In this March 16, 2011, file photo, Boston Celtics broadcasters Tommy Heinsohn, left, and Mike Gorman speak on camera as fans wearing photos of the broadcasters' faces stand behind the two, prior to an NBA basketball game between the Celtics and the Indiana Pacers in Boston. The two were celebrating 30 years as a broadcast tandem. AP Photo/Elise Amendola
📝 Programming note: We’ll be OOO for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but will be back in your inbox on Tuesday.
What’s on tap today:
It’s Gonna Be Maye
Missing Mookie (and X)
Pedro Martinez’s epic performance
Let’s get into it…
LEADING OFF
The men behind the mic
Image: Elisa Amendola/AP
This year saw some major changes in Boston sports. No, we’re not talking about Drake Maye starting at QB for the Patriots (more on that later) or Bill Belichick leaving town. Boston said goodbye to three beloved sports broadcasters this past season: Celtics TV play-by-play voice Mike Gorman, Bruins TV announcer Jack Edwards, and Red Sox radio man Joe Castiglione. With them departs more than 100 combined years of service to Boston sports fans. But the memories of their greatest moments remain.
Sports fans have a special relationship with broadcasters. For those of us who can’t attend every game, TV and radio voices take us on the field or inside the arena. The best ones heighten — sometimes even immortalize — the game’s biggest plays, like Al Michaels did with his call of BU alum Mike Eruzione’s goal in the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” (Also, see: “Do you believe in miracles?”) As Tom Brady is finding out at the start of his broadcasting career, that’s a tough job. But do it well, and people will remember you forever.
Our local announcers are etched in sports history. Gorman, Edwards, and Castiglione have each guided us through golden ages of Boston sports. Gorman saw four Celtics championships — three alongside late partner and former Celtic Tommy Heinsohn — and was on the mic for Larry Bird’s famous Conference Finals steal against the Pistons. Edwards — always one to shred officials and praise Patrice Bergeron — oversaw three Stanley Cup runs, including a winner in 2011. Castiglione, meanwhile, got the crown jewel of them all, uttering the words “Can you believe it?” as the Red Sox broke their 86-year championship curse.
They’re also part of Boston’s DNA. For years, Boston fans here and across the country would join Gorman, Edwards, and Castiglione from their living rooms or in their cars to share the joy of the game. They were with us on our teams’ — and sometimes their own — best and worst nights, commiserated with us about bad calls from the refs and sometimes fell over their chairs, as Castiglione did in Game 4 of the 2018 ALCS, when they got too excited. They became as much a part of our fandom as the teams themselves.
Now, it’s time to build the city’s new sound. Gorman, Edwards, and Castiglione aren’t the only well-liked Boston sports voices to come and go. The city’s been blessed to have many great announcers replace legends, like Bruins great Fred Cusick (1952-1997), iconic Celtics voice Johnny Most (1953-90) and Pats Hall-of-Fame radio broadcaster Gil Santos (1966-79, 1991-2012). While we don’t know who will take over for Castiglione on Red Sox radio yet, Judd Sirott (Bruins) and Drew Carter (Celtics) are already leading us into the future at TD Garden.
BOSTON SPORTS
Quick hits & headlines
Image: Matthew J. Lee/Boston Globe
💫 (Drake) Maye Day is upon us. It’s happening: the Patriots officially named their No. 3 overall pick the starting QB this week after five games spent sitting behind Jacoby Brissett. He’ll aim to improve New England’s 32nd-ranked (out of 32) passing offense against an aggressive Texans defense. Is it prudent to play him this week? Probably not, as our own Conor Ryan wrote this week. But this is football. Adversity will show what Maye’s made of. Besides, even though Maye will go through some growing pains, at least he’ll be fun to watch.
🚨 Jabrill Peppers’ Patriots career in doubt after arrest. The veteran Patriots safety did not play in Week 5 and is now on the commissioner’s exempt list after he was arrested last Saturday and charged with assault and strangulation. Peppers will receive pay but cannot practice or play with the team while on the list. If the NFL suspends Peppers for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, New England could void the defensive captain’s guaranteed money and cut him. Right now, Peppers’ chances of playing for the Patriots again look slim.
📺 Jayson Tatum stars in “Starting 5.” The Celtics star might not have the “sizzle” of 22-year-old Anthony Edwards on the Netflix docuseries, but he has plenty of substance. Aside from headliner LeBron James, no one else in the documentary faced nearly as much pressure as Tatum did while hunting a championship in our title-obsessed city. His laser focus, leadership and willingness to sacrifice some of his own glory for Banner No. 18 show why he’s the perfect Boston superstar. Now, it’s time for an encore.
BEYOND BOSTON
Out-of-town report
Image: MLB.com
Xander Bogaerts duels Mookie Betts for a World Series. “X” stole a hit from his old teammate on Tuesday, while Betts responded with his second homer of the hotly contested NLDS between the Dodgers and Padres on Wednesday. Anyone know where the Red Sox can find a couple players like that?
Jets fire head coach Robert Saleh. It’s not a great look when the division rival that embarrassed the Patriots in primetime three weeks ago fires its coach because of how dysfunctional things are behind the scenes. Also, before you ask: Bill Belichick would probably rather coach your rec flag football team than the Jets.
ON THIS DAY | OCTOBER 11, 1999
Pedro puts the Red Sox on his back
Image: Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe
Martinez’s masterpiece lifts Sox to ALCS. The Red Sox ace couldn’t start the winner-take-all Game 5 of the ALDS against Cleveland due to shoulder problems. But with Boston reeling early, Martinez grabbed the ball in the fourth inning and stifled a loaded Cleveland lineup, allowing no hits and striking out eight as Boston came back to win the series. Martinez later acknowledged this game did lasting damage to his shoulder and shortened his career, but added that he wouldn’t change a thing.
🗞 That’s a wrap. I’ll be waiting for a side-by-side graphic of the height Biles gets on her flips compared with Jaylen Brown’s vertical.
🫢 We asked, you answered: A whopping 85% of you who responded on Monday said you wanted the Patriots to stick to the plan and keep sitting Drake Maye. Let’s hope he makes it through Sunday in one piece.
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