Bits and Pieces 7-9-08
by: Frank Carpano
• Interesting debate going on on sportstalk radio. Should the Red Sox pursue signing Barry Bonds. The discussion, sparked rumors and ultimately a denial by Sox manager Terry Francona who admitted yesterday on the Rome is Buring TV Show that it was just a rumor
• I can’t imagine Bonds in a Red Sox uniform. This ownership group impresses me as always trying to do things in a politically correct way. Signing Bonds would be controversial. And the Boston media would feast on it.
• The other interesting topic being discussed on sportstalk radio; Would you trade Manny Ramirez? Manny has 2 club option years after this season. Each year is worth 20 million dollars to Ramirez. He is obviously not having the kind of year that deserves a 20 million dollar salary. But who do you get to replace him?
• Lasalle Academy’s 14 year old golfing sensation Juliet Vongphoumy got to tee it up this week at the Rhode Island Amateur. Unlike the high school boys state championship she won, Juliet will not be able to play from the women’s tees. She finished the 2-day 36 hole stroke play portion of the event at 19 over par. Not great, but better than 36 other men who competed with her!
• It always amazes me how this small state of Rhode Island produces more than its share of world class athletes. North Kingstown’s Elizabeth Beisel is the latest example. This 15 year old qualified for 2 Olympic swim events at the recent US Trials. She’ll be in Beijing next month.
• If you’re headed to the Summer Olympics and looking for accomodations...you may want to try to land one of the more than one-thousand households providing rooms for foreign visitors during the Olympic Games. “olympic Families” must offer a spare bedroom, basic toilet and shower facilities and at least one English-speaking family member. Guests get 3 meals a day...their host will take them to see tourist sites like the Great Wall free of charge....The nightly rate for room and board....100 yaun or 14 dollars and 50 cents. What a deal. But beware, a quick check of roundtrip airfare on US Airways (Boston to Beijing) will set you back 7500.
