Wednesday Random Thoughts
1. Not only is Larry Lucchino catching a lot of heat for running Theo Epstein out of town but Shank Shaugnessy is also catching flak for his role in this whole fiasco. Unless you’ve been living in a cave it was Shaugnessy’s article in the Sunday Globe that prompted Theo to re-evaluate his situation with the Red Sox and whether he could work with that scumbag Lucchino. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/10/30/lets_iron_out_some_of_this_dirty_laundry/
As much as I hate Shaugnessy I really don’t think you can pin any of the blame on him. It’s obvious that Larry Lucchino placed a call to Shaugnessy which prompted him too write a an ultra flattering story about Lucchino and how he still deserves lots of credit for building the Red Sox and how he will still be involved in the future. If Larry Lucchino called me up and spilled his guts to me I would run a story about it in the Stool too. The only difference would have been that I would have made it clear that this was Larry’s side of the story according to Larry. The only question I have is why did Shaugnessy come across as Lucchino’s bitch in his piece? Maybe it’s because Shaugnessy knows that Lucchino will be here for the long haul and is a great source for future stories and wanted to grease the wheels? I don’t picture Theo picking up the phone and leaking information to Shank. Just look back to where Shank got all his anti Nomar information after he was traded. Regardless, whatever the case may be the major problem I have with the Shaugnessy story is that he didn’t stay neutral. He blindly listened to everything Larry said and made him out to be a martyr which is the equivalent of trying to make Saddam Hussein look like a nice guy. But at the same time everybody with half a brain knows that Dan Shaugnessy has an agenda. He is happy when he is in the middle of a controversy and is viewed as important as the team and players. So the fact that he wrote this story and the way he wrote it shouldn’t surprise anybody. And it really isn’t Shank’s to worry about how Theo will react to it.
2. Ok, here is my last random thought on this issue. Everybody knows that I loathe Larry Lucchino. I said from day 1 when he arrived that this guy would turn out to be the one of the worst guys ever associated with this team. But even I can clearly see why he was pissed about this situation. Basically he found Theo as a college intern and groomed him to become a GM. The reason he fought to bring him to Boston was because he knew he could maintain some control in baseball decisions. And I’m sure Larry feels like he did just as much as Theo to bring a championship here. His reward for all his trouble is that Theo tells him the only way he’ll resign with the Red Sox is if Lucchino stays out of his business and leaves all the baseball decisions to him. And frankly Lucchino has no choice but to comply because in the court of public opinion everybody favors Epstein. Ironically Luchinno didn’t want to be seen as the guy who ran Theo out of town because he was power hungry, but that’s how it ended up. I don’t blame Theo for wanting control, but Larry Lucchino has every right to be upset about this and I’m sure I would be too. The problem is that Lucchino has too big of an ego just to let it go. He has a need to be in the limelight and have people think he is involved in everyday baseball decisions so he can go on WEEI and talk about it. And the fact that he had his lap dog Shaugnessy write that article about him proves this point. When you really think about it there is no way this relationship had a chance to survive. You have Theo who wants to make it on his own and Larry who refuses to take a back seat to anybody. They simply can’t coexist together. It’s almost reminiscent of when Belichick left the Jets because he didn’t want any confusion over who was pulling the strings in NY.
3. Let me preface this next random thought by saying I’m not a political guy. I don’t vote for people based on whether they are a Democrat or Republican. I vote for whoever I like the most as a person. Having said that I can’t help but notice that George W. Bush is going nuts solving this “Bird Flu” problem. It’s the headline on every single news outlet. What the hell is the bird flu? And does he think tackling the bird flu makes up for the fact he slept through Hurricane Katrina and started a War with Iraq for no reason? He can’t think we’re that dumb does he? Bird Flu? I’m not even sure that really exists. It sounds like something he made up.
4. Nebraska coach Bill Callahan is in trouble for apparently making a throat-slashing gesture toward an official after Oklahoma scored a touchdown Saturday. Callahan engaged in an animated discussion with referee Steve Usechek after the touchdown. It appeared a holding penalty against Oklahoma went uncalled on the play.
I’ve been meaning to discuss the throat slashing gesture for awhile now. Somewhere along the line the throat slashing gesture has become the equivalent of killing somebody. Why do people get so worked up about it? Nobody is actually getting murdered and as far as I know I don’t think the person who is giving the gesture plans on killing anybody anytime soon. To me it’s really no different than the incomplete sign which basically means it’s over.
5. I warned people that I’m going to hammer everybody with reminders about Trivia Night starting next Wednesday at Game On. We really want to make this thing work so consider this your daily reminder. Also, keep those Halloween photos coming. As a reminder whoever sends in the sexiest Halloween costume gets a free night on the Bustonian.
6. The big news in the world of competitive curling is that at Ana Arce photographer/curler extraordinaire has published a calendar of nude shots of the female competitors on the circuit. According to Arce the calendar proves once and for all "that curlers are athletes – strong but graceful, and of course very beautiful.” Hmm, let’s ignore the fact that this sentence makes negative sense for a minute and tackle the bigger issue here. Why did Ana Arce put herself in the calendar? This ruins all the credibility right there. Apparently Arce realizes that sex sells, but fails to realize that non attractive people don’t.
7. Today’s link of the day is a beauty. It’s almost bitter sweet because it serves as a cruel reminder that there are many people funnier than we are here at the Stool. http://www.weiswatchers.com/
Reader Email
Email #1
I hate Legend of Section 135. Let me give you a BCS scenario. UNC (3-4) has a big three game home stand coming up. For argument's sake, let's say they beat the University of Boston in Chestnut Hill (UBICH), Maryland, and Duke at home. Miami upsets VT in Blacksburg but then suffers tough back-to-back losses at Wake Forest and vs. Georgia Tech, respectively. Marcus Vick is suspended for VT's game at Virginia for "breaking team rules", and Tech loses a tough one to UVA. That sets up a huge showdown between the Tar Heels and Hokies in the final week of the season. UNC, fresh off a 3-game win streak, shocks the world and wins the Coastal Division. They carry their momentum into the ACC Championship game, where they hand it to Florida State. With an ever-so-mediocre record of 8-4, the UNC Tar Heels are the ACC representative in the BCS. Imagine UNC playing in the Orange Bowl while teams like Louisville (who beat the 'Heels 172-0 earlier in the season n) get left out.
My point is that Rutgers, like half of all teams in 1-A football, still has a snowball's chance in Hell of making the BCS. Doesn't mean it's going to happen.
Please stop posting Legend's stupid e-mails.
-- Representing the future of college football,
HuskyBlue
HuskyBlue, you can’t let Legend get to you like this. Anytime a BC football fan can get you worked up you’ve lost. The best thing you can say about BC football is that it creates an overwhelming feeling of apathy. Yes they exist, but nobody really cares about them. But now Legend has got you in his web and the worse you struggle the tighter it becomes.
Email #2
not for nothing, but i can also program a vcr which i understand is now of no value in a TIVO world. PS. just be glad that another other individual who lives here still does not know how to send an e-mail.
DAD.
Dad, I’ve already kicked a few people off random thoughts for not using capital letters in their emails and you may be next. And congrats on the VCR thing.
Email #3
I have to disagree with the beloved sports figure comment. Theo was a good General manager. He made some good deals. but also some stinkers, Renteria, Kim, and now it looks like Foulke. I like Theo but the Sox aren't going to fall apart without him. As far as Nomar being beloved I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone over 12 that was sad to see him go.
Jim Cunningham
That was an exaggeration. Theo is well liked but not beloved. I’ll grant you that. In regards to Nomar you’re out of your freaking mind. I saw grown men openly weeping in the streets. I know because I was one of those guys.