Sports of Boston » KC Downey

Curt Schilling’s Video Game Company 38 Studios Lays Off All Employees

KC Downey — Thu, 24 May 2012 23:56:50 +0000

Forgive the cliche, but it’s nearly game over for Curt Schilling’s video game company, 38 Studios.

The company laid off all of the employees on Thursday, one week after it was unable to make payroll. The company had nearly 400 workers.

38 Studios was founded six years ago in Maynard, Massachusetts, but later moved its headquarters to Rhode Island, where officials issued the company a $75 million loan guarantee in 2010.

Last week, Rhode Island officials held emergency meetings two weeks after the company was unable to make a $1.1 million loan payment back to the state. The company later bounced a check before actually making the payment.

The company produced one video game called “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning” and had a new massively multi-player online game on the way for 2013 tentatively titled “Copernicus.” The game, still in development, has already cost the company tens of millions of dollars to produce.

With the online game on the way, 38 Studios has tried hard to find additional investors to keep the company afloat, but has failed so far.

“I have not given up,” Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee told Boston.com. “But I am also a realist. What we’ve learned from (industry) experts is grim news. Very, very grim.”

The state of Rhode Island has already given Schilling’s company $49 million.

Schilling has poured more than $30 million of his personal fortune into the company, but he, too, is tapped.

Philly Writer Calls Boston Sports Fans “Bigoted” and “Racist”

KC Downey — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:25:18 +0000

Are Boston sports fans racist? Bigoted? Why are we asking this question again?

Well, take a moment (that’s all it will take) to read Philly.com sportswriter John Mitchell’s 243-word (wow!) masterpiece of a “column” titled “KG: ‘fair-weathered’ beats bigoted any day.”

West Philadelphia born and raised, as the writer so eloquently describes in his biography, Mitchell did not take kindly to the words Kevin Garnett had about his beloved fanbase.

“You’ve got (Boston) fans and then you’ve got fairweather fans. Take it how you want it,” said Kevin Garnett after Monday’s Game 5 win.

So, Mitchell used KG’s comments as an opportunity to open up a can of worms he didn’t really need to open up.

“You think we’re the fair weather type, do you? Ok, to that I say that it’s better to be fair weather than to be anything remotely akin the cretins that unleashed their racist vitriol via Twitter upon Washington Capitals defenseman Joel Ward, a Black hockey player, last month after he eliminated Boston’s Bruins from the NHL playoffs with an overtime goal,” Mitchell wrote.

You tell him, John! Wait, what does this have to do with basketball? Or Philadelphia? Or Kevin Garnett?!?

Mitchell, of course, is referring to the disgusting tweets made after Ward’s game-winning goal to beat the Bruins in the first round of the NHL playoffs last month.

The tweets ignited a national conversation about race with the microscope again focused on the Boston area, but what Mitchell and several others fail to realize is that a majority of the few dozen people who sent out the tweets were not from Boston. They hailed from Canada, Connecticut, and other parts of the U.S. and world. Some were from Boston, but several weren’t.

So, that makes Boston a racist town? Or, did Mitchell (like several others before him) just paint the city with an unbelievably broad brush? I’ll acknowledge the city has a history of racial conflicts and some race-charged incidents, but if we’re talking about right now (which we are), I’ll go with the latter.

Mitchell then takes his column down a disgusting path with a largely empty threat to Kevin Garnett, who is black, if he cannot win an NBA title this year.

“So my advice to you, KG, is that you’re better off winning this series, the next one and then the next. Because if you let those stalwart fans down, who knows what they’ll unleash on you. We do know what they are capable of. Take that how you want.”

It’s just dangerous to accuse a large group of people (in this case, millions of people) of something so inflammatory. It’s even more dangerous to write an equally inflammatory column threatening an active player.

And it’s downright baffling Mitchell struggled to hit the 250-word mark about a topic he’s clearly passionate about.

(For those counting, I’m at 477 words.)

Patriots Sign 1st Round Pick Chandler Jones

KC Downey — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:29:55 +0000

The Patriots have signed one of their first round picks, defensive end Chandler Jones.

Terms of the deal, of course, aren’t disclosed. But under the new CBA, Jones’s contract is four years in length with an option for a fifth year.

Jones, who comes from Syracuse, is listed at 6’5″ and 266 pounds. He will likely slide in as the team’s starting defensive end in place of Mark Anderson, who signed with the Bills in free agency.

SoB’s Zach Schaphorst wrote up a review of the team’s pick after the draft in April:

“Jones, brother of MMA fighter Jon “Bones” Jones, is an expert at using his hands and can use his long arms to wreck havoc. He is a high motor player, who relies on hustle and rip and swim moves to get pressure rather than around-the-corner speed. Many have compared him to Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.”

Gisele Bundchen Pregnant? Tom Brady’s Wife May Be Expecting

KC Downey — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:22:32 +0000

That’s right football fans! Everyone’s favorite quarterback, Tom Brady, may be expecting a second baby with wife Gisele Bundchen, at least according to the Agora Sao Paulo newspaper in Brazil (follow the link if you understand Portuguese).

Sources told the paper that Gisele’s dress size has changed, leading many to expect that a baby bump is on the way.

Sure, file this one under the “I don’t care” department. That’s fine.

But, you may start caring if the baby is born during the NFL season. If Gisele is two months pregnant, and we’re in May, that would mean the baby would be due around December, if my math is correct.

Gisele and Brady’s first child, Benjamin, was born in December of 2009.

Brady has another son, John Thomas Moynahan, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan.

Red Sox Launch 4 Home Runs, Top Phillies 7-5

KC Downey — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:01:16 +0000

After watching Jonathan Papelbon close out the Red Sox on Friday and do his signature poses in the process, there’s no way the Sox could let that happen again on Saturday.

So, the offense took over, clubbing four home runs to back Jon Lester, who despite a shaky outing, managed to earn the win in a 7-5 final.

Mike Aviles started it all with a leadoff home run, and the Red Sox picked up two more runs in the second on Joe Blanton’s error and Jon Lester’s ground-ball double play with men on first and third and no outs. The Sox led 3-0.

After Philly picked up a run in the third, Will Middlebrooks (2-4) and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (3-4) hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to give the Red Sox a 5-1 lead.

The Phillies picked up three runs off Lester in the bottom of the fourth, making it a 5-4 game.

But, the Red Sox answered right back again, with first baseman (yes…FIRST BASEMAN) David Ortiz hitting a two-run shot to make it a 7-4 game.

It wouldn’t be a Red Sox game without the bullpen allowing at least one run. Lester left the game after six innings, and Vicente Padilla was the first man on to protect the lead. He did his job in the seventh, but could only record one out in the eighth while allowing two hits.

Rich Hill came on and got Juan Pierre to ground out to first, and then Bobby Valentine called on Alfredo Aceves to get out of the eighth. Aceves, of course, allowed a single to Jimmy Rollins, scoring Ty Wigginton (run charged to Padilla), but he got out of it and closed out the Phillies in the ninth to preserve the win.

Lester’s Performance

Lester was coming of a complete-game win over the Indians, but struggled at times Saturday against the Phillies.

He allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk in 6.0 innings. He threw just 90 pitches (59 for strikes) in capturing his third win of the year.

The Red Sox will go for the series win on Sunday afternoon with Josh Beckett on the mound.

Adrian Gonzalez Home Run Guarantee Falls Short

KC Downey — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:19:40 +0000

“I’ll start hitting home runs,” Adrian Gonzalez said after Wednesday’s game. “I’ll hit a homer (Thursday).”

So, now that Thursday’s game is in the books, how did he do? Well, upon hearing Gonzalez’s comments, David Price retweeted this to his 87,000+ followers:

Moore should put one right between his numbers. @TBTimes_Rays: Gonzo guarantee: “I’ll homer tonight” @DAVIDprice14 @Evan3Longoria #Rays

— Zach Wendkos (@zwendkos) May 17, 2012

So, Gonzalez was drilled by a pitch (likely on purpose) in his first at-bat. If I were to do some sports betting, I would have put my money on Gonzalez getting a HBP.

In his next at-bat, Gonzalez hit a long, long fly ball that was just foul to right field (as seen in the picture for this post). It wasn’t fair, but the home run swing off the lefty Matt Moore was there. He deserves that much credit.

In the end, Gonzalez finished 0-3 with a HBP, a strikeout, a ground out and a fly out. He’s now on pace for 9 home runs, 60 doubles, and 85 RBI… though it is early.

376,000 Fans Pack Fenway Park for Sunday’s Red Sox Game (Wait, What???)

KC Downey — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:42:10 +0000

There’s doubts about the legitimacy of the current MLB-record sellout streak at Fenway Park, but according to the ESPN box score for Sunday’s game, attendance is as high as ever.

So high, in fact, that Fenway Park was filled to a whopping 1,019.4% capacity. Yeah, OK.

According to the box score, more than 376,000 packed Fenway on Mother’s Day:

(ESPN.com Screenshot)

David Ortiz Ticketed for Causing Minor Car Accident near Fenway Park

KC Downey — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:05:07 +0000

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was issued a citation for causing a multi-car accident before Friday night’s game against the Indians.

Ortiz was on his way to Fenway Park when he got into the accident near the corner of Boylston Street and Ipswich Street.

According to police, the other driver involved in the crash was stopped at the red light when Ortiz’s car spun out of a gas station and struck the front driver’s side of the car.

“I lost a little control coming out of the gas station and I hit a car, but I’m fine,” Ortiz said shortly after the accident. “Everybody is fine.”

Ortiz was ticketed for an improperly made left turn.

No one was hurt in the crash, and Ortiz played later that night as the DH. He went 1-3 with a walk and a run scored, but left the game in the 7th inning with a heel injury. He apparently suffered the injury in the 5th inning trying to beat out an infield single.

Video: Brandon Lloyd Beats Bryant McKinnie in 77-Year Tennis Match

KC Downey — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:21 +0000

Confused yet? Yep, so were we.

But, we wouldn’t share something unless we actually thought it was worth it. (It’s kind of funny and it’s relevant, of course…I mean, Brandon Lloyd is now a Patriot).

And while I know I kind of spoiled the video with the headline, it’s still worth your time:

Fenway Park PA Announcer Carl Beane Dies in Car Crash

KC Downey — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:45:34 +0000

One of the most iconic voices in the history of Fenway Park, and the only man since the 1910′s to ever call Red Sox games for two World Series Champions (2004, 2007) has died. Carl Beane suffered a heart attack while driving Wednesday. He was 59.

“We are filled with sadness at this tragic news,” Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said in a statement issued by the team. “His legion of friends with the Red Sox and the media will miss him enormously, and all of Red Sox Nation will remember his presence, his warmth, and his voice.”

Since 2003, Beane’s voice was one of the constants at Fenway Park.

By all accounts, Beane loved his job.

“When I get that instant response, a feeling washes over me like, ‘This is where I should be,’” Beane told Boston Magazine in 2008. “This is what I know I was put on Earth to do.”

He is survived by his wife, daughter and two granddaughters.

The team plans to pay tribute to Beane before Thursday’s home game against the Indians.