Tuesday, June 24, 2008

CVS update

by: Frank Carpano

Here’s the latest statement from the CVS Organizers

“we are planning to wait for the next storm cell tggo come through, and will make our final decision regarding continuation of the tournament after it passes.

Our first priority is to finish the tournament, and all 20 professionals are on-sit and available to do so. If a complete-finish is not an option, our next step would be to initiate a playoff between the 4 teams tied for the lead through 28 holes.

Teams at 15-under par through 28 holes:

Billy Andrade/David Love III
Rocco meidatge/Brandt Snedeker
Bubba Watson/Camilo Villagas
Paul Goydos/Tim Herron

CVS Statement

by:P Frank Carpano

We are currently in a rain delay

There were thousands of fans on the course when the delay was called

Here’s CVS/Caremark’s official statement…..

“Safety is our first priority, for both our guests and the playersw, and our well-established weather safety plan is being put into action.

We are monitoring the weather and, should it be needed, transportation is ready and available for all attendees. We are working closely with our on-site

PGA Tour rules official to make a final decision regarding continuation of play.“

Complicating matters is the fact that the players are all scheduled to leave town today. Most on commercial flights that depart mid to late afternoon

rain delay at CVS

by: Frank Carpano

The second round of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic is currently in a rain delay. It began at 12:04

There are currently 5 teams tied for the lead.

All at 15 under par

Watson-Vellegas
Andrade-Love
Mediate Snedeker
Quigley-Quigley
Goydos-Herron

Monday, June 23, 2008

CVS/Caremark Charity Classic

by: Frank Carpano

The 10th annual CVS/Caremark Charity Classic is underway. And despite forecasts to the contrary, the weather today is great. A little overcast, but there is no rain.

They switched up the opening ceremony this year. There was no skills competition and no Peter Jacobsen imitations. Jacobsen served as the emcee and introduced each golfer. He asked some of the golfers questions and told some funny story’s. It was a nice change of pace.

Unquestionably the biggest applause today was reserved for Rocco Mediate. The runner-up at the recent US Open has become a cult figure for his battle with Tiger Woods.
He has that everyman quality that really relates to the fans out here this week.

There was a minor controversy during the Open when NBC commentator Johnny Miller said on the air that Mediate looked like the guy who cleans Tiger’s pool. He also said thast guy’s named Rocco don’t get their name on the US Open winner Cup. Italian-Americans didn’t take too kindly to the remark. Miller quickly apologized and Rocco
Helped diffuse the brewing controversy by saying it was no big deal.
But Tournament co-host Billy Andrade had the best line at the opening ceremony. Andrade joked; “The Rhode Island legislator has voted to ban Johnny Miller from the state.”

Despite the dire weather warnings, it has been very crowded. And it never ceases to amaze me how many people it takes to run this event. Literally thousands of volunteers, many of them representing local charities that will benefit from the monies raised at this event.

The golf is underway, we’ll have results later.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Congratulations Celtics

By: Frank Carpano

Did you ever believe as bad as things got in the past 2 decades, that you’d ever see another Boston NBA title
My first thought when Danny Ainge brought the big 3 together, wasn’t we’re NBA title bound….I wondered how the heck the 3 were going to play together. And that was debated everywhere after the deal was done.

How were these 3 big shots going to decide who was going to get the ball for the final shot. Could they all get along on the court.
Despite their protests to the contrary, I had to see it to believe it.
And they were true to their word

A couple of things got me choked up as I watched these guys complete the greatest worst to first move in NBA History.
All the suffering that a guy like Paul Pierce has done the past few years…to see him hugging Doc Rivers was truly special.
For all the money these guys make….they finally got something all their millions can’t buy…..the championship trophy
Watching Kevin Garnett hug Bill Russell. You could hear Garnett say, referring to the championship “I got Mine”
And then saying to Russell “ I hope we made you proud”
In an age when too many young people don’t have an appreciation for the past….it was a great bridge of 2 generations.
How did they do it…..How about Ray Allen. His game left for dead early in the playoffs, he hits 22 3’s in the Finals!
How did they do it? D-E-F-E-N-S-E

Monday, June 16, 2008

Tiger clinches - Celtics zero in

By: Frank Carpano

+++Pardon me while I gush. I have never seen a more riveting, entertaining golf match than Tiger Woods versus Rocco Mediate in the US Open playoff.
I watch my fair share of golf on television. Mainly to see how the ball is supposed to be hit and as a sleep inducer. But there was no napping while this was on.
It was truly like two heavyweights battling. Perhaps the best analogy is the Rocky movie (the first one). Tiger is Apolo Creed, Rocco is Rocky. The guy who few gave any shot of winning. But he battled, held his own and almost stole the championship from golf’s best ever.

There are alot of people who are already calling this the best Open ever. How do you guage that? Here’s how I do it. It’s when I can’t peel myself away from the television. It’s also when I keep hearing from people who have never watched golf on television. And they say they can’t peel themselves away from the television!

+++How have the Celtics gotten this far? Defense! And that’s what will carry them to their 17th NBA Championship in Game 6 against the Lakers. But they must get off to a better start than the games in LA. There are only so many deep holes they can dig out of. Ray Allen who left the team after game 5 to take care of a family issue is expected back for Game 6.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

NBA Finals

by: Frank Carpano

Tonight is game 1 of the NBA Finals. And the dream matchup is about to be renewed. As if the Celtics and Lakers didn’t have enough to worry about, they must not only battle each other but the ghosts of playoffs past.

Maybe it’s not something they need to worry about. But it is something everyone else (over the age of 30) will endlessly debate.

And why not? Those Lakers-Celtics teams of the 1980’s were the cornerstones of the NBA’s popularity in that decade. It jump-started the league marketing machine that was then humming along by the time Michael Jordan arrived.

As this series unfolds, it will be interesting to see if the fans, media and teams muster the same passion we had in the 1980’s. It was before we had the Red Sox winning World Series and the Patriots winning Super Bowls. I think there is a certain amount of detachment now because New England sports fans are spoiled. Add to that the fact that there are now so many more entertainment options to grab your attention.

But if the games are good, how can you avoid watching.

So, what will this series come down to? Defense….Something the Celtics excel at. And something I think will carry them to the NBA title.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Weekend in Baltimore

By: Frank Carpano

 

If you’re a Red Sox fan I’d like to recommend that you make the pilgrimage to Baltimore’s Orioles Park at Camden Yard to see the Red Sox play.

I took my family there this past weekend and it was an incredible experience.
It began with a Southwest flight from Providence to Baltimore.  It felt like a Red Sox charter. It seemed like everybody onboard was headed to Baltimore to see the games. And everybody was wearing Red Sox gear.

Camden Yard sits on the edge of Baltimore’s inner harbor. It was a short walk from our hotel. I bought our tickets on-line and paid face value, $40 for a seat on the first baseline about 30 rows up. Try to find that at Fenway Park!

If you’re worried about venturing into enemy territory, worry not. By my unofficial estimate, Red Sox fans outnumbered Oriole fans at Camden Yard by 5 to 1.

By far the most exciting moment at Friday’s game was each time Manny Ramirez came to the plate. He was one homerun shy of 500 for his career, and the crowd was hungry to see history. Each time Manny came to the plate, there was a light show around the Park as everyone, it seemed, snapped a picture hoping to capture a frame from a historic homerun.

It was also interesting to see former Red Sox Kevin Millar. He plays first base now for the Orioles. It’s a perfect position for him. First base is the most social position on a baseball field. And Millar, a very social guy, is ideally suited for that spot. I enjoyed watching him every time a Red Sox player landed on first. Millar had something to say to each one.

I was also amazed at Jacoby Ellsbury. I’ve always known that he was fast. But this weekend I came away with an entirely new appreciation of his base running skills.