Thinking out loud…while wondering if we’re running out of money around here, with such a shortage of common cents…
Notice how there’s no “D” in Boston? And only a little “d” in New England?
It has never been more apparent than with the way the Bruins and Celtics played in the past week.
Listen live to WEEI
The Celtics did revive a bit of defensive resistance against the Sixers Wednesday night, largely due to the physical presence of a hobbled Joel Embiid, no doubt…but we did see what a little bit of effort on that end can bring.
Unlike the Bruins, who failed miserably at stopping the puck – or more importantly – getting the puck out of their defensive end. If you want to divide slices of blame pie for one of New England’s all-time ‘disappointments’ (and I know I’m being kind), serve them up to the blue line.
And not for nuthin’, but as much as he has meant to the Boston Bruins’ franchise – once Patrice Bergeron returned to the lineup, these Bruins didn’t win. A. Game.
Saying goodbye is hard, after 19 seasons. But it’s time. Now-37-year-old David Krejci, too. But both deserve the chance to go out on their own terms.
And if either or both decide to return for another run, can they do so by accepting a different role?
Ultimately, can the B’s crank it up with largely the same team again next year? To an extent, perhaps. But you also need to consider Jim Montgomery’s playoff decision-making on the bench, where he was largely overmatched by Florida’s Paul Maurice.
Nah, this may be a tougher off season for Don Sweeney and Cam Neely than last year was, if only for the tough decisions that will likely be required for another run…or a complete rebuild.
And if a sport’s regular season ever screamed “I’m insignificant!” louder than the NHL’s regular season just did…I haven’t heard it yet. The long, laborious NBA season looks positively riveting compared to hockey right now.
But man, that Bruins finish was stunning. Biggest Boston flop ever?
It has been a large part of this week’s conversation. For my money, however, the Red Sox’ ’86 collapse to the Mets takes the cake. The “1918!” chants still ring in these ears. Just sayin’.
I’ll slot in the ’07 Patriots next, if only because the expectations for an unbeaten season were so much taken for granted…and because of the miracle catch it ultimately took to beat them.
These Bruins grab the next slot in the Flop Rankings. Best NHL regular season record, ever, and a FIRST-round knockout to the eight-seed after holding a 3-1 series lead? C’mon, man.
Kinda like this, though: The Florida Panthers are geo-restricting ticket sales on Ticketmaster to keep Toronto fans from FLA Live Arena for their second-round matchup. Users with credit card billing addresses in Canada are banned from purchasing tickets.
As for the Celtics – they have a battle with Philly. And they shouldn’t. But they do for a couple of reasons, even if they’re more talented top-to-bottom:
1) Love Joe Mazzulla, but Doc Rivers knows how to push buttons and call the shots. He owned Joe in Game One. 2) The Celtics’ penchant for chucking up three’s is nauseating. Missed three’s lead to long rebounds, which can lead to break outs the other direction.
From ESPN: The C’s shot 58% in Game One, committed just 10 fouls, and lost. In NBA history, teams were 23-0 before this defeat when shooting better than 55% from the floor and committing 10 fouls or less.
Boston also has NINE losses as a double-digit favorite, the most for any team in 32 seasons.
Congrats Boston, you’ve got more negative records to celebrate. But the Celts can win the series and render these numbers meaningless if they remember to defend – which they did in Game Two – and rebound. They allowed a measly 87 points Wednesday, their fewest allowed this year.
It’s all right there for the taking. The Celtics are the saving grace for New England. They are the chance to break a title drought of 1550+ days – and counting – since a championship was last won in New England…the longest drought in 21 years around here.
Yeah, we’re spoiled. But expectant, nevertheless.
Here’s a thought. If Mike Budenholzer is out as HC of the Milwaukee Bucks following their stunning playoff collapse, shouldn’t the B’s Jim Montgomery also feel a little heat upcoming?
Providence’s Bruins were almost ready to bow out as quickly as the big club did…dropping the first two of a best-of-five second round Calder Cup playoff against Hartford – at home.
But the PB’s managed a road win Wednesday to stay alive, if only because they discovered some offense along the way. They scored just one goal in their first two games at the AMP, then smacked the Wolf Pack for six in a 6-3 win-or-play-golf effort at the XL Center.
My buddy “Big E” sez he knew the best time to start thinking about his retirement. Before his boss did.
St. John’s gets two this week, Oregon State transfer forward Glenn Taylor and incoming Top 100 freshman forward Brady Dunlap from California. Rick Pitino edges a bit closer to getting his team together in New York.
Seton Hall also picked up a 6-10, 250-pound big man in Santa Clara (by way of Alabama) transfer Jaden Bediako.
Creighton grabbed two former high school teammates of current forward Mason Miller in Johnathan Lawson (transfer from Memphis) and 6-10 Brock Vice for added depth – or to replace Arthur Kaluma, Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner should they remain in the NBA Draft.
URI is picking up 6-7 Louisiana Tech transfer forward David Green, who played in just six games last season because of various injuries. Two years ago, he averaged 7.4 points, three rebounds and shot nearly 35% from three-point range.
Portal update: As of midweek this week, the number of transfers in the portal topped 1600. And the portal door for players (for this year, at least) closes next week, on May 11th.
Lost in the shuffle of players around the country leaving are three that are staying for Coach Erin Batth and the PC women’s team – Kylee Sheppard, Grace Efosa and Olivia Olsen. A good foundation returns to continue the build-out process.
Saw a remarkable thing this week – PC’s men’s season tickets are s-s-sold OUT, already, for a basketball season that is six months away from tipping off. That’s never happened here, in the long, historical 96-year run for Friar hoops.
Sure, kudos to Steve Napolillo, athletic ticketing and marketing, and the coaches, players, and administration for creating this atmosphere leading up to this moment in time. It’s culture taking root…and growing. Kudos to you for recognizing it and feeding it.
Don’t ask me for a “draft grade” for the Patriots, or any other team for that matter. It’s idiotic, really, to grade someone or some team for a performance that has yet to happen.
Draft POTENTIAL is a different story. And on potential alone, the Patriots certainly opened a few eyes with the guys they took early…CB Christian Gonzalez and DE Keion White weren’t expected to be where they were.
But I’m still floored this team didn’t take an offensive tackle, even though Sidy Sow, 4th round from E. Michigan, can play it. And the team didn’t take a receiver until the 6th round with Kayshon Boutte from LSU, who also became the first draftee to sign a contract this week.
It simply tells me they like what they already have. And if they coach it up like they should, we might like it, too.
Four players with local ties were signed to NFL free agent deals this week, three from URI: CB Jordan Jones (Rams), TE Caleb Warren (Seahawks), and WR Ed Lee (Patriots) will compete for jobs. Brown RB Allen Smith was signed by the defending champ Kansas City Chiefs.
You won’t have to wait much longer. This next week, on or about May 11th, you’ll be able to plan your life with the NFL regular season schedule release.
Speaking of waiting – beginning in 2024 (and running into January 2025) the College Football Playoff will expand to 12 teams and run right into the NFL playoffs.
You want football nirvana? How about the national college semifinals during the week (Thu-Fri) of NFL Wild Card weekend (Sat-Sun-Mon)? Five days, eight games, high stakes, and pedal-to-the-metal intensity in January.
Eventually, the CFP will try to avoid, and compete with, the NFL. But for a couple of years, anyway, football fans can experience what college basketball fans get during March Madness – sensory overload.
And will anyone watch? You betcha. The three college games (semifinal and final) drew 20.4 million viewers this year…and Wild Card Weekend drew 28.4 million. But this isn’t the college game trying to compete against the pros or be like the NFL.
This is each sport playing off the other in order to improve the football product…and draw more fans of their own from one another. If you thought football was a juggernaut now, wait a couple of years.
Fans have short memories. Mike Vrabel certainly deserves his election into the Patriots Hall of Fame, which was announced this week. But it’s way past time for the franchise, its’ fans, and probably its’ owners…to recognize Bill Parcells.
It is hard to maintain perspective when you’ve won six Super Bowls in the past 22 years. That is understood. But those of a certain age and level of experience who were there for crowds of 25K inside the concrete icebox that was Foxboro Stadium…watching a team that simply couldn’t compete (or do you not know/remember 1-15 in 1990?)…know that his arrival changed the attitude here, and the perception elsewhere.
You got your street cred from Parcells simply being here. You got your bragging rights, your rings and trophies, your respect – from Bill Parcells starting it off. You got your right to be angry about his ugly divorce from the team…from him, too.
But you wouldn’t have that grudge if he weren’t here in the first place, doing these things. Like putting the Patriots ON THE MAP in the first place.
Upon further review…Super Bowl LVII (Chiefs-Eagles) is now the most watched of all time, surpassing the Patriots’ win over the Seahawks in XLIX (114.4m). Fox’s numbers were re-calculated at 115.1 million viewers through all platforms, updated through the Nielsen ratings system.
You didn’t expect politics and the internet to play a factor in football TV ratings, did you?
Ok, we bag on ‘em a lot. Not that it hasn’t been deserving. But suddenly, the Red Sox are out from last place in the AL East, and technically are in a wild card spot.
Imagine what this team might do if it had any pitching.
And the New York Yankees (giggle, giggle…snort!) are now occupying the basement.
Yes, there’s too much season left. But they did improve their outlook this week by exorcising a big demon from last season – beating the Toronto Blue Jays four straight games for the first time in 21 seasons. They were 3-16 against the Jays a year ago.
Chris Sale this week recorded an out in the 7th inning of a game he started for the first time in nearly four years. Ten straight starters have gone five-plus, so that’s progress, I guess.
Masataka Yoshida’s hit streak, going into the weekend, is at 14 straight games and leading the major leagues. When does the “I told you so” smirk cross Chaim Bloom’s face?
What has happened to the clutch gene among athletes around here? It may have disappeared on the ice and may be flickering on the basketball court…but we may have found someone on the baseball field who still has it – the Sox’ Alex Verdugo.
Verdugo already has three walk-off hits for Boston to win this season, the latest coming on a home run earlier this week against Toronto. Alex Speier of the Globe noted he has SIX walk-offs since the 2021 season…tying him with the Yankees’ Aaron Judge for second-most in that span.
Is the Sox’ faith in their younger players (Connor Wong, Jarren Duran, Josh Winckowski) paying off, or are they just fortunate the rest of baseball doesn’t (yet) know them well enough? A little of both is likely.
Two weird-and-wild notes from MLB this week: 1) Miami’s Luis Arraez was hitting .438 leading into May. That’s the highest average for any player at this point of a season since Barry Bonds in 2004. 2) Only one player has had a .400 average at the end of May in the last 20 years – Atlanta’s Chipper Jones (.413 in 2008).
You probably missed it. But rest assured they aren’t missing it at BC, UConn and Northeastern. All three college baseball programs are ranked in the nation’s Top 25 this week.
Alabama fired its’ baseball coach this week amid speculation that he participated in betting activity involving his team. With increasing “legal” gambling partnerships between sports, teams and the general public, who is really surprised by this?
PC men’s lacrosse team lost to top-seeded and 8th ranked Georgetown in the Big East semis Thursday. But…James Corasaniti was named goalkeeper of the year in the Big East.
Providence’s 4x1500m women’s relay team was a winner at the prestigious Penn Relays this week. Alex O’Neill (Ennis, Ireland), Shannon Flockhart (Longstanton, England), Jane Buckley (Cork, Ireland) and Kimberley May (Auckland, New Zealand) won the event in a time of 17:11.35, setting a program record.
Our friends at GolfNewsRI (@golf_ri on Twitter) had some good news for golf in the state this week…as the development at the former Metacomet Country Club site in East Providence will include a new, nine-hole public course called Met Links. It should open in 2024.
The Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame inductees this year are, in a word, lacking. Sure, there are some worthy artists – The Spinners, George Michael, even Willie Nelson…who does qualify at 90 years of age for such an honor…and Soul Train founder Don Cornelius.
But no Warren Zevon? No Cyndi Lauper? No Iron Maiden? When you THINK rock ‘n roll, SEE rock ‘n roll…HEAR rock ‘n roll…who is it if not these guys?
The beauty of Halls of Fame…criteria changes with the tide, with politics, popularity, and taste. Even if they should really be based on talent, first. But that’s subjective too, isn’t it?
And the debate rages on…
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 jrbroadcaster@gmail.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 ...
Don’t forget to tune into Providence’s 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am for Cordischi and Coit! Call in at 401-737-1287 or text at 37937.