Thinking out loud…while wondering when Jay Z became a Rock God?
• Is it a Hall of Fame, or should it be a Hall of Good?
• Or even a Hall of Just Hanging Around Long Enough to Get Noticed?
• The very definition of "Hall of Fame" is a 'memorial commemorating the achievements of a particular group of people, especially athletes in a specified sport…usually chosen by a group of electors…to mark their fame in their field.'
• Fairly vague, and open to interpretation. I've never been one to just throw anyone into a Hall, or even make the argument someone should be chosen for a Hall of Fame because they had a couple of good years, or because they were popular.
• Did they maintain dominance in their field, or sport, over a number of years? Were they among the very best to do what they did against all others during their time?
• Were they considered "illustrious?" Do they have lasting distinction within their chosen field? Does their talent stand the test of time?
• This goes for non-sport Halls of Fame as well. Illustrious talent and distinction come in all walks of life.
• Pete Rose is a Hall of Famer, without question. Maybe he cheated. Maybe he did the sport and his character a great disservice by gambling on the game, and his team, once-upon-a-time. But did the man play ball, and play it better than most?
• Of course he did. The all-time leader in hits? It's not a Hall of Character, or Hall of Smart, or a Hall of Good Behavior. I've never understood those who feel Rose and those like him (hello, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds) aren't worthy on talent alone.
• Because they most certainly are. It isn't a Hall of Good or Being Good, or a Hall of Good Behavior. It's a Hall of Fame. A museum, a snapshot in time. Right or wrong, those who have created the fame belong in it.
• This being said, it's hard to argue against any of those chosen for the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021. I mean, you could though. Chris Bosh? But that's just me.
• As contributors to the sport, the Big East certainly came up big. Commissioner Val Ackerman was the first WNBA president/commissioner – as the league celebrates 25 years of existence – and took over the Big East after the conference imploded and re-shaped nearly a decade ago...and it remains very much a force in the sport today.
• Villanova's Jay Wright. Do we really need to expand upon his history, other than to say he's simply turned Villanova basketball into a true national blueblood? He's now one of eight current coaches so enshrined.
• The Philadelphia Enquirer's now-retired writer Mel Greenberg may be unfamiliar to many, but to those who follow the women's game (right, Edward in East Providence?) he almost single-handedly brought the sport into relevance with his coverage since Title IX became the law.
• Cotton Fitzsimmons. My one-time mentor and protector when I got started in the NBA at the age of 23. He was the coach of the San Antonio Spurs when I was a young broadcaster, and he always made sure to check on me when we were on the road because, you know, young guys might do things…while on the road.
• That feat alone is Hall of Fame-worthy, unbeknownst to most of the free world. But he did coach in Phoenix, Kansas City, Atlanta and Buffalo, too, and was a two-time NBA Coach of the Year. He passed away in 2004.
• Mike Gorman receives the Curt Gowdy Award, given annually to an outstanding writer or broadcaster – and gets to go into the Hall with Paul Pierce AND Bill Russell (for his 2nd time). Now THAT'S cool.
• For someone who started at WNBH in New Bedford, moved to WPRO in Providence to work with the late, great Walter "Salty" Brine, became a TV guy (and a predecessor of mine) at WPRI Channel 12 before moving into his 'fame' with the Big East, ESPN and certainly the Celtics…I'm sure it's humbling.
• But Mike, you're good. You've always been good. You've said the right things at the right time, understated when you needed to be, energetic and emotional when it was called for. You've been the voice for an iconic franchise, with many legendary players and moments.
• It's only right that you follow them into Springfield. Proud to call you a friend.
• And can someone – anyone – tell me why Joe Mullaney is not in the Basketball Hall of Fame? Ignorance is no excuse.
• Do we put Jayson Tatum squarely into the superstardom spotlight now…based on what we've seen of late this season? Or, is he more of a mercurial personality who plays to his ever-changing moods?
• Dude has talent, it's obvious. But his uncanny knack for 'coasting' from time to time – Covid or no Covid – is what is maddening, and it appears to rub off on the wrong teammates. This Celtics' team cries out for strong, veteran leadership.
• What do you think, Danny?
• Kyrie vs. Jayson. If the series boils down to just this, maybe the Celtics win a couple. But does Tatum get any consistent help against the other Nets' stars?
• Marv Albert is iconic, if nothing else. His sharp, succinct broadcast style is one that I've often admired, and occasionally mimicked. But there's only one Marv. Yes!
• His retirement from the mic after an incredible 58 years, beginning on the radio in 1963, seems almost unbelievable. An NBA season without Marv? You're kidding, amiright?
• My earliest memories of listening to basketball on the radio usually have Albert involved, and I didn't grow up anywhere near New York. His TV work has been equally praised and copied, and he's one of the few to overcome a public black eye (in a sex case nearly 25 years ago) and recover much of his reputation.
• Because he has been good. Thanks Marv, for the memories, the teaching moments to neophytes like me, and for the entertainment.
• PC lost a recruit this week? Get used to it. It will happen to a lot of teams in this era of Free Agency. The programs that succeed through it will have Plans B, C and D ready to roll.
• The college transfer portal for men's basketball surpassed 1600 this week. That's now more than one out of every three Division I players in the country…moving (or still hoping to move) to new programs.
• Georgetown's Jamari Sibley and Marquette's Dexter Akanno (Oregon State) and Jose Perez (Manhattan) are among this week's additions.
• Updating the locals/Big East and the number of transfers leaving the program: Butler (2), Boston College (6), Brown (3), Bryant (6), Boston University (2), UConn (3), Central Connecticut (7), Creighton (3), DePaul (8), Fairfield (3), Georgetown (3), Hartford (6), Harvard (2), Holy Cross (3), Marquette (7), UMass (3), Merrimack (2), Northeastern (2), Providence (4), Quinnipiac (3), URI (2), Seton Hall (4), St. John's (8), UMass Lowell (2), Villanova (1), Xavier (3), Yale (1).
• That's whacked. Just sayin'.
• There's simply more and more freedom for college athletes these days than ever before. The Pac-12 and Big West Conferences have announced they are also doing away with intraconference transfer rules, joining the ACC and the MAC.
• This means that athletes can transfer to schools, without delay, within their current league affiliations. The SEC and Big 12 are expected to reach decisions on this rule by next month.
• NCAA updates: 1) Student athletes not eligible for the one-time transfer exception – including those who transfer for a 2nd time – will need to meet an education-impacting disability guideline to compete right away without sitting out.
• 2) The name-image-likeness issue will be acted upon and current legislative proposals considered during meetings June 22nd and 23rd. The effective date of any NIL legislation enacted, to match states with impending laws on the books, will be July 1st.
• Pending any Covid changes, the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York goes off Nov. 18th and 19th for the Friars…with Louisville, Oklahoma State and Gonzaga.
• The tourney was won by Villanova last year (at Mohegan Sun), and BC beat URI for 3rd place. The Friars took it in 2017, in New York, beating Washington and Saint Louis.
• Providence vs. Preseason Number One Gonzaga – on Broadway this November – anyone?
• Not for nuthin', but Villanova is likely to be ranked #2, right behind the Zags. UConn and Xavier are also likely to gain some Top 25 preseason mention. The Athletic this week had the Wildcats 2nd and the Huskies 22nd.
• If David Duke had returned, PC would be getting some of that national run. The Friars probably pencil in right now in the 3-4-5 range within the league. After that in the Big East, it's a crapshoot.
• There was no doubt that PC-URI would return to the schedule for next season, and CBS' Jon Rothstein leaked out Saturday, December 4th at the Dunkin Donuts Center as the date to circle for the calendar.
• It won't be New England-Tampa Bay territory, but after missing last season's grudge match and fueling the rivalry's fire over scheduling issues, it should still be a tough ticket.
• After sitting out '20-21, Brown will open the Paradise Jam Friday, Nov. 19th against Creighton.
• Other Big East teams in early-season (MTE) tournaments: Marquette @ Charleston Classic, Villanova @ Hall of Fame Tip-Off, Butler @ Maui, Seton Hall @ Fort Myers Tip-Off, UConn @ Battle 4 Atlantis, Xavier @ Preseason NIT, Georgetown @ Wooden Legacy, St. John's @ Gotham Classic.
• Nothing yet for URI or Bryant on that front, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. Several openings in several venues remain.
• Hartford's last year in Division I certainly looks interesting to start – at the Duke MTE (multiple team event), most likely to face the Blue Devils.
• Fans in Hartford are already warming up. School president Gregory Woodward was booed and heckled during commencement ceremonies last week. He then left the proceedings. So much for the momentum of their first-ever NCAA dance ticket, huh?
• And it looks as if we can count on Louisville basketball to bring us all back to a sense of normalcy within the game. This time it's charging extortion (by ex-assistant Dino Gaudio), and then tattle-tailing back to the Feds (which Louisville did)…all while remaining under investigation for previous violations.
• Can't make this stuff up. Louisville cornered the market on extortion with Karen Sypher and Rick Pitino 12 years ago, didn't they? The program should be slapped silly. Stupid is as stupid does.
• Best line I saw this week, from Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde, on Louisville's program: "Would the so-called NCAA Death Penalty be too strict for a program that has become Repeat Violatorville?"
• Bryant lax led 4th seeded Virginia starting the 4th quarter, but ultimately fell 13-11 in the NCAA opening round. The baseball team, meanwhile, clinched its ninth straight NEC regular-season title, and will be the top seed for the league tournament (and NCAA bid) Memorial Day weekend.
• PC's Abbey Wheeler, Laura Mooney and Orla O'Connor finished 1-2-3 in the Big East 10K meter race at the Big East Championships. For Wheeler, in her first-ever 10K event, it was her 3rd Big East title.
• Pigs must be flying in Palo Alto, CA. Stanford this week announced it was reinstating 11 varsity sports set for elimination last summer, largely due to the pandemic, thanks to an 'improved financial picture' and 'newly galvanized philanthropic interest.' Money does, indeed, talk.
• The "power" in Power 5? The SEC just gave $23 million to each of its' 14 member schools to help cover pandemic-related losses. Losses were estimated at $45 million per school.
• My buddy "Big E" sez Mrs. E has had trouble with hiccups. She went to see her doctor, where after an exam he told her she was pregnant. She drove home, frantic, wondering what in the world she would tell Big E.
• She told him. He called the doctor, incredulous. "Doc, are you absolutely sure my wife is pregnant? She is 60 years old, she has two grown children and several grandkids, and you told her she was pregnant?"
• The doctor replied, "does she still have the hiccups?"
• To mask, or not to mask? That is the question on many minds these days. 'Tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous public opinion, or to take arms against a sea of confounding CDC discomfiture?
• Hey, do whatever you feel you need to do, Shakespeare.
• So here's the deal for Gillette and the Patriots – they're expecting 100% capacity. Fans, however, will still have a 'health promise' accompanying their tickets that will keep them from suing the team or the NFL if they get sick from Covid-19.
• If you've tested positive, or been exposed to someone who is positive, you will be asked to stay home. There won't be any restrictions, pending a yet-to-be-made decision on mask-wearing, for those who have received vaccinations.
• Probably best to vax up if you plan to go into a crowd. Otherwise, good luck with that. Not sure who you'd be fooling, except yourself, by saying you've been vaccinated…when you haven't.
• The Red Sox say you can go mask-less at Fenway beginning May 29th, provided you've been vax'd. That's great and all…but will this be on the honor system only?
• The Celtics and Bruins, sadly, may no longer be active for this season by the time restrictions are lifted over the upcoming holiday. We shall see, of course.
• What I love most about the way the Bruins are playing right now? That I'm never too late to turn on the TV to catch 'em. It'll go into overtime, anyway.
• Looks like the Patriots 17-year streak of at least one undrafted free agent making the final roster could be over. It's a cute story about opportunity, finding diamonds in the rough, that kind of thing…but it doesn't hold a ton of meaning in the overall big picture of getting this team back into contention.
• Plus, there's simply been better talent out in the open marketplace this year due to the salary cap structure. Why choose rookies when you can get veterans?
• I know why Brian Hoyer is back. Because the Patriots value his experience, if not his talent. And…why not? They also have three kickers and two long-snappers on the current roster.
• Only four of the eight opt-outs from the coronavirus pandemic last season are set to return this year for the Patriots: Dont'a Hightower, Danny Vitale, Matt LaCosse and Brandon Bolden.
• Of those, only Hightower and Bolden figure prominently into plans as of today. Vitale and LaCosse have mucho work to do to make the final roster. Moral of the story?
• Be there or be square.
• Julio Jones to the Patriots for a #2 pick to Atlanta? Too high, even for an all-Pro talent. The Falcons are in tough shape financially, hence the need to trade him. Play hard(er) ball…but keep him out of Baltimore, too.
• Why Week 4 for TB12's return? Two reasons: 1) Brady could, possibly, surpass Drew Brees' all-time NFL passing yardage record by the 4th week of the season. That would be nuts. 2) The networks don't have faith in the Patriots over the long haul of the season. Early, no one is eliminated.
• Hear that? The thunder you're hearing in the distance are both the Rays and Yankees charging in the AL East, as most pundits opined they would before the Sox seasonal surge began.
• Solid move, and the right move, by the Red Sox Foundation to restore funding opportunities for Massachusetts youth baseball programs, including Little League and RBI teams. I mean, why should the kids suffer because adults can't put political or organizational differences aside?
• Major League Baseball has six no-hitters already this season? And we're barely seven weeks into it? With all due respect for the accomplishment, that tells me hitters just ain't hittin'. Much.
• But…baseball appears to be bouncing back on TV. Sunday Night Baseball is up 34% on ESPN, and the first 18 days of the season racked up 1.3 billion minutes watched on MLB.tv. Up 12%.
• Certainly, kudos to those reaching the Class of 2021 announced last week for the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. The Foo Fighters are a personal favorite, Carole King deserves being in the Hall as a performer as much as being a writer, and Todd Rundgren? Tina Turner?
• Icons of a different era and deserving.
• And I suppose that also includes Jay Z, who was also selected as a performer…except that I never really considered hip hop as rock 'n roll. This goes back to when Grandmaster Flash was inducted what, nearly 15 years ago? Hip hop is more deserving of its' own genre, IMO.
• And perhaps, along with rap, its own Hall.
• Part of the heritage of music entertainment? Of course. But rock 'n roll? Not in the image of Elvis Presley, or the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, or even the Foo Fighters. They're as different as ham and eggs…even if they are inexorably tied together.
• But no Iron Maiden? No Motley Crue? No Ozzy Osbourne? C'mon man. This music biz, sometimes, is one crazy train.
• Joe in Florida emailed on the Friars of late: "Trust me. I have a lot of friends that are saying 'Fire Ed' and I tell them they are crazy. I'm old enough to remember Gary Walters, not to mention Gordy Chiesa and Keno Davis!"
• Joe, always appreciate your reading. Don't know what to tell your friends. You said it pretty well. Today, it's all about getting TO the Dance. I understand the frustration over not winning AT the Dance. And yes, that needs to improve. As for the recruiting issues, nearly every team in America has trouble getting/keeping/holding recruits to their original intentions.
• Only because we continue to enable them to do as they please.
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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