From the Press Box
On Second Thought
By: Jim Lederman
Two snowstorms in March, spring begins next week.
What happened to the ‘Big Blue’ hockey team (17-3) in the playoffs?
Miller Field Committee Awards contract to Gilbane Construction.
MFC – “The first game at the new Miller Field will be Thanksgiving Day 2017†– Do you believe that?
Over 50 WHS student-athletes sign up for tennis – Town Council wants to study parking for one year!
The growing popularity of lacrosse teams at WHS has to play all their games on the road this spring!
Boston Celtics defeat Golden State but lose next game at Denver.
Bill Belichick plays chess, all the other coaches play checkers!
Harvard University has two ex-Viking athletes coaching at the prestigious Ivy League school.
The Crimson hockey team advanced to the semi-finals of hockey East on Saturday. Harvard won the ‘Beanpot’ this year.
The assistant head coach is former Viking Paul Pearl. He was former head coach at Holy Cross. Paul is a member of the Winthrop high school Athletic Hall of Fame.
Congrats to Anthony Fucillo on his appointment to the football coaching team. The former Viking, a Boston Herald All-Scholastic in 2004. Anthony was coaching at Amherst.
We salute coach Pearl and coach Fucillo, two ex-Vikings coaching at Harvard University.
Let’s Go Crimson!
Let the Games Begin!
New England Patriots add five new free agents – coach Bill wants sixth super bowl title.
Will their be two Boston pro-teams playing in the ‘Garden’ for the first time in three years in April!
Will Jimmy Garropolo be a New England Patriot in 2017?
David Price at $30 million a year, will he pitch in the 2017 playoffs?
Baseball at Fenway Park is less than a month away – The Sox will miss the run production of ‘Big Papi’.
The demolition of Miller Field will begin in April – 8 months to build a new stadium?
What happened to the $2.5 million from Massport?
I drove by Hormel Stadium in Medford – The Vikings play their first game in Medford in September.
The Vikings will play the Lynnfield Pioneers; we hope the ‘Pioneer’ jinx ends this fall.
The capacity crowd at the new WHS gym was exciting. When will Winthrop Viking basketball return?
I will keep you posted on the date for the dedication of, the ’Chris Tsiotos’ court at WHS this spring!
The most exciting Winthrop Vikings Sporting Event in 2016 – The Lady Vikings victory over Revere in Powder Puff.
Heidi Benson will take her track talents to UNH in September!
Gretchen Howard and Charlie Page deserve all-scholastic recognition in the Boston Herald and Boston Globe!
The ‘Bulldawgs’ will be the Winthrop Lady Vikings hockey team in (2017-2018) – Who Let the Dawgs Out?
I hope I never go to the Stoneham Arena again!
The Boston Bruins should name Bruce Cassidy the new coach for the future.
The $100 parking tickets issued to students and teachers recently was totally uncalled for!
Are you in a ‘March Madness’ pool?
This is the most exciting month of the year!
Saugus ahs a new football coach, Anthony Nalen. The Vikings will defeat the Sachems (1-10 in 2016) at Stackpole Field.
Nineteen years ago lights were installed at Miller Field. Saugus, Swampscott and Beverly are the lonely three stadiums without lights!
Are you ready for some football?
Twist and S hake is open – Time for a frappe this week!
I am writing this article with snow falling – one more week until spring.
The new Winthrop ‘Sports Complex’ will be complete when we refurbish the McClean Tennis Courts!
Kudos to ex-Vikings boys hoop coach Dave Brown. His St. Mary’s of Lynn team is chasing another state title. The Vikings coached by coach Brown, won the state title in 2011. St. Mary’s is Division four North defending champions, they played Cathedral on Tuesday.
If the Patriots capture another super bowl title in 2018, it would be their third in four years – the team of Belichick, and Brady – five super bowl title!
The Patriots are ‘cooking up’ another title. The addition of Brandin Cooks from New Orleans in a steal! The receiving corps is loaded!
They refer to David Price as the $217 million dollar man!
Boston College female hockey goalie (All-American) Katie Burt started her high school career as a 7th grade goalie for coach Butch Martucci’s Lady Bulldawgs.
Ex-Lady Bulldawg 100-point scorer Caroline McKinnon, is a ‘Viking skater’ – she plays for the Salem State Vikings Ladies team.
Congrats to Kristen Siscamanis – the ex-Lady Vikings MVP scored 10-points for Caldwell College in her NCAA playoff game.
Vikings three-sport standout Chris Zuffante may play quarterback for RPI in Troy, New York. He would follow two ex-Viking skaters, Frank Ferrara and John Tiano.
Lynn Classical was the only NEC team to reach the MIAA finals. The Rams boys hoop team in Division 2 – North.
I like Duke Michigan and UCLA to make noise in the NCAA March Madness Tourney – Are you in a pool?
Have you noticed the ‘dug outs’ on the new Veterans baseball diamond?
The ‘Tennis Guru’ – John Domenico, is playing tennis in Arizona, enjoying his retirement!
When will the weather warm up? My two all-time favorites – an ice cream Sundae at Hams’ in the center or the Highland Drug Store! 50 years ago! A trip to Richardson’s in Middleton is on my schedule!
Lunch at the new Bridge in Chelsea was special last week! I miss Pressman’s and Grunions for a corn beef sandwich!
Gary DiSarcina – is the new Red Sox bench coach after 12 seasons playing in the major leagues. His dad Gino played in the legendary ‘Tech Tourney’ for Somerville High in the 60’s. His number one fan was Bob Aquillino, ‘Ace Horse Handicapper’ at Suffolk Downs! The ‘tech’ was replaced by the current state MIAA playoffs.
‘Relentless Pursuit’ – when Bill Belichick signed new tight end Dwayne Allen, it gives the champions the best tight end in the league. If the ‘Gronk’ is healthy – Allen and Gronkowski will score plenty of touchdowns in 2017!
If you are a Vikings fan, the only home games this spring will be played on the new Veterans Field! You can watch Franklin Pierce prospect Jake Wallace on the mound for WHS.
Let’s Play Ball!
See you at Vets Field!
The Final Four
March and April are the most exciting months of the new year (2017). I have been watching college basketball since 1967 when Terry Driscoll from Winthrop played for Boston College and Bob Cousy coached him. (Story to follow next week).
I will have to cheer for the URI Rams (I attended the University of Rhode Island.) I promise to cheer for Winthrop (the Eagles out of the big four South in the Midwest).
I always cheer and root for Rick Pitino to lose. (He was once president of the Boston Celtics).
Rick told the legendary Arnold (Red) Auerbach, I’m the new president and you have to move your office! He is the coach of Kentucky (South). His players usually stay for a year and move on to the NBA!
I have watched the last two exciting weeks of college hoop and I’ve been impressed with Michigan, Duke, UCLA, Notre Dame and Villanova.
I predict the ‘final Four’ – Duke (East) Notre Dame (West) Kansas (Midwest) and UCLA (South).
Let the Games Begin!
The Donahue Gang
Charlie Page played his final game at Larsen Rink last month. He is the latest member of the ‘Donahue Gang’ to play for the Winthrop Vikings.
There are nine members of the original Donahue family. Tom, the late Paul, Sean, Bobby and five loving sisters (Linda, Ann, Carol, Maureen and Mary).
Tom played on the 1972 Vikings; they skated at the legendary Lynn Arena. Paul was Viking baseball captain in 1974. Sean played on the 1976 Division one state championship team, undefeated at (26-0-1) he teaches skating to young Viking skaters. Bob is fire chief at Massport at Logan Airport.
The cousins to Charlie page that have skated at Larsen Rink are, Buddy Page, Brian Donahue, George Barker, Harry Benson, John DelSolio and Sean Donahue junior.
The ‘Donahue Gang’ – The mantra, Winthrop players form Winthrop families.
Let the Games Begin!
At Larsen Rink!
The New Miller Field
I drove by my favorite NEC football field last week – Blocksidge Field in Swampscott. They will be installing a new turf field and stadium. The field will be complete for the football season.
I often have to answer the question that has been a constant for over a year. When will they begin construction of Miller Field?
I was told that Gilbane Construction Company, the same firm that built the new WHS Middle/high School was awarded the contract. They build the $88 million new school in record time.
They begin construction/demolition in April and are confident the field will be ready for Thanksgiving game – Thursday, November 23rd vs. Revere.
Promises and promises – the Vikings will play their 2017 schedule on the road!
Let the Games Begin!
The Frozen Four
I have followed the hockey career of Katie Burt form Larsen Rink to Boston College. The Lynn resident is the All-American Goalie at Boston College.
The junior at BC will play in the ‘final four’ at St. Charles, Missouri. The Eagles shutout St. Lawrence (6-0) on Saturday and will play Wisconsin on Friday.
Katie played goal for ‘Butch’ Martucci’s Lady Bulldawgs as a seventh grader. Katie was spectacular in 2011 when she stopped 50 shots from Hingham skaters in a double overtime loss to the Hingham Ladies, who captured the Division One title.
Katie prepped at BBN in Cambridge, before her career landed at Boston College.
Three cheers for her first coach Butch Martucci!
Go Eagles!
Let the Games Begin!