http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml Bluenose BoSox Brotherhood: Blog Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:19:55 -0500 http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/77996f04df363bcb159cfd543f02b741_48ac523b.writeback Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:19:55 -0500 Yesterday #8 underwent a 6 hour, triple by pass. The great news is that doctors say the operation was a success. Yaz is resting at Mass Gen. http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/5dc389b1699b99861f5d161d84448cc0_48ab3008.writeback Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:41:44 -0500 This afternoon Captain Carl, my favourite player to have ever worn a Sox uniform, was admitted to a Boston hospital suffering from chest pains. According to reports in the Boston Globe, he is now undergoing bypass surgery to relieve at least one blockage. The thoughts and prayers of this person and I am sure all of the Bluenose BoSox Brotherhood go out to Yaz with our wishes for a complete recovery from this situation he finds himself in today. Get well soon Yaz!!! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/cd23acc64cbab07d87717bcf794b74e2_48a5744a.writeback Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:19:22 -0500 Probably wondering what I have to say about the Ramirez trade and Canadian Jason Bay taking his spot at the base of the Green Monster in Fenway and that day will come soon but more important things first. For now all Red Sox fans whether in Nome, Alaska or Cape Breton, Nova Scotia the most important thing right now is the Jimmy Fund Fundraiser that is going on at WEEI and NESN. I remember in my early visits to Fenway, many years ago there was a golf car used as a bullpen car over at the Twins souvenir store across the street where you could put you dollars in through the slit in the hat at its top. There were also many red metal boxes inside the park for fans to stuff in a dollar or two.(Those still exist by the way) I want all the Sox fans in Nova Scotia to remember all the great thrills the Red Sox have given us over the past few years. Then this past year the Sox bringing the World Series Trophy to Nova Scotia for us to enjoy was the highlight of a sporting lifetime for many. The Jimmy Fund is the Red Sox biggest charity, the work that the Dana Farber does both in patient care and research is world famous and a donation to this institution is a key to help defeating this disease of cancer. Nova Scotians show your support for the Sox charity!! Go to the WEEI website and make your gift through there or go directly to the Jimmy Fund site through the link on this website and donate there. http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/bd43470dea9968aba010758200d958f8_4884df75.writeback Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:11:49 -0500 With the second half of the season well underway, once again Manny has become the focal point of all the media coverage in Boston even when other issues are more important for the success of this team Can anyone defend him pushing the club travelling secretary. No! You can't! That being said from the moment Manny commented on his contract and the possibility of the Red Sox saying one thing and doing something else in regards to these issues, all hell has broken out in the media. He has been publically chastised by John Henry in the Boston Herald, accused of deliberately striking out against Rivera by some unknown Red Sox official, ripped by Eck on NESN and now the daily ripping by WEEI. The radio talking heads go on to say that no one has got an easier ride than Manny in Boston. Yet these same radio hosts make a daily program of being critical about him whether it is about a lack of hustle or worse. Meanwhile many of the real problems the Sox have are not being dealt with by management. Going into the post All Star schedule, the Red Sox have more pressing problems than Manny and his contract. My perception is that they include; 1. The non-existent bridge between the starters and Papelbon. No lead is safe when the starter leaves the game. 2. The total lack of production from the bottom third of the lineup; Crisp, Varitek, and who ever is filling in for Lugo. 3. The terrible on base percentage for the past couple of months from the leadoff position ie Jacoby Ellsbury. 4. the inability of the manager to recognize that Sean Casey has to be used in a pinch hitting fole more often for the lower half of the lineup especially Varitek. 5. the terrible road record that this team is currently compiling 6. Clay Buchholz's terrible starts since returning from the minors. If these issues are not addressed this team will either not make the playoffs or will go out quickly in the opening round. Are their answers hopefully; maybe Masterson will be the solution for the bullpen if not what then. Can Theo make a better deal than last years Gagne trade. Ellsbury should be dropped down in the batting order until he recovers from this slump and his spot should be taken by Pedroia. Return to the order they put out in the World Series. Hopefully Colon will recover and can take Buchholz's place. It is obvious that at the moment he has little confidence. Francona must start pinch hitting for the bottom third of the lineup when in crucial situations. I would like to see Moss play a little more as well. Hopefully the ship can be righted in time for this team to make the playoffs. http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/937fa86f244f16c6d7f24e63aebfc6b8_485bc0e9.writeback Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:38:33 -0500 Just when you think that things as a sports fan can't get any better. The Celtics have won their 17th title. Their victory parade was viewed by millions (including this Nova Scotian on TV) on a beautiful Boston day. The Red Sox even with several key injuries enjoying so far a very good season with JD Drew proving he is in fact worth the millions he is getting paid. The sun has been shining bright over the heads of Boston sports fans from Cape Cod to Cape Breton. Then we learn today Friday, June 20, 2008 that Curt Schilling has to have season ending surgery and has probably thrown his last pitch as a big leaguer and most definitely as a Red Sox. It seems like yesterday that Curt was talked into coming to Boston over a Thanksgiving Day dinner with Theo. His arrival to Boston coming along with a truck commercial that announced he had to get to Boston to help bring a World Series win to the Sox and then have the gall to win 20 games, suffer a devastating ankle injury yet having himself stitched together and risk his career to make it happen. The results of the injury making the 2005 season one of just trying to recover. He managed to end that season with a .500 record but with an ERA of 5.69. He rebounded in 2006 posting a 15 win season and lowering his ERA to 3.97. The 2007 season resulted in only a 9-8 record but he again lowered his ERA, this time to 3.87. More importantly though, he had a couple of excellent games in the playoffs and the Sox captured another World Series. Two World Series in the four years he has been a Red Sox player certainly will always keep him very high in the heart of the this Red Sox fan. Perhaps more importantly than even his role in World Series success has been his role in helping with the causes of the fight against ALS and skin cancer. I will never forget the day that a Nova Scotia government official e-mailed me and told me about a friend of his who was suffering from ALS. He asked me if there would be any possibility of one of the Red Sox perhaps e- mailing this person, who is a big Sox fan, a message of goodwill. I was able to send a note to Curt who did not e-mail the man but phoned him the very next day to offer him a message of hope. The man was thrilled to no end and told me so in person when we met during the Red Sox World Series Trophy tour to Nova Scotia. The fellow told me that he was able to record Curt's message and plays it on a daily basis to help him stay positive as he battles this devastating illness. Thanks Curt for all you have done as a Red Sox player and as a human being. You have brought joy, inspiration and hope to so many who suffer from this disease on both sides of the 49th. He is a hero to many for much more than his ability to throw a baseball. By the way, I never judge a man by who he supports politically but by how he acts himself towards others. Mr. Schilling was one of the first people from the Sox to offer our Nova Scotia group, the Bluenose BoSox Brotherhood, congratulations on our formation a few years ago. From here on Canada's Ocean Playground, we offer him all the best for his surgery and recovery. Oh and by the way, wouldn't he make a great pitching coach if in fact his days as an active pitcher are over. http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/e225dd43f7decfeac535a99b2a146b37_484d1cb9.writeback Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:06:17 -0500 Close to 20 members attended the BBB get together in Berwick on Saturday, June 7th. We had a couple of members from Halifax and another from Bridgewater at our event. There were many items up for discussion at the meeting including a July 1st Family BBQ in Hantsport at member Chris C.'s place. Further details will follow by e-mail as to directions, etc. The most important item talked about was the possibility of holding a Sports Celebrity Dinner. People were asked to investigate a couple of possible locations and to see whether the person we wish to honour at this event would be available for a possible October date. If this come to fruition it will be a very significant event with benefits hopefully going to the IWK and Minor Baseball.The idea of including a silent auction to go along with the dinner was also discussed. It was decided that at our July 1st BBQ we would discuss the issue more with hopefully more information having been gathered re: locations, costs and our celebrity's availability. Personally, I am very excited about the possibility of this event and in my mind it will solidify our importance not only a a fan group but as a positive influence to the youth of Nova Scotia. We then sat back to enjoy the Sox hammer the Mariners. If you were not at the Meeting but would like to learn more about what we talked about re: the Dinner Event please e- mail me at hyslop@av.eastlink.ca http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/8cd38d6815d0cfcf19fe9c8524d27ce2_48330516.writeback Tue, 20 May 2008 12:06:30 -0500 Well this person during the past month has had a great time. At the end of April I had the opportunity to be in Boston and saw the Sox win two games against Toronto. (Personal winning streak now at 11 games)Both games were won in the bottom of the ninth. Had a chance as well to visit the New England Sports Museum which is located in TD North Boston Gardens. I would recommend it to everyone who visits Boston. Then for the past two weeks, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the World Series Hockey Tournament which was a great thrill in making new friends and seeing some great hockey. What about Jon Lester's no-hitter, I was at a meeting and did not have an opportunity to tune in until the top of the 7th inning but wow wasn't it thrilling!! Upcoming on June 7th is a get together of the BBB at the Sidetrack Tavern in Berwick where a number of important items will be discussed including the July 1st, Hantsport Canada Day Parade where we hope to have a float entered and also the possibility of a Sports Celebrity Dinner to raise some funds for charity. Hope to see all of you at the meeting. All our members from Truro- Halifax-South Shore to the Valley. I am looking forward to seeing Bartolo make a start on Wednesday, yours in all things Red Sox. By the way if you are interested fan rings for the 2007 World Series Championship they are now available from the MLB website.They, however are not cheap, selling for $294.00 http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/b9ac351574d8e3a3aafb4fbdae83db08_4803a646.writeback Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:45:26 -0500 This past Saturday about a dozen of us gathered at the Pond Bar and Grill in Truro to kick off a Truro branch of the Bluenose BoSox Brotherhood. Our Truro member Danny Joseph organized the day and had a private room with a big screen TV for us to view the Sox/Yankees game. Danny also had smart navy blue T-Shirts made up with our name on the back and Bud Light the sponsor on the front. They still can be purchased for the very reason able sum of $5.00. When all was said and done we had a dozen people show up to talk Sox and share their stories on the Sox Trophy Tour, the Japan trip and other Sox issues. That was followed by a Trivia contest which proved once again it is not how many questions you answer right in the contest but how lucky you are. David from Truro had 2 chances out of 40 to win and win he did. His luck saw him go home with a 2007 World Series Championship Pennant. We followed that with supper and a great game in which Josh Beckett dominated those Yankees. Sadly the 2 hour rain delay forced us to leave the final innings and I had to listen to Papelbon dominate the Bronx squad as I approached home in the Valley. David Ritcey informed us that our membership has now reached 180. Wouldn't it be great to have another event to draw all those members out to celebrate. If you have not yet ordered a Bluenose BoSox Brotherhood windbreaker they are excellent and you should step up and get one. Check out pictures of the Truro event in our photo section. I am looking forward to the Hantsport Canada Day Parade where it looks like we will be having a float involved and possibly a fundraising BBQ. Go Sox! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/51e8e80918f63b0bffb544f9e817aec4_47c762d0.writeback Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:41:36 -0600 It has been a pretty good week for a number of reasons. First of all, the Red Sox announced that our Emperor for Life, Bill Lee, has been selected for the Red Sox Hall of Fame. It is an honour for Bill that this person believes is long overdue. It is perhaps mere coincidence but last year the Brotherhood sent a letter to the Sox with close to a hundred names on it urging the Sox to honour Bill in this way. The Sox also honoured Mo Vaughn, Mike Greenwell,Wes Ferrell, Everett Scott, Frank Sullivan, George Digby and Edward Kennedy Sr. with selection as well. The honoured moment chosen was Ted Williams home run in his last time at bat. This was a great choice as well. It is also great that today the Red Sox started playing baseball again marking the beginning of the 2008 spring training season. Sitting here listening to the Sox play Northeastern even though the regulars saw only brief action is a special moment that I relish every year, ie: my first game of the new season. It seems that October in Colorado was only a few days ago and did we really have the Trophy brought to Nova Scotia? Finally the signing of Colon provides some interest especially if his arm problems have been solved. With Curt's status very uncertain for the season, this move hopefully will provide some insurance. From all reports, Clay Buchholz looks great and Jon Lester looks much stronger so hopefully the two youngsters will do their part in helping the Sox defend the Division Crown. Anyway,baseball has begun even if it is just exhibition. Enjoy!! http://bluenosebosoxbrotherhood.zoomshare.com/2.shtml/91d74fad2c6ceea84a2524f0a6f380e0_47a5c1e3.writeback Sun, 03 Feb 2008 07:30:11 -0600 One of the great things about baseball is the minor leagues and one of the great things about the minor leagues is the AA affiliate of the Red Sox, the Portland Sea Dogs. If you are from the Maritimes or anywhere for that matter and have been fortunate enough to score Red Sox tickets for 08 (almost 2.5 million have already been sold) you owe it to yourself to see if your games in Fenway match up with any Portland home games.If you have been unable to score Sox tickets at face value rather than paying a couple of hundred percent markup why not plan a trip to Portland and check out the Sea Dogs. Whether you take the Cat from Yarmouth or travel by car it is a great trip. Not only are good seats still available, reserved seats go for the great family price of $8. a pop. The talent is great as well. Why last year, Jacoby Ellsbury started the season in Portland. The ballpark provides a great experience as well. The Maine Monster is a replica of the Green Monster, every inning has contests where fans can win a variety of great prizes, and to top it all off if the Red Sox are playing that night, the video scoreboard will keep you up to date on the Sox game.There is not a bad seat in the ballpark which also has great food and cold beer. The souvenir store has a great variety of items of the Sea Dogs and the Red Sox. You can order your tickets on line and for the first time this year print them off at home. While waiting for the game to start, Portland has a great Art Gallery, great shopping either in the Downtown area or at the Maine Mall and great places to eat as well. My personal recommendation is the Flatbread Company located at 72 Commercial Street overlooking the harbour and very close to the ferry terminal.If you like pizza you will not be disappointed. So for a great experience and a chance to see some future Red Sox in action plan a trip to Portland. Also the Sea Dogs, have players before each game man an autograph booth to sign for fans. A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to be there when Jon Lester and Brandon Moss were manning the booth. See you at Hadlock Field!