Boston Sports Media Watch

Historically, Bostonians have never taken to being pushed around very well.

This doesn’t bode well for whomever is responsible for the atrocities committed at the finish line of yesterday’s Boston Marathon.

I’m mortified at the idea that some lunatic(s) felt that Patriots’ Day – a day to remember the first battles of the American Revolution – was the day to make some sort of statement about government and rebellion, and to attack and kill and maim innocent people in the process.

Patriots’ Day was about the people of Boston taking a stand against a cruel and unjust regime. If whomever did this tries to make a connection to those events 238 years ago to justify what they did yesterday, then they are even more messed up than we can possibly imagine. It goes against everything the revolution was fought for.

This will not end well for the terrorists, whoever they are. Bostonians will continue to hold the marathon, to remember Patriots’ Day, and this event will only serve to bring more people together and make this annual day even more significant. Bostonians do not shrink back from adversity. Never have.

While yesterday showed the worst in people, it also showed the best. This photo is a shoo-in for a Pulitzer. Someone like Steve Silva, who was filming the finish line, and instead of running from the explosions, ran to them, capturing footage shown all over the world.  All the people at the scene who immediately ceased thinking of themselves and their own safety and instead, focused on who and how they could help around them. We can go on and on.

I’m just going to link three pieces by sportswriters today.

Heartbreak Hill – Leigh Montville.

The Marathon – Charles P. Pierce.

Letter from Boston – Paul Flannery.

I was putting the finishing touches on a Red Sox column for Metro Boston when I took a quick second to touch up a piece I’ve been working on for BSMW about WEEI’s precipitous fall. These days, I’ve become very good at multi-tasking, a skill I would unknowingly summon all afternoon and into the night. Like others, once I heard news of an explosion at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, I became glued to my Twitter timeline — learning news of the terror which had reared its head in our city, on our holiday, Patriots Day, 140 characters at a time. For all the inane observations and rumors it produces during games and trade deadlines, the social media platform was particularly valuable in the immediate aftermath of the events.

At 27 years-old, I’m not going to pretend to know what to write in this space. Frankly speaking, I’m not sure if I would know what to write even at 50-years-old.

I don’t know what Pear Harbor was like, and can only surface a few cursory memories of the Oklahoma City bombing.  9/11 resonated in its own horrid way. For whatever reason, Columbine seemed like it happened in a different world. Meanwhile Newtown and Aurora hit close to home. Now this. With each of the last three events separated by less than 200 days, it’s becoming harder and harder to conclude that the world we live in isn’t inhabited by evil. I don’t want to believe that, but part of me does. I feel guilty, honestly, but can’t help it. As I wrote for the Metro today,  I found out Monday that it’s different when these events occur in your city. It’s a car accident that you don’t get to drive by and forget about. Instead, it lives with you.

Patriots Day, despite its new infamous association, will happen next year. A cathartic event where we’re forever reminded to never forget what happened on April 15th, 2013. And we won’t. I don’t doubt that justice will prevail, and, ultimately, normalcy will be restored. And I don’t doubt that Boston, as its wont to do, will pull together in the face of tragedy. But reading the endless accounts, walking through the city, and processing the events that transpired makes any notion of healing seem far away.

In light of that, there will be no media column today. Even with so much going on in Brighton, just a few blocks away from my apartment, and a 10 minute car ride away from Copley Place, the visits from The Suits, Pete Sheppard, Mike Salk, and other items will have to wait. In the interim, we can hope, while searching for answers, that those in the media will shepherd us through this difficult time, providing accurate information. From a media consumption standpoint, Greg Bedard put it best, in times like these it’s important to “be right, not first.”

As Bruce linked earlier, Charlie Pierce has an excellent, must-read piece over at Grantland on the startling events, and Steve Silva’s raw video was shrilling.

I hope everyone in the BSMW community is safe and sound.  I’m not sure why, but I just wanted to write this.

@Hadfield__.

After winning each of their first two series of the season on the road, Fenway Park opens this afternoon as the 4-2 Red Sox face the Baltimore Orioles.

The importance of Red Sox finding their way at Fenway – Rob Bradford looks at why it is so critical for the team to re-establish their home dominance.

Winds are changing at Fenway – Rich Levine writes that it has taken just one week for this club to establish itself among Red Sox fans.

Red Sox winning games, converts – Gordon Edes has the Sox setting the tone for this season early on.

Red Sox coming home happy – Sean McAdam says that the club’s 4-2 record has them coming into the opener with momentum at their back, confidence in their step.

This Red Sox team easy to root for – John Tomase guesses that you’re going to like what you see from this team in 2013.

Kevin Garnett returned to the Celtics lineup last night and his presence was immediately felt in a 107-96 win over Washington.

KG makes all the difference – Chris Forsberg notes how much of an impact KG has on his teammates.

Kevin Garnett makes everything better – Steve Bulpett says that KG restores order to the team.

Now is the time for Celtics to hit playoff stride – Gary Washburn looks at the importance of putting it all together for the Celtics in the next two weeks.

Claude Julien stresses time is short – Joe McDonald has the Bruins’ coach also emphasizing to his team the importance of getting their act together.

Time for B’s to step up in Bergeron’s absence – Joe Haggerty examines the Bruins options for filling in for #37.

Another Rob Gronkowski setback – If you missed it yesterday, Ron Borges and Karen Guregian report that the Patriots tight end is still battling infection in his arm, which could delay his ability to get back onto the field, putting the start of the season in jeopardy.

While this story generated a ton of talk (and panic) yesterday, but if you read the report (and follow-up reports from ESPN and the Globe) there is a lot of uncertainty here as to the actual situation. It is very similar to reports that came out when Tom Brady was rehabbing from his torn ACL and there were infections and talk of missed season time.

Just a few quick links this Friday for your perusal and discussion.

CBS handled gruesome leg injury well – Chad Finn’s media column looks at how CBS handled its coverage of the graphic Kevin Ware injury, looks at how the NCAA is rating for the networks, and has some Bruins and Red Sox media notes.

Billerica resident no ‘Flash’ in the pan at WEEI – Evan Lips of the Lowell Sun has a Q&A with WEEI’s Pete Sheppard, who talks about his early career, his first go-round at WEEI and his current role there.

Comcast SportsNet New England to Provide Comprehensive Red Sox Coverage for 2013 Season – CSNNE announced their plans for Red Sox coverage in 2013.

2013 NFL on FOX Super Bowl Season Begins With Preseason Action – NFL preseason opponents were released yesterday and the Patriots will be featured on the first FOX telecast of the preseason when they play Tampa at Gillette on August 16th.