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Sox Win Behind Suarez Gem

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TORONTO – (Wire Service Report) – Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez pitched eight innings of one-hit ball Monday night as the visiting Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0. Suarez (2-2) struck out 10 and walked one in the opener of a three-game series. Reliever Greg Weissert pitched around a double in the ninth to complete the shutout.

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The Red Sox have won three in a row for the first time this season, the past two under interim manager Chad Tracy with the offense supplied by Carlos Narvaez hitting a solo homer for Boston, and Marcelo Mayer and Wilyer Abreu each had two hits, a walk and an RBI.

Boston opened the scoring in the fourth inning against Dylan Cease (1-1). Willson Contreras led off with a single, took second when Abreu walked with one out and scored on Mayer’s two-out single to center.

The Red Sox scored twice in the fifth.

Caleb Durbin walked with one out and was forced at second on Jarren Duran’s grounder to second. Contreras was hit by a pitch, and the runners advanced when Cease’s pickoff throw to second sailed into center field.

Duran came home when Cease tripped moving off the mound in an attempt to field Roman Anthony’s infield hit, a trickler near the first base line. Abreu lined an RBI double to right that Jesus Sanchez dropped at the warning track.

Boston took a 4-0 lead in the sixth. Mayer led off with a walk and took second on Ceddanne Rafaela’s single. A double-play grounder put Mayer at third, and he scored on Durbin’s soft single to left. Joe Mantiply then replaced Cease, who allowed four runs, seven hits, three walks and a hit batter while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings.

Toronto had only a walk before Sanchez led off the home sixth with a double past third base. Suarez escaped the inning with two strikeouts and a flyout.

Narvaez hit a homer to left-center with two outs in the eighth on a 2-2 sweeper from Chase Lee, who was recalled Monday from Triple-A Buffalo.

Toronto put Max Scherzer on the injured list due to tendinitis in his right foreman and inflammation in his left ankle.

–Field Level Media

Boston Bruins on the Brink

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BUFFALO – (Wire Service Report) – After taking a second straight home loss in “embarrassing” fashion, the Boston Bruins are on the brink of elimination as the scene of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series shifts back to Buffalo.

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The Sabres will look to land the knockout punch against their Atlantic Division rivals and earn their first playoff series win since 2007 in Game 5 on Tuesday night.

Buffalo’s 6-1 win in Game 4 on Sunday quickly became a laugher. Four first-period goals were more than enough, and Alex Lyon was 39.9 seconds away from shutting out the Bruins in his second straight start in the series.

“We have an extremely high-competitive group. We all have a standard that we all carry ourselves to — and it wasn’t met,” said Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who appeared to yell at his teammates while exiting the bench after being relieved by Joonas Korpisalo in the third period.

The Bruins have never come back from a 3-1 series deficit (0-25) and the Sabres have never let such a lead slip away (7-0) in each franchise’s playoff history.

While history certainly does not favor Boston, the series is not over yet.

“As far as I know, you have to win four games to move on. So they’ve got three. That means we still have a chance,” Bruins coach Marco Sturm told reporters after Sunday’s game. “I can cry about it, but I also have to push my guys for the next game and make sure our intensity is gonna be there.”

“We have a one-game mission,” Sturm added on Monday.

Buffalo’s dominant start on Sunday made Lindy Ruff one happy coach, and not just because his team scored the opening goal for the first time in the series and built a commanding lead.

“That first period was the best period we played all year,” Ruff said. “Puck pressure, scoring opportunities. We moved the puck and got the puck up ice. We didn’t spend much time in our end.”

On Sunday, six different Sabres scored goals, with four of them adding an assist as well.

One shining star in the series has been defenseman Bowen Byram, whose tally at the end of the four-goal frame marked his third in the last three games. He finished the game plus-3.

“He’s obviously been awesome all year and has brought it to another level in the playoffs,” said Owen Power, Byram’s defense partner. “It’s nice having him and all the other guys in here that have some playoff experience to lean on and have them help lead us.”

Byram won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.

Power, Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch have all notched points in all four games of the series, with Power and Krebs logging those streaks to begin their playoff careers. Krebs scored the first goal just 4:17 into Sunday’s game.

The rock-solid team effort has extended to the net, where Lyon took over for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in relief in Game 2 and has since posted a league-best .964 save percentage in the playoffs.

The vibes are good in Buffalo, but the message is clear: The Sabres still have to finish.

“We’ve done a good job in this series, but the fourth one is always the hardest,” Byram said of the challenge of closing.

The Bruins had to shuffle their Monday practice lines with forward Viktor Arvidsson and defenseman Nikita Zadorov both off for maintenance days. Arvidsson left Game 4 due to an upper-body injury and did not return.

“We still have to check with medical, but we have to wait until probably (Tuesday) on both of them,” Sturm said of both players’ status.

Ruff expects Buffalo forwards Jason Zucker and Tyson Kozak — who both missed time in Sunday’s third period — to be available going forward.

–Field Level Media

Celtics Can Close Out the Sixers

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Celtics can close out the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the visiting Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 on Tuesday night. After splitting two games in Boston, the second-seeded Celtics took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series by beating the seventh-seeded 76ers twice in Philadelphia.

“Played another about-as-bad-as-you-can-play game,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said following Boston’s 128-96 victory in Game 4. “That’s two out of four in this series. Played well in the other two and we got to get back to playing well quickly. Got to go get one.”

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Philadelphia can point to defending the perimeter as one of the must-fix items on the 76ers’ list in order to stave off elimination. The Celtics made 24 3-pointers during Game 4, shooting 48.3% overall and 45.3% from 3-point range.

Payton Pritchard, Boston’s backup point guard, made 6 of 12 3-pointers and tossed in 32 points in the Game 4 victory. Pritchard was 2-of-13 from 3-point territory in the first two games of the series and then made 5 of 10 3-pointers in Boston’s Game 3 win.

“I don’t know if I saw anything different,” Pritchard said. “It’s just more playing with that aggression, playing with that spark. I felt it in Game 3. I was telling some of the coaches I thought it was a step in the right direction as far as my aggression and getting my rhythm back.”

Boston’s 24 3-point field goals set a franchise record for made 3-pointers in a playoff game. Jayson Tatum made five shots from beyond the 3-point arc.

“It was very bad,” Nurse said when asked about his team’s defensive effort in Game 4. “It just didn’t seem like any matchup could guard anybody one-on-one. We had them pushed out and bottled up and physical and really off kind of rhythm for a couple games, and there was none of that ”

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid returned to the court after missing the first three games in the series following an emergency appendectomy on April 9. He finished with a team-high 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, but didn’t get a lot of offensive support.

Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points, but attempted only three shots in the first half. VJ Edgecombe was 2-of-9 from the field and had six points.

“That can’t happen,” Maxey said. “That’s on me. That absolutely can’t happen. That’s unacceptable by me. I was playing within the flow of the game and it kind of just happened that way.

” … We can’t win basketball games with that happening and I take full responsibility on that one.”

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said the Celtics have to be prepared for Philadelphia’s best effort in Game 5.

“Regardless of who we’re playing against, we have to have an understanding that they are a really good team,” he said. “They can beat you on any given night. They’ve got great talent with the three stars that they have (Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George) and their role players when they are at their best … We’ve got to be disciplined on all the things that we can control – physical, mental, emotional, psychological, tactical, all of them.”

The winner of the Celtics/76ers series will meet either third-seeded New York or sixth-seeded Atlanta in the next round. That series is 2-2 headed back to New York for Game 5 Tuesday.

“We’ve got three chances to win one game,” Jaylen Brown said. “And the goal is just to get it done as soon as possible.”

–Field Level Media

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | On Boston

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By TERRY LYONS

HEARTBREAK HILL, NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS – Twenty miles into the Boston Marathon, the runners enter “my kinda town.” Yes, Newton, Massachusetts is the location of the world famous “Heartbreak Hill,” and for those not familiar with the area, it’s really a series of four hills along Commonwealth Avenue which runs diagonally through the center of Waban, Newton, Newton Centre and Chestnut Hill. Normally, it’s quite nice and scenic.

But, on Marathon Monday, the tree-lined and bucolic streets of Newton turn into the most challenging obstacle of the race course for this past Monday’s 130th Boston Marathon.

The Boston Globe delivery truck driving up Heartbreak Hill in Newton Centre, Mass. (Photo by T. Peter Lyons/Digital SportsDesk)

Runner’s World accurately describes it like this:

“Heartbreak Hill is located between mile 20 and mile 21 of the Boston Marathon. As the last and most famous of the four Newton hills, this roughly half-mile incline begins around mile 20.3 and peaks near the 20.4-mile marker, specifically notorious for testing runners after 20 miles of racing.

Quick Facts

o Starting Point: Just past the 20-mile marker on Commonwealth Avenue (what the locals call “Comm Ave”).

o Summit Point: It ends roughly at mile 21, near Hammond Street and the Boston College campus of Chestnut Hill.

o The Incline: The hill is about 0.4 to 0.5 miles long with a vertical rise of approximately 88–91 feet.

o Difficulty: While not the steepest hill on the course, it is notorious because it occurs at a point where runners’ glycogen stores are often depleted—the point where many “hit the wall.” The kicker (or ass-kicker) comes when runners shift from climbing the uphill to the quite steep downhill from Boston College all the way to the finish line in Copley.

Heartbreak Hill earned its name during the 1936 race when defending championJohnny Kelley caught up to and patted leader Ellison “Tarzan” Brown on the back. The gesture motivated Brown to surge ahead and win, “breaking Kelley’s heart”. A statue of Kelley, titled “Young at Heart,” stands at the base of the hill near mile 20.

Like that of Johnny Kelley and Tarzan Brown in 1936, the Boston Marathon, each and every year, has about 30,000 incredible stories to tell. Data from race organizer – the Boston Athletic Association – showed 33,267 applications for this year’s race. A total of 29,025 finished the race this year. And, by the way, 12,579 of those runners were female.

That’s a lot of runners.

While it’s not as many participants as New York’s record 59,662 runners for last November’s New York City Marathon, Boston is known as the most prestigious race to run (and finish). I often cite 1968 Boston Marathon champion Amby Burfoot who famously describes the Boston Marathon as “the Carnegie Hall” of marathons. This analogy highlights the race as the premier, ultimate venue for runners—a place of prestige where one has to earn the right to perform, similar to performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.”

I’m lucky enough to call Amby Burfoot a friend.

I met him as a colleague/co-worker when he was the Editor-at-Large for Runner’s World magazine. I was asked by the Runner’s World’s PR team (Chris Brienza, DavidTratner and Laura Beachy) to help out with their work – both preparing and then executing efforts to publicize the wonderful and informative magazine, a product of Rodale publishing. To say it was a marvelous experience would be the understatement of my current century.

After nearly 30 years at the NBA, you think you would’ve experienced just about everything sports has to offer. Well, running marathons is a whole different story. Quite frankly, I learned more from a three minute talk with Amby than I ever learned in school.

As Editor-at-Large, Burfoot could unearth the stories of the champions and the everyday, weekend warriors. When in Boston (from his Mystic, Connecticut home), he was the “people’s champion” for sure, taking pictures and interacting with thousands of runners and fans. It was quite amazing to see any everyday guy turn into this incredible celebrity champion for a couple of weeks, leading up to race day.

Instead of paraphrasing one of Amby’s great stories, I’ll simply turn the column over to him to tell you this one. To frame it, this is what Amby wrote on August 21, 2011 of the death of “young” John Kelley, his friend and idol.

John J. Kelley, RIP, 1930-2011: 1957 Boston Marathon Winner; America’s First Modern Road Runner

Nineteen fifty-seven Boston Marathon winner John J. Kelley “The Younger” crossed the final finish line early this morning in North Stonington, CT, just a few miles from Mystic, where he had lived most his adult life. Kelley died with few more possessions than he began with 80 years ago on Christmas Eve, 1930. But he ran his heart out every step of the way. And those of us lucky enough to have shared a few miles at his side will forever remember his vigor, his encompassing warmth, and the way he loved all creatures great, and especially the small and powerless.

Kelley, whom I first met in 1962, was the most sincere, humble, gentle, and authentic human being I have ever known. He was the first person I ever saw stop his car to help a turtle across the road, and he never ever, without exception, said a word about himself and his considerable accomplishments. He also never uttered a negative word about anyone else, with the possible exceptions of Joseph McCarthy and Richard Nixon.

Kelley was an extraordinary gentleman, yet also a radical free thinker. A friend, writer and marathoner Gail Kislevitz, called Kelley “the last rebellious man standing.” The phrase fits.

In his final days Kelley was surrounded by his three daughters–Julie, Kathleen, andEileen–and a number of his grandchildren. He died from a melanoma that eventually spread to his lungs. Kelley’s wife Jacintha passed away in 2003.

Kelley’s athletic record is unparalleled among American distance runners. In 1957 he became the first and only member of the BAA running club to win the BAA Boston Marathon. In addition to his win, Kelley finished second at Boston five times. He won the 1959 Pan American Games Marathon, and captured eight consecutive USA National Marathon titles even though this event took place on the hot, hilly Yonkers course just four to five weeks after Boston. Kelley represented the U.S. in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Marathons, with a best finish of 19th in the Rome Olympic race famously won by barefoot Abebe Bikila.

“Kelley didn’t like the limelight, and people don’t even know about him today,” saysBill Rodgers, four time Boston and New York City Marathon winner, “But his eight straight wins at Yonkers stand second only to Grete’s nine wins in New York, and it’s better in some ways. Grete’s longest streak was five straight.

“Kelley was at the epicenter of American marathoning. He was in the trenches doing the spade work for the likes of Frank Shorter and me and everyone who has come along since. Marathoning wasn’t a business then. There wasn’t any money, and it wasn’t entertainment. The runners had to put up with a public and sports media who basically knew nothing. Marathoners were treated as second-class athletes. But Kelley didn’t let that stop him. He was quiet but had tremendous drive. He was tough as nails.”

In many ways, Kelley was the first modern American road runner. The generations before him–including greats like Clarence DeMar and “Old John” A. Kelley (no relation, despite the similar name and similar Boston Marathon histories)–came from working-class roots. So did Kelley, but he loved books and learning, and ultimately received a masters degree from Boston University.

Another big difference: Where his predecessors were relatively slow plodders, Kelley was fast. A high school prodigy in the mile in New London, CT, he was recruited to B.U. by an ambitious track coach who aimed to turn him into the next Glenn Cunningham. The plan didn’t work. Kelley had no taste for endless track repeats and races on a small oval. He yearned for greater adventure, less coaching, and more personal exploration. Midway through his college years, he was rising at 4:30 a.m. to run a dark, lonely 16-mile loop around the Charles River. He spent more time listening to Boston Marathon organizer/masseur/running-team coach Jock Semple than to his college coach, and ran his first two Bostons while still a college student.

“Kelley argued with his college coach Doug Raymond about the value of long, slow runs vs endless, gasping 440-yard sprints around the track,” notes Boston Marathon historian and author Tom Derderian. “Kelley’s fight against the conventional wisdom lifted him to the crest of the new wave of American distance running that led to Frank Shorter’s Olympic gold medal.”

The Boston Marathon’s former executive director Tom Grilk observed: “John J. Kelley’s victory in the Boston Marathon wearing the unicorn of the BAA has been an inspiration to all of us at the BAA, as well as to generations of Boston and American runners. He ran and won at a time when there was no money to be won; a time when victory was sufficient unto itself. His legacy is that of striving for excellence for its own sake, and for the quiet satisfaction that it brings to those with a deep sense of personal values. I hope we will all continue to learn from that. It remains John’s gift to us all.”

That’s just one story – a pretty amazing backstory coming from the ‘68 champion who happens to be running Boston again – today! Today, Amby Burfoot’s experiences will create 100 stories of their own, and so on.

What strikes me the most every Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts (it’s celebrated in Maine, Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, North Dakota, and Utah, too) is that the whole Commonwealth STOPS. At some point in the day, every person that is able gets out to cheer on a friend or a random runner passing by. Some families create their makeshift tailgate parties while those fortunate enough to own a house on the course throw the party of the year (rain or shine, in all degrees of temperature). The estimates are some 500,000 people are spectators for the Boston Marathon, not counting the audience that tuned in on local broadcast (now on WCVB-5 Boston, after decades on WBZ-TV Boston). The national broadcast was anchored by Hannah Storm on ESPN2 and a host of international broadcasters, many who sent their commentators to cover the race live and in person were here in Boston for the festivities.

Others, like your favorite columnist, detoured over to Fenway Park for the traditional Major League Baseball game pitting the hometown Red Sox vs. the Detroit Tigers. First pitch was at 11:10am. (The Red Sox won, 8-6).

Regardless of where you spent the day, the spirit and pure inspiration of the race permeates the very cold air we breath on the wonderful day, called Patriots’ Day, the best day of the year in Boston.

I’ll provide links to a couple of columns from year’s past. They are amongst my personal, all-time favorites.

I highly recommend you take a stroll through those two columns which both provide incredible backstories of experiences from much earlier this century, noting that we moved to Newton, Mass in 2008.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Ones Basketball League (OBL), the re-envisioning of the premier 1 v 1 basketball league founded by basketball Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Tracy McGrady, unveiled the 32 athletes–four for each city–that have been selected by team GM/Owners for the first round of “OBL: Battle of The Cities,” which will be held on Friday, May 15 in Orlando, Florida.

In addition to McGrady who provided input, the GMs who directly picked the athletes with their designated team captain are:

  • Team Orlando- Vince Carter, Basketball Hall of Famer
  • Team Washington, DC – Quinn Cook, two-time NBA Champion
  • Team Miami – Tim Hardaway Sr., five-time NBA All-Star
  • Team New York – Jadakiss, recording star and basketball insider
  • Team Chicago – Larenz Tate, actor, film producer, basketball aficionado
  • Team Raleigh – John Wall, five-time NBA All-Star
  • Team Atlanta – Jaylen Brown, star of the Boston Celtics
  • Team Baltimore – Muggsy Bogues, 14 year NBA veteran

One problem, proven-out as long ago as Pepsi Hot-Shot of the ‘70s and eraly ‘80s, is the fact one-on-one basketball is not viewer-friendly (very exciting). Full court one-on-one, witnessed at practices at the 2000 Sydney Olympics USA team practices were another story! Jason Kidd vs. Steve Smith games (after practice when they were exhausted) were a sight to be seen.

TID BITS & NUGGETS: The Los Angeles Lakers comeback and overtime win vs. the Houston Rockets definitely was the must-watch event of the NBA Playoffs. Condolences to all those ML fans on Draft Kings, if you had the Rockets, who were up by six points with 30 seconds left in regulation — and Houston had the ball. NBA teams were 1,713-1 in the playoffs over the last 29 years when leading by six or more in the final 30 seconds of regulation.

The one game? The Lakers joined the Philadelphia 76ers and their win over the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the first round in 2024, (according to ESPN Research).

Reggie Miller? The difference was five points at the :29 second mark.

In that game, an April 7, 1995 Eastern Conference first-round Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, Indiana trailed 105–100 with 18.7 seconds remaining after Patrick Ewing hit a hook shot at the 18.7-second mark. Then, Miller worked his magic.

IS THERE … anything worse than local media types giving “grades” for the NFL Draft about a minute after the first, second and third rounds of the annual selection soiree? The NY (Jersey, really) Giants even earned an “A+” for their selection of Edge Rusher Arvell Reese. Not an “A,” but an “A+.”

How about waiting – at least a year or two – befopre assessing the ups & downs of a pro draft?

tumbleweed in the middle of the road between field during day
At the “intersection” of Conspiracy and Tumbleweed

THIS JEST IN: For all you longtime NBA conspiracy theorists out there, especially the ones who always tweet their belief that the NBA (via its officials) favors specific teams located in the large TV markets – here’s a new thought!

This year, the NBA wants all the small market teams to move on, so the likes of reigning champion Oklahoma City, or small time San Antonio to advance. This comes off the Indiana Pacers vs OKC NBA Finals series from last season – two of the smallest TV markets in the USA.

Wink. 😜

VIVA LA FRANCE: Long live France, yes, but long live all of us when we’re talking about the site of the 2031 FIBA World Cup. The FIBA Central Board picked France as the host of the 2031 FIBA Basketball World Cup, with Japan getting the Women’s World Cup in 2030. The French cities of Lille, Lyon, and Paris will co-host the event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 14, with the final taking place in Paris.

The women’s tournament will be held in Tokyo from Nov. 26 to Dec.8, 2031.

I wonder how many grads of the NBA Basketball Schools will compete in that event, never mind all the Basketball without Borders stars.

ON YOUR DIAL: At about 3:30pm (EDT) on Saturday (April 25), your columnists settled down after a busy morning and flipped on the television to watch some sports.

The NFL Draft was on ABC and ESPN – but both were in commercial. Checked FS-1 for a MLB game – commercial. Checked the CW for the WNBA – commercial. Over to NBC as Showtime concluded before the Phoenix Suns vs OKC Thunder – commercial.

NFL Draft: LV Picks Indiana’s Mendoza

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QB Mendoza to be New Centerpiece for Vegas

PITTSBURGH – (Wire Service Report) – The Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, confident the Heisman Trophy winner and national champion just keeps winning.

The 22-year-old becomes the centerpiece of a franchise rebuild following his own meteoric rise, culminating in the Hoosiers claiming a football national title for the first time in program history.

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Las Vegas went 3-14 last season and fired Pete Carroll as head coach, which prompted a change at quarterback under first-time head coach Klint Kubiak. The Raiders traded starter Geno Smith to the Jets and signed Kirk Cousins to bridge any potential gap for Mendoza to be deemed ready for the QB1 role.

General manager John Spytek and Kubiak said their “perfect world” would allow for Mendoza to be worked into the starting role gradually. Considered a cerebral field general more than a physical freak or elite specimen at quarterback, Mendoza has already openly discussed the presence of a priceless sounding board in Las Vegas: minority franchise owner Tom Brady. He read the “TB12 Method” book before the NFL Scouting Combine in preparation for a potential interaction with Brady.

That didn’t come until he took his official team visit to meet the team’s top brass.

“Everything that he’s all about is something that I’ve always emulated as a football player,” Mendoza said in February. “And anything the coaching staff has as coaching points, like, ‘Hey Fernando, we need you to get better at this, this and that,’ I’m gonna be like, ‘Hey Tom, how do I get better at this, this and that?’ If I get selected by Mr. Spytek and the Raiders, if that does happen, it’d be a great opportunity.”

France to Host 2031 World Cup

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BERLIN – (Wire Service Report) – The FIBA Central Board has chosen France as the host of the 2031 FIBA Basketball World Cup, with Japan getting the Women’s World Cup in 2030. The French cities of Lille, Lyon, and Paris will co-host the event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 14, with the final taking place in Paris.

The women’s tournament will be held in Tokyo from Nov. 26 to Dec.8, 2031.

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Japan and France achieved success in the sport as Japan’s women and France’s men both won silver medals in basketball in their recent home Olympics. Japan hosted the 2020 Summer Games and Paris held the 2024 Summer Games.

The two locations were chosen in part because of their history of hosting major sporting events. FIBA made the decisions after the draw for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin.

“Japan and France are two basketball-loving nations, two destinations extremely popular with our fans, players and partners,” FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said. “The FIBA World Cups have become synonymous with success in large part because selecting the appropriate host each time is the cornerstone of our mission to make basketball the most popular sports community.”WNCAAB scores

French star and San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama is likely to headline the 2031 World Cup after the young superstar led the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal game in scoring with 26 points in a losing effort to the United States.

–Field Level Media

Welcome to the Best Day of the Year

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By TERRY LYONS

HEARTBREAK HILL, NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS  – Twenty miles into the Boston Marathon, the runners enter “my kinda town.” Yes, Newton, Massachusetts is the location of the world famous “Heartbreak Hill.” To those not familiar with the area, it’s really a series of four hills along Commonwealth Avenue which runs diagonally through the center of Waban, Newton, Newton Centre and Chestnut Hill. Normally, it’s quite nice and scenic.

But, today, the tree-lined and bucolic streets of Newton turn into the most challenging aspect of the race course for the 130th Boston Marathon.

A Boston Globe delivery truck navigates Heartbreak Hill on Raceday. (Photo by T. Peter Lyons/Digital Sports Desk)

Runner’s World accurately describes it like this:

“Heartbreak Hill is located between mile 20 and mile 21 of the Boston Marathon. As the last and most famous of the four Newton hills, this roughly half-mile incline begins around mile 20.3 and peaks near the 20.4-mile marker, specifically notorious for testing runners after 20 miles of racing.

Quick Facts

o Starting Point: Just past the 20-mile marker on Commonwealth Avenue (Comm Ave) in Newton.

o Summit Point: It ends roughly at mile 21, near Hammond Street and the Boston College campus.

o The Incline: The hill is about 0.4 to 0.5 miles long with a vertical rise of approximately 88–91 feet.

o Difficulty: While not the steepest hill on the course, it is notorious because it occurs at a point where runners’ glycogen stores are often depleted—the point where many  “hit the wall”

Heartbreak Hill earned its name during the 1936 race when defending champion Johnny Kelley caught up to and patted leader Ellison “Tarzan” Brown on the back. The gesture motivated Brown to surge ahead and win, “breaking Kelley’s heart”. A statue of Kelley, titled “Young at Heart,” stands at the base of the hill near mile 20.

Like that of Johnny Kelley and Tarzan Brown in 1936, the Boston Marathon, each and every year, has about 30,000 incredible stories to tell. Data from race organizer – the Boston Athletic Association – shows 33,267 applications for today’s race, so the actual number of participants will fall between 30,000 and 32,000 runners.

That’s a lot of runners.

 

While it’s not as many participants as New York’s record 59,662 runners for last November’s New York City Marathon, Boston is known as the most prestigious race to run (and finish). I often cite that 1968 Boston Marathon champion Amby Burfoot famously describes the Boston Marathon as “the Carnegie Hall” of marathons. This analogy highlights the race as the premier, ultimate venue for runners—a place of prestige where one has to earn the right to perform, similar to performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.”

I’m lucky enough to call Amby Burfoot a friend.

I met him as a colleague/co-worker when he was the Editor-at-Large for Runner’s World magazine. I was asked by Runner’s World’s PR team (Chris Brienza, David Tratner and Laura Beachy) to help out with their work – both preparing and then executing efforts to publicize the wonderful and informative magazine, a product of Rodale publishing. To say it was a marvelous experience would be the understatement of the century.

After 26 years at the NBA, you think you would’ve experienced just about everything sports has to offer. Well, running marathons is a whole different story. Quite frankly, I learned more from a three minute talk with Amby than I ever learned in school.

As Editor-at-Large, Burfoot could unearth the stories of the champions and the everyday, weekend warriors. When in Boston (from his Mystic, Connecticut home), he was the “people’s champion” for sure, taking pictures and interacting with thousands of runners and fans. It was quite amazing to see any everyday guy turn into this incredible celebrity champion for a couple of weeks, leading up to race day.

Instead of paraphrasing one of Amby’s great stories, I’ll simply turn the column over to him to tell you this one. To frame it, this is what Amby wrote on August 21, 2011 of the death of “young” John Kelley, his friend and idol.

John J. Kelley, RIP, 1930-2011: 1957 Boston Marathon Winner; America’s First Modern Road Runner

Nineteen fifty-seven Boston Marathon winner John J. Kelley “The Younger” crossed the final finish line early this morning in North Stonington, CT, just a few miles from Mystic, where he had lived most his adult life. Kelley died with few more possessions than he began with 80 years ago on Christmas Eve, 1930. But he ran his heart out every step of the way. And those of us lucky enough to have shared a few miles at his side will forever remember his vigor, his encompassing warmth, and the way he loved all creatures great, and especially the small and powerless.

Kelley, whom I first met in 1962, was the most sincere, humble, gentle, and authentic human being I have ever known. He was the first person I ever saw stop his car to help a turtle across the road, and he never ever, without exception, said a word about himself and his considerable accomplishments. He also never uttered a negative word about anyone else, with the possible exceptions of Joseph McCarthy and Richard Nixon.

Kelley was an extraordinary gentleman, yet also a radical free thinker. A friend, writer and marathoner Gail Kislevitz, called Kelley “the last rebellious man standing.” The phrase fits.

In his final days Kelley was surrounded by his three daughters–Julie, Kathleen, and Eileen–and a number of his grandchildren. He died from a melanoma that eventually spread to his lungs. Kelley’s wife Jacintha passed away in 2003.

Kelley’s athletic record is unparalleled among American distance runners. In 1957 he became the first and only member of the BAA running club to win the BAA Boston Marathon. In addition to his win, Kelley finished second at Boston five times. He won the 1959 Pan American Games Marathon, and captured eight consecutive USA National Marathon titles even though this event took place on the hot, hilly Yonkers course just four to five weeks after Boston. Kelley represented the U.S. in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Marathons, with a best finish of 19th in the Rome Olympic race famously won by barefoot Abebe Bikila.

“Kelley didn’t like the limelight, and people don’t even know about him today,” says Bill Rodgers, four time Boston and New York City Marathon winner, “But his eight straight wins at Yonkers stand second only to Grete’s nine wins in New York, and it’s better in some ways. Grete’s longest streak was five straight.

“Kelley was at the epicenter of American marathoning. He was in the trenches doing the spade work for the likes of Frank Shorter and me and everyone who has come along since. Marathoning wasn’t a business then. There wasn’t any money, and it wasn’t entertainment. The runners had to put up with a public and sports media who basically knew nothing. Marathoners were treated as second-class athletes. But Kelley didn’t let that stop him. He was quiet but had tremendous drive. He was tough as nails.”

In many ways, Kelley was the first modern American road runner. The generations before him–including greats like Clarence DeMar and “Old John” A. Kelley (no relation, despite the similar name and similar Boston Marathon histories)–came from working-class roots. So did Kelley, but he loved books and learning, and ultimately received a masters degree from Boston University.

Another big difference: Where his predecessors were relatively slow plodders, Kelley was fast. A high school prodigy in the mile in New London, CT, he was recruited to B.U. by an ambitious track coach who aimed to turn him into the next Glenn Cunningham. The plan didn’t work. Kelley had no taste for endless track repeats and races on a small oval. He yearned for greater adventure, less coaching, and more personal exploration. Midway through his college years, he was rising at 4:30 a.m. to run a dark, lonely 16-mile loop around the Charles River. He spent more time listening to Boston Marathon organizer/masseur/running-team coach Jock Semple than to his college coach, and ran his first two Bostons while still a college student.

“Kelley argued with his college coach Doug Raymond about the value of long, slow runs vs endless, gasping 440-yard sprints around the track,” notes Boston Marathon historian and author Tom Derderian. “Kelley’s fight against the conventional wisdom lifted him to the crest of the new wave of American distance running that led to Frank Shorter’s Olympic gold medal.”

The Boston Marathon’s former executive director Tom Grilk observed: “John J. Kelley’s victory in the Boston Marathon wearing the unicorn of the BAA has been an inspiration to all of us at the BAA, as well as to generations of Boston and American runners. He ran and won at a time when there was no money to be won; a time when victory was sufficient unto itself. His legacy is that of striving for excellence for its own sake, and for the quiet satisfaction that it brings to those with a deep sense of personal values. I hope we will all continue to learn from that. It remains John’s gift to us all.”

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A pretty amazing backstory coming from the ’68 champion who happens to be running Boston again – today!

What strikes me the most every Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts (it’s celebrated in Maine, Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, North Dakota, and Utah, too) is that the whole Commonwealth STOPS. At some point in the day, every person that is able gets out to cheer on a friend or a random runner passing by. Some families create their makeshift tailgate parties while those fortunate enough to own a house on the course throw the party of the year (rain or shine, in all degrees of temperature). The estimates are some 500,000 people are spectators for the Boston Marathon, not counting the local broadcast (now on WCVB-5 Boston, after decades on WBZ-TV Boston), the national broadcast on ESPN2 and a host of international broadcasters, many who send their commentators to cover the race live and in person.

Others, like your favorite columnist, will detour over to Fenway Park for today’s game pitting the hometown Red Sox vs. the Detroit Tigers. First pitch is 11:10am.

Regardless, the spirit and pure inspiration of the race permeates the very cold air we breath on this wonderful day, the best day of the year in Boston.

I’ll provide links to a couple of columns from year’s past. They are amongst my personal, all-time favorites.

I highly recommend you take a stroll through those two columns which both provide incredible backstories of experiences from much earlier this century, noting that we moved to Newton, Mass in 2008.

Stating that, I urge you to take a few minutes today, log on and follow the race, look at the thousands of photos and videos provided by WCVB-TV or ESPN2. You will truly be inspired.

NBA Playoffs: Saturday Round-Up

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LOS ANGELES – (Wire Service Report) – Luke Kennard scored 27 points and LeBron James added 19 points with 13 assists as the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers earned a 107-98 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Saturday in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Deandre Ayton scored 19 points with 11 rebounds and Marcus Smart added 15 points with eight assists as the fourth-seeded Lakers won with leading scorers Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) watching from the bench.

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In just his seventh start since joining the Lakers from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline, Kennard went 9 of 13 from the floor and 5 of 5 from 3-point range while delivering a season high in points to fill the scoring void at guard.

Alperen Sengun scored 19 points while Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard each added 17 for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who were playing without leading scorer Kevin Durant (knee).

Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16 points with 12 rebounds and Tari Eason also had 16 points for Houston, which has lost three consecutive road games to Los Angeles since the middle of March.

Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105

Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jamal Murray scored a game-high 30 points and host Denver beat Minnesota to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Murray was perfect from the line, hitting a career-high 16 free throws. Aaron Gordon finished with 17 points, nearly half of which came during the Nuggets’ 14-0 third-quarter run which broke a deadlock and put them in control of the game after a slow start.

Anthony Edwards, who was questionable after missing 11 of the Timberwolves’ final 14 regular-season games with right knee issues, led Minnesota with 22 points. Rudy Gobert produced 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter.

Knicks 113, Hawks 102

Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to start the decisive third-quarter run for host New York, which pulled away for a win over Atlanta in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Jalen Brunson scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in the first quarter for the third-seeded Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference finals last year for the first time since 2000. Towns finished with 25 points and was 10 of 10 from the free throw line while Anunoby collected 18 points.

CJ McCollum scored 26 points for the Hawks, who earned the sixth seed in their first trip to the playoffs since 2023. Jalen Johnson had 23 points while Onyeka Okongwu (19) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17) each scored in double figures.

Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points and James Harden added 22 points and 10 assists, powering Cleveland to a victory over visiting Toronto in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Max Strus had 24 points off the bench and Evan Mobley scored 17 for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who have won 11 straight playoff games over the Raptors. Game 2 is Monday in Cleveland, where Toronto is 0-8 all-time in the postseason.

RJ Barrett scored 24 points and Scottie Barnes contributed 21 points and seven assists for the fifth-seeded Raptors. Brandon Ingram added 17 points and Jamal Shead had 17 points in his playoff debut, starting for injured guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain).

–Field Level Media

Filed Under: NBA

NCAA Tournament to Go to 76

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Wire Service Report) – NCAA’s leadership and basketball committees are expected to finalize expansion of the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments to 76 teams shortly after the conclusion of this year’s tournament, multiple media outlets reported on Friday.

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Per the report, the new format would see 52 teams earn berths directly into what is currently the first round of the NCAA Tournament, while the remaining 24 — 12 lower-seeded automatic qualifiers and the final 12 at-large teams — would play 12 opening-round games Tuesday and Wednesday. They would be held in the longtime First Four home of Dayton, Ohio, and at an additional site to determine which teams would advance to Thursday and Friday’s first round.

However, these details could also reportedly change as the NCAA continues to talk with its men’s tournament TV partners in Warner Bros. Discovery and CBS, which have broadcasting rights through the 2031 tournament.

The report didn’t indicate how quickly expansion could be added, but it could theoretically come as soon as the 2027 NCAA Tournaments. But expansion “will happen” barring something unforeseen in the next few days.

It would mark the first expansion of the tournament since the field moved from 65 to 68 teams with the addition of the First Four games in 2011. The field had been 64 or 65 teams since 1985.

The Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference were the leading voices behind tournament expansion, according to reports. However, it’s also something that NCAA president Charlie Baker has said he’s in favor of doing.

–Field Level Media

A.C. GETS THE A.X.

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BALTIMORE – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox parted ways with Manager Alex Cora. In addition to Cora, five members of the Major League coaching staff were fired, including Hitting Coach Peter Fatse, Third Base Coach Kyle Hudson, Bench Coach Ramón Vázquez, Assistant Hitting Coach Dillon Lawson, and Major League Hitting Strategy Coach Joe Cronin.

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Game Planning and Run Prevention Coach Jason Varitek has been reassigned to a new role within the organization. Details of his reassignment will be announced at a later date.

“Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude,” said Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry. “He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways. These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult given what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived.

“I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude.”

Chad Tracy will serve as Interim Manager for the Red Sox. Tracy, 40, has served as Manager of Triple-A Worcester since 2022. He spent the previous seven seasons (2015-21) in the Los Angeles Angels system, including three as a minor league manager with Low-A Burlington (2015) and High-A Inland Empire (2016-17). He served as the Angels’ minor league field coordinator from 2018-21. Tracy played eight professional seasons (2006-13) in the Rangers, Rockies, and Royals organizations.

Chad Epperson will serve as the club’s Interim Third Base Coach. Epperson, 54, has served as Manager of Double-A Portland since 2022 after previously spending 12 seasons as Catching Coordinator for the Red Sox. Prior to that, he spent eight years as a manager or coach in the Red Sox farm system. The Kentucky native managed Greenville in 2005 and Augusta in 2004 after spending two seasons (2002-03) as Sarasota’s hitting coach. Prior to his coaching career, Epperson played nine years in the minor leagues in the Mets (1992-95), Red Sox (1997-99), and Orioles (2000) systems.

Collin Hetzler will serve as part of the club’s Major League hitting staff. He joined the organization in 2025 as Triple-A Worcester’s Hitting Coach after spending four seasons in the Mets’ organization and serving as Triple-A Syracuse’s Hitting Coach from 2023-24.

On Monday, April 27, the Red Sox announced the following changes to their 2026 Major League coaching staff:

  • José David Flores will serve as Interim Bench Coach
  • Pablo Cabrera has been named Interim First Base Coach/Outfield Instructor
  • Jack Simonetty has been named Interim Hitting Assistant

Flores, 55, joined the Major League coaching staff as First Base Coach/Infield Instructor in November 2024, following three seasons (2022-24) as Bench Coach for Triple-A Worcester. He previously spent one season as First Base Coach for the Philadelphia Phillies (2018) and two seasons as Third Base Coach for the Baltimore Orioles (2019-20), also serving as the infield coach for both clubs. Prior to joining the Phillies, Flores spent five seasons (2013-17) as Infield Coordinator in the Chicago Cubs organization. Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Flores began his coaching career in 2001. He has worked in a variety of roles on coaching staffs in the Puerto Rican Winter League, as well as for Team Puerto Rico in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Flores has also served as a manager for several clubs, including Cleveland’s Dominican Summer League team, the Cidra Braves of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation, the Puerto Rico National Baseball Team, and Santurce.

Cabrera, 28, was promoted to Infield/Outfield Defensive Coordinator in November 2025 after serving as Complex Defensive Coach based out of Fort Myers from 2024-25. He joined the Red Sox in 2023 as a coach for Double-A Portland. Prior to joining the organization, he was a graduate assistant coach for the baseball team at the University of Charleston, holding the role of defensive coordinator in 2021 and offensive coordinator in 2022.

Simonetty, 26, began 2026 as a Hitting Coach for the Rookie-Level Florida Complex League Red Sox, after serving in 2025 as Single-A Salem’s Assistant Hitting Coach. He previously held roles within the organization as Player Development Associate during 2024 and a Minor League Affiliate Video and Technology Associate in Worcester during 2023. The New York native is a graduate of Springfield College.

SOX GO DOWN the SCHLITTLER

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Cody Bellinger drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single to help the visiting New York Yankees extend their winning streak to six  by beating the Boston Red Sox 4-2 Thursday night.

Bellinger singled against reliever Greg Weissert with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning. The hit, which drove in Jazz Chisholm and Trent Grisham, put the Yankees in front 3-2.

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Aaron Judge followed with an RBI single that scored Jose Caballero to give New York a 4-2 lead. Each of the three runs the Yankees scored in the seventh were charged to Danny Coulombe (0-1), who surrendered three hits in 2/3 of an inning.

Cam Schlittler (3-1) held Boston to two runs on four hits in eight innings to earn the win. He struck out five and walked one. David Bednar pitched a clean ninth to collect his seventh save.

The victory gave the Yankees a sweep of the three-game series. New York won 4-0 Tuesday and 4-1 Wednesday.Games

Boston has not scored more than two runs in any of its last six losses. The Red Sox scored six runs in those six games. Carlos Narvaez homered for Boston. It was a solo home run off Schlittler in the fifth inning that broke a 1-1 tie. Payton Tolle, who was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, gave the Red Sox a strong start. Tolle struck out 11 in six innings and limited New York to one run on three hits. He walked one.

Tolle, who was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in Triple-A, struck out the first five batters he faced.

Boston took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Trevor Story reached base on Amed Rosario’s throwing error, and scored on Marcelo Mayer’s double to center field.

Chisholm’s home run made it 1-1 in the fifth.

Chisholm (2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI) and Caballero (2-for-4, 1 run) were the only players on either side to record multiple hits.

The Yankees fanned 17 times, including four from Giancarlo Stanton and three from Judge.

The Red Sox have lost five of their last six.

–Field Level Media

NBA: Welcome to the Playoffs

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PHILADELPHIA – (Wire Service Report) – Welcome to the playoffs.

After the Boston Celtics dropped Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers, those four succinct words from Jaylen Brown summarized the situation at hand for the division rivals. The Celtics look to recover from a surprising defeat to the Sixers when the teams reconvene Friday in Philadelphia for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

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“It’s the playoffs. Welcome to the playoffs,” Brown said following a 111-97 home setback in Game 2. “They out-competed us. I’ve played in series that have gone similar. You can’t take anything for granted. You just got to be ready to go. I trust our group.”

Boston, the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, captured Game 1 by a 123-91 margin. Many expected the Celtics to cruise again in Game 2, but the seventh-seeded 76ers rode their talented backcourt to a convincing triumph.

Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe led the way with 30 points and 10 rebounds. The 20-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to post 30 and 10 in a postseason contest.

“He’s a tough kid,” 76ers center Andre Drummond said. “His confidence is something I haven’t seen in a very long time. He plays with a swag that a lot of guys don’t play with when they’re coming up. I’m happy that he’s here. He’s playing at a very high level and we need more from him next game, too. So he has to stay prepared.”

Tyrese Maxey was another key to the Sixers’ success in Game 2. The All-Star guard registered 29 points and nine assists and drained three clutch 3-pointers down the stretch.

“He just wanted them,” coach Nick Nurse said of Maxey’s late-game heroics. “I think you probably all could see that. He looked at me for a play call, and I looked at him and called, and he’s like, ‘I got it.’”

The Sixers continued to play without Joel Embiid (appendicitis) and were outrebounded 50-42 by the Celtics. Edgecombe (10) and Drummond (eight) were the only Philadelphia players with more than five rebounds on the night, and nobody had more than one block.

Adem Bona got the start at center and went scoreless with three rebounds in a 22-minute run.

“We’re obviously really hopeful (that Embiid can return soon), and I think he’s really hopeful,” Nurse said. “He wants to play, and we want him to play. I don’t know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there’s some progress being made.”

Brown led Boston with 36 points in Game 2, while Jayson Tatum chipped in with 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. Derrick White had eight points but shot just 3 of 12 from the field, while two of the team’s sharpshooters – Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser – combined to shoot 4 of 16 from the floor and 2 of 12 from beyond the arc.

“I thought Sam and Payton both got good looks,” Brown said. “Both got some open shots. That’s what we want. Continue to trust that process.”

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t seem too concerned about his team’s offensive process, even after the Celtics shot 39.3% from the field and 26% from 3-point land.

“You focus on the stuff that you can be better at, that’s within your control,” Mazzulla said. “I know it’s tough, but you can’t necessarily control when you shoot it, if it goes in or not.”

–Field Level Media

76ers Even Series vs Celtics

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BOSTON – Philadelphia’s rookie guard VJ Edgecombe and All-Star Tyrese Maxey combined to make 11 3-pointers and score 59 total points as the 76ers bounced back to even their Eastern Conference playoff series with the host Boston Celtics in a 111-97 decision on Tuesday.

Seventh-seeded Philadelphia (1-1) shook off a dismal Game 1 performance, which included making just four 3-pointers in Sunday’s 123-91 loss, with a complete reversal on the offensive end.

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The Sixers shot a torrid 19-of-39 from beyond the arc in Game 2, with Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George each adding a pair of made triples to supplement Edgecombe and Maxey.

Edgecombe and Maxey were the catalysts, however. The rookie Edgecombe finished 12-of-20 from the floor, including his 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

“This is who we are. Game 1 isn’t who we are,” Edgecombe said in his postgame interview with Peacock. “We let our offense dictate our defense (on Sunday), and we didn’t do that tonight.”

Philadelphia’s flipping of the script on the offensive end on Tuesday did indeed carry over defensively. The Sixers limited the Celtics (1-1) to 35-of-89 shooting from the floor, locking down each scoring option beyond the primary two of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

Brown went for a game-high 36 points, and Tatum finished with 19 points to go with his game-high 14 rebounds. No other Celtic reached double-figures scoring, however, a stark contrast from Game 1 when the entire Boston starting five notched at least 10 points.

And while Brown shot 5-of-12 from long distance, Boston’s other shooters combined to go just 8-for-38.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, got 19 points from George and 12 from Oubre. After foul trouble limited him in Game 1, Andre Drummond came off the bench to provide the Sixers quality minutes on the interior with 10 points and eight rebounds.

–Field Level Media