It’s good to have a Rolodex filled with names and numbers.
With all that’s going on around the Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics, I decided to call my friend/coach/media specialist Bill Belichick of the Patriots. I wondered how he would answer the many questions being asked around New England these days…
Question 1: Hey Bill, what do you think of some of the moves Bobby V has made with the Sox pitching staff?
Coach Bill: Coaches coach. Players play.
Question 2: Yeah but it appears that sometimes he’s leaving guys in too long and sometimes not long enough. What about that?
Coach Bill: All you can do is put the players in the best possible spot for success.
Question 3: Do you think some of these guys are hurt, may be some arm injuries?
Coach Bill: You know we never talk about injuries.
Question 4: Bill, do you agree that it’s just April and there’s plenty of season left.
Coach Bill: You just go one game at a time. Focus is only on the next opponent.
Question 5: What do you think about the fans and the media getting all over the Sox?
Coach Bill: It is what it is.
Question 6: Let me change topics. What about this Bruins vs Capitals series, quite the battle, huh?
Coach Bill: Yeah, all you can ask your players is to compete hard on every play.
Question 7: How would you handle that Ovechkin guy? How would you defend him against him?
Coach Bill: Well, you just want the defenders in the right spot and hope they make a play.
Question 8: But Bill, Dale Hunter coaches the Washington Caps now. He was perhaps the dirtiest player ever. Doesn’t that make your blood boil?
Coach Bill: Ahh, I’ve got no comment on that.
Question 9: A final B’s question, if I can. What will it take for the Bruins to win game 7?
Coach Bill: Play hard. Play smart. Compete. Focus. I know it sounds like a lot of cliches, but…(then there is that sound of lips smacking).
Question 10: If you don’t mind I’d like to ask a few Celtics questions. Do you think Doc Rivers should rest players in the final two regular season games this week or play everybody and try to get home-court advantage for the first round of playoffs?
Coach Bill: You make decisions that are best for your team.
Question 11: What do you think about Ray Allen coming off the bench now. Avery Bradley starts in his spot?
Coach Bill: It’s not about individuals. It’s a team game.
Question 12: Some people say other teams fear the Celtics once playoff time rolls around. What do you think about that?
Coach Bill: I dunno. You would have to ask them.
Question 13: Gee, it’s been great talking to you coach. Just one more. With the NFL draft coming up Thursday, who do you think you’ll take with your first pick?
Coach Bill: You know that answer.
Thanks for your time coach! You really helped clear up some things around New England!
ITEMS FROM THE DUFFEL BAG:
– When it gets right down to it, isn’t it a sad commentary that Sox players apparently can’t or don’t want to play for Bobby V?
– For those paddlers who did the Kenduskeag Stream Race – my highest admiration!
– Oh yeah, the Mystic Tie Grange race-day breakfast – delicious, as always!
– Got to hand it to the Red Sox marketing folks. At 2:06 p.m. Friday I got an email thanking me as part of the 100th Fenway celebration. At 3:33 p.m. Saturday I got an email offering the brand new 100th Anniversary Collection of merchandise for purchase.
– I offer my best to WCSH’s Bruce Glazier as he heads into retirement. I’ll never forget Bruce, Bill Green and myself calling the first Maine Guides Triple-A game at The Ballpark in OOB. He had a home run call ready for air but wouldn’t tell us ahead of time what it was. When the first Guides’ home run cleared the fence, we all heard “you can call the wardens, this one is lost in the Maine woods!”
– Mansfield Stadium Senior League World Series alum Xander Bogaerts (Aruba) is hitting .302/1/5 in his first 14 games at advanced A league Salem Red Sox team. Soxprospects.com lists the top 2 Sox prospects: No. 1 Will Middlebrooks, No. 2 Xander Bogaerts.
– I want Kevin Garnett back in Celtics green next season at any price. Do you?
– Husson senior baseball pitcher Nate Adams from Frankfort has put together a great college career. He deserves more ink.
