Thinking out loud…while wondering whatever happened to those wunderkinds from Cranston Western…
- THE dumbest proclamation of THE week came from Ohio State, or rather, THE Ohio State University. THE school applied for a trademark to THE word "THE" last week, so that it must be used whenever referencing THE university or their athletic teams, or THE stuff they sell.
- In case you didn't know, THE Ohio State University has 150 trademarks in 17 different countries, as they seek to dominate THE marketplace. But would this knock THE hell out of other universities who want to use "THE" in front of their own names?
- It wouldn't be known as THE University of Rhode Island, for instance? THE University of Massachusetts? Miami and "THE U?" THE College of Providence? Wait, wut?
- More likely, this would involve THE use of a trademark symbol when referencing Ohio State – excuse me, THE Ohio State University – in the future. Oops, sorry, my bad. THE future.
- Calling it "thee" instead of "thuh" as normal people do in normal conversation might be THE most nauseating aspect of this story. How much do we lean on and rely upon this overtly simplistic, three-letter conjunctive word? Let's find out.
- An Ohio State grad – it just doesn't work when you say "an THE Ohio State grad" – ran THE training camp show in Tennessee this week, with ex-Buckeye and ex-Patriot Mike Vrabel holding court with Bill Belichick and THE Patriots.
- Best guess – it's THE perfect opportunity to bring these one-preseason-week wonders back to Earth, by reminding them THE Titans kicked their tails last year. Who remembers 34-10? TB12 held to a mere 51% completion rate? Marcus Mariota looking like an all-pro?
- And THE Titans promptly were swamped by THE Colts and THE Texans thereafter, missing out on THE playoffs, while THE Patriots won THE Super Bowl. But I digress.
- There were some practice brouhaha's this week, too. It appears workouts and game action against a mobile-thinking offense should be a good test for a defense that looks improved over a year ago. But let's not get crazy.
- This is still preseason. Few things in life are as uninteresting or more worthless than preseason NFL games. But some dopes bet on these things, and THE Red Sox stink, so…
- Tweet of the Week, from @scottzolak on preseason and Pats' starters suiting up, even if they don't play: "Love THE NFL teams that dress starters in street clothes (otherwise known as d***** bags). Thank you @Patriots. Nobody better than THE team."
- Well, that Danny Etling "I'll do anything to make THE team" feel-good story didn't last too long, did it? But it ain't over til' it's over. Atlanta needs a backup for Matty Ice. Enter Etling into THE picture, picked up on waivers from New England this week.
- I'm sorry, but is anyone really looking forward to THE big "Gronk announcement" on THE 27th? Unless he's telling us he's coming back to play – and I doubt that's happening – I. Do. Not. Care.
- I mean, once a player isn't a player any longer, should we care? Hey, it's great he's been able to capitalize on his career for other opportunities and all, and we can be happy for him because he's likable.
- But this "big announcement" is nothing but a sucker punch to your common sense. And we have so little of that these days. Nope, not falling for THE hype.
- Besides, #Rookestradamus was seen hedging his bet on Gronk's potential comeback this week at your friendly, neighborhood sports and race book.
- Here's another hyped story I'm not falling for – Tom Brady and TB12 business partner/workout guru Alex Guerrero selling their local homes. Tom says don't read anything into it. But, but…
- Maybe it means something, but maybe it doesn't? Maybe they're simply trying to sell in a market that's becoming softer by THE day?
- And if either one – or both – are actually thinking relocation, well then…fine. Makes me want to enjoy THE upcoming season even more and appreciate what we've had over these past two decades.
- Why do we worry so much over things out of our control? Why is this news? I know there's an omnipresent need-to-know-everything in this social age, but…I. Don't. Care.
- Wins. Losses. Great players on THE team, not off of it. I. Care. About. That.
- Show of hands here. Who's now sick of a little three-letter word? Thanks, Buckeyes.
- My buddy "Big E" sez this really happened to him recently – he went with the wife to his car dealership where they were told his keys were locked inside the car. In the service department, they discovered a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the passenger-side door. "Big E" went to the drivers' door, and it opened.
- He told the mechanic – "hey, the door's open!" The mechanic replied, "I know. I already got that side."
- Did you see where HBO is in negotiations with Alabama, Arizona State, Penn State and Washington State as potential college teams for "Hard Knocks?" The structure of the show has not been finalized, but I'd watch that just for the Mike Leach entertainment factor at Wazzu.
- Speaking of Hard Knocks, it appears the Raiders' Antonio Brown has already suffered one-too-many to his cabeza, no? Nearly freezing his feet off, threatening retirement instead of wearing a new helmet…dude.
- There is such a thing as a pathetic attempt at attention, however, and you're right on the money. Must See TV? How about Must See an Asylum?
- I miss Rex Ryan on an NFL sideline, even though he tries to put his best foot forward on TV.
- The Goffstown, New Hampshire Little League coach accused Barrington, Rhode Island's players of stealing and relaying signs in their regional championship game? At best, this is a perfect teaching moment for 11 and 12-year-old boys – in sportsmanship and in life.
- At worst, this is overreaching adults getting in the way and trying to ruin things for a deserving group of young men who have accomplished something extraordinary through a tough fight.
- Kids' games would be so much better if some adults would just butt the hell out.
- It also smacks of poor sportsmanship, the very thing the NH team allegedly wanted to take issue with in the first place. Since when do two wrongs make one right?
- If Barrington's kids stole signs, umpires should correct them. A warning was given, despite Barrington's denial of any wrong-doing. A repeat offense merits an ejection. That did not occur, so this instance appears to have been handled properly by every account seen and reported.
- Even if something was missed, the immediate aftermath of a championship game isn't the time to whine about it. Goffstown's coaches come off as sore losers, trying to pull the Rhode Island champs down into the muck. That doesn't help their kids, or the town and league they represent.
- Take it up with Little League, not through the media. If you had a problem during the game, file a protest at that time.
- Now? It's over, boys. As the great Pepper Brooks once told his audience on ESPN 8, The Ocho – "Ouchtown! Population you, bro!"
- And an old, Marv Levy/NFL Films line, in one of the better coaching tantrums of yesteryear, also comes to mind in this instance – "Hey, you over-officious jerk!"
- Not for nuthin', but not even NH's whining can slow down the Rhode Island Little League juggernaut. Five teams – all from different cities – have reached the LLWS in the past six years. Cumberland (twice in four years), Cranston, Warwick, Coventry and Barrington have proven there's really nothing little about youth baseball in Lil' Rhody.
- Maybe the Goffstown coaches should have the town water supplies checked in those cities? And don't forget Lincoln or Pawtucket while you're at it, either.
- Chris Sale has reached 2K career strikeouts in fewer innings pitched than anyone else in MLB history. That's saying quite a bit, when you consider Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan are also on that list.
- So why does this extraordinary accomplishment seem so, so hollow? Is it from the meatballs he's also served up to opposing hitters this year?
- Darn the rest of those Sox, too. Can we say the Andrew Cashner trade (30.1 IP, 29 runs allowed in six starts) was a bust?
- And once relegated to the blowpen – er, bullpen – Cashner got a save. In the past two games, over 9.2 innings the pen has allowed just six hits with one earned run, two walks and 10 K's.
- Better late than never, or too late to matter? Six weeks to play, roughly seven games back.
- Rafael Devers' improvement within this season has been nothing short of remarkable. Eight straight hits in eight straight plate appearances at one stretch – a Sox first in 81 years – his six-hit game against Cleveland this week also included four doubles.
- Uh, that's a first in MLB history.
- Devers is 22 years old. With 23 home runs (and counting), he's the first Sox player to hit that many taters at that young age since Tony C. and George "Boomer" Scott both did it 53 years ago – in 1966.
- Is he a legit MVP candidate? He should be, but his teammates (except for Xander Bogaerts) have let him down. Big time.
- We always want what we can't have. Case in point: Don Orsillo was voted as the country's #1 local baseball announcer, as proclaimed by the website Awful Announcing.
- But to rank NESN's crew of O'Brien, Remy and Eck as 20th best? Seems a bit low to me. When they're all in the booth together it is must-see, must-listen TV.
- Congrats to the one and only Vinny Paz, who was inducted into Nevada's Boxing Hall of Fame this past week. Seems like only yesterday he was bleeding for this – five title belts and a 50-10 career record with 30 KO's. And, that his last name was Pazienza.
- Did you see where ex-champ and one-time "Contender" TV series boxer Gary 'Tiger' Balletto opened an adaptive gym at the Cranston YMCA recently? Balletto suffered a spinal cord injury in 2013 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. But his foundation is bringing awareness – as well as resources and much-needed help – to others who are similarly afflicted.
- Almost feel as if I need to add this - MLS is going to expand into St. Louis. Consider it your weekly 'give-a-s**t' soccer update. Just sayin'.
- And forgive me for the 'Proud Dad' moment, but the Providence Bruins have a new play-by-play announcer with a familiar last name. Austin Rooke (aka 'The Rookie') got the gig this past week and will be calling the action for Bruins' fans, streaming home games from the Dunk on AHL-TV beginning next month.
- And to think it was only 17 years ago he was picking weekly parlays in pro and college football on The Score as a seven-year-old – where he finished 7-1 during his 8-week stretch. That was good radio. He taught me well.
- Three Friar basketball players earned academic all-Big East honors for last season – as Kalif Young, Drew Fonts and Drew Edwards each posted better than 3.0 GPA's for the 2018-19 school year.
- Recently graduated PC women's hoop star Yoyo Nogic (4th all-time in scoring) has signed a pro contract to play in the Spanish first division this season. And ex-PC men's standout Kadeem Batts is back in the game after battling injuries, he'll play professionally in Poland.
- Remember when Sebastian Telfair was thought to be a sure-fire, future NBA superstar? The former 13th overall NBA draft pick in 2004 and younger half-brother of PC Hall of Famer Jamel Thomas was sentenced to three and a half years in prison this week for possession of a loaded gun.
- The high-and-mighty can fall, you know. Some fall farther than others, too.
- While Yale was picked this week as the preseason Ivy football media favorite (Dartmouth 2nd, Harvard 4th, Brown 8th and last), the league held its' Media Day at ESPN in Bristol, CT Thursday. And the big news was no news – the league will stay out of the 24-team FCS playoffs.
- The turf is down in Kingston. After a $4 million facility upgrade at Meade Stadium, URI football will have a bright, new gridiron surface on which to battle this season. The Rams' first winning season in 17 years last fall also adds to the increased anticipation of kickoff Aug. 31 at Ohio.
- URI was picked for 8th (out of 12) in the preseason Colonial Athletic Association coaches' poll. It's a small, but significant step up.
- Tip o' the cap to WCVB's Mike Lynch, hanging up his weeknight sports gig after 37 years this week. He says he'll still be reporting on occasion – which is great news. But they don't make 'em in this biz like him anymore.
- Was it really 23 years ago when the Little Leaguers from Cranston Western nearly pulled off the unthinkable – a LLWS championship? Mike Varrato's team actually managed only a 1-2 record in pool play but bounced out of that into an upset win over Florida for the 1996 National Championship.
- Little matter that the world title game was lost to a team from Taiwan. Rhode Island – thanks to Little League baseball and Cranston Western – soon became a dominant player in the New England region, as the other five states can attest. But those kids (now 35 years old!) weren't the first team from Rhody to reach the Series – that honor belongs to the 1980 Darlington American Little League from Pawtucket.
- That Darlington American team played a Florida team that featured future pros Gary Sheffield and Derek Bell. But CWLL is, for now, the only RI team to play for the World Series crown.
- Mike Varrato passed away in 2014, but the CWLL named its' field for him, and the league still holds an annual statewide fall ball tournament in his honor to benefit a local scholarship fund.
- Bob sent an email recently on the Celtics' rookies: "Seeing Tacko (Fall) and Tremont Waters playing brings back memories of Manute Bol and Spud Webb playing for RI Gulls back in 1985 at Rogers High. Bol averaged 12 blocks per game!?"
- BW: I believe that. My buddy Steve Hyder worked for the Gulls back then and remembers picking up Bol from the airport when he first arrived in the country. He had to take out his back seat and push the passenger side all the way back to fit him in the car. '85 and '87 were the two years for the Gulls in the old United States Basketball League, and they were a charter team with the Connecticut Colonials and the Springfield Fame.
- Interested in having your questions on local Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send 'em to me! It's your chance to "think out loud," so send your questions, comments and local stories to jrooke@weei.com. We'll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
Don't forget to tune into Providence's 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am for Cordischi and Coit! Call in at 401-737-1287 or text at 37937.
