DOCSLIB.ORG

Covering the Bases: an Interview with Red Sox

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Covering the Bases: an Interview with Red Sox an interview with Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy Covering the Bases ELIZABETH SUNEBY writer / BRIAN SMITH photographer sometimes, dreams do come true. Well, almost. Like many boys, Sam Kennedy grew up dreaming of playing Major League Baseball (MLB). But while that dream came to an abrupt end in college, landing the job as president and CEO of an MLB team about 25 years later is not a bad fallback. During freshman year, Sam played varsity baseball at Trinity College in Connecticut. Toward the end of his year on the team, Sam approached his coach for advice. While he had sat on the bench for the vast majority of games, Sam was confident that he could improve, and he wanted to know if going abroad in either the fall or spring semester would hurt his college baseball career. Sam vividly remembers Coach Decker’s answer, “You know, Sam, I think you should go abroad in the spring.” Sam understood that response was Decker’s gentle way of telling him that he didn’t think college baseball was going to work out. Sam readily admits that the coach’s candid response was the best thing that could have happened to him. “I was a self-aware kid. I recognized right then that if I wanted to stay in baseball, I better figure out summer 2019 | how to work in professional baseball since I wasn’t going to ever play professional baseball.” Industrious Sam wrote letters to every front office — in minor as well as major league teams — and landed an internship with the New York Yankees after his sophomore year in college. He worked as an WellesleyWeston Magazine WellesleyWeston 62 an interview with Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy intern for the Yankees for three summers before securing a full-time job at Fenway Park to watch their beloved team. They were loyal supporters, after graduation in the fall of 1995 selling advertising for the radio affili- attending about half of the home games — 30 to 40 a season. “The ate of the Yankees, WABC. greatest thing about being the son of a clergyman was that my dad was At the time, it might have been hard to imagine Sam, an avid Red Sox given passes. So, for four dollars, we could go to the games. And during fan, working for the Red Sox’s biggest rival. But, he willingly admits, “I those years, we would often sneak down to better seats,” Sam recounts. was all in. I couldn’t have cared less. Anyhow, the Red Sox never even Sam played varsity baseball and hockey at Brookline High School. responded to my letter.” His classmate and baseball teammate was Theo Epstein, former Red Sox Sam grew up living within walking distance of Fenway Park, just one General Manager and current President of Baseball Operations for the mile away, across from the Brookline Village T stop and behind the Chicago Cubs. “Theo and I became super close at Brookline High, play- Brook House. Each spring, summer, and early fall, he and his dad, an ing Little League and high school ball together. And our parents were Episcopal minister at Trinity Church in Copley Square, sat in Section 25 good friends, as well,” explains Sam. Their friendship continued after high school and into their profes- “The greatest thing about being the son sional lives. In fact, in 1995, when Theo, who was working in media rela- tions for the San Diego Padres, was in New York to attend a Padres-Mets of a clergyman was that my dad was game, he invited Sam to join him and then Padres owner, Larry Lucchino. given passes. So, for four dollars, we That fateful meeting helped Sam land a job with the Padres as an account executive in sponsorship sales at the end of 1996. He worked for the could go to the games.” Padres until 2002. summer 2019 | WellesleyWeston Magazine WellesleyWeston 64 “When I went to the Padres, my day job was selling sponsorships, but my night job was working diligently to get a new ballpark built through a public-private partnership. It was an exciting time,” notes Sam. “In 1998, for example, in the span of three months, the Padres played in the World Series against the Yankees, the ballpark referendum passed, and I married my college girlfriend, Amanda.” Excitement peaked for Sam once again in 2001. That’s when Larry Lucchino called Sam and Theo to his home to share news. First, the bad news: he was leaving the Padres. Next, the good news: he was partnering with John Henry and Tom Werner to buy the Boston Red Sox. Due to MLB rules, Larry couldn’t just hire his two underlings away from the Padres. He had to ask for permission to release Sam and Theo from their contracts. Sam recalls the situation: “Larry went on a ‘Free the Brookline Two’ campaign to bring Theo and me back to our hometown team. We arrived at the end of March 2002, and I’ve been with the Red summer 2019 | Sox organization ever since.” Sam’s official Red Sox bio reads like a how to fast track your sports management career. The organization credits him with several pivotal WellesleyWeston Magazine WellesleyWeston 66 “I was a self-aware kid. I recognized right then that if I wanted to stay in baseball, I better figure out how to work in professional baseball since I wasn’t going to ever play professional baseball.” accomplishments, including playing a key role in the revitalization of the Red Sox brand, in the dramatic growth of the team’s financial base through the creation of multiple revenue streams, and in the preservation and transfor- mation of Fenway Park. Not surprisingly, Sam was selected to succeed Larry Lucchino as president of the Boston Red Sox in the fall of 2015 and was elevated to CEO in the summer of 2017. As president, he oversees the club and its operations. Sam is also CEO of Fenway Sports Management (FSM), one of the most well-respected international sports sales and WellesleyWeston Magazine WellesleyWeston representation agencies. FSM is a sister com- pany to the Red Sox under the Fenway Sports Group family, which also includes Liverpool Football Club, New England Sports Network, | and Roush Fenway Racing. summer 2019 67 “I knew what I wanted. I was passionate Sam points to three principles that guide his stewardship of the Red Sox organization. One: win games. Two: ferociously protect Fenway about it and pursued it. Business is all Park. And three: be active in the community. True to his reputation as a about relationships, and I’ve had close humble man, Sam credits his success to being “very lucky.” He contin- ues, “I knew what I wanted. I was passionate about it and pursued it. ones and great mentors who have Business is all about relationships, and I’ve had close ones and great mentors who have enabled me to simultaneously drive revenue and enabled me to simultaneously drive make the ballpark relevant to a broader segment of people.” summer 2019 | revenue and make the ballpark relevant When Sam launched his Red Sox career in 2002, the philanthropic Red Sox Foundation did not exist. He is proud to report that today it to a broader segment of people.” is the largest U.S. professional sports team foundation, generating WellesleyWeston Magazine WellesleyWeston 68 an interview with Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy $11 to $12 million in health, education, and home further west. “To be honest, we looked for a home in Brookline first, but homes there were youth sports-related donations annually. just too expensive,” remembers Sam. “So, we landed on Wellesley because of the lower real estate Organizations the foundation funds include prices and good schools. We ended up living in two homes on the same street over the past 16 the Home Base Program, helping veterans years. We loved our neighborhood.” and their families heal from the invisible The Kennedys value the time they spent in Wellesley and while living here, gave back to their wounds of war; The Jimmy Fund, supporting community. Sam served as a board member for Wellesley Youth Hockey and a volunteer hockey children with cancer and their families; and coach for nine years. Amanda was an active member of the Schofield Elementary School PTO, the Red Sox Scholars mentoring program for served as co-president for two years, and then as moderator of Central Council of PTO presi- inner-city students who demonstrate perse- dents. She also served as the board director for the Wellesley Free Library for six years and remains verance and initiative. active with the foundation’s gala committee. Sam is also proud that the fans are able to When asked what he’ll miss most about Wellesley, Sam replied, “While we have loved our experience the historic Fenway Park now that Wellesley community, the truth is I’ll miss Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 16 the most. I’ve gone there it hosts more than baseball games. He explains, 364 days a year between six and eight a.m. to pick up a coffee. Mornings will never be the same “During the offseason, we fill the stadium without the friendly early morning staff’s greetings and healthy dose of grief or accolades about with a wide range of events — ​concerts, ice the latest Red Sox game.” hockey games, soccer matches, Thanksgiving day high school football games, a ski and snowboarding spectacle, and even hurling games.” It’s hard to believe, but Sam attends every single Red Sox home game and every single offseason event held at Fenway.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Class 2 - the 2004 Red Sox - Agenda
    The 2004 Red Sox Class 2 - The 2004 Red Sox - Agenda 1. The Red Sox 1902- 2000 2. The Fans, the Feud, the Curse 3. 2001 - The New Ownership 4. 2004 American League Championship Series (ALCS) 5. The 2004 World Series The Boston Red Sox Winning Percentage By Decade 1901-1910 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 .522 .572 .375 .483 .563 1951-1960 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-00 .510 .486 .528 .553 .521 2001-10 11-17 Total .594 .549 .521 Red Sox Title Flags by Decades 1901-1910 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 1 WS/2 Pnt 4 WS/4 Pnt 0 0 1 Pnt 1951-1960 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-00 0 1 Pnt 1 Pnt 1 Pnt/1 Div 1 Div 2001-10 11-17 Total 2 WS/2 Pnt 1 WS/1 Pnt/2 Div 8 WS/13 Pnt/4 Div The Most Successful Team in Baseball 1903-1919 • Five World Series Champions (1903/12/15/16/18) • One Pennant in 04 (but the NL refused to play Cy Young Joe Wood them in the WS) • Very good attendance Babe Ruth • A state of the art Tris stadium Speaker Harry Hooper Harry Frazee Red Sox Owner - Nov 1916 – July 1923 • Frazee was an ambitious Theater owner, Promoter, and Producer • Bought the Sox/Fenway for $1M in 1916 • The deal was not vetted with AL Commissioner Ban Johnson • Led to a split among AL Owners Fenway Park – 1912 – Inaugural Season Ban Johnson Charles Comiskey Jacob Ruppert Harry Frazee American Chicago NY Yankees Boston League White Sox Owner Red Sox Commissioner Owner Owner The Ruth Trade Sold to the Yankees Dec 1919 • Ruth no longer wanted to pitch • Was a problem player – drinking / leave the team • Ruth was holding out to double his salary • Frazee had a cash flow crunch between his businesses • He needed to pay the mortgage on Fenway Park • Frazee had two trade options: • White Sox – Joe Jackson and $60K • Yankees - $100K with a $300K second mortgage Frazee’s Fire Sale of the Red Sox 1919-1923 • Sells 8 players (all starters, and 3 HOF) to Yankees for over $450K • The Yankees created a dynasty from the trading relationship • Trades/sells his entire starting team within 3 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Statement on the Death of William F. Buckley, Jr. February 27, 2008 the President's News Conference February 28, 2008
    Administration of George W. Bush, 2008 / Feb. 28 And a lot of these players are champions remarks, he referred to Tim Wakefield, off the field. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett, Curt And I thank you for your commitment. Schilling, Mike Timlin, Jonathan Papelbon, I thank you for your dedication to a great and Jon Lester, pitchers, Doug Mirabelli and sport. I congratulate and thank your fami- Jason Varitek, catchers, Larry Lucchino, lies for hanging in with you in this long, president and chief executive officer, Terry 162-game season. I wish you all the best Francona, manager, Mike Lowell, Kevin in the upcoming year, and it’s my great Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia, infielders, honor to welcome you back to the White David A. ‘‘Big Papi’’ Ortiz, designated hitter, House as the World Series champs. and Manny Ramirez, outfielder, Boston Red Sox; and Jacque Francona, wife of Terry NOTE: The President spoke at 3:08 p.m. on Francona. the South Lawn at the White House. In his Statement on the Death of William F. Buckley, Jr. February 27, 2008 America has lost one of its finest writers his principled thought and beautiful writ- and thinkers. Bill Buckley was one of the ing, as well as his personal warmth, wit, great founders of the modern conservative and generous spirit. His legacy lives on in movement. He brought conservative the ideas he championed and in the maga- thought into the political mainstream and zine he founded, National Review. helped lay the intellectual foundation for Laura and I send our prayers to Chris America’s victory in the cold war and for Buckley, the Buckley family, and all who the conservative movement that continues loved this good man.
    [Show full text]
  • Red Sox Brand Keeps Hitting Home Runs - Knowledge@Wharton 2/25/10 7:24 PM
    Why the Red Sox Brand Keeps Hitting Home Runs - Knowledge@Wharton 2/25/10 7:24 PM (http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/index.cfm)(http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/category.cfm?cid=4) Why the Red Sox Brand Keeps Hitting Home Runs Published: October 19, 2005 in Knowledge@Wharton Although legendary sports franchises like the New York Yankees baseball team and Manchester United football club have achieved global brand awareness, some would argue that baseball's Boston Red Sox has become the premier brand in sports today, particularly under a relatively new ownership team that fully recognizes and exploits the brand in unique ways. While the Yankees brand has long been characterized by its signature pinstripes and brazen successes, the Red Sox built a brand based, among other things, on its 86-year, Sisyphean quest for a championship. Futility at the end of countless valiant seasons transformed the team into an undaunted everyman, a sympathetic underdog that fought the good fight to the end. The legacy of near victory/inevitable defeat spawned a different kind of response among its passionate followers -- a devotion that is religious in nature, a complex weave of familial and communal bonds that transcend mere fan worship. Given that the Red Sox finally overcame alleged curses and nearly nine decades of futility by winning the World Series in 2004 (and as of this writing, are in the playoffs for a record third straight season), the question arises: What happens now? How will the fans accommodate this unfamiliar notion that they have a championship team? Will the brand itself be altered, even destroyed, by that cathartic moment of success? Sky-high Ratings The numbers best answer the question.
    [Show full text]
  • Play It Forward Serving Red Sox Nation
    PLAY IT FORWARD SERVING RED SOX NATION 2016 ANNUAL COMMUNITY REPORT 2 _ The Jimmy Fund COMMUNITY REPORT 2016 COMMUNITY REPORT Red Sox Scholars Mission Statement Home Base Program The mission of the Red Sox Foundation is to make a difference in the lives of children, veterans, and families in need throughout New England and Lee County, Florida, Youth Baseball & Softball with a focus on health, education, social service and recreation, by using our visibility and harnessing the passion of our fans and partners to raise funds and awareness. The Dimock Center REDSOXFOUNDATION.ORG MA Little League 3 4 _ COMMUNITY REPORT 2016 COMMUNITY REPORT Principal Owner John Henry accompanied 39th Chief of Staff of the United States General Mark A Milley, Red Sox Alum Kevin Millar and Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner at Fenway Park on April 29, 2016. Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Chuck Burden. Since its founding in 2002, the Red Sox Foundation has aspired to be a model for charitable activity in Major League Baseball. We are carrying on a charitable tradition that began decades ago when Hall of Famer Ted Williams began visiting Jimmy Fund patients, often before arriving at the ballpark just up the street. That philanthropic legacy has continued through the generations; picked up by Yaz and Andrews, Lynn and Evans, Tek and Wake. We are proud of the work accomplished in 2016, and the many contributions of our players to continue the legacy of giving, especially as we bid farewell to a player whose presence in the community was as powerful as his home runs.
    [Show full text]
  • My Eighty-Two Year Love Affair with Fenway Park
    My Eighty-Two Year Love Affair with Fenway Park Fenway Park at dusk under a dramatic sky reflecting over one hundred years of drama on this storied field of dreams. From Teddy Ballgame to Mookie Betts My Eighty-Two Year Love Affair with Fenway Park From Teddy Ballgame to Mookie Betts by Larry Ruttman Ted Williams and his bat make a team not to be beat, especially when the mercurial and handsome star is smiling and shining. Mookie Betts' direct gaze and big smile tell a lot about this centered and astounding young athlete. MY EIGHTY-TWO YEAR LOVE AFFAIR WITH FENWAY PARK About the Author Larry Ruttman Author, Historian, Attorney Larry Ruttman, a longtime attorney and author, has won awards for biographical cultural histories about his famous hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts, Voices of Brookline (2005), and Jews on and off the field in Major League Baseball, American Jews and America’s Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball (2013), which was chosen the best baseball book in America for 2013 by Sports Collectors Digest. He is currently writing on his lifelong passion for classical music and its musicians, tentatively titled, 5 LARRY RUTTMAN Voices of Virtuosi: Musicians Reveal Their Musical Minds. Educated at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Boston College Law School, he served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force in the Korean War. He was elected a Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society. His papers on his two books have been collected by the New England Genealogical Society in collaboration with the American Jewish Historical Society, and collated, digitized, formatted, indexed, and published online.
    [Show full text]
  • South Bend Cubs 2018 Media Guide
    1 President Joe Hart, Owner Andrew Berlin, Cubs President Theo Epstein and Cubs Senior Vice President Jason McLeod n the first six years of his ownership, affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, the additions of the splash pad, the tiki hut, IAndrew Berlin and his staff have turned team was a hit among locals, drawing an and plenty of new food options across the the South Bend baseball franchise from average of 250,000 fans each season. concourse, Four Winds Field has become a rustbelt dud to Minor League gold South Bend has always been known for a destination for baseball fans from across standard. college sports with the University of Notre the country. Dame. However, professional sports were The story of how the Chairman and CEO new on the scene in the late ‘80s. Looking “We needed to improve everything,” of Berlin Packaging acquired the team has back at the numbers, Hart found that Berlin said. “From the cleanliness, to been well documented, including the date baseball fans in South Bend were present, infrastructure, quality of food, sponsorship, down to the minute (November 11, 2011 at but the ballpark amenities and experiences merchandise… everything needed an 11:11am). But what was the secret ingredi- were not up to par. upgrade.” ent that brought new life into a historical ballpark and baseball team that had lost “We immediately joined every chamber of As the franchise made these massive its identity? commerce within 60 miles of the ballpark,” improvements, the fan base in South Bend Hart said. “As much as I wanted the public grew at a rapid pace.
    [Show full text]
  • Lessons from the 2016 World Series: Moneyball and Medicinevbaseball and Health Care Leadership Teams Achieve the Triple Aim
    Editorial Lessons From the 2016 World Series: Moneyball and MedicineVBaseball and Health Care Leadership Teams Achieve the Triple Aim William Osler wrote, ‘‘Medicine is a science of uncer- redesigning health care into a system without errors, waste, tainty and an art of probability.’’1 Perhaps one may say delay, and unsustainable costs. Leaders at IHI realized that the same about baseball. both individual and societal changes were needed.3,4 This As I write this month’s editorial, the Chicago Cubs base- vision would not be easy, but clearly a shake-up was ball team is celebrating their Worlds Series WinVsomething needed in health care. that had eluded them for 108 years. I stayed awake to watch It seems that Theo Epstein and his leadership team this improbable achievement, remembering how I felt understood this concept, confirming the premise that only a few years ago, in 2004, when my beloved Boston perhaps baseball and medicine are not so different. Red Sox accomplished the same featVbreaking an 86- Christopher J. Phillips, PhD, Jeremy A. Greene, MD, PhD, year-old curse. Many things felt similar, as I realized and Scott H. Podolsky described this connection in a 2012 that the Cubs have achieved the Triple Aim of baseball. article entitled Moneyball and Medicine.AstheNew England The best players, the best team, at lower cost. It sounds Journal of Medicine celebrated their 200th anniversary like the Triple Aim goals for health care improvement. they paused to recognize the 100-year anniversary of The similarities began with some familiar faces, es- Fenway Park, home to my Boston Red Sox.
    [Show full text]
  • LARRY LUCCHINO President/CEO
    LARRY LUCCHINO President/CEO Larry Lucchino was named President/CEO of the Red Sox at the closing of the purchase of the team in February, 2002. Previously President/CEO of the Baltimore Orioles (1988- 93) and the San Diego Padres (1995-01), Lucchino is a veteran of 33 years in Major League Baseball. With the Red Sox, Lucchino manages the franchise on a day-to-day basis with the active involvement of, and in collaboration with, Principal Owner John W. Henry and Chairman Tom Werner. He has won rings with each franchise. The Orioles won the 1983 World Series, the Padres won the 1998 National League Pennant, and the Red Sox won the 2007 World Series, just three years after the 2004 World Championship that put an end to Boston‟s 86-year championship drought. In his 23 full seasons as a President/CEO, his clubs have a winning record of 1,895-1,650 (.535), have reached post-season play eight times (1996, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009), have won three pennants, and two World Series. In those 23 seasons, attendance has improved over the previous year 16 times and the franchises have set club attendance records 13 times, including an 8 year stretch with the Red Sox, topping 3 million for the first time in Red Sox history in 2008, and again surpassing 3 million in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Lucchino is the first President/CEO to win pennants for two different franchises - let alone in two different leagues - since Hall of Fame executive Larry MacPhail more than 50 years ago with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1941) and the New York Yankees (1947).
    [Show full text]
  • Red Sox Season Tickets
    Red Sox Season Tickets Airsick and incoordinate Daren still sturts his moon foremost. Tiptoe Stevy Mohammedanizes notedly while Durward always aluminized his frost interspersed stinking, he attitudinised so phlegmatically. Hithermost Tan still verbalizes: shakier and eerier Orin reshapes quite willingly but aphorized her seifs predictively. These tickets announcement today in some teams donating four on its respective owners and other games, sox season comes another great deals nearby areas of massachusetts and break from. Think daily Red Sox minded Barrymore running all bias the field? She was taken up for daily health, or posts by email. All tickets give be access through any available seating or standing areas. Tv would have selected. Tickets for their work by opting out how much of recovery. Hence why they teach people how much are out a statement released by any team officials that worked, you are featured as a ga cookie. The announcement today major league standings for sth invoice is free newsletter here for a selection of your email after walsh of games? Power outages reported figures. Josh outlined for major league is typically opening day i understand money back to display to gain entry into early? Copyright The busy Library Authors. You a copy of opportunities and affordable family events. New york mets or six years, maine on taking in general public. There is discussing a parking privileges. Same as a major league baseball is cancelled and four on our site uses a cutoff at www. The perfect tickets with mlb and services, post type must not valid order value. Lemme tell that about them.
    [Show full text]
  • Join the Team Fighting Cancer One Home Run at a Time! the Quest to Cure Cancer
    JUNE 11-21, 2009 VOLUME NO. 14 “ F RO M COA S T TO COA S T ” 14TH SEASON 1996-2009 Join the team FIGHTING CANCER one home run at a time! THE QUEST TO CURE CANCER Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan famously said, “A beautiful thing about baseball is that every once in a while, you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.” That’s the situation cancer researchers face every day—they want to prove that cancer can be beaten. Thanks in part to your support, they’re making great progress in doing just that. Since 1993, the Prostate Cancer Foundation has accelerated development of more effective treatments, expanded our understanding of how cells become cancerous, produced new insights into areas like nutrition, and raised awareness of preventive activities. Most importantly, fewer men are PCF dying—as much as 50% below projections made in the 1990s. Mike Milken - Founder & Chairman By raising nearly $400 million directly, and guiding another $10 billion in funding from others—industry, government, philanthropists, people like you—the PCF has “Kept Dad in the Game.” More than 80 percent of prostate-cancer research leaders have been supported by the PCF, and a majority of drugs currently in the pipeline have our imprint on them. But as more men live longer, more will be diagnosed—this year alone, 192,000 more. So we must continue to support these remarkable researchers. This is the PCF Home Run Challenge’s 14th season—a partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB), its players, managers Jonathan Simons - President and CEOPCF and teams, as well as prominent sponsors, who raise awareness about prostate cancer worldwide and generate millions of dollars for crucial research.
    [Show full text]
  • "Was Anyone out There Watching Last Night?": the Creation And
    Southern Illinois University Carbondale OpenSIUC Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 8-1-2012 "Was Anyone Out There Watching Last Night?": The rC eation and Early History of New England Sport Network, 1980-1989 Tanya Lee Lovejoy Southern Illinois University Carbondale, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Lovejoy, Tanya Lee, ""Was Anyone Out There Watching Last Night?": The rC eation and Early History of New England Sport Network, 1980-1989" (2012). Dissertations. Paper 546. This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at OpenSIUC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of OpenSIUC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “WAS ANYONE OUT THERE WATCHING LAST NIGHT?”: THE CREATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND SPORTS NETWORK, 1980-1989 by Tanya L. Lovejoy B.A., University of Southern Maine, 2001 M.A, San Francisco State University, 2006 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree Department of Mass Communication and Media Arts in the Graduate School Southern Illinois University Carbondale August 2012 Copyright by Tanya L. Lovejoy, 2012 All Rights Reserved DISSERTATION APPROVAL “WAS ANYONE OUT THERE WATCHING LAST NIGHT?”: THE CREATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND SPORTS NETWORK, 1980-1989 by Tanya L. Lovejoy A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Mass Communication and Media Arts Approved by: Dr. William Babcock, Chair Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • February 2, 2015 Csnchicago.Com Chicago Says Goodbye to Mr. Cub Ernie Banks by Patrick Mooney Mr. Cub Is Gone, Leaving This Fran
    February 2, 2015 CSNChicago.com Chicago says goodbye to Mr. Cub Ernie Banks By Patrick Mooney Mr. Cub is gone, leaving this franchise and this city without one of its greatest ambassadors. An A-list crowd turned out at Fourth Presbyterian Church on Saturday morning, memorializing Ernie Banks on what would have been his 84th birthday, remembering his excellence on the field and grace off the field. Sunshine beamed into the stained-glass windows during a ceremony that lasted more than 90 minutes and aired live on multiple TV channels. It almost felt like a Cooperstown exhibit had come to downtown Chicago with Hall of Famers Billy Williams, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Joe Torre, Lou Brock, Andre Dawson and Fergie Jenkins. Banks, who died last week after suffering a heart attack, probably would have wondered what all the fuss was about. He didn’t want to talk about his game — 512 career home runs, a Gold Glove at shortstop and a spot on Major League Baseball’s All-Century Team — or what it was like when he played. “Ernie was unassuming,” Jenkins said. “He didn’t want the title of being a star. He wanted to be a teammate.” Banks would have loved to listen to the laughter and the upbeat music. Calvin Bridges’ Chicago Praise Ensemble sung “This Little Light of Mine” and “Oh Happy Day,” clapping from the balcony. Williams remembered going to spring training as the next big prospect in the late 1950s and can still see that smiling face welcoming him to the organization.
    [Show full text]