  |
|
November 22, 2007
|
LONGSHOTS: Here’s what I’m thankful for at Thanksgiving My favorite holiday of them all is upon us. It is my favorite because the holiday starts the long weekend which, unlike, say Christmas, where you’re back to work the next day, gives you time to just chill for a few days after it’s done. In my “when I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible” days it was always the best college vacation. Because it was the first time I’d been home since August and it was fun (although spring break in Florida was pretty good too). It’s also the last of the fall weather. There’s football through the day starting with local games played on the home front, the actual feast and the idea of giving thanks for what we’re lucky enough to have. Something we all are best served by remembering more than just this weekend. In sports we are in the midst of an incredible bounty to be thankful for, with potential for it to be truly unprecedented. There’s a long way to go before that happens, of course, but in the meantime I look around and say it sure has changed since, say, 2000. So in the spirit of the day here’s what I’m thankful for in sports. The Celtics: Expecting the Red Sox first? Forgettaboutit! I have to admit — in the guy sports kind of way (not that there’s anything wrong with the other kind) I love Kevin Garnett. At my core I’m still a (broken down) player, so I get why he’s the kind of guy everybody loves to play with. A Tom Brady who does the right things for the right reasons and not for Steve Garvey-like PR purposes. He passes, does basketball’s version of blocking as a ferocious rebounder and most of all, for how he beats everyone down the floor. Next time they’re on TV follow him after the Celtics get the rebound. See how many times he’s the first guy down the floor. It’s in stark contrast to most guys that active on the glass. And then there’s Ray Allen, who appears better than I thought. It’s not that I don’t know averaging 26 a game, as he did last year, is hard to do. It’s just sometimes you need to see it to know what that means. And guess what? I’m not the only who likes what he’s seeing. They’re second in ESPN’s power rating as I write this, trailing only the Spurs and ahead of the Suns, Mavs and Pistons. Who’da thunk it? Thanks, Danny. Alumni News: I must say I really like following the growing national regard of Dan Mullen at Florida and Chip Kelly at Oregon. Matt Bonner getting more time with the Spurs. The progress of seeing Ryan (make my) Day going from UNH to Florida, Temple and now BC. Players like Dave Philistin at Maryland, Tyler Roche at BC and the Trinity basketball group. And some new hoopsters like Whitney and Joe Fremeau playing at Holy Cross and Bentley respectively. It’s fun. Local Stuff: Too much to name, but if you want to see sports played at high levels there’s the Ms, F-Cats, Pride, Wolves and now the Millrats. Tremendous places to see games played at the ballpark and the world-famous Verizon Wireless (plug, plug) Arena run so ably by legendary Tim Bechert. We’ve got great colleges, very good high school ball, plenty of leagues for kids where not all the parents are crazy sports parents. And, in WGAM, we now even have a local sports radio station you can call when of the mind — as an amazing 55 people did the afternoon the Series began. Soccer: I finally have something of interest to follow. At least since the women won the World Cup at the Rose Bowl. It’s a homer deal — my niece Allie Long. She plays for North Carolina, who’s trying to repeat as national champs as we speak. Talk about the tradition-laden men’s basketball all you want, but when it comes to winning national titles it has four and women’s soccer 18! She’s a mid-fielder, third on the team in goals and minutes. I’m writing this with a vacation-induced early deadline so I’m not sure if they survived the opening NCAA weekend against High Point (where, oh by the way, Nashua’s and new SNHU hoop import Troy Bowen came from) and probably Notre Dame in round two. Regarding soccer beyond that? Have the Revs started yet? 21st-Century Technology: I’ve been watching UNC online, where parents, friends and enemies now can watch videocasts of games of all levels from all over the country at home on the computer. Then there’s Direct TV, cable, ESPN’s Web site, the NFL package, et al. It’s a long way from my dad climbing on the roof to aim our antenna over Long Island Sound to pick up the signal from the CBS station in New Haven that was allowed to carry New York Football Giants home games because it was outside the 75-mile local radius. So I’m thankful for the miracle of modern communications that lets us see almost anything without even thinking about it. Although being able to watch his beloved Giants by shifting the antenna was a technological miracle to my Depression-era-raised father. The Kraft/Belichick Patriots: I’ve said many times these guys are what the Celtics were while winning 16 titles under Red. A team exactly opposite of the Sox before Theo & the Trio took over. Where no matter how dire, you always expected things to go right in the end. It doesn’t always happen. But it’s happened enough that when it doesn’t, I’m surprised. It’s got a quarterback who epitomizes team play and grace under fire. Its leaders have fire and don’t need to bring attention to themselves. They get that winning is the real reward. And they’ve taught me a lesson with the arrival of Randy Moss. If you read this space you may know I’m the cynical type. I judged Moss’s book by its cover, so I think I’ll look a little longer before I leap the next time. The Red Sox: While I’ve quibbled with Theo’s free agent choices, I love what’s coming out of the farm system. That they got big contributions this time from guys who were on the JV not too long ago. I’m thankful Tito stuck with a struggling Dustin Pedroia this spring when I said he was overmatched. That the owners are willing to spend with the Empire and most of all that they saved Fenway Park. It’s the jewel of baseball and when the Stadium goes in 2009 it’ll be down to just Wrigley and Fenway as the pathway to baseball’s glorious past. And, oh yes, I also liked winning the World Series — again. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Dave Long can be reached at dlong@hippopress.com. He hosts the Absolute Sports Experience at Billy’s Sports Bar in Manchester each Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon that is broadcast live on WGAM – The Game, 1250-AM Manchester, 900-AM Nashua.
|
11/15/2007 Waiting game leads to a series of random thoughts 11/8/2007 OK — it's week nine and I'm ready to talk
|
Navigation
