Finneran: Opening Day & Other Sporting Thoughts
Tom Finneran, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Finneran: Opening Day & Other Sporting Thoughts
Wasn’t it just New Year’s Eve a few days ago? The year 2017 seems to be moving awfully quickly.
I do not follow Spring training events very closely, although I’ll admit to an occasional yearning for the warmth of Florida sunshine on my face. My Red Sox obsessed friends tell me that the team looks good---solid pitching, good offense, talented youngsters---Bogaerts, Betts, Bradley, and Benintendi---, a rejuvenated Sandoval, and the inestimable Pedroia. By the way---the “Killer Bs” is my wished-for nickname for the Bogaerts, Betts, Bradley, Benintendi quartet. Let’s hope that they match some of the other great alliterative pairings in baseball history. Think Mays and McCovey, Mantle and Maris, Kaline and Cash, Killebrew and Carew.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBaseball has a very long season. Avoidance of injury is often pure luck and the replacement of David Ortiz’s astounding production last year will not be easy. Nonetheless, there is genuine and legitimate excitement about this team. Let the games begin. And let’s pray for a pennant race.
Mathematics dictates the reality that to gain a pennant all games matter, but let’s tell the baseball fan’s truth---a few wins or losses in April and May seem decidedly less important than the wins and losses of August and September. Come those late summer, early fall mornings, we’re all checking the standings to see how every contender fared the night before. Good teams have jelled and momentum matters. A competitor’s loss is as important as our favorite team’s win. A true pennant race offers a delightful tension that can run for weeks and weeks. For sustained excitement, there is nothing like it, a durable seesaw of emotion.
Speaking of games and excitement, the thrill of the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory lingers on. That was a game for the ages. The highs, the lows, the astounding Seattle-like stupidity of the Falcons, the epic comeback of the Patriots, all combined to make the game as memorable as any in recent history. The Brady/ Belichick alchemy is wondrous, akin to Russell/ Auerbach. Savor it, appreciate it, cherish it---it’s a very rare occurrence in professional sports and it will not be with us forever.
The Celtics are a young and entertaining team, emerging from a rash of early season injuries and exceeding pre-season expectations. Something tells me that they are not quite ready for Lebron and company but an upset is not beyond the realm of possibility. No such upset will occur however should the Celtics make the NBA finals. The West will not be trifled with by this year’s Celtics team.
The 2008 championship banner needs a companion. Mentally I have hung a 2010 banner from the gallant effort the Celtics made against the Lakers that year. That they simply ran out of gas against a younger team was no shame. To the last gasp, they fought the fight that fans love to see.
It’s been a while since the Bruins circled the ice with the Stanley Cup held high. 2011 to be exact. My memory of that playoff run remains a high point of hockey. It was Orr-like in the way it captured our imagination. The speed, the skill, the sheer tenacity of that team was fun to watch. The goaltending was pretty good too!
All in all, the new century has provided us some memorable entertainment and more than a fair share of championships. It’s fun to watch even in this era of free-agency and financial wanderlust. We continue to root for the laundry, even as the players come and go. It’s not war and peace, life and death, and the world’s other sobering realities. It’s a brief diversion from such stuff.
And so another season looms ahead. Let the games begin.
24 Things to Look Forward to This Spring in New England - 2019
Boston Red Sox Return
The arrival of spring means the return of the world champion Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox begin their season on March 28 when they visit the Seattle Mariners.
Boston's home opener is set for Tuesday, April 9 when they host the Toronto Blue Jays.
Boston Calling, the first New England music festival of the season kicks off in downtown Boston on the weekend of May 24 to the 26.
The festival features performances from Twenty One Pilots, Travis Scott, Hozier and much more.
PHOTO: Adam Elmakias/Wikipedia
Newport Craft Beer Festival at Newport Storm Brewery
The 8th annual Newport Craft Beer Festival is set for Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 at Newport Storm Brewery.
The event will bring in brewers from all over the region.
It is a 21+ celebration.
One of the best parts of Spring and Summer is the return of Waterfire.
Providence WaterFire has grown to be an iconic Rhode Island event.
Starting out in 1994 to celebrate it has grown to run continuously, once a month, from May-November and boasts over 80 blazing fires in the middle of the Providence River.
Playing Golf at Harbor Lights
Tee it up at Harbor Lights Country Club and dive right into golf season.
The Spring is a great time to get warmed up and get some swings in before the heart of the season hits in the summer.
Enjoy being back out on the course. Save the super serious golf for the summer.
Hiking at Purgatory Chasm in Massachusetts
The chasm is ¼ mile long and runs between giant granite rock, sometimes standing at 70 feet high.
You do have to pay to park ($5 MA residents, $10 for you out-of-staters), but exploring the reservation is completely free.
Going For Walks/Runs Outside Without Shivering on East Bay Bike Path
You can go outside and go for a walk or a run without shivering the entire time.
Spring is a great time to exercise and the East Bay Bike Path is a great place to do it.
The 123rd running of the Boston Marathon takes place on Patriots' Day.
Catch the annual Red Sox early Patriots Day game, then head down to Boylston St to cheer on the runners.
It's a Boston and New England tradition.
The 2018 marathon will take place on April 15.
PHOTO: Peter Farlow/Wikipedia
Bicycling on the Central Mass Rail Trail
Once the streets are clear of ice and snow and the temperatures rise, one of the most fun things to do in New England is to jump on a bike and go for a nice long ride.
There are plenty of bike paths to explore at your leisure, and many cities like Providence, Boston, and Worcester are beginning to make city streets much more bike friendly.
Walking the Newport Cliff Walk
The Cliff Walk is one of Newport’s most famous attractions is its gilded age mansions lining the coast. Entry to the mansions will cost a fee, but with the Cliff Walk, you can enjoy views of the mansions with amazing views of the water all for free.
The 3.5 mile long path runs behind the mansions on the eastern shore of Newport. It is a National Recreation Trail – the first in New England! The majority of the walk is easy, but be sure to wear good shoes; the sand can make the path slippery.
Outdoor Dining at Boat House Restaurant in Newport
Newport Restaurant Group made this a must-visit spot several years ago and now the expected accolades have followed.
The views of Mount Hope Bay are unparalleled.
Enjoy a nice glass of wine with some lobster fritters that had sweet corn and a chipotle mayo and followed that with pan-roasted George’s Bank scallops with a delightful spring pea risotto, pea greens from Allen Farm and a citrus emulsion.
Spring Vacation on Block Island
Get away from the hustle and bustle of the world and take a spring vacation to Block Island and enjoy all they have to offer.
Maybe a spa? a swim? Some shopping? there are plenty of options.
If Block Island doesn't do it for you, Newport is also a great place to take a break.
Or maybe do both.
Visiting Arcadia National Park in Maine
People have been drawn to the rugged coast of Maine throughout history. Awed by its beauty and diversity, early 20th-century visionaries donated the land that became Acadia National Park.
The park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast.
Visit Acadia and hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery.
Fishing at Brenton Point State Park in Newport
Get your rods and reels ready because with the approach of warmer weather comes the return of fishing seasons. While some New England states allow for fishing year-round, many New England states have opening days for trout fishing that begin in early April.
Although there is still a plentiful amount of snow on the ground, fishing season is right around the corner.
photo credit: Grand River Conservation Authority/Flickr
Playing Tennis at Slater Park in Pawtucket, RI
Time to break those rackets out and hit outdoor courts because Tennis season is here.
No need to go hard right away, ease into the season.
Have a great Tennis season.
No More Winter Coats
It is time to shed those big bulky winter coats.
Instead, grab a vest or a sweater and put those coats deep in a closet.
Good riddance.
Summer is Next
A reason to look forward to Spring?
Because summer is next and soon we will all be sitting by the pool with a summer cocktail.
April Fools Day
Time to start planning out what pranks and tricks you are going to pull off on April 1.
April Fools Day is always an exciting day because you never know what is going to happen.
While you are planning your pranks, beware of any that may be played on you.
Planting Flowers
Get the gardening tools ready because gardening season is just about here.
Head to your local garden shop, find the best flowers you can and plant away.
Lower Heating Bills
As winter will come to a close New Englanders could look forward to spending less money on heating bills.
Although the bitter cold is hitting New England hard, and also therefore hitting their wallets hard, this brutal cold streak will soon come to an end and we'll be able to turn down our thermostats save some cash.
photo credit: Images Money/Flickr
Sun Dresses
Sun dresses. Sun Dresses. Sun Dresses. With the approach of spring, it means that sundresses are almost back! Sundresses are a fun way to show off how hard you've been working to keep the weight off all winter long.
photo credit: jessejamesjake vintage
Easter Egg Hunts
Easter is a great holiday. It is always great to spend time with friends and family and of course for those with kids, it's a great day for Easter egg hunts in the backyard or around the neighborhood.
PHOTO: Ross Mayfield/flickr
Goodbye Snow
While this winter was not all that bad as far as snow is concerned, it will be nice to know it is gone for awhile and there is no need to worry about it.
Well... we can only hope.
Road Trip!
Say goodbye to the black ice, the five foot snow drifts, and (hopefully) the potholes.
As the ice melts and we reclaim our streets from the snow, we're looking forward to rolling down our windows and going for a cruise.
