John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Thinking out loud…and wondering if I’ll hit the four summer food groups this year – stuffies, doughboys, clam cakes and awful awfuls…
• If you’re expecting something profound here on Alex Rodriguez (aka A-Rod or A-Fraud), and his mess, here it is in two words. Or three. Get out…now…
• That’s it. I’m a jinx. I move to Massachusetts and the state hikes gas taxes three cents per gallon. Why do I get the feeling somehow, some way…Rhode Island will find a way to reach into my pockets from across the border?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST• There is a sales tax holiday coming again this month in MA, however. The pols taketh away, and then giveth right back. Kind of like the Red Sox bullpen…
• I’m just not enamored with the trade to bring in Jake Peavy. I understand it all…but this seemed almost like a panic-stricken “we have to do something” move. First of all, with Jon Lester’s struggles, wouldn’t Cliff Lee have been a better option? I know his contract is big, and the Phillies’ asking price was probably too high to stomach. But which move beats the Rays? Just sayin’…
• I’m also sorry to see Jose Iglesias go, even though earlier in the season he was a bench-warmer in Pawtucket. For whatever reason, he turned his game (and career?) around in very short order. Can’t help but think that will come back to haunt the Sox someday. I know there’s depth at his spot(s), but still, he showed me enough that he deserved to play here for the long haul…
• In the package of minor leaguers involved in the three-team deal with Chicago and Detroit, the departure of 20-year-old Dominican pitcher Francelis Montas to the White Sox scares me. Dude throws 100+ mph heaters. He could be throwing those AT Red Sox hitters soon…
• Not for nuthin’…but one more on Peavy. What happens, in a perfect world, when the starters are all actually healthy? Someone is going to be relegated to the bullpen. Or the bench. Or perhaps dealt away for pennies on the dollar. Lester, Buchholz, Lackey, Doubront, Dempster and Peavy. Think anyone will be happy with a six-man rotation?
• Ever seen an outfielder have an unassisted double play? Chances are you missed the one made by Johnny Gomes last Wednesday night, in the 15th inning of Boston’s 5-4 win over Seattle. The five-plus hour game started in July, and ended in August…
• I have to admit…I wasn’t much of a Red Sox fan during George “Boomer” Scott’s heyday as first baseman and resident tater farmer. Scott passed away last weekend at age 69, and I probably recall his days in New York more than I do his time in Boston. But I do remember him naming his glove “Black Beauty,” and that he was one of the better fielding players at the position in his era – maybe any era. Eight Gold Gloves at first base will do that for you…
• Godzilla has been vanquished…ICYMI, Hideki Matsui re-signed with the Yankees earlier this week, then promptly signed his retirement papers…going out with the team he started with as a major leaguer coming from Japan. In a 10-year Major League career (7 with NY), he hit .282 with 175 home runs. Maybe they could still use him? A player I truly loved to hate, but respected…
• Whoa…the Red Sox celebrated the 25th anniversary of “Morgan’s Magic” this week…that incredible stretch of games in 1988 under then-manager Joe Morgan that led the Sox back from nine down at the All-Star break to an AL East flag. And Roger Clemens was a part of it then – and also this week. Why? Well, he was the ace on the staff at the time, once dominating like few others in the game. And, thanks to his – ahem – dalliances off the field, he has a reputation to repair. And a Hall to gain…
• Why does there seem to be such hatred in some circles toward Clemens? What did he do that other players of his stature at that time DIDN’T do? They apparently cheated, lied about it…and largely were forgiven. Why not Roger? We need to throw a huge asterisk on the entire “steroids” era, say “it is what it is,” and move on…
• Did she deserve it? An Alabama TV reporter was fired from her job this week for simply being truthful, albeit in an entertaining, somewhat unconventional way…
• Shea Allen’s blog is the best – and worst – of the media business today. The suits ask reporters to blog, to be themselves…to be social…to relate to viewers/listeners/readers…to be “human.” Then all of a sudden, their judgment is poor? Can’t have it both ways, suits. Excuse me while I take this call from my boss…
• Friar fans might not care much…but maybe they should. The American Kickoff was held this week in Newport – football media day for the schools formerly residing in the Big East – and the major topic of conversation overall was remaining relevant in today’s college hierarchy. This is the next BIG thing in college sports…
• The Big 10, SEC and other “power leagues” are threatening to run away from the rest of the NCAA and play their own brand of ball…which may or may not include paying scholarship athletes. And may or may not include the schools in the American. And may or may not include all schools OUTSIDE of the power leagues (like Providence), which may or may not someday affect the real prize – the NCAA basketball tournament…
• A possible future scenario – PC and Boston College (BC is in the ACC) compete for the same player, and the player chooses BC because they can offer a $2000 stipend, while Providence cannot. Villanova head coach Jay Wright told The Sporting News this week “we want to be at the table with those guys. If they’re offering stipends, we want to offer stipends.” This is the world Providence College – and the schools in the Big East – could be entering…
• Found this bit of info interesting from CBSSports.com’s Dennis Dodd, who was at the American Kickoff in Newport this week: “T.F. Green -- The name of the former Rhode Island governor who adorns Providence's airport was shamed this week. While TSA security "agents" turned their backs, a passenger was allowed access to the 30 feet worth of valuables coming out of the X-ray machine. My wallet was among them.” Nice work, Green airport. Makin’ us all look good. Now the whole world knows RI is the “watch your wallet state…”
• Old friend John Paquette has a new job…the former Associate Commissioner for Media Relations at the Big East/American Athletic Conference “resigned” from his duties a couple of months ago, but has now been hired (re-hired?) by Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman to reprise his role as chief of league communications. And also, naturally, to continue his role as the conductor of the Madison Square Garden symphony in March known as the Big East Tournament…
• From Twitter and Facebook this week, former Friar basketball player Bilal Dixon says he is headed to Germany to play professionally, after playing this past year at Towson under former PC and URI assistant coach Pat Skerry. Dixon was seen working out this week at PC…
• And in the “good things happen to good people” department...former PC all-American Ryan Gomes has signed a one-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, returning to the NBA after playing last year in Germany. That gives the Friar program two current players in the league (Marshon Brooks in Boston & Gomes) for next year, with the possibility of a third (Ricky Ledo, Dallas) still to be determined…
• URI held an open practice at the Ryan Center for fans this week prior to the men’s basketball team leaving for Italy Friday. It’s a 10-day, four-game exhibition tour, and while that sounds great, most importantly the team received 10-days of practice time together prior to the trip…as allowed under NCAA rules. That’s a key ingredient in Danny Hurley’s Kingston re-tooling…
• ICYMI…the upcoming college hoop season will tip-off in Asia. Yup, Asia. Georgetown plays Oregon in South Korea November 8th, at Camp Humphries, a US Army base. It’s the first time regular season college basketball from this country will play in Asia in 31 years, since Houston (pre-Phi Slamma Jamma) and Virginia played in Tokyo in 1982. It’s a great idea to showcase the sport with and for the Armed Forces, in light of last year’s cancellations on battleships…but it is a bit curious choice of teams. Georgetown toured China two summers ago and got involved in a big brawl with a Chinese opponent. Oregon is a Pac-12 “representative,” as the league is hoping to actively market itself overseas…
• Please tell me this is a hoax. What is this world coming to? No more “Jack the Bulldog?” We should bring back “Friarboy…”
• Strappin’ it up with the big boys…I’m hearing the recruitment for 2014 highly-ranked forward Abdul Malik Abu has really begun to heat up. PC made his cut-down list of 10 schools last week and whispers are out there he really likes the Friars…but he might be waiting to see who else comes on board before committing. In the meantime, Abu reportedly received an offer from the defending national champs, Louisville, this week…
• Two bits from Bruno…former Portsmouth and Brown football star Bobby Sewall is still chasing the dream…in camp with the Tampa Bay Bucs. And the Brown men’s golf team was named an Academic National Champion, for having the highest team GPA among all Division I teams – 3.74. If that were also their stroke average per hole, they’d really have something going…
• Hey TV news networks? Wanna know where the younger viewers are going? If I’m an advertiser looking for 18-24’s, I know where I’m headed…especially during the dinner hour(s)…
• Tweet(s) of the Week I – from @FanSince09: “Ok, 1130pm we all start tweeting Hunter Pence to congratulate him on the trade to Boston.” Of course, it didn’t happen…
• Fox Sports Detroit tried an announcerless game this past week on their “plus” channel, and initial reviews seemed to be positive from fans that enjoyed hearing the sounds of the game from Comerica Park. Might be a good idea as a change of pace for regional networks that have extra channels (NESN?)…but a terrible idea for mainstay, every day fans who might pop in and out of game broadcasts and really want to know what’s going on. Wonder if the mothership Fox network would do the same for Joe Buck-Tim McCarver broadcasts?
• Some football fans might recall NBC taking an otherwise dreary Jets-Dolphins game in 1980 and making it the first announcerless game of a major sport on network television. It received mixed reviews, but it did generate higher ratings than expected for two bad teams at the time…a ratings stunt that proved somewhat successful, just from sheer novelty. But that game, I believe, led to some of today’s on-air talent learning how to let broadcasts “breathe.” Sometimes, words aren’t needed, and the crowd’s emotion is enough to tell the real story…
• I’m sorry, internet. Pay attention here, media outlets and companies-who-have-websites-and-sell-ads, like this one. Those annoying pop-up and autoplay ads you sometimes make me watch before I can get to the content I intended? It makes me want to NOT buy the stuff you throw out there. Really. That is all…
• Riley Cooper? Nothing more than a redneck with loose lips. The Eagles punished him (with a fine & sensitivity training), the NFL didn’t need to. He has accepted responsibility for his actions. But is he sorry for the slur, or sorry he was caught on video using it? Nothing else to see here. Move on…
• Although this photo (scroll down to #3) that made the rounds on Twitter does seem to epitomize the entire off-season for the NFL. What the heck is in that Gatorade, anyway?
• Add this to your own personal I’ve-heard-it-all lists. Because I’ve never heard this one before. Injury caused by candy…
• If you’d like to see what schools are building now that they’re flush with (your/our) cash, take a look at what’s up at the University of Oregon. Yes, Phil Knight (Nike) is a major contributor. But so are the TV networks. The complex also includes a barbershop for players by the locker room, where they can get a clip for – ahem - student prices…
• Tweet of the Week II – from Randy Riggs of the Austin American-Statesman (@ranriggs): “Each assistant coach’s office (at UT) will include three – count em – 55-inch flatscreen televisions. #canilivethere?”
• Can’t wait for the newest ESPN “analyst” Ray Lewis to break down the impending Aaron Hernandez trial for us. That will be must see TV…
• Enough of the bad stuff. How about some good stuff for a change? Like the McCourty’s enough on the field? You might like them even more after you read this Facebook post put up by their mom…
• Your boy, Tom Brady, is on the cover of Men’s Health magazine for September. And he says, among other things, that he would love playing football to age 50. “If I think I can do it, then I probably will…”
• That car speeding out of the parking lot at Gillette Stadium? It belonged to Ryan Mallett. But we still have Tim Tebow, right?
• Can’t say I’m surprised…an all-time crowd (based on estimates) gathered at Patriot Place this week for the Tedy Bruschi/Gil Santos inductions into the Patriots Hall of Fame. If there were ever “all-timers” for the Patriots, these two must be included in any discussion. Talented. Consummate pros. Family men. Good people. Two of the best, period…
• Can say I’m surprised…Patriots owner Robert Kraft pulled me aside as the ceremony was getting underway to tell me he reads this column. Hi Mr. Kraft! Can I have a raise?
• Speaking of raises, my buddy Statbeast sez he haggled with his boss for a raise recently, and was able to wrangle a five percent increase by saying he had three other companies ready to come after him. After agreeing to the increase, his boss asked which three companies were after him? The electric company, the phone company and the gas company, he said…
• The Pro Bowl won’t be NFC vs. AFC any longer, starting next year. Maybe that’s a good thing…but having NFL.com fantasy champs actually drafting players for all-star teams? The idea is novel, sure. But won’t that be a little like letting the inmates run the asylum?
• And let’s all hope that two new rules for the NFL’s defacto all-star game don’t take hold for the real game – eliminating kickoffs and changing possession at the end of each quarter…
• You know what’s sad? If you’ve read any of the details of Heisman Trophy winner Johnny (Football) Manziel’s escapades at passing camps (leaving the Manning camp early for “oversleeping”) and frat parties (kicked out of a University of Texas party – he IS an Aggie, after all), you’d come to the same conclusion as I have. He’s an underage drunk. Why does it seem no one is helping him with his real problems? Stupid is as stupid does…
• Would you spend five days in a locked room, without food or water, for $4.1 million? I don’t mean to trivialize an egregious, near fatal error on the part of DEA officials, but it got me thinking…
• Red Sox owner John Henry is on his own…now without partners as he tries to purchase the Boston Globe, after his partners dropped out more than a week ago. It simply shouldn’t be allowed. No matter the intent, the Globe’s future coverage of his team would always be scrutinized, and questioned…
• At last count, I’ve managed to enjoy three of the four RI summer food groups. Which means I’ve still got some work to do. Excuse me, so I can complete my task before football season envelops my schedule…
• From the mailbag this week – Kent in Austin, TX writes via Facebook: “We must give Bud Selig equal blame for "looking the other way" as Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa saved baseball with their steroid induced HR race!” Kent: Absolutely. What Selig and baseball are doing right now with Rodriguez and the other PED offenders is reactionary. They’ve been guilted into doing what they’re doing, because deep down they know it should have been done long ago. The Biogenesis story pushed them over the edge. Clean up baseball? The only real way to do that is for Selig to step out of it, after he cleans up his own mess…
• 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 [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
• 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 us at 37937…and send email to the show - [email protected] .
• The recently released “Rhode Island Radio” from Arcadia Publishing is available for sale, and the book tells the story of the 91-year history of radio in our state through photographs, clippings and memories from many of the personalities who have graced our airwaves. If you’re in search of the gift that says “Rhode Island,” you’ve found it. Or, find it in local bookstores and online right here…
