John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud!
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Thinking out loud…and thinking about vacations, while wondering whatever happened to Clark Griswold…
• In my best Clark Griswold imitation, this week comes to you from the great state of Texas…where the Swiss-family Rooke has convened for a reunion. Aunt Edna has not seen the roof of my car. Yet…
• What David Ortiz has meant to the Red Sox may now be beyond an accurate description. He will undoubtedly go down as one of the all-time greats, and someday we may see his number 34 on the right field façade at Fenway. Hitting his 400th career HR is an exclamation point on his career. But does the taint from alleged PED-use affect how we should look at him? Just sayin'...
• Big Papi’s complaining about his contractual situation is not going to end well. The Sox are trying to run a business, and Papi continues to defy/deny his age. If they were ever going to send him away, they should have done it three years ago. Now? It’s ludicrous. While they should give him the two years he desires, Ortiz’ days in Boston are probably numbered…
• I will continue to beat this drum – Boston doesn’t have enough pitching to make a serious run at anything meaningful this season. But what exactly is “meaningful?” The playoffs? A World Series? Methinks sights and expectations need to be lowered right about now…
• And when you drop three straight to the Oakland A’s, whether on the road or not, you should be publicly flogged. Five runs total in the series? 14 for the seven game road trip? Lucky there were some late night finishes…so the carnage was seen by fewer fans…YAWN…
• Somehow, someway, Darnell McDonald’s pickup by the Yankees will come back to haunt the Red Sox. Count on it…
• How about the Portland Sea Dogs’ outfield this week of Crawford, Ellsbury and Sweeney?
• Two guys down on the farm you may not know much about, but they can play…Mauro Gomez and Pedro Ciriaco. They’ve had all-star seasons for the Pawsox…and the big club is dipping into the well once again…
• And another one down on the farm that may never leave – Daniel Bard. Last time out for Pawtucket, he faced 4 batters, gave up three runs on 20 pitches…and did not record an out…
• Love this line from my cohort Scott Cordischi this week: “Is Alfredo Aceves in any way related to Heathcliff Slocumb?”
• Is anyone surprised by Kevin Youkilis’ sudden resurgence? He’s hitting better than .300 since arriving in Chicago, and making plays in the field. He’s also (relatively) healthy…
• Jason Terry’s contract agreement with the Celtics signals the desire to keep a strong veteran presence intact. He’ll be 35 before next season starts. Medicare may be included in all new Celtic contracts…
• The move also means the Celtics prepared for life without Ray. I really thought he would come back…but Terry should give them 3-point power off of the bench, at the least…
• I am surprised by Brandon Bass’ apparent return. This means the starting line-up from this past year is back…and even without Allen the bench is significantly upgraded. Sure looks like they’re building for another title run, rather than re-building the team…
• Our travels to Texas were by car – not by airplane – in an effort to actually see some of our country (great idea, Mr. Griswold), instead of flying over it. Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, with statues of Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell greeting fans as they arrive, is a great venue. The team, while short on sluggers, has a certain je ne sais quoi. And they serve Primanti’s sangwidges at the park…which is one of the all-time eats. After all, it’s always about the food…
• My buddy Statbeast sez on vacations he always tried to eat from the four food groups every day - the chocolate group, the salty-snack group, the alcohol group, and the "whatever-the-thing-in-the-tinfoil-on-the-back-of-the-rotisserie-at-the-rest-stop-is" group…
• Joey Chestnut pounded a record-tying 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes? Which begs the question…is there anything you like enough to eat 68 times – in a single sitting?
• I have always wondered why fans in the stands couldn’t see what the referees were seeing on NFL sidelines. Probably because the league didn’t ever want fans’ influence to wash over the officials’ calls…
• However, in the interest of improving the game day experience, starting this season stadium replays will be exactly what the referees and the TV audience will see. This should be interesting…
• The NFL says they won’t do it – but ALL calls should be moved upstairs into a replay booth, like they do in the college game. Then, the issue of fans’ influence should become moot. College football does it the right way…
• The ACC became the 5th major conference to align with a major bowl when they signed a 12-year deal to put a team in the Orange Bowl. This leaves the Big East as the only “major” without a major bowl tie-in for the post-BCS era. Undoubtedly, correcting this becomes a huge priority for the new commissioner…and a deal that could make or break Big East football once and for all…
• The Big East did receive some good news on the football side last week when Boise State decided (at the last minute) to remain committed to the league in football and withdraw from the Mountain West. Sighs of relief were heard all the way from San Diego to Storrs…
• Saw this Tweet from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.com this week:
“Kris Dunn's injury is unfortunate but something PC can absorb bc of Vincent Council. Big time talent. Best guard in the Big East.” Amen…
• And in case you ever wondered how some former players really feel about their alma mater, check out just how Ryan Gomes feels about his Friars…
• No Wally World on our agenda…but visiting Churchill Downs was a great sports history lesson for me. Watching the old films featuring War Admiral, Secretariat and Affirmed…and listening to the race calls…was exciting and chilling all over again. Standing on the race track at the finish line – and in the winners’ circle – was surreal. Quite the experience, even if you’re not a fan of the horses…
• And did you know that even if a thoroughbred foal is born in December, on January 1 they’re already considered to be one-year old? No matter when they’re born, every horse’s age changes with the flip of the calendar to the New Year…
• My family is celebrating its’ 100th year in the city of Fort Worth, Texas this year…which may not sound like much to New Englanders, but is significant in many other parts of the country. Especially when you consider my great-grandparents’ arrival to this country was only a short time after Texas achieved statehood…
• All things in perspective…but we live in a unique part of the country. There are houses in Providence and throughout our state that are well more than 100 years old. And many have had only one family live in them over that time, I’m sure…
• Providence is a Top-10 non-NHL hockey city? Of course it is, and has been for a long, long time. What a great tribute to the generations of fans who grew up with the Reds, watched dominant prep hockey at places like Mount St. Charles, and continue to turn out for the AHL Bruins. A D-1 program at URI would definitely get support…if only the $$$ could be found to start it…
• Stupid is as stupid does…seen on Twitter this week: “@TBTimes_Rays #Rays Luke Scott now team record 0-for-38 with foul popout in fifth inning against Indians.” Not for nuthin’…but I don’t think anyone in Red Sox nation is losing sleep over this…
• And according to CBS Sports.com, ex-URI guard Billy Baron says he’ll play for his dad at Canisius. If this is the case, good for him. Put yourself in his shoes…would you want to potentially be “the man,” or a bit-player? Those were his choices if PC or Purdue had been the ultimate destination…
• Chevy Chase, well known for his portrayal of the character Clark Griswold in the four National Lampoon's Vacation films, and for his roles in other successful comedies such as Caddyshack (1980), Fletch (1985), and ¡Three Amigos! (1986), has appeared as Pierce Hawthorne on the NBC comedy series Community since 2009. He will, however, be forever known as Griswold to this Dad and wannabe cross-country tour guide…
• Our mailbag question/comment this week comes from Joe in New York via Facebook, who responded to my overall indifference last week to Wimbledon: “With all due respect, only a non-tennis fan needs things like personalities and outrageous behavior (read: McEnroe) to keep his/her interest (in Wimbledon).” Joe: You are largely correct. My point, however, is that the sport needs the little extra “somethin’ somethin’” in order to appeal to the average viewer…and that’s how tennis (and Wimbledon) built itself into such a big deal almost 40 years ago. The personalities were larger than the game. I’ll wager that’s how you became a fan. Tennis is getting there; it’s coming back…now it needs a little emotional “push” to reel in the casual fan…
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to jrooke@golocalprov.com. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @jrooke0722…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
• And you’re up early anyway…don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text 850850…and send email to the show - golocal@weei.com .
Comments:
Sean McNamara
3:56am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
If you are of a certain age, Clark griswold is an icon, along with Cristie Brinkley.
Friars should be OK if Ledo qualifies. I don't think people around here get how special he is on the court.
My take on tennis is; nobody cares bc Americans aren't the top players. Also, the technology had dumbed down the game. No serve and volley, approaching the net. It's just smash a winner and if you miss. Smash the next one. Federer is the only true artist with a racket.
John Rooke
10:08am on Saturday, July 07, 2012
All dead on points, Sean.
Good stuff.
Vincent Hanna
11:43pm on Saturday, July 07, 2012
The Red Sox have strict requirements to have a number retired; a hall of famer and finish your career with the Sox.