In the Beginning…
May 29, 2021 Until last week I didn't know who Joe Valerio was. He was like a lot of people who work behind the scenes to produce television programs. Invisible. His calling card was ESPN's The Sports Reporters. A panel discussion show on ESPN. A ground breaking production that brought serious discussion to real sports ...
Improving the Best of Seven
May 22, 2021 There's never a bad time to resurrect a good idea. No matter how far-fetched. The NBA and Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun. The Utah Jazz... Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets are the top three times in the stacked NBA West Conference. But no one is picking any of these teams to ...
Willie O’Ree and How It All Began
May 15, 2021 Willie O'Ree made his National Hockey League debut for the Boston Bruins in 1958. Played two impact less games before being sent back to Quebec City. He resurfaced three seasons later with the Bruins, played in 43 games and scored four goals. Among them the first scored by a Black NHLer. Those ...
Catering to the Rubberneckers…
May 8, 2021 Keith Magnuson was a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks back in the 70s. He led the NHL in penalty minutes as a rookie... specializing in losing fights. One of my fondest hockey memories is of Boston's Derek Sanderson beating up on Magnuson... taking his uniform jersey. Skating around the rink with it ...
When a No-Hitter isn’t…
May 1, 2021 So, Madison Bumgarner's 7-inning no-hitter doesn't officially count. The definition is murky and this isn't the first-time baseball has been trapped by its own vernacular. In 1964 Ken Johnson of the Houston Colt 45s pitched a 9-inning complete game no-hitter against Cincinnati. But lost the game 1-0 on an unearned run in ...
Greed Isn’t Always Good
April 24, 2021 In 1999 the Rochester Rhinos won the US Open Cup. A soccer competition open to every organized team in the country, The Rhinos that year beat four MLS teams on the way to the championship. An extraordinary feat performed in front of a handful of fans in Columbus Ohio and registered barely ...
Ambush Marketing
It's called ambush marketing. The streaker with Duffy's name tattooed on his chest hoping to get some free publicity. Wayne Player has been banned from the Masters golf tournament for just such a stunt. In a manner of speaking.The son of golf legend Gary Player chose the tournament's ceremonial first tee shot to overtly display ...
Remembering Matt Trabs…
Matt Trabold died a young man last week. I first came to know Matt when he was a guest on John DiTullio's radio show. A true savant when the subject was basketball. The City of Basketball Love... a website he helped operate. Trabold was what we used to call a television camera man. Sports Videographer ...
Taking the High Road
January 9, 2021 We got to know Anthony Lynn through his time serving under head coach Rex Ryan with the Buffalo Bills. When Ryan wore out his welcome, Lynn took over on an interim basis and lost his only game.Sean McDermott replaced Ryan the next year but Lynn landed on his feet. He spent the last ...
The Moment You’ll Remember
It was Sunday, February 3rd, 2002. Adam Vinatieri lined up for the 48-yard field goal attempt that won Super Bowl 36 over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams as time expired. It was New England's first championship in the Tom Brady era. I was watching with my family and told the kids, "This is a moment ...
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