Sports 07-21-2016

The Chris Tsiotos Basketball Court

School Committee member Tino Capobianco made the historic motion and his colleagues supported unanimously the proposal to name the new basketball court at the new Winthrop High School, the “Chris Tsiotos Court.”

All we can say is, “Wow!”, and congratulations to attorney Chris Tsiotos on this tremendous and well-deserved honor. Chris Tsiotos is not only one of the greatest basketball players ever to wear the Winthrop High uniform (and the Suffolk University uniform as well, where he is an inductee in the Suffolk Hall of Fame), but Chris has been a supporter and contributor to the basketball scene for decades in his hometown. For years after his college career, Chris played in the Winthrop Summer Basketball League at the McKenna Court when that league — under the direction of Phil Lundberg and the late Peter Grimes — was one of the most popular loops in the area.

Chris has always supported the WHS boys and girls basketball teams — and all Viking sports for that matter — with his attendance at games and his encouragement to the players. Of course, Chris realized the ultimate hoop parent’s dream when he saw his twin daughters, Nikki and Poli, excel for the WHS girls team and play in the state semifinals at the TD Garden in 2015.

When Chris himself played for the Vikings, the State Tournament was known as the Tech Tournament, and Chris averaged 28 points per game one season.

Chris also was towering figure in basketball tournaments such as the Harry Agganis Tournament and the National Hellenic Tournament. In fact, Chris will be inducted in to the AHEPA Athletic Hall of Fame next week in Las Vegas, a truly immense honor for a Greek-American athlete. He will join such greats as former tennis pro Pete Sampras and former Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis in the Hall of Fame.

We haven’t even begun to talk about Chris’s presence from the outset in the Viking Pride Foundation, an organization that literally “saved” Winthrop sports and that has supported so many athletic and extracurricular activities in town.

We can’t wait to be at the new “Chris Tsiotos Court” for the dedication ceremony this winter at the new Winthrop High School — and share in the joy that Chris and his great family will experience when they see the name of this gentle giant on the court for decades to come.

From The Press Box

The 2016 WHS Hall of Fame

By: Jim Lederman

The Winthrop High School Hall of Fame is pleased to introduce the WHS Hall of Fame, Class of 2016.

Membership is open to those individuals or teams that have made significant contributions to the Winthrop High School Athletic Program as an athlete or coach, or for meritorious service. The athlete or team must have graduated at least 10-years prior to nomination.

The Class of 2016 will be inducted on Saturday might October 22nd, at the new Winthrop Middle/High School.

Sean Mullane, Class of 1960; Pat DeGregorio, Class of 1972; Joyce Nolan, Class of 1973; Holy Hill Mory, Class of 1977; Mary Murphy, Class of 1978; Franci Dolan Corbett, Class of 1986; John Lyons, Class of 1974, Exceptional Service, Anthony Martucci, Class of 1993, Exceptional Service, Bill Gorman, Exceptional Service, Larry Keegan, Exceptional Service.

The 1963 state basketball champions, the 1964 undefeated Northeast Conference football team, the 1984 state championship softball team, the 1984 boys Northeast Conference championship track team.

The inductees and members of the championship teams and coaches, will be proud to see the new banners in the beautiful new gymnasium that will be on display for the first time.

At The Post

Friday will mark opening day at Saratoga Race Track. The six weeks of racing in upper state New York, runs through Labor Day.

The three-hour trip west on the Mass. Turnpike and the trip on the New York state thruway bring you to the beautiful city of Saratoga Springs.

If you’re a horseracing enthusiast, you look forward to the trip to the spa. On July 10th, Smart Choice Stables owned by local resident Jack Anderson, won an $80,000 allowance race at Belmont. The horse Fusaichi Red, named after the late Albert ‘Red’ Dorgan, won the race.

When the track announcer says, “Two minutes to post,” it is almost race time. Put Saratoga on your bucket list.

Skimming the Sidelines

The 2016 Vikings open practice on August 19th(Friday) the first scrimmage will beat Beverly high school on Saturday, August 27th at 11 a.m.

The Vikings will scrimmage East Boston at East Boston Stadium on Wednesday, August 31st, time TBA.

It is official; there will be no home games at Miller Field this season. Home games will be played at East Boston Stadium.

Veterans Field is undergoing construction. Practice will commence on Labor Day on Vets Field.

The Vikings will play Malden at Everett Memorial Stadium on Friday night, September 2nd. The GBL-NEC Jamboree will be played for the last time. The new NEC two-division schedule for 2017 will be announced. The league will have two-eight team divisions.

The Bicentennial

In 1976 the United States celebrated the 200th anniversary. The year was high lighted locally with the 1976 Winthrop Vikings winning the division one state hockey championship.

1976 was an Olympic year; local skipper Joe Duplin was coaching the US Olympic sailing team.

I recently visited Chandler Hovey Park on Marblehead Neck; it brought back memories of watching Marblehead Race Week. Joe Duplin won the World Championship in the Star Class Sail Boats in Boston Harbor in 1963. Joe used to race in Marblehead Race Week:

There are several yacht clubs in Marblehead Harbor. Eastern Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club, The Boston Yacht Club, Dolphin Yacht Club, Pleon Yacht Club, and Marblehead Yacht Club. Take a trip to Marblehead Harbor, one of the most beautiful harbors in the country.

The New Players

Dave Dombrowski and Danny Ainge, president of the Red Sox and Celtics, respectively have strengthened their teams.

The Red Sox have added starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz and reliever Brad Ziegler and in fielder Aaron Hill. The Celtics finally added a big “free agent” (6-10) power forward Al Horford.

The Red Sox have finished last the past two years and after winning 50 games before the All Star game they are a strong favorite in the American League East.

The Sox need their ace David Price ($30 million a year) to have a big second half. The Sox can score plenty of runs but the key is the starting pitching.

The Celtics are still trying to add another free agent; they have to win a playoff round.

The ‘new players’ in Boston will make a big difference in town!

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