Thank You For Life…
In Grace and Gratitude
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

With another Thanksgiving upon us, I’ve been pondering for days what to write this year. Obviously, a Thanksgiving blog should be a positive writing about giving thanks. I’ve done so in the past, but with everything that’s happening in the world and in my life of late, I was finding it difficult to be inspired and to find the right words. I’ll refrain from discussing my personal issues, but what’s happening in the world is…

Grumpy Old Men, Sports Media, and the Mute Button
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

I thought it was me. As the years fly by, I catch myself being more critical of things…be it politics, media, sports, or just life in general. I assumed it was just me becoming a grumpy old guy…but wait… One morning while listening to CBS Sports Radio, I heard a ‘talking head’ state exactly what I’ve been thinking and doing for a few years. He couldn’t take the buffoonery and arrogant comments of sports analysts…

New MLB Rules a Big Winner in 2023
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

With September upon us and the MLB regular season winding down, I thought I’d give MLB its due for the success of their new rules in 2023. Here’s a look at the four major rule changes that made a significant difference in today’s game. Larger Bases:  While I didn’t see the need for wider bases, I was very much in favor of changing the thickness of the bags. I never understood why the bases were…

Remembering My First Pro Athlete Interview
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

August 9, 2023 It was August 1978. Forty-five years ago. Yikes! The first professional athlete that I was fortunate to interview was Red Sox second baseman Jerry Remy. We talked while leaning against the infield tarp located down the right field line at Fenway Park. I remember it like it was yesterday. Prior to the interview, I was thrilled to meet multiple players during batting practice…and for simply being on the field itself. Hell, I…

A Night with Fellow HOFers – and Remembering the “Castle on the Hill”
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

I’ve written a little in the past about my historic hometown of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Located on Massachusetts’ south coast on picturesque Buzzards Bay, it’s about halfway between Providence, Rhode Island and Cape Cod. It was the site of the first naval battle in the Revolutionary War, which was fought off the beachfront of Fort Phoenix – the guardian of the Fairhaven-New Beford Harbor and the largest fishing fleet in America at the time – and…

NBA: The New King of Flopping
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Step aside soccer, there’s a new king in town. And, no, I don’t mean King Charles III. For years, soccer players were considered the biggest floppers in sports…and rightfully so. It was one of the few reasons why I, along with many other Americans, couldn’t embrace the sport. Players flopping all over the soccer field, known as the ‘pitch,’ were difficult to watch. And this comes from one of Portuguese decent – with all my…

Baseball Memories and My Favorite MLB Pitchers
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Since learning that Jim Palmer, the great Hall of Fame pitcher of the Baltimore Orioles, will be an upcoming guest on the podcast, A Mick A Mook and A Mic, many fond baseball memories came to mind. While I played three sports in my younger days, baseball was my favorite…and probably the one in which I played best. Since I lived only a short walk to a park with three baseball fields, I remember playing…

Parity in Sports…Good or Bad?
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

With the 2023 Men’s Final Four decided, only one team heading to Houston has made it to the event before. UConn will be making their 6th Final Four appearance. The others – San Diego State, Florida Atlantic, and Miami have never been to the prestigious event. I guess gone are the days of North Carolina, UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas making their regular appearances. I must admit, I’m not a college basketball fan as I…

Finally, Spring is Upon Us…Thank God!
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Editor’s Note: A respite from sports talk with a lighthearted, personal piece, as we welcome in Spring. When you live by the water in New England, spring can’t come fast enough. Don’t get me wrong, I love my little beach house. It’s on a decent size lot with about 150’ of beachfront property overlooking beautiful Buzzard’s Bay. I’ve owned it for over 40-years. As an old guy who lives alone, my little piece of heaven…

Baseball is Back…Set Your Clock
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

You’ve got to love March. Spring is less than three weeks away…and MLB Spring Training has begun. As a die-hard baseball fan and one who loved to play the game, March couldn’t come fast enough for me, especially during my youth. And now, with a few years under my belt, I look forward to having something to watch every day. Hence, the reason baseball is America’s pastime – a way in which to pass time.…

My Super Bowl Week in San Diego 1988
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Another Super Bowl is upon us. It’s hard to believe that this is SB LVII (#57)! However, for those of you old enough to remember, this is actually Super Bowl #55. The first two games were called the AFL-NFL Championship Game, which commenced in 1967. The name ‘Super Bowl’ was initiated in 1969, and called Super Bowl III, thus retro-activating the first two games into the new name. In addition, the AFL-NFL merger didn’t take…

Remembering Elvis, The King, and Two Iconic Songs
By Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

With January ending, I thought it would be apropos to reminisce about two American icons, both born in the month of January…Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n Roll (born 1/8/35), and Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King (born 1/15/29). You might be surprised to learn of their relationship and that one of Elvis’ great songs and performances was dedicated to MLK. As the years fly by, I’m increasingly appreciative to have grown up…

Playing Team Sports Helps Build Character
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

As I watched the recent horrific happening on Monday Night Football regarding Bills’ player Damar Hamlin, I was touched by the two emotions that evolved during that life-or-death situation. They were emotions that I also experienced while watching…both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. The way Damar went down and the immediate reaction of the players, one knew this was a serious issue. It was heartbreaking to watch. However, as time elapsed, it also became heartwarming watching…

The Demise of a Dynasty
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Born and raised just south of Boston, I’ve been fortunate to see three of the greatest pro sports dynasties ever in person – the Boston Celtics, New York Yankees, and New England Patriots. From Bill Russell’s Celtics of the 50s-60s and Larry Bird’s Cs of the 80’s…to the Mickey Mantle led Yankees of the 50’s and early 60’s and Jeter’s Yanks of the 90s, I was blessed to see all those great teams in person.…

Is Watching Sports on TV Less Interesting…Or is it Me?
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Sports has played a significant role in my life…from my days as a young boy when I played ball daily…to today, after many years of working in the world of sports. I tell you this to magnify why I’m so concerned with my state of mind when it comes to watching sports on television these days. It’s simply not holding my attention as it has my entire life. These days, I’m constantly flipping the channel…

Thanksgiving and Family Traditions
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

I know many are going through some challenging financial times these days. Hell, making a trip to the supermarket is no picnic for me either. In the past two years my grocery bill has increased drastically. And as a diabetic who lives alone, believe me, I purchase the same boring food every week, so it’s not like I’m buying more. Thanks Joe! But that aside, remember it’s not the food on the table that makes…

Be Thankful for Our Veterans
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

With Veteran’s Day approaching, many emotions run through my head and heart. As a grateful Baby Boomer, I’ve witnessed, firsthand, the trials and tribulations of being a veteran, specifically war veterans of World War II and Vietnam. Those two wars played a significant role in my life. For those who read my blog, you know that my dad was a WWII Veteran who paid a heavy price serving his country. As a paratrooper during the…

MLB Playoffs: Teams You Love to Hate
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

As the 2022 MLB Playoffs approached, I wondered if I’d have enough interest to watch all the games. You see, my Red Sox sucked this season and were nowhere to be found in the brackets. An ALCS finalist in 2021, they finished dead last in the AL East this year. Embarrassing! So, with no rooting interest, could the playoffs hold my attention? As I looked at the brackets, there was really no one to specifically…

The Most Important Thing in Life is Family
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

For those of you who read my blog, you know that I, fortunately, come from a very close and loving family. My Mom and Dad grew up in the same neighborhood, married at a young age (when my dad returned home from WWII), owned businesses in town, and became very well-known and respected in our community. Over the years, many friends of my brother and I considered our parents their second parents. Often, friends would…

Remembering Old Friends and Former NFL Announcers, Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Sadly, there is one guarantee in life…death. Unfortunately, as we grow older, that occurrence comes far too frequently. That is the sad truth about aging – we lose loved-ones, friends, and acquaintances on a regular basis. And while we accept this fact, it does not make it any easier when it occurs. With the 2022 football season upon us, I think of one of its great players, Gino Cappelletti, who we lost this year. Gino,…

Money Consumes (and Ruins) Sports Dialog
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Make no mistake, I’m a firm believer of capitalism. God bless you for making as much money as you can, if it’s done legally – and not like a politician (but that’s a blog for another time). However, over the years, I’ve watched professional sports team-owners, unions, and athletes get so consumed with money that it has taken over the dialog in sports. Fans now talk more about how much money an athlete makes rather…

Remembering Bill Russell – The Greatest Sports Champion Ever
by Gil Vieira

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

Bill Russell was the greatest basketball player of my youth and, by far, the greatest sports ‘Champion’ of my lifetime.  Boston Celtics great Bill Russell passed away this week. He was 88 years-old. Russell was drafted in 1956 – and during his 13-year playing career in the NBA, he won 11 Championships, including 8-in-a-row! However, his NBA rings weren’t his only championships, as he also won 2 NCAA Championships for the San Francisco Dons, a…

LeBron Ruining the Lakers’ Legacy

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

In a sports sense, I hate the LA Lakers. I’ve been a Boston Celtics fan since the days of Bill Russell, so…enough said. However, while I dislike the organization, that doesn’t mean I haven’t respected them over the years. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is one of the best in all of sports. Plus, I actually liked Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Both were great players and classy men. And while I was never a fan of…

Celebrating the Birth of America: The Greatest Country Known to Man

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

With the Fourth of July approaching, I look forward to celebrating the birth of the greatest country in the history of our planet.  The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the American Revolution. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies…

American Hypocrisy Extended to Sports

vSportsTalk - By Gil Vieira

To be clear, I’m no longer a big golf fan. I haven’t followed golf intently since the days of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicholas. I played a lot during my college years and a few years, thereafter…but that was many moons ago.  So, with that said, don’t expect this blog to provide much insight on golf or the new LIV Golf Series. But, rather, it will bring your attention to the ongoing hypocrisy of many…