Blog

Briefly. 

Trivia #1: In a phone survey by Monmouth University, the top Halloween candies as preferred by Americans were revealed. Rank them: Candy Corn, Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&M’s, plain chocolate Hershey’s bars.

Trivia #2: Two Sundays ago the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson became the first player in the Super Bowl era to go over 200 yards passing and 150 yards rushing in a regular-season game. What player previously accomplished the feat in a playoff game?

Shots on goal alltime, one game.

Trivia #3: Name the two NFL players who have at least 50 yards receiving in every game this season.

Trivia #4: What is the definition of “necropsy?”

Trivia #5: Why not… What was ironic about last night’s Vikings/Redskins game? Hint, it had to do with the quarterbacks? 

Speaking of Halloween, if a child comes to your door with a blue candy bucket that means he/she has autism and may not be able to speak and say “trick or treat.” Hey, I’m here to educate. 

Once again, the NHL is insulting our intelligence by listing “Games Played” in the standings. The Bruins are currently 6-1-2, that’s nine games played. Really, you can check it yourself. 

I don’t need to be forgiven. 

I am finding it very difficult to get excited about the NBA. Having said that, I can’t wait for NCAA hoops to heat up! 

Corey Kitzmann of Davenport, Iowa broke the Minnesota record for catching and releasing a 57 ¼ inch, 47-pound muskellunge on Lake Vermillion. He caught the fish in August and it was certified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on October 11. 

My boss makes a dollar and I make a dime, so I make sure I poop on company time! 

Marcus Smart. Another season, another hairdo that leaves people scratching their heads. Really? 

Hunting, you’re doing it wrong. Thomas Alexander (66) of Arkansas, died after a deer he shot turned the tables and reportedly got up, attacked and killed him. 

So Aaron Judge called the yankees’ 103-win season a failure because they didn’t make it to the World Series. He played poorly himself in the ALCS batting. 240 with a homerun and 10 K’s, please stop crying. This is from a guy who missed more than two months during the regular season with a tummy ache (well, oblique but it’s the same thing). 

The Celtics’ Jason Tatum was voted the #2 player in the NBA most likely to have a breakout season. Hey kid, no pressure. 

The Bruins first line is scoring all the goals, blah-blah-blah. Just win baby, and they are! 

You may recall several weeks ago I noted that King Rama X (the king of Thailand) had appointed his new royal Noble Consort, or Chief Concubine. Well now Royal Noble Consort Sineenat Wongvajiralongkrn has been stripped of her title. In a statement it was noted that “…she is ungrateful and behaves in ways unbecoming of her title…”. Unbecoming of her title? She’s the Chief Concubine! 

CC Sabathia, C-ya. Very difficult seeing you come off the mound last Thursday night, especially because I wanted Houston to extend their lead. Don’t let the door hit you in the arse. 

R.I.P. Satchel Paige (3) – The three-year old gelding last week became the 34^th horse to die at Santa Anita race track in Arcadia, CA since December. 

Trivia #1 answer: In a phone survey by Monmouth University, the top Halloween candies as preferred by Americans were revealed. Rank them: Candy Corn, Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&M’s, plain chocolate Hershey’s bars. – 1) Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, 2) Snickers, 3) M&M’s, 4) Candy Corn and Hershey’s bars – tie

Trivia #2 answer: Two Sundays ago the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson became the first player in the Super Bowl era to go over 200 yards passing and 150 yards rushing in a regular-season game. What player previously accomplished that feat in a playoff game? – Colin Kaepernick in the 2012 playoffs (if you’re offended, my apologies for mentioning his name)

Trivia #3 answer: Name the two NFL players who have at least 50 yards receiving in every game this season. – Michael Thomas (Saints) and John Brown (Bills)

Trivia #4 answer: What is the definition of “necropsy?” – An autopsy performed on an animal.

Trivia #5 answer: What was ironic about last night’s Vikings/Redskins game? Hint, it had to do with the quarterbacks? – For the first time in NFL history, the starting quarterbacks in a game were the starting quarterbacks for the opposing teams the last time the two teams played each other – Kirk Cousins and Case Keenan 

“I know there’s nothing to say
Someone has taken my place
When times go bad
When times go rough
Won’t you lay me down in the tall grass
And let me go my stuff” 

– Fleetwood Mac

Briefly (not so much after missing last week) 

Trivia #1: I heard this on the radio and the numbers are generalized, but close enough. In decisive playoffs games (winner-take-all), match the percentage of times the home team wins in each sport; MLB, NBA, NHL – 60%, 48%, 74%.

Trivia #2: The thong was first revealed in what country – France, United States, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico?

Trivia #3: What Boston Bruins’ player didn’t play a single game during the 1970 regular season or playoffs yet had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup that Boston won that year?

Trivia #4: Zdeno Chara (40) is the oldest active player in the NHL along with one other 40-year old. Who is that? 

Would I like some bacon? No, thank you. Said no one… ever. 

Dedication to one’s country. Tennis star Naomi Osaka (21), born in Japan but raised in the United States, has started the process of relinquishing her U.S. citizenship so she can play for Japan in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Good for her. 

Nor’easter, micro burst, bomb cyclone, you can’t make this sh!t up. Oh wait a minute, yes you can. DYK, a “bomb cyclone” is also known as a storm undergoing “bombogenesis?” Other common phrases for bombogenesis include weather bomb, or simply bomb cyclone. I know, this easily could have been filed under “useless information.” 

The Bruins are off to a great start and so is David Pastrnak, 6 goals in the last two games, 8 total. And speaking of hockey, I don’t like their tie-breaking routine, getting to a shootout if necessary. Go to three-on-three if you have to but no soccer stuff, huh. 

Article I’ll skip: “Muhammad Ali’s ex-wife weighs in on LeBron James controversy” 

Speaking of LeBron, I have an idea; shut up and dribble. 

Have you noticed that many movie channels have already started with the horror films this season? Tune in! 

The Minnesota Twins have now lost an MLB record 16 straight playoff games dating back to 2004. 13 of those losses have come to the yankees. 

And speaking of the yankees, Go Nationals! 

I saw a bumper sticker the other day: “John 3:16” – remember that guy, Rainbow Man? He used to be everywhere! 

Trivia #4 hint: Trivia #4: Zdeno Chara (40) is the oldest active player in the NHL along with one other 40-year old. Who is that? – he is a former Bruin. 

Do you think being superstitious is bad luck? 

Expectations were low but I thought Gronk came through with flying colors in his Fox debut last week. 

What ever happened to the Pats’ no-huddle offense? Let’s shake it up a little. 

Through three quarters of play last Sunday, the Rams’ Jared Goff had 27 yards passing. That is not a typo. He finished with 78. 

The last two times the Bills started the season 4-1 they finished with a losing record (6-10 in 2011 and 7-9 in 2008). 

The Coors Lite commercials just keep getting better. The latest? “Coors Lite! The official beer of drinking while golfing just to drink!” 

This has been a forever issue with me and most of you too, I’m sure. A great song comes on the radio and the DJ talks through the beginning. Drives me out of my mind. 

More than 20 years ago, Tampa Bay running back Warrick Dunn surprised a single mom with a new home. Now retired, Dunn recently partnered with Habitat for Humanity and others to give a hard-working nurse and her son a new home. It was the 173^rd single-parent family Dunn has helped find permanent, stable housing. Good stuff! 

R.I.P. Cindy Murphy – I never met her but knew of her fight. If she was anything like her husband, she was something special.

R.I.P. Ted Green (79) – DYK, “Terrible Ted” won Stanley Cups with the Bruins in 1970 & 1972, three championships in the World Hockey Association with the Winnipeg Jets and five more Stanley Cups as an assistant with the Edmonton Oilers in 1983-1984 through 1989-1990. 

Trivia #1 answer: I heard this on the radio and the numbers are generalized, but close enough. In decisive playoffs games (winner-take-all), match the percentage of times the home team wins in each sport; MLB, NBA, NHL – 60%, 48%, 74% – MLB (47%), NBA (74%), NHL (60%)

Trivia #2 answer: The thong was first revealed in what country – France, United States, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico? – Brazil in the 1970’s

Trivia #3 answer: What Boston Bruins’ player didn’t play a single game during the 1970 regular season or playoffs yet had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup that Boston won that year? – Ted Green. He had taken a stick to the head in a preseason game and missed the entire season.

Trivia #4: Zdeno Chara (40) is the oldest active player in the NHL along with one other 40-year old. Who is that? – Joe Thorton 

“Baby come back
Any kind of fool could see
There was somethin’ in everything about you
Baby come back
You can blame it all on me
I was wrong and I just can’t live without you” 

– Player 

Good night everybody!

Briefly. 

Trivia #1: What year did the “Original Six” era begin? 1936, 1939, 1940, 1942

Trivia #2: Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record for most regular season assists, all-time. Who is second? Ron Francis, Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Mark Messier, Chris Chelios, Sean Gleason 

Does it matter? Really? They’re just gonna to go for two. 

Serving beer, you’re doing it wrong. A vendor at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday completed a fan’s purchase with a personal card reader and not with the device vendors at the stadium are supposed to use. The unsuspecting fan was unknowingly charged $724 for two beers. The vendor was arrested and charged with grand theft and possession of a skimming device. The Dolphins lost again and there is no truth to the rumor that the fan is still drinking. 

Monumental Sports & Entertainment – which owns the Capital One Arena and Washington DC’s Capitals, Wizards & Mystics – is partnering with internationally known betting and gaming company William Hill U.S. to create the first sportsbook at a professional venue in the United States. Signs at the Capital Arena indicate the sportsbook will open in 2020. 

I got my 2020 office calendar yesterday and the first thing I noticed was that Christmas and New Years are on Friday next year. That is so great! 

I read an article that made a point that the deciding factor of the MLB MVP, in the case of a “tie”, should be how the player’s team fared that season. I couldn’t disagree more. 

As a public service, on October 8, 2020 Americans who fly will need to have a driver’s license that meets new federal security requirements, or they’ll have to produce another form of acceptable identification to get through airport checkpoints. TSA advises travelers not to wait until the last minute to obtain what’s known as a Real ID, and enhanced version of a standard driver’s license required by Congress in 2005, following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 

Get in front of the ball! How many times do you think Milwaukee Brewers’ outfielder Trent Grisham had been told that in his lifetime? Tuesday night he overran a base hit to right field in the bottom of the 8th inning against the Nationals allowing all three base runners to score and blowing a seemingly sure victory for the Brewdogs in the NL Wildcard game. Doh! 

22-year old Rafael Devers is the first third baseman in MLB history to have at least 200 hits, 50 doubles and 30 homeruns in a season. 

Vontaze Burfict. Loser. 

I have never been a fan of the three-point shot. Get rid of it. It’s like fantasy football, give more points for a long touchdown. Should homeruns be worth two runs if they are over 450 feet? Two-point goals for a shot outside the blue line? Watch a little kids’ basketball game. All they want to do is chuck it up from anywhere. Get rid of it. 

During Wednesday’s AL Wild Card game, ESPN ran various stats at the bottom of the screen. I honestly didn’t even know what most of them meant. 

In case you missed it, Walgreens has joined Rite Aid and CVS in pulling Zantac and its generic versions off their shelves due to a possible cancer link. 

My kind of headline: “Reducing Red Meat May Not Be Worth It” 

Useless information supposed to fire my imagination: More than 50% of America’s cats are overweight or obese. 

R.I.P. Beverly “Guitar” Watkins (80) – An unsung, blues guitar legend known for her attacking playing style. She was said to play like Jimi Hendrix (playing behind her head) and Pete Townsend, and influenced many musicians including John Lennon. 

Trivia #1: What year did the “Original Six” era begin? 1936, 1939, 1940, 1942 – In 1942

Trivia #2: Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record for most regular season assists, all-time. Who is second? Ron Francis, Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Mark Messier, Chris Chelios, Sean Gleason – Ron Francis 

“You’re just like crosstown traffic
so hard to get through to you
Crosstown traffic
I don’t need to run over you
Crosstown traffic
All you do is slow me down
And I’m tryin’ to get to the other side of town”

Briefly. (not really this week) 

Trivia #1: Patrick Mahomes now has a record 13, 300-yard games in first 20 career games. Whose record did he break?

Trivia #2: What NFL quarterback has an NFL-best streak of 19 straight games with a touchdown pass? 

Zach Short is a shortstop for the Cubs. 

The Miami Dolphins have been outscored 133-16 in their first three games. 

Right now the Red Sox have a better chance of making the playoffs than the Dolphins do. 

Eduardo Rodriguez got his 19^th win the other night: 5 innings, 11 hits, 7 runs (all earned), 3 walks, 6 K’s and a HR. Quite the “win.” 

Speaking of Ric Ocasek, last week, there was a steady flow of Cars tunes at Gillette Stadium last Sunday during breaks in the action. Pretty classy, I thought. 

Speaking of Tim Tebow, not, his NCAA record of 15 consecutive games with a running and throwing touchdown was broken last week by Houston QB D’Eriq King. D’Eriq has decided to invoke a new NCAA rule and sit out the rest of the season before transferring to another school. That sux, just my opinion. 

A recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Bosch home appliances found that Americans throw away 103 pounds of spoiled food from their fridge every single year. The survey also found the average America has about $102 worth of product in their fridge at any given time. Also, the survey found that Americans will toss out four spoiled items from their fridge per week. The most common food wasted overall? Fruit. Specifically, bananas (55%), strawberries (50%) and apples (47%) were found to be the most commonly thrown out spoiled foods. 

Last Sunday was the first time two NFL teams were favored by 20+ points, in a non-strike season. Both underdogs from the AFC East. Go Pats. 

In case you missed it Kyrie Irving broke his face in practice the other day. 

The Bruins open next Thursday, the Celtics on the 23^rd. Does anyone think the C’s will have a better season than the B’s? 

That’s it. I’m rooting for the Twinkies. Anyone but the yankees/Dodgers. 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: According to Next Gen Stats, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman reached 21.7 mph on his 83-yard touchdown catch last week, the fastest a ball carrier has run on any touchdown this year. 

John Breech writes for cbssports.com. He’s a funny guy. In case you missed it, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll took a football to the face last Sunday, pregame, that required multiple stitches. Said Breech, who had picked Seattle to beat the Saints; “Now, I’m not a doctor but that man should have been in concussion protocol. I don’t even know if he had a concussion, but based on the way he coached against the Saints, I’m going to assume he did…” 

Headline of the week: “Woman sentenced for cutting off lover’s genitals after he shared sex tape” 

What happened to Craig Kimbrel you ask? He signed with the Cubbies for the final 1/3 of the season. He pitched 20 2/3 innings giving up 15 runs for a cool 6.53 ERA. Despite his shortened season he set a career high allowing nine homeruns. During Chicago’s recent playoff run he let up the game-winning HR last Thursday and blew a save (two HRs) on Saturday. The Cubs are done, again. 

Quote for the week: “If you ever sit in on a Bill Belichick meeting, don’t worry. He’ll find it.” – Devin McCourty referencing Bill finding the team’s defensive flaws despite how good they have been playing. 

Here’s a line to chew on, read in an NFL article: The randomness of the Patriots dominance is perplexing. 

Let’s face it. The Patriots defense shut out the opponent again and has let up three points in three games this season. This is after allowing three points in SB. 105 yards last Sunday. Baltimore had 643 yards of offense in week #1, the Pats have allowed 597 in 3 games. 

Another gas leak in Lawrence!?!?!?! 

If you don’t like football and have absolutely nothing to do on Sunday, you can go to Fenway Park and for $99 get 4 tickets to the 3pm game vs Baltimore, 4 hotdogs, 4 orders of fries, 4 popcorns, 4 fountain drinks, walk the outfield warning track before the game and get a pregame picture with a player, and (kids) run the bases after the game (if you can stand being there that long). Cool deal! 

Is it me or every Sunday, late afternoon, Philip Rivers stands on the sideline covered with dirt and sweat looking like someone beat him up and took his lunch money. EVERY week! 

The Sox’ Christian Vasquez says he is having more fun than ever this year, playing well and hitting all those homeruns (a career high 23). Hmmm. I guess that’s more fun than winning a World Championship? 

Trivia #1: Patrick Mahomes now has 13, 300-yard games in first 20 career games. Whose record did he break? Kurt Warner

Trivia #2 answer: What NFL quarterback has an NFL-best streak of 19 straight games with a touchdown pass? – The Vikings’ Kirk Cousins 

I try not to repeat bands in consecutive weeks but I cannot get this out of my head – all week! 

“One too many times
I fell over you
Once in a shadow
I finally grew
And once in a night
I dreamed you were there
I cancelled my flight
From going nowhere

It’s all I can do” 

Good night everybody!

Briefly. 

Trivia #1: Who is Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs?

Trivia #2: On Sunday, Adrian Peterson scored a touchdown to move into 5^th place on the all-time list for rushing touchdowns. Name the four ahead of him, bonus for the correct order. 

Strange games Sunday, first between the KC Chiefs and the Raiders. Patrick Mahomes threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns in the second quarter alone. Those would be the only points KC scored. Similarly, the Packers started the day with scoring drives of 75, 63 and 33 yards en route to a 21-16 win over Minnesota. 

The Buffalo Bills became just the 3^rd team ever to win back-to-back road games at the Meadowlands, beating the Jets and Gints. 

Rafael Devers is now the 11^th player EVER with 30+ HR, 100+ RBI and 100+ runs scored in a season. 

We turn the clocks back in 5 weeks. It was 39 degrees yesterday morning when I awoke. I got my annual Celtics’ tickets solicitation email this morning. The summer is ova! 

Heard this on the radio on my way in this morning: “Dating after 40 is like looking for the least damaged thing in a thrift store that doesn’t smell.” 

Hey you big bully, stay off of Tom Brady! 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The LadyBug Bikini shop closed recently in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. It’s been replaced with Dreamboyz Espresso coffee shop which features an all-male cast of shirtless baristas. 

Quote for the week: “”I’m not thinking about free agency. I haven’t gotten anyone out in two months” – Rick Porcello 

Headline that cracked me up: “Florida couple had sex inside patrol car after arrest for riding bicycles while drunk” 

So there was a holding call on the first play of last’s night’s snoozer between the Jags and Titans. The announcer stated how holding calls were up this season and that it was the 180^th holding call of the season. Compared to what you ask? So did I! No mention. 

The Red Sox are 36-41 at Fenway this season. 

Go Irish! What a big game coming up vs the Bulldogs. 

Never judge a book by its cover. Back in the day, my Calculus II book had a cover on it with people that looked like they were having a good time. The book itself however, was not a good time… at all. 

This past Tuesday was not just Mike Yaz’s premier at Fenway, but it was also Nathan Eovaldi World Series Bobble Head night. Ironically, Eovaldi got the start and went 4 innings, let up 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks raising his ERA to 6.19. What a difference a year makes! 

The following night San Francisco Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy notched his 2000^th career win. Class act indeed! The night before he put young Yaz in left field and in the leadoff spot. 

So President Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom to Mariano Rivera. Excuse me while I throw up in my mouth. “No Ed, please. How do you really feel?” 

The NFL is celebrating its 100th year, and MNF celebrating its 50th years. So far, so good, I think. 

What a few weeks for NFL quarterbacks. Retirement (Andrew Luck), injuries (Brees, Big Ben, Newton, Foles, others), sucks (Eli), while many others getting their well-earned shot (Bridgewater, Brissett, Josh Rosen, Daniel Jones, etc.) 

The injury bug was so bad in Philadelphia that the Eagles cancelled practice on Wednesday.

R.I.P. Ric Ocasek (75) – lead singer of The Cars. The band’s self-titled 1978 debut album was a smash hit and helped lead the way for new wave’s influence on rock music throughout the following decade.

R.I.P. Cokie Roberts (75) – veteran journalist, political commentator, author. Cokie was named one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcasting by the American Women in Radio and Television, and the Library of College declared her a ‘Living Legend’ in 2008, making her one of the very few Americans ever honored. 

Trivia #1 answer: Who is Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs? – Cokie Roberts

Trivia #2 answer: On Sunday, Adrian Peterson scored a touchdown to move into 5^th place on the all-time list for rushing touchdowns. Name the four ahead of him, bonus for the correct order. – From 4^th to 1^st – Walter Payton, Marcus Allen, LaDanian Tomlinson, Emmitt Smith 

“I don’t mind you coming here
And wasting all my time
Cause when you’re standing oh so near
I kinda lose my mind
It’s not the perfume that you wear
It’s not the ribbons in your hair
And I don’t mind you coming here
And wasting all my time

I guess you’re just what I needed” 

– The Cars

Briefly. 

You don’t need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. 

Trivia #1: Eli Manning has a chance this season to pass his brother Peyton in career what (offensive category)?

Trivia #2: The NFL Rams started in what city?

Trivia #3: Who is the only player to play on a college football national champion, Super Bowl winner and win the Heisman and Super Bowl MVP?

Bonus trivia: The New England Patriots need three wins to reach 116 since the start of 2010 and break the record for most wins in a decade. Who holds the record now? 

What a riveting opening game last night in the NFL. 10-3. If you’re a Chicago Bears fan you can be thrilled, again, with your defense. On the other side of the ball, you are stuck with Mitch Trubisky who “led” his team to three points, at home, against the Packers. 

Headline of the week: “Bears cement status as NFC North front-runners with big win over Packers” – some stiff on cbssportsline. I guess I’ll stop reading his week 1 predictions right there.

How ironic is it that Brian Hoyer is backing up Jacoby Brissett in Indianapolis and both signed huge contracts? Now, if they can ever figure out how to beat the Patriots.

Who was the genius who came up with the Liberty Mutual jingle? Liberty, Liberty, Liiiiiiberty… Liiiiiberty! – Really? 

The Red Sox/Twins game was delayed this past Wednesday night (yes, I was watching) and NESN ran a piece on Andrew Benintendi. He went to Madeira High School in Ohio and batted over .500 in all four seasons. To this day he holds the state record for runs scored (199), second place is at 172. He went to college at Arkansas and was SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore. The Sox drafted him 7^th overall that year. World Series champ, blah, blah, blah. Pretty good story. 

This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The pastor at St. Edwards Catholic School in Nashville has banned Harry Potter books from the school library after reportedly consulting with “exorcists” who were concerned that students reading the books were at “risk conjuring evil spirits.” 

I saw a headline on ESPN: “25 things we’re watching in final 25 days of MLB season”. Well I can think of two – college and pro football. 

Rafael Nadal hit a shot around the net for a point in one of his US Open matches this past weekend. (Yes, there is a tennis tournament in progress) He reached out of bounds and hit a shot that would have hit the net had it been high enough, but instead he was lunging out of bounds and hit it back into play. I didn’t know you could do that. 

If you’re shipping Styrofoam, what do you pack it in? 

NFL schedule head-scratchers. The Oakland Raiders host the Broncos and Chiefs in weeks one and two, then they go 49 days without playing in Oakland traveling to Minnesota, Indianapolis, London, Bye Week, Green Bay and Houston. The (very) warm-weather Miami Dolphins have three home games in September and in December travel three of their last four games to New York twice (Jets & Giants) and Gillette. There are four games scheduled to be played in London. The not-ready-for-primetime Dolphins and Redskins have 14, 1pm EST games while the Bills have 14 plus a TBD which could bring it to 15. Conversely, the Rams have three 1pm EST games. 

Great nickname. The Cleveland Browns recently signed undrafted free agent punter Jamie Gillan. Gillan hails from Scotland and is lovingly nicknamed “The Scottish Hammer.” 

R.I.P. – Anyone who died in Dorian’s path. Glad for friends down south who weathered the storm. Hope the damage was minimal. Hundreds, possibly thousands missing in the Bahamas. 

Speaking of Dorian,  the Rolling Stones completed their “No Filter” tour on Friday in Miami. The show was first supposed to be in April but was postponed due to Mick Jagger’s surgery. It was then rescheduled for last Saturday but was moved to Friday because of the storm. The show was delayed an hour due to downpours. It then stopped raining for the entire show until their first encore – “Gimme Shelter”. As Jagger sung the opening line “I was born in a crossfire hurricane”, it started to downpour again. Can’t make that up. 

Trivia #1 answer: Eli Manning has a chance this season to pass his brother Peyton in what (offensive category)? – Interceptions. He is currently No. 14 all-time with 239 and needs just 13 to pass Peyton for No. 9 all-time.

Trivia #2 answer: The NFL Rams started in what city? – Cleveland (1937)

Trivia #3 answer: Who is the only player to play on a college football national champion, Super Bowl winner and win the Heisman and Super Bowl MVP? – Marcus Allen (USC in 1978, Heisman in 1981, Super Bowl champ and MVP 1983)

Bonus trivia answer: The New England Patriots need three wins to reach 116 since the start of 2010 and break the record for most wins in a decade. Who holds the record now? – The Indianapolis Colts (115, 2000-2009) 

“Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane
Jane plays with Willi, Willi is happy again
Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Britt
Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it” 

-Peter Gabriel

Briefly.

My apologies for last week’s faux pa. Mike Yaz is Yaz’ grandson, not son. BTW, he is still hitting homeruns and hit another one on his grandfather’s 80^th birthday. 

Trivia #1: Who was Ray Chapman?

Trivia #2: What NFL team was once the Portsmouth Spartans?

Trivia #3: How did the L.A. Dodgers, formerly the Brooklyn Dodgers, get their name?

Bonus Trivia: Just yesterday, Bob Cousy became just the fourth former NBA player to be presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Name the other three. 

Belated congratulations to local Channel 5 sportscaster, Mike Lynch, who recently retired. Lynchie came on board in 1982 and soon took over the lead role in the “Sports War”, at the time, with Ch. 4 (Bob Lobel) and Ch. 7 (John Dennis). He played football at Harvard and in 1975 kicked the game-winning field goal  in the closing seconds to beat Yale 10-7 in the Yale Bowl before an estimated 66,000 fans. 

Despite having nine batters with 10-plus homeruns for just the second time in franchise history, the Red Sox have just the eighth-highest homerun total among all MLB teams in 2019. 

Tom Brady did not look all that sharp last night. I am zero-worried about Tom Brady and the offense. 

Get ‘em while they’re hot! Early bird season tickets to the Worchester Red Sox (The WooSox) are now on sale. 

The fires in the Amazon rain forest are an international crisis. The forest produces 20% of the world’s oxygen. 20%! 

U.S. soccer star Carli Lloyd appeared at a joint practice session between the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday. Lloyd was seen nailing 40-yard and 55-yard field goals. 

Chris Berman is celebrating 40 years with ESPN. I remember where I was when I saw SportsCenter for the first time. Do you? 

So the Red Sox won their suspended game yesterday, 5-4, after just under 12 minutes of play thanks to Brock Holt’s RBI single in the 10^th. The game had been delayed for 12,018 minutes. Attendance yesterday was just shy of 12,000 (under 18-year old were free, all others $5, concession items were $1 – not sure whether they sold beer but I doubt it was for $1) and just 603 words were spoken on the WEEI broadcast. With Thursday previously scheduled as an off-day for the Sox, some players had planned events in the San Diego area with their families. Instead, flights to begin their west coast road trip were delayed a day. 

Antonio Brown, you spoiled baby. You punk. Put on your helmet and play. 

Useless headline of the week: Chris Sale Optimistic For 2020, Despite Disappointing End To 2019 Season 

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson said he and his podcast co-host smoke around $40,000 worth of pot each month on his 40-acre, California ranch. He added that his ranch sells around $500,000 in cannabis to dispensaries in California and Nevada each month. (Can you imagine what Mike Tyson’s voice sounds like when he’s stoned?!) 

23-year old Nathan Patterson threw a 96-mile an hour pitch at a speed-pitch radar booth at Coors Field. The video of the pitch went viral and 700,000 views later, Nathan signed a contract with the Oakland A’s. In his debut at the team’s rookie-level Arizona league he struck out all three batters he faced. Cool. 

Geoffrey and Kaycee Lace, of Friedens Pennsylvania, were hit with misdemeanor theft charges last week after police searched their home and found a doll that resembled the infant seen in photos the couple says was their son. They faked both the baby’s birth and death, set up a GoFundMe page and collected donations from friends, family and the community. Scumbags. 

“I” before “E”, except after “C”. Now that’s just weird. 

Detroit Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford says that her best memory of the Lions has yet to come. “I want the Lombardi Trophy.” At 93 years old, she’s a few prayers away from seeing her dream come true, think? 

Trivia #1 answer: Who was Ray Chapman? Cleveland Indians shortstop who was struck with a fastball in 1920 by the yankees’ Carl Mays. The first and only death to occur as a result of a pitched ball in major league history.

Trivia #2: What NFL team was once the Portsmouth Spartans? – The Detroit Lions

Trivia #3: How did the L.A. Dodgers, formerly the Brooklyn Dodgers, get their name? – In 1892, Brooklyn replaced their horse-drawn trolley lines with new, faster electronic trolley lines. Sportswriters at first referred to the residents of the city as the “Trolley Dodgers” because of their amazing skill set in dodging the trolley streetcar system. The “Trolley Dodgers” eventually became simply the “Dodgers.”

Bonus Trivia answer: Just yesterday, Bob Cousy became just the fourth former NBA player to be presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Name the other three – Bill Russel, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“You know I’ve seen a lot of what the world can do
And it’s breakin’ my heart in two
Because I never want to see you sad girl
Don’t be a bad girl
But if you wanna leave, take good care
Hope you have a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there’s a lot of bad and beware, beware”

Forgive me.

R.I.P. William “Uncle Bill” O’Brien (82). A wonderful, fascinating guy.  He will be greatly missed.