Here’s betting Rob Gronkowski and the Bucs are still celebrating
By BUNKY McCOY
• Has Tom Brady stopped celebrating his latest Super Bowl win? Ditto Gronk?
• Better yet, anyone check in to see what Bill Belichick has up his sleeve in terms of the Patriots landing a quarterback? For word came down this week that one potential option – Carson Wentz – is off the board.
• Jim Christian is out as Boston College’s head basketball coach. The beat goes on for a program that’s been residing in the wilderness ever since the Eagles fired Al Skinner back in 2010.
• The Worcester Red Sox have announced their 2021 schedule. There’s no truth to the rumor that former R.I. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello has been asked to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day.
• Or that the first baseball player who actually sweats in spring training will get a raise.
• The San Diego Padres – long considered a small market MLB franchise – signed 22-year-old Fernando Tatis Jr. to a massive 14-year, $340 million contract. And the Red Sox couldn’t keep Mookie Betts?
• This from the New York Times: Rhode Island is last in the country in two key measures of the coronavirus vaccine rollout — the percentage of residents who have received the first shot of a vaccine, and the percentage of vaccine doses administered.
• Fifty out of fifty. This isn’t good for you, Bunky.
• LINE OF THE WEEK comes from Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call sports scribe Brendan McGair: “I want to send a note to the governor. Question is, who should I send it to?”
• Speaking of governors, don’t invite Gina Raimondo and Dan McKee to the same dinner party, Bunky.
• Fatts Russell left it all out there and then some during URI’s come-from-behind win over Dayton last Wednesday.
• A round of applause for Providence guard David Duke. By spreading the word on social media, Duke was able to raise $13,000 for Crossroads R.I.
• Yes, the Bruins are doing well, but I’m still skeptical about this group ever since they lost Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals at home.
• Promoting your favorite go-to options at Dunkin’ via Twitter? How about stocking up at Haxton’s Liquors? Manscape? Just call Kevin McNamara the 2021 version of Billy Mays – the
ultimate pitchman.
• Things continue to change, yet the two worst words you can hear this time of year remain the same: bread and milk.
•The Hawks’ Trae Young is a treat to watch.
• That same goes double for East Greenwich senior Jack McMullen, who recently scored 54 points and hit 13 three-pointers in a single game.
• Whatever happened to true love? No more kisses for tabloid couple Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
• Dinner and a movie? Now, date night consists of ordering takeout and seeing what’s on Netflix.
• Did you see Gordon Hayward is averaging 22 points for Charlotte? How come the Celtics can’t get players like that?
• Did we ever have an official burial service for movie theaters?
• Red Sox reliever Josh Taylor wore No. 72 when he first got to the majors. Now he’s wearing No. 38. One can wonder if the number change prompted a contribution to the 38 Studios fund.
• This column would have been longer, but I’m still trying to figure out what to give up for Lent.