Category: Sports

The Big Story – Red Sox Update: The 2025 ship appeared to be sunk after Friday night’s 9-6 loss to the Yanks, as it was their ninth in 12 games to leave them five under .500 and 10.5 back of the Yanks.But they did show some spunk with 10-7 and 11-7 comeback wins the next two nights, highlighted by Sunday’s five-homer barrage and Trevor Story coming to life with a five-RBI day Saturday and going 5 for 9 with a double, homer and six RBI overall in those wins. A nice glimmer, but with their woeful pitching giving the Yankees 23 runs in a three-game series the ship is hardly out of choppy waters. They left the Bronx 32-35 and 8.5 behind in the AL East.

Sports 101: Rick Carlisle is trying to become the fourth coach to win NBA titles with two different teams. Name the three who have.

News Item – Knicks Fire Thibodeau: Here’s the lone pertinent question on the shocking firing of their coach Tom Thibodeau: How can they have “plateaued” under him, as GM Leon Rose said in the announcement, when the win totals went 41, 37, 43, 50 and 51 in his five years and they went to a conference final for the first time in 25 years?

News Item – One-Word Descriptions for People in the News:

Angel Reese – jealous PUNK

Aaron Judge – GREATNESS

Tyrese Haliburton – CLUTCH

Brad Marchand: Florida BARGAIN

Rafael Devers – selfish. No, immature. No, selfish. No, make it BOTH.

The Numbers:

.133 –batting average since May 4 for struggling Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell.

6 – pitchers used by Sox manager Alex Cora who pitched less than an inning as he used eight overall in nine innings during Sunday’s 11-7 win over NY.

6 & 17 – Red Sox record in 2025 one-run games.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Thank You, Caitlin Clark Award: The New York Liberty was recently valued at $450 million to make the WNBA team the most valuable women’s sports franchise in America. And while that number is not just because of her, the “thank you Caitlin” part (even though she plays for the Indiana Fever) comes in when you know that after 19 years in business the Liberty were worth “just” $130 million last spring and then, helped along by winning the 2024 WNBA title, they appreciated a quick $320 million in less than a year during the hoo-ha surrounding Clark’s arrival in the WNBA. Not a coincidence.

Give Me a Break Award – Worst Quote of the Week: ESPN’s Mike Breen opened Game 1 coverage by calling the Oak City vs. Indiana series “the most anticipated NBA Finals.” Since when, Mike? More than any Lakers and Celtics match-up — ever? All six of Jordan’s Finals? Dr. J’s entry to the NBA vs. Portland in 1977? Actually it’s two of the smallest TV markets ever to be in the Finals who, not surprisingly, delivered an awful Game 1 rating. A great matchup for real basketball people like me, but “most anticipated”? Come on, man.

Thank You, Paul George Award: Interesting how trading the so-called superstar to get the new team over the top actually was the key move that got both teams trading him to the NBA finals instead. The Clippers gave Oak City Shai Gilgeous Alexander and a zillion first-round picks for George after he first got to Oak City in a trade for Domantas Sabonis, who the Pacers later flipped for current Indy star Tyrese Haliburton. Thanks, PG.

Random Thoughts:

Given all Haliburton’s end-of-game heroics, he’s rapidly becoming to this era what Big Shot Bob (Horry) was to his.

Yes, Deion, I’m sure the Giants and other teams mistreated your son during pre-draft interviews. Of course it was a league-wide conspiracy to have him undrafted until the fifth round, instead of it being an entitled kid whose act turned all those teams off.

Sports 101 Answer: Pat Riley, Phil Jackson and Alex Hannum are the only two to win NBA titles with two different teams.

A Little History – Alex Hannum: He’s also the only coach to stop Bill Russell from winning a title during his 13-year career. He was player-coach when the St. Louis Hawks did it in 1958 and later HC as the Wilt-led 76ers did it in 1967.

Prediction: The OKC-Indiana series tied 2-2 when you see this.

Final Thought – Rafael Devers Saga: Latest developments:(1) David Ortiz says the brass should let Raffy decide if he wants to play first or not, making the mess worse. 2) It’s ridiculous that with Alex Bregman on the DL they still had to move journeyman first baseman Abraham Toro over to third because Devers is refusing to play there too.(3) Team owner John Henry actually flew to KC to beg a guy he’s paying $31 million a year to play a new position. Given No. 3, how could anyone be surprised at the shambles the team is in?

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The Big Story – Another Top Prospect Makes it to Fenway: Another of the Red Sox jewel prospects made it to the show when shortstop Marcelo Mayer was called up last week. But he went 6 for 30 with two doubles and 10 strikeouts in his first eight games. And if you’re wondering, he’s the first Marcelo to play in the majors.

Sports 101: Ten current teams have never won an NBA championship. Name them.

News Item – Red Sox Pitch Count: Alex Cora actually let someone reach 100-plus on the pitch count Sunday. The 112 Garrett Crochet threw let him go seven full innings with 12 K’s to, for once, keep the game away from the many arsonists in the Boston bullpen in a 3-1 win over Atlanta.

News Item – Duel of the Week. The World Series rematch began on Friday as Aaron Judge led off the game with a homer, which Shohei Ohtani matched in the bottom half of the first. Ohtani hit a second in the sixth as L.A. followed the script from their 2024 WS-clinching Game 5 comeback to go from down 5-1 to win 8-5 to open the series. It was worse on Saturday, because while Judge hit two more homers L.A. won 18-2, before the Yanks won 7-3 Sunday with the two stars not much of a factor.

News Item – Chris Sale: When he punched out Philly’s Edmundo Sosa last week the ex-Red Sox hurler became the fastest in history to reach 2,500 career strikeouts. He did it in inning 2,026 to eclipse Randy Johnson’s record 2,107.2. Pedro Martinez is the third at 2,152.2 and, if you’re wondering, all-time strikeout king Nolan Ryan is fifth at 2,286.1.

The Numbers:

.153 – after a 9-50 startthewinning percentage of the Colorado Rockies, which puts them on a pace to have a worst ever (by far) 25-137 season record.

15 – losses the Red Sox have in their 21 one-run games.

449 – pounds Tampa Bay rookie D-tackle Desmond Watson weighs, which will make him the heaviest player in NFL history if he’s on a Game 1 roster.

… Of the Week Awards

Quote of the Week – Terry Bradshaw: What the Pittsburgh Steeler Famer thinks of his former team’s beg-a-thon to get Aaron Rodgers to be their 2025 QB: “That’s a joke,” and “That guy needs to stay in California, go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.”

In Case You Missed It – Tyrese Haliburton: The Indiana point guard did something no one else, not even Magic, MJ or LBJ, had ever done in Game 4 vs. New York: record the first triple double (32 points, 12 rebounds and 15 assists) in playoff history without committing a single turnover.

Random Thoughts:

While the talent and skills are obvious, I can’t warm up to the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns because he’s soft and gets more unnecessary fouls than any player I’ve seen in my 159 years of watching the NBA.

With Stefon Diggs missing voluntary camp for the Miami boating excursion the Patriots got their first red flag from the self-centered receiver.

Anyone else know that since Chaim Bloom foolishly cheaped out on Michael Wacha after he was 11-2 for the Red Sox in 2022, he’s gone 31-12 since?

Sports 101 Answer: The 10 teams to never win an NBA title are Brooklyn, Orlando, Charlotte, Utah, Memphis, Minnesota, L.A. Clippers and Phoenix along with Indiana and Oak City, one of whom will leave the club next week.

Prediction – Oak City over Indiana in six.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The Big Story – The Red Sox Stumble Into June: To say they have not lived up to expectations is an understatement. Especially given that their major off-season acquisitions Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet are living up to what’s been expected of them.

The good news is that with the Orioles having already fired their manager the division overall is a mess outside of the Yankees. So despite being under .500 they enter Memorial Day weekend within striking distance of the Yanks at 4.5 games and just a couple out of the wild card race. If they can shake off the malaise there’s ample time to get in the race over the next four months.

Sports 101: Seven NBA coaches have 100+ career playoff wins. How many can you name?

News Item – Top 4 Reasons For Red Sox’ Dismal Start: (1) Abysmal work of their awful bullpen (outside of closer Aroldis Chapman) who in a two-week span in May blew six ninth-inning or extra-inning leads and lost all six times. (2) Starter Tanner Houck and his 8.04 ERA as of last week thanks to delivering the two worst starts in Red Sox history. (3) The ongoing travails of shortstop Trevor Story that have people thinking he may be headed for being DFA’d despite being owed a boatload of money over the next two years. (4) And of course the major distraction caused by the brass’s cowardly response to Raphael Devers’ refusal to move over to play first base after Triston Casas went down for the season. He’s hitting now but they’re still looking for a first baseman and the perfect solution for them and him is already on the team.

News Item – Alex Cora and Pitching: When is the spotlight going to fall on the Red Sox manager for being a typical stat geek handler of the pitching staff who, despite having a bullpen full of flame throwers, regularly yanks starters after five innings or less to let the bullpen lose the game? Most egregious was last week vs. the Mets when he yanked ace Garrett Crochet in a 1-1 game after 5.1 innings and 85 pitches. Then, big surprise, they immediately put up three runs vs. Liam Hendriks, leading to a 5-1 loss. Given the state of affairs, wouldn’t it be better to let the starters go deeper in games to give the pen only two innings to blow it until pen reinforcements come?

News Item – Tush Push Lives: The vote to ban the Eagles’ signature play failed last week. I’m not for it or against it, but I do know this: The Eagles were for it because they’re great at it. Knowing how hypocritical and self-serving most are (outside of the Rooney family), if Philly’s rival in NY were great at it and they weren’t, they’d be against it. Push or no push, the real reason they’re so good in short range is because they have a great offensive line. So they’d have still been the best after any ban.

The Numbers:

3 – managers fired before the second month of the baseball season concluded (Pittsburgh, Colorado and Baltimore).

58 – after their elimination by Florida, years since the Toronto Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in 1967.

430,000 – dollars Anthony Edwards has paid the NBA in fines so far this season after he got hit for $50k for dropping an f-bomb in his post-game press conference after the T-Wolves Game 1 loss to Oak City.

.… Of the Week Awards

And Another Thing – Aaron Judge: Aaron Judge’s monster start over the season’s first two months has him on a 64-homer pace. If it continues it will tie him with Babe Ruth and the PED twosome of Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire for most 50-homer seasons with four. That is Hall of Fame material.

Sports 101 Answer: The NBA coaches with at least 100 playoff wins are Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, Doc Rivers, Steve Kerr and Larry Brown.

Final Thought – Cedric Maxwell: Max is right that he doesn’t get enough credit for his contributions to the Celtics. And it’s a joke how the Bill Simmons self-indulgent, fanboy HBO Celtics series treated him. First by not giving him props for saving the team when he was MVP in the 1981 Finals, a series where Houston’s Robert Reid handcuffed Larry Bird into shooting a combined 11-37 while scoring just 8, 8 and 12 points in Games 3, 4 and 5 when Max went for 19, 24 and 28. And while Kevin McHale had the higher ceiling at their Celtics peaks, Max was far more important to the two championship teams they played on together. The Celtics-loving Simmons knows that because he saw it all happen and should have given him his due. Instead Max joins Dave Cowens, Bob Cousy and John Havlicek as guys whose Celtic greatness is sadly being lost to time and memory.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The Big Story – Celtics Season Ends Early: That’s all she wrote for the 2024-2025 Celtics. And maybe for 2025-2026 as well with Jayson Tatum likely out for much or all of next season after tearing his Achilles tendon in the closing minutes of Game 4. The loss of Tatum had nothing to do with why they were eliminated by New York in six games. It’s because of their horrid fourth-quarter play in Games 1, 2 and 4 as they were blowing 20-point leads in those games. Helped along by the truly awful coaching by Joe Mazzulla in the first two losses.

Sports 101: Who was the lowest-seeded team to win an NBA title?

News Item – Tanner Houck: After giving up nine runs and 12 hits in 2.1 innings vs. Detroit last week Tanner Houck inthismonth alone has had the two worst starts in the Red Sox’ 135-year history.

New Items – 3 Things To Like About The Knicks: (1) The resilience and mental toughness showed in the series. (2) The Villanova threesome of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges and yes foul shooting challenged, but offensive rebounding machine Marcus Robinson, who I’ll take all on my team any day. (3) That Brunson has clearly demonstrated how much better he is than Kyrie Irving after Dallas let him walk to sign the more expensive Irving.

The Numbers:

.122 –batting average of Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story while in a protracted 22-game slump dating back to April 22 in which he’s 11 for 90 with one home run and five RBI.

5 – margin of victory at the PGA Tournament on Sunday as Scottie Scheffler won his third major championship.

265 – million-dollar contract given 49er QB Brock Purdy, quite a pay increase for a guy who not long ago was the last person picked in his draft class.

… Of the Week Awards

Alumni News – Chris Sale: It probably didn’t look familiar because it was Fenway Park and he was healthy. But that was the Sox one-time ace lefty who bested their current ace lefty Garrett Crochet 4-2 Friday when Sale held the Sox to five hits and a run while striking out eight over seven innings.

Four Leaf Clover Award – Dallas Mavericks: For getting the NBA’s top pick after entering the lottery with a 1.4 percent chance to get it. Not to mention getting Cooper Flagg should quiet those still ticked over the Luka Doncic trade.

Coward of the Century – Rob Manfred: The Baseball Commissioner gets it for his capitulation on admitted baseball gambler Pete Rose’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame so Donald Trump won’t be mean to baseball. Of particular offense was the excuse that MLB’s objection should end after a guy dies. Earth to Rob, Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was better than Rose, died in 1951, so why the sudden rush now? And as a matter of point, when Whitey Bulger got offed in prison, did they vacate his murder convictions? No, because crimes don’t go away after someone dies. Rose broke baseball’s cardinal rule. Which, after lying about it for 15 years, he finally admitted, to juice book sales.

Random Thoughts:

With the Red Sox wearing green uniforms with yellow trim at Fenway against Atlanta last weekend, am I the only one who thought the Oakland A’s were in town? I know the answer is merchandise sales, but what is the point of the city edition uniforms?

Another reason to like the Knicks: they refused to talk to Steven A. Blowhard on ESPN after their Game 6 win.

Prediction – NBA Conference Finals: Indy over New York in six. Oak City takes out T-Wolves, setting up a Pacer-Thunder Finals.

Sports 101 Answer: The six-seed 1995 Houston Rockets were the lowest seed to become NBA champions. After going 47-35 to finish third in their division, they swept Orlando four straight in the Finals.

Final Word – Patriots Hall of Fame: Congrats to Julian Edelman for his election to the Patriots Hall of Fame. But with all due respect, he was erroneously selected because it was done thanks to recent popularity over the chronology of worthy contributions. First, Adam V should have won — and wouldn’t it have been a nice touch to see him go in with Bill Parcells, who first signed him in 1996? But second, how could Edelman go in before Wes Welker? Edelman has an incredible postseason resume for sure with arguably the greatest Super Bowl catch ever. But Welker came first and his per year averages of 112 catches, 1,243 receiving yards and 6 TDs are off the charts compared to Edelman’s 59, 620 and 3.5.

Overall it’s Welker 672, 7,549, 37 TDs, five 100-plus catch and 1,000 receiving yard seasons in six Patriot seasons to Edelman’s 642, 6,822 yards, 36 TDs and just one 100 catch and three 1,000 receiving yard seasons in 11 years. No complaint about Edelman’s worthiness. But how dominant Welker was in the slot as Tom Brady’s first big target is being lost to time. Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The Big Story – C’s Go Down 1-2 to New York: There’s not enough space to list the number of coaching decisions and non-decisions Joe Mazzulla made to cause the Celtics to lose Games 1 and 2 at home to the Knicks, in an astonishingly poor job of inaction to adjust during a game.

In Game 3 they were much more aggressive going to the rack. But ironically Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown missed tons of those shots and they got their 115-93 win thanks to making 15 more 3’s than NY. Game 4 went off after I filed this column.

Sports 101: Name the only Division I players in history to lead college basketball in scoring and rebounding in the same season.

News Item – Mazzulla Game 1 and 2 Box Scores: The players had something to do with it by missing an NBA record 45 three-point shots and being 25-100 overall. But those 45 misses were the point. They kept firing blanks with no intervention by Mazzulla as they blew a 20-point third-quarter lead without adjusting to stop the bleeding by going inside for better shots or to get free throws.

The first-quarter hacking of poor foul shooting Mitchell Robinson was dumb for two reasons. (1) You don’t have key people (Jrue Holiday, Payton Prichard, Luke Kornet) accumulate unnecessary early fouls because you can’t predict when more will come as the game proceeds. So Mazzulla handcuffed his end-of-the-game decision-making when Kristaps Porzingis couldn’t play in the second half and the now needed Kornet was chained to the bench with five fouls. (2) You don’t give free points to a guy who doesn’t have the ball or is nowhere near the basket. And guess what? While he only went 3 for 10, no free 3 points, no OT and C’s win Game 1 by two. Plus it puts teams in the bonus much earlier than normal to give the better shooters more free throws.

End of Regulation: As usual the C’s have no set play. Just a Tatum isolation that leads to a bad 23-foot fallaway, which (as usual) he bricked. Meanwhile Jalen Brunson got a back screen and slithered into a 10-foot leaner that went in and out. He missed it, but it was a good final shot.

Finally — with three seconds left in OT and down three — again no set play, and in the game are frigid three-point shooters Brown (1-10), Tatum (4-15), Holiday (2-7), Horford (1-5) and White (5-16). Who’s not in? Prichard, their best three-point shooter, who shot 45% on the year 2-5 in Game 1. The 91-90 Game 2 loss mirrored Game 1.

News Item – Here Comes The Judge: If the season ended today Aaron Judge would win the triple crown and be the first .400 hitter since you know who in 1941. To go along with the .409 average, his 14-homers 39-RBI stat line after 40 games projects to 64 and 156 to rank among the greatest single seasons ever.

News Item – Rest In Playoffs: A long rest after ending an NBA playoff series early isn’t as good as some think. It was the opposite again last week as the rested higher-seeded Celtics, Cavaliers, T-Wolves and Oak City all blew home court advantage with rusty, unfocused Game 1 play.

The Numbers:

21 – runs allowed by Colorado in a 21-0 loss to Arizona that dropped them to an astonishing 6-33, which got manager Bud Black fired the next day.

31 – years streak Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton are trying to end of a Canadian team (Montreal) not winning the Stanley Cup.

600 – cheapest ticket price in dollars at MSG for Celtics-Knicks Game 3.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Mike Tirico: For calling out ESPN’s Stephen A. Blowhard talking about being a Knicks fan during halftime of NBA playoff broadcasts. Sorry, nobody gives a flip who you’re rooting for, Steve A.

What A Stupid I Yam Award – Me: For last week’s Sport 101 Answer, which numerous people mentioned was wrong. I assumed Rickey Henderson holdingthe record for lead-off homers meant he’d broken up the most no-hitters by homer. It didn’t occur to me, but the Babe and others got up after two outs in the first inning and then homered to end the no-hit bid more often.

Random Thoughts:

The NBA shouldn’t limit coaches to just two replay challenges. Why should a team be penalized if the refs keep missing calls? Instead they should retain their right until their challenge fails.

Sports 101 Answer: Wichita State’s Xavier McDaniel (1985) and Loyola of Marymount’s Hank Gathers (1989).

Final Thought – Raphael Devers: Absolutely hard to believe the Red Sox let this immature player tell them he won’t switch from DH to first base. What they should say is, that’s insubordination. You’re suspended without pay. We’re bringing Roman Anthony up to DH, Marcello Mayer to play second base and moving Kristian Campbell to first base. And if you don’t like it, too bad.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

The Big Story – Celtics vs. Knicks Playoff Series: There have been a few skirmishes the last two decades. But there hasn’t been a good one since 1984 or one of equals since the early 1970s.

It’s most reminiscent of the ’84 series when the Celtics had a huge talent edge but still needed a 39-12-10 Game 7 triple double from Larry Bird to survive. That’s because NY’s Bernard King was at the height of his dominant scoring powers. Similarly, this time NY’s best chance is built around their high-scoring point guard Jalen Brunson. And how he fares against Derrick White and Jrue Holiday is the series’ biggest key. If he plays like he did vs. Detroit, NY can give the C’s trouble. But if they keep him contained, the series will be over early. It’ll be two games in when you see this, so we’ll know if it’s followed the “C’s are favored” script.

Sports 101: What hitter broke up 81 MLB no-hitters with home runs?

News Item – Jayson Tatum Update: (1) Even missing Game 2, with a 26.3, 8.7, 6.0 stat line JT had one of his best playoff series ever. (2) Not much for contrived nicknames like “the Truth” for Paul Pierce. But I do like Tatum being called “Player A.” (3) Talk radio made a big deal that he joined Bird as the only Celtic with three straight playoff games of 35 points or more. They didn’t mention that the likes of John Havlicek, Sam Jones and Tommy Heinsohn didn’t have the 3-ball to pad their total. If JT didn’t have it, he would’ve been 32, 33 and 34. Not knocking him, just setting the record straight amid gushing from the green teamers.

News Item – Red Sox Update: How does the Triston Casas injury not solve the Red Sox DH/Of log jam? Put Raffy Devers at first and Masataka Yoshida at DH to see how Devers does there, and if Yoshida hits, it expands his trade market.

News Item – NBA Playoff Update:(1) After being taken out in R1 by the T-Wolves, so much for the Lakers catching Boston at 18 for most NBA titles. (2) Was that LeBron’s last game?(3) Steph Curry reminded in the Game 7 win over upstart Houston how generationally great he is.

The Numbers:

0 – after the release of long snapper Joe Cardona, players left on the roster who’ve won a SB with the Patriots.

3 – games lost by Justin Slaten as the Sox bullpen spit the bit all week, losing four times in five games.

7 – points scored by James Harden in L.A.’s 120-101 loss to Denver to add to his extensive list of Game 7 chokes.

… Of the Week Awards

Thumbs Up – Red Sox Brass: For resisting the suddenly revived Red Sox Nation and media impatience to throw 20-year-old stud Roman Anthony into a brand new position at first base to get him into the line-up. Rather, when it happens they’ll let him acclimate to baseball’s highest level playing a position in the field he knows.

Stat of the Week: If you’re wondering why the Lakers lost in Round 1, how about that Minnesota outscored them 127-85 in the fourth quarter? It brought to mind that a lack of conditioning is a reason why Dallas traded Luka Doncic.

Random Thoughts: Next stop Hall of Fame for retiring Spurs legend Greg Popovich. He earned those five titles and reverence given league wide at the announcement. But his obstinacy with the media was unnecessary and his invention of “load management” is an insult to any fan paying $150 to see a guy play who didn’t.

Sports 101 Answer: Rickey Henderson broke up 81 no-hitters before they got started by leading off those games with a homer.

Predictions: T-Wolves over GS, Oak City over Denver, Indy upsets Cavs and C’s best NY.

Final Thought – Patriots 2025 Hall of Fame: While fellow nominees Logan Mankins and Julian Edelman are worthy, Adam Vinatieri should be this year’s Patriot Hall inductee.

His FG through that blinding snowstorm is the NFL’s greatest kick and with the game winner later in OT vs. Oakland they kickstarted the dynasty. He then won two SB’s with kicks down broad street as time ran out. It’s not close, really, as he’s the greatest kicker in NFL history.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.