RED SOX TV DIRECTOR PREPARES FOR SEASON UNLIKE ANY OTHER

This is a milestone season for Mike Narracci. The director of Boston Red Sox baseball on
NESN will be in his familiar chair for a 20th year, but because of the global pandemic,
very little will be the same when he starts calling the shots again for the broadcast team
There will be no fans, no high-fives, or post-game Gatorade baths.

"I feed off the announcers and the crowd," Narracci said. "The announcers feed off the
crowd. With no real crowd, you have to create your own energy which is a challenge."

Narracci, who has won eight Emmy awards to go along with the four World Series
rings he was awarded  by the team for his work, has been preparing for the challenges
since April.

"We started with the hypotheticals and the 'what if's?' It was very extensive which in
turned aided us in planning the actual season once we had the the actual details of it."

Preparation on game days is time consuming and detail-driven while logistics are
complicated. Throw in social distancing and the situation might get a little dicey.

"I am a people person and the social distancing protocols are tough to deal with," he
said. "A lot of the show revolves around director and crew chemistry. Social distancing
diminishes this."

Another thing Narracci will have to deal with for the first time, is directing television
traffic with a mask on.

"Everybody in the (broadcast) truck and the ballpark will be wearing one," Narracci said.
"For me, it took some getting use to. I felt like I was being suffocated but I am used to
it now and don't even think about it."

Narracci says he won't be spending as much time in the truck as in year's past because of the
new protocols and the East Haven, Connecticut native won't be seeing Dave O'Brien,
Dennis Eckersley, and Jerry Remy as much, either. They will be back in Watertown calling
the game from the palatial NESN studios. Field reporter Guerin Austin will be roving
the empty stands delivering her reports.

"She might be doing walk-off interviews, " Narracci said. "And the post-game
manager press conference will be done by way of Zoom.

Because of the late start, the season has been reduced from a 162-game marathon to
a 60-game sprint. It'll be 60 games in 66 in a season unlike any other.

"Baseball will the same once we get a vaccine," he said. "As far as the televising of
baseball, I believe we are at a cross roads. It will be interesting to see what direction it goes."

Interesting stuff from a man who has directed more than 2,500 Red Sox games. Play ball.

.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL RETURNS JULY 19th

According to sources close to SportsRip, Major League Baseball and the Players Association
have agreed to a deal to start the season. Barring any last minute snafus, a 60-game season
will be played with an extended post-season. The regular season is set to begin on July 19th.

More information to come.

TADE REEN MAKES HIS 'CONSCIENCE POINT'

When I saw that Tade Reen was releasing his novel, "Conscience Point",  I said to myself, 'it has

to be a great read because that kid has one helluva imagination.' A few years ago, I received

an e-mail out of nowhere from Tade saying I stared him down on the busy streets of Manhattan.
I got a good chuckle out of that and was like, "Man, I haven't seen this kid in about 30 years
when he was an eighth-grader and by chance, we happened to cross paths in New York City.
I didn't even know what he looked like to stare him down."

Reed, who grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut, has used that fertile imagination to weave

his latest novel which was hatched while running in Southampton, New York where he has

summered since his childhood.

The author, Tade Reen

"This novel is based on the people, places, traditions and history of that area," Reen said
from his office in New York City where he works as a trader. "I'd been thinking about setting
 a story there for years and as I was jogging around our neighborhood out there, I heard the
song, "Where the Night Goes," by Josh Ritter, which I'd never heard before. Suddenly, I had
the idea for the novel. It hit me like Lawrence Taylor used to hit Ron Jaworski. Hard."

Reen, who played football at New Canaan High for legendary coach Lou Marinelli, attacked
his novel like he did defenses as a tight end during his career on the gridiron.

"From the first words until publication, it took five years," said Reen, who also authored "Glad
Tidings", which was released in 2011. "They were five of the most eventful years of my life.
I wrote the book mostly on mass transit in New York. Subways, buses and eventually Metro
North Railroad once the family moved to the suburbs. It was my  daily mental recess," he added.
"I aimed for 500 words a day and most days I could hit that mark."

The book centers around the relationship between Rachel Jones, a well-educated hedge
fund executive who falls in love with Walter "Scallop" Koslowski, a local farmer. Reen
says the book is about how they try to see if their love can work despite being from
completely different backgrounds.

"I've always been intrigued by the idea that seemingly random chance encounters can change

people's lives forever, " Reen said. "It happens to all of us. We could meet someone on a train,
at a deli, or online through a friend, and that person's impact on our life could change not only

us, but the generations that follow."

One person who clearly made an impact on Reen's life is Mark Rearick, a legendary figure

and former baseball coach at New Canaan High School. A character in the book is based

off the man known to everybody in that tony little town as 2-5-0.

The great Mark Rearick, also known as 2-5-0

"I needed a strong connection between Scallop and Jonas, given it's his son's grandfather.
He was also Scallop's baseball coach," Reen added. "When I was thinking of a respected 

baseball coach who everyone likes, being from New Canaan, I thought of the great 2-5-0.
I thought about 2-5's voice and his incredible knowledge of so many topics when I was
writing Jonas. How many college mascots can 5'er name? All of them. I wanted that in Jonas."

Readers will get all that and more in this wildly entertaining novel by Reen. He has a great 

imagination when in comes to either describing chance encounters in New York City or a complicated relationship in the "Conscience Point."  There are lessons to be gleaned from
the book and Reen encourages others to embrace those chance meetings and not take
them for granted.

"It could be someone that we fall in love with, it could be someone who exposes us to a
new perspective on something, or that person can offer us a job," Reen says. "But we have
to be open to, and looking to make those connections. That kind of magic is alive and out
there in the world. And that's exciting and reminds us all that life is a wonderous, interesting,
adventure."

And just think - if I didn't stare Tade Reen down on the streets of New York City a few years
ago, this article would never have been written. You just never know.

"Conscience Point" is available on Amazon.com and in local bookstores near you.

MARTY HERSAM AND #theTREE

Through rain, sleet, snow and a global pandemic, Marty Hersam has presented us with #theTree. Every Sunday, the New Canaan, Connecticut native makes the 20-minute trek from his home in
Rowayton to Sherwood Island in Westport to photograph a tree that was social distancing
long before that became part of our consciousness.

"I first noticed this lone tree on October 15, 2017, " said Hersam, a longtime media executive.
"At the right angle it seemed very solitary and its leaves were turning reddish against a gray
sky. I took a picture of it, posted it, and didn't think much of it. Then on April 1, 2018, I noticed
it again and started photographing it on Sunday mornings since then."

Hersam's very first picture of #theTree. October 15, 2017

For those scoring at home, that's more than 100 consecutive Sunday mornings in a row - and counting. Hersam employs an iPhone 11 Pro for his pictures and always frames the #theTree
between 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.

"The season changes to the sun's angle is the trick of the light," he said. "Then the weather
paints the sky something different each week while the tree is the one constant. It feels different
every Sunday."

To many people, taking a picture of the same tree every week might seem a little boring, but
Hersam sees it as an opportunity to create something truly unique.

"The tree is unremarkable until you look at it from the right angle," he said. "Then it appears
to be standing all alone against the expanse of Long Island Sound. I enjoy the challenge of
visually expressing that each week."

Hersam's favorite picture of #theTree

Hersam and his pictures have attracted quite a following on social media and while he gets
a rush out of putting his artistic self on a platform for everyone to see, he also uses the
opportunity for a little self-improvement.

"I go to Sherwood Island by myself every Sunday morning as a way to clear my head, feel the
salt air and find a little gratitude," said Hersam. "I love the routine of my Sunday mornings.
I enjoy that space and time."

Hersam's following not only gets a wonderful picture of #theTree every Sunday, but also a
meaningful quote that offers a window into his heart, mind, and soul.

"Without mountains, we might find ourselves relieved the we can avoid the pain

of the ascent, but we will forever miss the thrill of the summit. And in such a terribly

scandalous trade-off, it is the absence of  pain that becomes the thief of life."

-Craig Lounsbrough-

r

"The quotations are really meant as a diary to myself," he said. "It's kind of like a mile marker
for what might have been happening in my life that week, something that moved me or
motivated me."

Stay motivated, Marty. We love your pictures of #theTree.

THE UNFAIR JUDGEMENT OF JERRY KRAUSE

According to researchers out of Princeton University, people make judgments about such 

things as trustworthiness, competence, and likability within a fraction of a second 

after seeing someone's face.

That study was seemingly confirmed in "The Last Dance", the wildly spectacular documentary

about Michael Jordan and the dynasty of the Chicago Bulls.  Oh, everybody has always 

loved Jordan at first blush, except maybe that basketball coach who cut Jordan 

from the team during his sophomore year in high school, -MJ has always been magnetic 

and somebody that demands your attention.

No, I'm talking about Jerry Krause, who was made out to be a villian in the documentary. 

Krause, the Bulls general manager, didn't make a good first impression, and for a society 

that often judges people by physical appearance, Krause never had a chance. Let's just 

say, Krause wasn't genetically gifted. He was short, heavy and just didn't look the 

part of an executive, especially in a sport defined by its players who are tall and gifted

by the gods with overflowing talent and chiseled bodies. Pat Riley he was not.

Jordan openly mocked Krause about his height saying that he shouldn't be smoking a cigar

because it could "stunt his growth." Scottie Pippen, who wanted his contract renegotiated,

dressed down Krause on the team bus. I'm fairly certain Krause had been made fun of

his entire life just because of his appearance. As much as we all want to think differently,
we are still a society that bullies, harasses, mocks, and makes judgements about people
just because of the way they look. Don't believe me? Go spend five minutes

on Twitter.

Using a description from the movie, "Moneyball", where baseball scouts often judged prospects

on whether or not they had a "good face," - well, Krause certainly didn't have it. And
the millions of people watching "The Last Dance",  made judgements about Krause just
because of the way he looked. And like a lot of those baseball scouts in "Moneyball", people
weredead wrong about Krause.

The bottom line and the thing Krause should be judged on, is his record which includes
the six NBA titles he helped bring to Chicago.  As much as people want to say it
was all Michael Jordan,  it wasn't. Krause was the architect of that dynasty. The moves
 he made were worthy of being a first ballot Hall of Famer - it was blasphemous Krause
was rejected time and time again before finally being elected into the Hall of Fame.
in 2017.  In fact, he didn't get into the Hall of Fame until after died, which is sad.

I'm fairly certain the people who watched "The Last Dance" don't even know Krause
is in the Hall of Fame. Judging by how he was portrayed in that documentary, that's not
surprising.

People shouldn't have judged Krause on his appearance, they should've made up their

mind by seeing what he did to construct that dynasty. His moves were brilliant.

Krause's first move as the Bulls GM was hiring Tex Winter as an assistant coach.

Winter didn't invent the Triangle offense, but he perfected it and made the other

coaches understand it.

Trading for Scottie Pippen and drafting Horace Grant on the same day in 1987 was

pure brilliance. Nobody heard of Pippen, who played for some tiny school in

Arkansas, yet it was Krause who saw the raw talent of Pippen that became, well,

Jordan-like.

Krause fired Doug Collins, who was running seemingly every play through Michael

Jordan, despite getting the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. Krause didn't want

a team that was Jordan and then everybody else. He wanted a true team where everybody

was involved. Krause replaced Collins with Jackson, who turned out to be Zen master

for that team

Krause surrounded Jordan with great talent: Pippen, Tony Kucoc, Grant, Rodman,
Bill Cartwright, Steve Kerr, John Paxon, Ron Harper, and many others. 

People wanted to vilify Krause for breaking up the Bulls and a bid for a seventh 

NBA title and that may be unfair. Krause worked for Jerry Reinsdorf, a savvy businessman,

who has been labeled cheap by many people throughout sports. Perhaps, Krause was

just following orders from the boss.

Oh, sure, Krause made some mistakes, like displaying his public infatuation with

Tim Floyd, who had been a college coach at Iowa State and the ultimate successor (failure)

to Jackson. And he sparred regularly with the media - and nobody wins with the media

when that happens, The pens, microphones, and cameras have always been mightier

than the sword and they stuck it to Krause because they made it personal.

Every general manager in sports makes mistakes, just look at the team you follow.
Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees has made a ton of them - Jacoby Elsbury,
Kei Igawan, Carl Pavano just to name a few. They happen. Krause didn't make very
many of them and he has six titles to prove it.

Krause wasn't around to defend himself against the comments made against him

and how he was portrayed in "The Last Dance". All he has his record - which should

be more than enough to tell his story. It's a shame that in this society, the facts and

record don't always matter - image still does. And Krause didn't have it and he was

judged harshly because of it.

In Krause's obituary, there should've been a line about how Krause being one of the

greatest GM's of all-time in any sport because that should be part of his record,

even if society wanted to judge him just because of the way he looked. And that's sad,

real sad.

REMEMBERING JAMIE WING

I didn't know Jamie Wing well enough to call him a good friend, but I did spend enough
time with him to realize he was a great, great man.

Jamie died suddenly a year ago on May 12, 2019. He was just 42-years-old.

He was bright, funny, athletic, and an incredible family man - extremely dedicated
to his wonderful wife, Danielle, and two beautiful young daughters, Julia and Caroline,
who lit up the neighborhood with their effervescent personalities.

Jamie always made sure that every day was like Christmas for his daughters.
There were trips to the zoo, parks, lakes, mountains, and seemingly every place in
between. They fished, they camped, they kayaked and did just about everything
labeled an adventure, together. Jamie adored Julia and Caroline, who is a spitting
image of him.

Jamie had everything - the beautiful family, the great job, and the biggest house on
the block. I'd often say to myself,  "Man, this cat has his s%#t together."

We were neighbors for about six years, but didn't see each other all that often for two
people who only lived 50 yards from one another. Jamie was off to work before the
crack of dawn and I was working second shift at the time. When we did see each
other, it was mostly on weekends, but those moments where we said "hello", usually
turned into very long conversations.

Jamie and I had one great thing in common: Boston sports. Jamie grew up in Burlington,
Massachusetts and like most people from New England -  he was a die hard Sox, Patriots,
Celtics, and Bruins fan. I lived and worked in Boston for about four years and covered
all those teams for NESN, the regional sports network. We always had a lot to talk about.

He wasn't your typical Boston sports fan, you know, the ones who believe their teams
are the only ones that matter or exist. He didn't have the knee-jerk  overreaction to every
loss suffered by the hometown team. (His family may be getting a chuckle out of
that one.) Jamie was more measured in his reactions, although, I  would've liked to have
taken his temperature when he watched the Patriots go down to the Atlanta Falcons 28-3
in third quarter of the Super Bowl that he attended. And I would've loved to have seen his
reaction after his beloved Patriots pulled off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

We had our "deep" - wink, wink, conversations about  Brady, Belichick, and the
state of the team.  We'd go on and on until one of us realized that we were spending
way too much time talking about stuff that we had absolutely nothing to do with -
then it was a quick "see ya" until our next meeting and conversation about Boston
sports.

Life is not fair and it can be downright cruel. Jamie was taken from his family and this
world far too soon and for no good reason. I know he would be proud of the strength
and resiliency that his wife, Danielle, has shown. She has been amazing.  Her life
changed in the blink of an eye, leaving her alone to raise her two young daughters,
during a time, especially now, that is downright scary for everybody.

Jamie, it's been a year since you left us - we miss you, brother. You were one helluva man.

IT'S NATIONAL NURSES DAY - LOVE AND APPECIATE THEM.

Not sure when all these national (fill-in the blank) days became such a big thing,

but we usually find out about them as soon as we log onto our beloved social 

media accounts every day.

Cookies, tequilia, puppies, cars, legos - there seems to be a day for everything under

the sun. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are always  flooded with these "national days" 

with corresponding photos.

"Hey, it's national puppy day! Here's a pic with me and my pup named Brody!"

"It's national beer day! Just look at this picture of me funneling down a half a case of

Budweiser! Aren't I cool?"

Believe it or not, there are actually 1,500 "national days"  according to guess who?
That's right, the National Day Calendar.

And yeah, these "national days" are cool in their own little way but most don't mean 

much and are forgotten in the amount of time it takes to scroll down to the next photo 

on the news feed or to click on  link to the story that blisters Trump for what he said,
how he acted and the business of his that failed 20 years ago.

May 6, 2020  means something. Actually, it means a lot. It's national nurses day,  

honoring the all-stars in hospitals, clinics, and medical offices that do so much for us.

It's sad in a way that it's taken this global pandemic to truly appreciate what all these

frontline workers do for others every single day. They are working double-shifts in just

horrific conditions to help others. They are putting their lives on the line to help in

saving the lives of people who are battling a faceless but brutal enemy that has put

this world on pause. 

In reality, this is what they do every single day on the job and the pressure is

always there. Make a mistake in your job and you'll probably get another chance.

If a nurse makes a mistake, it could be the end of another person's life.

Why has it taken so long to really appreciate the nurses who do so much? Maybe 

it's because when we or a loved one goes into a  hospital, we just want to be
relieved of our pain or the pain of a family member,  that we just become
oblivious to what's going on around us and all that the nurses are trying to do
for us. I get that.

Perhaps, it's like football where nurses are the offensive linemen who do all

the dirty work, making sacrifices while not seeking any credit for the job they

do. The doctors - the quarterbacks of the operation, always seem to get the 

glory and the spotlight every single day.

Let's face it. Nurses have to do some really gnarly stuff - drawing blood, wiping
things, cleaing bedpans, inserting enimas, etc., - it's not easy. They are not only
dealing with the  pain and emotions of you and your family, but the ones in the
next room and the ten rooms after that.

Then they have to come back and do it all over again the next day. Lather, rinse,
and repeat. Every single day. And then there is dealing with death which doesn't
get easier, no matter how many times you've seen it. It's an emotional toll that
few of us can relate to.

I realize  this is what nurses signed up for. It is part of their job. I get it. But
their jobs are far different than mine and yours. It's about life and death.

This is their day. Let's fully appreciate, honor, and respect them.