since the 2021 PLAYERS Championship. Two-time Travelers Championship winner Phil Mickelson leads the pack with 45 wins, while the Tour’s most recent first-time winner, South Africa’s Garrick Higgo, will make just his second start since winning the Palmetto Championship at Congaree to earn PGA Tour membership.

Dustin Johnson will attempt to become the second player to successfully defend a Travelers Championship title. The 2020 win was Johnson’s first of three during the 2019-20 season and he went on to win the FedExCup, becoming the first player to win the Travelers Championship and the FedExCup title in the same season. Johnson relinquished the No. 1 position in the Official World Golf Ranking to U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm on Sunday, snapping a streak of 43 weeks as the world’s top-ranked player.

Three-time Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson (2010, 2015, 2018) will make his 15th appearance and is seeking to tie Billy Casper for most wins in tournament history (4).

There were 27 rounds of (64) or better at the Travelers Championship in 2020, the most in a week since the event moved to TPC River Highlands in 1984. There were 1,774 birdies made in 2020, fifth-most of any event during the 2019-20 PGA Tour season.

The Basics:

Tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 6:45am (EDT) through 2:00pm (EDT).

Weather: Thursday’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a comfortable 67-degrees, low humidity at 46% and a 0% chance of rain.

NFL’s Nassib Makes Announcement

by

WEST CHESTER (PENN) – Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib said in a public social media announcement that he is gay, making him the first active NFL player to acknowledge his homosexuality.

He made his personal announcement on social media outlet, Instagram.

Embed from Getty Images

“I’m at my house here in West Chester, Pennsylvania,” Nassib, 28, said. “I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now but finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest. I really have the best life, I’ve got the best family, friends and job a guy can ask for.

“I’m a pretty private person so I hope you guys know that I’m really not doing this for attention. I just think that representation and visibility are so important. I actually hope that like one day, videos like this and the whole coming out process are not necessary, but until then I am gonna do my best and do my part to cultivate a culture that’s accepting, that’s compassionate.”

Raiders team owner Mark Davis said to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “These are personal decisions. It’s 2021, and he’s a Raider. If he’s happy, I’m happy. It takes courage. I thought we got to the point where this wasn’t (a prominent news story). It doesn’t change my opinion of him as a man or as a Raider.”

Eli Manning Helps NY Giants Sports Biz

by

EAST RUTHERFORD – Former New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl champion Eli Manning is back with the franchise in a front-office role, about 18 months after his final game as New York’s quarterback.

Embed from Getty Images

Manning, who led the team to two Super Bowl championships, will work in business development, marketing, and community and corporate relations areas. In addition, he will contribute to content development and fan activities, which include a lifestyle series for broadcast to debut in the fall.

The team also announced Monday that Manning will be inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor and his No. 10 jersey retired during a special halftime ceremony Sept. 26 when the Giants host the Atlanta Falcons at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

Manning, 40, said he is delighted to accept the new job and to become the 43rd member of the Ring of Honor.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be back,” Manning said. “Staying involved with this organization is very important to me. I love the organization, love the Giants and the fans, and so I want to do anything possible to help them out and be a part of it.”