Magic Headphones?

I saw a couple references this weekend to a gift. Apparently, Chad Ochocinco gave all his teammates a pair of headphones so they could all enjoy the flight to Indy for the Super Bowl. He apparently spent close to $30,000 on these headphones. So, we’re talking about some pretty nice headphones. Not a bad gift.

The weird part is that Ocho isn’t the first Boston sports figure to give a gift of headphones. Apparently, when John Henry first noticed the Red Sox clubhouse troubles last September, he tried to fix everything by giving everyone on the team a pair of headphones. When did headphones get magic powers? For me, the two gifts raise a few questions.

Did Ochocinco know about the Henry gift? Did he think it was a good idea, and copy it? Did he see how the gift worked for the Sox, and decide he wanted the same results for the Patriots? Or, did John Henry and Chad Ochocinco each independently come up with the same idea to motivate their team? I can’t decide which answer would concern me more.

I’m also surprised by the theory behind the gifts. In the case of the Sox, the clubhouse was falling apart. Team unity was crumbling. They needed help. As for the Patriots, there’s no dire issue that we know of…yet. They just needed to go as a team to Indiana and win one more game. So I’m curious. Is the best way to build team unity to give everyone devices specifically designed to isolate them from everyone else? Wouldn’t a better idea have been to take away their headphones?

Plus, these are all pretty rich guys, right? These are all pretty young guys, right? They all travel a lot, right? Why didn’t they all have a nice pair of headphones? If I get on the subway, all I see are people wearing headphones. Teenagers, businessmen, mothers, they’re all plugged into their ipods, ipads, and iphones. I would guess that these young rich men would have gotten headphones immediately.

Right?

Jenga Anyone?

This is your one-week warning! In exactly one week, the 2011 Section 36 Scavenger Hunt will end! And, don't forget, the contest happens to end on Super Bowl Sunday. Don't wait!

I know. The stress can be overwhelming. You’ve been scouring the country looking for that darn Jenga game. I appreciate the extra effort!

So, keep those pictures coming. I can’t wait to see who ends up on top. I can’t wait to see who has the most fun!

One Week Left!

List of 36

 Former Red Sox in the Baseball Hall of Fame

1. Jesse Burkett

2. Wade Boggs

3. Herb Pennock

4. Eddie Collins

5. Bobby Doerr

6. Red Ruffing

7. Jack Chesbro

8. Dick Williams

9. Juan Marichal

10. Ted Williams

11. Tom Seaver

12. Tom Yawkey

13. Al Simmons

14. Jimmy Collins

15. Tony Perez

16. Babe Ruth

17. Luis Aparicio

18. George Kell

19. Rick Ferrell

20. Harry Hooper

21. Andre Dawson

22. Jim Rice

23. Heinie Manush

24. Carl Yastrzemski

25. Cy Young

26. Fergie Jenkins

27. Hugh Duffy

28. Jimmie Foxx

29. Waite Hoyt

30. Joe Cronin

31. Orlando Cepeda

32. Tris Speaker

33. Rickey Henderson

34. Lou Boudreau

35. Joe McCarthy

36. Lefty Grove

Theo’s a Genius

This time last year, there were three first basemen of note entering the last year of contracts. It was pretty much assumed that one of them, Adrian Gonzalez, was all but signed to a long-term deal. The other two were unknowns. Now, they’re both knowns. And, boy, that Gonzalez deal looks like a gift. And Theo knew it.

He brought this very thing up during the negotiations last year. Gonzalez all but assured Theo that a deal would be reached. It was safe to make the trade for him, and work out the details later. Theo actually brought up the other two first basemen. What if, he asked, their contracts this off-season shoot the market to the sky, and the Sox can’t resign Adrian. He was told not to worry. Gonzalez only wanted what was fair. Thank goodness for that. Gonzalez’s contract is shorter, and about 25% less than the contracts for Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. You can argue which of the three is a better contract. But, you can’t argue that Gonzalez is 25% less of a player than they are. Nicely done Red Sox.

The Fielder contract remind me of the Gonzalez trade because both teams already had darn good first basemen. They both had to get an all-star to switch positions for the new acquisition. Thankfully, both were more than willing to do so. There are mixed feeling as to what kind of a third baseman Miguel Cabrera will make. But, he won’t be bad enough to offset the added value of Fielder, that’s for sure. That’s a pretty potent line-up.

Of course, the Sox get to see this all in person right off the bat. They get to open the season in Detroit. Good thing the Tigers don’t have any pitching to go along with those bats.

Oh, right.

Fenway Needs a Tris Speaker Statue

I’ve said before that I like statues as a way to honor people. I also really like the idea of having statues around a ballpark. When I went to Pittsburgh, it was really cool to walk around the park, and keep running into statues of past greats. It makes the place more visually interesting. It also makes for a great meeting place when you’re going to a game with friends. “See you at the game. Meet me by the Clemente.”

Fenway, of course, has statues. They’re an interesting selection of players. There’s one of Ted Williams and a little kid, and one of the famous four teammates from the forties. On their own, they’re great statues. They’re both deserving subjects. But, is it weird that Fenway only has the two statues, and both are of Ted Williams? I know he’s the greatest Red Sox of them all, but how about some variety? And, speaking of variety, the two statues are right next to each other. That puts a bit of a kink in the “meet you at…” appeal of a statue. It would be one thing if the sidewalk were turned into a walk of fame sort of thing with statues of all the greats along one sidewalk. But, this isn’t that. Why not put Ted on the other side of the park? On Ted Williams Way, perhaps? But, location isn’t as important. They just need more.

Photo by Ruben

Let’s assume the Sox move Ted to Gate C. How about some statues at the other corners. Wouldn’t a statue of Tris Speaker be perfect in the back corner…behind center field? To be honest, this would have been a great thing to unveil this year. As we celebrate Fenway’s 100 birthday, why not have a statue of Fenway’s first superstar? But, it’s probably too late for that. How about getting it in place for 2015, the 100^th anniversary of Speaker’s other championship season? That would be fantastic.

The ownership has done a great job fixing up Fenway. Now it’s time to work on the area around it. 

I like statues.