From the Press Box
On Second Thought
By: Jim Lederman
Congrats to Coach Kenny Hodgkins, named tennis coach at Wentworth. Kenny coached the Lady Vikings girl’s tennis team to a record 11 victories in the spring.
Kenny will coach the women’s tennis team in the fall and the men’s team in the spring. Raise the racquets for Coach Hodgkins!
The Celtics – Cavaliers trade is in jeopardy. The “blockbuster” trade that sent All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, rookie center Ante Zizic and the 2018 first-round draft pick that it will receive from the Brooklyn Nets after a physical exam of the injured hip of Thomas.
A league source said the Cavaliers would likely renegotiate the deal. Will the Celtics have to add an additional draft choice?
The Vikings will play in the Everett Jamboree for the third consecutive year on Friday night. The Vikings will play Malden. Tentative game time is 6 p.m.
Everett has captured 11 Super Bowl titles and is a pre-season favorite in Division One North again this year.
The Vikings are in Division 6 North. The 13 teams in their division are Arlington Catholic, Austin Prep, Bishop Fenwick, Essex Tech, Greater Lowell, Hamilton-Wenham, Ipswich, Northeast Regional, Salem, Shawsheen, Stoneham, Whittier and Winthrop.
The top eight teams qualify for the MIAA playoffs after the first seven games. Swampscott and Saugus are in Division 5 North. Saugus opens with St. Mary’s of Lynn at Manning Field. Swampscott travels to play at Greater Lawrence. Greater Lawrence is in Division 7 North. Salem plays at Austin Prep on Friday night September 8th.
The Vikings open at Danvers on Friday night, Sept. 8. The Falcons are in division 3 North. Danvers has a new coach, Ryan Nolan, he was the defensive coordinator on the 2016 team that finished (9-2). The Falcons have a (23-11) record over the last three seasons.
The Vikings will travel to Medford, Swampscott and Lynnfield after the Danvers game. Medford is in division 2 North. The “Mustangs” travel to Lynn to play Lynn Classical on the opening night. Triton will play the first game on the new Blocksidge Field on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Lynnfield is in division 5 North. The “Pioneers” host Newburyport on Sept. 8.
A look at the Vikings opponents for 2017 and their respective records in 2016. Danvers (9-2), Medford (3-8), Swampscott (4-7), Lynnfield (6-4), Salem (3-8), Saugus (1-10) and Lynn English (2-9).
Are you ready for some football?
The Fate of the Red Sox
Are you worried about the Boston Red Sox? Will they win the American League East? Will they make the playoffs? Will Chris Sale win the CY Young?
The Red Sox play four games with the Yankees in New York this weekend. The Sox (as of Monday) are 3.5 ahead of the Yankees, in the battle for first place.
Chris Sale pitches tonight in Toronto. Let’s face the reality that if Sale doesn’t become the dominant Chris Sale again, there is no hope for the playoffs or World Series.
This whole team was based on the starting three at the top of the rotation. Always was and that is still the case.
Drew Pomerantz won on Monday to improve his record to (14-4) let me repeat. Sale has to be great again for the Red Sox to go anywhere.
Has anyone seen David Price?
Let the Games Begin!