Thinking out loud: What makes someone 'the best ever?'

Thinking out loud…while wondering whatever happened to Michael Collins?

• It's a good argument, trying to decide upon something or someone as 'Best Ever.'  It's always open to interpretation – not something that can be properly defined or quantified, because qualifications and opinions constantly change as time passes. 

• And, other people and other things just get better.  Other events become more memorable or have more historical meaning. 

• But when you know something or someone is good, was good, or will still be good 50 years from now – you just know.

• Like Tom Brady.  Larry Bird.  Bill Russell.  Bobby Orr.  Yaz.  Teddy Ballgame.  Pretty good.  Man, we have been supremely blessed in Boston, and throughout New England.  We've witnessed some of the best to ever play, so we should know.

• So we should also know – nothing ever stays the same.  Except death, taxes, the Patriots in the Super Bowl and complaints about the Red Sox.  Just sayin'.

• Gerry Callahan was a good radio host and an engaging personality.  But best ever?  I'm not certain that tag can be a fit for anyone, simply because there are different standards and different strokes for different folks.

• But if you want to engage, enrage or entertain?  Callahan is right there with all of 'em, and I've been privileged to be around or to have worked with many good ones. 

• You don't have to agree with his politics or opinions or anything he (or anyone else) says.  That's not the point.  Agreeing with talk radio hosts all the time is boring, anyway.

• But if they make you think, if they strike a chord, if they bring back a memory, if they make sense (or not), if they show an understanding of what they're talking about, if they cause you to react – they've done their job.  It's way more than just yelling into a microphone.

• Gerry was really good at doing his job, both as a talk show host and as a writer.

• Hopefully, one or the other of his chosen vocations will continue from this point forward.  But as to his 20-year run on WEEI?  Whoa. 

• Few careers these days last as long in this business, with so much volatility in the marketplace and demand for varied content as the consuming public changes and ages with the times. 

• It was fun to work with him, sure.  I remember the first time co-hosting with him, sitting in for John Dennis.  I'm not really the nervous type, but I'll admit trying to match wits with him was something I had to brace myself for.  He made me think. 

• And I thoroughly enjoyed every occasion.  The measure of a career well spent in this business is – rightly or wrongly – based in part on how long one person (or company) will pay you to work for them.  It was always fun to listen to him at his agitating best.

• We also just passed the 20-year anniversary of the baseball all-star game here at Fenway in 1999.  It was the best ever collection of baseball players on one field at any given moment, including the Greatest Hitter of All-Time, Ted Williams. 

• Hard to fathom that moment in time came 20 years ago, as I covered the game for WLVI-TV in Boston and WGN-TV in Chicago, just before the steroid controversy rocked the sport.

• Maybe you don't agree with much of what Dan Shaughnessy says in the Globe, but his column on Williams and the '99 game this past week – with all the characters and storylines involved – was spot-on.  It was a memorable moment in my career, for sure.

• Another came during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where working for the Olympic Committee I had the opportunity to watch Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker compete for the first time.  Whitaker won a gold medal as a lightweight boxer, and those who saw him fight knew greatness when they saw it.

• He did not disappoint.

• One of the 'best ever?'  Many think so.  Whitaker was tragically killed this week after being struck by a car in Virginia Beach, at age 55.  He was one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world in the '80's and '90's, retiring in 2001 and then elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in '06.

• Oh, and happy birthday this week to one of the 'best ever' running backs, Barry Sanders.  Sanders holds a college record of returning his team's season-opening kickoff for a touchdown two straight years.  Who can break that?  He's now 51.  Damn.

• I can go on and on about 'best evers."  It is a great debate, with no right or wrong answer.  But in light of National Hot Dog Day celebrated this week, the best ever hot dog I've eaten comes from Rhode Island (NY/Coney Island System, in Olneyville and East Providence).  Debate that.

• A close second comes from Al's #1 in Chicago.  And not for nuthin', a hot dog is – by the definition of the word – a 'sandwich.'  Unless, of course, you don't count the hot dog as meat.  Which is both plausible, and probable. 

• It wasn't one of the best-ever decisions Alex Cora made this past week in losing Sunday night to the Dodgers.  How you can sac bunt in the 9th inning and not try to lay another down in the 11th with the winning run on 2nd base and no outs is beyond me.

• If anything, the Sox chose the wrong moment to sacrifice.  The second one made the most sense and seeing as Mookie Betts followed up with a fly ball out, it would have been the winning run.  Cora's decision-making cost the Sox a win, no if's, ands or buts.

• I hate data.  Guess I'm old school.  Analytics?  They're only good to an extent in a sport like baseball, which also requires a 'feel' for the game and game situation.  The bottom line – is to win, and to put your team in the best possible position to win. 

• We're too enamored with what Billy Bean started, aren't we?  The team with the highest payroll in the majors should NOT be relying upon the same mathematics configured to keep the team with the lowest payroll competitive.  Just go out and hit it, pitch it and field it better. 

• One word to describe the 2019 Red Sox: Underperforming.  All the way around the diamond, the dugout and the front office.  You good with that?

• Roster changes this week are extremely reactive, and not proactive.  It took them what, 90+ games to figure out this year's team wasn't last year's team?  Stupid is as stupid does.

• The Dodgers-Sox game Sunday night, btw, was ESPN's highest rated Sunday game this season. 

• And it might have been the very reason baseball is also withering on the vine, because it lasted nearly six hours.  The Sox and Blow, er, Blue Jays followed that up with three innings Monday night in a stellar one hour and 40 minutes. 

• Only one Boston game in the past 23 has been played in less than three hours.  Best ever cure for insomnia?  Might be baseball. 

• More best evers:  Enchiladas?  Esperanza's in Fort Worth, Texas.  Chopped brisket?  Angelo's, also in Fort Worth.  Burger?  There's a bunch of good ones, but I'll take Five Guys, In 'n Out and Eagle's Deli in Chestnut Hill.  Does Rhode Island have a best-ever burger?

• And can you tell I've been on vacation?  My waistline can.

• Chris Sale.  Dude.  Glad you're a stand-up guy and all, but Thursday was your 1st regular season win at Fenway in a year, and it came against sad-sack Toronto.  You're not being paid to be a punching bag.

• David Price = punk.  There's just no other way to say it.

• Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green was a reluctant pioneer, from all indications.  But he was our pioneer, as the first player of color to play for the Red Sox in 1959.  It was 60 years ago this weekend he first entered a game as a pinch-runner and stayed at shortstop.  Green passed away this week at age 85.

• Glad to see the newest addition to the Sox' staff, Andrew Cashner, picked right up this week and caught the ragged arm disease from the rest of 'em.  Sheesh. 

• When the ACC Network launches next month, it's first program will be about hoops, when all other nets will be onto college football.  "The Class that saved Coach K" is a shot across the bow right back at the Big East…even though the ACC has won two of the past three CFP titles.

• It was seven years ago this week that Syracuse and Pitt bolted from the Big East to the ACC, for a reported $7.5 million each in exit fees.  It was Pitt's lawsuit against the Big East to get out of a 27-month waiting period that was one of the "straws to break the camel's back" for the Catholic 7 to say 'enough.'

• URI assistant hoop coach (and former Celtic coach) John Carroll announced this week he's stepping down to attend to his on-going health issues.  Carroll has been absent from Rhody since the end of February, on unpaid sick leave. 

• The Rams now have two assistant slots open on David Cox' staff.  If his health issues improve, Carroll may re-apply for his post. 

• Ex-Friar and Celtic draft pick Ben Bentil this week signed on to play for Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos, but he won't be coached by ex-Minuteman, ex-Friar and ex-Celtic Rick Pitino, who led the team to another championship last season. 

• More best evers:  Basketball player I've ever seen play in person – tie, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and George Gervin.  Three different styles, but all were amazing.  Pitcher?  I'll take Nolan Ryan any day.  Running back?  Easy.  The Tyler Rose, Earl Campbell.  QB?  C'mon now. 

• The American Athletic Conference may be moving its' league offices from Providence to Texas next summer, but their football media day will apparently stay in Newport where it was held this week.  At least for now.  It's a heckuva party, complete with an old-fashioned New England clambake on the ocean.

• 'Cept now, there won't be any teams or schools in the conference left on the ocean, or in New England, when UConn leaves.  UCF (Orlando) and USF (Tampa) will have to do.

• UCF's Knights were the preseason pick to win the AAC, in case you missed it, with Cincinnati second.  UConn?  No love there.  Dead last, in likely what will be a swan-song AAC football season.

• #Rookestradamus says, however, don't be surprised if UConn manages to somehow stick with that league for football. 

• Expanding the NFL regular season to 18 games has been in the works for years.  Or at least the thought of it has.  Getting the players to capitulate on the move?  Quoting my best Jerry Maguire, "Show me the money!"

• It has been 41 years since the last schedule expansion, from 14 games to the current 16.  But the idea of playing 18 games with the players only having to appear in 16?  Nope. 

• Especially if you're paying the ticket prices to see the stars but get the backups instead.  Quickest way I know for football to lose its American stranglehold on "best ever sport."  Don't screw this up, ownership.

• Boston Globe Rhode Island reporter Dan McGowan shared some fascinating facts this week on sports betting in Lil' Rhody.  We're good at it – so much so, RI actually paid out more money than it took in during last February's Super Bowl run.  Thanks, Pats.

• That can't be good for business, however.  Between last November and May, RI profited by only $4.7 million, well below state projections.  Rhody's 'hold' rate was the lowest among the eight states that currently allow sports betting.  So there we are – last again in another economical category.

• The State of Rhode Island may truly be hoping the Patriots don't win it all again this year.

• What 2 Watch 4 at Gillette next week?  A lot of eyes will be on left tackle (Isaiah Wynn), running back (Sony Michel, Damien Harris) and tight end (Gronk's replacement(s)).  Jamie Collins at LB, too. 

• But make no mistake about it – the Pats should be L-O-A-D-E-D.  Again.  Will they underperform like the Sox have?  Bet they won't, BB won't allow it.

• TE Ben Watson is suspended for four games because he thought he was retiring and he took a supplement, while KC's Tyreek Hill physically threatens his girlfriend and child, recorded on tape, and goes unpunished?  Who do you think the NFL would like to see win here?

• ICYMI, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman reunited, briefly, as celebrity contestants on ABC's $100,000 Pyramid game show.  Clearly, Gronk is enjoying his, um, "retirement" too much…as his brain matter has gone dark.

• "An African animal with spots" is not a Tiger, Gronk.  Nor is "an animal with humps" called "a canoe."  Oh boy.  Made me laugh, though.

• Best ever game shows?  Match Game, the original Jeopardy, Press Your Luck (no Whammies!).  The Price is Right with Bob Barker is also a classic, unforgettable show.  Best ever game show host?  I'll take Wink Martindale and Gene Rayburn for $300, Alex.

• The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport makes room for three new inductees this weekend – Mary Pierce, Li Na and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.  Best ever?  I'll let Edward from East Providence give you his take on their attributes and hall-worthiness.

• But that Wimbledon final last week between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer may have been a 'best ever' candidate.  I will stay on Federer's side as 'best ever' with his 20 Grand Slams.

• Not the best ever way to attract attention – from the Boston Globe: "Fifty years ago Thursday, Chappaquiddick Island was an obscure spit of land, known mainly to those who lived or vacationed on Martha's Vineyard.  A day later it was famous."

• Chris Herren's story was told and shown again on ESPN this week.  Filmmaker Jonathan Hock's "The First Day" was a compelling, riveting and emotional compilation of the ex-Celtic, ex-BC Eagle, ex-Durfee High star speaking mostly to high school-aged students about his drug and alcohol issues.

• Powerful, is the impression I was left with.  It is must-see for any parent with teenagers, and anyone touched by substance abuse.  Kudos to you, Chris, for turning your life around so magnificently in order to help others like you.  Fall River dreams, indeed.

• Best ever comeback?  Might be.

• He was once called 'the loneliest man in the universe.'  Michael Collins piloted the Apollo 11 command module 50 years ago but had to circle the moon, by himself, as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history as the first humans to step on the surface July 20, 1969. 

• Collins returned to Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center this week to celebrate the launch and initial moon landing.  He is one of 24 men to have flown to the moon and orbited it 30 times before Armstrong and Aldrin returned to the ship. 

• After retiring as an astronaut and test pilot, Collins worked for the State Department, became the first director of the National Air & Space Museum in Washington and began his own aerospace consulting firm.  He is 88 years old.

• @tpbrenan sent a tweet this week on Chris Herren: "I remember hoping he'd sign with the Friars 26 years ago, not knowing about his drug demons. This phase of his life is the true Fall River dream. SO MUCH respect for this guy. True gift for helping others. Rooting for him to continue to thrive!"

• Terry:  Couldn't have said it better myself, so I won't.  I think you'll speak for many of us.

• 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 ...

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