Globe South Sports

Olympic face-off

Local NHL stars hope

to make US hockey team

Then with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ryan Whitney (right) squared off against the Bruins’ Milan Lucic in January. (Justine Hunt/Globe Staff/File)

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / July 23, 2009

Brooks Orpik and Ryan Whitney played hockey for Thayer Academy together when two former Tigers (Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte) played for Team USA in the 1998 Nagano Olympics, the first games in which NHL players were allowed to represent their country.

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Playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks, respectively, Orpik, 28, and Whitney, 26, now have their own opportunity to represent their country in the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Receiving invitations to USA Hockey’s orientation camp Aug. 17 through 19 in Woodbridge, Ill., not only means they could follow in the footsteps of Roenick, a Marshfield native, and Hingham’s Amonte. They also follow Scituate’s Dave Silk, a Thayer grad who helped Team USA defeat the Soviet Union in the famous “Miracle on Ice’’ in 1980.

“I haven’t had a lot of time to think about it, to be honest, I had the Stanley Cup over here,” Orpik, a member of the 2009 NHL champion Penguins said a day after hosting the cup at a barbecue at his home in Cohasset last Sunday. “It’s kind of been a whirlwind since the end of the season. I’m sure I’ll get a lot more excited once I get to orientation camp.”

As coincidental as all of Thayer’s Olympic feats might sound, it makes sense given the fact the Orpik and Whitney’s coach at Thayer, Jack Foley, always had the amateur game in mind when coaching the Tigers.

“We really wanted to produce kids for college and the Olympics,’’ said the 64-year-old Scituate resident, who left Thayer in 2002 and currently scouts for the Dallas Stars. “We thought that was the pinnacle. We played a European style before anyone else did.’’

“They were pretty familiar with that when they went on to big [Olympic] rink and played foreign competition. They knew what they were doing so it made it a little easier.’’

Over the years, Foley and his predecessor at Thayer, Arthur Valicenti, have been involved in Team USA youth and coaching programs.

“Because of their connections in youth hockey, a lot of kids wanted to play for them and go to a great school like Thayer,’’ said the Tigers’ current coach, Larry Rooney, who played with Roenick and Amonte at Thayer before graduating in 1987.

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas and right wing Phil Kessel will also be among the 34 players at next month’s orientation camp. Orpik and Whitney are among 12 defensemen trying out.

“It’s going to be a tough team to make,’’ said Whitney, adding that the Olympic team will not be determined at the camp so it’s important to have a good start to the NHL season this fall. “If I work hard I will have a good chance. But it will by no means be easy with the talent at defense.’’

Orpik and Whitney are not only both competing for slots on the Olympic team, they also represent a classic Boston collegiate rivalry - Whitney played for Boston University from 2001 to 2004 and Orpik was at Boston College from 1999 to 2001, winning an NCAA championship his final season.

Nevertheless, they are friends with similar pedigrees.

After four seasons as Orpik’s teammate on the Penguins, Whitney was traded to the Ducks just before the playoffs in February.

Orpik doesn’t believe Whitney is bitter about being traded from the eventual NHL champs; however, Whitney, a Scituate native living in Charlestown this offseason, did not make it to his Stanley Cup party.

“He was in Pittsburgh his whole career so he was generally pulling for us because he’s such good friends with so many guys on the team,” Orpik said. “He was texting us during the finals and was really supportive.’’

Whitney, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound offensive-minded defenseman, has 37 goals and 160 assists in 311 NHL games.

Orpik (6-2, 219) has scored six goals and collected 54 assists in six seasons with Pittsburgh.

Foley said it was nice to watch Orpik and Whitney play together in Pittsburgh, just like when Roenick and Amonte were together in Chicago.

“Brooks is a stay-at-home guy,’’ Foley said. “Ryan wants to rush the puck. So they are perfect partners in that regard. They sort of fill different roles.’’

Orpik and Whitney are also part of the first generation of developing hockey players who could dream about both the NHL and the Olympics.

Before 1998, NHL players couldn’t play in the Olympics, in part because the games fell during the season. The NHL now interrupts its schedule to allow players to participate.

“Just being part of USA Hockey is a dream come true, even just trying out for the team,” Whitney said.

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Marlborough's Vana vanquished

in Mass. Amateur final

By Justin A. Rice/Daily News correspondent
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jul 18, 2009 @ 12:56 AM

BROOKLINE — Going into the 101st Massachusetts Amateur, Frank Vana Jr. had Bill Drohen's number. After the two met in yesterday's Massachusetts Amateur Championship final at The Country Club, Drohen and his older brother Andy had the upper hand.

Bill, who lost in his three Mass. Amateur semifinal appearances - twice to Vana - before yesterday, won the first final he played in, beating Vana 4 and 3 in their 36-hole championship match.

His victory came on the same course where his older brother defeated Vana in the 2003 Mass. Amateur final.

"It's a great place," Vana said of TCC shortly after Bill kissed the trophy. "Only I'm 0-2 (here) so it was a little salt in the wound. But it's a great place."

A nine-time Massachusetts Golf Association Player of the Year who plays out of Marlborough Country Club, Vana beat Bill Drohen in the semis in 2004 and 2005 en route to winning the title. Yesterday, the tables were turned.

"Frank's the best player in the state and the most decorated (amateur) since Francis Ouimet," Bill said. "You beat the best when you're playing your best. He's a nice guy and all my best goes out to him. But it's my turn."

Bill, 36, who lives in Stoughton, caddied for Andy, 40, who lives in Granville, in his 2003 Mass. Amateur victory over Vana. Yesterday, the roles reversed with Andy carrying Bill's bag.
"I was just trying to keep him cool," Andy said after the match.

Bill and Andy have also both overcome fairly large obstacles recently in their golf games. Andy struggled with his swing and mental game for two years before losing in the Round of 32 on the first day of match play Wednesday. Bill, on the other hand, hasn't played more than two days of golf in a row since having reconstructive shoulder surgery the day after Christmas.

"Last time when I caddied (for my brother), I was just as emotional as today," said Bill, whose wife is also seven months pregnant. "To do it at the same place and have him on my bag, it's storybook."

Vana, who has played on the Mass. State golf team with both Drohens, acknowledged their story is a great one, but added, "being on the other end doesn't feel good."
While the 46-year-old also said it's no fun to play five days of golf only to lose in the final round, he never once showed his disappointment outwardly.

"That's his temperament," father Frank Vana Sr. said after the match. "Frank loves to play golf and he takes what it gives him. A lot of times you run into someone who's really hot like Billy was and you lose. Frank has finished second so many times over the years, you roll with the bounces and he does too. I don't think he's upset. He's looking toward the next tournament."
Despite the loss, Vana was the definition of consistency this week at TCC. He did not trail his opponent in match play until the first hole of yesterday's afternoon round. He said fatigue wasn't a factor yesterday.

"I feel pretty good, sure we're all tired," he said. "I hit some bad shots but I don't think it was because I was tired."

Consecutive birdies on his first two holes of the afternoon round gave Bill his first lead of the day. Bill also made four birdies on the front nine to go 2-up after 27 holes, and he didn't lose it.
Vana's cause was also hurt by the fact that Bill made six of his nine birdies in the afternoon alone while Vana only had four birdies on the day.

"It seems like I was on the wrong side of the hole out there," Vana said. "It's harder to make putts when you're on the wrong side. It kind of catches up with you out there."
That's exactly what happened on the 33rd and final hole of the day when Vana missed a par 5-putt and Bill raised his arms, hugged his brother and kissed his wife.

"Frank's a great competitor, it looks like his putter let him down, especially at the end," Bill said. "He's a great friend so it's great to beat him. I'm sure he's proud of me."

Noteworthy: Both caddies in yesterday's final match had experience working the loop at TCC. While Andy Drohen caddied at TCC during his days at Northeastern University, Vana's friend and caddy, Dick Permerlani of Pittsfield, worked the 1963 U.S. Open at TCC while he was a UMass student.

"That was way too long ago (but) I recognize holes," Permerlani said between rounds. "I've been walking the course and able to help a little more in terms of knowing where to hit it.
He said it was "kind of cool" that he and Andy both had caddied there before.
"(The Drohen's) have a little advantage in the caddy department," he said, referring to the fact that Bill also caddied his brother's 2003 Mass. Amateur title match.
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Vana cruises to

Mass Amateur final

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Photo contributed by Becky Blaeser

Frank Vana Jr. will shoot for his third Mass. Amateur title today at The Country Club in Brookline.

By Justin A. Rice/Daily News correspondent

MetroWest Daily News

Posted Jul 17, 2009 @ 12:24 AM

BROOKLINE — On the first hole of his quarterfinal match yesterday in the 101st Massachusetts Amateur, Frank Vana Jr. overshot the green for the first time in the week-long tournament.

After defeating No. 15 Benjamin Bridgeo of Cohasset Country Club 5 and 4 in the morning at The Country Club, the man from Marlborough made sure to stick the first green when he took on No. 22 seed Scott Congdon in the semifinals.

``He doesn't like to go over, that's for sure,'' Vana's friend and caddy for the week, Dick Premerlani, said just before Vana parred the opening hole. ``He's really got control of his irons.''

The nine-time Massachusetts Golf Association Player of the Year and two-time Mass Am champ went on to defeat Congdon 3 and 1 to clinch his fifth Mass Am final appearance.

The seventh-seeded Vana will meet No. 13 Bill Drohen this morning in a 36-hole championship match. Vana beat Drohen, 36, in the semifinals before winning the tournament in both 2004 and 2005. But Vana, 46, lost to Drohen's older brother, 40-year-old Andy, in the Mass Am final at TCC in 2003.

``It's almost deja vu,'' Vana said. ``I know both of them much better this time. I've played a lot of golf with them since then. I expect it to be a grind.''

Bill Drohen, who beat eighth-seeded Bradley Kushner 5 and 4 to make the final, was on his brother's bag in 2003 and now Andy will be his caddie today.

``It's special because of what happened here,'' Bill Drohen, who lives in Stoughton, said of his brother being on his bag today. ``We have good chemistry. And we play in four-balls together a lot, and we're very close. So any time we come together it's great. He knows my game and I know his game. He is returning the favor.''

Bill Drohen, who made a combined 21 pars and five birdies in both his matches yesterday, is also looking forward to playing Vana.

``Me and Frank have been battling for many years now,'' he said. ``I'm looking forward to going out there and giving it my best. We'll see what happens. It's going to be a fun day.''

In 2004, Vana beat Mike Cole at Taconic Golf Club and in 2005, he beat Ben Spitz to take home the Mass Am title. In 2006, he lost in the quarterfinals, in 2007 he lost in the final and last year he lost in the quarterfinals again.

While Vana said he's proud of his consistency, he added, ``It's not very fun coming this far and not winning. It's a grind. Hopefully I'll be calm and have a good day.''

Vana, who has not trailed his opponent throughout the match-play portion of the tournament, which began on Wednesday, benefited in the morning when his younger opponent, the 30-year-old Bridgeo, fell apart. Vana made bogey on the 450-yard, par-4 1st hole but kept pace with Bridgeo through the next seven holes. He then dropped a 30-foot birdie putt on the 8th to take a 1-up lead before winning the next four out of five holes.

In the afternoon, Vana was not as lucky as his 22-year-old opponent, Congdon, refused to go away.

``From the ninth hole in there was a lot of grinding going on his end,'' Vana said. ``He made a great shot on every hole it seemed like.''

Congdon made three straight bogeys - on the 5th, 6th and 7th holes - that allowed Vana to take a 3-up lead.

But on the ninth hole Congdon saved par to stay in it. After he thought his tee shot sailed right out of bounds, he found the ball and chipped into the fairway before eventually sinking a 15-foot par putt. On the next hole, Vana's approach shot fell short and Congdon took advantage by making birdie to make it 2 up.

But it also didn't hurt Vana's cause that he landed on the green on the very first hole of the match.

``It's nice,'' he said. ``It's always good to get out of the gate (well).''Vana cruises to Mass Open final

Favorites meet match

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / July 16, 2009

BROOKLINE - The last man into match play at the 101st Massachusetts Amateur is well on his way to being one of the last men out at The Country Club. Finishing stroke play Tuesday in an eight-way tie for 25th place, Fitchburg’s Chad Bouchard was the No. 32 seed going into the first day of match play yesterday.

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Graphic

That’s when the March Madness-like upsets began: Bouchard upended top-seeded Brian Higgins (Franklin Country Club), 3 and 2, in 19 holes in the morning. In the afternoon he took out No. 17 seed Dan White (Vesper Country Club) with another 3-and-2 victory.

“I just felt confident,’’ said Bouchard, 23, who plays out of Sterling National Country Club. “I wasn’t really worried about my opponent; I was worried about playing my own game. If it’s a good shot or a bad shot, [I] just stuck to what I was doing.’

Higgins’s loss reaffirmed the Mass Am’s curse of the medalist. Prior to John Hadges last year, no stroke-play medalist had won the match-play title since James Driscoll, who is playing in the British Open this week, in 1998. But the curse did more than just take out the No. 1 seed yesterday - the No. 2 and 3 seeds, Matt Parziale and Benjamin Spitz, also fell.

Parziale (Thorny Lea Country Club), last year’s runner-up, fell to No. 31 John Gilmartin of Indian Ridge Country Club, 5 and 4, while Spitz (The Harmon Club) was beaten, 2 up, by No. 30 Antonio Grillo of Farm Neck Golf Club.

Higgins, 34, was the 2008 Massachusetts Golf Association Player of the Year.

“[Bouchard] played great, real solid, and made putts when he needed to,’’ Higgins said. “I missed a couple of short putts on the front that really cost me the match I feel.

“He made a real clutch play on the playoff hole.’’

After trailing most of morning, Higgins holed his second shot for eagle on No. 13 to square the match. He went ahead on the next hole before Bouchard evened the match again on 15.

“Great shot,’’ Bouchard said, recalling Higgins’s eagle. “You gotta stay levelheaded no matter if you are even up five or down five.’’

Bouchard, who failed to qualify for match play in the 2005 Mass Am, didn’t play much match play in college.

“Once someone gets going and you get into match play it’s just one guy versus another,’’ said Bouchard, who plans to turn pro in December. “I knew I had the game. It’s just putting it together and hitting the right shots at the right time and avoiding the bad shots.’’

Bouchard will be at it again today against No. 8 Bradley Kushner (Club at New Seabury), who beat No. 24 Kevin Velardo (Country Club of Billerica) on the 22d hole.

“The worst part about it is I don’t have a caddie,’’ said Kushner, an incoming freshman at Yale. “My first match was only 14 holes so I had a few holes off.’’

Defending champion Hadges also needed 22 holes to win his Round of 16 match against No. 5 Jeffrey Santora of Pleasant Valley Country Club. Hadges’s quarterfinal match will be against No. 13 Bill Drohen, who defeated No. 4 Taylor Fontaine, 2 and 1.

Frank Vana Jr. (Marlborough Country Club) beat Brian Cawley of The Georgetown Club, 6 and 4, to advance to the quarterfinals, where he will play Cohasse Country Club’s Benjamin Bridgeo. No. 15 Bridgeo beat Gilmartin, 3-2.

Also in the afternoon, Grillo won, 2 up, against Norton’s Country Club’s Ryan Riley and will play No. 22 Scott Congdon of Foxboro Country Club. Congdon won, 1 up, against No. 6 Greg Shuman (The Country Club).

“I was surprised by all the upsets near the top,’’ said Grillo, Shuman’s teammate at Harvard, which practices at TCC. “But when you get to match play it’s a whole different thing. Quadruple bogeys don’t haunt you in match play and those are easy to come by out here.’’

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Drohen to caddy for

brother in Mass Am

Wednesday July 15, 2009, 7:44 PM

By JUSTIN RICE

BROOKLINE - Even though Andy Drohen of Granville lost in the round of 32 at the Massachusetts Amateur Golf Championship Wednesday, he will still walk the fairways at today's quarterfinals at The Country Club.

Drohen, 40, who plays out of Crestview Country Club in Agawam, will caddie for his younger brother Bill Drohen. Bill was on his older brother's bag when Andy won the state amateur in 2003, the last time The Country Club hosted the event.

Ryan Riley of Norton Country Club defeated Andy Drohen 6 and 5 in the round of 32.

"Maybe I can return the favor and get on his bag," Andy said. "I don't want to mess up his karma, but I'd definitely get on the straps if he needs a guy."

After beating Taylor Fontaine 2 and 1, Bill Drohen, 36, a Stoughton resident who plays out of Bradford Country Club, said he hasn't had a consistent caddie to this point of the tournament and doesn't plan to change that trend today when he takes on defending champion John Hadges.

"This is the third day I played and the third caddie I've had," said Bill, who defeated Devin Russell 2 and 1 in the Round of 32. "I think he (Andy) owes me a couple good loops.

"We work great together. Hey, we won this thing before, didn't we? But you need to be on your game and make the shots."

The only other Western Massachusetts player in match play was No. 11 seed Ronald Laverdiere of Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston. Laverdiere fell 2 and 1 to No. 22 Scott Congdon.

After shooting a 5-over-par 147 through two days of stroke play (the same score as his brother), Andy Drohen captured the No. 14 seed in match play before losing to Riley. His brother secured the No. 13 seed.

"I left the week open hoping I would get farther, so I'm available, Andy, a rep for a fertilizer company, said of working his brother's bag.

Bill said Andy will not only help with course management, but also help keep his head cool in the heat of competition.

"When I watched him play (here in 2003), he was just so cool," Bill said. "He didn't seem that nervous. I've never seen anyone that focused. I like to chat with the gallery and the crowd. He's all about getting the job done."

While Andy hasn't played more than two days in a row since having shoulder surgery in December, he was glad to see his brother play well after struggling with his swing and his mental edge the last two years.

"I can't think about it, it's so emotional," said Bill, who has played in 10 state amateur, including three semifinal losses, said of winning Friday's final round. "It was hard to fight back tears coming off the 18th (today). It was very emotional, especially being back here and everything we've gone through."

Massacusetts Amateur

Higgins proves

he’s a cut above

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / July 15, 2009

BROOKLINE - The Massachusetts Amateur has a nasty reputation for not being kind to its stroke-play medalist in match play. That fact might’ve subconsciously caused Matt Parziale and Taylor Fontaine to flub the 18th hole yesterday at The Country Club.

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“I try not to get fixed in on superstitions,’’ said Fontaine (69-74 -143), who was tied for first with Brian Higgins at 2-under-par 69 entering yesterday’s final round of stroke play. “I don’t think it was meant to happen for me to stick one [drive] out of bounds on 18.’’ Fontaine ended up fourth.

Parziale (70-70 -140) had been playing well but overshot the 18th green after his drive landed in the rough. He finished in second place at 2-under-par.

With a 69-69 for a two-day total of 4-under 138, it was Higgins who earned stroke play medalist honors.

He welcomes the chance to become the second straight No. 1 seed in match play to also take home the overall title, which would make him just the third medalist to do it in more than two decades.

“I want to [win],’’ said Higgins, 34, the Bellingham resident who was the 2008 Massachusetts’ Golf Association Player of the Year. “I want to prove the medalist can win this tournament again.’’

That quest will begin this morning when Higgins takes on No. 32-seed Chad Bouchard of Sterling National Country Club.

The second-seeded Parziale will face John Gilmartin of Indian Ridge Country Club, while No. 3 seed Benjamin Spitz is pitted against Antonio Grillo of Farm Neck Golf Club.

After shooting a 75 Monday, Spitz yesterday fired a tournament-low-round of 5-under 66 to finish at 1 under and in third place.

Fontaine plays Mike Calef of Brockton Country Club; match play concludes Friday.

Defending champion John Hadges last year became the first match-play No. 1 seed to win the entire tournament since James Driscoll, who is playing this year’s British Open, in 1998.

Coincidently, Hadges won last year by hitting a 6-foot putt to beat Parziale, 1 up, on the 36th hole of the final round.

Hadges (80-69 -149), who had one of the biggest second-round turnarounds to qualify for the 32-player match play bracket, one stroke under the cut line, plays at Thorny Lea Golf Club with Parziale.

“He is a real nice kid and it’s a nice rivalry,’’ Hadges said. “Matt’s got all the shots.’’

Heading into yesterday’s round in third place at 1 under, Parziale, 22, seemed poised to be medalist until the 18th. He was 2 under at the turn, including birdies on 4, 6, and 8. He birdied the par-5 14, as well as 17.

He wasn’t worried about overextending himself. If anything, last year’s loss proved he can go the distance.

“I did it last year with [Hadges],’’ he said. “I went 36 holes. We had a good match.’’

But a stellar round was capped with a double bogey on 18.

“I actually hit a really good shot out of the [18th] rough and it flew; you can’t miss this green long,’’ he said. “I played good today, so this hole doesn’t matter. If that’s my worst, then it’s not bad.’’

“[Today], a new tournament starts,’’ Parziale said. “It’s good to be playing good. I’d rather be playing good than bad.’’

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Mass Am Championship

sees three W. Mass

golfers advance to match play

by The Republican Sports Desk

Tuesday July 14, 2009, 10:38 PM

By JUSTIN RICE

BROOKLINE - Three players from Western Massachusetts qualified for match play in the 101st Massachusetts Amateur Championship at The Country Club.

Match play begins today, and is scheduled to finish Friday.

Ronald Laverdiere (71-75-146) of Crumpin-Fox Club finished the stroke play portion of the tournament in 11th at 4-over-par, while Bill Drohen (76-71-147) and his brother Andy (77-70-147), of Bradford CC, and Crestview CC, respectively, finished tied for 12th.

"He beat me by one yesterday, and I beat him by one today," said Andy, 40, of Bill, 35, who caddied for him when he won the Massachusetts Amateur in 2003. "I'm disappointed he's not caddying for me, but hopefully we'll meet up in the finals."

Laverdiere slipped a bit after he was tied for fourth entering Tuesday. But it's match play now, so it really doesn't matter.

"Today wasn't as good as yesterday," Laverdiere said. "A 71 on the Championship Course, I was striping it - it was a sweetheart day.

"You only get those once in a while. And to get in on the U.S. Open Championship Course is very cool. Today was just a grind. But I ground it out enough to make match play."

It wasn't so good for another local.

Bobby Loguidice couldn't keep his momentum going after a 4-over-par 75 on Monday put him tied for 12th. He shot 85 Tuesday.

"It just didn't come together," Loguidice said. "I fought as hard as I could, but I couldn't get things to go my way."

Loguidice had never played at TCC. Working a fulltime finance job in Connecticut, Loguidice plays about 36 to 45 holes a week, but did not get a chance to play a practice round.

"It's tough to look at a 75 and say you could've been under par easily," Loguidice said. "I made a couple mental mistakes and shots I didn't capitalize on. I was excited to play (Tuesday). I was happy with where I finished (Monday), it just didn't come together for me today.

"(Monday) proved I can hang in there with the best guys. I just have to correct a few minor flaws, and I can make more of an impact in future events."

Monday, the pin on the par-4 17th was in the same spot it was when Justin Leonard hit a 45-foot putt for birdie to help give the United States its historic come-from-behind Ryder Cup victory in 1999.

"I had a putt similar to his, only I couldn't channel his magic," Loguidice said.

Jack Kearney (Elmcrest Country Club), who was tied for 32nd after the first round, just barely missed the cut. He finished tied for 33rd at 9-over 151.

South Hadley's Mickey Werenski, 15, the youngest player in the field, shot 76. He was even at the turn. After making two birdies on the front, he had none on the back. The Orchards GC member finished at 153, 11-over par.

"It was just a really good experience," Werenski said. "It was good to come and play at The Country Club."

Other local players who failed to make the cut included Mike Slosek (79-73-152), Paul Buttafuoco (82-71-153), Guy Antonacci (79-74-153), Pat Pio (81-74-155), Robert Linn (80-76-156), Derek Hoy (80-76-156), Chris Burke (78-78-156), Jim Hosey (78-80-158), John Dahroughe (88-72-160), Nick Pokora (82-83-165) and Ralph Strolis (85-92-177).

Massachusetts Amateur

Fontaine joins

Higgins at top

TCC plays tough

in opening round

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / July 14, 2009

BROOKLINE - The majority of the field in the opening round of the 101st Massachusetts Amateur yesterday was just happy to be playing what probably will be their only round ever on The Country Club’s famed Championship Course.

Taylor Fontaine, however, is happy that the tournament’s remaining four days are on the club’s main course, which regularly is used by members and doesn’t include yesterday’s 11th, 12th, and 13th holes. With an average length of 457 yards, the three holes were included in the opening round to let the state’s top 144 amateurs try their hand at the same course used for the 1999 Ryder Cup.

“Those were the holes I was blind going into,’’ Fontaine said after shooting a 2-under-par 69 to take a share of the opening-day lead with Brian Higgins - one stroke ahead of Thorny Lea Golf Club’s Matt Parziale. “I’m excited that we’re not going to be playing them tomorrow.’’

The 19-year-old Southbridge native playing out of Pleasant Valley Country Club made bogey on three of the first four holes. Even though he hit a 30-foot birdie putt on his second hole - the 450-yard 11th - Fontaine said he didn’t feel like he was in the groove until he birdied the 14th, just after finishing the Championship holes.

Higgins held his own on the three Championship par 4s that seemed to be black holes for everyone else. The Bellingham resident, whose home course is Franklin Country Club, parred 11 and 12 before a bogey on 13. It didn’t hurt that the 2008 Massachusetts Golf Association Player of the Year played the Championship Course during the 2003 Mass Am.

“I was happy coming out of the gate with even par through the first four holes,’’ the 34-year-old said. “I just remember you have to hit a draw around 11 and kind of keep it in the middle somewhere.’’

Aside from the Championship holes, the 17th also had the field abuzz. The pin on the par 4 was placed in the same spot (back right) as when Justin Leonard hit a 45-foot putt for birdie a decade ago to give the United States its historic Ryder Cup victory.

“I had pretty close to the same putt but I didn’t have the same result,’’ said Fontaine, who parred the hole.

Defending champion John Hadges of Thorny Lea also parred the 370-yard 17th but finished 9-over 80 on the day. Even though he’s played the Championship Course about 15 times, Hadges also struggled on 11, 12 and 13.

Afterward, he could only shake his head at the scoreboard.

“I’m a little surprised. I knew [the scores] would be high but I didn’t think this high,’’ Hadges said of the first day of stroke play. “Don’t get me wrong, there are some good scores here, but in general they are on the high side.’’

Match play will begin tomorrow and conclude on Friday.

“[Today] we’re going to play the members [course],’’ Hadges said. “I think the scores will be a little lower.’’

Hadges won last year’s tournament at The Kittansett Club by hitting a 6-foot putt to beat Parziale, 1 up, on the 36th hole of the match. Parziale was the only player besides Fontaine and Higgins to finish under par yesterday.

“This place has so much history, it’s good to be able to play here,’’ said Parziale, a Brockton native. “I had no idea what I was doing on the [Championship] holes. I was guessing, but it worked out all right.’’

Fontaine also found himself in awe of The Country Club. But he said being the University of Rhode Island’s No. 1 player this spring as a freshman taught him how to play through jitters.

“The nerves are still there,’’ said Fontaine, who finished with five birdies. “Playing all the time definitely makes you more acclimated to it.’’

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Massachusetts Amateur

Fontaine joins

Higgins at top

TCC plays tough

in opening round

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / July 14, 2009

BROOKLINE - The majority of the field in the opening round of the 101st Massachusetts Amateur yesterday was just happy to be playing what probably will be their only round ever on The Country Club’s famed Championship Course.

Taylor Fontaine, however, is happy that the tournament’s remaining four days are on the club’s main course, which regularly is used by members and doesn’t include yesterday’s 11th, 12th, and 13th holes. With an average length of 457 yards, the three holes were included in the opening round to let the state’s top 144 amateurs try their hand at the same course used for the 1999 Ryder Cup.

“Those were the holes I was blind going into,’’ Fontaine said after shooting a 2-under-par 69 to take a share of the opening-day lead with Brian Higgins - one stroke ahead of Thorny Lea Golf Club’s Matt Parziale. “I’m excited that we’re not going to be playing them tomorrow.’’

The 19-year-old Southbridge native playing out of Pleasant Valley Country Club made bogey on three of the first four holes. Even though he hit a 30-foot birdie putt on his second hole - the 450-yard 11th - Fontaine said he didn’t feel like he was in the groove until he birdied the 14th, just after finishing the Championship holes.

Higgins held his own on the three Championship par 4s that seemed to be black holes for everyone else. The Bellingham resident, whose home course is Franklin Country Club, parred 11 and 12 before a bogey on 13. It didn’t hurt that the 2008 Massachusetts Golf Association Player of the Year played the Championship Course during the 2003 Mass Am.

“I was happy coming out of the gate with even par through the first four holes,’’ the 34-year-old said. “I just remember you have to hit a draw around 11 and kind of keep it in the middle somewhere.’’

Aside from the Championship holes, the 17th also had the field abuzz. The pin on the par 4 was placed in the same spot (back right) as when Justin Leonard hit a 45-foot putt for birdie a decade ago to give the United States its historic Ryder Cup victory.

“I had pretty close to the same putt but I didn’t have the same result,’’ said Fontaine, who parred the hole.

Defending champion John Hadges of Thorny Lea also parred the 370-yard 17th but finished 9-over 80 on the day. Even though he’s played the Championship Course about 15 times, Hadges also struggled on 11, 12 and 13.

Afterward, he could only shake his head at the scoreboard.

“I’m a little surprised. I knew [the scores] would be high but I didn’t think this high,’’ Hadges said of the first day of stroke play. “Don’t get me wrong, there are some good scores here, but in general they are on the high side.’’

Match play will begin tomorrow and conclude on Friday.

“[Today] we’re going to play the members [course],’’ Hadges said. “I think the scores will be a little lower.’’

Hadges won last year’s tournament at The Kittansett Club by hitting a 6-foot putt to beat Parziale, 1 up, on the 36th hole of the match. Parziale was the only player besides Fontaine and Higgins to finish under par yesterday.

“This place has so much history, it’s good to be able to play here,’’ said Parziale, a Brockton native. “I had no idea what I was doing on the [Championship] holes. I was guessing, but it worked out all right.’’

Fontaine also found himself in awe of The Country Club. But he said being the University of Rhode Island’s No. 1 player this spring as a freshman taught him how to play through jitters.

“The nerves are still there,’’ said Fontaine, who finished with five birdies. “Playing all the time definitely makes you more acclimated to it.’’

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Competition tough

at Mass Am

Monday July 13, 2009, 9:10 PM

By JUSTIN A. RICE

BROOKLINE - Even though Richy Werenski failed to qualify for this year's Massachusetts Amateur Championship, the 17-year-old South Hadley native just about bent over backwards to be his younger brother Mickey's caddie in the tournament Monday at The Country Club in Brookline.

After completing a weekend tournament in South Carolina, where he attends the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, Richy and his father drove 18 hours overnight and arrived in Brookline about two hours before Mickey's 7:30 a.m. tee time.

Because of a snafu with their flight, their only alternative was to pay $900 a ticket to fly back.

He wouldn't miss this for anything, the boys' father Mike Werenski said after Mickey shot a 6-over 77 and his brother went back to the hotel for a nap. He was dead tired, but there was no way he was going to miss it, even though he was lying down on every bench he saw.

Mickey, 15, who will also attend the Haney Academy in the fall, said even though he qualified for the 101st Mass Am and his brother didn't, he knew better than to brag.

"I didn't try," said Mickey, who plays out of Orchards Golf Club and is in a 10-way tie for 32nd going into today's second round. "I'd get beat up, so I shut up."

Taylor Fontaine of Pleasant Valley Country Club and Brian Higgins of Franklin Country Club paced the pack, each shooting 2-under 69. Ron Laverdiere of Crumpin-Fox Club is in a two-way tie for fourth going into Tuesday's second day of stroke play after shooting an even 71 Monday.

Bobby Loguidice of Franconia Golf Club finished tied for 12th with a 4-over 75.

Match play begins Wednesday and concludes Friday.

Andy Drohen of Crestview Country Club and Jack Kearney of Elmcrest Country Club are also both tied for 32nd.

"I just have to hang in there. It was not a great (round) but it was not awful," Kearney said. "I made a bunch of bogeys, but no birdies. Depending on how the scores are, if I have a good round (today), I'll be all right."

Monday's scores were high all around because the field played on The Country Club's famed Championship Course, best known for its use at the 1999 Ryder Cup and three U.S. Opens. The green on the par-4 17th hole was set up the exact same way as when Justin Leonard made a 45-foot putt for birdie to give the United States its historic Ryder Cup win.

Kearney, who has played every Mass Am since 1991, including the Championship Course at The Country Club in 2003, didn't feel like he had an advantage.

"It's hard to get an edge in golf," he said. "Unless you cheat. That's the only way to get an edge in golf. It was a little disappointing finish but I'll put it behind me and be ready to play."

Chris Burke of Wyckoff CC and Jim Hosey of The Orchards Golf Club both tied for 42nd after shooting a 7-over 78.

Guy Antonacci of Elmcrest CC and Mike Slosek of Wahconah CC was tied for 56th after shooting 79s. Derek Hoy of Hampden CC shot an 80 and is tied for 66th along with Robert Linn of Berkshire Hills CC. Pat Pio of Longmeadow CC shot an 81 and is tied for 84th.

Nick Prokora of Crestview CC shot an 82 and is in 102nd place along with Paul Buttafuoco of Elmcrest and Tom Bergeron of Crumpin-Fox.

Ralph Strolis of The Orchards is in 127th after shooting an 85, and Berkshire Hills' John Dahrouge is in 134th after shooting an 88.

Globe South Sports

Pitching in to

salvage the season

Rainy days ruin regular rotations

Hanover’s John Spitz slides safely into first on his infield hit as Whitman-Hanson’s Anthony Glynn waits for the throw. (Photos By Debee Tlumacki for The Boston)

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / July 12, 2009

Before the American Legion baseball season, Steve Kirby was willing to let his starting catcher try his hand at pitching, but the Hanover Post 149 coach had no idea he’d have to press Rich McHugh into his regular rotation.

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The soggy summer has washed out several games, forcing Kirby, his fellow Zone 10 coaches, Zone 6 teams and the rest of the region to scramble their schedules and pull players from all corners of the diamond to throw from the mound.

“We need innings and arms,’’ said Kirby, whose team won the Legion state championship last summer. “Kids have had to step up in ways they weren’t predicting to have to.’’

McHugh said the wet and wild weather has also given younger pitchers the opportunity to play.

“We’re facing teams’ No. 6 and 7 pitchers just because there are so many games bunched together,’’ said McHugh, a Pembroke native who is transferring from Southern Connecticut University to Stonehill College for his sophomore season this fall. “The pitching is really down this year because guys who wouldn’t normally be pitching are getting an opportunity to pitch.’’

The result has been that a zone that has produced three of the last four state championship teams (Sandwich Post 188, Brockton Post 35 and Hanover) has looked pedestrian this season. Hingham Post 120 coach Vin Murray, whose team (11-3-1 as of Wednesday) sat in second place behind Sandwich, was worried about making it out of the zone playoffs.

“I always say Zone 10 is the toughest zone in the state,’’ he said.

But heading into this weekend, even the best teams were fighting to be among the top eight to make the playoffs, which begin Tuesday, as teams were forced to play as many as three consecutive doubleheaders. In nearly a decade as the Zone 10 chairman, Jack Grandy has not seen this much rescheduling.

“This has to be labeled as the rainforest season,’’ he said.

Nobody has been hit harder by the rain than the two teams that had high schools in their district go to their respective state championship games this spring. Both Plymouth Post 40 and Abington Post 112 had to reschedule the first four games of the season because most of their kids were still playing for either Plymouth North (eventual Division 2 runner up) or Abington High (Division 3 champs). Plymouth Post 40 was 6-7 as of Wednesday and in 13th place. It had to reschedule 11 of its 20 games. Abington (6-5, 11th place) rescheduled a dozen games itself.

“We have nine games left to play,’’ Abington coach Peter Seriano said on Wednesday, “which is going to be a bit of a challenge pitching wise. I don’t think even the Big League staffs could pull off nine games in five days.

“I had guys come up to me and say, ‘Coach, I used to pitch when I was 10, I will give it a shot this weekend.’ As funny as it sounds, he’ll probably be on the mound.’’

The wet weather has taken the joy out of the Boys of Summer, Seriano said.

“For a lot of these kids it’s not really fun when you don’t have pitchers and you’re going against teams that do,’’ Seriano said. “It puts guys in tough positions. They are all competitors and they want to go out and win. So it’s tough to tell a kid to go pitch when he pitched two nights ago and threw 100 pitches.

“I don’t want them to hurt themselves. At the same time, they don’t want to let their team down. It’s a tough spot to be in. It’s taken the fun out of it in some ways.’’

And Seriano has had to dig deep for pitching even though Abington’s ace was the Globe’s Division 3 Player of the Year in football, Steve Perakslis. Seriano gave Perakslis a break at the start of the season and, just like Hingham, was forced to use a regular catcher on the mound. Ian Campbell, who caught the state championship game for Abington, pitched seven innings for Post 149 as of Wednesday.

In the catcher conversion department, it’s hard to imagine anyone pitching better than McHugh has for Hanover. He tossed a complete game last Monday, a 7-2 victory against Middleborough to improve to 3-0. Making his efforts all the more impressive is the fact the McHugh is the only catcher on the team experienced enough to call a game, telling pitchers what pitch to throw.

Assistant coach David Liffers relays pitches into backup catcher Kyle MacDonald when McHugh is on the mound.

“I just execute pitches, I don’t think about it,’’ said McHugh, a Thayer Academy graduate. “That’s the difference’’ between pitching and catching.

That was a big adjustment for McHugh, who struck out 14 batters, walked six and allowed 18 hits as of last Monday.

“I talked to coach Liffers early in the season about what I like to throw,’’ said McHugh, who hurls a fastball, curveball, forkball and slider. “We really worked on calling the game. I haven’t had a problem. There might be one or two pitches I don’t agree with, but Liffers does an outstanding job calling the game.’’

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Globe South Sports

Teen wrestler joins

Bay State games

Jake Genereux of Duxbury with his mobile hot dog business.

By Justin A. Rice July 9, 2009

Jake Genereux loves to wrestle, but there are priorities. Last summer, the Duxbury teen passed on competing in the annual Bay State Games because there was other business to tend to: he owns a mobile hot dog cart in town.

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An incoming freshman at Duxbury High, he will be back on the mat tomorrow, at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, hoping to improve on his third-place finish from 2007, while making the jump to the scholastic division from the junior level.

Last summer, he was dishing out hot dogs.

“I wanted to earn some money so I could pay for college,’’ he said, noting that he makes roughly $200 per day.

“My mom will be working for me [this year]; she just volunteered.’’

The 14-year-old has already compiled a pretty impressive resume: he earned runner-up finishes at both the Big East Gold Tournament and the Mass State tournament. He is also this year’s Big East Regional champion and South Shore champion. He is a member of the Dungeon Wrestling Club in Quincy.

The 118-pounder is not concerned about the Bay State Games’ wide-ranging weight classes, which could pit him against grapplers as small as 112 pounds or as big as 125 pounds depending on who enters the field.

“I think I can take on [bigger] people,’’ he said. “I have some good technique and I’m strong.’’

While most Bay State events start tomorrow and this weekend, the baseball tournament began Monday with the Southeast squad kicking off its gold medal defense by beating Metro 2-0 at Bentley University.

“I think we’re going’’ to repeat, said right-handed pitcher David Gibson, who picked up Monday’s win. “It’s a great team. . . . I think we have what it takes.’’

Gibson, who will be a senior at Hanover High this fall, was honored to be selected to start the tournament’s opening game.

“It was great,’’ he said after striking out four batters, walking one and allowing two hits in five innings.

The Southeast squad plays at 8:30 this morning and the gold medal game is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

A number of other area athletes are also competing:

◼Brittney O’Brien, who registered a 1.7 goals-against average with six shutouts for the Carver High field hockey team last fall, is suiting up for the Southeast squad.

◼ Catherine Byrne of Duxbury, entering her junior year at Hebron Academy, will skate for the Southeast/Coast girls’ hockey team again.

◼The Southeast/Coast boys’ scholastic hockey squad includes James Murray of Scituate, a Patriot League all-star this past season.

◼Norwood’s John Pooley III is aiming to medal again in archery. He was a Bay State Games silver medalist in 2006 and 2007 and won the bronze last year. He was a Mass Outdoor Championships silver medalist in 2006 and 2007.

Teacher wins magazine honor

Rob Dixon of Brockton was chosen as one of People magazine’s 30 “All-Stars Among Us,’’ and will be recognized at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Tuesday night.

The Thayer Academy teacher who runs Project RISE, the nonprofit summer program for at-risk youth, is one of 30 winners chosen for their extraordinary community work.

“I was excited, it’s a great opportunity, we’ve been trying to get exposure for our program for a number of years,’’ said Dixon, adding that he hopes to meet President Obama, who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the game.

Dixon was nominated by Jeff Gulko, his former student who serves on Project RISE’s board.

“I wasn’t aware of the nomination,’’ Dixon, who was one of 60,000 applicants in the region, said. The 90 finalists were narrowed down to 30 winners based on an online vote.

Whitney invited to hockey camp

Scituate’s Ryan Whitney has been invited to USA Hockey’s Olympic orientation camp Aug. 17-19 in Woodbridge. Ill.

The 26-year-old Whitney, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound defenseman for the Anaheim Ducks, is one of 34 players invited to take part in the camp, which will serve as the groundwork for forming the national team set to compete at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Globe South sports notebook

Byron takes over

at Oliver Ames

By Justin A. Rice July 5, 2009

Don Byron is well versed on the Oliver Ames boys’ basketball program. He’s an Easton resident and his son, Michael, was a three-year starter, a career 1,000-point scorer, and a captain for the Tigers this past season.

As Michael Byron departs OA and focuses on his college basketball career at Worcester Polytech, his father will take over on the Tigers’ bench.

Don Byron, who guided the Abington boys to a 24-2 record and the Division 3 state semifinals this past winter, was named head coach at OA this past week, replacing longtime mentor Creig Muscato.

Though he coached his son through eight years of AAU ball, there will be no reunion at OA.

“He was pretty good, pretty receptive all those years,’’ the elder Byron said. “It’s a funny dynamic; sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not so good. But he was a good enough player he didn’t have to worry about favoritism.’’

Byron is just the fourth coach at OA since 1953, following Val Muscato (1953-1970), Bill Nixon (1971-1993), and Creig Muscato (1994-2009)

“Part of the tradition of this place is that there have been so few coaches over here because it’s such a good basketball situation that does not tend to open up too often,’’ Byron said. “There’s a reason for that.’’

The younger Muscato was not rehired after guiding the Tigers to a 13-8 mark this past season, which ended with an 87-76 loss to Hockomock League foe Stoughton in the Division 2 South tournament. He had been placed on administrative leave for part of the season after he was allegedly involved in an incident with an off-duty police officer during the season.

OA athletic director Jim VonEuw was Muscato’s boss for five years and said it was tough to part ways.

“Oh, definitely, I mean he can coach with anyone,’’ VonEuw said. “As far as his X’s and O’s, he’s a heck of a basketball coach. The decision was made at the end of last season to look into another direction and was the result of things I can’t discuss.’’

Byron also is having a hard time leaving his old post, where he coached for 13 years and guided the Green Wave to a magnificent season. Abington will return six of its eight top contributors from last season.

“It would’ve been nice to be able to ride that out, it was very hard to [leave],’’ said Byron, who added that his eight-year assistant Chris Beatrice would be a great replacement.

“It was two great choices. It wasn’t a typical situation in terms of that usually the well will run dry or you just want to take a different look. This was two good choices and it was a hard one to make. It was as hard a professional decision as I’ve ever had to make.

“I didn’t apply until the last minute; I was really back and forth. We started interviewing last week; sometime the week before, I started to consider it more. It was an 11th-hour decision. I didn’t want to jump in not committed.’’

Abington AD Michael DelGrosso, conceding that Byron’s successor has big shoes to fill, hopes to have a replacement hired by Sept. 1.

“I can’t say enough good things about [Byron],’’ DelGrosso said. “He’s a class act, certainly a basketball person. He knows who the kids are, who’s coming up; he tracks them. So he’s been successful because he’s done all the legwork that needs to be done to run a successful program.’’

3 coaching posts open in Norwood

Norwood High AD Brian McDonough has three varsity spring coaching positions to fill: baseball, softball, and girls’ lacrosse. In her 17th and final season, Kathy Smelstor led the Mustang girls’ softball team to a 20-2 mark and the Division 1 South final. The Norwood baseball team was 10-11 under Tony Fruci, losing to Walpole in the tournament. The girls’ lacrosse team finished 15-6-1 under Shawn Famiglietti, falling to Needham in the tourney.

Candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three letters of reference to McDonough at 245 Nichols St., Norwood, MA 02062, by fax (781-440-5920), or e-mail (bmcdonough@norwood.k12.ma.us).

Golf tournament benefits hospice

The 11th annual Charity Golf Tournament to benefit NVNA and Hospice, a nonprofit home healthcare organization, will be July 27 at Cohasset Golf Club.

For more information, call 781-610-1599 or visit www.nvna.org. All proceeds benefit NVNA and Hospice, which in serving more than 20 communities on the South Shore with home care, hospice, community education, and support, provided more than $1.6 million in free and underfunded care in 2008.

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.

Nieman

Series: Shifting media power in sports

This four-part series by Justin Rice looks at how the media tables are turning in the world of sports, where the subjects of coverage are becoming the creators of coverage — and what implications those shifts have for the rest of the news business.

June 29: Sports leagues as media moguls: What happens when the people we cover start to control the news?

June 30: A legal primer: No consistent winner in the turf wars between sports leagues and news organizations

July 1: When the league owns the network — and pays the journalists: A new set of ethical questions arise

Today: Five ways for sports reporters to maintain a balance of power with the teams and leagues they cover

Series: Shifting media power in sports

Sports leagues as media moguls:

What happens when the people

we cover start to control the news?

By Justin Rice / June 29 / 9:17 a.m. / 4 comments

[Today, we're starting a four-part series by our friend Justin Rice on how the media tables are turning in the world of sports, where the subjects of coverage are becoming the creators of coverage — and what implications those shifts have for the rest of the news business. —Josh]

Thirty-eight days after Major League Baseball launched its own cable channel, MLB Network, in January, the new station found itself covering one of the sport’s biggest stories in years: the news in the baseball world that Yankee slugger Alex Rodriquez had tested positive for steroids in 2003. MLB brass boasted that the coverage — praised by many — was evidence of their ability to cover all the bases of baseball news, whether good, bad, or ugly. The network was praised again last month for jumping on the story that Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games for taking a banned substance.

We’ll spend the next three days looking at the broader implications of what happens when media power shifts toward the institutions journalists cover. Journalists are still adjusting to “the people formerly known as the audience” and their new publishing power; what about the people formerly known as our subjects? What happens when the people and organizations we cover also cover themselves? Are they our sources, competitors or some sort of hybrid? In many cases our sources and subjects have better access to the readers and viewers than news organizations do — not to mention the ability to put artificial limits on reporters’ access or coverage. They also have the same, if not better, technology we consider tools of our ever-changing trade.

This disintermediation of media isn’t limited to the sports world. We all know about candidate Obama using his own web site to connect directly with voters and citizens. Government agencies have launched their own “news services” to get around their traditional path to citizens, newspapers and TV stations. The rich and powerful can now use social networking tools to speak directly to their desired audience; when Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, he did most of his talking about the deal via Twitter, not via a reporter.

Keep reading »

Tags: Alex Rodriguez, APSE, Barack Obama, disintermediation, John Cherwa, Manny Ramirez, MLB, MLB Network, NFL, Orlando Sentinel, Shaquille O'Neal, sports journalism

Series: Shifting media power in sports

A legal primer: No consistent

winner in the turf wars between

sports leagues and news organizations

By Justin Rice / June 30 / 8 a.m. / 3 comments

[This is part two of our series on the changing relationships between sports leagues and news organizations. See the whole series here. —Josh]

Before diving any deeper into the growing power of sports leagues over how news organizations do their work, it’s important to trace the legal path that got us to this point. A few landmark cases have played a big role in determining what kinds of influence can be wielded over your local sports section.

In 1997, the NBA unsuccessfully sued Motorola (National Basketball Association v. Motorola, Inc.) for infringing on its exclusive rights to the broadcasts of games by electronically providing customers with in-game updates. The court ultimately found that the statistics of a game are un-copyrightable facts. In other words, nobody can claim ownership to the fact that a LeBron James slam dunk produced two points or that three Ray Allen three-pointers are worth nine points; that information exists entirely in the public realm, available for everyone’s use.

The flap began when Motorola marketed and manufactured a pager called SportsTrax. The device supplied customers with real-time information about NBA games, including the score, who had the ball, and how much time remained in the contest. The service relied on reporters watching the game and keying stats into a computer. The NBA argued the service infringed on the sale of exclusive broadcast rights, which can be copyrighted because creative capital is expended in the broadcast’s production. The transmitted sounds, images, and graphics are a copyrightable expression of the so-called “facts of the game” or “underlying game.” Legally speaking, however, the court said sports events themselved “are not ‘authored’ in any common sense of the word.”

Keep reading »

Tags: APSE, content sharing, copyright, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Morning News, fantasy sports, Gannett, high school sports, John Cherwa, LeBron James, Louisville Courier-Journal, Mark Cuban, media law, MLB, Morris Communications, Motorola, NBA, NFL, PGA

Series: Shifting media power in sports

When the league owns the network

— and pays the journalists:

A new set of ethical questions arise

By Justin Rice / July 1 / 8 a.m. / 1 comment

With no live programming in the morning, MLB Network had to scramble to assemble its crew after the bombshell broke Feb. 7: Sports Illustrated’s Selena Roberts and David Epstein were reporting that Alex Rodriguez had tested positive for steroids in 2003 as a member of the Texas Rangers. But within a few hours, MLB Network had rolled out its stable of talking heads to interview slews of former players and general managers about the newest scandal to rock baseball.

“By 2 p.m., decorated broadcast veteran Bob Costas was interviewing Roberts in studio,” The Washington Times’ Tim Lemke wrote a few days later, praising the network for going “a long way toward establishing itself as a credible source of news” by not dodging the A-Rod scandal.

MLB Network’s A-Rod coverage was heralded by the Los Angeles Times and Street & Smith’s Sports Business Daily, which called MLB Network “no house organ” — a sentiment the pioneering sports blogger Will Leitch made where he wrote, “If the MLB Network ends up being a success, Saturday’s breaking-news coverage of A-Rod will be its Hugh Grant on Leno moment.”

But it’s worth noting that MLB Network’s coverage was being praised primarily for not choosing to ignore (or spin) the biggest baseball news of the year. Simply ignoring a story that huge would have been suicidal. As MLB Network spokesman Matt Bourne told me: “If certain things are not discussed that’s not going to pass the smell test with fans.” The question that remains unanswered is, in a world where leagues are increasingly creating their own media outlets, is it possible to imagine a story like A-Rod’s being broken by MLB Network — or, in other sports, by the NFL Network or NBA TV? If league-owned networks continue to grow in prominence, how will that impact the way sports are covered?

Keep reading »

Tags: Alex Rodriguez, APSE, Bob Costas, Boston Globe, Boston Red Sox, Cablevision, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Tribune, David Epstein, Deadspin, Don Baylor, ESPN, John McClain, Jon Heyman, MLB, MLB Network, NBA, Newsday, NFL, Selena Roberts, sports, Sports Illustrated, sports journalism, Terry McDonell, Tom Verducci, Will Leitch

Series: Shifting media power in sports

Five ways for sports reporters

to maintain a balance of power

with the teams and leagues they cover

By Justin Rice / today / 9 a.m. / No comments

In June 2007, John McClain, who covers the NFL’s Houston Texans for the Houston Chronicle, was getting tired of a league rule that limited the Chronicle to posting no more than 45 seconds of team video on its web site every day. So he and his colleague Anna-Megan Raley decided it was time for a tongue-in-cheek protest. They shot the video you see above, in which they interview several Texans players and officials while racing against the clock to stay within the NFL’s rules — yelling “time” and scampering off to the next interviewee whenever someone took too long to answer a question.

Protests like McClain’s — along with the lobbying of news organizations and associations — got the 45-second limit expanded to 90 seconds a year later. But many journalists still find it grating that the subject of coverage can dictate how it can be covered. (Can you imagine a mayor trying to dictate similar terms to a city hall reporter?) And as we’ve seen, teams and leagues are increasingly using the lever of access to dictate what kinds of coverage news organizations can provide.

What lessons can be learned from the battles sports journalists have fought with leagues that want to limit digital rights? We asked a few people who have been on the front lines, and here’s what they told us. Keep reading »