Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
BC Student observes UN
http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2012/10/24/student-brooke-loughrin-first-ever-youth-observer-united-nations/RnBzMg88CjfK0twwp8trFP/story.html
hurricane
storm is expected to move up the East Coast, then turn west and make landfall.
“Where it decides to hook left is what’s going to determine everything for everybody,” Field said. “Anyone from Maryland to Maine is under the gun. But somebody is going to get whacked.”
The storm will be powerful and widespread, he warned, and “if it gets up in our area, all bets are off.”
Even if the storm makes landfall to the south, it will likely roil the ocean, stirring up mighty waves of 40 to 50 feet in the open ocean and 25 feet along the coast, Field said.
The weather service today issued a hazardous weather outlook and a marine weather statement that warned of a “dangerous and potentially life-threatening storm” for mariners. The service advised mariners to return to port by Saturday and continue to monitor weather forecasts.
Supercomputer forecasting models show that the Category 2 hurricane could make landfall on the East Coast anywhere from Maryland to Maine late Monday into Tuesday.
bogar
On most baseball teams, the manager and the bench coach work closely together and are often close friends. But Bobby Valentine and Tim Bogar went long stretches without speaking this past season.
Valentine was fired as Red Sox manager Oct. 4, and on Thursday came word from team sources that Bogar will not be returning.
Bogar, 45, spent four seasons with the Sox. He was the first base coach in 2009, the third base coach from 2010-11, and then the bench coach.
New Red Sox manager John Farrell is expected to name Torey Lovullo as his bench coach. Lovullo was considered by Valentine for the job last December before he settled on Bogar.
Valentine was fired as Red Sox manager Oct. 4, and on Thursday came word from team sources that Bogar will not be returning.
Bogar, 45, spent four seasons with the Sox. He was the first base coach in 2009, the third base coach from 2010-11, and then the bench coach.
New Red Sox manager John Farrell is expected to name Torey Lovullo as his bench coach. Lovullo was considered by Valentine for the job last December before he settled on Bogar.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Brady
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said on Monday morning that he was happy with his team's Week 7 overtime win over the New York Jets, but noted that there is plenty of room for improvement.
"I'm certainly pleased by winning. I think that's the most important thing," he told the "Dennis & Callahan" show on WEEI sports radio in Boston (listen here). "Whether you win by a point or 10 points or 30 points, they all count the same. And we've been on the losing end of a one-point, a one-point, and a two-point game, and it feels good to win a three-point game.
"I'm certainly pleased by winning. I think that's the most important thing," he told the "Dennis & Callahan" show on WEEI sports radio in Boston (listen here). "Whether you win by a point or 10 points or 30 points, they all count the same. And we've been on the losing end of a one-point, a one-point, and a two-point game, and it feels good to win a three-point game.
HE RACE: After final debate, a mad rush to home
Debates have played an outsized role this year — both in deciding the Republican primaries and now in bringing the presidential choice into sharper focus for many Americans.
But with no further debates and barring an unforeseen ‘‘October surprise,’’ one of the few remaining uncertainties is the government’s release of this month’s jobs report just four days before the election.
The September report showed a sharp unemployment rate drop to 7.8 percent, dipping under 8 percent for the first time since the start of Obama’s presidency. Was that an aberration or is the jobs picture really improving?
The October report could tell us — although it won’t matter to the many who have already voted early.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Celtics
Chris Copeland blocked a potential game-tying 3-point shot from Jamar Smith as time expired in overtime and the Celtics fell 98-95 to the New York Knicks in Hartford, Conn.
Despite the outcome, the C's had plenty to be optimistic about. Jared Sullinger continued to excel and finished with a team-high 14 points and tied for the team high in rebounds with seven. Jeff Green also played well yet again and finished with 12 points and four rebounds.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Football game
he game plan might have to feature a few personnel tweaks if linebackers Dont'a Hightower(hamstring) and Tracy White (foot) aren't available. One area to watch is Rob Ninkovichreturning to more of a traditional linebacker-type role if Hightower and White aren't available. There aren't many other options and Ninkovich is a strong edge-setter, which is going to be crucial.
On offense, the plan figures to be dictated by how well the offensive front holds up. Does it need help? Regardless, I think the tight ends are going to be key, either by extending the line of scrimmage in a blocking role or as pass-catchers. How do the Seahawks match them?
The Patriots won't run for 200-plus yards like they did the past two weeks, but establishing enough of a ground game naturally will be important. They can't be one-dimensional in this environment.
On offense, the plan figures to be dictated by how well the offensive front holds up. Does it need help? Regardless, I think the tight ends are going to be key, either by extending the line of scrimmage in a blocking role or as pass-catchers. How do the Seahawks match them?
The Patriots won't run for 200-plus yards like they did the past two weeks, but establishing enough of a ground game naturally will be important. They can't be one-dimensional in this environment.
Casino
he department cited “a number of provisions that did not comply with the law,” including encroachment on tribal sovereignty and a lack of meaningful concessions from the state in exchange for tribal revenue, the department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is in charge of protecting tribes’ interests, said.
The tribe, which wants to build a casino in Taunton, is seeking to immediately begin renegotiating the deal, known as a compact.
Governor Patrick called the rejection “deeply disappointing.”
“The compact calls for us to resume negotiations in the face of a federal disapproval and requires legislative approval of any renegotiated compact,” Patrick said in a statement. “Those conversations will begin in earnest as we work with our partners in the legislature to determine [the] next steps. … I remain committed to striking an appropriate balance which protects the best interests of the commonwealth and the tribe.”
Under the terms of the rejected deal, the Mashpee would have paid the state 21.5 percent of all gambling revenue from their Taunton facility, in exchange for the right to run a gambling resort in Southeastern Massachusetts, and other considerations. As the Globe reported in July, 21.5 percent is very high in comparison to recent compacts signed by other tribes around the country.
“The revenue sharing provisions in this compact go beyond those permitted by the department,” wrote Kevin Washburn, assistant secretary of Indian affairs, in an 18-page rejection letter addressed to Patrick and dated Friday.
States cannot tax tribal casinos, and tribes are only allowed to trade revenue for something of value, normally an exclusive zone without competition from a commercial casino. The compact the state signed with the Mashpees provided limited exclusivity in Southeastern Massachusetts. It would have required a 15 percent cut of the tribe’s revenue even if a commercial resort was licensed in the region. The compact offered the tribe no protection from the establishment of a slot parlor anywhere in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Body chained
preliminary investigation indicates that the person found today in the Charles River near the Boston University Bridge was bound with chains and weighted down by a cinderblock, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said.
A spokesman for the district attorney’s office, Jake Wark, said in a statement, “It is far too early to make a determination as to manner of death, and reports indicating that the individual was the victim of a homicide are premature.”
Wark said his office also would not release “details on evidence at the scene in the early stages of any death investigation. When it’s appropriate to release further information, we will do so.”
According to State Police and prosecutors, a Boston University rowing coach spotted the body in the water today around 7:25 a.m.
Officials said the body’s gender and approximate age are not yet available. A cause of death will be established by the state medical examiner’s office after an autopsy.
It was the second body to be found in the area in as many days. On Sunday, the body of a 62-year-old man was found near the Boston University boathouse. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, and authorities have said they do not consider his death to be suspicious.
State Police said the man had been treated Sunday in Cambridge Hospital after sustaining injuries from falling on the sidewalk. He was intoxicated at the time, and police said he might have been homeless. He was treated and released a few hours later.
The discovery of the second body comes as friends and relatives of graduate student Jonathan Dailey continue a painful vigil, hoping to locate the graduate student who left his Allston apartment about a week ago and has not been seen since.
Dailey, 23, is a student at the Boston Architectural College and was described by his family as an Eagle Scout and risk-taker. But Dailey always maintained contact with his family, relatives said.
Jonathan Dailey’s roommate, a long-time friend, said the discovery of the body today had put the missing student’s friends on edge.
“There hasn’t been any sort of confirmation on anything, but obviously we are deeply concerned about it,” said Miles Smith, 23, speaking before the revelation that the body was considered to be a homicide victim.
Smith said it would be out of character for Dailey to simply disappear on his own volition without notifying anyone. “We bond over indulging in adventures,” Smith said in a telephone interview. “He’s an Eagle Scout and we both love adventure, but we always prepare.”
Smith said the last time he and Dailey went on such an adventure was several weeks ago, to Maine. They visited a gorge where they camped, swam, and cliff-dived. The last time he saw Dailey was the evening of Oct. 2 in their Allston apartment, after Dailey came home from work.
Dailey had a slice of pizza and sat down with Smith to watch an episode of “The Office.” They chatted about how their day went and then Smith went to bed at about 9 p.m.
Dailey worked as a sales associate at American Apparel on Brattle Street. Dailey and Smith obtained undergraduate degrees in architecture from Appalachian State University in North Carolina.
They were in their second year at the Boston Architectural College, but both are currently taking a semester off. Smith described Dailey as very creative and intelligent, with an eccentric side.
“I’ve been putting my emotional indulgences aside to organize volunteers to search for him and we’ve been keeping busy 24 hours a day,’’ Smith said.
Dailey was last seen wearing a button-down shirt and white shorts. He is 5-foot-9 and weighs 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo of a black stripe on his left bicep.
MMQB Tuesday Edition
Unless he plays smarter, RGIII will lose to Luck in long-term; mail |
Story Highlights
RGIII has outplayed Andrew Luck, but his style of play leaves him prone to injuryWith weak protection RGIII has to stay mobile, but he must be smarter about itToo early to judge Roger Goodell's legacy; Jay Cutler's attitude; more of your mail |
Robert Griffin III is on pace to take 35 sacks this season, with 135 rush attempts.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Griffin was talking about the cover story in Sports Illustrated the week before the draft, in which I debated the pro prospects for him and Andrew Luck. I didn't conclude which quarterback would be a better pro, but I did say I believed Griffin's mobility could actually be a negative compared to Luck's tendency to stay in the pocket more. My point was summed up in this paragraph:
It's a game of roulette. Three quarterbacks had more than 75 rushing attempts last year, and two got hurt. Cam Newton ran it 126 times in 16 games last year and stayed healthy. Tim Tebow ran the ball 137 times in 13 starts (including playoffs) and was beat up by season's end. Vick had 76 rushes in 13 games, missing three with broken ribs and overcoming an early-season concussion. In 2010, one quarterback had more than 75 rushes (Vick with 100), and he missed four starts with rib and leg injuries.
Bill Polian spent all last fall scouting quarterbacks because he thought he'd have to pick one in Indianapolis, but he was fired before he had the chance to make the pick. But six months ago, he told me: "I'd probably pick Luck. When you boil it all down, you worry about running quarterbacks getting hurt. But it's close. Very close."
Sunday was a day of great contrasts in the NFL with these new quarterbacks playing big games at home against Super Bowl contenders. Luck opposed a great quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, and the Green Bay Packers. Griffin played another top young passer, Matt Ryan, and the Atlanta Falcons. Luck made the first stirring comeback of his NFL career, leading the Colts back from an 18-point halftime deficit to defeat Green Bay 30-27. Griffin had the Redskins in an even struggle with the unbeaten Falcons until he scrambled out of the pocket midway through the third quarter and took a vicious hit from Atlanta linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Griffin left the game with a concussion. His status is uncertain for Washington's game with Minnesota -- another voracious defense -- on Sunday.
MONDAY'S MMQB COLUMN
Griffin has outplayed Luck this season. He's been more accurate, with a far better rating (101.0 to 77.1). But he also has been exposed to far more hits than Luck, with his 42 rushes and 11 sacks in five games. He's on pace over 16 games to be exposed to 170 plays with hits -- the combination of running plays and sacks; this doesn't include the number of times he gets hit behind the line while delivering the ball.
A 218-pound quarterback is not suited to be hit like that and to play every week in the NFL. Yet, I'm not sure what exactly Washington coach Mike Shanahan can do about it, other than to emphasize to Griffin to follow the old Franco Harris rule: When you're about to get blasted near the sideline, every time, duck out of bounds before the hit comes. And instead of taking hits on scrambles or designed runs in the open field, slide two yards early. Shanahan has to make this a rule. A hard-and-fast rule.
The reason I don't think Shanahan should staple Griffin to the pocket is simple. His line isn't good. And if Griffin tries to be a pocket quarterback (something he's told me he'd like to become), he's going to get blind-sided and ear-holed by the Jared Allens and Justin Tucks of the NFC, and he'll end up sidelined that way.
So he's got to use his mobility, especially now, since GM Bruce Allen and Shanahan, cap-strapped, haven't been able to build him the kind of protective shield up front that he'll eventually play behind. For now, he just has to be smarter.
Last point: Griffin's smart enough to adjust his game. He's a competitor, but not a reckless person or player. He takes coaching very well. He can learn to avoid the killer Weatherspoon hits. And he must. Or the Luck-Griffin debate of last April, long-term, will be an easy one.
Now for your email:
ON UNITAS VS. BREES. "Peter, I understand why everyone is praising Drew Brees for breaking Unitas's record, but I'm honestly not that impressed by it. Johnny U did it when the NFL was running the ball just as much as throwing, if not more. Today, rule changes and technology like radio sets have lessened the difficulty of passing and running backs are being used less and less. The game is all about passing the ball, so why is everyone so impressed by the breaking of passing records?"
-- From Stephen Cogan, San Angelo, Texas
I think people were wowed because the record stood for 52 years. But I would agree with you that the Unitas record was amazing and Brees breaking it impressive but not amazing -- simply because of the volume of throws by quarterbacks these days ... and the fact that Tom Brady is on course to Break Unitas' mark 11 games down the road too.
A POINT TO CONSIDER ABOUT JAY CUTLER. "Regarding Jay Cutler and his less than happy attitude. Cutler has Type-1 Diabetes, and requires insulin everyday. I'm also a diabetic, and one of the problems you can have with high blood-sugar levels is mood swings, especially anger and irritability. Those high blood sugar levels can come from all the stress of playing a game, both the mental as well as physical strength. Sometimes they can sneak up on you, so you have to be diligent on testing your blood glucose levels, which Cutler does several times a game.
Anyway, Jay Cutler may well be a jerk. I don't know. I've never met him. However, I've seen folks with diabetes get frustrated, angry or insolent, moody without realizing that it's their blood glucose levels being out of whack that's causing it. It's happened to me. It's just something to consider when considering how much of a jerk he might be. It's not an excuse for boorish behavior, mind you, but maybe one of the reasons he gets like that. Thanks for your MMQB column. It's a must-read for this old disabled Navy veteran.''
-- From Tim Kindred, of Bath, Maine
Thanks for your insight, Tim.
A CHIEFS FAN CHECKS IN ON THE BOOING. "I have been a life-long, die-hard Chiefs fan. On Sunday, I went to my first Chiefs game since the days of Trent Green handing the ball off to Larry Johnson. All my life I have taken pride in hearing about how great Kansas City Chiefs fans are and have been so happy to say that I am a part of that. I was so excited to witness it firsthand at Arrowhead, but what I witnessed at the game on Sunday was embarrassing. I have always liked Matt Cassel as a competitor and a person, even if I did not always like his play. I have become frustrated this year with him, but not to the point I would cheer his injury. Cassel doesn't deserve that.
If you want to be disgusted with anyone, be mad at Scott Pioli for not bringing in a different QB, not a guy who has week in and week out showed the passion of having that arrowhead on the side of his helmet. I was there, and can say that it was not everyone who cheered, but it was enough to leave a sour taste in my mouth. For the first time in my life, I am embarrassed to say that I am a Chiefs fan.''
-- From Justin Wiggins, of Mankato, Minn.
You are not alone, Justin. Thanks for writing.
ROGER GOODELL'S LEGACY. "Two weeks ago there was an Op-ed in the NY Times calling for Roger Goodell to resign. In discussing the recent debacle with the replacement refs the writer noted: 'He has failed in the first responsibility of any league commissioner, which is to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the game.' Over the last several years you have given much praise to former commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Much of that praise was based on him overseeing 17 years of labor peace and uninterrupted play. How would you contrast their tenures at this point? What does Goodell need to do to turn around his legacy?''
-- From Joel, of Detroit
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com asked me basically the same question during the officiating debacle. He asked how this would impact Goodell's Hall of Fame candidacy. And I said I thought it was silly after six years of a man's tenure that might last for 20 years or so to try to pass any sort of meaningful judgment on Goodell.
Yes, he deserves to be marked down significantly for believing replacement officials could officiate games nearly as well as the regular officials. But what credit do you give him for a 10-year CBA with players? For a 10-year TV contract? And for the fact that in a sports landscape that has labor disputes ruin seasons every couple of years in one sport or other, the NFL for the first 15 seasons (at least) of his tenure will be strike-free?
His legacy is likely to be impacted by how safe Goodell can make an unsafe sport, and what the courts end up thinking about the myriad lawsuits over head trauma currently winding their way through the legal system. So the answer to your question is: I don't know, and none of us can know, what Goodell's legacy will be through maybe a quarter of his career as commissioner.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
John Farrell
It sounds illogical, but what could make John Farrell available to become the next manager of the Red Sox is the fact that he hasn’t found success in that job with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Farrell is 154-170 in two seasons with the Jays, his teams finishing in fourth place two seasons in a row. The Jays were 73-89 this season, their worst record since 2004.
The Jays were 85-77 under Cito Gaston in 2010 and have regressed since.
As pitching coach of the Red Sox from 2007-10, Farrell developed a well-deserved reputation for his work with the staff and the ability to prepare pitchers for games. He molded the career of Jon Lester and was able to bring the best out of Josh Beckett and others.
But the Blue Jays have seen their team earned run average climb since Farrell became manager. Toronto had a 4.22 ERA in 2010. It went to 4.32 in 2011, and 4.64 this season. The ERA of their starting pitchers has jumped by half a run since Farrell took over.
Factors beyond the control of any manager contribute to statistics, particularly injuries. But Farrell’s influence on the pitchers has yet to manifest itself on the field.
More damaging were the allegations veteran infielder Omar Vizquel made late in the season that the Blue Jays were a sloppy team on the field.
“It’s part of the inexperience,” Vizquel told the Toronto Sun. “If you make mistakes and nobody says anything about it — they just let it go — we’re going to keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
“We have to stand up and say something right after that mistake happened. We have to talk about it at meetings. We have to address it in a big way in the clubhouse.
“Sometimes you have to punish players because they’re making the same mistakes over and over again. I think the coaching staff has a big responsibility to kind of get in there and tie things up a little, have a bit more communication with their players.”
Farrell met with Vizquel and later subtly criticized the veteran, saying he was not present for practice sessions that stressed fundamentals.
“In those early work teaching settings, having not been there, he might not have been aware of the messages and examples we continue to address,” Farrell said.
Vizquel apologized during a clubhouse meeting, but did not back down from his comments.
“I don’t regret it,” he said. “I think we need to talk a little more about the things we do on the field.”
Toronto also made news in September when infielder Yunel Escobar was suspended for three games after taking the field with a homophobic slur written on his eye black in Spanish. Farrell said at the time that it went unnoticed. It added to the perception that the Jays were poorly disciplined.
Major league sources have said the Red Sox plan to seek permission to speak with Farrell. As of Friday, that had not happened.
Toronto has a policy not to allow employees to leave for a lateral move, and general manager Alex Anthopoulos has given no indication that will change.
Because Farrell has one year remaining on his contract, any deal to bring him back to Boston would likely require some compensation.
The Sox were interested in Farrell last season before they turned to Bobby Valentine. Now their interest could be magnified after Valentine’s tumultuous 10 months on the job.
For that to happen, Farrell would have to first tell Toronto he wants to leave. Since speculation about Boston’s interest in him started weeks ago, Farrell has said he is committed to the Blue Jays. But now that Valentine has been fired, behind-the-scenes machinations will start in earnest.
If Farrell were to leave, Toronto has a ready replacement in Sandy Alomar Jr.
The Indians bench coach is one of two candidates for the job in Cleveland. But the other is Terry Francona, who interviewed Friday and is considered a strong favorite.
Alomar interviewed with the Jays when they hired Farrell two years ago and was one of the finalists. His brother, Hall of Fame infielder Roberto Alomar, does not have a position with the Jays but spends considerable time around the team.
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