If you are of a certain age – it's been a tough week.
We didn't just lose icons, we lost very significant people in our lives. We lost history.
Bill Russell's passing last weekend certainly signaled an end to a glorious basketball era. Unfortunately, it didn't signal an end to much of what Russell grew up with in life, with the Celtics, or in his later years, either.
But what Russell's life could teach us all…is a lesson in perseverance. In patience. In tolerance. And in forgiveness.
My memories of Bill Russell involved his battles with Wilt Chamberlain. As a kid, I may have rooted for Chamberlain, but I had the utmost respect for Russell. Truth be known, as a kid and as a young player, my favorite player was John Havlicek.
But I also knew that if I wanted to win, I had to have Russell on my team.
Need we say more? 11 NBA titles as a player, two NBA crowns as a coach, two NCAA titles at San Francisco, five NBA MVP's and 11x all-NBA. And don't for a moment think the game was somehow 'watered down' 60 years ago.
Put Russell in with today's training techniques and athletes, he'd dominate. Oh yeah. How could he not? His athleticism was off the charts. He was graceful, he was tough. He was selfless. And his laugh (that cackle!) was priceless.
Tweet of the Week I, from @janssenleader: "Just heard a stat that said Bill Russell was essentially in 21 Game 7s during his career. His team won 21 of those 21 Game 7s. #WINNER."
We got the news on Vin Scully's passing mid-week. I've known for some time – if there were ever anyone to voiceover the soundtrack of MY life, it would have to have been Vin at the mic.
Scully calling a baseball game – or any event, really – was a lot like sitting down with your father or grandfather and having them tell you a story. If you'd had a bad day, his lyrical voice would smooth your troubled soul.
67 years as Voice of the Dodgers? Some people we know, or knew, don't make it to 67 years on Earth. It's the longest tenure spent by any sports broadcaster with any one team.
We know (or at least now you know) around here that Scully's Hall of Fame career actually began in New England nearly 73 years ago, as a young Fordham grad making his professional debut at Fenway for a Boston University-Maryland football game.
Two months after freezing on Fenway's roof for that football game, in the spring of 1950, he joined the Dodgers in Brooklyn. The rest, as they say, is history.
He blazed a trail, yes. Especially for young broadcasters in the biz. He called his first World Series game at age 25. He called 25 Series, 20 no-hitters and 12 all-star games. He retired only five years ago not because he couldn't do it anymore, but because he just felt it was time.
The man deserved to go out on his terms, even if we were all terribly disappointed he'd no longer entertain and inform us from behind a microphone.
Greatest Scully call? C'mon man. Kirk Gibson? Dennis Eckersley? '88 World Series? What about calling Dwight Clark's "The Catch" in the 1981 NFL playoffs? Or any PGA tournament that could corral his talents?
That "little roller up along first?" He certainly assisted on Bill Buckner's legacy, and with New England sports anguish. Sorry, too soon?
Or maybe his reassuring, emotional comments in the aftermath of 9/11, when we were told we needed to get back to our regular lives.
"And so, despite a heavy heart, baseball gets up out of the dirt, brushes itself off, and will follow his (the President's) command, hoping in some small way to inspire the nation to do the same."
The best there ever was? It's not hyperbole. We are and will be forever grateful for his irreplaceable sense of timing. His voice and his rhythm were simply made for sport. Vin Scully was the soundtrack for ALL of our sports lives.
Thank goodness for YouTube, and that I know how to use it. This way, he'll always be with us.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts finally got up off the sports gambling floor this week, after years of watching neighboring states – Rhode Island included – siphon its' citizenry into their own casinos, gambling dens and sportsbooks.
Mass residents finally will be able to place their (legal) sports bets through legislation just passed, making the Commonwealth the 31st such state in the country to legalize at least some form of sports betting.
Better late than never? Since 2018, the American Gaming Association sez Americans have legally wagered more than $125 billion on sports. WTH kept ya?
Always found it humorous that online sports betting giant DraftKings has its' corporate home in the Bay State, with no legal way to gamble on their games. That now changes when Governor Charlie Baker signs the new legislation.
The date of actual legalization, however, could be months from now. The average time from legislation passing to actual wagers being placed is about eight months…which could be in time, perhaps, for March Madness.
The state's two casinos say they can be ready to roll it out in short order. Weeks? Days?
Until Massachusetts gets up to speed, its' neighbors should take advantage of the time to figure out a way to keep some of that income trickling in. To that end, with just one online sports betting option in RI…there are SEVEN such licenses ready to be launched in Mass.
Those who fail to improve, simply fail.
Oh, the angst over an offense struggling during training camp. It's training camp, people. This is exactly what training camp is for…working stuff out. Just because the running game looks terrible, or receivers can't get open doesn't mean it's an unmitigated disaster looming in the fall.
But it is…if you listen to too much talk radio or read some of the people covering this beat. Sheesh.
The Red Sox "oh, we suck again" disease running through Patriots' media is more contagious than the latest strain of coronavirus.
Training Camp Like: DeVante Parker. Please stay healthy.
Training Camp Dislike: Nothing.
Looks like the Miami Dolphins can't even cheat correctly. Just sayin'.
And it looks as if some of the shine on TB12's faultless image has just been tarnished. Or are you ok, as a Patriots' fan, with his attempt at planning his own getaway from New England while under contract here? With two different teams?
Sure, it's just bidness. But where exactly were your priorities, Tom?
Not for nuthin', but didn't we also question Bill Parcells about this very thing as he planned his getaway from New England during a Super Bowl back in the '90's?
Not for nuthin', Part II: TB12 has been on teams involved with all three of the NFL's forfeited 1st round draft picks ('08 Spygate, '16 Deflategate, '22 Tampergate).
ICYMI, Miami owner Stephen Ross owns a development company that reportedly pitched an idea to the owners of Madison Square Garden…which included a redesign and relocation of the building over a casino in Hudson Yards.
It was turned down. Whew. Now, go back to trying to cheat the NFL, and leave basketball (and hockey) fans in the northeast alone?
Odds comparison site "Sidelines" did a study on the NFL's best stadiums, based on Trip Advisor reviews and fan feedback. Number One? Lambeau Field. Two = AT&T Stadium, Dallas. And Three? Acrisure-don't-call-me-Heinz-Field-in-Pittsburgh any more.
Gillette Stadium ranked 10th of 30 NFL stadiums in current use, with 63% of respondents giving it five stars out of five.
Deshaun Watson's six-game suspension is a gift to him, a joke to the rest of us.
And he (plus the NFL) are appealing the six game penalty for conduct unbeco…wait, just poor conduct, period. Ever heard the phrase 'where there's smoke, there's fire?' Watson's sexual assault allegations were a raging blaze.
Which is why the NFL is seeking a suspension of the entire season. Anyone whose actions were described as "predatory" and "egregious" deserves as much. You'll recall TB12 got a four-game punishment for allegedly deflating footballs?
And what did Watson allegedly do? There's a comparison? Joke.
My buddy "Big E" sez he asked his wife what she would like for her birthday. "Nothing would make me happier than a diamond necklace!" was her response.
So…he bought her nothing.
Mass Mutual (10 years, $17 million annually) will be sponsoring the patches on the front of Red Sox uniforms beginning next season. A show of hands here as to who thinks ANY of this booty will be spent on bringing in players?
Wait, wut? The WooSox threw a no-no Thursday night? How come we can't get pitching to pitch like that in Boston?
And for my Texas friends, the starter was an Aggie. The closer was a Longhorn. I'll leave it at that.
The Red Sox parting ways with Christian Vazquez isn't surprising. You've got to give to get. The situation has been dire in several areas. And even if Xander Bogaerts and others in the clubhouse are upset with this – the players have no one to blame but themselves for the TEAM underperformance.
Eric Hosmer? Tommy Pham? The Globe's Chad Finn said it, and I wholeheartedly agree – I'd have been fine with those moves about two months ago.
But the fact that the Padres will pay Hosmer's salary, and his Gold Glove will still play at Fenway? An absolute steal. Qualifies as a "whoa" with me.
And giving up on the injured Jay Groome (the #12 pick in the '16 draft) as a prospect? Wow. These Sox have pitching…just not much of it is any good.
JBJ. An unmitigated disaster after his DFA this week. Plus defender? Sure. But being one-dimensional doesn't get it done.
And so many in the media love him. But I'll never forget his disrespect for a Hall of Famer in l'affaire David Price with Dennis Eckersley. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Tweet of the Week II, from @realOBF: "Hard to figure out which of (Chaim) Bloom's deals or non-deals was worse. Not signing Schwarber, signing Matt Barnes, dealing (Hunter) Renfroe for JBJ and stiffs, Vazquez trade (give it time)."
After picking up Frankie Montas this week, if the Yankees don't get it done this season…they may never get it done again.
Two more former Friar hoop stars headed to the ranks of the professionals…Nate Watson will play in the Czech Republic, and Al Durham is headed to Greece.
Awesome news to see the Big East/Big 12 Battle extended for two more years. Great inter-conference competition among perhaps the two best basketball leagues in the country. The Big 12 will host games next season (2023-24) while the Big East will host the six games in 2024-25.
Yes, that means the Friars will play away AGAIN next season, after visiting a nationally-ranked TCU team this season. As for the rest of THIS season, there are still a couple of contracts outstanding and yet to be finalized before the non-league schedule can be released.
Noticed on Boston College's non-league hoop schedule URI will make an appearance at Conte Forum on Nov. 27th.
UConn's women suffered a setback this week with the news Paige Bueckers tore the ACL in her left knee Monday during a pickup game. She'll miss the entire 2022-23 season. Yikes.
The NCAA women's tournament will have a new look and format next season, with the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds moving to a two-host format rather than four.
On the 20th anniversary of making its television debut, Slamball will be making a return in 2023. Thought you might want to know that.
URI football was a preseason pick for 3rd in the CAA for this fall – a lofty spot for a program that hasn't sniffed the post season since the mid '80's. But last years' Rams just missed out on a possible postseason slot, so…let's see what they've got in Kingston.
Here it comes. Football coaches across the country – especially within the Power 5 leagues – are not just talking about NIL, they're blatantly out PLEADING with their alumni and boosters to cough up the quid, so they can keep pace with the other big boys. Rutgers' Greg Schiano did this with his boosters this week.
Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville – a former college football coach at Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati – is among a group of senators reaching out to college leaders as they prepare a draft for a nationally-standardized NIL bill.
Tell me, but what's the difference between coaches today asking boosters to help pay for players, and what they allegedly did, illegally, 30-40 years ago?
We've simply legalized, legislated and are now excusing bad behavior.
Speaking of which…apparently Brittney Griner didn't get the memo about NOT traveling with drugs to a foreign country like Russia, where they throw the book at you if you're caught.
She had the book thrown at her this week, nine years in a Russian prison. Hard to feel sorry for her. Stupid is as stupid does.
You knew this was coming…Phil Mickelson and 10 other LIV golfers have filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, alleging their suspensions from the PGA are part of a plan to beat back the Saudi-financed pro golf tour.
I don't know about you, and maybe you'd take the Saudi money if offered to you or maybe not…but the PGA doesn't have a good look here, either. The PGA sez it's 11 golfers trying to force their way into their competition.
Tiger Woods allegedly turned down between $700 and $800 million to defect? Either he knows he has more than enough dough to bake his bread, or his auto accident has left him incapable of rational thought. Which is it?
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