Media Movement All Over The Place

Posted by Bruce August 15, 2008 at 8:30 am

Last night we learned about the changes at the Globe, which included Tony Massarotti moving over from the Herald, and Chad Finn earning himself a sweet promotion.

This morning, David Scott has more on the move, but also reports on new hires at weei.com, which include Jeff Goodman, Alex Speier and wait for it…Ron Borges.

Ron Borges? 

Seriously? Ken Powers wasn’t available? Mike Barnicle turned them down? Patricia Smith wasn’t interested?

My interest and enthusiasm in their new venture just sunk considerably. They were doing things right all the way up until that point. Michael Felger, Rob Bradford, Goodman and Speier are all relatively young guys who understand how things work in the new age of sportswriting. For the most part they have a fresh perspective on things, and don’t stir up stuff just to get noticed (well, except for Felger.)

Borges throws all that out the window. The quotes from Dennis and Callahan in Scott’s piece are just nauseating. Yeah, I’m sure Bill Belichick is shaking in his shoes at the thought of Borges back in Foxboro. That’s provided of course that he knows how to get there. He hasn’t been seen down there in a long time, even before his (wink wink) retirement from the Globe.

I had high hopes for this new weei.com. Borges just about kills it for me. You hire him, you lose your credibility. Simple as that.

Bad move, guys.

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The Red Sox hitters are surely sorry to see the Texas Rangers pitchers leave town. Boston finished off the sweep of the Rangers with a 10-0 victory at Fenway Park last night. The Red Sox scored 37 runs in 3 games off the Rangers…

Globe beat reporter Amalie Benjamin has the game story. Jeff Horrigan has the Red Sox continuing their hot hitting since the Manny Ramirez trade. Paul Kenyon has the Red Sox finishing off their roundup of the Rangers. Jeff Goldberg has Daisuke Matsuzaka once again letting the runners on, and once again not letting them score. Bob Stern has the Red Sox pounding the Rangers one more time. Garry Brown has more on the demolition at Fenway. Phil O’Neill has another big inning leading the way for Boston.

Tony Massarotti has David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis proving to be a formidable 3-3 combination. Barbara Matson has Ortiz especially sorry to see the Rangers go. Ortiz has regain his power stroke in this series, and even enjoyed an early departure last night. Still, I can’t help but remember the reaction from the media when Pedro Martinez left the ballpark early after a start. I’ve got absolutely no problem with Ortiz (or Pedro) going home early, but it’s interesting to note the difference in reaction. Steven Krasner analyzes the lack of success by the Rangers pitching in this series. Massarotti says that the Blue Jays will provide a much stiffer test for the Boston bats.

Marty Dobrow has a minor league notebook in the Globe, and examines a rash of oblique strains in the Red Sox organization. Rich Thompson’s minor league notebook has Bartolo Colon on the road back to the majors.

Benjamin’s notebook has Jon Lester trying to help out Clay Buchholz. Horrigan’s notebook has Dice-K once again walking a tightrope last night. The ProJo notebook has more on Matsuzaka. Goldberg’s notebook says that Kevin Youkilis is making a case for league MVP. Brown’s notebook has Paul Byrd getting ready for his first Red Sox start tonight. O’Neill’s notebook also makes the case for Youkilis as AL MVP.

Patriots

Over on Patriots Daily, Scott Benson examines whether the Patriots can or will carry five running backs on their roster.

Christopher L. Gasper has a look at the Patriots signing of veteran safety John Lynch. Christopher Price has more on the Lynch signing. Carolyn Thornton says that Lynch could end up being a big presence in the Patriots secondary. Eric McHugh thinks Lynch should fit well here. Jennifer Toland writes that Lynch could fill the void left by Tank Williams being placed on IR. Mark Farinella looks at this year’s carbon-dated addition to the Patriots roster.

Karen Guregian says that adding Dom Capers to the coaching staff might be the best move the Patriots made in the offseason. Thornton has rookie QB Kevin O’Connell doing all he can to learn from Tom Brady. Guregian has more on the rookie learning how to play the position in his first NFL camp. Farinella has a look at Kenny Smith, who gets a feature written about him for the second day in a row. Thompson has punter Chris Hanson secure in his role with the team.

Price tells us what to watch for during Sunday night’s game. Ian M. Clark has a Ruud family reunion on tap for Sunday night. Mike McMahon looks at former Boston Patriot Daryl Johnson going into the Morgan State Hall of Fame.

Gasper’s notebook has Jason Webster getting close to returning to action for the Patriots. Guregian’s notebook has more on the signing of Lynch. Toland’s notebook has Dean Pees talking about some of his young players on defense. McHugh’s notebook examines the impact on he safety depth chart that the Lynch signing will have.

Misc

Steve Bulpett and Marc J. Spears report on the Celtics signing first round pick J.R. Giddens.

Spears also has the United States’ men’s basketball team taking care of business with Greece yesterday.

Mark Blaudschun has a media column on NBC Sports reporter Bob Neumeier. Neumy mentions that WEEI wasn’t “fair” in their contract offer to him, which is why he left his show with Dale Arnold.  

Tippett to speak first

Posted by Reiss' Pieces August 1, 2008 at 3:22 pm

CANTON, Ohio -- Andre Tippett was considered a tone-setter when he played for the New England Patriots, and perhaps that's why the Pro Football Hall of Fame has selected him to be the first inductee to speak at Saturday's enshrinement ceremonies.

So for those planning to watch Tippett's induction speech on television, be advised that -- barring an unexpected change -- Tippett will be the first of the six inductees to address the crowd.

Television coverage, on ESPN and NFL Network, begins at 6 p.m. ET.

Walkthrough session

Posted by Reiss' Pieces July 29, 2008 at 10:33 am

FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots have taken the field for their ninth practice since training camp opened last Thursday. This session, held on the upper practice fields behind Gillette Stadium, is a walkthrough, with players in shorts and T-shirts.

Walkthroughs are light practices in which players slowly go through parts of the playbook.

It is likely that coach Bill Belichick identified a few items that he wants the team to work on tonight in full pads, in the presence of the NFL referees who are in town, and the team is touching up on those areas this morning.

Three referees are here, and they are wearing their official uniforms on the practice field this morning. Butch Hannah, a respected umpire who dons number 40, is one of the officials in town.

On a personnel note, TE David Thomas is on the field for the walkthrough. Thomas had left yesterday's practice, under his own power, with a member of the team's training staff.

Army changes its mind, Campbell can’t play in NFL

Posted by NECN - Sports July 24, 2008 at 9:47 am

(NECN/ABC) - Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions because of a change in military policy.

Campbell was a seventh-round draft pick for the Lions in April.

At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team.

Now the Army is saying that Campbell must serve in active duty until 2010, when he would be eligible to ask for leave to play football.

Any extensive time away from the game would hurt Campbell's chances of playing in the NFL.

Mister Jones

Posted by Mike Giardi June 22, 2008 at 5:32 pm

So Pacman Jones doesn’t want to be called Pacman. Not only that, but he’s now dispensing wisdom. Rich.

“It’s just time for a change, man. I’m doing everything I can to make sure that I’m all right as a person, mentally and emotionally.”

Now I’m not one to deny a man a second shot. Heck, I’ll give guys third and fourth shots if their character warrants it. Nothing that Pacman…errr, Adam Jones has done warrants that. He was a punk at West Virginia (just ask anyone who knows anything about that program, and they’ll tell you). Several teams went so far as to take Mister Jones off the board after he declared for the NFL Draft. If that’s not a black mark against you, I don’t know what is. NFL owners and coaches care about winning, first and foremost. In fact, that’s all they care about. So you have to be one bad dude to get yanked off the board, especially when you’re an undeniable talent.

Pacman…errr, Adam Jones hasn’t done anything to impress Mother Teresa since coming into the NFL. A quick Google search reveals numerous arrests. This is also a man who may or may not have a stripper pole installed in his house, the house (I believe) that the bank’s about to take away from him. Obviously, this isn’t someone you want to introduce to anyone you like. I’m not even sure I’d introduce him to someone I didn’t like. So I guess its admirable for the Cowboys corner to claim he’s trying to get on the right path, but he’s got a long, long, long, loooooooooooooooooong way to go before I start blogging about him changing his life. And it may start with his new house, and whether or not there’s a stripper pole installed in the living room there as well.

Morning Coffee

Posted by Mike Giardi June 12, 2008 at 9:43 am

Early morning thoughts while being thankful that I never said anything bad about Texas outfielder Milton Bradley (at least, as far as he knows or I’ll admit)…

- You know how athletes like to blame the media for taking quotes out of context, or being overtly negative? Apparently Curt Schilling doesn’t need our help. He can do it all on his own. Never mind the fact that he was right about Kobe. Schill objects to having clubhouse business spilled out on the back pages of newspapers, but obviously has no problem laying the hammer on a guy he doesn’t even know, playing for a team he doesn’t know. Hypocrisy anyone?

- I don’t spend too much time worrying about the Pats and their habit of not disclosing injuries. I mean, why should I, and more importantly, why should they? Ellis Hobbs was right earlier this week when he said the opposition will go after you if they know you’re hurt. I don’t see how the NFL can make them tell the truth. If Hobbs ends up getting scratched, they could say he slipped on banana peel the morning of the game. How can the league prove that wrong? So that said, I think Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo blogging about his ankle injury is the height of stupidity. Unless he’s setting the Lakers up for something, there is absolutely no reason for it. I guess its youth…or something.

- Did you see Bill Simmons claim that Kevin Garnett didn’t sleep for like 4 days straight in the Detroit series? Am I suppose to be impressed? As a professional insomniac, I can triple that with no effort. But seriously…KG needs to dial it down a bit. Part of being great is getting a handle on your emotions and managing your intensity. 1st Quarters mean as much as 4th Quarters on the scoreboard, but its those final 12 minutes that determine a player’s legacy. I suspect Garnett knows that, even bleary eyed…

- If Rondo doesn’t play tonight, or is ineffective, how does Doc handle it? Pray that Eddie House’s dribbling skills have taken a quantum leap in the 48 hours since the C’s and Lakers last played? Hope that someone got the smelling salts for Sam Cassell? Mercifully, LA doesn’t have a Lindsey Hunter type to hound the ball, although Jordan Farmar did a pretty good job Tuesday. I suppose you could have Pierce and/or Allen bring the ball up, but I have to believe that would impact the offense in a negative manner. The more I think about it, the more Rondo just has to pull a Pierce, put on a Cape and play Superman…or at least the Green Lantern or Flash Gordon (I loved the Green Lantern as a kid, but you gotta admit, his gimmick was pretty lame. Not as lame as the Wonder Twins, but I digress…)

- If you don’t like “The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret” by Queens of the Stone Age, I’m not sure we can be friends.

Mo Money

Posted by Mike Giardi June 7, 2008 at 9:58 am

It has been as subject that has been worn out for months now, but the NFL and its players union really need a way to figure out how to cap these rookie salaries. Take the Raiders, for example. They draft Darren McFadden, the Arkansas running back, 4th overall. Six weeks later, a player who’s never touched the ball once in an NFL game, gets a 60-million dollar deal over six seasons. This, for a player who’s not considered durable enough to be a 25-carry per game guy!

If McFadden stinks on wheat, and never does a single thing in the league, his guaranteed dollars are anywhere between 19 and 26 million, depending on who you believe. That’s so out-of-whack with what the veterans are getting paid, I can see why the owners want out of the CBA. Of course, they signed off on the deal a few seasons ago, so I guess they asked for it. But regardless of how we got here, its something that needs to be changed, for the benefit of the league, and for the benefit of proven 5 and 6-year vets who don’t deserve to be making chump change as compared to some fresh-faced rookie.

Anyway, on to the local stuff. We will have more on Celtics star Paul Pierce’s knee later today, so be sure and check us out during at least one of the 10 or so sportscasts we’ll have this afternoon and evening. And of course, do check out Sports Late Night, our signature show. We’ll break out a newcomer as a guest, Scott Souza, who’s as smart a writer as there is covering the C’s.

The Commish Passes on More Penalties

Posted by Mike Giardi May 13, 2008 at 2:06 pm

The NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, has spoken, and he doesn’t think there’s any new news to further “Spygate.” In fact, Goodell saying he does not anticipate any further penalties or sanctions against the Patriots or their coach, Bill Belichick. That’s has to have Pats fans breathing a sigh of relief.

However, the news doesn’t end there. ESPN’s Sal Palontonio spoke with the NFL’s counsel, Greg Levy, following their meeting with former Pats video assistant Matt Walsh. And while there is no tape of the Rams walkthrough in 2002 (prior to the Super Bowl), Levy did have some new information for the 4-letter network. According to Walsh, he watched that practice, and relayed information to then-Pats wide receiver coach Brian Daboll (now working for the Jets) following the Rams walkthrough in 2002. Included in that conversation, the fact that the Rams were making an adjustment with their tight end against certain formations. Might that be pertinent to the Pats preparations, or how they reacted to that during the game? I don’t know, and I guess we’ll never know, unless someone on the Pats team or coaching staff chooses to speak out at some point.

Other information of note: a) that Walsh was told to be “careful” when filming. That came from his supervisor, Jimmy Dee, b) Goodell didn’t buy Bill Belichick’s explanation then, or now, c) Walsh alleging that the Pats let players on injured reserved practice (a no-no) and that players Super Bowl tickets were scalped. Those last two will be examined further by the league office.