The Red Sox are not a good baseball team right now. If Glenn Ordway were still on the air, he’d have broken out the THEY’RE RUININ’ MY SUMMAH!!!! line a thousand times by now.

The airwaves are poison right now, so we turn to the writers for some interesting and measured analysis and reporting:

Red Sox digging historically deep hole with horrible start – Timothy Britton notes that the Red Sox run differential through 51 games is the worst it has been since 1960. He also adds:

Only one team in the history of baseball, however, has made the playoffs after submitting this bad a performance through 51 games — and the 1981 Kansas City Royals required a split-season strike format to get themselves in. They are, without a doubt, the worst team in baseball history to make the postseason, as they finished just 50-53 on the season. The point is, the 1981 Royals don’t really count.

Veterans leading Red Sox straight to last-place finish – Scott Lauber says that the five players with the combined nine World Series and $80.5 million worth of salary for 2015 are the ones that are killing this team.

Boston Red Sox should feel shock and anger at themselves while flying home to Boston – Christopher Smith says that it this were high school football, the coach would’ve ordered silence for the trip home last night.

Don Sweeney’s year out of hockey was revealing – Amalie Benjamin looks at how a one-year sabbatical from hockey in 2005 made an impact on the new Bruins GM.

Stevens catches up, C’s consider a stash – Chris Forsberg has a really good Celtics notebook with a look at the role of Brad Stevens in the Celtics player evaluation and the process the front office takes when it comes time to draft players.

Ex-NFL QB alleges refs routinely overinflate footballs – Tom E Curran looks at a report from Daniel Leberfeld who has a 12-year NFL QB talking about the nonchalance with which the NFL officials actually handle the footballs prior to games.

Because there is no protocol or standard. I wanted my footballs like Tom. Legal, but on the low end. Right at 12.5 PSI. I knew on a hot day to tell [the] ball boy introduce them to officials at 12 psi knowing they would expand by time 4:30 ET game would start, they would be right as rain when officials tested them. But officials would always screw them up inflating them to ridiculous levels or leaving [the] opponents’ ball in play despite our offense being on field at a change of possession. You just knew as a QB to stay on their ass during the game and manage it.”

The prodigal son returns to Patriots – Mark Farniella looks at the Biblical return of Brandon Spikes to the Patriots.

Ex-Navy SEAL training Patriots defenders – Andy Hart follows up on a Mike Reiss tidbit from the weekend where he had the Patriots bringing in former Navy SEAL Dom Raso to work with the defense.

The not-so-good today?

Ron Borges thinks he has Bill Belichick pinned. The coach last week brushed off deflategate talk with a predictable “We’re on to 2015.” line. Borges column today is basically “DEFLATEGATE HAPPENED IN 2015!!!! WHAT  DO YOU SAY NOW, GENIUS???

Shaughnessy thinks we should care about Cleveland and hope they get their first championship since Lyndon B. Johnson was President.

Why should we do that, exactly?

Over the weekend, Steve Buckley fingerwagged Patriots fans and told us they’re not going undefeated this season. OK.

Published by Bruce Allen

Automattician.

43 thoughts on “‘The Best Of’ For June 1st”

  1. Saturday morning on 98.5, Adam Kaufman said that if the Cavaliers win the NBA championship, it’s probably a fixed result because that’s the storyline that benefits the NBA the most. HUH? The Warriors and Steph Curry are the darlings of the NBA. I don’t understand how these phony contrarians sleep at night, what with the myriad of paranoid conspiracies running through their heads…

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  2. As if Confirmed Plagiarist (CP) Borges doesn’t know that Belichick is referencing the 2015 season, not the 2015 calendar year, when he says “we’re on to 2015.” Again, tell me how it is that Tomase and CP Borges still have jobs — not only in journalism, but in the Boston market to boot? It’s amazing how tone deaf those morons, and their employers, can be.

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  3. I am going to take a slight contrarian point of view today. Bruce you said the airwaves are a hot mess right now. I suggest that they are…except I think Tony Mazz has been doing some pretty solid work on his baseball reporters show all season. That show has benefitted greatly from all the deflate gate talk because he has not had to make reasoned opinions extreme because he already stated them on F&M. Early on he questioned the quality of the Boston pitching staff (when the team was winning sandlot games at the beginning of the season), he was right on with the Sox looking at Neives and how he his philosophy of not challenging hitters was going to cost him is job. Then he started looking at the bats as they started to fail. He has been unimpressed with Sandoval and Ramirez but more importantly he was really the first to identify Ortiz’s struggles and how that was reverberating. He also has been correctly critical of Napoli and his ability to only get up for games against the Angels. The show has been pretty solid all year. I don’t understand why WEEI does not counter program it with either a Bradford/someone not named Tomase hour or just extend the pregame show to 6:00 and let Mutt take calls with an “expert” Bradfo or Roberts or whoever is available.

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  4. It’s crazy how much Curran is killing it this off-season. Bravo, sir. If you read that column, the former QB stuff is interesting, but the meat of the column is what I believe to be the most plausible scenario about what really happened late last season and before the AFCCG itself.
    It once against demonstrates how incredible it is that we are where we are on this story. Even if the Brady/Patriots are guilty of what the Wells Report alleges – but never proves – it’s amazing it resulted in this.

    I think most Pats fans that I talk to, feel thusly: The Colts accused Brady/Patriots of parking in a handicapped space without a placard. The NFL investigated the allegation like a triple-homicide. The investigation concluded that it was ‘more probable than not’ that Patriots did park in that spot and that Brady was ‘generally aware’ they didn’t have a placard. As a result the NFL gave them collectively 12-15yrs. in state prison. (…and never disciplined the mall cops for missing it to begin with).

    Again, I can’t believe we got here.

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    1. I really want to see Brady and the NFLPA go all Les Grossman-on-Flaming Dragon crazy, take this thing to court, and totally destroy Goodell and his minions. This thing really should be that jackass’s Waterloo. To try and destroy a team’s season, and then their draft after the season, based on zero credible evidence, all in a pathetic attempt to rehabilitate your own personal image and to get back into the media’s good graces is beyond pathetic, not to mention a clear case of dereliction of duty (unless he sees his primary duty as trying to bring any dynastic franchises back down to the rest of the NFL pack).

      Like

  6. I’m all about Cleveland – not because of the column (which explains why we should root for Cleveland) but just because it would be a fun story…it really would be LeBron going back as the prodigal son and actually winning. And it’s not like it’s LA or Dallas or New York. I’m actually excited, but I also don’t think they’re going to win, which is sad.

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    1. I’ve still never seen a reason as to why they stopped. People have tweeted @ Graig, Glenn and the show with no response.

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  8. Nice try, Borges:

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  9. NEWS BREAK EVERYBODY’S FRIEND OUR OWN RONNIE IS ON THE LIST….

    Each year, the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) vote for several off-field awar given to people working in or associated with the NFL. The 2015 Off-Field Awards balloting is underway through June 5, with the final results announced later in June.

    The awards the PFWA membership will vote on:

    George Halas Award (NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed)

    Good Guy Award (NFL player for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs)

    Dick McCann Award (Reporter who has made a long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage)

    Jack Horrigan Award (League or club official for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job)

    Pete Rozelle Award (NFL club public relations staff that consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media)

    Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award (Lifetime achievement as an assistant coach in the NFL), which will have a class of four members again this year.

    Here are the biographies of the 2015 nominees in each category.

    Good Guy Award (NFL player for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs):

    This year’s Good Guy Award finalists were each recognized for their accountability, their candor and professionalism throughout the past season.

    Dick McCann Award (Reporter who has made a long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage):

    Ron Borges, Boston Herald — Borges worked 24 years at the Boston Globe and has been a columnist for the Boston Herald since 2008. He has been named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year four times. Borges represents New England on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and also serves on the Hall’s senior selection committee.

    Bryan Burwell, St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Burwell was a columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from 2002 until his passing in December 2014. His career spanned decades as a columnist and feature writer as well as extensive TV work. He also wrote columns for USA Today and The Detroit News, and he worked in New York at the Daily News and Newsday. The AP named Burwell one of the country’s top 10 sports columnists in 2007, and he wrote “Madden: A Biography” in 2011.

    Vinny DiTrani, Bergen Record (retired) — “The Sage,” as Bill Parcells called him, covered the New York Giants for 34 years. DiTrani became the first media member to announce a pick at the NFL draft in 2010 at Radio City Music Hall. He formerly served on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee.

    Dave Goldberg, Associated Press — Goldberg was the AP’s national NFL writer from 1984 to 2009. He also was a columnist for AOL Fanhouse. He was an at-large member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and also served on the senior selection committee before his passing in January 2015.

    Paul Needell, Newark Star-Ledger — Needell worked for the Star-Ledger as a NFL columnist from 1996 until 2010. He started his career with the New York Daily News as a copy boy, and he became the paper’s Jets beat writer in 1983, where he served until his move to the Star-Ledger in 1996. He passed away in January 2015.

    Jack Horrigan Award (League or club official for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job):

    Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals head coach — Arians has been one of the most open and accessible head coaches in recent memory. Never shy about expressing his opinions, he’s helpful to beat writers and national writers alike.

    John Fox, former Denver Broncos head coach — Now in his third head coaching stint with the Chicago Bears, Fox has always shown the professionalism and availability that PFWA members hope to see from one of the most important people in any NFL organization.

    John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens head coach — The straight-talking Harbaugh is a very reliable subject with his media interactions. His availability is top shelf, he’s willing to help writers in the Baltimore market as well as the national circuit.

    Joe Horrigan, Pro Football Hall of Fame EVP museums, selection process & chief communications officer — With this award named after his father, Jack, Joe has carried on the legacy of terrific PR work on behalf of the Hall of Fame, which has seen tremendous growth during his nearly four decades on the job. As reliable as they come in terms of helping us do our work.

    Mike Mayock, NFL Network — The man is a talking machine, and with no shortage of opinions on current or future NFL players, he has become an invaluable source of information over the years.

    Pete Rozelle Award (NFL club public relations staff that consistently strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media):

    A record 19 club PR departments received a nomination for the Rozelle Award this year.

    Cincinnati Bengals — Jack Brennan, public relations director; P.J. Combs, assistant public relations director; Inky Moore, public relations assistant

    Houston Texans — Kevin Cooper, senior director of communications; Evan Koch, communications manager; Charles Hampton, communications coordinator; Amy Palcic, corporate communications manager

    Miami Dolphins — Jason Jenkins, VP of communications; Fitz Ollison, senior director of communications; Theresa Manahan, communications manager; Hank Nathan, communications coordinator; Gayle Baden, executive assistant, communications

    Minnesota Vikings — Bob Hagan, executive director of public relations; Tom West, assistant director of public relations; Jeff Anderson, executive director of communications; Jon Ekstrom, public relations manager; Sam Newton, public relations assistant

    Pittsburgh Steelers — Burt Lauten, communications coordinator; Dominick Rinelli, public relations/media manager; Ryan Scarpino, public relations assistant

    Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award – Class of 2015 (Lifetime achievement as an assistant coach in the NFL) – Class of 2015 will have four members:

    Bill Arnsparger — 24 years as an NFL defensive coach, best known for guiding the Dolphins’ no-name defense in their perfect 1972 season.

    Dick LeBeau — In 43rd season as a NFL coach. hired as assistant head coach/defense for the Tennessee Titans in January 2015 after 11 seasons as defensive coordinator with Pittsburgh, considered the architect of the zone blitz scheme, coached in six Super Bowls.

    Bobb McKittrick — 28 years as an offensive line coach, best known for his work developing undersized lines in 21 seasons with the 49ers, coached in five Super Bowls, winning all.

    Tom Moore — In 37th season as NFL assistant, current assistant head coach/offense for the Arizona Cardinals, best known for record-breaking offenses in Indianapolis and tutoring of QB Peyton Manning, coached in four Super Bowls.

    Dante Scarnecchia — 32 years as an NFL assistant, 30 with the Patriots, primarily as the offensive line coach. Coached in seven Super Bowls.

    Emmitt Thomas — In 35th season as NFL assistant, current defensive backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs, started career working with tight ends/wide receivers and later defensive coordinator for three teams, coached in two Super Bowls.

    The 2015 PFWA Off-Field Awards will be announced each day from June 15-19, with the Dr. Z Award announcement timing to be determined. The announcement schedule (release time 1 pm ET each day on ProFootballWriters.org, @PFWAwriters on Twitter and by email to members and media outlets)

    Monday, June 15: George Halas Award
    Tuesday, June 16: Good Guy Award
    Wednesday, June 17: Dick McCann Award
    Thursday, June 18: Jack Horrigan Award
    Friday, June 19: Pete Rozelle Award
    Date TBA: Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award

    Dick McCann Award, George Halas Award, Good Guy Award, Jack Horrigan Award, Off-Field Awards, Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award, Pete Rozelle Award, PFWA, slider

    2014 PFWA On-Field Awards Summary
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    1. If wRong Borges is still the NE representative on the hall of fame committee when it is BB’s turn, I wonder if he’ll swallow his pride, recuse himself, or jump out of a 14th story window.

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    2. The fact that the PFWA would consider a candidate who was fired for plagiarism tells us all we need to know about these awards – and these so-called journalists. I also love this: “Jack Horrigan Award (League or club official for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job)”
      Translation: coach who is quotable and regularly leaks stuff to us. And, shockingly, John Harbaugh is in the running!!

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      1. And John Fox. Who kinda just hangs out pretending to hc. I’m shocked rex Ryan didn’t make the list. Unless he has back to back trophies lol

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  10. Borges is laughably pathetic. Pretty much the embodiment of what passes as today’s media.

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  11. Just made it through 5 minutes of f and m…..the tin foil conspiracy theories about a couple of psi in 12 footballs total is back in full force. My god these two are the Alex Jones version of conspiracy sportstalk. They claim to have read the report and that proves Brady did something. Also he will take the plea so the text messages will come out because there must be something there. The lack of objective common sense is pathetic. How long of a shelf life can this nonsense have??

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    1. Are they still trying to link BB to issuing the code red?

      I’ll take DeflateGate talk over FIFA, NBA, Sox and Kartrashian stuff, though.

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      1. Not to disagree BSMfan but….

        The FIFA story with Blatter stepping down today is by far and away the biggest and most important story in sports in the world. I am utterly fascinated by it. Blatter is going to be indicted. The English are now investigating on top of the Swiss and the US. Blatter steps down 5 days after winning the election because Visa threatened to pull its sponsorship and at that point the responsible adults in the room started to point out Blatter was running out of places to hide and stories to spin. When all is said and done the authorities on three maybe 4 continents are going to trace money used for Bribes and influence peddling that will go to rulers of countries. Of course in America we are vilifying Tom Brady over 1 psi while the FIFA scandal is a real scandal and incredibly interesting. If only we liked soccer more.

        Likewise, I think the Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner story is a sports story worth discussing. In 1976 Bruce Jenner was one of the most recognizable and accomplished athletes in the world. His accomplishments at Montreal (*note 9 year old me was there watching the first day of the decathlon and track and field with 100 other kids from my upstate Maine summer camp) were unmatched in history. Bruce Jenner’s Wheaties box was selling so fast Kelloggs could not keep up. Yet, as we now learn he had a secret. He was a man’s man by day and not so much at night. He fathered 6 kids in 3 different marriages. Yet for all his notoriety he struggled to exist in the world. I am fascinated by his journey. I think as a sports story it is interesting…”what makes someone a success and more importantly what makes someone with success happy”. I think it makes compelling radio because I don’t think we take enough time humanizing athletes…the media is in the business of creating brands, hero and idols that I think they often over look the person. I make no pretense that the marketing slickness of Caitlyn Jenner is a bit much. What I am saying is when I get by that and listen to her story and how uncomfortable he was when he was a he…it is very interesting.

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        1. This is an absolutely fantastic post, and one of the best I’ve ever seen here. I agree with every bit of it. Do you feel that if Goodell was involved in such a scandal he’d be forced to resign?

          Also, you put the Jenner story so well. We would all benefit from humanizing celebrities and athletes. Maybe if we did, we wouldn’t care so much about 1 psi in a football.

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          1. Dave:

            Thank you for your kind words. I don’t think you are understanding the breadth and depth of the FIFA scandal if you are asking if Goodell would be forced to resign were the same thing to happen to the NFL. If 7 influential members of the NFL’s executive team were arrested for taking bribes, influence peddling and for selling events the least of Goodell’s problems would be resigning. Blatter is a modern day John Gotti. For years FIFA has been run as an organized crime entity. The most recent accusation is that South Africa paid $10 m in bribes to get the 2010 World Cup. That came out 16 hours ago. What was going on with FIFA was power corrupting to stay in power. You have an organization where each member regardless of size or monetary contribution receives the same organizational vote. So Blatter and his cronies figured out that to stay in power all they had to do is bribe/favor poor developing nations soccer federations with new office building or FIFA jobs, and in exchange these countries would vote to keep Blatter’s executive team in power. They, the FIFA execs, then shook down the wealthier countries who wanted the key events (matches, tournaments, the World Cup itself) for bribes, kickbacks, and personal benefits (planes, cars trips etc). It has been going on for 30 years.

            So imagine if you will Goodell and his cronies having a pay to play system where if you want a Super Bowl you had to pay a bribe to some exec (Mike Kensil for example) and if you wanted to keep your star player from being suspended you paid a bribe (Troy Vinent), and if you wanted to sign a local advertising program to get the NFL’s blessing you had to give the NFL’s VP of finance a 1% kickback for organizing the deal. Goodall would not be forced to resign as he would be fired the moment the justice department started arresting people. What happened with FIFA could not happen with the NFL because FIFA is a worldwide governing body and as such appeared to be above any one jurisdiction. Or at least it thought it was. Look at the scandal, Blatter’s 7 top lieutenants get arrested….they are dead to rights…and the PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA claims the Americans are on a fishing expedition because the Loretta Lynch (who has been on the job a month) somehow is upset that the US was not awarded the World Cup in 2022. Its politics over common sense. It is absolute power corrupting absolutely. There are some excellent articles in the foreign press and in the US press that explain in detail what is going on with FIFA. The breadth of the effect of this scandal is truly worldwide and incredible.

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          2. If 7 influential members of the NFL’s executive team were arrested for taking bribes, influence peddling and for selling events the least of Goodell’s problems would be resigning

            I always wondered the same. The draft? Superbowl? How is that not some form of a bribe?

            If nobody ever investigated Irsay for what he did, and him getting a Superbowl for Indy, I doubt it’ll ever happen unless its so egregious.

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          3. Wow. You’re right, I really didn’t understand it. I hadn’t taken a look at what the discussion was all about. Thanks for the breakdown

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        2. I should have clarified..

          I completely agree with the magnitude of the story.

          The problem is that I don’t know of a local personality who is “in” to soccer. Taylor Twellman griped, on Twitter, around 3pm that all everyone here was talking about was deflategate.

          So, while the media here just regurgitate what they’ve been told that FIFA is corrupt, they’re so ill-equipped to have a discussion on it.

          They don’t care about soccer, nor follow (I can say I do on both.)

          D+H at least had Twellman on. He’s qualified to talk about it.

          That’s my problem.

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          1. What makes any of these guys qualified to talk about anything. They do research, they talk to experts on air. Then they move the story along. Felger and Dale could both discuss this story if they want to…and I think they do. I am not sure their program directors want them doing it. Different argument for a different day I guess.

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          2. To me, soccer is like CFB. Both aren’t big here, but it’s kinda laughable when people who don’t follow, let alone care, and try and talk about it.

            I get that they have to, and maybe the little lip service they do pay it is fine, but its still like some guy just making something up as they go along.

            I’d rather the D+H approach where they’d at least have someone who is an expert or qualified to speak on, and ask questions, instead of making it up as they go along.

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          3. I don’t think this is a soccer story. I think it is a sports business story and as such everyone should be able to discuss it with a minimum amount of research. It will be like following Hockey because no one knows anyone’s name (nor can they be pronounced) but the essence of it is still universal which is why it is so compelling.

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    2. “Hey Mike… it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Belichick knew Brady had been ‘doctoring up balls’ for years and that he was going to caught. That’s why, Mike… and I really believe this may have happened… he took Garappolo in last year’s draft. Think about it!! He knew Brady was going to get busted! That’s why he took him!!”
      “Tony, only a footy-pajama-wearing, pom-pom waving, Belichick-Brady kiss-ass, Bob Kraft sycophant would think that’s not entirely possible.”

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    1. It boggles the mind that Goodell continues to have the owners’ full support. It really does. The pledges at Delta House could do a more competent job than that guy — they’re fictional characters! And he’s such an arrogant tool, in addition to being an incompetent jackass. Please, Tom Brady, take them to court…and make it hurt.

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      1. It is indeed mind boggling. My best guess is that owners in sports tend to have a strong preference for stability. That’s how Bud Selig and Gary Bettman survived for 20+ years despite countless controversy’s and embarrassments. But Goodell’s job security is still hard to fathom. Bud Selig faced serious challenges that were either largely or completely beyond his control. He had to deal with the most powerful union in sports, steroids, huge payroll imbalances between teams, the struggles of the Montreal Expos, the difficulty of promoting long, slow paced games in the 90’s and 21st century. In contrast, Goodelll has spawned massive controversy’s that never should have happened. Then he has the audacity to portray himself as a white night disciplinarian setting things right. He has no problem destroying the reputations of coaches, players, and entire franchises if he will get favorable media attention from it. The greatest gift the NFL could receive would be the permanent removal of this incompetent, narcissistic moron.

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      2. At this point, the next time Rachel Nichols asks Goodell a tough quesiton when he actually has a presser, he could fart in her face, and 25m people are still watching SNF on NBC.

        He’d have to do something really bad (hit his wife, etc).

        Till then, the NFL lives in fantasy land due to the money.

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  13. Alas, journalism (and not just sports journalism), especially since it was elevated to a “calling” right around the time of Watergate, is a classic “do as we say and not as we do” type of gig. To even question some journalist’s statements or, heaven forbid, their motives, often brings down a torrent of condemnation from the accused journalist’s peers. Classic example was when Tomase eff’d the Pats over the “Rams walkthrough” story on the morning of the biggest game in team history. Months later, when he had to admit he was wrong and he was justifiably taking an enormous amount of heat from the populace over it, Felger (naturally) came to his defense and said that because Matt Walsh and Co. were actually present inside the Superdome (as was their right) during the walkthrough, then Tomase’s story was “technically accurate.” These people have no shame, hardly ever face any negative consequences for their actions, and can always count on the unreserved support from their industry peers, which is why they can always count on a paycheck, no matter what boundaries they cross or lies they tell. Again, to me, the big problem is that it’s just so damn hard to make them, and their employers, pay the price in court. As long as they basically have blanket immunity, they’re going to keep doing what they do.

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  14. You make a good point, but media has become a game of who can provoke and agitate the most to a reaction that will create a sexy headline. Those are should hold them accountable don’t want them accountable because in they’re mind, they’re doing their “job.”

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  15. Here is the best read about the FIFA scandal. If you only read one article no the FIFA scandal read this one then you will be hooked. This is the type of work we wish the BBWA did:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/03/how-a-curmudgeonly-old-reporter-exposed-the-fifa-scandal-that-toppled-sepp-blatter/

    Here are some other good reads:

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/06/02/sepp-blatter-fifa-president-resignation/28358971/

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/fifa-sponsors-get-what-they-wanted-as-sepp-blatter-agrees-to-leave-1.3097197

    Follow the money:

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-02/bank-tied-to-fifa-scandal-has-drug-cartel-regulatory-history

    Like

    1. Jennings has been at the forefront. There’s a # of others who have spent years trying to expose it, but you could say he was the most prominent.

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      1. I think it took 15 years to build the case. Not innuendo but an actual case. I think Jennings and his two books exposed a lot but there is a difference between saying corruption exists and proving it exists in the right jurisdiction with the right judges. The amount of money at stake here was/is huge. The number of “important” people potentially “touched” by this scandal makes it salacious but at the same time it means those investigating have to tread very lightly.

        I suggest that only the US justice department could have broken this case because the US is not in a symbiotic or codependent relationship with FIFA. As such there is little political pressure to back off. Germany, France, England, Sweden, Russia, Spain, Brazil…none of them could have done what the US did…the relationships were too incestuous. However now that the US has exposed it, the vultures are circling. The Swiss are now investing Blatter, the English are looking at the FIFA moneymen. The French have opened an investigation. I best the Netherlands and the EU courts start talking about their investigations next. The dike broke and now everyone will pile on to make sure the stench of corruption stops at their border.

        My prediction, before the end of the year, Qatar will lose the 2022 World Cup.

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        1. Qatar is still the “favorite” on off-shore books (figure someone knows something) but the US has become the runner-up.

          I thought the only way Qatar loses it is when the member *FA and/or sponsors back out due to the labor situation.

          So far, even with it being out there for over a year? or some long period of time, we’ve heard crickets from Coke, Visa, etc.

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          1. I think up until last week, no one had really, really shined any light on the Qatar bid, stadium build out with slave situation, the apparent bribe to get the games, or the complete absurdity of changing the fall Eurocup season to placate the World Cup. There is still time to strip Qatar and move the games someplace where the Cup can be played in late June/early July as it should be, where there will not be news reports of stadiums built by slaves, and where sponsors will not be embarrassed.

            Visa started flexing its muscles two days ago and Blatter stepped down. My guess is Adidas, Coke and McDonalds will start exerting pressure on whoever replaces Blatter to move the games to a market that they care about. It was bad enough when the games were in South Africa. Qatar is a joke.

            Here is my other prediction. The one place the games will NOT be moved to is the USA. Even though we have the infrastructure in place to hold the games tomorrow there will be too many angry fiefdoms who have had their gravy trains interrupted by the US justice department to allow the games to be moved here. Besides how would it look if the US indicts half of FIFA and then the 2022 games get moved here. The optics would suck. Not gonna happen.

            If I had to bet they go to Germany, France, Spain or long shot Canada.

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  16. Shaughnessy most likely will be called to the principal’s office today:

    http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/06/02/truth-red-sox-just-aren-perpetual-playoff-contenders/eBnbTxjBchrdMu7iejWFYL/story.html

    (delete cookies for globe site using “Remove Cookies” extension for FF/Chrome if you get the stupid paywall.)

    I’m not sure how to address this. It’s classic shank. Trash the local team. Trash the fans. Put some truth but really closer to a troll. Difference is that I think he’s pulling off the veneer that FSG/Globe ownership does not want done, or they’ll leave that to ‘the losers on forums and blogs’.

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