PAWTUCKET, R.I. — At a time when steroid scandals cast a pall over professional athletes, WBUR’s sports commentator says it’s wiser to pay more attention to the unsung heroes.
BOSTON — It’s been almost two weeks since Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested outside his Cambridge home for disorderly conduct — a charge that was dropped by Cambridge police after the arrest became public knowledge. But the news coverage has continued full blast. WBUR Senior Media Analyst John Carroll says the racially-tinged incident has brought out the “most” in the news media.
BOSTON — Beacon Hill lawmakers have yet to override any of Gov. Deval Patrick’s $150 million in budget vetoes, despite promises to do so — especially in the case of the $4 million cut in state funding for the Franklin Park and Stoneham zoos. WBUR Senior Media Analyst John Carroll says local newspapers haven’t been so wishy-washy.
BOSTON — As he prepares to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers after his 50-game suspension, Manny Ramirez is playing this week with the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Dodgers AAA farm team. Manny has proved to be a big attraction for the Isotopes.
BOSTON — Summer vacation is still some weeks away. But WBUR commentator Bill Littlefield is already looking forward to something other than sports: summer reading season.
BOSTON — the U.S. Senate passed legislation Thursday giving the Food & Drug Administration power to regulate the American cigarette market. WBUR’s Senior Media Analyst John Carroll says where there’s smoking regulation, there are fire drills in the tobacco industry.
BOSTON — Whichever way the Boston Newspaper Guild votes on Monday, the Globe as we’ve known it is yesterday’s news, says WBUR senior media analyst John Carroll. Even if the Globe’s parent New York Times Co. gets its $20 million in union givebacks, the paper-shredding at the local broadsheet has just begun.
BOSTON — For sports fans, this is a busy time of year. Which means sports writers are in their element right now. And WBUR sports commentator Bill Littlefield says that translates into heaps of hyperbole.
BOSTON — If you follow sports, you’ve been aware of the presence of performance-enhancing drugs in various games. According to commentator Bill Littlefield, the extent to which these drugs have been used by athletes remains uncertain, except in the case of one particular competition.
BOSTON — The Service Employees Industrial Union, or SEIU, has launched an ad campaign targeting what is says are problems with patient safety and quality of care at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. But WBUR Senior Media Analyst John Carroll says the union’s eye is really on another objective.
BOSTON — Despite polls showing Boston Mayor Thomas Menino with a commanding lead over his three challengers, he’s launched an unusually early advertising campaign. WBUR Senior Media Analyst John Carroll says Menino’s traditional ad approach stands in stark contrast to his opponents’ new-media marketing efforts.
BOSTON — It’s a good week to be a Boston fan. The Red Sox beat the Yankees on Tuesday for the fifth time this season. And the Celtics and the Bruins are both involved in second-round playoff series. Circumstances like these have WBUR’s sports commentator Bill Littlefield thinking about what it means to be a fan.
BOSTON — On Monday night, Barry Bonds returned to AT&T Park. Facing 10 counts of making false statements to a grand jury regarding his use of steroids, Bonds received a warm welcome from San Francisco Giants fans — a reaction that did not surprise commentator Bill Littlefield.
BOSTON — The Globe’s largest union is taking its case to the public — organizing a pep rally and launching a “Save The Boston Globe” petition on its website. But WBUR Senior Media Analyst John Carroll says indifferent readers are not the audience the union needs to appeal to.
BOSTON — Elijah Dukes of the Washington Nationals was recently fined for being late to the ballpark on game day. Commentator Bill Littlefield says, this story — of one tardy ballplayer — might be a bit more a complicated than it seems.
