Tag: 230914

Mixed bag in Pats loss

The Big Story: If someone needed a working example for the term “beyond belief” they could use that all it took was two plays into the 2023 season for the Patriots to start getting the same kind of stupid penalties that killed them all through the 2022 season.

In this case it was Deatrich Wise lining up in the neutral zone (how does a seven-year veteran do that?) on the second play of 2023 to turn a second-and-20 situation into a free first down leading to an Eagles field goal on the season’s first drive.

That was followed by a pick-six from their under-the-microscope QB in their first offensive series and a lost fumble on their next offensive play leading to a 16-0 deficit with 2:56 still left in the first quarter. Oh, and, as usual, they wasted a timeout on that first Eagles drive as well. Grrrr!

However, that was the low point of the opener. As after that they settled down to turn it into a pretty good game.

Football 101: Which QB has the most career wins without winning a Super Bowl?

News Item – Beyond Belief Coach B Decision: Fourth and 4 with the Pats down 8 and 9:26 on the clock, Coach B goes for it from his own 22. They turn it over on downs with no points.

Take the FG, it’s a five-point game with plenty of time left to get the TD they still needed. But if they eventually got that TD (which they did), it’s also not a do-or-die two-point conversion to tie the game. It’s a two-point lead instead or maybe three points if they make a two-point conversion. It also stops Philly from making it a two-score game with the FG they eventually got to put the Pats down 11 (25-14) with 5:33. So when New England eventually scored it was 25-20 after missing the two-point try they were forced into taking to leave them still needing a TD. Thus they had to go for six on fourth down in the final minute instead of kicking a FG to tie it.

Bottom line: Passing on the FG that early in the game cost New England the game.

News Item – Who’s Hot: In the 317 at-bats since Sox rookie Triston Casas left April behind hitting .133, he has hit .297 with 21 homers and 61 RBI to raise the overall totals to 24–64–.263.

The Numbers:
6½ – over-under betting line set by Las Vegas odds makers for 2023 wins by the Patriots. They also gave them a 19.1 percent chance of making the playoffs.
9 – consecutive losses by the Bears to the Packers after Sunday’s 38-20 even with newbie Jordan Love at QB for GB.
13 – magic number to be eliminated from the playoffs with 19 games left as the Red Sox started the week.

… Of the Week
Sports Headline of the Week – Royce Lewis: A grand Beatlemania-like eight-day week for the Minnesota rookie could have been celebrated with the delightful headline “Royce Rolls Again!” after he hit his third grand slam in eight games.

Nitwit Protest Award: Goes for the sticky situation at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, where a protester wearing an “End Fossil Fuel” T-shirt delayed the Coco Gauff-Karolina Muchova semi-final match for 40 minutes by, among other things, gluing his feet to the cement floor to prevent his ejection from Arthur Ashe Stadium. Yes, that’s right, he glued his feet to the floor.

Gauff eventually beat Machova 6-4, 7-5.

Why Can’t We Get Guys Like That Award – Mookie Betts: In hitting .455 with 51 hits and 11 homers in August, Mookie joined the two greatest hitters who ever lived, Babe Ruth (1923 and 1924) and Lou Gehrig (1930), as the only players to have a .450–50–10 month in history. It also helped him reach a career high in homers with 38 and counting.

Random Thoughts:
Separated at Birth: Lions QB Jared Goff and Academy Award winning actor Ryan Gosling. Dead ringers.

Football 101 Answer: Dan Marino is the record holder for most career wins with 155 and no SB titles.

Final Thought – Tom Brady: With Bengals QB Joe Burrow just signing a salary cap-eating $275 million contract on the eve of TB-12’s return to Foxboro, it underscored perfectly the most under-appreciated aspect of why Tom Brady was so important to the Patriots dynasty evolving into became what it became.

It’s because he always took a below-market contract that no other top NFL player did for their team, which let the brass repeatedly fit more good players under the cap to make the Pats more talented and deeper. In the end, the great failure of both Coach B and Bob Kraft was in not appreciating/rewarding that sacrifice enough.

While all the wins were great, his demonstrated interest in t-e-a-m is what I admire most about the great Tom Brady.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Between the lines

Demetri Martin and his multimedia comedy show

Blending music and drawings with his signature one-liners and deadpan delivery, Demetri Martin takes the stage at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) on Saturday, Sept. 16. The comedian called in to talk about his current tour, called “The Joke Machine,” why he likes writing on typewriters, and what’s next on his growing list of creative pursuits.

What can audiences expect from your upcoming show?
I’m still mostly telling jokes, but trying to tell them in slightly different ways, with a little music and visual stuff. … There are drawings in the show, but with sort of a different twist on it. … There are a couple personal stories; I’ve been dabbling more in that but touring with jokes is still the most enjoyable, because with jokes it’s easier to switch things up from show to show and try new stuff.

When did you start drawing? How did that make its way into your comedy?
I liked drawing a lot when I was a kid. I remember, in grade school, I was considered one of the better kids at drawing. Then I just stopped until I started doing stand-up in my mid-20s. I carried a notebook around for writing jokes, and I found myself drawing again. Around 1999, I started trying out drawings on stage, at shows around New York City at what were called ‘alternative rooms’ where comics were trying more experimental stuff. … I’ve gotten better at drawing as an adult, and if I really try I can draw in what I think is a pretty respectable style. I don’t know how much that helps for jokes, though. You play music in your shows, though it’s not exactly ‘musical comedy.’

What does music contribute to your act?
As much as I wish I could write songs and sing, it’s not something I’ve figured out how to do. … I can play a couple instruments well enough — and it’s the same with drawing — where it’s not technically impressive, but it can serve a purpose in the flow of the show. I’m still just telling jokes or a story, but [music] can add a texture or shift the mood.

How do you turn a collection of one-liners into a cohesive set?
When I’m getting ready to do a new tour, I’ll do short sets around L.A., where I live, to see what works. … I have found that certain jokes don’t seem to work as well at the beginning of the show; I have to get the audience into a flow with me first. … On a good day, there’s a rhythm, and it’s sort of hypnotic, but when the crowd isn’t digging it, you can never really get it going. If I have set pieces that have endings, it helps. Like, the music and drawings have been very helpful for me in pacing out a show.

How do you craft a joke?
There’s the original way, where an idea arrives pretty nicely structured and seems like a joke. Other times — like leading up to a tour or when I’m on a deadline — it’s very intentional. I’ll write a page of jokes each morning, no matter how bad they are. I use old typewriters a lot because there’s no email or anything to distract me. I can physically see a piece of paper going through the typewriter, and when I get to the end of it, I say, ‘Cool. Got it,’ and then put it in a binder and let them pile up.

If a joke doesn’t land, how do you navigate that on stage?
If you’re telling a longer story, you can move past the parts where you thought people would laugh [but didn’t], and maybe they can’t even tell it was supposed to be a punchline. But when you’re a comic that tells jokes that are clearly jokes, there’s no hiding. … The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve learned to embrace whatever’s happening in real time and be a little less afraid. I’ve bombed so many times, but I’ve had lots of good shows, too, so no big deal.

What’s next for you?
I’ll finally have a new standup special out this fall on Netflix. My plan is for it to be the first in a trilogy — three standard specials that also go together as a larger story. The show I’m touring with now will be part 2. … Then, in the spring, I’m hoping to do my first art show. That’ll be in L.A. It’ll be fine art — paintings — but they’ll all be jokes, like, each canvas is a one-liner without words.

Featured photo: Demetri Martin presents “The Joke Machine.” Courtesy image. Art by Demetri Martin.

News & Notes 23/09/14

Bus issues

Since the start of the school year, the Manchester School District has grappled with transportation issues, including significant bus delays, overcrowding and route cancellations, according to a press release. While the district contracts two companies, Student Transportation of America (STA) and Manchester Transit Authority (MTA), for bus services, STA is currently short-staffed and unable to serve charter schools. The district is actively seeking solutions and has informed the affected charter schools of the situation. Schools served by STA, such as Memorial, West, Parkside and others, will continue to face delays until staffing normalizes. The district emphasizes the urgent need for more drivers and encourages potential applicants to consider positions with both STA and MTA.

State police director

Mark B. Hall has been confirmed as the new Director of the Division of State Police by the Executive Council of New Hampshire, according to a press release. Gov. Sununu nominated him for the position on Aug. 23. Hall has been with the Department since October 1999, having previously held the ranks of Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant and Trooper. The Director of the New Hampshire State Police is responsible for overseeing the overall operations and performance of the Division by leading its employees in its mission to make New Hampshire safe. Prior to his employment with the State of New Hampshire, Hall worked as a Vermont State Police Trooper and as a patrol officer with the Milton, Vermont, Police Department. He is a graduate of Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy.

Raising awareness

In advance of NH and National Suicide Prevention Week, Sept. 10 through 16, the New Hampshire Suicide Prevention Council hosted a press conference with Gov. Sununu and Council representatives from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, NAMI New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to discuss statewide efforts and resources to prevent suicide. According to a press release, the community impact of NH Rapid Response/988, the launch of Strong As Granite, a new public awareness campaign, and the NH Suicide Prevention Council’s new website offering a statewide resource for suicide prevention were highlighted. In New Hampshire, suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 15 to 34 and the ninth leading cause of death overall. Visit preventsuicidenh.org to learn more.

Day of Caring

The Granite United Way will host its Day of Caring event on Thursday, Sept. 21, in the greater Manchester area, where hundreds of volunteers will be dedicating their time to assist local nonprofits in completing their wish list projects. According to a press release, volunteers will help out with a variety of tasks, from painting and yard maintenance to preparing summer camps for the winter season. Those interested can still sign up for volunteer projects online at guw.upicsolutions.org/Volunteer/VolHome.jsp.

Settlement

Attorney General John M. Formella announced a settlement with Tempoe, LLC, resolving a multistate investigation into Tempoe’s advertising and leasing to consumers through retailers across the nation. According to a press release, the multistate investigation revealed that Tempoe’s marketing and sales practices often misled consumers to believe they were signing up for an installment plan or credit sale when, in reality, they were entering into a lease agreement. The complicated structure and the lack of required disclosures of the lease agreements caused more confusion, often resulting in consumers’ paying two to three times the purchase price of the product or service, the release said. Through this settlement, Tempoe is permanently banned from engaging in future consumer leasing activities. All existing leases will be canceled, and consumers may retain the leased merchandise in their possession without any further financial obligation to Tempoe, resulting in approximately $33 million of “in-kind” financial relief to consumers nationwide.

Bike tour

The Queen City Bicycle Collective is holding a Tour of Manchester on Sunday, Sept. 17, with a 7 a.m. start time at the Eversource parking lot (780 N. Commercial St. in Manchester), according to a press release. This family-friendly bike ride will explore places like the Hands over the Merrimack Bridge, the Piscataquog Trail, the Rockingham Recreational Trail and the South Manchester Trail, the release said. The tour has a 30-mile loop and an 8-mile loop option. Register at qcbike.org/tour.

Concord Makerspace celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 9. According to a newsletter, visitors were invited to witness 3D printers in action, see live demos on a CNC router and watch a table saw crafting wooden pendants. The router was reassembled and surfaced following the event, and classes on its operation are now available, with members prioritized for registration. Remaining slots are announced on Facebook for non-members.

A bridge over the CSX railroad on Oak Street in Rollinsford will be closed for approximately two weeks for essential maintenance beginning Monday, Sept. 18. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, this will involve replacing the timber surface on the bridge deck. While Oak Street will remain accessible for local businesses and residences, a detour will be established for other motorists.

The Eighth Annual Water Walk, organized by The Thank You Project (TYP), is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16, in Nashua. According to a press release, participants will embark on a 2-mile journey from Greeley Park to the Merrimack River Bridge on Main Street, filling containers with water and carrying them back, simulating the daily challenges faced by many in Nigeria. TYP, a Christian-based nonprofit, works to provide clean drinking water in Nigeria. Visit thankyouproject.org/waterwalk to register or donate.

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