July 31, 2015
Former MBTA chief Beverly (Not My First Rodeo) Scott has been nominated by President Obama for a spot on the National Transportation Safety Board, which should make every U.S. traveler feel a little less safe today. Scott fled Boston several months ago after the T’s winter meltdown caused the system to grid to a halt.
Big local news, eh? Well, not in the Boston Globe, which has nothing in today’s print edition but did post a web piece this morning.
Ex-MBTA chief Scott nominated for NTSB spot
![greenhouse_11MBTAScott-4_metro[1]-8929](https://itsgoodtoliveinatwodailytown.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/greenhouse_11mbtascott-4_metro1-8929.jpg?w=327&h=223)
Former MBTA chief Beverly Scott could soon join the National Transportation Safety Board, a position that would give her oversight of plane crash investigations and accident prevention in the sprawling US transportation system.
President Obama announced his intent this week to nominate Scott for the five-member panel. Such appointments require Senate confirmation and carry five-year terms. The NTSB’s safety purview also includes pipelines and marine travel.
As for Scott’s time at the T, here’s how the stately local broadsheet characterized it:
Scott resigned from the MBTA in February amid a frustrating winter for the agency. Trains were canceled and delayed repeatedly amid a rash of breakdowns and mechanical failures that accompanied a series of extreme snowstorms.
As Scott left, she complained of chronic underfunding of the agency, which she said had made it difficult to maintain the system.
That’s it? After all local riders went through?
Yeesh.
Not surprisingly, the Boston Herald more than made up for the Globe’s reticence, giving Scott the expensive two-page spread (with bonus Inexplicable Little Green Number).
The frosty local tabloid also tossed in an editorial for good measure.
Bev back in the picture
We were prepared to forget all about Beverly Scott and her unfortunate tenure as general manager of the MBTA, but President Obama’s decision to give her a soft landing has changed that.
After a long career in transportation management Scott may well have the qualifications on paper to serve as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board. But she brings with her to the $155,500-a-year post a trainload of baggage.
Now that’s the Massachusetts Bev Transportation Authority we know and don’t love.
Leave a Comment » | 
Uncategorized | Tagged: Beverly Scott, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, frosty local tabloid, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Massachusetts Bev Transportation Authority, National Transportation Safety Board. MBTA, President Obama | 
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Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 30, 2015
Tell us again how long New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been stonewalling the press?
Oh, right – all 15 years he’s been here.
Yesterday’s press conference in the wake of the latest Act of Goodell was, of course, no exception.
Page One of the Boston Globe’s Sports section:
The relevant part:
Didn’t mince words? Not to get technical about it, but that’s all Belichick does.
Crosstown at the Boston Herald, Steve Buckley gave a representative sample of Mr. Hoodie’s evasive maneuvers.
Media member: “Do you believe Tom Brady when he says that neither he nor anyone in the Patriots organization did anything wrong?”
Belichick: “We start training camp today. We’ll get ready for the 2015 season starting today.”
Media member: “Is there something flawed about the system here in the organization that you keep ending up in these cheating controversies? Can you explain why?”
Belichick: “It’s already been addressed.”
Media member: “Could you elaborate a little?”
Belichick: “No.”
Media member: “Why not?”
Belichick: “Because it’s already been addressed.”
And Herald columnist Karen Guregian gave the Globe a bit of an English lesson.
Robert Kraft’s on-again, off-again war with Roger Goodell and the NFL is back on . . .
There was no mincing words. Kraft believes he got screwed when he put his reputation on the line with Patriots fans by standing down and choosing not to fight the league’s unprecedented punishment of his team.
Grammar Fever Grips Hub.
Tell your friends.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Act of Goodell, Bill Beli-check, Bill Belichick, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Deflategate, Karen Guregian, New England Patriots, NFL, Robert Kraft, Roger Goodell, Steve Buckley, Tom Brady | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 29, 2015
Wait – in the course of three days pitching great Pedro Martinez is inducted into the Hall of Fame and has his number retired by the Red Sox, and no one runs an ad in the local dailies congratulating him?
Boston Celtics stalwarts Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett exited the local scene and they got tribute ads in both Boston dailies.
Hell, Mass General tops some tricked-up U.S. News & World Report hospital ranking and it gets a full-page kiss in the stately local broadsheet.
But Pedro Martinez joins the ranks of the immortals and . . . nothing?
Seriously?
Nothing from the Red Sox? The Globe? The Herald? The New York Mets? The Dominican Republic? Nothing from nobody?
That’s just wrong.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Boston Celtics, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Boston Red Sox, Dominican Republic, Hall of Fame, Kevin Garnett, Massachusetts General Hospital, New York Mets, Paul Pierce, Pedro Martinez, U.S. News & World Report | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 27, 2015
From our Five-Ring Monte desk
According to Joe Dwinell’s piece in Sunday’s Boston Herald, it’s all over but the pouting for the Store 2024 Olympic bid.
Bid at Breaking Point
USOC could vote tomorrow
The USOC will meet tomorrow on Boston’s shaky bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, where one board member told the Herald she won’t be surprised if the 17-day, $4.6 billion plan comes up for a fateful vote.
“We need to know how (Boston) is doing and if the people of the city are interested in hosting the games,” said Anita L. DeFrantz, a member of both the United States Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee.
“We need to get a report. I need to know,” DeFrantz told the Herald yesterday, voicing doubt about support for the games in the Hub . . .
As for speculation Los Angeles is poised to step in if the USOC backs away from Boston, DeFrantz said “L.A. is perpetually ready. It can host with only two years’ notice.”
Yow.
Crosstown at the Boston Sunday Globe, Mark Arsenault’s story was of course more nuanced.
USOC prods Baker, Walsh to help lift Olympic bid
The US Olympic Committee is pressing Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin J. Walsh to put more of their political capital behind Boston’s struggling bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, but neither politician appears ready to satisfy the USOC, according to a person close to the bid process.
With USOC members set to discuss Boston’s status at a board meeting Monday, the standoff raises new questions about the fate of a bid already in peril due to low poll numbers.
USOC members want the popular governor to endorse the bid, the person close to the process said, which could breathe new life and credibility into the city’s effort.
The board is also pressuring Walsh, an Olympic backer, to announce that he will sign the host city contract required by the International Olympic Committee, which would put city taxpayers on the hook if the Games ran short of money or suffered cost overruns, the person said.
Not gonna happen, according to Arsenault’s report.
More to come, obviously, today.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: 2024 Summer Olympics, Boston 2024, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Boston Olympics, Charlie Baker, Joe Dwinell, Mark Arsenault, Marty Walsh, Store 2024, USOC | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 25, 2015
Yesterday the hardreading staff noted the failure of the Boston Herald to cover – or even acknowledge – the (Not So) Great Boston 2024 Debate sponsored by FOX 25 and the Boston Globe.
Coincidentally, we had also received this note from a splendid reader:
Just a thought: Fox25 used to partner often for debates with the Herald. Not last night. The Herald used to partner with Suffolk to run [David] Paleologos polling. That’s gone.
Why won’t anyone partner with the Herald anymore? Afraid of catching something?
Well, another splendid reader subsequently sent this:
I’d just like to offer a tiny factual correction to your “splendid reader’s” premise that no one partners with the scrappy tabloid anymore for fear of [Herald] cooties. Or maybe Andy Card is a thrill seeker who likes to stare the danger of catching acute Heraldylococcus in the face:
http://franklinpierce.edu/about/news/Herald-Pierce-Innovative-Partnership.htm
Not to get technical about it, eh?
On a sad side note, this went out on the Twitters yesterday afternoon.
No reporters affected, but bad news regardless.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: @dankennedy_nu, @HeraldWorkers, @reillyadam, Andy Card, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Boston Olympics Debate, Fox 25, Franklin Pierce University, Romenesko | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 24, 2015
Last night’s less-than-Olympian debate on Boston 2024 gets lots of coverage in today’s news media.
Co-sponsor Boston Globe, of course, has it top of Page One.
The other cosponsor, FOX 25, showcases viewer reactions on its website. (Video of debate here.)
Other local news outlets also provided debate coverage.
But not the Boston Herald. The hissy local tabloid had only some limp piece about area mayors feeling left out of the process.
Sort of like the Herald.
Coincidentally, we just received this from a splendid reader:
Just a thought: Fox25 used to partner often for debates with the Herald. Not last night. The Herald used to partner with Suffolk to run [David] Paleologos polling. That’s gone.
Why won’t anyone partner with the Herald anymore? Afraid of catching something?
Good question.
1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: Andrew Zimbalist, Boston 2024, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Chris Dempsey, Daniel Doctoroff, David Paleologos, Fox 25, No Boston Olympics, Steve Pagliuca | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 22, 2015
As you splendid readers no doubt already know, Massachusetts General Hospital has topped this year’s U.S. News and World Report rankings after being relegated to second place for the past two years.
Now that Mass General has been restored to its former glory, it’s all over but the touting. Joining in the celebration is this full-page ad in today’s Boston Globe.
Crosstown at the Boston Herald, no love from the Kraft Family. But the Herald did have this quarter-page ad exclusive.
Of course, the Herald is one of the sponsors, so the ad – like the concerts – is free.
Hey, can’t have everything. Or in the case of the thirsty local tabloid, much of anything.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Brigham and Women's Hospital, hospital rankings, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Robert Kraft, The Neighborhood Concert Series, thirsty local tabloid, U.S. News and World Report | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 14, 2015
As the hardreading staff has disclosed elsewhere, we did seven years in Ohio during a former life. Specifically, we were in Cincinnati from 1967-1974, and . . .
the one thing that kept us sane was this miniature Brooklyn Bridge across the Ohio River to Kentucky.
It’s known as the Singing Bridge because of the hum you hear as you drive across its metal grid roadbed. More important, it was John Roebling’s starter bridge before he (and his son and – especially – his daughter-in-law) built its lookalike in Brooklyn in the waning years of the 19th century. The Brooklyn Bridge was, at its opening in 1883, the tallest structure in the Western hemisphere and the longest span in the world: 1,600 feet from tower to tower.
(Fun fact to know and tell: On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum led 21 elephants over the Brooklyn Bridge to prove that it was stable. For the whole fascinating story, read The Great Bridge by David McCullough, who was once described as “the Herodotus of Hydraulics.”)
Anyway, the thing that drove us most insane during our exile in Porkopolis was The Big Red Machine, that insufferable 1970s incarnation of the Cincinnati Reds, which “a number of baseball historians [have claimed] were the second greatest team ever, after the famed 1927 Yankees.”
Nonsense. Everyone knows that was the 1961 Yankees.
Regardless, the Big Red Machinist we despised most was the reptilian Pete Rose, who’s back in the spotlight this week because the disgraced betmeister has been given a pass to tonight’s All Star game in Cincinnati by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who’s also said he’ll consider lifting the lifetime ban of Rose, which could make him eligible for the Hall of Fame. Support is also coming from some of the current MLB All Stars, and from Boston Globe sportswriter Nick Cafardo, who writes sympathetically about Rose in today’s edition.
Rose issue thorny
CINCINNATI — There is no debate in this neck of the woods. Pete Rose should be reinstated. Pete Rose is a Hall of Famer. Pete Rose is “Our Bad Guy.”
Despite revelations by ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” last month that Rose also bet on baseball as a player-manager in addition to the Dowd Report saying he bet as a manager, Cincinnati has forgiven him for transgressions that got him banned from baseball 26 years ago.
So, apparently, has Cafardo.
When Rose is announced Tuesday before the All-Star Game as one of the Reds’ Franchise Four (along with Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Barry Larkin) the ovation likely will be spine-tingling.
And one wonders whether this might be the last baseball public appearance Rose will ever make.
Isn’t it time to forgive?
No it’s not. Never will be.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: 1927 Yankees, 1961 Yankees, Big Red Machine, Brooklyn Bridge, Bud Selig, Cincinnati, Craig Calcaterra, David McCullough, Hardball Talk, Herodotus of Hydraulics, history.com, John Roebling, Jon Heyman, Made Yankee Fan, NBCSports, Nick Cafardo, P.T. Barnum, Pete Rose, Porkopolis, Rob Manfred, Singing Bridge, The Great Bridge | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 13, 2015
Donald Trump – the GOP’s one-man clown car – had a good weekend, as this piece from New York’s Daily Intelligencer notes.
A Guide to Donald Trump’s Weekend Circus
Donald Trump, who is ahead or tied for the lead in three recent polls tracking GOP presidential candidates, had a very busy weekend. At campaign events Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona, Trump delivered separate but equally rambling speeches that touched upon everything from legitimate national issues to Trump’s self-assessed intelligence to a joke about ISIS trying to compete with him by building a hotel in Iraq. Said Trump, who seemed to be improvising the speeches, “You know I don’t use TelePrompTers like the president — I speak from the heart.”
Right – a heart that’s filled with the buttermilk of human kindness.
On top of his good weekend, Trump is having a good Monday in the Boston Herald. Start with Joe Fitzgerald’s column.
The Donald adds something vital to ’16 prez race
Admit it, if he walked away from the presidential race this morning there is something about Donald Trump you would miss.
Perhaps not his politics.
Maybe not his temperament.
And certainly not his hubris.
Yet, there’s something refreshing about a candidate who doesn’t measure every word, who doesn’t wait to be told by parasitic handlers what his or her positions ought to be, and who doesn’t curry favor by pretending to embrace what special interests want to hear.
In her Lone Republican column today, Holly Robichaud sounds a similar note:
At a time when Republican candidates should be talking about the economy, the national debt, cyber-security and so much more, PC police have hijacked the 2016 Republican presidential primary.
They are having a collective hissy fit over Donald Trump’s candidacy and his comments about illegal immigrants. They have falsely accused him of being a racist for having the courage to speak out against
illegal immigrants and the results of porous borders.
When Trump would not retract his statements, the media turned their focus on other GOP contenders, asking them to respond to the Donald’s comments. Now there is a push to kick Trump out of the debates.
As if it is dangerous to have free speech on the stage!
Free-of-common-decency speech, that is.
(The Unsinkable Adriana Cohen has also weighed in on Mr. We Shall Overcomb, but that reading is optional.)
One oasis of sanity in today’s Herald: Jerry Holbert’s editorial cartoon.
Any way we can ground him until Election Day?
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Adriana Cohen, buttermilk of human kindness, Daily Intelligencer, Donald Trump, Holly Robichaud, Jerry Holbert, Joe Fitzgerald, Lone Republican, New York, one-man clown car, Reuters | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
July 10, 2015
From our Local Dailies DisADvantage desk
Departing Boston Bruins bruiser Milan Lucic sent a farewell note to Hub hockey fans in today’s Boston Globe.
The Bruins traded Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings last month for backup goaltender Martin Jones, defensive prospect Colin Miller, and the 13th pick in the 2015 draft. According to this piece by Sebastian Noren of Today’s Slapshot, the Kings have big plans for Lucic.
From all the talk that we’ve heard and read since the trade took place, Lucic will join Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik on the top line for the Kings. Having a wrecking ball like Lucic (that also has a knack for scoring goals) next to a playmaker of Kopitar’s caliber and a sniper like Gaborik could be a recipe for success.
In his Globe ad, Lucic thanked multiple people for his success here.
But apparently the people of Boston don’t include the Herald’s readers. No ad for the thirsty local tabloid. Again.
It’s tough playing the game shorthanded this much, yeah?
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Anze Kopitar, Boston Bruins, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Local Dailies DisADvantage, Los Angeles Kings, Marion Gaborik, Milan Lucic, Sebastian Noren, thirsty local tabloid, Today's Slapshot | Permalink
Posted by Campaign Outsider
![greenhouse_11MBTAScott-4_metro[1]-8929](https://itsgoodtoliveinatwodailytown.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/greenhouse_11mbtascott-4_metro1-8929.jpg)
It's Good to Live in a Two-Daily Town 