SAN ANTONIO - Matt Bonner donned his hairnet and toured a birthplace of one of his dietary staples during a visit to the Mrs. Baird’s bread factory in San Antonio.
Bonner shared his visit with first grader London Hinton and his classmates. London, whose essay won the Mrs Baird’s “My Favorite Way to Eat Bread” essay contest, was congratulated by his fellow essay-writing classmates from Ms. Spark’s first grade class from New Life Christian Academy. The story and video.
– Spurs.com
Hold onto those Bill Masse promotional T-shirts. Masse, who led the Fisher Cats to their best season at Merchantsauto.com Stadium, has joined the Double-A Binghamton Mets as hitting coach. Masse spent last season managing the Double-A San Antonio Missions (Padres) and now returns for another tour of the Eastern League. The B-Mets will be in Manchester April 23-26.
Seven-foot shot blocker Kenyon Gamble has joined the first-place Manchester Millrats, who’ll play at home this Sunday at 2:30. Press release:
Gamble was an All-IBL selection while playing for Millrats coach Rob Spon on the Gary Steelheads team this past summer. In 2007 he led the CBA in blocked shots as a teammate of Desmond Ferguson’s in North Dakota, and was named to the CBA All-Star team and the CBA All-Defensive team. Gamble has had NBA workouts with the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics, and he was the last free agent cut on the Indiana Pacers’ summer league squad in 2007.
“I am elated to join the Millrats’ organization and the Manchester community, in order to bring a championship to the City,” stated Kenyon Gamble. “We have great coaching, players, fans, and management that is needed to win. I am glad to be on board for the run.”
“He’s a veteran. I coached against him when I was in the CBA,” Spon said. “He knows his role. He just loves to block shots, block shots. He does it clean, keeps the ball in play.”
The Millrats currently maintain hold of first place in the Atlantic Division with a 5-2 record, with the Halifax Rainmen just a 1/2 a game behind at 5-3. Manchester faces two critical games against the Rainmen up next, as they visit the Metro Centre in Halifax on Thursday night, and then are at home again next Sunday at 2:30pm. Gamble is expected to be in uniform for both games.
Another snowy Sunday and another home game for the Manchester Millrats (2:30 p.m.). The Halifax Rainmen are here in Manchester and ready for today’s battle for first-place in the Premier Basketball League’s Atlantic Division. General Manager Ian McCarthy says there’s no chance of postponing the game, played at Southern New Hampshire University. See you there.
Also, the game can be seen on the Web at Manchestermillrats.com.
There’s only one reason Matt Bonner might not be selected for the NBA’s All-Star 3-point shootout: Spurs teammate Roger Mason. If the league doesn’t want more than one representative from a team, Bonner might end up getting snubbed.
Mason, who’s clutch basket won last night’s game against the Lakers, now leads the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage. A look at some numbers.
GP PPG 3PM 3PA 3PM 3PA 3P%
1 R. Mason, SAS 37 12.3 2.3 4.8 85 179 .475
2 M. Bonner, SAS 36 8.1 1.4 2.9 50 106 .472
3 A. Morrow, GSW 30 9.0 1.0 2.1 29 62 .468
Right-hander John Smoltz said all the right things during his first press conference as property of the Red Sox, saying he’s not chasing any personal milestones or any statistical milestones. He just wants to win.
I asked Jeff Locke of Conway, a Braves farmhand, if he’s ever spent much time with Smoltz. The answer is yes.
“Yeah, I got a lot of time to talk with him this past spring and summer,” Locke said. “He pitched in (Single-A) Rome twice, and I will tell you what. I’m very happy for him. He has been given a great opportunity to win in Boston, and I hope he does. I have never heard a bad word about John Smoltz, and he’s one of the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life and one of the more hard-working an determined professional athletes I have ever been around.”
Tonight I’ll be heading to a banquet for Plymouth Regional football coach Chuck Lenahan and presenting him with a Union Leader plaque in celebration of his 300th career win. It’s actually 309 wins, but who’s counting anymore?
In 1988, when I was a quarterback for the Bobcats, we defeated Hanover, 12-6, on four Jeff Beckley field goals. Life was great. We were undefeated, wearing our championship jackets from 1987. HOWEVER, Lenahan called me into his office a couple days later.
Lenahan: Kevin, what’s wrong with the passing game? You didn’t complete any passes against Hanover.
Me: Well, let’s see. One pass was tipped. One was dropped. I threw one away to avoid a sack — and that’s it. You only gave me three chances.
(Lenahan reluctantly agreed to let me pass more in the next game against Monadnock Regional, and it went well.)
Congrats, coach.
There’s nothing better than scooping People or US Magazine. Matt and Nadia Bonner are having a baby, due July 10. Congrats to Nadia and the Red Rocket.
Fisher Cats owner Art Solomon is withdrawing his bid with the city of Lowell, Mass., to manage the Spinners baseball facility. LeLacheur Park will remain under the operation of Drew Weber, former business partner of Solomon’s. More in tomorrow’s paper.
– The New Hampshire Fisher Cats finally have a winning record at The Merch, and, get this, reach the playoffs! The Blue Jays, meanwhile, finish fourth in the AL. Because, you know, the team is so young and there were too many injuries. (Memo to J.P. Ricciardi: Other teams have injuries, too. It’s how you fill the holes.)
– Central High’s Chip Kelly takes over at head football coach at the University of Oregon. Ducks gear can be purchased on every city corner in Manchester.
– Matt Bonner will compete in the NBA 3-Point Shootout. This needs to happen.
– Manny Delcarmen doesn’t attend the Granite State Baseball Dinner.
– The Plymouth High football teams runs its winning streak to 55-0.
– Travis Snider for Rookie of the Year? It’s a close race but Tampa’s David Price wins the award.
