Welcome to Matt Bonner’s crib
What a find on YouTube! The Red Rocket gives a tour of his new home outside San Antonio.
Millrats Notes and Quotes
ITEMS from my appearance with the Millrats that may or may not appear in a column to be published Friday:
– Thanks to some players who made me feel comfortable upon my arrival to the gym: P.J. Young, Mike Williams and David Cooper.
– Coach Larry Lessett in the fourth quarter: “I want to give you a long run this time. How many minutes can you go?”
Kevin Gray: “Three.”
(Anthony Anderson busts a gut laughing.)
KG to Anderson: “How many minutes did you think I’d say?”
Anderson: “I don’t know, but I didn’t think you’d say three!”
– Souleymane Wane: “Do you work out?”
KG: “No, but my wife cooks healthy food.”
– David Cooper on the prospect of a 37-year-old playing in the ABA: “Anything is possible. They told me I wouldn’t play my senior year (at James Madison) because there’s no more cartilage in my knee.”
– More from Cooper: “There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch what happens — and those who wonder what happened.”
– Boston Blizzard guard Mike Konovelchick talked some trash before the game. Kono said, “Make sure he plays a lot,” while talking to some Millrats and pointing to me.
Millrats win, 143-82
What a thrill. We crushed the Boston Blizzard today at SNHU as Gray Matter logged 7 minutes, 57 seconds on the court as Manchester’s “13th Man.” The Millrats really took me under their wing and got me into the boxscore.
I made my second shot on a dribble-drive and floater in the paint … Also attempted a pair of 3-pointers and forced a 17-footer in the corner with a guy all over me. My plus-minus was +8 on the day. Also was credited with a steal after my man blew past me on the baseline, and I back-tipped him … Played 2 minutes in the second quarter and couldn’t get a shot off. Who says they don’t play defense in the ABA?
Thanks to the Millrats management and players for making this possible. I’ll be writing a first-person column with photos later in the week.
Prepping for Game Day
Is this really happening? Sunday I’ll be suiting up with the Manchester Millrats and become part of the American Basketball Association.
– This movie trailer is helping set the mood. It’s Will Ferrell’s new flick, “Semi-Pro.”
– I’ll be a two-sport kind of day for KG. We’re going to a sledding party in the AM.
– I’m dedicating the game to Steve Yankopolous of Londonderry, who is currently hospitalized with cystic fibrosis. Steve, general partner of the Millrats, has inspired me to seize the moment and take advantage of this unique opportunity.
– Matt Bonner’s advice? “My advice is to be loose. Don’t feel the pressure. Don’t be all up-tight and nervous. I know you have a lot riding on this game … I think you should come in with the attitude like you’re the hitman. If you’re only going to play a minute and if you’ve got six fouls, just start wrecking people.”
– Spoke with Millrats coach Larry Lessett today. “I’m going to treat you just like any player,” he said. “I’m not going to put you in a position to embarrass yourself.”
– Trinity hoop coach Pat Smith has suggested I load up my arms with temporary tattoos. I’m not sure that’s going to happen.
Into the Diva’s lair
The fourth episode of “Full Count with the Fisher Cats” has been posted on YouTube. Danielle “The Diva” Matteau and Mike “Dr. Evil” Murphy had me on the show shortly after the wildly successful Granite State Baseball Dinner. I even had my own couch. This was probably the best show yet because of the player interviews and chat with Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi. Jesse Litsch tells a good story about not having his passport when he first got the call to Toronto.
– Here is clip one of the show, which features scenes from the baseball dinner and the beginning of my interview.
– Here is clip two. Watch how Murph nods at the camera, giving his approval, at the :31 mark.
– And clip three featuring the interview with Ricciardi.
Note: I like to talk with my hands.
KG joins Millrats; No, not that KG
After a month of negotiations with the Manchester Millrats, I have reached a contract agreement with the ABA franchise and will be on the roster this Sunday. Well, at least part of that statement is true.
The Millrats invited me to join the team and serve as the “13th Man” — a special rule in the ABA for wannabes like me — for the Boston Blizzard game at Southern New Hampshire University. Sunday’s tip-off is 4:35 p.m. Terms of the one-day contract were not disclosed.
Why do this? Are you kidding me? This is a tremendous opportunity to join a pro basketball team and get inside the locker room and onto the court, at least for pregame warmups. I’ll be slapping foam like an All-Star.
The following is the actual press release on the Millrats’ new roster addition. Notice the “90210″ reference to my intramural basketball team in college. That part is priceless.
MANCHESTER — Manchester Millrats have added New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Kevin Gray to the roster for Sunday’s home game against the Boston Blizzard. Gray joins the team as the “13th Man Celebrity Player,” a unique rule in the American Basketball Association.
Manchester (15-9), the fifth-ranked team in the ABA, takes on the Boston Blizzard (6-12) at 4:35 p.m. at Southern New Hampshire University.
Gray, 37, has been a reporter for the state’s largest newspaper since 1994. He played basketball for the Plymouth High Bobcats and graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where his intramural team known as “90210” won a title in 1993.
This is not Gray’s first attempt at professional basketball. In 1996, he attended an open tryout for the New Hampshire Thunder Loons of the United States Basketball League and was cut by the late Frank Monahan.
“Basketball has always been a passion of mine. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the Millrats on their playoff run,” said Gray, a 6-foot-4 forward. “It’s an honor to be surrounded by these talented players and get an inside look at the pro game.”
I’ll be writing a column about the experience next week.
Blue Jays-Fisher Cats lovefest
A preview of tomorrow’s story for the die-hards:
The Toronto Blue Jays will be making their Double-A nest along the Merrimack River for at least another four years.
The major-league club has extended four years its player development contract with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a move keeping the Jays’ affiliate in Manchester through 2012.
No, it’s not the Red Sox, but the Fisher Cats couldn’t be happier with the relationship they’ve forged with Toronto since the inaugural 2004 season — just as the length of contract attests.
Major-league clubs typically sign two- or four-year agreements with their affiliates.
“It has been nothing short of an absolute pleasure to work with the Toronto Blue Jays,” Fisher Cats President/General Manager Rick Brenner said. “Their players provide our fans with tremendous excitement on the field and represent the Fisher Cats with dignity in the community. Extending our PDC for the maximum four-year period confirms that both sides value this long-term partnership.”
There wasn’t much doubt the Jays and Fishers would re-up on another contract. Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi, who attended the Granite State Baseball Dinner this month, said he’s been thrilled with the partnership.
Added New Hampshire owner Art Solomon, “The Fisher Cats are proud to continue our long-term relationship with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are a top-notch organization that has consistently supplied us with competitive teams and future Major League talents like Aaron Hill, Adam Lind and Jesse Litsch. We look forward to vying for more Eastern League Championships as a Toronto affiliate.”
Great e-mail from Winnie
Hi Kevin,
It’s probably too late to add to your story about NH Patriot fans, but that is secondary to my primary reason for writing to you. I was wishing that someone (you?) would write a column about the words that Junior Seau spoke after yesterday’s AFC Championship victory. I have seldom heard an unrehearsed speech that was more articulate and inspiring, and probably never immediately after having played an emotional football game. I noticed that even when he paused, none of the members of the media interrupted with another question. There was this accepting silence as if the reporters knew that something fine was being said, and they wanted to take it all in.
He spoke about football in particular, when he told how touched he was when Belichick, himself, had called him and said, “I have a spot for you.” But he turned that around and spoke to every one of us when he said, “All we need is a chance. All anyone needs is a chance.” And then he spoke about how some people just “want” to succeed, when what is required is that you have to “need” to be successful, and he wasn’t referring entirely to football, but to the challenges all of us face. The interesting thing about these words was that they didn’t appear to be taken from some “How To…” motivational book, but from some place deep inside him. They bubbled out of him and brought tears to one’s eyes because they rang true and, consequentially, were as inspiring as his last crucial tackle of Michael Turner late in the game.
I wish I had a copy of his words. I wish I could meet the guy and shake his hand.
Winnie O’Shaughnessy, Mirror Lake, NH
Random read
Check out this blog entry from UMass center Luke Bonner. That’s just good wholesome fun.
Well, that was fun, sort of
Naoko Funayama doesn’t have to worry about her job. I made my debut on “Full Count with the Fisher Cats,” a cable TV program in Manchester, and it went about as smoothly as a Matt Roney save opportunity. (And I even have the double chin!)
– I’m told the program will be aired Monday and the YouTube clip posted Tuesday.
– There was no green room, though you could smell a freshly painted green floor and green wall in the “special effects” room. No mugs. No water. No make-up.
– The Diva & Dr. Evil (hosts Danielle Matteau and Mike Murphy) have a quite a chemistry going. They joke around off-air, then smoothly transition into introductions and interviews.
– Lots of lights and about five cameras. As the show was being taped, I had no idea which camera to look at. There was also about a hundred thoughts going through my head, and the challenge was to clearly pluck them out in a concise manner. Not easy when you’re nervous/excited and virtually blinded by The Diva’s green emerald green eyes.
– I changed from sneakers to shoes moments before taping. The Diva had these $600 Botticelli red shoes, and I didn’t want to bring down the program with my beaten up running sneakers.
– Really the whole experience was kind of a blur. I remember Dr. Evil asking me if I was still intimidated by The Diva’s presence. At this point, I mentioned the “pretty green eyes” and got the host to blush.
– When The Diva asked me why I like covering the Fisher Cats, I gave a bunch of different reasons but forget to say how much I love “the journey” of minor-league baseball. Life is all about the journey, and it’s fascinating to watch these players develop into major-league stars. And it’s always interesting to watch how players handle adversity.
– I felt much better after watching a documentary on Johnny Carson the other night. He was pretty much terrified during his early days of TV before eventually getting the knack.
– Says one reader of the blog, “You can no longer hide behind your computer.”
Maybe next time I’m on the show, I’ll be interviewing a player at the park. Now that’s a setting I’m familiar with.
