Bob Ryan
@GlobeBobRyan
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Sports columnist emeritus for the Boston Globe.
Joined August 2009
I’ve seen every great player of the last 60 years. Luka Doncic takes my breath away.
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If this story about Bill Belichick accepting a Medal of Freedom from the disgraced occupant of the White House is true, he’s dead to me. Say it ain’t so, Bill. I sincerely hope this is Fake News.
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My first Twix. A definite lottery pick. Sorry it took this long.
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I am very sad to report that the Great Paul Silas has died at age 79. To watch him play was a joy. To be his friend was an honor.
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I am sadder than sad. Tim Wakefield has died due to a brain tumor at age. 57. He was real. He was CLASS. This is truly horrible news.
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Sean McDonough is doing the USA-Canada game for ABC. Very, very people can handle all 4 major sports so well. Throw in the Olympics. He’s as good as anybody but is still not properly appreciated. Ain’t nobody better.
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Sticking with baseball for a moment, the late Tim Wakefield’s 16-1 Red Sox start in 1995 stands as the greatest stretch of knuckleball pitching in baseball history. Don’t bother to argue.
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Congratulations, Bill Belichick. You have Done The Right Thing.
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Out for my daily walk. Passed two teenagers shooting solo driveway hoops. Heartening. Uplifting. Thought about teaching ‘em the hook shot, but I passed. Maybe next time.
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There is so much I could say about my friend, Bill Walton. He loved Life, and lived it on his terms. What a privilege to know him.
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You saw it. Why Sport is one of life’s greatest gifts. Pity the non-sports fan. He or she will never know what we know.
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There is never an NBA game worked by 90-year old Hubie Brown where you don’t come away saying, “Wow. I hadn’t’ thought of that” and 90 percent of the time he makes you laugh at least once. He remains a true treasure.
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Let’s get this straight: there may be broadcast equals in any of the four major team sports, but NOBODY excels in all four the way Sean McDonough does. He is the most unappreciated great TV broadcaster of our time.
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John Havlicek has passed at age 79. This is an immense personal loss, as well as professional. If all professional athletes .carried themselves as well as he did, sport would be a far better place.
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I fully realize no sports announcer can ever please ‘em all. But failing to recognize that Sean McDonough is the best pro and college four sport play-by-play man we have is just plain ignorant. And throw in the Olympics. It’s a staggering resume no one can match.
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Let us salute Tanner Houck and Nick Pavetta for saving the Red Sox ass these last two nights.
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A hearty salute to Jackie MacMullan, winner last night of the PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award For Literary Sports Writing. First female winner, and totally well-deserved.
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Joel Embiid’s dazzling 52-Point game vs Boston was one of the most impressive clinical offensive performances I’ve ever seen in 54 years of NBA coverage and 59 years of NBA in person attendance.
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I love basketball. So, by definition, I have zero interest in the NBA All-Star Game, which has deteriorated into a ludicrous farce. Believe it or not, once upon a time the greatest players in the world wanted to play serious basketball, not engage in a defenseless Dunkarama.
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If I had to play a basketball game for my life tonight, and the only center available was Dwight Howard, I’d play with 4.
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I applaud the greatness of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and Ju Ju Watkins, etc., but in fairness to their predecessors, I don’t see a better point guard than Dawn Staley or a better post player than Lisa Leslie. Great women’s basketball skill is not new.
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RIP the One and Only El Tiante, age 83. Luis Tiant’s omission from the Hall of Fame is ludicrous. So many highlights, but my favorite is his 5-4, 161 pitch complete game in Game 4 of the 1975 World Series.
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I barely know what to say. The NY and LA times are both abandoning traditional (and valuable) true sports coverage on the same day. June 10 will always be the Day of Infamy for American sports journalism. I am eternally grateful when I did it when I did it and where I did it.
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Every fiber of my body tells me I shouldn’t do this, but what the hell. Am currently being reminded that the best MLB uniforms, now and forever, are the home Cardinals with the see-sawing Redbirds.
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18 yrs ago today the incomparable Dick Schaap passed. He was the best writer among sports broadcasters and the best sportscaster among sportswriters. And there was no better guy to hang out with.
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The countless tributes for Tim Wakefield, from both inside and outside of baseball, should remind all pro athletes that who you are is far more important than your statistics and any championships.
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Let’s take a deep breath. Maravich played 83 games, averaging 44 ppg without the three. Caitlin has played 130 with a three. Each has passed the ball beautifully. But the games are different. Each has been spectacular in their own world. They are on parallel pedestals.
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Happy 86th to a national treasure, Bill Russell, the most documented winner in American sports history. From ‘55 to ‘69, in the NCAAs, (2), Olympics (1) and NBA (13), his teams played for 16 championships. They won 14. No accident. Next question.
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Just askin’. Has the time not come to end the charade that Tampa-St. Pete deserves a Major League Baseball franchise? I know all about the crappy park and its wrong location, but 19,704 for a playoff game is embarrassing for a worthy organization that has done so much right.
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If you’re not personally offended but this disgraceful farce taking place right now in Indy, you don’t love or understand basketball, These “All-Stars” should be censured. And where are the coaches? Have any of them have any pride? They’re all acting like athletic court jesters.
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I congratulate the NBA for announcing that Bill Russell’s number 6 will never again be issued by any team.
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Losing minor league baseball is no small thing. Minor League Baseball is a staple of many communities summer lives. It is an American treasure. Already under siege by misguided MLB assasins, it has been catastrophically wounded by Covid-19. This is truly bad news for the sport.
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I think I speak for many in Boston who say we are happy for Christian Vazquez.
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The Knicks are rewarding their fans big-time tonight. I’ve said it before: kick-ass performances on a team’s home floor in a series-clinching game is an orgasmic fan experience. Knick fans have waited a long time for a night like this.
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The SI news is not surprising, but it is depressing. If you had asked me at age 20, “What do you want to do?” I would have said, “I want to go to Sports Illustrated and become the next Frank Deford.”.
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UCLA should have all our undying admiration. Gonzaga, it goes without saying. This was one of those games that reminds us why we’re sports fans in the first place.
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RIP Chris Ford: a player who got everything out of his natural ability and as unpretentious and normal a human being as any coach I’ve ever known. He was like your next door neighbor who just happened to be going to work at the Garden. And, yes, he made the first NBA three.
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It is impossible to exaggerate the greatness of the late Willie Mays. You can only deal in superlatives when talking about Willie Mays. I am one of countless fans who claim Willie Mays as their all-time favorite player.
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I completely understand younger basketball fans embracing the three. It’s all they know. What they don’t know is how much better the game was without it.
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The Celtics are the most disappointing team in the league. There is no second place.
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Once again, these NBA stars are showing no respect for the game. It’s another Dunkarama and 3-point farce. Not a single hand in anyone’s face. I’ll see how TCM is doing. See you next year. What a waste of time. Adam, you must do something. It’s embarrassing for your sport.
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Just remember: Baseball, all of Baseball, brought these needed rule changes on themselves. I’m talking managers, players and analytics-driven front office people who have all made it more tedious and less interesting to watch and enjoy. Give me the 1960 Game 7 any day.
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Merry Christmas to all my followers. I am grateful for every one of you. Though we may often disagree on opinions and policy matters, never forget we are bonded by a love of sport.
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RIP John Feinstein. He was a true giant in our profession, with enormous tentacles in so many sports. I am in awe of his productivity. And a great guy to hang out with.
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On the last play of the game the Celtics did the most basic thing imaginable; they played poised, intelligent basketball. Good passes, good finish. Smart players rising to the moment. All made possible by a great collaborative defensive stand.
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Bill Russell 21-0 in winner-take-all games: All NCAA games, Olympic medal round, best-of-5s, best of 7s. Greatest resume of anyone. Period.
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Celtics fans: Don’t forget to thank Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens for making so many great decisions as they assembled this deep championship roster.
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I’ll make it crystal clear: there is no better place for the Final Four, in this or any other century, than the city of Indianapolis.
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Anyone out there who can properly describe what Steph Curry just did to guarantee Gold for the USA? I can’t.
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Saying Bill Russell wouldn’t be as good today is like saying Rembrandt would flunk one of our Art Schools. Genius transcends time. As great an athlete as he was, perhaps his best asset was what lay between his ears. There has never been a comparable basketball package.
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Whoever did not vote for Ichiro Suzuki in the Baseball Hall of Fame election should have his or her voting rights revoked and should be placed under House Arrest because clearly that person is unhinged and a clear danger to Society.
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This is a sad, sad day for his family, his many friends and his many readers. Nick Cafardo was a pro’s pro writer and a great guy. The Globe and all sports media have lost a Giant.
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No city has a better sports Mt Rushmore than BOSTON. And here it is: Russ, Ted, Bobby and Tom. You cannot imagine how painful it is for me to leave out Larry. But I must.
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RIP Phil Niekro. The rebounder for John Havlicek on the Bridgeport HS basketball team. I understand he went on to play a little baseball. Seriously, folks, Knucksie and Hondo were best friends who grew up to be Hall of Famers.
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The Jerry Remy the world knew was not that naturally outgoing. Sean McDonough tapped into something and thus the RemDawg was born and we all benefited, Jerry Remy included. And weren’t he and Eck together priceless? Proud to say I have one of his 7 career HRs in my ‘77 scorebook.
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Terrible news about the death of Marvelous Marvin Hagler. At his championship peak, he was Boston’s fifth major sports franchise all by himself.
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What’s wrong with some of you people? A true no-hitter is when one man —- ONE —- man throws a CG while not allowing a hit. When multiple pitchers throw a no-hit game, it is in a different (and lesser) category. Do NOT confuse it with a true no-hitter.
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From 1955 till 1969 Bill Russell competed for 16 championships: 2 NCAAs, one Olympics and 13 NBAs. His teams won 14. It was no accident, no coincidence. On this day in 1969 he played, and won (of course) his final game. It is an incomparable resume.
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For the record, the only times Curt Schilling wasn’t great, and not merely good, was when he was injured. To me, his Hall of Fame candidacy is a no-brainer. We’ll get into his total whack-job non-baseball takes some other day.
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OK. I’ll spell it out. We were able to vote this morning quickly and without incident because we are lucky enough to live in an area without Republican chicanery. OK?.
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The word “unbelievable” is perpetually mis-used. But the Celtics’ 82-38 halftime lead over Golden State is, yes, unbelievable. It was tied at 21-21.
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I am watching Purdue’s 7-4 Zach Edey play quality Big Man basketball for the 4th or 5th time, and if it’s true there is no longer a place in the NBA for him I am officially disgusted with the hostile takeover of the three, which has distorted basketball at every level.
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Attn Red Sox fans: Hoist ‘em tonight in honor of Millar, Roberts, Mueller and Papi. It’s the 16th anniversary of, well, I guess you know.
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For the record: Larry shot 11-38 for 9 ppg in Games 3-4-5 of the ‘81 Finals. But no one complained because he also had 13 reb and 8 ast per. So lay off Tatum, please. Larry was 1-3 on threes in the series, but the 1 put away Game 6. No surprise, Johnny Most was very excited.
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Any Celtics fans want to join me in a thanking Brad Stevens for picking up Derek White?.
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Booing Jerry Krause, without whose wisdom in assembling the cast that allowed Michael Jordan to get all those rings, was colossally classless and ignorant. What happened at that ceremony was despicable.
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Ex- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy conducted a Master Class in how to address your dubious dismissal with grace and dignity. Whoever gets him next is very fortunate.
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You’ll hear a a lot about Jerry West. Speaking as an opposing fan, I was terrified and awed. He never whined. Tough. Ultra-competetive. Impossible to hate. Most respected and revered foe of my Celtics experience. He and Elgin introduced the NBA to LA. A great GM. Truly Mr. Laker.
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Let me make this clear: The unquestioned breakout star of “Around The Horn” has been the one and only Woody Paige. The only problem is that Woody Paige should be better acknowledged as a great writer.
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Larry Bird was neither a “small” forward nor “power” forward. He was Larry Bird, a “Special” forward.
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To say KC Jones was a very nice man is a fact. To say he was tough as a player is another fact. And to say he died with more rings than anyone on the planet is another fact. He had 12: 8 as a player, 2 as a head coach and one as a Laker asst. And he had a helluva singing voice!.
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Happy 79th, John Havlicek. Unarguably the greatest two-position player ever. Eight rings. One NCAA title. No one had better stamina. Had three-point range necessary for today’s game. And always carried himself with class.
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Honored to be on Jackie MacMullan’s last Around The Horn show. For any young female sports enthusiast, Jackie is the ideal role model.
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Hey LA! See that catch? You’d better damn well treasure Mookie. Worst mistake we made since selling The Babe to the Yankees.
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Let’s be clear: the best spectator ballpark seat ever was Upper Deck at Tiger Stadium. Non-negotiable.
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Whoever conceived and executed that Magic-Larry bit prior to Game 5 deserves a huge raise. How cool was that?.
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Every last one of us should contemplate all our good fortunes while expressing our condolences to the Wakefield family. It’s really true: Life is seldom fair. The Wakefields are Exhibit A.
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You can argue that Sports Illustrated at its peak was the most significant journalistic entity in the history of American sports.
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Starting in 1955, Bill Russell’s teams played for 16 championships in the next 14 years (NCAA, Olympics, NBA). They won 14, and in one of the losses he was injured (1958). No one can match that resume. Period.
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I just heard Tucker Carlson try to explain why that poor woman was killed while invading the Capitol today. The word “idiot” doesn’t begin to describe him.
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Suggs’ block, his recovery and his dazzling bounce pass on the transition sequence should be viewed by every high school and college before every season for all eternity. This is how to play the game.
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Who knows how it will all play out? But I’ve been watching them since 1964 and this is one of their most rootable and loveable Celtic teams.
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UMass was every bit as dominating winning the NCAA hockey championship as Baylor was winning the NCAA basketball championship. Congratulations to the Minutemen from this BC Eagle. You deserve it.
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Final "Sports Reporters" ever Sun May 7 9:30 ET. 28 fantastic years. Changed my life. Sincere thanks to all for watching.
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Jaylen Brown had 17 in the 4th quarter today. The game had been in doubt. Will people agree that, while he is not perfect, he’s pretty damn good and the Celtics are lucky to have him, and stop worrying about his salary.
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Just saw the brilliant NBC piece on Normandy. If you are fortunate enough to be an American of sufficient means, a trip to Normandy is a Must. You will never regret it.
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And don’t even think of arguing with me. There has never been an NFL playoff game quite like this, 25 combined points in the final 2 min. And this entire weekend is unprecedented.
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