WTF? Former Boston Red Sox slugger and Dominican star David Ortiz is out of surgery and doing “fine,” according to his family, after he was shot Sunday at a club in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ortiz’s media assistant, Leo Lopez, told ESPN’s Enrique Rojas that Ortiz is stable but still in intensive care. “Doctors say he is out of danger, but he … Read More
RIP Bill Buckner
He taught those of us in New England how to screw up with grace: Had it not been for his fateful error in that 1986 World Series, Buckner — who suffered from Lewy body dementia, a degenerative brain disease — would have been best remembered as one of the finest hitters of his generation. Instead, his legacy includes some very … Read More
Xander and Alex Boycott The White House
NBC: Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora will not attend the ceremony at the White House on Thursday honoring the 2018 World Series champions.Cora cited the Trump administration’s response to Hurricane Maria in his native Puerto Rico as the reason for his decision. “The government has done some things back home that are great, but we still have a long … Read More
Tough Start For The 2018 Champs
This 11 game, no break, West Coast opening for the Red Sox is grueling. The Boston Red Sox were outscored 34-24 in their four-game series against the Mariners, dropping three of four in the process. The starting rotation currently has an MLB-worst 13.20 ERA, while the bullpen that everyone pointed to as a glaring weakness has a 2.50 ERA and … Read More
I Never Doubted The Red Sox Would Win The World Series
The Boston Red Sox have done it again. The franchise once synonymous with a curse now casts spells on everybody else. Four World Series titles in 15 seasons? Behold. Boston is strong. Boston is stronger and strongest. No other franchise, not even the San Francisco Giants, has won four championships this century. Chris Sale blasted an 84 mph ninth-inning slider past … Read More
The Best Red Sox Team Of This Century?
Last night, the Red Sox beat the Houston Astros on Texas turf, ending the series 4-to-1, and becaming the winners of the AL Pennant for the fourth time this century. The Astros and the Red Sox were arguably the toughest teams in both leagues, so even though the World Series starts next week (against either the LA Dodgers or the … Read More
Serena Williams And The Sexist Double Standard
On Saturday, Serena Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, lost to Naomi Osaka in the finals of the U.S. Open. Osaka was the better player and deserved to win. But the contest was marred by bad reffing. Well, that’s one way to look at it. Williams’s eruption came in the second set of Saturday’s U.S. Open final — … Read More
Trump Disinvites Eagles To White House
It is a sports tradition. The champion football/baseball/basketball/hockey team visits the White House. Not so, the Philadelphia Eagles. Largely, because of Trump’s stance on NFL football players kneeling, fewer than ten of the Eagles have RSVPed that they would attend the Eagles celebration ceremony at the White House. So Trump dis-invited them to avoid the embarrassment, although of course, it … Read More
NFL Blows It
New NFL policy advanced today: The NFL Players Association responds: I suspect the NFL brass thought their policy was a good compromise in that it allows players to remain off the field. But this of course only means that players cannot protest. My view? The players should stand and raise a “black power” salute. It will confuse everyone.
The 2018 Red Sox Are Amazing
The 2016 Red Sox are 16-2, just the seventh team since 1900 to win 16 of their first 18 games. The last two teams to start 16-2 — the 1984 Detroit Tigers and 1955 Los Angeles Dodgers — both won the World Series. Alex Cora is the only manager to go 16-2 in his first 18 games with a new team. Last … Read More
Why Is Trump Tweeting About The NFL?
Thursday night in Alabama, at a rally, Trump went off on a tangent about the NFL and its bad ratings and how players who refused to stand for the national anthem (i.e., Colin Kaepernick) should be fired by the owners. This got cheers from the Alabamians, because they are Alabamians. And it made headlines on Friday (since he never says … Read More
Red Sox Opener 2017
I feel good about this team. David Ortiz is gone, but Leon, Bogaerts and most of the old gang back. Better still, we have an ace pitcher in Chris Sale, and a hot rookie Benentendi in left field. Pennant is a definite possibility, as is the World Series.
40 Years Ago Today — Game 6: Red Sox v Reds
It’s arguably the best major league baseball game ever played, and it was played 40 years ago today. The Reds-Red Sox rivalry revived national interest in the national pasttime. And when you look back at all the hall-of-famers playing — Johnny Bench, Pete Rose (okay, not a hall of famer, but….), Carl Yastremski, Fred Lynn,. Luis Tiante, Carlton Fisk…. Boston’s Carlton … Read More
The Brady Decision and Deflategate
The decision says that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could not act as an impartial arbitrator. You THINK?!? He also says no NFL policy says players can be disciplined and suspended for awareness of others’ misconduct. Footnote: On Twitter, the hashtag #DoYourJob relates to Kim Davis, the Kentucky law clerk who refuses to license same-sex marriages. But with the Brady news, … Read More