We can handle the truth if we hear it

The Toronto Blue Jays named Tim Johnson as their manager for the 1998 season following the firing of Cito Gaston and the interim management of pitching coach Mel Queen. Queen remained on as pitching coach under Johnson and the two reportedly feuded extensively, despite Johnson's reputation as a good communicator. Johnson also had rumored differences with several of his players, including Pat Hentgen, Ed Sprague, and Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens.

It was revealed that Johnson lied about horrific experiences in Vietnam, when in fact there was no truth to them at all. And not only did Tim Johnson fabricate lies about his experiences in Vietnam, but he also lied about being an All-American basketball player who turned down a chance to play for UCLA.

One of the incidents in question was when Tim Johnson opted to use Rogers Clemens instead of Pat Hentgen to pitch a series finale in Boston. After Hentgen responded unfavorably, Johnson quipped back saying something to the effect of “you don’t know anything about tough spots … pressure is in Vietnam.”

Of all people, it was actually Roger Clemens who discovered Tim Johnson’s secret. At the time, Clemens was a good friend of Johnson; and knowing of his wartime stories and that he was a big motorcycle fan, wanted to get him a present any veteran would be honored to receive – a motorcycle helmet featuring the logo of his combat unit.

Roger Clemens asked around trying to gather some background info on Tim Johnson, to no avail. Clemens even went as far as to ask Johnson’s wife, but she apparently knew nothing about it. And that was the beginning of the end of Tim Johnson’s time with the Blue Jays

Ryan Lochte admitted in an embarrassing interview with NBC's Matt Lauer that he fabricated parts of his story that he was robbed at gunpoint while in Rio de Janeiro. "I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that, we wouldn't be in this mess. " The claim created a minor international incident and caused Lochte to lose a number of sponsorships.

"None of this would have happened," Lochte added about the aftermath in which three of his fellow swimmers were questioned by Brazilian police and one was ordered to donate nearly $11,000 to a Brazilian charity.

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady returned to practice after sitting out three days due to a clubhouse mishap. Brady cut his right thumb with a pair of scissors while cleaning his spikes. The accident occurred one hour prior to the exhibition game at Gillette Stadium against the Chicago Bears

The NFC Title game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco was played on January 10, 1982. The game featured "The Catch" by wide receiver Dwight Clark at the back of the endzone on the pass thrown by QB Joe Montana. The touchdown reception gave the 49ers the lead with 58 seconds to play. San Francisco held on for an exciting 28-27 victory, and a trip to the Super Bowl.

Four year old Tom Brady claimed he was at the 1982 NFC Title game, and he was in the stands in the endzone where Clark made the miraculous catch.

I guess Roger Clemens isn't the only one who "misremembers" important moments in history.


Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

It Ain't Over Til The Fat Lady Sings

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service. Founded on December 14, 2002, and launched on May 5, 2003 it is mainly used for professional networking. As of 2015, most of the site's revenue came from selling access to information about its users to recruiters and sales professionals. As of March 2016, LinkedIn has more than 433 million accounts, out of which more than 106 million are active.

One can meet all kinds of interesting people while networking through LinkedIn. I have become friendly with Jack Welch, the former chairman and CEO of General Electric. He is one of the few big shots who will actually send a reply if somebody sends him a response.

My friend, Richard Grande called me in early March of 1982. Richard was aware that I was part of a group of four who had season tickets to the Boston Celtics. He had two tickets in his possession, but was hoping to purchase an additional pair to reach his allotment of four. He had a client who was flying in from France who had never attended a professional game. At the time, the Boston Celtics were reigning NBA Champions, having defeated the Houston Rockets in six games the prior June.

I went to work on this matter for Richard right away. I struck out with two of the ticket holders who told me they would be attending the Sunday matinee at the Boston Garden between the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics. With my ticket and the one from Greg Liddell, I could get what Richard coveted.

Greg had recently moved to South Carolina, but kept his apartment in Waltham just in case the new job didn’t work out. I left a message on his answering machine, and his roommate called me back. He gave me the phone number of the hotel where Greg was staying. I called the front desk and left a message.

It was Thursday night when Greg returned my call. He said I could have his ticket in exchange for a future game. The only problem was that the ticket was in his locked apartment and his roommate was skiing in Vermont. Greg gave me his landlord’s phone number. The message went to voicemail.

The landlord returned my call on Friday morning. He said that he could meet me by 4PM. After that, he was gone for the weekend. I told him I would call back. I called the Waltham District Court where my friend Tom Boardman was a court officer. Luckily, he answered. I gave him the landlord’s phone number and he called and setup a time for them to meet.

A few hours went by, and I called the Court, again. Tom had done his part. He would drop the ticket off for me, and I would owe him a case of beer.

I was delivering for Federal Express in Portsmouth, NH. I had a package for a job site that was getting ready to blast rock so that a new bridge could be built. I was 50 feet above the railroad tracks when I handed the package with the large drill bit to the foreman. I asked him if I could use the bag phone. I called Kidder Peabody in Boston and left a message for Richard to inform him that I would drop off the two tickets at his home on Peter Bulkeley Rd. in Concord.

I asked Jack Welch when he was going to close out the final transaction on my $32.00 worth of tickets. Kidder Peabody was purchased by General Electric in 1986, and sold to PaineWebber in 1994. I informed Jack that no money ever changed hands for that March, 14, 1982 sporting event.

I paid for all the phone calls, the case of beer and that future game payment turned out to be Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals with the hated Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics slaughtered the Sixers, 121-81 on Mother’s Day, May 9th.

The tickets went unused when the Frenchman couldn’t make connections on his flight to America. It’s too bad because he missed a 105-92 Celtics victory.

The late, great Howard Cosell carried an uncashed $1.50 check in his wallet. He won the money in a card game from billionaire Lamar Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and founder of the American Football League. Howard said that “Lamar can never balance his books if I don’t cash it.”

Inflation has driven the 1982 $32.00 to today’s value of $80.52. Simple interest is money you can earn by initially investing some money (the principal). A percentage (the interest) of the principal is added to the principal, making your initial investment grow!

Good things come to those who wait.

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

Greatest Generation rolls over after Chris Sale fiasco

When Chicage White Sox ace lefthander Chris Sale returns to his team Thursday to face the crosstown Cubs at Wrigley Field, he'll find a clubhouse a little happier than the one he left.The last time Chris Sale was in the clubhouse he was carving up $13,000. 00 worth of throw-back jerseys that were part of a marketing promotion for the Pale Hose.

You've probably heard the story by now, incredible as it still seems, and read more than a few "Scissorshands" cracks on your favorite social media outlet. Sale, unhappy that the White Sox were planning to use throwback jerseys last Saturday proceeded to methodically cut those jerseys up. He said his beef was a competitive issue. The uniforms were uncomfortable and didn't allow him to pitch at his best.

As a youngster, I would watch football games on most Sundays in the fall in our backyard. The contests were generally three on three battles between the Hurstaks(3) and the Bakers(2). There was always one outsider who was chosen to make it even. Once in awhile, the squads played four on four.

The games were held in our backyard because we had the proper dimensions for a football field. Also, my father would referee the games so that the brothers wouldn't do bodily harm to each other. Ronny and Bobby Baker were always on opposing teams. None of the players wore helmets.

On one particular Sunday, the game got a late start because church had run longer than usual. Having gotten home late, Bobby Baker decided that he would play in his white slacks rather than going home to change. He knew he would face the wrath of his mother, but he didn't care. He couldn't wait to play.

One of the first plays was a run by Bobby around the right side. As he turned up field, he was tackled out of bounds by his brother, Ronny. The sibling rivalry was a thrill to watch. The two were always looking to upstage the other. As the two players got up, all the others started laughing. The Bakers' dog, Major had visited the out of bounds area while the game was in progress. (Dog Shit - 1.) Something that is worthless and of inferior quality. 2.) Fecal excrement left by a dog).

While play was halted, Bobby ran across the street to change his pants. When his mother saw him approach the front door, she told him to "stay out of the house", and tossed a fresh pair of pants out the window. He changed the pants in broad daylight on the front lawn, and hung the soiled britches on one of the hooks on the telephone pole.

The referee put the ball back in play and the game continued.

Paper will cover it, but scissors won't.

Touch football is a variant of American football in which the basic rules are similar to those of the mainstream game (called "tackle football" for contrast), but instead of tackling players to the ground, the person carrying the ball need only be touched by a member of the opposite team to end a down.

It's okay to play with kids but don't baby them. Just because your 7-year-old niece is playing quarterback doesn't mean you can't intercept her screen pass and run it back for a touchdown. She's got to learn sometime not to throw into triple coverage. The patriotic child in the photo wearing red, white and blue is
Chris Sale.

The count is five "Mississippi." And it's a full four syllables—not a rushed "MISS-IPPI." There is not a chance that Chris Sale will ever experience a hard tackle from his brother. Maybe a two hand touch, though.


Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

Approval rating is not based on looks

An approval rating is a percentage determined by a polling which indicates the percentage of respondents to an opinion poll who approve of a particular person or program.

In October 1968, Cass Elliot made her live solo debut headlining in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace, scheduled for a three-week engagement at $40,000 per week, with two shows per night. Elliot went on a six-month long crash diet before the show, losing 100 of her 300 pounds. According to Elliot, the weight loss led to a stomach ulcer and throat problems, which she treated by drinking milk and cream (and regaining 50 pounds in the process).

Reviews were harsh. Esquire magazine called the show "a disaster" that was "heroic in proportion, epic in scope." The Los Angeles Free Press called the show "an embarrassing drag." Newsweek compared the show to the Titanic disaster.

Critics were harsh, but in the end, it was Mama Cass Elliot who won the battle. In the Behind the Music documentary on the The Mamas and the Papas, a poll was taken from male adults. The survey was based on "how comfortable a male would be in having a sandwich and a beer with a certain celebrity." Cass' approval rating amongst men was 89%.

An oft-repeated urban legend claims that Elliot choked to death on a ham sandwich. The post-mortem examination found that Elliot had died of a heart attack, and no food was found in her windpipe, yet the false story has persisted for decades.

Heidi Klum is a German model, television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, television producer, and occasional actress. The super model is not in the same class with Mama Cass Elliot.

In the same documentary from The Mamas and the Papas, it was revealed that Heidi Klum barely received a favorable evaluation. Her approval rating was only 54%. This was due to the fact that males could not relate to her, and would be disinterested in what she had to say.

The man in the middle with the black hat is Jack Hutchinson from Deerfield, NH. He is the architect for all the planning of the town's 250th anniversary celebration. He is the driving force in raising over $80,000.00 so the small non industrial town of 4,200 people can commemorate the community's historic birth.

The following events will take place over the upcoming weekend due to the work of the retired schoolteacher: Ham & Bean Supper, Variety Show, Cornhole Tournament, Encampments from the Revolutionary War, French and Indian War, Civil War, Excavator Rodeo, Antique Car Parade, Marching Bands, Old Timers' Baseball Game and Fireworks. If it rains, he has a Plan B. Jack's approval rating is just a shade behind Mama Cass.

Severino Trucking Co., Inc. is an excavation contractor with over 40 years of experience in road construction and site development. Working in southern New Hampshire, northeastern Massachusetts and southern Maine, our scope of work includes commercial site development, private subdivision roads, municipal road construction and NH DOT federally funded road construction.

Severino Trucking of Candia, NH just received the largest state contract for roadwork in Rochester, NH of $64 million. The Severino brothers, Ron and Tom are more than just Good Scouts. They are exceptional businessmen who value loyalty and trust in their employees. Having interviewed many Severino workers who will participate in the Deerfield 250th Excavator Rodeo, one can clearly see that they all thoroughly enjoy their work and their company.

If I could set the approval rating for Severino Trucking, it might reach three digits. As a matter of fact, if I could come out of retirement, I would choose this company over Heidi Klum, anyday.


Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

The NHL Hall of Fame is not playing with fire

The 2016 inductees into the National Hockey League Hall of Fame in Toronto were announced on Monday. Eric Lindros was elected long with Soviet star Sergei Makarov and goaltender Rogie Vachon. The player and coach Pat Quinn, who died in 2014, made it as well. Quinn was chairman of the hall of fame at the time of his death. Missing from the selection class was Theo Fleury who was irrefutably one of the most electrifying players of his generation.

Sergei Makarov was part of the Russian KLM line with Vladimir Krutov and Igor Larionov. While Makarov did score the first goal in the 1980 tournament game against the United States at Lake Placid, he will always be a part of the biggest choke in team sports history.

THEO FLEURY - He overcame his 5-foot-6 150 lb. size to put up 1,088 points and win almost everything: The Stanley Cup, Canada Cup, Turner Cup, Olympic gold medal and a World Junior Gold Medal. Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux or any player who has ever laced up skates can lay claim to such remarkable hockey team accomplishments.

Induction into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame will have to wait for the youngster from Oxbow, Saskatchewan. Theo Fleury has battled demons since childhood. The product of a broken home, alcoholic father and drug addict mother, he has faced greater disappointment than the selection committee could ever know.

Following a serious arm injury at age 13, having missed a full season of action, the local community raised money to send him to the Andy Murray Hockey School in Brandon, Manitoba. This was the first time away from home for Theo. It was there that Fleury met Graham James, who was working as a scout for the Winnipeg Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Graham Michael James is a former Canadian ice hockey coach for the Western Hockey League and convicted sex offender, named Man of the Year by The Hockey News in 1989 after coaching the Swift Current Broncos league championship win. This honor was later revoked by The Hockey News. James pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for molesting hockey player, Sheldon Kennedy. James admitted to molesting a second NHL player, Theo Fleury. Two additional years were added to his sentence.

Theo Fleury played 15 NHL seasons. He amassed better than a point per game in his career. He twice represented Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships. His first team played in the 1987 tournament in Piešťany, Czechoslovakia. The tournament is best remembered for the "Punch-up in Piestany." An infamous bench-clearing brawl between the Canadians and the Soviet Union resulted in players from both teams being banned for international competition for 18 months. A judge reduced the suspension to six months, and Fleury led the Canadians to the 1988 world title.

The following year, Theo Fleury was a rookie on the Calgary Flames as the team won its only Stanley Cup title. He scored 33 goals in his first season and tallied 51 the next year. His career Flames scoring record was surpassed by Jarome Iginla in 2009.

In 1995, he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. He also battled drug and alcohol addictions. According to Theo, he failed 13 consecutive drug tests while a member of the New York Rangers, but was not suspended because he was leading the team in scoring.

Playing with Fire became the top seller on Amazon within a week of its release, and Fleury stated that he had been contacted by several sexual abuse victims who were motivated by his book to seek help. The author, Kirstie McLellan Day adapted the autobiography into a one-man play, entitled Playing with Fire: The Theo Fleury Story. The play made its world premiere May 1, 2012 and was also the subject of a 2012 documentary by HBO Canada.

Player - Playing ability, sportsmanship, character and contributions to his or her team or teams and to the game of hockey in general for induction.

"Off the ice should count as much as on." Fleury has raised millions in research for Crohn's disease.


Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

And Justice for All

On June 24, 1984, Victor Manuel Gerena celebrated his 26th birthday by parking his car inside The Wells Fargo company garage, rather than the employees lot. Nobody seemed to mind this little request for the birthday boy. He was a new security guard who seemed interested in law enforcement.

Victor had attended Annhurst College, a female only college that had admitted men recently to pay the bills. This private Catholic institution was run by the nuns and they had no use for the males, and treated them accordingly. Victor saw the handwriting on the wall and left before graduation. He got a job in West Hartford, Ct, not far from the South Woodstock campus.

Following the morning meeting, Victor would take two security employees as hostage, injecting them with a non-lethal substance and tying them with nylons. He would drive out the main gate with $ 7 million. His whereabouts are still unknown.

During a game of Hearts with UPI Editor-In-Chief William Hutchinson in 1949, FBI Chief and cross dresser J.Edgar Hoover, were discussing ways to promote the capture of the “ bad guys.“ Victor is at the head of the class, ranked #1 in the Top 10 most wanted. Alexis Flores is now at #2 and Luis Macedo ranks third.

The only correspondence in the past 24 years was a phone call to his girlfriend 3 days after the robbery. He told her that “ he hated the nuns more than they hated him” . He also said that Wells Fargo was “cheap. “ I will be making more than 5 bucks an hour not working.

Recently, a bag of money fell out of the back of a Wells Fargo Armored vehicle. A homeless person returned the money bag worth more than $ 1 million and was given a reward of $ 10, 000.00. I know The Greatest Generation tipped at a rate of 15 %, maximum. Today, a decent tip is 20% and a very good one is 25 %. Wells Fargo must be still using the Gold Rush rate. Score one for Victor.

The last time Victor was seen when he dropped his girlfriend at City Hall for a marriage license. She would later tell the FBI that “ Victor would return.” They were to have the song by Fleetwood Mac, The Chain played at their wedding.

On May 14, 1984, Gerena became the 386th fugitive to be placed on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. He remains at large, and on April 11, 2010, became the fugitive to have spent the most time on the list, surpassing Donald Eugene Webb, who was removed from the list on March 31, 2007, after 25 years, 10 months, and 27 days (no leads for many years, presumed dead). As of June, 2016, Gerena has been on the list for 32 years. He is believed to be living in Cuba.


I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

Father's Day never gets old

SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS

A quick refresher for those who haven’t kept score in a while: R – run, H – hit, E – error, BB – base on balls, LOB – left on base, HBP – hit by pitch, GIDP –grounded into double play

For the visiting Los Angeles Angels, 10 runs, 18 hits, four errors, 11 walks, 17 runners left on base, two hit batsmen, and four grounded into double plays.

The home team Boston Red Sox scored 6 runs, 14 hits, six errors, 9 walks, 14 runners on base, two hit batsmen, and grounded into five double plays.

This is the box score for the Father’s Day Game I took my dad to. It was a regular day in the neighborhood with 7 AM Sunday Mass, followed by breakfast and baseball at Emerson Playground. On this day, it would be just Dad and me heading east on Storrow Drive going to Fenway Park.

During our drive, he let me listen to Arnie “ Woo Woo “ Ginsberg on WMEX, 1510 AM on your radio dial. As we passed Browne & Nichols, Sunshine Superman by Donovan came on. This song has Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame on lead guitar and Bobby Orr on the drums. No, it is not the same one who scored on Mother’s Day. I knew every word and I sang away. As we passed the Coca Cola sign, I must have reached the high note for I saw my Father smile.

The weather was in the 90’s and the sacks were full just about every inning. The tying run would come to the plate with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th. The bases were loaded for 3rd baseman, Frank Malzone. He lived near my Dad’s sister in Needham so he was my favorite. All I needed was a grand slam and I could have extra innings. I jumped from my seat as his fly ball was caught behind shortstop.

The most famous trial of the 20th Century was held in Flemington, New Jersey in 1935(pop.-2,769). This was the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. Richard Bruno Hauptmann was charged with the crime. He would be given the electric chair on April 3rd by the State of New Jersey after having his favorite meal and a smoke. My father would be tortured worse with a 5 hour baseball game, listening to my singing, a soggy ballpark frank and a flat coke. He would also have memories of April 3rd for he was married on this date.

The last movie that my Father watched was Field of Dreams. I do hope to have a game of catch with him someday. I am quite confident it won’t be on any Father’s Day.

That is always my recollection of Father's Day. Thanks for the memories.

A you-you-you can just sit there a-thinking on your velvet throne,
‘bout all the rainbows a-you can a-have for your own

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy