This week, Danny reacted to some of the top stories in the sports world:
So LeBron James now has ownership stake in the Boston Red Sox.
Perhaps that’s a news story that didn’t get as much attention as it probably should have here in Boston, when the news broke last week. Bill Belichick’s wild spending spree to open free agency was the top storyline, helping the New England Patriots steal all of the top headlines.
Considering James is still an active NBA superstar, him becoming an official partner of Fenway Sports Group, and thus, making him one of the Red Sox owners, is pretty wild.
With the move, James and his business partner Maverick Carter become the first black owners within Fenway Sports Group. Obviously, that’s a big deal.
For James and Carter, their small ownership stake in the Red Sox — as part of their deal with Fenway Sports Group — is just a stepping stone to something bigger. If anything, it’s a sign that James will most certainly be the majority owner of a professional sports team some day, and most likely, he will own a professional baseball team.
Will he stop at baseball? Who knows. Probably not. James is out there breaking down barriers. And it’s great to see.
Now, when we put the historic business dealings aside for a moment, I do have to admit, the diehard Red Sox fan in me has plenty of questions about this partnership with someone who has not only been a rival of the Boston Celtics for years, but also with someone who has expressed his love for the New York Yankees, and most recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In all honesty, it doesn’t get me too worked up, and I’m not going to overreact, but I’d definitely be lying to you if I told you it didn’t run through my mind upon hearing the news. As great of a move as it is for James, what exactly does it do for the Red Sox?
Again, I don’t expect it to really be a factor. Unless James decides to buy the team from principal owner John Henry — which I don’t think he’s going to do — then, like I said, this is just a move that allows James to get his feet wet, and likely sets him and Carter up to buy another team down the road.
That said, here’s hoping James and Carter have now thrown away all of their Yankees gear.
—Did COVID-19 kill the NCAA Tournament? Last year, we know it did, because the tournament was canceled. But even in its return this year, I’m having a tough time feeling the March Madness like I usually do.
Maybe it’s because they’re not playing inside of packed stadiums. Or maybe it’s because COVID-19 is still lingering, causing one first-round game last weekend to be declared a “no contest” after No. 10 seed VCU was forced to forfeit because of multiple positive COVID-19 tests within their program. As a result, No. 7 seed Oregon automatically advanced to the second round.
Bottom line, I need packed arenas and stadiums for sporting events, and I need them soon. Until then, there will always be something missing, with every sport.
—By the time you see this, the Celtics might’ve already made a trade before this Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. The hot rumor is Orlando’s Aaron Gordon.
Ok, ya, let’s acquire Gordon. But if Marcus Smart is involved in any trade, we riot.
—Congratulations to Patriots safety Patrick Chung, who announced his retirement via instagram last weekend. It felt like Chung was always a somewhat underappreciated talent in this town. But he’s a three-time Super Bowl champ, and played an important role in all three of those championship seasons.
Chung’s presence was clearly missed last season, as he opted out due to COVID-19. I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors. Especially if he somehow ends up in Tampa Bay.
—If you’re a pro wrestling fan, then the newest episode of Stone Cold Steve Austin’s “Broken Skull Sessions” on the WWE Network is a must-watch. It features a one-on-one sit down with current WWE superstar Randy Orton, and it’s one of the more enjoyable conversations between two pro wrestlers that you’ll ever see.
The one-on-one lasts nearly two hours, as they go through Orton’s entire wrestling career, all while drinking beer and taking several shots of Jack Daniels throughout the conversation.
Maybe I’m biased because Orton is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time, but this interview is fascinating to watch, as they pull back the curtain on much of Orton’s career.
Follow Danny on Twitter and Instagram @DannyPicard.
