Thinking out loud…while wondering if I agreed with you, wouldn't we both be wrong?
• I can't add much more to the wonderful remembrances of Jerry Remy this week, except to add one of my own.
• 1996. Got my first call-up to the big leagues to work Red Sox-Athletics after spending the previous four years on radio and TV (NESN) with the Pawtucket Red Sox. Bob Kurtz was the primary play-by-play voice at that time, and he had traveled home to Minnesota for a family occasion.
• Jerry Remy was my broadcast partner for the weekend as the Sox battled the Oakland A's. I showed up extra early for the game, Jerry was already there. He couldn't have been more helpful when he told me, "Just be yourself." I'm certain he was more nervous for me than I was for me.
• I simply told him thanks. I'm just along for the ride, but this is your show.
• He seemed uncomfortable with that, but he acknowledged it. As we've been reminded over the past week, this kid from Somerset, MA – born in Fall River – was well on his way to becoming a franchise icon at that time in the mid '90's.
• Red Sox Nation won't be the same, for sure, when spring rolls around again and the Rem Dawg isn't in the TV booth. What a treat we all have had for the past 30+ seasons, and particularly when Remy and Dennis Eckersley paired up a few years ago – it was broadcast gold, I tell ya'.
• I mean, Remy was the Grand Poobah of Red Sox Nation. He was beloved as a gritty, undersized player. He was 'one of us.' He told it as it was, in his definitive Boston tenor and tone. He cheered when it was needed or required; he analyzed, he criticized when warranted.
• He also laughed. He never took himself too seriously. He was huge on the chemistry scale with his broadcast partners (his banter and relationship with Don Orsillo was priceless), just as he had been with Rick Burleson once-upon-a-time in the middle infield.
• And he was appreciated, certainly by me, when a personal big moment came along. He was appreciated, loved and admired, by thousands as we now know.
• That's quite an epitaph. And he'd be uncomfortable with it, too.
• Jason Mastrodonato of the Herald hit the nail on the head this week. Win-win for the Sox if J.D. Martinez decides to opt out of his deal, as Fox's Ken Rosenthal believes he will.
• There's quite a bit of hitting talent on the market this off-season, provided management doesn't decide on a full-blown Tampa gameplan.
• Time is of the essence, gang. Anchors like Bogaerts, Eovaldi and Devers will test the free agent market soon enough. And you've been under the tax threshold for a couple of years. You've been saving up…let's go shopping.
• My buddy "Big E" sez a kid came to his house for Halloween dressed up as Rocky Balboa, complete with gloves, satin shorts and bruised, puffed up eyes. After giving him some candy, Rocky showed back up at his door about 30 minutes later.
• Big E asked, "weren't you at my door a little while ago?" The kid explained, "I'm Rocky, the sequel. And I'll be back again later." Yo, Adrian!
• It's hard to put a ton of stock in these things, but how can you not be encouraged by the 'secret' scrimmage win for the Friars over Purdue? The Boilermakers are a consensus preseason Top 10 team and Big 10 favorite. They're also bigger than most NBA teams.
• It sez a couple of things to me: 1) it pays to have experienced, veteran players. And 2) it's too bad Nate Watson can't play with nine fouls (what he had against the Boilers) every night. But Purdue played by the same rules, too.
• Maybe now…there's a little more of an anticipatory jump in that step you take toward buying tickets to hit the Dunk this season? College hoop opening night across the country is Tuesday, and PC opens with Fairfield at 7pm.
• Happy New Year.
• Former Friar coach Tim Welsh is returning to ESPN for college basketball work this season, tipping off with an old Big East Pitt-West Virginia match up next week. Tim also informs he's entered the ever-competitive RI real estate field as well…so if you're looking, I know a guy.
• Like the Friars, URI's Rams beat St. John's last weekend in a 'secret' (stupid) scrimmage, perhaps also showing Rhody has a bit more gas in the tank than previously imagined. The Rams also rolled over DIII Johnson & Wales this week 109-56.
• Did you see, Ram fans, the Ryan Center is asking anyone over age 12 to show proof of vaccine or a negative Covid test taken within six hours of game time to get into the building this season? The Dunk, without those requirements, ought to be a real petri dish on Dec. 4th.
• Brown opens Tuesday night at the Pizzitola Center against Salve Regina, the Bears' first official hoop game in more than 600 days. Can they remember where the Pizz is?
• Bryant begins with Fisher College at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield Tuesday as well…after whacking Nichols 107-71 in an exhibition last week…and road trips to URI and Clemson on the immediate horizon.
• PC Hockey remains at 8th nationally after a split with UNH last weekend…and in advance of a home-and-home against defending national champ UMass this weekend. Men's soccer is ranked 16th and the Division I men's soccer committee featured the Friars at 13th in their first Top 16 before tournament selection.
• Not for nuthin', but what happened to URI football? Three straight losses after five straight wins, including a loss last week at Maine, has pretty much knocked Rhody right out of any silly playoff talk. The Rams get to test UMass and taste life in the FBS this weekend.
• If there were ever a doubt that the current CFP (College Football Playoff) system stinks, this year's first official poll is a perfect example. Power/Football 5 teams occupy the top 5 spots (the first four get the bids) with two of them having one loss.
• Unbeaten Cincinnati, currently in the American Athletic Conference, is undefeated at 8-0 and ranked #2 in the media polls. But a mere 6th in the CFP poll.
• Wanna root for someone to buck the system? Create anarchy? The Bearcats are your team.
• Illinois suspended all-American candidate Kofi Cockburn for the first three games of the season for selling his school-issued gear online. This didn't fall under NIL rules, and when the gear went on sale, Cockburn at the time was expected to go into the NBA Draft.
• But he didn't. Go pro, that is. Officially. Oops.
• Recommendations for NCAA constitutional change are being leaked…schools who self-report violations should receive more or better credit for that self-reporting…independent investigations should be discontinued after the current FBI basketball cases are completed…and penalties should punish 'bad actors' instead of innocent athletes.
• That the NCAA isn't already doing these things is part of the problem to begin with. And their heavy hand hit Oklahoma State hard this week…punishing plenty of innocent athletes.
• The Sun Belt Conference is adding schools. Conference USA is not only considering controversial Liberty to stay alive but has also had discussions with UConn as a football-only member. They are also reaching into FCS (formerly 1-AA) for new membership.
• May not seem like much to you, but to the athletes, having something to play for – to compete for – means a lot.
• Oh, and compensation to play for, too. The Big East, right now, is ranked eighth among all Division I conferences by Opendorse in athlete payout through NIL – and behind non-Power 5 leagues C-USA and the Sun Belt. The Big 10 and Big 12, somewhat predictably, lead the way.
• Now, the Mid-American (MAC) Conference is looking to add. And nowhere is UMass mentioned. They've been desperately seeking Susa – er, a home for football, and for all other sports outside of hockey.
• The Minutemen are in real danger of being left far, far behind in this musical chairs' realignment process. And I can't imagine UConn remaining behind in football purgatory (i.e. independent) will be a sign of positivity for their program, either. Just sayin'.
• Former Xavier hoopster and AAC associate commissioner Brian Thornton is apparently going to become the next commissioner of the WAC, sez Pete Thamel at Yahoo! Sports.
• The news of North Kingstown's 'naked fat tests' first reported by WPRI Channel 12, is stunning. A state championship basketball coach from two years ago, Aaron Thomas, quietly resigned his position in June, before taking a teaching job at a South Kingstown middle school.
• The criminal convictions of former USA Gymnastics' and Michigan State team doctor Larry Nassar convinced a NK student in 2018 to speak up about these 'tests.' The case is now being reviewed by the RI Attorney Generals' office.
• Excuse me, but don't the Patriots of right now look a little more like the Patriots of old did? Especially when it comes to beating a decent team like the Chargers?
• Don't look now, but there's a chance to get on a run here. Roadie at Carolina, homey with Cleveland – both are not what was originally projected. Roadie at Atlanta (please), homey with Tennessee – sans Derrick Henry.
• Yup. As a glass half-full kinda guy, the damn thing is runnin' ovah.
• But the Pats passed on the trade deadline this week. Guess there wasn't enough out there to warrant a move, despite our claims to the contrary. In Bill We Trust, or In Bill We Think is a Dope?
• I don't know about you, but an Allen Robinson or Kyle Fuller addition would have suited me just fine. Especially since they face the Wrath of Steph (Gilmore) this Sunday in Charlotte.
• The AFC is up for grabs. And you have the perceived "fave" in Buffalo TWO TIMES before we come to any conclusion. It is, literally, right there for the taking.
• If they're able take it.
• The LA Rams made their "go for it" move by acquiring Von Miller from Denver. In the AFC, there simply isn't that much room between the top echelon and the lower tier. "Go for it" should be in every contender's playbook.
• OBJ? Why not? Could be another Randy Moss. Could also be another Chad Ochocinco.
• Think your team has issues? Try the Raiders…losing Jon Gruden to his revealing emails during the WFT investigation and now receiver Henry Ruggs to a charge for DUI, resulting in death. Just an awful situation.
• Aaron Rodgers. Tsk, Tsk. Liar, liar, pants on fire…now that he's fibbed about being vaccinated. He's tested positive for Covid, yes. He's also lost any credibility he's had with the media – if it existed at all, due to his, um, rather unethical behavior.
• And how much did the Packers know? What kind of risk did he force upon his teammates? Think Jake from State Farm will give him the "Rodgers rate?" Seems like he's a higher risk now.
• Sure, I would have been okay with Dusty Baker winning a World Series. But since we've learned some of the baseball-lifer tales from Atlanta's Brian Snitker, I'm a definite fan. 44 of his 66 years have been spent in pro baseball, working deep in the minors, moving up and down like a yo-yo.
• And now he's the second oldest manager to win a World Series, after Jack McKeon in 2003 with the Marlins.
• TV ratings for the series were up 21% from last year's Covid-impacted games, and down 19% from the year prior…making 2021 ratings the second lowest ever.
• Hey Jaylen and Jayson? Pass the damn ball. Thank you, signed Celtics fans. And Marcus Smaht, too. But that's part of the problem – Smaht is only shooting 28% from three…maybe that's why he isn't getting it?
• Man, they still seem like a hot mess, save for this week's wins in Orlando and Miami, and still under .500. Wasn't this Brad's problem last year, that a new coach was supposed to come in and correct?
• That 4th quarter collapse to the Bulls Monday night brought new meaning to the word "ugly." Five losses in their first seven games is Boston's worst start in 15 years.
• And as if you needed any further proof of this utter desolation…the Celtics are the first team in the shot clock era (since 1954!) to have lost by 14 or more points after LEADING by 14 or more points going into the 4th quarter.
• That took some (poor) effort. Whoa.
• But a reported Tuesday team meeting followed, and the b2b wins in Florida also followed. So…more meetings?
• The McPlant burger? Really? Ronald has that huge marketing machine behind him, and we get "McPlant?" I get the plant-based thing, but that ain't exactly appetizing.
• Former Friar uber goalie Jon Gillies is back in Providence, net minding for the Bruins after joining the club from Maine. He signed a deal with the Mariners after spending the last three years in the AHL in Stockton, CA in the Calgary organization, where he was originally drafted.
• Is there anything else to add to the Revs' storyline for this season? It's been unreal to watch unfold, replete with new logo and branding, dominating in the MLS regular season like no other team has before them.
• Here's something to add – can you win in the postseason? Like, win the actual MLS Cup? It's really the only thing missing from their historical resume…oh-for-five all time.
• Wanna run in next years' Boston Marathon? You'll need to be fully vaxxed and show proof of that vax before you can pick up your runners' bib next spring. The Boston Athletic Association made the announcement this week…with the race scheduled to return on Patriots' Day, April 18th.
• Tom in Florida, an ever-persistent vax-questioner, emailed this week to say: "I keep saying it's all about personal choice. Get the message yet? Got the balls to say so?"
• Tom, this isn't about 'balls,' my friend. This also affects humans without them. It's about choice for everyone, not just you. I recognize the message, and your ability to make decisions about your personal self, of course. I share your beliefs. We live in a great country, allowing us that privilege.
• But what I also share, along with most of this country and the planet, is the belief that this pandemic has been…and is still…serious. It has led to more than 700K Americans losing their lives.
• We are simply learning to adapt to it. We're resilient if nothing else. So, you'll of course respect my decision to vax, to mask up when asked or when necessary, and to trust the decades of science that have turned us from a pre-industrial society into one that eradicates disease and flies humans to outer space over a span of about 100 years. Right?
• Your own state has had several vaccine mandates in place for decades, and Americans have had them in place for more than a century. So, you'll also respect my decision to be perturbed by those who exercise their personal 'rights' even if they are not for the common good, interfere with 'my rights' or appear to come from nothing more than petulant whiners, right?
• Or, I could probably just stay the hell away. Easier and safer.
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? 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! Would appreciate the follow on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and join in on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
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