Boston Mayor Tom Menino's Sports Gaffes

SI Staff | Oct 23, 2013

Boston Mayor Tom Menino's Sports Gaffes

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Boston Mayor Thomas Menino added another chapter to his history of sports blunders on Tuesday (Oct. 22), telling reporters that he hopes the Red Sox win "the World Series Cup," according to a tweet from <italics>Boston Globe</italics> reporter Maria Cramer. The 70-year-old Menino, currently serving his fifth and final term as mayor, is certainly no stranger to misspeaking when it comes to sports.

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This past winter, leading up to the Patriots' AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens, Menino called defensive tackle Vince Wilfork "Wilcock."

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Menino also made a reference to tight end Rob Gronkowski, calling him "Gonk," when a year earlier he referred to him as "Grabowski."

David Bergman/SI

In 2012, Menino referred to Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker as "Wes Weckler."

Greg Nelson/SI

Menino decided to weigh in on the Boston Celtics' matchup with the Miami Heat in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, referring to then-Celtics forward Kevin Garnett as "KJ."

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...and Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo as "Hondo." <italics>"KJ is great but Hondo is really the inspiration. Hondo drives that team."</italics>

Steven Senne/AP

In 2010, a ceremony was held to dedicate a statue to Hall of Fame Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr to celebrate what Menino referred to as Orr's "ionic" goal to win the 1970 Stanley Cup.

John Biever/SI; AP

When Menino began talking about great moments in Boston sports history during Orr's ceremony, at one point he said it was Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek (inset) who "split the uprights" to help the New England Patriots win their first Super Bowl in 2002, when in fact he meant to say it was then-Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri.