Thinking out loud…while wondering what's coming for us next…pestilence?
• Expectation, thy name is New England.
• You can also throw spoiled, unrealistic, corrupted…even puerile into the mix here.
• Go ahead, look it up. Tell me I'm wrong.
• What you can't call this region, is disloyal. To the point of being a bit loony or short-sighted, sure.
• Fans are gonna be fanatic, always. Our team is better than yours. We lost? We'll get ya' next time.
• Except around here – it's "we lost? Damn ownership/manager/coach/player isn't worth a plugged nickel."
• And what exactly is a plugged nickel worth? Not much – unless you find one today.
• It's our expectations that drive our unrealistic feelings toward our teams, coaches, and players. When they win, they should always win. When they stink, well, we'll support them because we're loyal.
• But when they stink after winning? That's an entirely different scenario – one we're unaccustomed to experiencing (much, except for the Sox) – and one we are presently facing with at least three of the Big Four pro teams in our neighborhood.
• Keeping the Revs out of this mess, for now…since they're clearly achieving-to-overachieving at present. Go ahead, check the standings. What league are they in?
• How bad is it, really, for the Red Sox? Four World Series titles in 17 seasons. From
first to worst to back to first, too. One banner for the Yankees over that same time frame. Something to celebrate and tear your hair out all at nearly the same time.
• That the current Sox were swept by an equally inept Yankees' team (albeit with higher expectations) earlier this week is tear-your-hair-out stuff, of course.
• In effect, it was the left hook to the many body blows this team has endured thus far this season. Time to throw in the towel. With all apologies due to Dan Shaughnessy here – the Sox are the "tomato cans."
• Trying to put on a positive spin here, in all seriousness. There's no way, even in our wildest (realistic) imaginations, the Sox' success thus far could have been envisioned before the season started.
• They magnificently overachieved and entertained for 100 games. But as has been said several times here previously…this Old Towne Team just ain't that good.
• You're seeing that now. Pitchers who can't pitch without sticky stuff, hitters who don't hit with runners on base or swing at pitches in the strike zone…and defenders who don't defend very well.
• These Sox are pressing the issue and trying too hard to right these wrongs. But they can't.
• Stop watching them through your rose-colored shades and face facts – John Henry and Tom Werner want it this way. So does Chaim Bloom, who toes the company line.
• That doesn't mean you have to like it or support it. But you will. And they know it. That's why they should be giggling like schoolgirls today. You bought in.
• They knew what they had. Others, especially many in our media, did not.
• Bloom said after the trading deadline had passed in the face of criticism over not improving the team enough…"if that's who you think this group is, I don't think you should've believed in them in the first place."
• He's right. And I didn't. But many others did…by root, root, rooting for the home team…hence much of the angst that exists today over not making a significant move at the trade deadline.
• This season has shown a fundamental shift in ownership ideology. Gone is the 'win at all costs' mindset. The luxury tax IS a salary cap. Today – it's all about staying under that cap and printing $$$ by containing costs.
• If you win, meh…it's a side benefit. But hey, how about that marketing campaign?
• Stinks, doesn't it? But you'll keep coming back. We all do. And we'll keep expecting better than what we get.
• As such, I will reserve the right to raise an eyebrow every so often. And keep my tongue in cheek.
• 'Cuz I know da' truth. So do you…if you choose to see it. It's right in front of you, every game.
• Who else saw the irony in Anthony Rizzo's rocket off Bobby Dalbec's glove last Wednesday night?
• Don't be surprised to see the Sawx figure out a way to crawl back into the AL East race…the Rangers, Twins and Orioles are still on the schedule. Then again, so are the Rays, Yankees and White Sox.
• The WooSox' Yairo Munoz hitting streak was snapped at 35 games this week, which still broke Dom DiMaggio's 72-year organizational record of 34 straight games with at least one hit.
• Still qualifies as a 'whoa' moment, to me. And no room for him or his bat on the big club?
• Hope you've been able to watch a little bit of the Angels' Shohei Ohtani this season. We might not see a player with his talent playing baseball again for, oh, another hundred years?
• Expectations for the Patriots will always be sky-high. And largely unrealistic. But that's what a 20-year dynastic run will do to a fan base…and the media who follow them.
• Still rather have that kind of a run than not have it, amiright?
• Think I jinxed 'em. I mentioned here a few weeks ago my nervousness over the early injuries piling up at tight end for the Patriots…and that Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith couldn't get on the field at the same time.
• Anyone get a look at the depth chart at the position before playing the Eagles?
• I feel kinda duped. I mean, from everything I read about the joint practices with the Eagles last week, what I listened to and watched…it seemed Philly was manhandling the Patriot players in those workouts.
• And then…35-0? C'mon man. No one covering this team saw that coming. No one.
• Yeah, yeah. It's preseason, nothing to get worked up about. But it should be interesting when the Giants come to Foxboro for workouts (and open to the public) Wednesday and Thursday this week, right?
• Just a word of caution, however. Several of your favorite media scribes, TV and radio voices may be watching those practices through Patriot-colored lenses…
• Two observations from that fiasco in Philly: 1) The Patriots' running game may be as good as it gets in the NFL this season, and 2) Matt Judon's move from Baltimore to New England may qualify as the single-biggest free agent heist of the off-season.
• Hyperbole much?
• Loved Cam Newton calling out Eagles' safety K'Von Wallace as "glitter." Wallace had called Cam the "checkdown King" as he didn't throw the ball downfield much. So Cam responded with "oh, that's glitter…he was cheerleading a lot on the sideline. Cheerleaders usually have glitter on."
• Z-i-n-g. Now, that's entertainment.
• They'll forever be noted for blowing the biggest lead in Super Bowl history. At least until some team can come back from more than a 25-point deficit. But the Atlanta Falcons are also the first NFL team to have a 100% vax rate.
• Will they get rings for that? A banner, maybe? Just sayin'.
• Covidiot of the Week: Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich has kept his opinions on Covid to himself, even though he was the only Pac-12 coach NOT to show up for the league media day…and in-person appearances were vaccine-required.
• And now, thanks to a vax mandate by Washington's governor that all faculty, staff, contractors and coaches at the state's public schools be vaccinated…Rolovich could be fired for not getting a shot.
• Hmmm. Get a shot, potentially saving yourself and the lives of others (like his fellow coaches and players) or lose a multi-million-dollar job? Yeah, stupid is as stupid does.
• The NHL, like the NFL and MLB before it, will be requiring vaccinations from media members looking to talk to players in person. Wicket smaht.
• Speaking of the NFL, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is requiring ALL fans who wish to
attend home games to be vaccinated. This makes the Raiders the first American pro team to announce such a policy. Children under 12 must also wear masks.
• Even Raiders' owner Mark Davis described the decision to have all fans vaxxed as 'something bigger than any single person.'
• Will they be the last, or only "team" to do this?
• Oracle Park and Citi Field (homes of the SF Giants and NY Mets) already ask fans for vax passports…as will the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
• Stop the presses. Apparently, there is no God-given right to attend baseball or football games. It does remain, however, a personal choice…at least in some places.
• Not for nuthin', but why has there been so much disdain, so much ridicule – so much hate – on Tim Tebow?
• So, he didn't pan out at QB like he (or you) planned. So, he didn't exactly make the jump to viable professional baseball player. So, he didn't succeed in his comeback at tight end with Jacksonville.
• Still won a Heisman. Still appears to be an upstanding, do-things-right kinda human. He never hurt one of my fantasy teams, either.
• The NCAA will now use the "March Madness" branding for the women's basketball tournament.
• Wait, wut?
• The Friars are joining the digital wave, as all season tickets for the upcoming hoop season will be fully mobile.
• Some folks, undoubtedly, will be upset with being forced into a new, touchless society. Save your old ticket stubs – they may be headed the way of the dinosaurs.
• With the college sports seasons getting started (soccer, field hockey, football around the corner), the Big East announced an agreement with FloSports to become the home provider for the Big East Digital Network.
• In addition to BEDN coverage supplied by the league, Providence will also stream all of its remaining home events on the FloSports platform for men's and women's soccer, field hockey, volleyball, women's basketball, softball and men's lacrosse.
• URI's basketball non-league schedule features playing in Daytona, FL in the Sunshine Slam, home games with Bryant, Brown and Boston College – and maybe a 2nd game against the Eagles in Florida. Plus the PC encounter at the Dunk Dec. 4th, of course.
• Jersey patches are IN for the NHL. Starting for 2022-23. It's all about revenue streams, or did you not get that memo?
• And this will be on top of the helmet ads already in place for hockey. Why? Here are your rea$on$...
• NHL revenue fell 14% year over year from 2019-20. Operating income fell 68%. Team values? Dropped two percent – the first such decline for the league in 20 years.
• NBA jersey patches bring in an estimated $150 million to its' teams, annually. 'Nuff said?
• I'm okay with Marcus Smart's new contract with the Celtics. Provided there's a statute of limitations on the number of threes he can shoot in one game.
• Tweet of the Week, from @davidwade: "Is there an addendum in Marcus Smart's new contract that says he can't shoot more than 10 times a game? If so, I'm good with it."
• Jackie MacMullen is retiring from ESPN at the end of August. To say she's one of the most respected basketball writers and journalists in the business is a huge understatement.
• 40 years covering the NBA. The first woman to receive the "Curt Gowdy Media Award" from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. 20 outstanding years at the Globe. How lucky have we been to have had two of the best – and most prominent – women covering hoops BOTH be from New England?
• Jackie and Doris Burke. Yeah, we've been spoiled.
• Now I've heard everything. After being hugely responsible for mankind moving its' buying habits away from brick-and-mortar stores to online shopping…Amazon is reportedly looking into buying…wait for it…physical stores in California and Ohio.
• Aren't the best things in life "free?" Plus, shipping and handling, of course.
• My buddy "Big E" sez he no longer tells his problems to anyone, other than Mrs. E. 20% of the people he knows don't care, and the other 80% are glad he has them.
• Overheard this week while waiting for a cheeseburger – two pre-teens arguing over a video game they were playing (while also waiting for a food order) called "In da Hood." I'm largely unfamiliar with it, but this exchange sure caught my attention.
• "I don't have enough money to buy guns. I'm gonna go get an axe." Followed by, "I need to go shoot up that school."
• And we wonder why society is in the shape it's in?
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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