Sam Fuld and "insanely gifted athletes"

The Legend continues. It was great to catch up with New Hampshire native Sam Fuld in Port Charlotte, Fla., yesterday. The man dropped great insight on the game and money quotes, as usual: "I learned a lot (last year), but, above all, I learned this game is really, really hard. I always knew that, of course, but to play at the highest level over the course of 162 games takes a ton of mental strength. Each, you're pitted against insanely gifted athletes -- and that takes a toll on you after a while." My two favorite shots from the afternoon: 

Kevin Littlefield/Staff photographer

Kevin Littlefield/Staff photographer

Patriots, Redcoats and the American Revolution

Matt Bonner breaks down the Super Bowl as only the Red Rocket could break it down. From our radio show:

Chris Ryan: You know, the Patriots probably shouldn’t have won against the Ravens.

Matt Bonner: Yeah, and the American patriots shouldn’t have beaten the British in the American Revolution, but we did. Now there’s a professional football team called the Patriots, and they’re going to do the same thing. How’s that for a metaphor?

Chris Ryan: It doesn’t work. The Americans had muskets and pitch forks and were a rag-tag army.

Matt Bonner: If you told General John Stark that 230 years from now, there’s going to be a professional football named after your cause, the Patriots, and they’re going to take down the New York Giants in the Super Bowl the same way you’re taking down the British, would you believe him? Now that’s inspiration for you.


For a complete version of "The NBA Life with Matt Bonner," check out tomorrow's edition of the New Hampshire Sunday News. 

Healing on the hardwood

Brad Rhoades is a scrawny 15-year-old with a sweet jumper, but after spending an afternoon with the Pembroke Academy sophomore, I realized he's one of the toughest basketball players in the state. Two days after his mother, Kristen Rhoades, died in a snowmobile crash, leaving two kids and a husband at age 46, Brad torched Bishop Brady with 46 points. "Momma love," he calls it. Nearly 10 months have passed since the tragedy, and Rhoades is still going strong. "If I didn't have sports, I'd probably be one of those people that never lets it go from your mind," he said. "There are days when it's tough, but I always try to look at the positives. I'm always thinking of ways to make her proud?" Pembroke's season opens tonight against Portsmouth in a matchup of Division II's top teams. More in today's New Hampshire Union Leader.

Pembroke Spartans pictured left to right: Dominic Timbas, Brad Rhoades, Dylan Gage, Rene Maher and Jordan Williams.

"It's amazing how many people have reached out to us from across the country," said Brad's father, Frank. "It made us feel special and realize how everyone deals with tragedy. It's how you deal with it afterwards."

2011 NHIAA Division IV football final

Trinity 30, Plymouth 14: Trinity High of Manchester stayed unbeaten (11-0) by overpowering Plymouth Regional at sunny Gill Stadium today. The Pioneers won their first Division IV title after moving up from Division V last year. New Hampshire Union Leader story here and more Kevin Gray photos and video:

Trinity won its second title in three years.

YEOMEN'S WORK: Josh Hughes (42) and Ryan Carrier (44), who combined to rush for 180 yards and two TDs, were the last players to walk off the Gill Stadium field.

Josh Hughes was part of a Trinity running game that couldn't be stopped.

Romeo Masuku (32) made a tremendous interception in the third quarter, leading to Trinity's third touchdown. Assistant coach Bob Leonard, pictured, is saying, "He's the best. You can quote me."

Video: Carmen Giampetruzzi touchdown pass to Andrew Lauderdale.

Opening kickoff, press box view.

Big Ben to the rescue

WHAT A MESS. Red Sox owner John Henry came out swinging yesterday, taking the airwaves at 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston and speaking to the media outside the Brighton studios. 


The usually quiet and private owner, in response to getting "hit below the belt," said the media has created a frenzy over the Red Sox' collapse. That tends to happen when a team with Boston's payroll and tradition suffers the worst September collapse in baseball history. 


Now it's up to New Hampshire native Ben Cherington to rescue a scrambling front office. Cherington, hired as a scout by Dan Duquette in 1999, is the only choice to succeed Epstein.


“He's been in the organization for a long time. He knows the people, and he's learned a number of different jobs to learn the business from the ground floor up,” said Red Sox GM Dan Duquette, who hired Cherington in 1999.


Duquette spoke with me at length yesterday, talking about Cherington's rise to the top and what qualities distinguish him from other top baseball execs. 



“Ben really has a passion for baseball and works well with other people and because he has a steady, even-keel personality, I think he's a big asset in this market. Most importantly, what probably distinguishes himself is he knows talent," Duquette said. “He has a real good instinct for players. I also think one of his best qualities is that he's a good listener. Executives that can listen are rare.”


Cherington, climbing the ladder to farm director and assistant GM, helped build Boston's farm system that produced all-stars Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon and Dustin Pedroia.