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Diamondbacks Aren’t Forever

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Mickey Gasper and Willson Contreras each hit a solo home run as part of a 16-hit attack that propelled the Red Sox to an 11-1 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

Caleb Durbin and Ceddanne Rafaela each collected three hits for the Red Sox, who received two RBIs from both Gasper and Wilyer Abreu.

Boston’s Brayan Bello (5-6) held the Diamondbacks to one run on three hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief to collect the win. Arizona starter Mitch Bratt (1-2) allowed three runs on four hits in three innings.

The Diamondbacks placed second baseman Ketel Marte on the restricted list before the game. The team did not give a reason for the move, but multiple outlets reported that Marte did not show up to Fenway Park.

The Red Sox grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Eli White that drove in Durbin and a Nick Sogard double that scored White.

It was 3-0 after Durbin drove in Contreras with a single in the third, and the Red Sox took a 4-0 lead when Sogard scored on a Rafaela double in the fourth.

Boston added three more runs to extend its advantage to 7-0 in the fifth.

Contreras led off with his 25th home run of the season. Adley Rutschman scored on Andruw Monasterio’s sacrifice fly and Durbin came home on Gasper’s groundout. Two of the three runs were unearned, as the Diamondbacks committed two errors in the outfield after the homer.

Ildemaro Vargas scored on Geraldo Perdomo’s sac fly to make it 7-1 in the top of the sixth, but Boston responded by scoring twice in the bottom half of the inning. Abreu’s single drove in Rafaela, and Abreu stretched the lead to 9-1 by scoring on a Rutschman double.

Gasper led off the seventh with his first homer of the year, and Abreu’s RBI single drove in Rafaela later in the inning to cap the scoring.

–Field Level Media

Pirates Take Series From Red Sox

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PITTSBURGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Nick Yorke had three RBIs while playing in his first game in exactly three months, while Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe each drove in two to help the host Pittsburgh Pirates secure an 8-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon.

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Despite a 2 1/2-hour rain delay between the sixth and seventh innings, the Pirates secured the series victory and have won three of their past four as they attempt to stay alive in the National League postseason race. Boston has split its past four games after losing five in a row.

Yorke was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday and played for the first time since May 16 before he was optioned to the minors. Yorke’s two-run single off Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval (1-2) in the third put the Pirates ahead 6-0 and highlighted a five-run inning for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates struck for two runs in the bottom of the first after Esmerlyn Valdez hit the first of his two doubles. Reynolds and Lowe followed with back-to-back RBI singles that put Pittsburgh ahead 2-0.

The same trio kickstarted the big third inning in the same fashion. Valdez followed Jared Triolo’s single with a double, and Reynolds and Lowe followed with run-scoring singles. After Yorke’s big hit, Henry Davis pushed Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-0 on a sacrifice fly.

Connor Wong, who finished with two hits, gave the Red Sox some hope when he belted a three-run home run off Pirates reliever Hunter Barco in the fifth inning. Barco was also recalled from Triple-A on Sunday after Pittsburgh optioned right-hander Wilber Dotel and infielder Jack Brannigan.

Kirby Yates (1-5) replaced Barco in the seventh when play resumed and pitched a scoreless inning.

Sandoval gave up seven runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out six over four innings. Raymond Burgos, who was recalled Sunday from Triple-A Worcester, pitched four innings — and remained in the game even after the rain delay — as he allowed one run on two hits and one walk, and had one strikeout.

Dexter’s Báez Sets MLB Debut HR Mark

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CHICAGO – (Staff and Wire Report) – As the visiting St. Louis Cardinals search for a series victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon, it will be tough to top a historic day at Wrigley Field.

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In St. Louis’ 8-4 road win on Saturday, the organization’s No. 3 prospect, Joshua Baez, became the first player in major league history to hit three home runs in his debut. Baez grew up in Boston and attended Dexter-Southfield High School in Brookline where he was named Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year.

“It’s unreal,” Baez said. “I really can’t put it into words, but it’s honestly just a dream come true. I was just trying to stay calm, embrace it and just try to have fun.”

When the dust settles from Baez’s incredible introduction, a win on Sunday would mark the first time since 2022 that the Cardinals clinched both road series at Chicago.

Hunter Dobbins (2-3, 3.40 ERA) has pieced together a pair of decent starts in August but received zero run support across 11 1/3 innings in two losses. Last time out, Dobbins went five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out six and walking three in a 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. The Cardinals offense scored five runs after Dobbins’ exit.

In his previous start, Aug. 4 on the road against the New York Yankees, Dobbins turned in a quality start but lost 2-0. He allowed two earned runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings.

The 26-year-old right-hander has walked three batters in each of his past two starts and needed 97 pitches to get through five frames against the Phillies.

“I guess the one thing I can take away is that I competed,” Dobbins said of his last outing. “I’ve got to find a way to execute pitches in all counts. You’ve got to stay ahead of hitters, pound the strike zone early and just stay in attack mode.”

Dobbins, who was traded from Boston in December as part of a package that sent Willson Contreras to the Red Sox, has faced the Cubs twice in his career — both outings this year. He allowed five runs in nine innings in two appearances against Chicago. On May 31, he earned a save in the 5-1 win after throwing 3 2/3 innings, giving up one run on four hits. On July 27, he pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits in a 7-4 loss.

In a 10-4 start to August, the Cubs have won three consecutive series and seek their fourth in a row. Chicago, which was on the wrong side of history on Saturday, allowed its most runs since an 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 26.

“He hit three different pitches for home runs,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of Baez’s debut. “He had a great game. He just beat us, for sure.”

Edward Cabrera (5-4, 5.10) will look for better success against Baez and the Cardinals on Sunday when he returns to the major league mound for the first time in nearly two months. The 28-year-old right-hander was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain on June 24 following a lackluster stretch. Cabrera posted an 8.35 ERA in four June appearances before the injury.

The offseason acquisition in a trade with the Miami Marlins made three minor league rehab appearances, going 0-1 with a 2.53 ERA across a start with Double-A Knoxville and two with Triple-A Iowa.

“Edward pitched very well,” Counsell said of Cabrera’s last minor league start, which saw him hurl five no-hit innings against the Double-A Rocket City on Tuesday. “The line indicates that.”

Cabrera is 0-2 with a 3.52 ERA in three career starts against St. Louis.

–Field Level Media

–Field Level Media

Sonny, Chance of Ks

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Sonny Gray threw seven scoreless innings and Wilyer Abreu’s second-inning solo home run put the Boston Red Sox on course for a 4-0 shutout of the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

Gray (15-3) set a career-high for wins and leads the American League in that category. Gray struck out seven and walked one on 86 pitches to lead the Red Sox to their second win in three games following a five-game losing streak.

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Abreu’s home run with one out in the second off Pirates starter Jared Jones (2-5) was one of three hits in the game. It tarnished a mostly-solid start for Jones, who struck out seven, walked two and gave up just the one run on four hits over five innings.

Abreu rapped his second of two doubles off Pittsburgh reliever Luke Weaver to lead off the ninth. Abreu was then thrown out at third on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Caleb Durbin. But Jarren Duran blooped a single to left field and Andruw Monasterio smacked a changeup from Weaver into the left center field gap to drive in two insurance runs.

Two batters later, Jahmai Jones drove in Monasterio with a single.

The Pirates’ dimming playoff hopes took another hit with the loss as they failed to put together three consecutive wins following a stretch of seven losses in eight games.

Pittsburgh’s best chance against Gray came in the fifth when it loaded the bases on singles by Jake Mangum, Rafael Flores Jr. and a walk to Spencer Horwitz. Gray recovered by striking out Brandon Lowe to end the inning.

Mangum and Esmerlyn Valdez each had two hits to lead the Pirates, who finished with six hits. All were singles, though, and Pittsburgh left five runners on base.

The verdict was the Red Sox’s 13th shutout this season and the 13th time the Pirates have been shut out.

The Red Sox had two strong chances to add to their early lead against Jones, but left runners on second and third in both the third and fourth innings. They failed on three chances with less than two outs.

Gray is tied with Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez for the major league lead in wins.

–Field Level Media

Flores, Jr.; Lowe Power Pirates

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PITTSBURGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Rafael Flores Jr. and Brandon Lowe each homered to propel the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-4 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

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Flores, who had two three-run home runs during Thursday’s 13-1 triumph over Miami, hit a solo home run in the second, and Lowe smashed a Jovani Moran changeup for a three-run home run in the fifth.

Flores collected three hits in the victory. Pittsburgh also received two hits and three runs from Bryan Reynolds.

Bubba Chandler (6-8) limited Boston to two runs on four hits in five innings to earn the win. He walked two and struck out five.

Nick Sogard had two hits and two RBIs for Boston, which lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.

After Flores opened the scoring with his fourth home run of the season, Pittsburgh took a four-run lead by scoring three times in the fourth. It was 3-0 after an Esmerlyn Valdez double drove in Reynolds and Ronny Simon, and Flores followed with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Boston starting pitcher Jake Bennett (7-6) was pulled after four innings. He allowed four runs on five hits, walked one and struck out six.

Boston trimmed its deficit to 4-2 in the fifth. Andruw Monasterio hit an RBI single to make get the Red Sox on the board, and Nick Sogard drove in Jarren Duran with a sacrifice fly to center field for Boston’s second run.

Lowe’s home run extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-2.

Sogard drove in Duran a second time with an RBI single that trimmed Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-3 in the seventh, but the Pirates got the run back in the bottom of the inning when third baseman Caleb Durbin made a wild throw to first that allowed Reynolds to score.

Masataka Yoshida’s single in the ninth with two outs drove in Eli White to make it 8-4. At that point, the Pirates replaced Kirby Yates with Mason Montgomery, who struck out Adley Rutschman with two aboard to secure the save.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Visit Pittsburgh for Three

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PITTSBURGH – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox will visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the opener of a three-game series on Friday night, and both teams have rested bullpens and some much-needed momentum.

Boston ended a five-game losing streak with a 7-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in the finale of a four-game set. The win allowed the Red Sox to avoid being swept in a series for the first time since mid-June (against Toronto).

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Boston was nursing a 1-0 lead when Caleb Durbin hit a grand slam in the eighth inning. Rookie Payton Tolle gave up two hits over eight innings before Greg Weissert pitched the ninth, hours after being recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

“We needed a deep start, (and Tolle) got a great deep start,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “We needed a win, and (Tolle) gave us a win. He was awesome. … He’s been really good and we’re gonna need him to keep doing that down the stretch, but it was a really good outing.”

Tolle retired the last 17 batters he faced in the longest outing of his MLB career.

“I just try to do what I can on any given day and was fortunate enough to have a deep one today,” Tolle said.

As good as Tolle was, Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft was even better in his team’s 13-1 triumph over Miami on Thursday. Ashcroft needed only 85 pitches to throw a complete game, giving up three hits and striking out 10 batters to help the Pirates end a three-game losing streak.

“He’s an All-Star, man,” Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly said. “He earned that in the first half. Certainly did today coming off some tough losses. To (pitch) the way he did today was outstanding.”

“I think you saw the product of hard work, putting your head down and not paying attention to what’s going on externally. … I think it’s the start of something really cool down the stretch.”

Boston left-hander Jake Bennett (7-5, 3.17 ERA) will take the mound on Friday for his first career start against the Pirates. He allowed four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in his last outing, a 7-3 loss to the Athletics on Saturday.

Pittsburgh is expected to start right-hander Bubba Chandler (5-8, 4.26 ERA) in his first career appearance against Boston. He won his second straight start on Saturday, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings in a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets.

–Field Level Media

Richardson to Start vs Patriots

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Anthony Richardson Sr. was named the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts’ preseason opener Thursday night at New England.

Richardson, who is splitting second-team reps with Riley Leonard, has also practiced some with the third team during training camp. He requested a trade in the offseason, when the Colts made a stronger financial commitment to incumbent starting QB Daniel Jones.

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Head coach Shane Steichen said Tuesday following joint practices with the Patriots that Richardson would play the entire first half before Leonard takes over in the third quarter.

“Riley will start against Atlanta (on Aug. 22), and AR will play the second half in Atlanta,” Steichen said, adding it’s “pretty obvious I don’t want to take any chances with Daniel out there in the preseason.”

Richardson did not start a game last season. When Jones was injured in November, the Colts were ready to turn to Leonard. But because of a minor injury, they instead coaxed Philip Rivers out of retirement.

Jones won’t be the only starter not on the field with Richardson this week. Steichen said the majority of his offensive starters are unlikely to play.

“There’s going to be a slew of them that aren’t playing,” Steichen said. “There will be a couple of guys that might get a few series here and there, but for the most part, the starters won’t play.”

The opportunity gives Richardson, 24, a shot at improving his standing on the Indianapolis depth chart while also showcasing the ability that attracted the Colts to select him with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft out of the University of Florida.

“I feel like finally getting out there, finally managing the game,” Richardson said of the Thursday start. “And processing the live action plays will help me get back into the groove and just feel everything out.”

Richardson threw two passes and played in only two games in 2025. In 17 total NFL games, he has a completion percentage of 50.6 with 11 touchdown passes, 13 interceptions and 10 rushing TDs.

–Field Level Media

Blue Jays Prolong Red Sox Woes

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TORONTO – (Wire Service Report) – Rookie Brett Bateman had two RBIs on two hits Tuesday night and the Blue Jays defeated the visiting Boston Red Sox, 5-3.

Charles McAdoo, Ernie Clement and Myles Straw added RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have won the opening two of a four-game series. Chase Lee (1-0) allowed a single and two walks over 1 2/3 innings to get the win. Spencer Miles pitched around a double in the ninth to earn his first career save.

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Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela hit solo homers for the Red Sox, who have lost four straight.

The Red Sox manufactured a run against Dylan Cease in the third. Andruw Monasterio led off with a walk, took second on Nick Sogard’s single and advanced to third on Masataka Yoshida’s fielder’s choice grounder to first. Rafaela lofted a sacrifice fly to center.

Toronto tied the game against Patrick Sandoval (1-1) in the bottom of the third. Nathan Lukes singled with two out, McAdoo walked and Bateman sliced a double to center just beyond the reach of a diving Rafaela.

Boston regained the lead when Abreu clubbed a 2-2 slider into the Red Sox bullpen in right field.

Rafaela led off the fifth with a home run, cranking a first-pitch sweeper to center.

Cease allowed three runs, five hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in five innings.

Toronto tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with two unearned runs. Andres Gimenez led off with a single and Straw reached first base on third baseman Caleb Durbin’s error. Lukes executed a sacrifice bunt and McAdoo stroked a sacrifice fly to right. Bateman hit an RBI single to center.

Toronto took the lead in the sixth. George Springer walked, took third when Alejandro Kirk grounded a single past shortstop and scored on Clement’s fielder’s choice grounder to second.

Sandoval finished the sixth, allowing eight hits, four runs (two earned) and three walks with four strikeouts.

Straw scorched an RBI double to left against Seth Martinez in the eighth after Springer singled and Gimenez was hit by a pitch.

Boston reinstated catcher Adley Rutschman from the injured list and he was 1-for-3 with two walks.

–Field Level Media

CBS Sports Mum On Tony Romo

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report) – CBS Sports president David Berson expressed concern about the brand’s image but did not offer a timeline for a decision about Tony Romo’s future with the network.

CBS held its NFL Media Day on Tuesday without its lead game analyst present. Romo is on leave due to the aftermath of his July 23 arrest in Wisconsin for allegedly operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

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“It’s an evolving situation and we are still assessing,” Berson told reporters Tuesday in New York. “There is no timetable or final decision at this time.”

A 45-minute bodycam video released by authorities showed Romo telling police he had not been drinking, but they found an open bottle of alcohol in his car, and that was enough for CBS to take him off the air, at least temporarily. The ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback was later cited for refusing to take an intoxication test after his arrest.

Berson and CBS now must handle questions about Romo’s future in their football coverage plans. CBS has elevated former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt to work aside Jim Nantz in Romo’s place. Tracy Wolfson again will be the sideline reporter for the Nantz crew.

Watt, 37, was the No. 2 analyst for CBS last season, teaming with veteran play-by-play caller Ian Eagle.

“We have to consider the impact on our image and our brand,” Berson said. “That’s very important to us. The focus should be and needs to be on our presentation and this great product and not on any others.

“Fortunately, we have a deep bench and everybody is stepping up.”

Romo, 46, is due in court on Sept. 21, and he likely would not return to the network before then, if he is retained.

Romo was hired by CBS in 2017. He re-signed with the network on a 10-year, $180 million deal that has four years and $72 million remaining.

–Field Level Media

Comcast To Air NFL Red Zone

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PHILADELPHIA – (Wire Service Report) – Comcast, the nation’s second-largest cable television provider under the brand Xfinity, has reached an agreement with Disney to lift the current blackout and resume airing the NFL Network and NFL RedZone to its roughly 11 million subscribers in time for the 2026 season.

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Disney owns 72% of ESPN, which took over NFL Media assets earlier this year. Shortly after the takeover, the contract with Comcast expired and the two parties could not reach an immediate deal.

Xfinity TV subscribers have been in the dark since the end of April.

Financial terms of the agreement were not announced. Disney was believed to have demanded higher fees and additional live game broadcasts, but it is unclear whether Comcast agreed to any of those demands.

The NFL Network was launched in 2003 and, as of June 2023, was available in 51.5 million homes across the United States.

NFL RedZone, hosted by Scott Hanson, was launched in September 2009.
–Field Level Media

Brennan Takes The Wyndham

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GREENSBORO – (Wire Service Report) – By winning the Wyndham Championship on Sunday, Michael Brennan vaulted from outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup points race to 47th — well within the cutoff for the playoffs.

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But another effect of that victory shouldn’t be overlooked. As captured by the CBS broadcast cameras, Brennan’s mother embraced him and declared, “We’re going to the Masters!”

Brennan’s response was the epitome of a young man who had not yet grasped all he had achieved: “Oh, my God! Oh, my God. We’re going to the Masters.”

The 24-year-old has come into his own at the perfect time as he prepares for his FedEx Cup playoffs debut this week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.

“Yeah, that was really cool,” Brennan said on Tuesday when reflecting on the moment with his mom. “The whole week I’m focusing on this week and trying to get into the FedEx Cup playoffs, and I didn’t really — I never thought about the perks of a win getting into the Masters until she told me after I putted in on 18.”

Indeed, winning the regular-season finale ensured Augusta National Golf Club will extend a coveted invitation for the Masters in 2027. Brennan made his tournament debut there in April, when he shared 20th place through two rounds and wound up tied for 24th.

“I just had such a great time there this year,” he said. “I kind of had a bit of a tough finish at Augusta and was bummed to — I was close to the top-12 finish, getting the exemption again for the following year, and I just want to go back and play again so bad. So it was just kind of an unexpected but really exciting moment.”

The Masters was, in fact, Brennan’s best finish of the season until he tied for sixth at the Charles Schwab Challenge six weeks later. In what’s essentially his rookie season — he won for the first time on tour last fall, but on a sponsor’s exemption — Brennan has heated up since the start of July. He has made the cut six weeks in a row and posted increasingly better finishes before his breakthrough at the Wyndham.

Brennan was in the mix at both the 3M Open in Minnesota and the Rocket Classic in Detroit the previous two weeks, but he posted a final-round 74 at the former to tie for 24th and a final-round 73 at the latter to tie for 15th.

“I probably wouldn’t have won last week if I didn’t have those two experiences in the weeks prior,” Brennan said. “So I’m grateful for those.

“… It’s hard to stay in the present and not think about what the consequences of a win are. I felt like I got a little bit better at that from Minnesota to Detroit to then last week in Greensboro.

Brennan said he had never played in tournaments six weeks in a row until this current stretch. Now he’s primed to make that seven.

“The last few weeks, I’ve taken Mondays off in Minnesota and Detroit, which is something that I normally don’t do, but Week 4 and 5 just kind of getting along, and I thought it would be nice to kind of have a rest day,” Brennan said. “So it’s a little bit less time spent at the golf course, but I’ve played really good those two weeks.

“So that’s something I’ve maybe learned about myself that maybe that’s important for me to make sure I’m feeling good going into the week.”

–Field Level Media

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | August 9th

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

CHESTNUT HILL – What would St. Ignatius do?

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish Basque-region Catholic priest and theologian, who, with six companions, founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He became the order’s first Superior General, in Paris in 1541. Immediately afterward, Ignatius and his companions embarked on missions across Europe to create schools, colleges, and seminaries. The overarching Jesuit principle became: Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, translated from Latin to English, “For the greater glory of God.” Upon his death in 1556, a number of schools and college institutions were named after St. Ignatius of Loyola, one of them a parish on Long Island which included a grammar school by the same name, my alma mater.

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When you’re a student of that school, and all Jesuit instituations, you learn all about the Jesuit ideals, as do students at Boston College, an incredible college in every aspect.

Since we relocated to Massachusetts, Boston College – only about three miles and four short T stops away – has been our adopted go-to place for ACC football, for ice hockey, for basketball, for Welles and For Boston. If there’s a “Force” that guides Boston College, aside from the teachings of St. Ignatius, it was a force disrupted this week.

Said BC Athletics Director Blake James, a highly respected administrator: “Over the last 60 hours I’ve had to have a lot more conversations about radio announcers than I ever imagined that I would, or I’ve ever had before in my career.”

The topic at hand was the fact Boston College decided to part (not renew an expired one-year contract) with its college basketball radio announcers, Kevin Collins and Josh Maurer, 13-year stalwarts who called games through thick and thin, including last season’s 4-14, or 16th place in the ACC.

Back in the spring, BC made headlines by hiring Luke Murray, assistant coach to Danny Hurley at UConn who was a part of a couple NCAA titles. Murray had intersected with Hurley back in 2010 when Hurley headed up Wagner (Staten Island, NY). Murray is getting his first big opportunity and will begin his stint at BC this season after a typical long road as an assistant coach.

  • 2008–2009 Post (assistant)
  • 2009–2010 Arizona (Grad assitant)
  • 2010–2011 Wagner (assistant)
  • 2011–2013 Towson (assistant)
  • 2013–2015 Rhode Island (assistant)
  • 2015–2018 Xavier (assistant)
  • 2018–2021 Louisville (assistant)
  • 2021–2026 UConn (assistant)
  • 2026–present Boston College (head coach)

After Murray and Boston College won the proverbial introductory press conference and all was well in The Heights, things fell silent – as they always do – until BC Football concludes and the winter sports take center stage. At BC, that means men’s ice hockey as No. 1 and basketball as a distant No. 2 spectator sport.

But, as noted, there was a disturbance in the force this week, and it reverberated throughout the small, talk sports radio, gossip-driven sports and social media worlds of Greater Boston.

The main issue was Collins pouring his heart out in a tweet that noted his dream job and 13-year career as the radio announcer were cut down. In a story, first reported by the entertaining site, Awful Announcing and on X, Collins wrote:

<Easily the hardest tweet of my career. Love you @JoshMaurerPxP and sorry it had to end this way 💔 Huge thanks to Mike Winn, Josh Maurer, and Danya Abrams for supporting and empowering me over the last 13+ years.

I will always be an Eagle 🦅 #WeAreBC>

He went on:

According to reports in Awful Announcing, the broadcast crew had repeatedy asked about their status for new contracts. The feedback was a vague, “no change was coming,” an assurance that held from the end of March all the way until last week.

Word came down that their contracts would not be renewed, and – again – according to the report in Awful Announcing – the reasoning delivered to the pair, relayed through Deputy Athletic Director Craig Anderson, was that (Luke) Murray didn’t want anyone in the travel party who’d been part of what was described as the program’s “losing mentality” under the previous staff, despite neither broadcaster having any real relationship with the coaching staff itself beyond showing up to call games. When pressed on why the decision took months to reach them, given how long Murray had already been on the job, the answer was that the administration had only recently had the actual conversation with him about it.

“The reasoning that I was given was that Coach Murray basically wants a whole new fresh coat of paint on the entire program and wants no remnants of the past around the program,” Collins said. “We have nothing to do with any of that. But he wanted us removed. Didn’t feel comfortable being around a link to the past, if you will. My challenge was, well, how can he not feel comfortable around us? He hasn’t even given us the chance to meet us.”

The school, in PR control mode, went with two different philosophies – neither approved by St. Ignatius’ teachings.

“The decision to not renew the contracts of our men’s basketball radio announcers was made by Boston College Athletics administrators in consultation with our MMR (multi-media rights) partner. We wish both Kevin and Josh the best going forward.”

Terse to say the least, and it fueled a social media hailstorm.

A full day later, BC countered with another statement, but it was issued in a telephone call from James to Boston Globe reporter, Chad Finn:

“Luke did not make this decision, because he does not have the ability to make this decision,” said James in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. “If someone wanted to say it was my decision, yes, at the end of the day I approved it, and I take full responsibility for that.”

Of course that was James’ job to take full responsibility and fall on the sword for Boston College, but the statements and timing of the statements and actions made no sense as they began to contradict each other.

More questions came up, after the fact:

  1. If the two commentators were not going to have their jobs (via contracts being renewed), and the decision was made, why wouldn’t the school inform them in April so they’d have time to get a different job?
  2. Where was Luke Murray during this debacle? Was he involved and, if so, made available for interviews? In other words, Murray should face the music.
  3. For that matter, why weren’t the two announcers given the chance to meet Murray? And – in a face-to-face meeting – be given either a reason he wanted to cut ties or be given the chance to hear-out his philosophies and understand them going forward.
  4. In the process of dismissing a 13-year BC vet, why the awkward method of telephone line to text to non-verbal, direct communication, as opposed to this mixed-message ugly scene?

“I thought that if anything like this ever popped up, where my employment was in trouble, that [me, Anderson, and Winn] could have an adult conversation over a coffee and a cold beverage and hash it out on whether it was going to go one way or the other,” said Collins as quoted from his phone conversation with the Globe.

Lastly, after the fact, there was considerable speculation that the reason for the (non renewal method of firing) was an ill-fated X/tweet way back on March 17th that expressed legitimate concerns about hiring a coach with no head coaching experience.

“I have 2 questions (wrote Collins): 1.) are you comfortable with hiring a head coach with 0 head coaching experience? It’s one thing to do this at a low major and entirely different in the ACC. 2.) Kids are paid now. Recruiting is dead. Would his father bring in serious NIL for Boston College?”

The paper of record, errr, The Athletic tried to piece it all together in a story by Joe Rexrode on August 5. That story criss-crossed with the Globe story and laid out pieces of a puzzle that will never fit together and further confused he issue – which admittedly is not life or death in the year 2026.

But, remember, there was no comment from either Luke, or his even a quip by his father, comedian and actor Bill Murray.

In conclusion, there’s a perfect quote from Luke’s famous father, Bill, via his wonderful appearance in the motion picture, STRIPES, and it answers the question at the root of the issue: “Are Collins and Maurer gone?”

“That’s the FACT, Jack.”

PS: In answer to the opening question of this column, St. Ignatius would get everybody involved in the same room and hash it out.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: LIV golf CEO Scott O’Neil emerged from a summit to announce that the upstart – once Saudi PIF based – entity will remain afloat after an investor stepped up to fund it against expected short term additional potential losses.

“LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the league’s next era, driven by and for the players,” O’Neil said in a statement. “We’re also seeing strong interest from more than a dozen additional parties to potentially serve as minority investors, creating a multi-partner model built for long-term stability and growth.”

The minority investors expressed interest if there were a main, primary investor to assure solid ground in the year(s) to come.

The specific investors were not identified, nor the amount of money to be injected into the league. LIV Golf said it hopes to finalize terms in the coming weeks and close the transaction in September.

The Saudi-based PIF reportedly spent more than $5 billion funding the league over the past five seasons, according to multiple media outlets in the golf industry. That included signing some of the biggest and most succesful PGA Tour pros to contracts, complete with multi-million dollar signing bonuses.

The final weeks of the LIV Golf season were in doubt until O’Neal’s press conference prior to this week’s event at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: After three successful years in Singapore, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup is now starting a new chapter in its 60-year long history, with the event moving to Beijing, China for the first time. This year, the event will be played in September, according to a recent FIBA newsletter. The format remains the same in terms of the number of teams represented, with six teams split into two groups of three teams. The top two teams from each group will move to the Semi-Finals, with the winners facing off in the Championship Game on September 27.

TWO-WAY OR BACK-to-SCHOOL? Former St. John’s University wing, Dillon Mitchell was drafted by Boston back in June. Mitchell performed very well for the Celtics Summer League team and it was thought he’d be signed to a guaranteed NBA contract right away. Not so fast thought the Celtics, as their roster is stacked with versatile players, many in their first few years. That includes the Celtics’ 2026 first round pick, Chris Cenac Jr., a 6-11 stretch-five who can shoot it. Cenac hit 2.2 three-point FGs per game and shot 33% from behind the arc while at the University of Houston this past year. He’s a defensive force, protecting the rim, and is just what the Celtics needed going into the 2026-27 season. Yet, Cenac is only 19 years old and has room to mature and grow.

In Mitchell’s case, the rumors were flowing that 6-8 Mitchell might return to school as the latest ruling – for and against the NCAA – allowed players in Mitchell’s situation to gain a fifth year of college eligibility, even though he was the 40th overall pick in the draft by Boston and stood out in the NBA Summer League, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds with a slew of steals and blocks.

Nope. No more BIG EAST and playing under St. John’s coach Rick Pitino. Instead, Mitchell signed a two-way contract with the Celtics this week.

LUNCH? – Would you like to sit down for lunch with UCLA/NBA Legend and front office executive Kiki VanDeWeghe for a face-to-face conversation in New York City, shared with up to three guests? VanDeWeghe enjoyed a distinguished 13-year NBA career as a prolific scorer for the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers, earning two NBA All-Star selections along the way. After retiring, he transitioned seamlessly into the front office, serving as General Manager of the Nuggets and later as the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, making him one of the most well-rounded execs in the game on both sides of the hardwood. The offer from the auction lot via online auction house Charity Buzz offers a rare chance to connect personally with a man who has shaped professional basketball for decades. Whether you’re a lifelong fan, an aspiring basketball professional, or simply someone who appreciates this extraordinary access avenue, this lunch delivers an experience that goes well beyond the ordinary. It’s sure to be a candid, unhurried afternoon (two hours) with one of basketball’s most accomplished insider, the kind of access that simply isn’t available anywhere else. Site of restaurant was not named, but it is in NYC. … The auction expires in 11 days.

GRAND PRIX: If lunch with Kiki doesn’t do the job, how about an experience of a lifetime at the F-1 Grand Prix race in Abu Dhabi? Experience the excitement of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with an exclusive package for two, including a 4-night stay at a luxurious 5-star hotel. Located on Yas Leisure Drive, this experience places you at the heart of one of the most prestigious events on the Formula 1 calendar. On this auction, time is of essence as the clock is ticking down to deadline.

The brochure for Charity Buzz reads: “Enjoy four nights of luxury accommodations with daily breakfast included, providing the perfect base for an unforgettable Grand Prix weekend. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Formula 1 racing and take advantage of access to concerts and pit walks, available on a first-come, first-served basis. This Experience for two includes:

  • 4-night stay at a 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi
  • Daily breakfast
  • Access to the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
  • Access to concerts and pit walks
  • Airfare is NOT included

Yanks Secure $2.6b in Private Equity

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BRONX – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New York Yankees are receiving $2.6 billion in a deal with the private equity fund Apollo Sports Capital, the team announced on Tuesday.

The huge capital infusion for Yankee Global Enterprises will allow the team to refinance or retire much of its existing debt and then pursue new ventures, according to The Athletic.

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Hal Steinbrenner remains the Yankees’ managing general partner and the Steinbrenner family maintains full control of the historic franchise. Patriarch George Steinbrenner, who died in 2010, led a group of investors that bought the team from CBS for $10 million in 1973.

“We are continually seeking ways to strengthen our positioning, and this partnership allows us to explore pursuing strategic opportunities,” Hal Steinbrenner said in a news release.

An individual private equity fund can hold no more than a 15 percent stake in a club under the rules of Major League Baseball. The exact percentage of Apollo’s stake was not announced. Forbes’ annual list of MLB franchise valuations listed the Yankees at $8.5 billion in March.

In addition to the baseball team, Yankee Global Enterprises’ assets include the YES Network and stakes in MLS club New York City FC and Italian soccer team AC Milan, all of which could benefit from the new money.

Apollo Sports Capital is a branch of Apollo Global Management, a New York-based firm with nearly $1 trillion in assets under management. Apollo became the majority stakeholder of Spanish soccer power Atletico Madrid in 2025.

–Field Level Media

NFL Schedule: Here’s a Top Ten

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LOS ANGELES – (Wire Service Report) – Not only do the Los Angeles Rams have a reasonable shot at becoming the first team to win the Super Bowl on its homefield twice, the NFC West runner-up is by far the easiest team to find on the NFL’s 2026 broadcast schedule.

Seven times the Rams are positioned for a primetime slot — tying a league record — barring a slip from contender status that would prompt networks to invoke the “flex” option and reassign Sean McVay’s team to an afternoon kickoff.

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You’ve got to appreciate McVay’s offensive machine as much as the next NFL fan, but let’s survey the broader landscape for the 10 games we are circling on the 2026 schedule.

1. Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Friday, Dec. 25
Are the Packers still gutted by two heartbreaking losses to the Bears? They’ll never admit it. The drama on the field and sidelines restored one of the  game’s best rivalries. Chicago’s schedule strength adds a degree of difficulty the Bears didn’t face rising from the bottom of the NFC North to a division title in Ben Johnson’s first season. The Packers had owned this series in recent years and want to pull the pendulum northward.

2. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Day amplifies whatever the state of the Dallas Cowboys happens to be, and this one should be extra spicy. It hasn’t happened since 2014 and will be the third Turkey Day meeting between the teams. Cowboys fans are crossing their fingers the results will be better than the last time (33-10 loss in ‘14) and 1989, when the Eagles used two Randall Cunningham-to-Cris Carter TDs and Philly’s defense ransacked Troy Aikman at Texas Stadium, 27-0. Philadelphia hosts the first meeting of the 2026 season with Dallas on “Monday Night Football” in October.

3. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 6
Josh Allen ran the AFC East for nearly a decade and Drake Maye was more than the new kid on the block in 2025. He played like an MVP candidate — even winning in Buffalo — and the Patriots went 5-1 in the division. The only loss was a 35-31 barnburner at Gillette Stadium won by the Bills on Dec. 14. It was New England’s only loss between Sept. 28 and the Super Bowl.

4. Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, Friday, Dec. 25
Fine, we can talk Rams, too Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, the NFL wrapped up a matchup between teams who combined for 26 regular-season wins and took the division duel down to the wire last season. Lumen Field won’t be a present for the Rams, but Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have usually done just fine in enemy territory. The game falls one week after the one-year anniversary of Seattle’s memorable fourth-quarter rally from 16 down, forced overtime and walked it off with a 38-37 victory over the Rams.

5. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Dec. 31
Last season wasn’t a typical set of Bengals-Ravens games. The AFC North rivals split with an average margin of victory of 21 points. Rewind to 2025 and unleashed Lamar Jackson vs. bomb-happy Joe Burrow produced scores of 35-34 and 41-38 (overtime). If we get a New Year’s Eve snow game with division and playoff consequences, even better.

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6. New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, Wednesday, Sept. 9
A Wednesday night opener ahead of the Thursday Rams-49ers matchup in Australia, we’ll find out if the Patriots are better prepared for a Super Bowl rematch with months to prepare. New England oscillated from disjointed to complete disarray in the February loss to Seattle and didn’t have all oars in the water during an offseason when Mike Vrabel’s off-field, ahem, affairs were a constant talking point.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 8
Baker Mayfield vs. Caleb Williams piques our interest in a midseason “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the undercard of Buccaneers head coach and defensive maestro Todd Bowles against Bears coach and offensive brain Ben Johnson. The Bucs fell short of the postseason in 2025 for the first time since 2019, while the Bears are trending upward after the franchise won a playoff game (well, two of them, actually) in January to snap a 15-year drought dating to 2011.

8. Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Dec. 7
Crossover games with the NFC West add a degree of difficulty to the Dallas schedule this season. While we wait to offer judgment on the revamped defense, the Cowboys are likely to bring all the smoke to test Seattle’s versatile, attacking defense in a game sandwiched between matchups with the Eagles and Rams for Dallas.

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9. Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 20
Some called the Denver AFC West run last season but far fewer anticipated Jacksonville winning 13  games and dealing the Broncos one of the team’s three regular-season losses. First-year head coach Liam Coen reflects many of Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s qualities as a play-caller and designer, adding built-in entertainment value.

10. San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 27
What will the 49ers have left in the tank? San Francisco is setting a record for miles traveled in a season thanks to international treks to Mexico and Australia and the closing stretch for the 49ers is some kind of minefield from NFL schedulers. Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy are familiar foes but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has not beaten Andy Reid as a head coach (0-3). Two of those losses were agonizing Super Bowl defeats (LIV, 2020 and LVIII, 2024). After falling short of historical track and expectations in 2025, is the window closed on one or both of these longtime contenders?

–Field Level Media