While We’re Young (Ideas) | Best Day in Boston | Patriots’ Day
By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk
BOSTON – The Red Sox went 7-3 over their first 10 games of the season and then bottomed out to lose four in a row before Saturday’s 7-2 win over the LA Angels. The Sox opened 1-4 at Fenway, but it’s far too early to be scoreboard-watching in Baseball.
The Bruins are fighting through the last few regular season games with the goal to finish at the top of their Atlantic Division, their Eastern Conference and possibly the entire National Hockey League.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are cruising to the finale of the regular season today (Sunday, April 14) and will await their #8 seed opponent via the NBA’s nifty “Play-In Tournament” which takes place April 16-19 and eliminates two teams in each Conference. The “Play-In” can be a little dangerous, as Miami proved last season advancing from the No. 8 spot after winning their play-in and advancing all the way through to the 2023 NBA Finals before running into Denver’s amazing Nikola Jokić who became the first player in NBA history to lead the NBA Playoffs in points (600), rebounds (269), and assists (190) in a single postseason. He won NBA Finals MVP honors as the Nuggets took their first NBA crown.
It seems to happen every spring. The sports collide with the winter activities at TD Garden in the North End hitting playoff heights while the Red Sox break out the bats on freshly sodded grass at Fenway Park, the most beloved ballpark in the land.
There’s no stopping, as one of the gems in collegiate sports was held in St. Paul, Minnesota this weekend and Boston was very well represented. Both Boston University and Boston College advanced to the Frozen Four of men’s college ice hockey. Each team was ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation all winter long, but it was the University of Denver and their goalkeeper, Matt Davis, who beat the Bostons (2-1, OT over BU) and (2-0 over BC in the championship game) to claim Most Outstanding Player in the Frozen Four.
BC advanced to the final by blanking a highly rated Michigan team, 4-0, on Thursday night.
NUGGETS AND TIDBITS: How about a few other tidbits?
BU’s 17-year old goal-scoring machine, Macklin Celebrini, took home the Hobey Baker Award as hockey’s best player while Hockey Canada announced that Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney was named General Manager of Team Canada for the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off and he’ll stay on as Assistant General Manager for Canada’s 2026 Men’s Ice Hockey Team at the Olympics.
Up in Maine this Monday, the Oklahoma City Blue will face the Maine Celtics in the third and final game of the 2024 G-League Finals to be held at 9:00pm (ET) at the Portland (Maine) Expo (Game televised by ESPNU).
Then, there’s one other big sporting event in Boston at Springtime. It’s staged on the Patriots’ Day holiday in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – a State holiday only celebrated in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and North Dakota on April 15, and in Florida and Wisconsin on April 19.
The 128th running of the Boston Marathon takes place this Monday, April 15, starting way out in Hopkinton, Mass and winding its way to the finish line in Boston, right where Back Bay meets Copley.
This all happens as the New England Patriots are ready to reload at the quarterback position on Thursday, April 25 when they exercise their third overall pick in the annual NFL Draft of collegiate talent. All mock drafts have the Patriots grabbing the third consecutive quarterback to come off the draft board with Chicago picking USC’s Caleb Williams, the Washington Commanders choosing Jayden Daniels of LSU with the second overall pick, leaving North Carolina’s Drake Maye to fall to the Patriots (unless they finagle a trade or two – moving down is more likely than moving up).
Magnolia Lane
While all those Boston-centric events create quite a buzz in New England every spring, there’s another event this weekend which might be on EVERYONE’s Bucket List and it’s only New England connection is the fact native son, Keegan Bradley, is good enough to play. The annual playing of the first Major golf tournament of the season when the very best PGA Tour and LIV Golf players head to Augusta National to play in The Masters.
The 330 yard ride past 61 Magnolia trees on each side of Magnolia Lane is reserved for a very select group of pro golfers and a few amateurs each year. The course is perfect, but sometimes the weather and the wind – not so much.
One very specific aspect of the annual Masters Tournament stands out. It is “a tradition unlike any other,” according to CBS’ voice of the Masters Jim Nantz, but the tradition starts with – perhaps – the greatest promotion of all-time.
At its lowest, it is merely a photo op.
At its highest, it is the single most wonderful, historic, symbolic and meaningful opening curtain in all the world of sport.
It is better than any ceremonial first pitch in baseball, an honorary tip-off in basketball or the ceremonial drop of a puck in ice hockey. It beats fire works or bands playing.
At The Masters, play does not begin until Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson (it was Arnold Palmer instead of Watson before Arnie’s death). The last “real” Big 3 was in 2015 when Palmer participated in his final ceremonial tee-off as the “starters” to the Masters Tournament and 2016 when he participated but did not drive the golf ball (see below).
There is no better tribute and Palmer’s memory comes to mind every April as the tournament begins. Sometime soon, Tiger Woods will join the ceremony, hopefully making it a foursome before one of the legends pass away.
REMINDER: Tonight, CBS will put you in the front row to see Billy Joel perform his record-breaking 100th consecutive residency performance at Madison Square Garden, which took place last month on March 28th. Experience the very best of Long Island’s Piano Man as he plays his career-spanning hits at The World’s Most Famous Arena. Tune in to watch the legacy-defining concert tonight – April 14th – at 9:00pm ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+
THE VAULT: The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has a brand new exhibit coming to the museum this summer titled The Vault: Boston Celtics Unlocked. This innovative and immersive experience will be unlike anything the Basketball Hall of Fame has previously produced. The Hall of Fame has collaborated with the NBA’s most storied franchise to present this inaugural installation of The Vault.
Set in an immersive Bank Vault, Celtics legends from the past and present will take visitors on an epic journey to discover the true meaning of Celtic Pride. The Vault will feature authentic game-worn jerseys, championship rings, and the original ’81 NBA NBA championship trophy – before it was called “the Larry.” Also, the Hall and NBA Entertainment will post long-lost footage of the Celtics.
BRADY BACK? – Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady teased his audience in a podcast this week, opening the door for a possible return to the NFL if the situation is right.
Brady said he wouldn’t rule out un-retiring (again), to play for either the Patriots or Raiders. What are the chances?
SportsBetting.ag has set odds on Brady’s potential return, and they are not all that great. The odds imply just a 25% probability the GOAT will be on a roster in Week 1. Additionally, there are odds for which team Brady will play for, but it’s a two-way market between the two clubs he mentioned yesterday.
Will Tom Brady be on NFL roster in Week 1?
Yes +300
No -500
Which team will Tom Brady be on in Week 1?
Patriots -140
Raiders +100
MIKE GORMAN DAY: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu proclaimed that today, April 14, will be Mike Gorman Day in the City of Boston, according to a news release issued by the Mayor’s office of Boston. The beloved Boston Celtics broadcaster has been the team play-by-play man since joining former Celtics player and coach, the late TommyHeinsohn, in the broadcast booth in 1981.
Retiring from the role at the end of the team’s 2024 playoffs, Gorman is being feted by Boston fans, media, and the team itself. “Mike Gorman has made an impact across generations of Celtics fans, families, and visitors throughout his 40 plus years as the voice of the Boston Celtics,” said Wu.
“His passion, intellect, and ability to make every fan feel special and locked in for the whole game is unmatched,” added the Mayor. “Congratulations Mike! I look forward to celebrating and honoring your contributions to our city this Sunday.”
With the national TV obligations for the NBA, local broadcasts will be limited and Gorman’s last game is likely to be Game 2 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs (approx. April 23rd).
NO SPORTS GAMBLIN’ IN GA and the ATL: Georgia remained one of 12 states not to have some form of sports wagering when the state’s Rules Committee declined to consider two bills this week. The state’s House Higher Education Committee moved forward two amended sports betting bills on Thursday, one a state constitutional amendment and the other that would have enabled legislation, according to iGamingBusiness. But those bills never made it to the House. … This week’s action becomes the fourth time Georgia lawmakers considered legalizing sports wagering since 2021 without ultimately getting two-third approval in both the state House and Senate. … Georgia’s proposed constitutional amendment, named SR 579, was recently been amended to include up to $22.5 million to promote responsible gambling through tax revenue. … While Georgia appeared the closest to becoming the next state to legalize sports wagering, efforts continue in Minnesota, where multiple bills have been introduced. Missouri is moving toward placing a sports wagering on the November ballot.
Just think of what kind of money would’ve been generated if Georgia opened its sports gambling just in time for The Masters.
By the way, when the professional golfers play practice rounds at Augusta National or East Lake CC for $200-$2,000 a hole, does that count? Let’s ask Full Swing to run the tape?