SIGN NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT TO ATTEND PROVIDENCE COLLEGE
Gerard Coleman, Ron Giplaye and Joe Young Will Enter Providence College In September 2010
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Providence College men’s basketball coach Keno Davis announced on November 11that student-athletes Gerard Coleman (West Roxbury, Mass.), Ron Giplaye (Lowell, Mass.) and Joe Young (Houston, Texas) each have signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Providence College beginning in September 2010.
Coleman, a 6-foot-4-inch, 170-pound guard attends the Tilton School in Tilton, N.H. He helped lead Tilton to a 29-2 mark, the NEPSAC Class B title and the Prep School National Championship in 2009. In the Prep School National Championship game, Coleman scored 25 points in a 97-93 win over Hargrave Military Academy. He averaged 17 points and four rebounds per game last season. Coleman played for the BABC AAU team. He is rated the 30th-best prospect in the class of 2010 by Slam Magazine, the 51st-best prospect by Rivals.com, 66th overall by Scout.com and 72nd overall by ESPNU. Coleman is the 11th-ranked shooting guard according to Rivals.com and he is rated No. 16 by Scout.com. The New England Recruiting Report lists Coleman as the No. 2 prospect in New England. He is a very quick guard who can score from the perimeter and around the basket.
Giplaye, a 6-foot-6-inch, 230-pound forward attends Notre Dame Prep School in Fitchburg, Mass. Notre Dame finished the 2009 season ranked No. 5 in the nation. Giplaye averaged 12.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last season. The New England Recruiting Report ranked him as the seventh-best prospect for the class of 2010 in New England. He also played AAU basketball for BABC. Giplaye is a very physical player who uses his strength to rebound and score down low.
Young, a 6-foot-2-inch, 175-pound guard attends Yates High School in Houston. In 2009, he averaged 23 points and five assists per game while helping Yates post a 34-1 mark, capture the Texas Class 4A title and receive a top-10 national ranking. He scored 29 points versus Kimball High (Dallas, Texas) in the state title game. That effort helped him earn MVP honors for the 4A state tournament. As a junior, he was selected to the Texas 4A All-State Team. Young played AAU basketball for the Houston Superstars. He is the son of former NBA player Michael Young. He is an excellent shooter who also can get to the basket to score.
“We are looking forward to having Gerard, Ron and Joe join our squad next season,” Davis said. “All three of these student-athletes come from highly successful high school and AAU programs. They should help us continue our quest to make our program one of the elit
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Game Date Site Time (EDT/PDT)
1 Thursday, October 8 Angel Stadium of Anaheim 9:37/6:37 p.m.
2 Friday, October 9 Angel Stadium of Anaheim 9:37/6:37 p.m.
3 Sunday, October 11 Fenway Park 12:07p.m./9:07 a.m.
4* Monday, October 12 Fenway Park 8:37 p.m./5:37 p.m.**
5* Wednesday, October 14 Angel Stadium of Anaheim 9:37p.m./6:37 p.m.++
*If necessary
**Will change to 7:37 p.m. ET if only game
++Will change to 8:07 p.m. ET if only game
]]>INCLUDES EVERY LEAGUE GAME ON TELEVISION FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The BIG EAST Conference’s 2009-10 men’s basketball schedule again includes a record number of national television appearances. Additionally, for the third straight season, all 144 regular-season league games will be televised.
The league also announced its schedule of non-conference games which will be televised on national networks. At least 27 games will receive national exposure.
Forty-four conference contests will be carried on ESPN or ESPN2. ESPNU, which has increased its reach to over 47 million homes, will carry approximately 20 league games. CBS Sports will televise 11 more games involving BIG EAST teams. ESPN will continue to televise The BIG EAST Championship from Madison Square Garden in New York. The dates for the 2010 event are March 9-13.
In total, 69 of the 144 regular-season BIG EAST games (or 48 percent) will likely be on national television. The remaining games will be carried on ESPN360 or ESPN Regional/BIG EAST Network. When The BIG EAST Championship games are added, more than half of all games played between BIG EAST teams will be televised nationally.
“Over the past three decades, the terms BIG EAST Conference basketball and national television exposure have become synonymous in many ways, and this year is certainly no exception,” stated BIG EAST Conference Commissioner John Marinatto. “Our 16 member schools represent nearly one-third of the nation’s television households—a fact that drives our ability to reach the many alumni, fans and constituents within our membership. We are very proud of our longstanding and comprehensive partnerships with both CBS Sports and ESPN, which continue to provide our schools with unparalleled exposure as all 144 of our Conference games will be televised for the third consecutive season.”
The BIG EAST has always enjoyed a leadership position in college sports television. Twelve of the 16 conference schools are located in the top 35 media markets in the country.
ESPN and the BIG EAST again will partner in the network’s Big Monday format. The league also will make regular appearances on ESPN and ESPN2 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
In addition, the BIG EAST and ESPN Regional Television will carry the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week on Saturdays, mostly at noon, Eastern time. The syndicated package, the largest in college basketball, reaches more than one-third of the nation’s homes.
Some of the highlights of the 2009-10 schedule include:
Big Monday – All seven BIG EAST teams that earned berths in the 2009 NCAA Championship will make appearances. The first Monday game is Pittsburgh at Cincinnati on Jan. 4. Villanova travels to Louisville on Jan. 11. No other conference appears on Mondays on ESPN more than the BIG EAST. The Big Monday package also includes Connecticut at Villanova, a battle of the two league squads that advanced to the NCAA Final Four last year, on Feb. 15. The Big Monday series concludes with Georgetown at West Virginia on March 1. All games on the Big Monday schedule will be available on ESPN.360.
Wednesdays—ESPN or ESPN2 will show nine Wednesday games involving BIG EAST teams during the 10-week conference season. The Wednesday schedule includes Connecticut at Syracuse on Feb. 10 as part of ESPN Rivalry Week. Those two clubs played an unforgettable six-overtime game in the quarterfinals of The BIG EAST Championship.
Thursdays—ESPN or ESPN2 will televise 11 Thursday games that will include 13 BIG EAST squads. The weekly Thursday night package starts when ESPN2 carries St. John’s at Georgetown on Dec. 31. The final Thursday of the season, March 4, includes two telecasts on ESPN or ESPN2 – Seton Hall at Rutgers and Providence at Pittsburgh.
Saturdays – ESPN or ESPN2 will telecast 10 BIG EAST games during the conference season, including the final game at storied Freedom Hall March 6, when Syracuse visits Louisville. Also, the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week package continues, mostly at noon, ET. The Game of the Week package reaches over one-third of the nation and is the largest syndicated college basketball package in the nation. The Saturday schedule will be announced at a later date. There is one Sunday telecast on ESPN, Louisville at Syracuse on Feb. 14.
CBS Sports—The 11-game schedule on CBS Sports, which includes five league contests, will feature eight BIG EAST teams. The CBS Sports slate begins with one of college basketball’s great intersectional rivalries, UCLA at Notre Dame, on Dec. 19. The first league game of the season will be on CBS Sports when West Virginia visits Seton Hall on Dec. 26. On Feb. 21, Pittsburgh will host Villanova, a contest that figures to spark memories of their game in the 2009 NCAA Elite Eight in Boston. The Wildcats won at the buzzer 78-76. The BIG EAST/CBS Sports schedule concludes with West Virginia at Villanova on March 6. The BIG EAST and CBS Sports have been formal television partners since 1985, the longest relationship of any conference and national network.
ESPN GameDay – ESPN will take its signature GameDay series to a BIG EAST campus again. Syracuse will host Villanova and the GameDay crew at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 27.
ESPN Rivalry Week – No conference will appear more times on Rivalry Week than the BIG EAST. The week begins on Feb. 8 with Villanova at West Virginia in a Big Monday battle. Rivalry Week concludes the following Monday, Feb. 15, with Connecticut at Villanova. In all, seven BIG EAST games will be televised.
Holiday Week – The BIG EAST league schedule on ESPN and ESPN2 begins in late December with Connecticut traveling to Cincinnati on Dec. 30. On New Year’s Eve, St. John’s plays at Georgetown. Both games will be carried by ESPN2.
Jimmy V Classic – For a second straight year, the BIG EAST will participate in both games of the doubleheader at the Jimmy V Classic, Dec. 8 at Madison Square Garden. ESPN will show Georgetown versus Butler followed by Pittsburgh meeting Indiana.
SEC/BIG EAST Invitational – The third annual meeting between the two conferences will be carried by ESPN and ESPN2. On Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden, St. John’s battles Georgia on ESPN2 followed by Connecticut and Kentucky on ESPN. On Dec. 10 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., DePaul and Mississippi State square off on ESPN2 before Florida plays Syracuse on ESPN.
Between the Jimmy V Classic and the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational, as well as a pair of scheduled nonleague games involving Villanova and Cincinnati, eight BIG EAST teams will appear on either ESPN or ESPN2 between Dec. 8-10.
NBA All-Star Weekend Game – The BIG EAST again will be featured on ESPN on the Friday night of the NBA All-Star Weekend when West Virginia plays at Pittsburgh on Feb. 12.
Saturday, January 30 – Although there are several days on the schedule with many attractive matchups, one of the better days may be Jan. 30. At noon, Louisville plays at West Virginia on ESPN. At 2 p.m. Georgetown will host Duke on CBS Sports. At 6 p.m., Notre Dame goes to Rutgers on ESPN2. Also, Marquette plays at Connecticut and Syracuse travels to DePaul.
The BIG EAST Game of the Week selections will be made at a later date.
The ESPN360 and BIG EAST Network local telecast schedules will be announced in the near future.
-BIG EAST-
2009-10 BIG EAST CONFERENCE COMPOSITE MEN’S BASKETBALL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Saturday, Dec. 26
West Virginia at Seton Hall 3:30 p.m. CBS Sports
Monday, Dec. 28
DePaul at Pittsburgh
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Syracuse at Seton Hall
Marquette at West Virginia
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Connecticut at Cincinnati 7 p.m. ESPN2
USF at Louisville
Providence at Notre Dame
Thursday, Dec. 31
St. John’s at Georgetown 8 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday, Jan. 2
Notre Dame at Connecticut
Pittsburgh at Syracuse
Villanova at Marquette 3:30 p.m. ESPN2
Cincinnati at Rutgers
Sunday, Jan. 3
Providence at St. John’s
Georgetown at DePaul
Monday, Jan. 4
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 7 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, Jan. 5
Notre Dame at USF
Wednesday, Jan. 6
Louisville at Providence
Seton Hall at Connecticut
Georgetown at Marquette
DePaul at Villanova
Rutgers at West Virginia
Saturday, Jan. 9
Connecticut at Georgetown Noon ESPN
Marquette at Villanova
St. John’s at Louisville
Cincinnati at Seton Hall
West Virginia at Notre Dame
Rutgers at Providence
Sunday, Jan. 10
USF at Syracuse
Monday, Jan. 11
Villanova at Louisville 7 p.m. ESPN
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Pittsburgh at Connecticut 7 p.m. ESPN2
Cincinnati at St. John’s
West Virginia at USF
Syracuse at Rutgers
Thursday, Jan. 14
Seton Hall at Georgetown 7 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Providence at DePaul 9 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday, Jan. 16
Louisville at Pittsburgh
Syracuse at West Virginia Noon ESPN
Notre Dame at Cincinnati
Rutgers at USF
Sunday, Jan. 17
Georgetown at Villanova
DePaul at St. John’s
Providence at Marquette
Monday, Jan. 18
Syracuse at Notre Dame 7 p.m. ESPN
Wednesday, Jan. 20
USF at Cincinnati 7 p.m. ESPN2
Georgetown at Pittsburgh
St. John’s at Connecticut
Marquette at DePaul
Villanova at Rutgers
Thursday, Jan. 21
Louisville at Seton Hall 7 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday, Jan. 23
Rutgers at Georgetown
Villanova at St. John’s Noon ESPN
Marquette at Syracuse
DePaul at Notre Dame
USF at Providence
Sunday, Jan. 24
Cincinnati at Louisville
Pittsburgh at Seton Hall
Monday, Jan. 25
Georgetown at Syracuse 7 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, Jan. 26
Rutgers at Marquette
West Virginia at DePaul
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Connecticut at Providence
Notre Dame at Villanova 7 p.m. ESPN
Thursday, Jan. 28
St. John’s at Pittsburgh
Seton Hall at USF 7 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday, Jan. 30
Syracuse at DePaul
Louisville at West Virginia Noon ESPN
Marquette at Connecticut
Notre Dame at Rutgers 6 p.m. ESPN2
Providence at Cincinnati
Sunday, Jan. 31
Pittsburgh at USF
Monday, Feb. 1
Connecticut at Louisville 7 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, Feb. 2
Seton Hall at Villanova
St. John’s at Rutgers
Providence at Syracuse
Wednesday, Feb. 3
DePaul at Marquette 7 p.m. ESPN2
USF at Georgetown
Pittsburgh at West Virginia
Thursday, Feb. 4
Cincinnati at Notre Dame 9 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 6
Villanova at Georgetown Noon ESPN
Marquette at Providence
West Virginia at St. John’s
Rutgers at Louisville
Seton Hall at Pittsburgh
DePaul at Connecticut
Sunday, Feb. 7
Syracuse at Cincinnati
USF at Notre Dame
Monday, Feb. 8
Villanova at West Virginia 7 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Georgetown at Providence 7 p.m. ESPN2
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Connecticut at Syracuse 7 p.m. ESPN
Thursday, Feb. 11
Louisville at St. John’s 7 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Notre Dame at Seton Hall
Friday, Feb. 12
West Virginia at Pittsburgh 9 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, Feb. 13
Cincinnati at Connecticut
Providence at Villanova
USF at Marquette
Sunday, Feb. 14
DePaul at Seton Hall
Louisville at Syracuse 1 p.m. ESPN
Georgetown at Rutgers
St. John’s at Notre Dame
Monday, Feb. 15
Connecticut at Villanova 7 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Rutgers at DePaul
Cincinnati at USF
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Notre Dame at Louisville 7 p.m. ESPN2
West Virginia at Providence
Seton Hall at St. John’s
Thursday, Feb. 18
Syracuse at Georgetown 7 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Pittsburgh at Marquette 9 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Saturday, Feb. 20
St. John’s at USF
Seton Hall at West Virginia Noon ESPN
Louisville at DePaul
Connecticut at Rutgers
Sunday, Feb. 21
Villanova at Pittsburgh Noon CBS Sports
Marquette at Cincinnati
Monday, Feb. 22
West Virginia at Connecticut 7 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, Feb. 23
Georgetown at Louisville 7 p.m. ESPN2
Rutgers at Seton Hall
Syracuse at Providence
Wednesday, Feb. 24
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame 7 p.m. ESPN2
DePaul at Cincinnati
Marquette at St. John’s
USF at Villanova
Saturday, Feb. 27
Notre Dame at Georgetown Noon CBS Sports
Pittsburgh at St. John’s
Cincinnati at West Virginia
DePaul at Rutgers
Providence at USF
Villanova at Syracuse 9 p.m. ESPN
Sunday, Feb. 28
Marquette at Seton Hall
Louisville at Connecticut 2 p.m. CBS Sports
Monday, March 1
Georgetown at West Virginia 7 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday, March 2
Villanova at Cincinnati 7 p.m. ESPN2
Louisville at Marquette
USF at DePaul
St. John’s at Syracuse
Wednesday, March 3
Connecticut at Notre Dame 7 p.m. ESPN
Thursday, March 4
Seton Hall at Rutgers 7 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Providence at Pittsburgh 9 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2
Friday, March 5
St. John’s at DePaul
Saturday, March 6
Cincinnati at Georgetown
West Virginia at Villanova Noon CBS Sports
Syracuse at Louisville 2 p.m. ESPN
Notre Dame at Marquette
Rutgers at Pittsburgh
Seton Hall at Providence
Connecticut at USF
Note: All conference games not listed with CBS Sports, ESPN or ESPN2 above will be televised either by ESPNU, ESPN Regional/BIG EAST Network, or ESPN 360. Games listed as ‘ESPN/ESPN2’ will be selected to either ESPN or ESPN2, but the start time will not change.
2009-10 BIG EAST CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL NONCONFERENCE GAMES ON CBS SPORTS, ESPN, ESPN2 VERSUS AND FSN
Monday, Nov. 9
Albany at Syracuse 9 p.m. ESPNU 2K Sports Classic
Wednesday, Nov. 11
Robert Morris at Syracuse 7 p.m. ESPNU 2K Sports Classic
Monday, Nov. 16
Colgate at Connecticut 9 p.m. ESPNU NIT Season Tip-Off
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Louisville vs. Arkansas 7:30 p.m. ESPN2 Hall of Fame Showcase
Thursday, Nov. 19
Villanova vs George Mason 2 p.m. ESPNU O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Syracuse vs. California 7 p.m. ESPN2 2K Sports Classic
Friday, Nov. 20
Villanova vs. Dayton/Georgia Tech 1 p.m./3 p.m. ESPNU O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Syracuse vs. North Carolina/Ohio State 5 p.m./7 p.m. ESPN2 2K Sports Classic
Sunday, Nov. 22
Villanova vs. TBD TBD ESPN2/ESPNU O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Monday, Nov. 23
Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt 5 p.m. ESPN2 EA Sports Maui Invitational
Tuesday, Nov. 24
Cincinnati vs. Maryland/Chaminade 1:30 p.m./7 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2 EA Sports Maui Invitational
Wednesday, Nov. 25
Connecticut vs. TBD TBD ESPN2 NIT Season Tip-Off
Cincinnati vs. TBD TBD ESPN/ESPN2/ EA Sports Maui Invitational
ESPNU
Thursday, Nov. 26
Marquette vs. Xavier 2 p.m. ESPN2 Old Spice Classic
West Virginia vs. Long Beach State 2 p.m. ESPNU 76 Classic
Friday, Nov. 27
Marquette vs. Michigan/Creighton Noon/2:30 p.m. ESPN/ESPNU Old Spice Classic
West Virginia vs. Texas A&M/Clemson 2:30 p.m./5 p.m. ESPN/ESPNU 76 Classic
Connecticut vs. TBD 2:30 p.m./5 p.m. ESPN/ESPN2 NIT Season Tip-Off
Saturday, Nov. 28
La Salle at Villanova 3:30 p.m. ESPN2
Louisville at UNLV 4 p.m. Versus
Sunday, Nov. 29
Marquette vs. TBD TBD ESPN2/ESPNU Old Spice Classic
West Virginia vs. TBD TBD ESPN2/ESPNU 76 Classic
Saturday, Dec. 5
St. John’s at Duke 3:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sunday, Dec. 6
Villanova vs. Maryland 7:30 p.m. FSN BB&T Classic
Tuesday, Dec. 8
Georgetown vs. Butler 7 p.m. ESPN Jimmy V Classic
Pittsburgh vs. Indiana 9 p.m. ESPN Jimmy V Classic
Wednesday, Dec. 9
St. John’s vs. Georgia 7 p.m. ESPN2 SEC-BIG EAST Invitational
Villanova at Saint Joseph’s 9 p.m. ESPN2
Connecticut vs. Kentucky 9:30 p.m. ESPN SEC-BIG EAST Invitational
Thursday, Dec. 10
DePaul vs. Mississippi State 6:30 p.m. ESPN2 SEC-BIG EAST Invitational
Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Syracuse vs. Florida 9 p.m. ESPN SEC-BIG EAST Invitational
Saturday, Dec. 12
Georgetown vs. Washington 2 p.m. FSN Wooden Classic
Marquette at Wisconsin 5 p.m. ESPN2
Sunday, Dec. 13
Cincinnati at Xavier 7 p.m. ESPNU
Saturday, Dec. 19
UCLA at Notre Dame 2 p.m. CBS Sports
Western Kentucky at Louisville 4 p.m. ESPN2
Wednesday, Dec. 23
Mississippi at West Virginia 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
Monday, Dec. 28
Rutgers at North Carolina 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Friday, Jan. 1
West Virginia at Purdue 2:30 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, Jan. 2
Louisville at Kentucky 3:30 p.m. CBS Sports
Seton Hall vs. Virginia Tech 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
Wednesday, Jan. 6
Memphis at Syracuse 7 p.m. ESPN2
Sunday, Jan. 17
Connecticut at Michigan 4:30 p.m. CBS Sports
Saturday, Jan. 23
Ohio State at West Virginia 2 p.m. CBS Sports
Texas at Connecticut 4 p.m. CBS Sports
Saturday, Jan. 30
Duke at Georgetown 1 p.m. CBS Sports
All times Eastern
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As a part of WJAR-TV’s 60th anniversary celebration I was asked to produce a list of the top 10 local sports stories of the past 60 years.
I began with a list of about 30 things. Way to many to fit into our “top 10”. So I started to narrow down the list. No easy task.
Now that the final results are in, I felt it necessary to explain myself.
So here are the reasons behind my top 10 (actually 11) local sports stories of the past 60 years.
(in no particular order)
Rocky Marciano: If boxers could declare a “Home field”, then Providence was it for the great Rocky Marciano. Between 1948 and 1952, Rocky fought and won 29 times at Providence’s Rhode Island Auditorium. If it wasn’t already, that helped put Providence on the boxing map.
PC NIT wins: I wasn’t in Rhode Island during this time, but from what I’m told there is nothing to compare to the outpouring of affection when the Providence College Friars won the NIT tournament in 1961. Back then, the NIT was “the” college basketball tournament. When the Friars returned from their championship win in New York City, fans lined route 6 at the Rhode Island-Connecticut border to welcome them home.
33 inning game: the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings still hold the record for the longest game. This one happened in 1981. I can remember the night it started vividly. I was working the Saturday night before Easter. I kept calling the McCoy Stadium pressbox leading up to our 11pm newscast. The answer was always the same “The game is still going!” After the 11pm show I drove to my parents home in Wilton, Connecticut and never gave the game a second thought until the next morning. It was then that I learned how late it went. Unbelievable!
1983 America’s Cup: For 132 years, the New York Yacht Club hold on the America’s Cup was unmatched. Every 3 years, challengers would line up to get beat by the NYYC’s Defender. But in 1983 that all changed. Australia 2, with its radical keel design beat Dennis Connor and Liberty to wrestle the cup away. The 7th and deciding race aired live on NBC 10. The first time ever a sailing race had aired on live television.
Vinny Paz: During our 60 years there was no more charismatic of controversial athlete than Cranston boxer Vinny Paz. Love him or hate him you had to admire his guts, especially the way he battled back fvrom a broken neck suffered in a car accident to return to the ring. A 5 time world champion, Pa retired with 50 wins.
Mount Saint Charles Hockey: From 1978 until 2003 the Mounties lead by head coach Bill Belisle won the state little league championship every year. 26 straight state hockey titles. And the incredible thing is that they didn’t run away with the title every year. Many years they had to comeback to win,
Cranston Western Little League: In 1996 the Cranston Western Little league team won the United States title in Williamsport, Pa. They weren’t the biggest team in the tournament, to the contrary, they were a small group of boys with big hearts. And their families appeared to have as much fun watching them as the kids did playing the games. Thousand greeted their return at the Cranston Stadium rally. No Rhode Island team has been able to match that accomplishment.
Sara DeCosta: In 1996 Sara DeCosta was a member of the US Women’s hockey team that won the Olympic gold medal at the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. Sara is the first native Rhode Islander to win an Olympic gold medal. DeCosta went on to win a silver medal 4 years later at the Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Patriots win the Super Bowl: On February 2002, the Patriots won Super Bowl 36, beating the Rams 20-17 on a last second 48 yard field goal by new Eng;and’s Adam Vintieri. Nuff Said!
CVS Charity Classic: Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon are two local PGA Tour pro’s who take “giving back to the community” very seriously. For 11 years they have teamed with Rhode island corporate giant CVS to produce the CVS Caremark Charity Classic. Each year they bring professional golf’s biggest names to Barrington to play in the Charity classic. The biggest winner? The local charities who have benefitted from over 10 million the event has raised for the non profits.
That’s 10. but I save the best for last. In my mind, the number 1 story of the past 60 years.
2004 Red Sox: In 2004 the Boston Red Sox snapped an 86 year drought and won the World Series. We were in St. Louis when they closed out their series with the Cardinals.
I dare say that nobody will have a problem with this being my Number 1.
Agree, Disagree? Did I leave something out…..email me fcarpano@wjar.com
]]>DURING PRE-GAME CEREMONIES ON TUESDAY, JULY 28
BOSTON, MA— The Boston Red Sox today announced plans to retire Hall of Famer Jim Rice’s uniform number 14 as a tribute to his exceptional career in a Red Sox uniform and in honor of his induction into The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. The ceremony will take place prior to the Red Sox-Athletics game at Fenway Park on Tuesday, July 28.
“As a fan of the game and a steward of this great franchise, it is an honor to be a part of the Red Sox during this special moment in the team’s history. On behalf of our partners and the entire organization, we want to congratulate Jim Rice on his upcoming induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and finally taking his rightful place among the greatest players in the game,” said John Henry, Principal Owner. “The retirement of his number will be a fitting way to honor one of the most dominant hitters to ever wear a Red Sox uniform.”
It will be the seventh number to be retired by the franchise, joining Bobby Doerr (#1), Joe Cronin (#4), Johnny Pesky (#6), Carl Yastrzemski (#8), Ted Williams (#9), and Carlton Fisk (#27). The number of Jackie Robinson (#42) has been retired by all teams in Major League Baseball.
Jim Rice was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York on January 12, 2009, becoming one of 32 Red Sox players to receive the honor. He is the 48th electee to spend his entire career with one team and just the fourth to do so with Boston, joining Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. He will be enshrined in Cooperstown on Sunday, July 26 along with former outfielder Rickey Henderson who spent the 2002 season in a Red Sox uniform.
“It will be a thrill to welcome Jim Rice back to Fenway after his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. As one of only four Hall of Famers to spend his entire career with this organization, Jim will be joining an elite group of players whose contributions to Red Sox history are etched in the memories of generations of fans,” said Tom Werner, Chairman. “And we are very fortunate that he continues to be a part of Red Sox games by bringing his more than three decades of baseball experience to the NESN broadcasting team.”
Over 16 seasons from 1974-89, Rice batted .298 with 382 home runs and 1,451 RBI in 2,089 games, earning eight All-Star selections along the way. He placed among the top five in American League Most Valuable Player voting six times during his career, more than any other player between 1963 and 2005, and won the award in 1978 when he hit .315 with 213 hits, 46 home runs, 139 RBI, and a .600 slugging percentage. The former Red Sox captain also collected 406 total bases in 1978, still the only A.L. player to reach 400 since Joe DiMaggio in 1937 (418).
“This is a moment of celebration for all of Red Sox Nation – young and old. Our fans have known for a long time that Jim Rice, one of the greatest offensive baseball players in recent history, belongs in the Hall of Fame,” said Larry Lucchino, President and CEO. “We look forward to celebrating his achievement with our fans at Fenway Park, when Jim’s number 14 goes up permanently on the right field façade.”
Rice, who was one of the first inductees into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995, ranks among the club’s all-time leaders in at-bats (3rd), hits (3rd), home runs (3rd), RBI (3rd), games (4th), runs (4th), doubles (6th), triples (6th), slugging percentage (8th) and walks (8th). He has been a member of the organization since he was selected with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 1971 June draft. In 1974, he won the International League Triple Crown, batting .337 with 25 long balls and 93 RBI for Pawtucket.
Following his playing career, he was a roving minor league hitting instructor for Boston from 1992-94, a major league hitting coach from 1995-2000, and continues to serve the team today as a special assignment instructor, a role he has held since 2001. He also works as an analyst on NESN’s pre and post-game Red Sox coverage.
RED SOX RETIRED NUMBERS
1—Bobby Doerr (formally retired May 21, 1988)
4—Joe Cronin (formally retired May 29, 1984)
6—Johnny Pesky (formally retired September 26, 2008)
8—Carl Yastrzemski (formally retired August 6, 1989)
9—Ted Williams (formally retired May 29, 1984)
14—Jim Rice (to be formally retired July 28, 2009)
27—Carlton Fisk (formally retired September 4, 2000)
42—Jackie Robinson (formally retired by Major League Baseball April 15, 1997)
JIM RICE’S MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER RECORD
YR. CLUB BA G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB TB SO SB
1974 Boston .269 24 67 6 18 2 1 1 13 4 25 12 0
1975 Boston .309 144 564 92 174 29 4 22 102 36 277 122 10
1976 Boston .282 153 581 75 164 25 8 25 85 28 280 123 8
1977 Boston .320 160 644 104 206 29 15 39 114 53 382 120 5
1978 Boston .315 163 677 121 213 25 15 46 139 58 406 126 7
1979 Boston .325 158 619 117 201 39 6 39 130 57 369 97 9
1980 Boston .294 124 504 81 148 22 6 24 86 30 254 87 8
1981 Boston .284 108 451 51 128 18 1 17 62 34 199 76 2
1982 Boston .309 145 573 86 177 24 5 24 97 55 283 98 0
1983 Boston .305 155 626 90 191 34 1 39 126 52 344 102 0
1984 Boston .280 159 657 98 184 25 7 28 122 44 307 102 4
1985 Boston .291 140 546 85 159 20 3 27 103 51 266 75 2
1986 Boston .324 157 618 98 200 39 2 20 110 62 303 78 0
1987 Boston .277 108 404 66 112 14 0 13 62 45 165 77 1
1988 Boston .264 135 485 57 128 18 3 15 72 48 197 89 1
1989 Boston .234 56 209 22 49 10 2 3 28 13 72 39 1
16-Yr. M.L. Totals .298 2089 8225 1249 2452 373 79 382 1451 670 4129 1423 58
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With that here’s the latest from URI regarding Baron and his pro aspirations.
Jimmy Baron to play in two NBA Summer Leagues
Baron to play with the Utah Jazz at the Orlando Pro Summer League and with the Wizards at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas
June 30, 2009
Click here for the 2009 Orlando Summer League website
Click here for the 2009 NBA Summer League website
KINGSTON, R.I.—Jimmy Baron will be taking part in two of the NBA’s official summer leagues over the next few weeks.
Baron will play with the Utah Jazz summer league team at the 2009 Orlando Pro Summer League at the RDV Sportsplex, from July 6-10. The 15-game event will feature the Jazz, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and a split squad between the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
From July 14-19, Baron will play with the Washington Wizards at the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Games will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV.
With between four and seven games daily, the Summer League provides younger NBA players, undrafted free agents and newly drafted rookies the chance to get head-to-head NBA experience.
Summer League games play with a slightly different set of rules from regular NBA games. The games have four, ten minute quarters with an eight minute halftime and players don’t foul out until their 10th personal foul.
Wide-open and high-scoring, the NBA Summer League should feature many of the lottery selections from the 2009 draft.
2009 Orlando Pro Summer League schedule
July 6 - Utah vs. Boston - 7 p.m.
July 7 - Utah vs. N.J./Philadelphia - 5 p.m.
July 8 - Utah vs. Indiana - 3 p.m.
July 9 - Utah vs. Orlando - 5 p.m.
July 10 - Utah vs. Oklahoma City – 11 a.m.
2009 NBA Summer League
July 14 - Washington vs. Cleveland - 6:30 p.m.
July 15 - Washington vs. Denver - 10:30 p.m.
July 17 - Washington vs. Minnesota - 8 p.m.
July 18 - Washington vs. L.A. Clippers - 8:30 p.m.
July 19 - Washington vs. New York - 4 p.m.
Ken Ryan Interview
o Carpano - What has surprised you most about the Boston Red Sox this year?
Ryan – Well I think their bullpen has been fantastic. It has been a key ingredient so far early in the season. Their offense has been pretty good. Jason Bay, I think everyone is surprised and excited by what he has been able to bring to the team, 14 homeruns, and just solid offensive production. Their rotation is starting to come around. I think the key and strength to this team is its pitching.
o Carpano – the bullpen is clearly the component of this team that is clicking on all cylinders.
Ryan – The bullpen is unbelievable with Papelbon has been lights out. Ramirez has been pitching terrific and Okajima. It’s solid. There are a number of guys down there doing a terrific job. You get that lead going into the seventh inning and they have been pretty much lights out. 3:03 The starting rotation is really starting to come around. We have seen Beckett the last two starts have been fantastic. Lester pitched a very good game today as well.
o Carpano – Do you think that Matsuzaka’s participation in the World Baseball Classic is the cause of his problems this season?
Ryan – I think so. The intensity of that early in the season and playing at that emotional level by going out there and trying to represent your country. I don’t care what they say. They’re going to go out there and go full out. I think obviously it took its toll early on and at this point just trying to get back in the mix, get that rhythm again, get on that mound and feel good about yourself. He’s going to need a couple starts to get himself there.
o Carpano – Whats next if Big Papi doesn’t begin to produce at the plate?
Ryan – Well hopefully he will produce. It is frustrating. He got a good hit yesterday but just a 1-5 day today and he had a couple strikeouts last night. I think you just got to hope this comes around. If we get closer to the all-star break or if it’s the all-star break and he is hitting .185 with 1 homerun, they’re going to have to make a move. They have already moved him down in the lineup like you have mentioned. But you know the talk is why is it happening? Is it his eyes? Is it a steroid thing? Right now I think it’s none of that. It’s up here in his head. If he can get out of it, they’re going to need him down the stretch.
o Carpano - You’re doing color commentary on minor league games on NESN , who are some guys on the farm we should be keeping an eye out for?
Ryan – I think Aaron Bates a guy in Double A. He’s playing very well, a position player. But right now in Pawtucket it’s Michael Bowden, Clay Bucholz outstanding. The strength down in Pawtucket is their pitching. These are two guys that could probably pitch in the big leagues right now. They’re going to be wanted by a lot of organizations. We talk about David Ortiz struggling. If they decide to go out and get themselves a big bat, they have the luxury of possibly dealing one of these guys to take care of that situation.
o Carpano – (Manny Ramirez is currently serving a 50 game suspension for steroid use) What is your opinion regarding whether Manny Ramirez should play in the All Star game if elected. He’s currently fourth in voting. Isn’t this supposed to be based on your first half accomplishments?
Ryan – I think it is. We know the whole Manny situation. He’s tested positive for steroids and so forth. But the fans are voting and I guess in the end fans have the last say. But the whole situation is a really sad situation, the situation he is in. Any chance he will do the right thing and say no thanks I’m not going to play? 5:57 Ryan – Well Manny being Manny how many times have we heard that. How many times has he done the right thing in the past? Hopefully this time he will.
o Carpano – Talk a little about the Ken Ryan Baseball Academy.
Ryan – We have our summer camp coming up July 13th-18th. Our website is KRbaseball.com It’s a great camp for anyone who is interested in a baseball summer camp. Ages 9-12 and 13+ at Slater Park in Pawtucket. All the information is on our website at KRbaseball.com or they can call us at 401-724-7555
]]>He is in Rhode Island to be inducted into the state’s Radio Hall of Fame. He worked at the old WJAR radio in the 30’s and 40’s. In fact, he left WJAR for New York and the NBC network where he still works today. At the age of 91!
Our paths have crossed a couple of times.
The first time was when I was an undergrad at Ithaca College. I hosted a 50 hour radiothon to benefit the American Heart Association and each hour I interviewed a different guest via the telephone.
At the time, Pardo was a famous booth announcer for NBC and did a lot of voice work on the then wildly famous “Imus in the Morning” show on WNBC radio. I was a college student working at the school station and held Pardo and Imus in high esteem.
Pardo called in to our little radiothon to spend a few minutes speaking with a wet behind the ears college freshman. I can’t remember how the interview went, (no doubt plenty of ums and ahs by me) but I couldn’t believe my good fortune to speak with one of broadcastings most famous voices.
When I saw Pardo today I told him we had bumped into each other many, many years ago on an elevator at 30 Rock (the building that is home to the NBC network). I was in awe of him then. Not sure I said a word.
He couldn’t have been more gracious today, kindly spending time speaking with me and my co-workers.
I don’t usually go out of my way to approach celebrities whose work I admire. Too many times I discover that they aren’t very nice people and that spoils my enjoyment of their future work.
I am happy to report that Don Pardo, broadcasting legend, didn’t disappoint me. Professionally and personally, he’s the best!
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