The Schill Still

It's done. Schilling will be pitching for the Boston Red Sox next year according to ESPN.com. I think this is a great move by both parties. It will probably be a while before Clay settles into his role as starter. Schill gives them some insurance. Even if he only pitches in the playoffs and deal will be worth it. Schilling will get a one year deal worth $8 million plus incentives that could bring him to $10 million total.

Travis Ford

It was a great night at Thom's Monday. The coach of UMASS basketball, Travis Ford broadcasted his weekly radio show from The Loft. Afterwards he was greeted by eager UMASS alumni who hosted the event. This was the first time we broadcasted a live show from the bar. But, judging by the success, more will come.

The Celts Cruise and The Sox Sign

The unveiling ceremony went as planned. The Big Three performed perfectly on the new Red Auerbach floor at the Boston Garden beating Washington 103-83. In attendance were Patriots' owner Robert Craft and wide receiver Wes Welker, and line backer Junior Seau. But, the star of the night was the World Series trophy brought by John Henry and Tim Wakefield who has just been extended another year to play for the Red Sox.

In other signing news the Sox picked up their option on Julian Tavarez and got confirmation from pitching coach John Farrell that he would be returning. Also, the Sox completed the Joel Pineiro deal with the Cardinals by acquiring the player to be named later Sean Danielson. No surprise, Danielson was a leader among Cardinal minor-leaguers in on-base percentage.

Kevin Cash filed for free-agency.

The Patriots have announced that Sammy Morris, their leading rusher, will be out for the rest of the season with a chest injury he sustained during the Dallas game a few weeks ago.

Fitzy's Back!

Fitzy has been busy helping ESPN make Monday Night Football watchable, so it's understandable that he hasn't had time to lead the Nation in a while. But, he's back big time with his World Series wrap-up and his mid-season Superbowl preview. (This is a must listen. Don't be tricked into clicking the Frank DeFord link.) Fitzy takes on NPR's audience in this clip in an audacious defense of all things Patriots.

It's obvious that the NPR (National Patriots Radio) reporter has had enough of Fitzy's beautiful boondoggle of his show so he rolls the "get him out of here" music and once out of earshot says, "Fitzy alleges he's a sports expert." The joke's on you, jackass. Fitzy already GFY'ed you in his sign off.

Line of the show?

Fitzy to a Colts' fan caller: "Gimme a break Nell Carter."

Here's Eric Wilbur's great take on the Pats' runningituppyness.

And, don't blame the Pats for their lopsided victories, blame the Colts. Judy Batista of the NYTimes does.

Have You Seen My Baseball?

I finally got "that song" out of my head. Well, it's not really out of my head it's been transformed into a folk version more in tune with Woody Guthrie or a ditty by Pete Seeger circa 1944. It makes more sense, but it's far more annoying. Think the old Old Spice theme.

By the way, Paul Shaffer did a fine version of "that song" last night in introducing Papelbon on Letterman (If that doesn't work, try here.) The cavalcade of stars continues Friday with Papi on Conan and "Bad Man" Manny Ramirez on Leno. (They should have them both as contestants on "Jay Walking".)

It took a whole two days for me to miss the baseball season. Tuesday night, I grabbed my computer to check the score and quickly realized that there was no score. The party's over. Or, is it?

The Green Team

Just as one circus is packing up another is coming to town. The new and improved Boston Celtics kick off their season Friday night and there should be a great crowd of the dusty jersey wearing faithful on hand. Pundit after pundit has picked the Celts to win the East. Will they live up to the hype? If you're a huge Celts fan let me know. There might be a film in the works.

The Showdown X (that's a ten not an eks)

The bigger and badder Patsies visit their only real rival this week at 4:00 in Indianapolis. Tom Brady has faced Manning 9 times. He won the first 6 and lost the last 3. He's hoping number 10 will be a blowout, but he's not counting on it. I'm hoping they run up the score.

More Thom's Foolery

Have you seen my baseball? Here we go again. No one can blame Eyechart for this disappearing act. The final out has gone missing again. the last suspect seen with it was Varitek who caught the last strike, but he insisted that he gave it to Papelbon who, when asked, gave the reporters a bit of the who struck Jon.

Sign the petition to keep Mike Lowell.

Check out more photos from the World Series at Thom's here and here.

The party's over

The candles flicker and dim

You danced and dreamed through the night

It seemed to be right just being with him

Now you must wake up, all dreams must end

Take off your makeup, the party's over

It's all over, my friend

-Betty Comden and Adolph Green

The Death of Lancelot

As one star falls, another rises.

News came down yesterday of the sad death of Robert Goulet. A native of Lawrence, Mass., Goulet was a huge Red Sox fan who considered his performance of "Impossible Dream" at this year's home opener his greatest thrill.

Goulet died in the hospital awaiting an heart transplant. According to his wife Vera, among his last words were, ""Just give me a new pair of lungs and I'll hit the high notes until I'm 100."

Meanwhile, the new popstar of sports is Seamus McPapelbon. The kilt wearing, jig busting closer of the Red Sox will appear on David Letterman tonight Muddy River Dancing.

*****

According to the Globe, Schilling has likely pitchedd his last game in a Red Sox uniform.

There was the chapel, at a brooklet's side.

I galloped downhill to it with my guide.

I was too late, for Lancelot had died.

(Click post title for full text.)

Pictures from World Series Game 4

The Love

The People

The Joy

The Bunting

The Celebration!

The BLOHARDS

Around the Bar.

Time to Dance

It's all over. They won. They dominated. I really don't have much to say yet except that I'm exhausted. I get one night of rest then back to the bar tomorrow at noon for a parade party. That's right, the duck boats will be waggling through the streets of Boston tomorrow loaded with champions and we'll have all of the NESN coverage at Thom's. I've gotten lots of queries, so there should be a nice crowd. I hope I see all of those faces that have become so familiar to me over the last few weeks. Honestly, I was overwhelmed by the general air of geniality and cooperation in the bar. Instead of people in the back row fighting through the crowd to get beers all they had to do was shout their order and they were duly passed through, hardly ever sipped. Thank you all.

I realize many of you are shipping up to Boston to see it live, but if you're in town take a long lunch and join us at the bar.

I have a bunch of pictures from last night that I'll be posting here. If you have some too, please send them in.

A Roamin' Holliday

There wasn't much cheering last night at Thom's until the fourth inning when Jacoby Ellsbury gave America a free taco by stealing second. The crowd was warmed up and jumped into to full fan mode. When Schilling left the game he got a standing ovation in the bar. Horton lead each and everyone in "Take Me Out To The Ball Game". And then Okajeemer got a riot out of us for every big K. It was the perfect set up for the biggest roar of the night.

Papelbon entered the game with 2 outs in the eighth to face the leading contender for NL MVP, Matt Holliday. A line drive up the middle nearly put a hole through Paps and was gloved by Pedroia who rolled over his wrist without making a throw. The trainers came out to check both players and they both stayed in the game. But, now one of the best hitters of the last decade, Todd Helton, was at the plate down one and a man on first. Paps stared into the plate puckered his lips and lowered his head. He set his glove and suddenly twirled to first ending the Rockies' roamin' Holliday who probably had it in mind to steal second but, instead, ended the inning.

Papelbon went on to close out the closest game the Sox have had this whole postseason. It's on to Coloroado.

A Thommy Abroad

Check out the blog of Thom's regular Ken Eng as he films in China.

Thom's Sox Song List

Many of the people at Thom's have asked about the music we play during the game and between innings. Below is a list of some of the songs:

Before the game starts we always play a clip of Sherm Feller saying "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Welcome to Fenway Park". If you grew up in Boston going to Sox games chances are that you heard this a million times without even thinking about it. Well, Sherm is gone now and his memory lives on at Thom's. Most of the time that is followed by another Sherm Feller clip introducing former Red Sox organist John Kiley playing the "The National Anthem". Immediately following "The National Anthem" is the band Boston with "Rock and Roll Band" and, if it's a Fox broadcast there's usually enough room for the first few bars of the "Cheers Theme".

During the seventh inning stretch you hear John Kiley again playing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" followed by "I Do" by the J. Geills Band. When the 8th inning stretch comes the whole bar sings along with Neil Diamond and "Sweet Caroline". If the Sox happen to win then of course we hear "Dirty Water" by the Standells.

In no particular order here are some other songs you hear:

• "New England" by Jonathan Richman
• "MTA" by The Kingston Trio
• "Walk Away" by The Dropkick Murphys
• "Tessie" The Dropkick Murphys
• "I'm Shipping up to Boston" The Dropkick Murphys
• "Shake it up" by The Cars
• "Just What I Needed" by The Cars
• "I Do" by J. Geills
• "Freeze Frame" by J. Geills
• "Centerfold" by J. Geills
• "New England" by Big D and The Kids' Table
• "Dream On" by Aerosmith
• "Voices Carry" by Gang Green
• "Window Pane" by Mad Larry

Most of the above are Boston bands except for Mad Larry whose song appears in "Fever Pitch"

A lot of these are songs I've been playing during Sox games for years, but this year Sarah Logan of the Red Sox gave me a list of the songs she plays at Fenway between innings. They include:

• "What I Like About You" by the Romantics
• "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen
• "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince
• "On the Dark Side" by John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band
• "Pressure Drop" by Toots and the Maytals
• "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night
• "Melt with You" by Modern English
• "Boom Boom Boom" (Follows a homerun)
• "Oki Doki"

I also play the soundtrack to "Outside Providence" because that's the best movie ever.

I'm sure that I left a bunch off or that there are still a bunch I should include. So, drop me an email or leave a comment with your opinion, please.

One Down!

Game 1 of the World Series went off without a hitch. It's strange to say, but there are fewer and fewer new faces at the bar these days. A regular crowd of rooters has settled in to the point where they even try to sit in the same seats every game and drink the same drinks. It makes my job a lot easier. I just pour a bunch of beers, put them on the bar and wait for the right person to pick them up. I know where my high fives are coming from and I know who's going to be yelling on "I'm Shipping off to Boston".

From the start there was plenty to celebrate. Three lucky fans answered Red Sox World Series trivia correctly and won a copy of "Feeding the Monster", an autographed Doug Mirabelli photo, and a case of Harpoon IPA. Then Beckett struck out the side and Dusty got us on the board with a blast that should have been grabbed by the front of the monster. From then on it was chants and sing-alongs. We even woke up the Big Giant Pez for his usual role of Mitch Miller leading us in "Take Me out to the Ballgame".

Truth be told the crowd was a bit sparse by "Dirty Water" but the energy was still very high. I think everyone knows that despite the fireworks it was one game. We started out the Indians series with a blowout too. Now, Schilling and Dice-K have to step up.

I don't know how we're going to top last night, but we can try. Schilling's going to need a lot more help from us than Beckett did. So, look for the "bloody sock" behind the bar and even ask to touch it. Then go and worship a the World Series bunting in the back of the bar that borrowed from Game 4 of the 2004 World Series. Get the mojo moving. and get there early for more trivia tonight with prizes that include a case of Harpoon UFO, and an autographed photo of Manny Delcarmen.

Also, many of you have been asking for the playlist of songs during the Sox games, so I'll put that up on the blog today.

The Celts
Looking ahead to next week, the much vaunted big three of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett make their debut against Washington on Friday, November 2. There should be a great crowd for what people are anticipating as the first serious contender the Celtics have had in almost 20 years.

I'm a sailor peg
And I lost my leg
I climbed up the topsails
I lost my leg
I'm shipping up to boston
(whoa oh oh) x3
-Murph

More Pictures from Game 7