Boston’s return to the World Series for the second time in four seasons had its seeds in the team’s 1967 AL pennant. So says Yaz. “Not only did it bring the franchise back to life, but I think it changed the whole attitude in the organization,” Carl Yastrzemski said after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona has been swamped with good wishes from his Boston brethren during the postseason. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick e-mailed him twice. Athletic director Gene DeFilippo of Boston College, ranked second in the nation in football, called. DeFilippo is quite a booster.
Tony Pena thinks he can manage the New York Yankees to a championship next season. So much for a grace period. “With the talent that we have, I think we can do it with this team next year,” Pena said. “There’s no question in my mind that we have the capability and we have the talent to go and do the job.” After spending two seasons as New York’s first-base coach, Pena interviewed Wednesday to…
The Colorado Rockies sold out all three World Series games at Coors Field on Tuesday, one day after their first attempt collapsed in a computer-system crash blamed on people trying to fool the system to hoard tickets. The Rockies, who had labeled the problem as an “external, malicious attack”, said they sold more than 50,000 tickets in the second round of ticket sales in about 2 1/2 hours.
Aaron Cook insisted he was going to be fine if he was left off Colorado’s roster for the World Series. No need to worry now. On Tuesday, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and pitching coach Bob Apodaca called over the right-hander and told him he would start Game 4 in Denver on Sunday night. After 12 years in the organization and a comeback from life-threatening blood clots three years ago, he wanted…
It was supposed to be Portland’s first look at Kevin Durant, the player the Trail Blazers didn’t take in the draft in favor of Greg Oden. Instead, it was a routine, albeit close, exhibition game. Durant, the No. 2 pick in the draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, sprained his ankle on Tuesday and didn’t play Wednesday when the Blazers beat the Sonics 109-107.
Detroit rookie Rodney Stuckey broke his left hand in the third quarter of the Pistons’ 104-85 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. “We’ll have to wait and see what happens when they get a better look at it tomorrow, but it is really disappointing,” said Pistons coach Flip Saunders.
Joe Johnson scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help the Atlanta Hawks defeat the New Orleans Hornets 107-98 in an NBA preseason game Wednesday night.
Hakim Warrick scored 17 points, and Rudy Gay keyed a third-quarter spurt with 10 of his 16 points to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 96-90 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
Zach Randolph and Fred Jones, acquired in the same draft night trade, each scored 16 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 103-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
