Morning Jolt: Manny can expect boos at Fenway
Tuesday, June 15
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Ramirez not likely to receive warm welcome in Boston
Manny Ramirez, shipped as far West as possible, will return to face the Red Sox. The fervent Fenway Faithful are perhaps the most knowledgeable fans in professional sports, with born-into-it devotion that runs as deep and long and strong as New England winters. Then there is the timing of it. Consider that Friday's homecoming could come the day following an NBA Finals Game 7 between Boston's Celtics and the Lakers, any anti-Manny sentiment only exacerbated by beat-L.A. residue from the most intense rivalry in professional basketball. So when the Ramirez steps into the batter's box at The Chapel on Friday, the forecast calls for scattered cheers with downpours of jeers. (Los Angeles Times)Comment
Johnson: 'No comment' on holdout threat
The NFL's leading rusher is talking, but not saying much. His base salary for this year is $550,000, and the Titans have yet to budge. Training camp begins July 31. But Johnson dodged contract-related questions like he raced past defenders last fall. Asked when he plans to report to the team, he said: "I don't know. I'm just working out." Asked if he's prepared to hold out until he gets a new contract, he said, "No comment." Asked if he or his agent, Joel Segal, were prepared to play hardball with the Titans, he chuckled and said, "No comment." Segal could not be reached for comment Monday night. (The Tennessean)Comment
Doc Rivers' best financial move in the long run may be to walk away from the Celtics. Bottom line: He'll walk away from the $5 million and command $8-10 million when he returns. You never know, maybe he'll even get to fulfill a dream that he has been denied thus far. Maybe he'll finally get to coach [son] Austin. Consider this: If Rivers had walked away two years ago after winning his first NBA title, he might be the second-hottest free agent on the market today. We'll give LeBron his due, but there is no way Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson would have as many owners swooning over him as Doc would. The Russian guy in New Jersey? He'd have offered Doc his own zinc mine to coach the Nets. Chicago AND Atlanta would have been begging him to come home. (Boston Herald)Comment
Must-See Photo
Albert Pujols grabs his ear after being hit by the ball while sliding into home against the Mariners in the fifth inning in Monday night's game. Pujols stayed in the game, which the Cardinals won 9-3. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)
Must-See Video
A small earthquake, measured at 5.7 on the Richter scale, shook San Diego's Petco Park on Monday night during the Blue Jays' 6-3 win over the Padres.
Game To Watch
NBA Finals, Game 6: Celtics at Lakers, 9 p.m. ET (Celtics lead series 3-2)
SI Vault: O.J. Simpson
This Day in Sports
- 1938 -- Johnny Vander Meer (Cincinnati Reds) pitched his second straight no-hitter.
- 1980 - Jack Nicklaus won his fourth U.S. Open title at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey.
- 1984 - Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum was born.
- 1995 - During the O.J. Simpson murder trial, O.J. was asked to put on a pair of gloves. The gloves were said to have been worn by the killer on the night of the murders of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. The gloves appeared not to fit.
