Tag: 260917

The week that was

The Big Story — Patriots’ First Game: For the folks who don’t see the paper until Thursday, the Patriots will have already played Game 1 in Seattle in a Super Bowl rematch.

Prediction: 31-24 Seattle.

We’ll look closer at the team all month. But first, some quick thoughts on the offense.

With deep threat A.J. Brown and solid Romeo Doubs joining an already explosive back field and the best deep thrower in football they’ll be very tough to defend.

That’s if Will Campbell and company take the needed step forward in both drive blocking and pass protection.

With those new weapons, expect Drake Maye to top last year’s 31 TD passes if healthy.

Kyle Williams won’t have huge reception numbers, but despite the negative noise, I’m betting he’ll have an impact as a deep ball threat.

We’ll look at the D next week.

Sports 101: Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart is challenging to become just the third rookie to lead MLB in RBIs. Name the two rookies who’ve already done it.

News Item – Who’s Hot: Not even a one-day demotion to AAA could stop the white hot Merrimackian Mickey Gasper from looking like Roy Hobbs. As he hit a homer in the Sox’ stirring 9-8 comeback win over Seattle the day of his original Aug. 17 recall, his stats were, well, Hobbs-like — 12 for 30 with six homers and 13 RBI in his first 13 games back.

News Item – Dallas Cowboys Myth: With it being the 30 long years since the vaunted Cowboys have even been to a Super Bowl, why are they considered an “iconic” NFL franchise by many? That history actually says they’re an also-ran franchise run by a doofus owner that never meets their annual over-the-top pre-season hype.

News Item — Five Random NFL Observations:

If Aaron Donald can knock off the rust quickly, he and Myles Garrett might lead the Rams to beat the all-time record 72 sacks put up by the hellacious 1984 Bears.

The Patriots will be doing well to make it out of September at 2-2.

Buffalo’s the trendy pick over NE in the AFC East. But with up to 11 losable games their schedule is just as tough, the Patriots added more new ammo and Buffalo has a first-year coach. So I don’t see it.

After reversing Sam Darnold’s downward career start, can Minnesota Coach/QB whisperer Kevin O’Connell do the same with 2019 first overall pick Kyler Murray after he was dumped by Phoenix? Bet yes.

If I can’t pick the Seahawks vs. the Rams in the SB, I’ll take Denver vs. L.A.

The Numbers:

5 – years Tiger Woods lost his driver’s license for after pleading guilty to his latest speed-induced car crash.

62 – second most homers ever hit in one month, which the Chicago Cubs reached with a second most ever nine bombs in a 17-3 rout of Milwaukee on August’s final day.

… Of the Week Award

Thumbs Down – Will Flemming: The Red Sox radio announcer made a fool of himself in calling on the Sox to drill Yankee batter Austin Wells because teammate Jazz Chisholm had the temerity to steal two bases left UNCOVERED late in the 16-1 Yankees win at the end of the month.

Here are two tips for the fan boy announcer. If a team doesn’t want the score run up, it needs to pitch better. And if you leave bases uncovered as the Sox did in (I guess) conceding the win, you’re inviting stolen bases, because real players play hard until the final out.

Here’s a third tip: grow up.

Ludicrous Quote OTW – New Angels Owner Stan Kroenke: He said in announcing the purchase, “The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market.”

Based on what? Going to the World Series once in 67 years and being a stepchild city for L.A. area sports fans?

Sports 101 Answer: One-time Red Sox teammates Ted Williams with 145 in 1939 and Walt Dropo with 144 in 1950 are the only rookies to lead the league in RBI.

Final Thought — A Little History – 1972 Dolphins: Since nobody I saw on TV or anywhere else mentioned it amid last year’s hoo-ha about the Patriots’ weak 2025 schedule, I’ll do it now before everything gets underway in 2026.

No doubt their weak schedule helped. But how come when the undefeated Dolphins of 1972 come up their schedule is never mentioned? Is the reason no one mentions they had one of the weakest schedules in history that I’m the only one who knows that?

Yup, when they did it, the combined winning percentage of the opponents was a paltry 35%, whereas it was 39% for 2025 NE. And Miami only played two teams all year who were over. .500, where both the Chiefs and Giants were only 8-6. It wasn’t much better for the Pats, who faced just three.

But to Miami’s credit they finished it off with a SB win and the Pats did not. So how much does the schedule mean?

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Quality of Life 26/09/17

Did he drop it in the book drop out front?

As reported in a Sept. 12 online article by New Hampshire Public Radio and the Concord Monitor, a very, very overdue book has been returned to the Concord Public Library. After reading a flyer announcing the Library’s year-long freeze on late fees, Barrington resident John Hanson decided to return a book that had been on his family’s shelves for as long as he could remember. The book is a bound copy of a magazine, NHPR and the Monitor reported — The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine from September 1894. “It bore markings from the Concord Public Library,” the story read, “along with the words ‘may be kept for one week.’ But the book did not return home for 48,220 days, or over 132 years, since being checked out. It would have amassed an overdue fine of $12,055, although the library wouldn’t have charged him.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “The library,” the article read, “said it won’t put the magazine back into circulation but hopes to display it in the Concord Room, where Concord-related archival material lives.”

A situation bearly under control

In a Sept. 9 online article, WMUR reported that the Manchester Police and Fire Departments rescued a bear from a tree near Amory Street and Notre Dame Avenue on Sept. 8, with the assistance of NH Fish and Game. As bears go, WMUR reported, it was a fairly manageable size. “According to officials, Animal Control Officers found a bear that is estimated to be one year old and 100 pounds in a tree.” The rescuers’ first plan was not as successful as they would have hoped. “Police say they called in Fish and Game to help get the bear onto the ground. The bear was tranquilized, but proceeded to climb higher into the tree. The Manchester Fire Department brought in an aerial bucket, and a Fish and Game official was able to retrieve the bear.”

QOL score: +1 for a happy ending

Comment: According to a National Park Service website, black bears are exceptional at climbing up trees, but descending is more difficult: “They have strong curved claws that allow them to climb trees with agility. … Unlike other tree-climbing mammals that descend head-first, a black bear walks down a tree with its rear legs in the lead.” Visit nps.gov/articles/black-bears.htm.

Ending veteran homelessness

Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais’s office released a statement on Sept. 10 that the city has effectively ended homelessness among its veterans. “Manchester has met the legacy benchmarks for effectively ending veteran homelessness,” the office announced in a press release, ‘fulfilling a commitment Mayor Ruais made when launching the [Manchester Veterans Initiative] in September 2024.” At that time, the press release stated, there were 47 homeless veterans in Manchester. “Every veteran from that original group has since secured permanent housing. Tragically, one veteran has passed away. Over 130 veterans have now been housed through the initiative.” The statement pointed out that this does not mean that no veteran in Manchester will ever experience homelessness, but that procedures are in place to address it.

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Manchester has a system in place to quickly identify veterans experiencing homelessness, connect them with services, and help them secure permanent housing. The goal is to ensure veteran homelessness remains rare, brief, and nonrecurring.” In a statement, Mayor Ruais wrote, “We can take the lessons learned from this initiative and scale it to address the larger population. This is exactly what we have done with the elderly and infirm, families and children along with those suffering from substance use disorder or mental health issues.” Visit manchesternh.gov/Government/Mayor-and-Aldermen/Mayors-Office/Press-Room.

QOL score last week: 62

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 65

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 26/09/10

Vax up

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is “encouraging Granite Staters to take steps to protect themselves against seasonal respiratory viruses, including the flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Covid-19. Immunizations are available across New Hampshire and continue to offer the best protection against respiratory virus infection,” according to a Sept. 4 release from the department. See press releases at dhhs.nh.gov for details on age recommendations for the mentioned vaccines.

Diapers needed

Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a proclamation recognizing Sept. 14-20 as Diaper Need Awareness Week in New Hampshire, according to a Sept. 14 press release from the NH Children’s Trust, the state’s chapter or Prevent Child Abuse America. “Through its Economic and Concrete Supports Program, NHCT has distributed more than 429,941 diapers and 8,039 packages of baby wipes to over 40 organizations, who collectively serve over 15,460 New Hampshire families statewide, working through a network of community-based child and family serving organizations that reach nearly every municipality in the state,” the release said. NHCT will hand out diapers and wipes to families in need at the Goffstown Network Food Pantry’s weekly distribution on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 9:30 a.m., the release said. Families who need diapers can find the partner map at nhchildrenstrust.org/partner-map.

The NH Children’s Trust is also hosting its 6th annual Ride For Resilience, a 100-mile charity bike ride in New Hampshire, on Friday, Sept. 18. See pledgereg.com/ride-for-resilience.

Manch tour

QC Bike Collective will hold a Tour of Manchester on Sunday, Sept. 20, with start times at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., depending on distance, at the Eversource building, 780 N. Commercial Ave. in Manchester, according to qcbike.org/tour, where you can find registration information and route maps. All of the routes feature rest stops with water and food, the website said.

National Guard at NHTI

The New Hampshire Army National Guard has opened a recruitment office on the campus of NHTI in Concord, the first National Guard presence at a New Hampshire community college, according to an Aug. 31 press release. “This partnership is about our students,” said NHTI president Patrick Tompkins in the release. “By working with the National Guard, we can provide our campus unbeatable access to all the opportunities that this avenue of military service has to offer.”

DEA in Londonderry

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration opened a new 50,000-square-foot DEA New England Laboratory in Londonderry, according to an Aug. 27 DEA release. “The lab will strengthen the agency’s ability to analyze drug evidence and identify emerging threats across the region. Londonderry will serve as the central location for analyzing DEA fingerprint evidence from across the country,” the release said.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness will host a raptor migration celebration, as “raptors begin their incredible annual migration to wintering grounds,” on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with birds of prey presentations at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m., according to a press release. See nhnature.org for details.

A New England contra dance will take place at the City-Wide Community Center, 14 Canterbury Road in Concord, on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 7 to 10 p.m., according to an event organizer’s email. Beginners, singles and families are welcome. See concordnhcontra.wordpress.com.

The Pembroke Town Library is seeking “craft supplies that are clean and in good condition” for a September Craft Supply Drive at the Library, 313 Pembroke St. in Pembroke, according to a press release. The library will host a craft swap on Saturday, Sept. 26, where the community is “invited to browse the collected supplies and take home items for their own creative projects,” the release said. See pembroke-library.org.

Amoskeag Quilters Guild will meet Thursday, Sept. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 14 Mammoth Road in Hooksett, according to an email from the club. Guests are welcome. See amoskeagqg.org.

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