Sports 08-30-2018

From the Press Box

Plenty of Competition

By: Jim Lederman

The Vikings open the 2018 season on Friday night, Sept. 7, with Pentucket “Sachems” invading Miller Field.

Coach Jon Cadigan is excited about the competition for starting positions on his team. “We are preaching competition,” said the Vikings first year head coach.

The Vikings have 48 players on the roster. This is one of the largest turnouts for the Vikings; the squad has 12 seniors, six juniors, 19 sophomores and 11 freshmen.

“We have three new seniors who did not play last year,” said the enthusiastic Coach. Bivain Chalmers, a three-sport stand out (hockey and lacrosse) has been a big addition. Gary Collaku and Dan O’Neil are two more seniors.

The Vikings had a scrimage in the 100-degree heat at Miller Field on Wednesday. They will travel to MacDonald Stadium in Malden for a game scrimmage with the Malden ‘Golden Tornadoes’ on Friday night at 7 p.m.

The Coaching staff includes four ex-Viking football captains: Robert Nimblett, James Fucillo, Chris Ferrara and Tyler Gillis. Matt Love is the offensive coach.

The captains elect are Feedle Small, Mike McCone and Chris Castro.

Let’s Go Vikings!

Let the Games begin!

 

On Second Thought

The football season kicks off next weekend. The Winthrop Vikings open at Miller Field on Friday, Sept. 7. The Pentucket Sachems invade Miller Field.

Sunday, Sept. 9, the New England Patriots open their 2018 schedule at Gillette Stadium. The Houston Texans are the opposition.

The Winthrop Youth Football teams open their schedule. I have received three phone calls from parents. When will the new field house be built?

Sports Illustrated picked the Patriots to finish (12-5) win the AFC East, defeat Jacksonville in the playoff, but lose to Pittsburg in the AFC Final.

SI (Sports Illustrated) picks Atlanta to defeat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl.

The Red Sox lost their first series of the year to Tampa Bay. The Sox lead was 10 games two weeks ago. The lead is now six games, five in the loss column.

The Sox have six games with the Yankees in September. When will Chris Sale return to the lineup?

When will Eduardo Rodriquez return to the lineup?

When will Devers return to play third base?

The Patriots receiving squad lost Brandin Crooks and Danny Amendola from last year’s team that lost in the super bowl.

The Patriots are thinner at wideout. They will be without Julian Edelman for the first four games. They have released Malcolm Mitchell, Jordan Matthews and Kenny Britt. Eric Decker announced his retirement.

The Patriots play the Giants tonight (Thursday) when I think of loyal Giants fans I think of the late Jimmy Donovan and Jack Driscoll.

The last time the Vikings played Pentucket, was in 2011 up at West Newbury. The Vikings lost to Newburyport that year. The UMass ‘Minutemen’ defeated Duquesne (63-15) to open their season. It was the most points UMass have scored in a single game during their seven years at the highest level of college football.

The reward for the ‘Minutemen’, a trip to Alumni Stadium on Saturday to play Boston College.

Ex-Vikings to play at UMass Bob DeBonis (WHS Hall of Fame) and Jonathan Lanza (1983 super bowl).

Alabama is a 25-point favorite when they play Louisville on Saturday. The McCourty brothers, Devin and Jason (identical twins) will be the first brothers to play for the Patriots.

Danny Ainge reports that all-stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving are ready for a great season after recovering from injuries.

The 1984 State Championship softball team will be inducted in the Winthrop high school athletic Hall of Fame on October 20th.